Search Results for: cat
- World News
Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hong Kong riot police fired warning shots on Tuesday during clashes that erupted in the Chinese-ruled city when authorities tried to remove illegal street stalls set up for Lunar New…
- Phuket News
Krabi Police bust illegal gun ring
KRABI: Krabi Police captured one suspect and are searching for two others who were able to flee the scene of a raid on Monday in Ao Luek. Police were alerted to the location after neighbors complained of an illegal gun production ring. “We were able to capture Noppadon Surachawadee, 34. However, his younger brother, Prasit Surachawadee, 28, and their associate,…
- Thai Life
On Deck: At last, good news for our oceans
PHUKET: Ocean trash is growing. It’s an important issue that gets a lot of attention, at times, but little is actually done about it. Two Spain-based Aussie surfers, Pete Ceglinski and Andrew Turton, are about to change that. In a former life, Turton was a product designer who realized that the plastic products he was designing were sources of pollution.…
- Property
Property Watch: Foreigners: beware of condo laws
PHUKET: Every year I learn a host of new rules and regulations which impact property investors in Thailand, sometimes positively but often detrimentally. This year I learned something new, which either by chance or good fortune, my clients over 13 plus years here have never experienced. Unfortunately, I view the situation as being severely detrimental and anti-foreign investment in nature.…
- Phuket News
Escaped toothfish-poaching vessel netted in Senegal
PHUKET: Authorities in Senegal have detained the internationally wanted toothfish-poaching vessel Kunlun, which slipped through the fingers of Phuket authorities after having been seized in March last year. Reports allege that the illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel had previously falsified its registry, claiming Indonesia as its flag state. This allowed the vessel to be detained in Senegal on formalities…
- Phuket News
Another unidentified foreigner dies, after collapsing on Bangla
PHUKET: Police are trying to identify a foreign male who died at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday morning. The man, estimated to be about 50 years old, was not carrying any identification when, according to witnesses, he collapsed and hit his head on the sidewalk along Patong’s famed Soi Bangla Saturday night. He was taken to Patong Hospital and later transferred…
- Phuket News
A Decade Ago: Whole lot of monkey business
PHUKET: Though an exotic beast to most foreigners when they first find their footing in Thailand, it takes very few interactions with monkeys to realize that they are properly aggressive, arrogant deviants. This sort of Monkey Business, far different than the mafia muppeteering that destroyed our public transportation system and deflowered our beaches, made page one in the February 4-10,…
- Opinion
Opinion: Creating a World Heritage Site
Kosol Tang-Uthai is a Phuket native and is currently deputy mayor of Phuket City and president of the Thai Peranakan Association, a group dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Phuket’s unique Chinese culture. He earned his doctorate from Mahidol University and has been serving as president of the association since 2007. Here he talks about the difficulties involved…
- Phuket News
Phuket flyover projects garner public clearance
PHUKET: Two major flyover construction projects that were grounded by public opinion last year are clear for takeoff. Out of the 339 voting participants at the public meeting Thursday morning, 259 approved the project, a dramatic contrast to the 65% of 95 voters who shot down the plan on August 10 last year (story here). The flyovers are planned for…
- Thai Life
Profiile: Legend of Phuket’s Green Man
PHUKET: Howard Digby-Johns presides over the most interesting estate on Phuket. His ‘Green Man Pub’ on the road between Chalong and Kata Hill looks like a gracious English manor from the outside. But upon exploring the extensive landscaped grounds, one finds a subterranean wine cellar, a temple to the Egyptian god Osiris, shrines to the Hindu god Ganesh, a parlor…
- Phuket News
Diving restricted in Phi Phi following speedboat accident
PHUKET: Diving in the Phi Phi archipelago has been limited to three dive sites following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers. “We will be strictly enforcing the rule that allows diving only at Loh Samah Bay, Bida Nai and Bida Nok,” said Boonnam Chuyradom, assistant chief of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi…
- Thai Life
Gardening: It’s really just a name, after all
PHUKET: Most tongue-twisting Latin names of plants are associated with so-called ‘discoveries’ by Western botanists/explorers. For example, the plumeria is named after Charles Plumier, the bougainvillea after a certain Monsieur Bougainville, the allamanda after Switzerland’s Frederich Allamanda, and so on. The original classifier of plants, Sweden’s Carolus Linnaeus, based his Systema Naturae (1735) on shared physical characteristics. Most of his…
- Phuket News
PRBC calls for blood donations during Chinese New Year festivities
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) has called for blood donations during the Chinese New Year festivities in a campaign entitled ‘Chinese New Year, donate blood for life happiness’. “Chinese New Year is considered a very important ceremony for Thai-Chinese people,” said PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak. “Donating blood to those who need it is a good way to welcome…
- Phuket News
Paklok to host “Yamu Night Fishing Games’
PHUKET: The mayor of Paklok announced plans this week to hold the first Yamu Night Fishing Games at Laem Yamu harbor from March 4 through 6. The fishing tournament is part of the municipality’s annual plan to develop the area with more public facilities and tourist attractions, said Mayor Panya Sampaorat on Wednesday. “Cape Yamu has an abundance of natural…
- Phuket News
Video Report: Quattro Design brings fine furnishings to Phuket
PHUKET: Boat Avenue has added one more top-notch outlet with the grand opening of Quattro Design’s 900-square-meter showroom. Co-owner Praowphan Laoha-pongchana, and Design Director and Co-Founder Wichada Sritakarin, hosted the stylish event on Wednesday. Following the launch of a pop-up store at the Boat Lagoon last November, the pair decided to move ahead with establishing a full-size Quattro Design showroom…
- Phuket News
New pathway planned as quick fix for sea gypsy land dispute
PHUKET: Land officials led by Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul yesterday measured out boundaries so that a three-meter-wide path can be cut through public land near Rawai Beach to allow members of the local sea gypsy community to access traditional ceremonial grounds while a dispute rages between the gypsies and a developer over land use rights. The decision to clear…
- Phuket News
Phuket sea gypsies allowed access to ceremonial site, for now
PHUKET: Private land owners have temporarily allowed Rawai sea gypsies access to a traditional ceremonial site, pending consideration of donating the land to the seafaring nomads. The issue was brought to a head after more than 30 sea gypsies were injured in a violent confrontation with private business owners after they blocked access to the sea gypsies’ Balai table, a…
- World News
Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Tens of thousands of trapped Iraqi civilians are running out of food and medicine in the western city of Falluja, an Islamic State stronghold under siege by security forces, according to…
- Phuket News
Phuket police hunt company after tourist’s watery death
PHUKET: Police are hunting representatives of a tour company after a Chinese tourist died on a snorkelling trip off Koh Racha Yai yesterday morning. The company that booked Weidong Lu, 49, and his family on the boat, does not appear to have provided a tour guide, explained Lt Wuthiwat Leangboonjinda of the Chalong Police. “We are now trying to contact…
- Phuket News
Friend identifies British man killed by Patong bus
PHUKET: A Phuket expat today was able to identify a British man who allegedly jumped in front of a bus in Patong last week. The foreigner, who asked to be named only as Darren, recognized the British national after seeing a picture of him supplied by Patong Police and published by the Phuket Gazette. Following the identification of the man,…
- World News
Italian police seize Mussolini’s yacht from businessman linked to mafia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Italian police seize Mussolini’s yacht from businessman linked to mafia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Italian police said on Monday that they had seized a yacht that once belonged to Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini from a businessman possibly linked to a huge organised crime network. The…
- Phuket News
OTOP gets lovely for Valentine-themed festival [video]
PHUKET: Couples planning on tying the knot in Phuket in February can take part in special Valentine-themed marriage ceremonies held at Sarasin Bridge between February 14 and 23. “The 10-day ‘OTOP Lovely Phuket Festival’ will feature many activities to help promote tourism in the province,” said Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada. Tourists, as well as locals, are welcome to register their…
- Phuket News
Phuket police struggle to identify dead foreigner
PHUKET: Dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the area where a foreigner was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a bus on Wednesday (story here) have left police clueless. “We had hoped to find CCTV footage showing where the man had come from so that we could identify him and track down his relatives or friends. However, we came up empty…
- Thai Life
Sea Breeze Cafe brings a whole new level to buffet-chic
PHUKET: It is a common misconception that resort bars and restaurants are for in-house guests only. Among others, the Holiday Inn Resort’s dining venues are open to all comers. At the Sea Breeze Cafe, they offer their popular bi-weekly seafood buffet, and there is no place better suited for this delicious spread than the resort’s poolside with its view of…
- World News
Suu Kyi allies to form Myanmar ruling party after decades of struggle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suu Kyi allies to form Myanmar ruling party after decades of struggle Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: After decades of struggle, hundreds of lawmakers from Aung San Suu Kyi’s camp will form Myanmar’s ruling party on Monday, with enough seats in parliament to choose the first…
- Thai Life
Blazing Saddles: Dreams of Bang Wad Dam mountain biking
PHUKET: Undoubtedly the Bang Wad Dam and its surrounding mountainous environs high above the Phuket Country Club and golf course could offer fabulous recreational and cycling potential if it is developed with foresight and care. I have written previously about the current plans to develop this area and why I think there needs to be a serious re-appraisal of the…
- Opinion
Opinion: Creating sustainability in tourism
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, 43, is the vice president of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA). Born and raised in Phuket, he graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, USA. Here he talks about different tourist markets and how the PTA plans on making them more sustainable. PHUKET: In terms of tourism, the island is…
- Business News
Business Buzz: Maximize social media impact
PHUKET: When using social media, it is very important to establish exactly what it is that you want to achieve. It is also important to understand that each social media platform works differently and can achieve different things. Overall, there are a many purposes for which social media can be used, but the most common are branding, lead generation, information…
- Opinion
Opinion: Ignorance stokes illegal tour guide problem
PHUKET: The recent arrest and threat of deportation and blacklisting of a tour guide from China comes as little surprise given the preponderance of guides from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ who operate illegally in Phuket. Tour guiding is one of the many occupations restricted for Thai nationals under the ‘Working of Alien Act’, which was promulgated in 2008. Regardless, foreign guides…
- Thai Life
Looking Back: When two kings sat on the throne
PHUKET: In July of 1824, King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, Rama II, suddenly fell very ill. Not long after, he passed away. According to the palace’s succession law, the throne would have to pass on to the son of Queen Suriyendra, Prince Mongkut. Queen Suriyendra was King Rama II’s consort and according to Siamese royal tradition, only the sons of a…