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    Is tap water in Thailand safe to consume?

    Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...

  • Phuket gets first dedicated cricket ground

    Phuket gets first dedicated cricket ground

    PHUKET: Construction of Phuket’s first dedicated cricket ground, to be called the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), will start on June 27. News of the development, announced on the ACG website, adds that the 10-rai site in the lakes area of Baan Lipon, will be called the ACG Cricket and Sports Ground. The sports facility will be mainly for cricket, but…

  • Phuket ‘3G fishermen’ saved by call from the wild

    Phuket ‘3G fishermen’ saved by call from the wild

    PHUKET: Three men, comprising three generations of a fishing family, were rescued from their capsized boat 17 nautical miles off Phuket’s east coast yesterday thanks to a mobile phone kept in a waterproof bag. The men – Somboon Sae-Oui, 56, his son Pichet, 28, and eight-year-old grandson Bhumin – survived two hours clinging to their upturned boat while it was…

  • Fans fury forces FC Phuket coach to quit

    Fans fury forces FC Phuket coach to quit

    PHUKET: Sompong Wattana from Rajvithee FC will be the new coach of FC Phuket. The news was released at 5pm today, ahead of a scheduled sanctioned press release tomorrow. A fourth straight game without a win for FC Phuket incensed the team’s distraught fans yesterday and led to a blockade of Surakul Stadium by angry fans, known as the “Hulks”.…

  • Two more candidates register for Phuket polls

    Two more candidates register for Phuket polls

    PHUKET: Two more people on Saturday signed up as candidates to contest the Phuket 1 constituency in the July 3 national election. The last-minute registrations came on the last day the Phuket Election Commission would accept applications for candidacy. In the morning, Weerasak “Ko Sak” Woranetiwong registered as a candidate representing the Thaen Khun Phaendin Party, which is listed as…

  • Contest to decide name for Phuket Town shortcut

    Contest to decide name for Phuket Town shortcut

    PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality will hold a contest to see who can think up the best name for the new road that connects Saphan Hin with Chao Fa East Road, with 10,000 baht going to the winner. The 50-million-baht road was officially opened in late December last year. It has thus far kept its uninspiring name Phang Muang Sai Khor…

  • Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Rugby 10s title

    Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Rugby 10s title

    PHUKET: A robust Royal Thai Police (RTP) squad yesterday routed Phuket Rugby 10s defending champions the Kriel Roosters from South Africa by 31-5 to win the annual tourney’s cup final. In a thrilling match at Karon Stadium yesterday evening, players on both sides made big tackles and charging runs to the try line. The first half ended with RTP leading…

  • Phuket stray sends Koreans plowing into power pole

    Phuket stray sends Koreans plowing into power pole

    PHUKET: Two Koreans were fortunate to escape serious injury when their car crashed into a power pole in Phuket early yesterday morning. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene just after midnight. Arriving at the crash site on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in Srisoonthorn subdistrict, they found the two Koreans – identified only as the driver Mrs Songjer and…

  • Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s

    Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s

    Phuket Rugby 10s: In a thrilling final played on Sunday evening at Karon Stadium, a robust Royal Thai Police (RTP) team stole the title from last year’s winners, Kriel Roosters by a score of 31 – 5. The game was full of big tackles and charging runs to the try line. The first half ended with RTP holding a 12…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Singapore Centaurs take the U15s title

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Singapore Centaurs take the U15s title

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Spectators at Karon Stadium were treated to a fine display of youth rugby when Singpore Centaurs defeated Phuket Lomas in the under 15 Cup Final. Centaurs’ fly-half, Alex Ducourneau broke through the Lomas’ defense to score after just two minutes. No reply from the Phuket Lomas gave the score as 5 – 0 at half-time. A tense…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Welcome to finals day at Karon Stadium

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Welcome to finals day at Karon Stadium

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Final group stages of the 2011 tournament were played this morning and the semi-finalists have now been determined. Favorites after yesterday’s performances are the Kriel Roosters and Thai Legends. Results below: Emirates Flying Muppets 19 Al Ain Amblers 0 Bedhoff Kings RFC 17 INSEAD Barbarians 5 Rebel Dubai Dragons 0 Qantas Koalas 24 Dubai Exiles 24 Bangkok…

  • Phuket expat suffers 180,000 baht dive tank theft

    Phuket expat suffers 180,000 baht dive tank theft

    PHUKET: Following a tip-off from a cook, an expat dive instructor and equipment provider in Rawai believes a Thai employee may have stolen 30 diving tanks worth 180,000 baht. German national Armin Rudloff, 43, filed a report at Chalong police station yesterday morning. He told police that earlier yesterday he had discovered the tanks missing from an equipment storage room…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Sunday’s knockout games decided

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Sunday’s knockout games decided

    Phuket Rugby 10s knockout stages begin at 8.30am with the Emirates Flying Muppets meeting the Al Ain Amblers in Bowl B. Games follow every twenty minutes leading to the main final at 5.40pm. See below for today’s end results: Bucket Brigade 0Phuket Vagabonds 12 Dubai Exiles 14 Qantas Koalas 10 Bangkok Bangers Colts 0 Rebel Dubai Dragons 19 Taipei baboons…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Group stages draw to a close

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Group stages draw to a close

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Group stages of the 10s have reached their conclusion. The next round sees the determination of finalists. Asian Japanese Dragons 5 Taipai baboons 21 INSEAD 0 Rebel Dubai Dragons 7 Bangkok Bangers Colts 7 Bucket Brigade 0 Emirates Flying Muppets 0 Qantas Koalas 7 Moorabbin Rams 26 Sinagapore Barbarians 0 Al Ain Amblers 7 San Miguel Wanderers…

  • Testing police for drugs doesn’t work: Phuket poll

    Testing police for drugs doesn’t work: Phuket poll

    PHUKET: A strong majority of Phuket Gazette readers feel that the Phuket Provincial Police drug testing of all its officers is not effective in ensuring police are free of drugs, the results of a recent readers’ poll reveal. Readers were asked to reply to the question: The Phuket Provincial Police have announced that all officers under their command will be…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Referees stamp their authority

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Referees stamp their authority

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Referees stamping their authority on the games.

  • Phuket Rugby 10s: Great day, great atmosphere and great rugby

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Great day, great atmosphere and great rugby

    Phuket Rugby 10s: Mid-day round-up. Royal Thai Police 38 INSEAD 0 Bedhoff Kings RFC 10 Bangkok Bangers Colts 10 Thai Legends 12 Emirates Flying Muppets 0 Dubai Exiles 12 Moorabbin Rams 19 Kriel Roosters 31 San Miguel Wanderers 0 All photos by Dean Noble — Neil Quail

  • Phuket Property Review on news stands now

    Phuket Property Review on news stands now

    PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is pleased to announce that its Phuket Property Review is now available as a free 16-page supplement to the May 28 issue, on sale at newsstands around the island today. The Phuket Property Review analyzes market trends in five parts of the island: North, South, East, West and ‘Inland’, and provides additional advice on such topics…

  • Phuket International Rugby 10s is invaluable to the Asia Center Foundation.

    Phuket International Rugby 10s is invaluable to the Asia Center Foundation.

    PHUKET: “Phuket International Rugby 10s is invaluable to the Asia Center Foundation. Support and donations from all involved with the tournament gives over 100 children the opportunity for a better life.” Roelien Muller, Director of the Asia Center Foundation, explaining the importance of the Phuket Rugby 10s. Donations are always welcomed for this worthy cause.

  • Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s main tournament under starter’s orders

    Phuket Heineken International Rugby 10s main tournament under starter’s orders

    PHUKET: Good morning Phuket! Welcome to the 13th Rugby 10s main event. Following yesterday’s exciting Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers competition the main tournament has already kicked off at 8.30am with the Royal Thai Police taking on the Rebel Dubai Dragons at Karon Stadium. Games start every twenty minutes. Bring friends and family for a fun filled day of festival rubgy…

  • Abhisit launches Democrat election campaign in Phuket

    Abhisit launches Democrat election campaign in Phuket

    PHUKET: Caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived in Phuket this afternoon ahead of a rally at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town tonight to mark the launch of the Democrat Party campaign for the July 3 national election. Top of his agenda was to inspect the site of the Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center in Mai Khao, while accompanied by…

  • Phuket ‘hashers’ mourn three fallen comrades | Thaiger

    Phuket ‘hashers’ mourn three fallen comrades

    PHUKET: Two more members of the Phuket Hash House Harriers died this week following the death of a “hasher” in a motorcycle accident on Monday. The most recent was Ruurd Jansen, 66, who died after the roof of his house collapsed on him on Wednesday. Mr Jansen and his wife ran a beach-side restaurant called “Som” (“Orange”) near the Laguna…

  • Phuket final reminder to catch the UEFA Champions League Final

    Phuket final reminder to catch the UEFA Champions League Final

    PHUKET: Wembley Stadium will play host to the best in European football this Saturday, when English champions Manchester United face off against Barcelona. The UEFA Champions League Final will kick-off at 8:45pm Central European Time (1:45am on Sunday in Phuket), and is expected to serve up a scintillating display of football with both teams vying for their fourth title. Pundits…

  • Anti-protest protest gets rolling in Phuket

    Anti-protest protest gets rolling in Phuket

    PHUKET: A small band of activists have been rolling through the streets of Phuket in salaeng (motorbikes with sidecar) in recent days, urging the public to ignore a campaign to cast “no” votes in the upcoming general election. The 30-strong group travels with Thai flags hoisted high and carrying signs that read: “If we vote for nobody, who will run…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s kick off today

    Phuket Rugby 10s kick off today

    PHUKET: The 13th Phuket International Rugby 10s kicked off today with Phuket’s own Vagabonds intent on providing stiff opposition for the challengers in the event. Karon Stadium again plays home to the hugely popular tournament, and after recent rains the surface is in ideal condition for rugby. For information on the tournament and updates on games as they are played,…

  • “It’s a shame the scrums are not contested.” at Phuket 10s

    “It’s a shame the scrums are not contested.” at Phuket 10s

    PHUKET: Susanne Olovsson, a member of Sweden’s International women’s rugby team playing for Kuala Lumpur’s Selangor Old Dogs in the Phuket Rugby 10s at Karon Stadium. Susanne is the prop forward for her country, which placed 12th in the last women’s World Cup. “I’m really enjoying the Phuket 10s, a great competition, though suffering with the heat and humidity,” she…

  • One dead, two injured in Phuket motorbike collision

    One dead, two injured in Phuket motorbike collision

    PHUKET: A young woman was killed and two teenage boys injured when their motorcycles collided at a U-turn in Thalang early this morning. Capt Praman Yukkaphan of Thalang Police identified the deceased as Urairat Khongket, an employee of a rubber glove factory in Baan Manik, Srisoonthorn. Originally from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the 27-year-old probably died instantly from massive head injuries…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s at Karon Stadium simmers!

    Phuket Rugby 10s at Karon Stadium simmers!

    PHUKET: The Phuket Rugby 10s simmers with the Phuket Viagrabonds, Cottesloe Old Gulls, Morrabbin Rams and the Taipei Silverbacks all showing themselves as potential winners. The results from games nine to 12 in the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers Competition at Karon Stadium were: Selangor Old Dogs 0 Cottesloe Old Gulls 15 Wanderers Jagermeister Wrinklies 24 Hong Kong Bulls 7 Old…

  • Phuket Rugby 10s heats up!

    Phuket Rugby 10s heats up!

    PHUKET: The Phuket rugby 10s continues, in glorious sunshine, though harsh for the players. The standard is high with top scorers so far, our very own Phuket Viagrabonds and the Morrabbin Rams. The results from the following four games in the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers Comp were: Phuket Viagrabonds 31 Asian Japanese Dragons 0 Morrabbin Rams 38 Aarabian Gulf Legends…

  • New Phuket bridge to open next week

    New Phuket bridge to open next week

    PHUKET: The new bridge connecting Phuket with Phang Nga will be open to traffic next week as planned, the Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) announced. Known as the “Sarasin Bridge 2” throughout the construction phase, the new roadway will be known officially as the Srisoonthorn Bridge. “The new bridge is about 94 per cent complete and the construction contract ends…

  • Phuket police net bumper haul in pirate raids

    Phuket police net bumper haul in pirate raids

    PHUKET: Two high-profile raids in Phuket yesterday, in the prime tourist areas of Kata and Patong, landed goods valued at more than a million baht. The first raid was on a shop near Dino Park in Kata, at about 3pm. There, officers seized a haul of hundreds of imitation brand-name shorts and wallets, and more than 400 pirate wristwatches. Officers…