Thai Life
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The year of the wood horse: Chinese New Year 2014
PHUKET: Tomorrow, January 31, some 1.3 billion Chinese in China and another 50 million ethnic-Chinese around the world will bid farewell to the year of the snake, and welcome the “invisible moon” that signals the official start of a new year – the year of the horse. Lunar New Year Starting today and tomorrow, festivities for the Chinese New Year…
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London’s Fab BEATLES ready to play in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket isn’t exactly famous in the music world. The island doesn’t really boast any world-renowned acts and the occasional musical tour that does find its way here is usually electronic or just a “well-known” DJ. But music lovers in Phuket are in for a special treat. Following their enormously popular, sold-out ABBA Forever concert, promoter Events International has lined…
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Phuket Event: Books in the Old Town festival tonight
PHUKET: Local literary and history enthusiasts should head down to the Lard Yai Walking Street this Sunday evening for the “Books in the Old Town” festival.Scheduled from 4-10pm, activities will take place in three areas along historical Thalang road: in front of the Thawinha-Nung Len shop; inside and in front of the “2521” book shop and in front of the…
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Phuket Escape: Crowd dodging at Koh Racha
PHUKET: It’s almost a defining characteristic of an expat, not wanting to go where the tourists go. Hey, we know better. We know the best local restaurants, the shortcuts, the secret beaches. We refuse to be wedged among the throngs. And yet, in some cases the throngs have got it right. Not with the cashew-factory perhaps (at least, not more…
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Phuket Books: Looking out from the inside
PHUKET: Piper Kerman’s memoir Orange is the New Black (Spiegel & Grau, New York, 2011, 327pp) is a charming and tender account of her year in prison. The focus is on her fellow inmates with whom she comes to share a hard-earned solidarity of love and respect.Now a popular TV mini-series in the US, Orange is the New Black takes…
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Phuket Education: On a Mission to sail
PHUKET: If you have been past the British International School Phuket (BISP) campus in recent weeks, chances are you’ve spotted the giant steel ship, Ixdos, that first appeared on December 4 and now occupies a prominent position on the school’s grounds. The arrival of the ship is a result of the collaboration between former BISP teacher and self-described “boat-person” Patrick…
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BIS students perfrom
PHUKET: In early December, another successful musical theater production was staged at the British International School Phuket (BISP). Hoodwinked, a funny musical tale based on the story of Robin Hood, was performed three times to an audience totaling 1,000 people over three afternoons. At the dress rehearsal, the young actors, aged between eight and 11, were a little nervous as…
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A perfect model of island life
PHUKET: Hailing from another tropical paradise on the opposite side of the globe, Jamaican-born Tracy Dawkins is no stranger to island life. She has achieved some fame in Phuket as a model, actress and erstwhile PR and marketing executive and now calls the island home. In an exclusive interview, we spoke with Tracy about island life, competing to be Miss…
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Dog of the week: Rusty
PHUKET: Rusty came in two months ago and was so sick he looked as if he were left to die. He used to spend his days hiding under an old cardboard box behind a fallen tree at one of the Phuket animal holding facilities, hiding from life.He was so terrified of being attacked by one of the larger aggressive dogs…
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Phuket AA: Party till you drop
PHUKET: Phuket is renowned for its party scene, especially during the holidays, when tourists venture from around the globe to enjoy the island’s nightlife, and expats let their hair down. For many people, the annual revelry is marked by a few heavy drinking sessions followed by a few hangovers – and a new year resolution to take it easier next…
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Phuket gardening: Heliconia and hibiscus
PHUKET: I have deliberately kept the heliconia for another day. Why? Because, despite the name, the connection with the sun is less obvious than with the sunflower brigade. I can only assume it is because one common variety has chrome yellow spikes, much used as a cut flower by florists. But whatever the reason, the heliconia is a favorite here…
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Consultant says gray out, green in for Phuket’s real estate boom in 2014 and beyond
PHUKET: Back in November, an energetic Chilean man paid a visit to the Phuket Gazette offices. Identifying himself as Ignacio Espoz Babul, the Director of (Santiago-based) LatinGreen – a patent holder, innovator and installer of “Green Walls” – the man passionately talked of a coming “Green Revolution” that he had envisioned for Phuket and the whole of Asia. In the…
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Book Review: A memoir of schmaltz and jokes
PHUKET: “I’ve always felt that the key to good sex is variety. That’s why God gave us two hands.”“Babies are the toughest take-home exam of your life.”“And I’m really annoyed at teachers who have *** with students. It seems like once a week you hear of a thirty-five-year-old math teacher who had *** in her car with some sixteen-year-old. I…
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Phuket Property: Laguna park condominiums launched
PHUKET: Laguna Park Condominiums, the latest development by Laguna Property, was launched as the final component of the Laguna Park master plan’s first phase.The condominiums follow the recent and successful introduction of townhomes and villas to the project’s plan. “With the Laguna Park condominiums, we are targeting single residents and young couples with the appeal of the integrated Laguna lifestyle…
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Outlook bright for Dubai property expo
PHUKET: The 10th International Property Show (IPS), which will coincide with the Annual Investment Meeting 2014, from April 8-10 in the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, will attract 300 companies from 80 countries. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV are proud media sponsors of the exhibition, which this year will be the biggest edition since its inception. Supported by the…
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PIMEX 2014 draws to a successful close
PHUKET: It was all smiles last Sunday evening as the 11th Phuket International Boat Show at the Royal Phuket Marina drew to a close. Happy exhibitors cleared their displays before moving on to enjoy a well deserved respite from a busy weekend at the boardwalk restaurants and bars. By all reports, this year was a fantastic show with many exhibitors…
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Phuket Events: Coming up in wonderland
PHUKET: When the Phuket Gazette interviewed them a few months back, Sonu Kapoor and Vikram Singh, the owners of Events International, had just settled in Phuket and were about to set out on their mission to quench the island’s thirst for more fun. Now, with two sold-out Abba Forever shows behind them, we know they placed their bets right –…
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Property Watch: So near and yet so far
PHUKET: Asia’s resort property scene is not unlike any other industry, in that it’s always on the lookout for the next big thing. What do they say about the key to success – location location location. Is that one or three? Perhaps there is just an echo in the room or the snoring of an elephant next door. Of course…
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Living in Patong has its privileges
PHUKET: With the lasting development boom in Phuket, one might find it difficult to keep track of all the new condominiums and villa projects appearing on the island’s map. That’s why Karn Jiratuntathorn, the owner of the Privilege residences in Patong is aiming for something different. “My project is not the same as others. There are many projects coming to…
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Phuket Art: The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom
PHUKET: Richard Skene is no stranger to art nor to Phuket. While his professional training is in the management of property, he has maintained a lifelong interest in how art can reflect the struggle to find happiness. “I’ve observed that the path to happiness can lead either to the pursuit of pleasure or the pursuit of restraint as practiced by…
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Looking Back: More myths of Phuket’s emerging Buddha
PHUKET: As I mentioned in my previous Looking Back column (story here), the Phra Phood, or the Emerging Buddha of Thalang, may have been discovered sometime in the mid 18th century by local villagers living near the town of Thalang, in the northern part of Phuket. The large golden Buddha image got its name from the fact that when it…
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Phuket Gardening: An unkempt piece of paradise
PHUKET: It is a truism that your garden is an expression of yourself. In a literal sense, this is obvious: you are the person responsible for its design, its maintenance, and for the plants you put in or leave out. When I was an undergraduate long ago, the Professor of Biology, an acknowledged authority on botany, spoke on a weekly…
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Fight for your right
PHUKET: Not long ago, a close associate phoned to get a heavy burden off his chest. His parents in the UK were in need of help in moving to another state, but no other family members would help. “John” as we’ll call him, complained to me that he really wanted to go back but that his Thai wife had spent…
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Phuket Entertainment: Giving women what they want
PHUKET: What began as a language-learning exercise – watching Thai soaps with English subtitles online – has become, well, a problem. I stay up too late, watch during breakfast and abandon unessential tasks until I finish the series, all 20-plus hours of it.I became addicted despite the fact that from the first moment I know what will happen – the…
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Enjoying the fruit of Thai land
PHUKET: In the last Property Legal column (published in print on November 30 and online December 3, story here), Phuket’s International Law Office (ILO) touched on the topic of usufruct agreements, a lesser known form of property contract that could be a considerable option for those looking to secure interests in Thai property; particularly foreigners who cannot outright, legally own…
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Big fun for the little ones
PHUKET: This one is for the kids! Thailand is celebrating its annual Children’s Day on Saturday, January 11 and there sure won’t be a lack of good fun for the little ones on the island. Planned activities in Phuket are as follows:Phuket MunicipalityAt the grounds of Phuket provincial hall, from 8am to 4pm, this year’s festivities will encompass the theme…
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PIMEX 2014 to showcase Asean preparedness
PHUKET: Billed as “Asia’s favorite boat show” and the largest luxury showcase in the region, the four-day Phuket International Marine Expo will open its doors to an expected 5,000 visitors at 11:30 this morning at Royal Phuket Marina. A festival of everything marine and lifestyle, PIMEX shines the light on Thailand’s marine leisure tourism industry and the island’s leading position…
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Phuket Health: Seminar on colorectal disease
PHUKET: Leading medical professionals from all over the world gathered at Bangkok Hospital Phuket last month for the first annual Colorectal Disease Symposium.Organized from December 8-10 by the director of the Colorectal Disease Institute at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Dr Art Hiranyakas, the symposium consisted of panel discussions, guest speakers and live surgeries. Topics included different types of colorectal diseases, research…
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Phuket Environment: Summarizing sustainability for future
PHUKET: Recently, the Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus, held an “Open Week” conference with a wide range of activities and lectures. One of the highlights was a talk given by the eminent Korean environmentalist Professor Dai-Yeun Jeong, entitled “Beyond Sustainable Development: Towards Ecological Modernization”.Supported by many visual aids projected onto a large screen, Professor Jeong gave a detailed and…
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Tesco Extra officially open in Phuket
PHUKET: Tesco Lotus recently held the official grand opening for its first “Extra” format store in Phuket. The rebranding and re-opening of the shopping center, its main Phuket store located off the bypass road in Sam Kong, follows an extensive renovation project undertaken in the final quarter of 2013. The development also complements the grand opening of a new, full-sized…
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