Thai Life
Discover the latest regional stories and happenings in Thailand with The Thaiger, your source of credible, informative, and reliable updates. Stay informed about important local events, political happenings, social issues, cultural highlights, and entertainment stories, all curated to ensure you never miss out on what’s happening in the Land of Smiles. Our journalists will keep you informed with all the essential Thai life updates and allows you to connect with the community and experience Thailand like a local.
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Sponsored Siam Paragon's 'The Luxury Watch Destination' presents exclusive showcase of luxury timepieces
Siam Paragon reaffirms its positioning as the "Luxury Watch Destination," Thailand’s epicentre of over 43 prestigious watch brands. This underscores the confidence of leading watch houses and Siam Paragon’s commitment to delivering world-class and unparalleled experiences to the customers continuously....
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Teaching 9/11 in Phuket schools
PHUKET: A decade on from that fateful day, what are Phuket schoolchildren learning about 9/11? Teaching children too young to remember the events of 9/11 is difficult to imagine for adults who can recall the carnage of that day as if it were yesterday. For us adults, 9/11 will be an event that defines our time, but for children it…
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Phuket gardening: Goodness gracious, great buds of fire
PHUKET: Blooming ‘flame trees’ have Phuket ablaze with scarlet flowers all over the island, particularly in July. Trees, like flowers, often remain unnoticed until they burst into bloom. The seasonal rains stimulate a number of trees into showing off their wares. The flame trees, for example, are aflame with their brilliant scarlet flowers everywhere during their season. Less dramatic, but…
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Phuket gardening: Help with growing pains
PHUKET: Garden centers in Phuket like the curate’s egg; they are good in parts. Some suffer from neglect, others are overpriced, especially those nearest to the fashionable west coast resorts. The centers that supply plants to hotels are likely to offer the best value. This gardener recently acquired a calliandra, the botanical name meaning “beautiful stamens” and the common name…
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Phuket gardening: Let them grow wild
PHUKET: WHEN enthusiastic gardeners who have lived in Europe or North America first come to Phuket, they need to understand the very different requirements that plants have in this habitat. Because it is much hotter and, during the monsoon, much wetter, few temperate plants can survive these conditions. They may be able to endure several degrees of frost but, on…
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Phuket Gardening: Delving into the Dragon
PHUKET: ONLY a select few members of the cactus family produce edible fruit. In Thailand, you will only regularly encounter one that does – the dragon fruit (hylocerus undatus), known locally as the pitaya. It is one of those tropical oddities that make your mind boggle in astonishment when you first encounter it at fresh markets – a unique rose-pink…
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World class rehab center opens doors in Phuket
PHUKET: Sex, gambling, drug and alcohol addictions in Asia are on the rise as a by-product of the region’s rapid economic development. Until recently, treatment facilities in Asia for those suffering from substance addictions, compulsive behavior and resulting mental issues have not kept pace with societal changes. “We are seeing a big rise in the use of alcohol, drugs and…
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Phuket’s Brush film fest a must
PHUKET: THE film and music festival being held this month at Brush on Kalim Beach may well be one of Phuket’s best kept secrets. The art restaurant is hosting screenings of films from Hollywood veterans and up-and-coming members of London’s art circles in addition to music performances from local talent, throughout August. This is good news for those who enjoyed…
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Phuket’s Tin man with a heart of gold
PHUKET: THE Hongyok family have one of Phuket’s most prominent and prestigious names. They have made their mark as a successful business family and established a strong presence in local politics. The Hongsyoks are indeed a big part of Phuket’s inspirational history. Luang Anuphasphuketkarn is the member of the Hongyok family whose life story resonates the most. The local nobleman…
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Phuket Dog Whisperer: Sensing what humans can’t
PHUKET: DOGS inherited their keen senses from wolf ancestors, and it’s these attributes that enable dogs to play a massive part in our lives. With their phenomenal sense of smell, dogs are being used to sniff out illegal narcotics, explosives and even pirated DVDs. Their sight and hearing capabilities help assist the blind and deaf to live more independent lives,…
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Phuket Yacht Chefs are Franke-ly brilliant
PHUKET: SIX Senses Phuket Raceweek not only enjoyed great competition on the water this year, but also witnessed a great culinary challenge to celebrate the 100th anniversary of kitchen appliance supplier Franke Kitchen Systems. The ‘Franke Yacht Chefs Cooking Challenge’, a first for Thailand, was organized in Phuket to test the cooking skills of yacht chefs, with 100,000 baht worth…
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Phuket Property Watch: Hooray for Koh Sireh as prices rise
PHUKET: FOR THOSE of a certain age, the never-ending, tortuously-lingering melody of the song “Que Sera, Sera” ignites throughts of waterboarding at Guantanamo. It’s like the nerve-screeching act of sawing a frozen turkey with a violin bow. For most of us, commercials and advertising jingles stuck in our subconscious outnumber memories of more profound events in our lives. Anyone who…
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Phuket Gardening: Plant life in the dry lane
PHUKET: Most Phuket gardeners probably don’t give growing catci a second thought. Here’s why they should… Although Euphorbias are one of the largest genera of succulents, cacti (cactacea) are certainly the best known. There are plenty of them in Thailand, even though most of them come from the Americas. Think of all those cowboy films with Mexican bandits and gun-toting…
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Phuket Gardening: A lazy gardener’s delight
PHUKET: The crown of thorns, or euphorbia millii, is a succulent plant that doesn’t require much attention. When the word “succulent” is used, it is usually applied to juicy, delicious fruit such as ripe mangoes, oranges, or pineapples. But for horticulturists, the word has very different connotations: it refers to so-called “fat plants” that store water in their leaves, stems,…
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Phuket Gardening: Little lily love in the tropics
PHUKET: BOOKS on tropical gardening contain little information about types of lily. In fact, few ornamental varieties are mentioned. There is plenty about the allium branch of the family – onions, chives, garlic and the like – but little on flowering lilies. The problem is that though they have been around for 4,000 years, the majority of lilies grow only…
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Photoshop workshop
PHUKET: Are you interested in learning more about Photoshop? If you’ve ever had a hankering to make your pictures better, Photoshop is the way to do it, and the basics are easy. The latest in a series of free introductory computer clinics, this Intro to Photoshop clinic assumes you have Photoshop installed on your PC, and know how to open…
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New zoning includes Phuket’s beaches and islands
PHUKET: THE chief of the Public Works and Town and Country Planning office in Phuket has called for all developers and local authorities issuing building permits to heed the new zoning regulations that came into force on July 7. “The application form for building permits remains the same and requires submission at local Administration Organizations for processing and issuing,” said…
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Facebook Planking craze catches Phuket lying down
People around the globe are acting like planks of wood for fun. But why would anyone want to do this, and what is planking anyway? Love it or loathe it, planking has reached Thailand. PLANKING PHUKET Indie Market, Debuk Road, June 17, 8pm LYING face-down on the sidewalk, his arms by his sides and legs outstretched, the boy remains motionless…
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Phuket dog hero wins top award
PHUKET: THE valiant efforts of Gill Dalley, co-founder of Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation (SDF), were recognized earlier this month when she was named the first Asia Pacific Canine Hero at The SPCA Canine Welfare Awards ceremony in Chengdu, China. The award was established to recognize significant contributions for the betterment of canine welfare in Asia. Gill was singled out among…
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Phuket’s Wine Connection Asian empire at 33
PHUKET: WINE Connection is no longer just a place to pick up a bottle for a special occasion. It is expanding rapidly, launching new bistro-bar-deli outlets nationwide. Four out of the six Phuket branches are going in this direction. The company’s new 150-seat flagship eatery at Central Festival is a testament to the new business model and how far the…
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Phuket deli delights: A day at Delish Cafe
PHUKET: Delish lives up to its name. Since opening last December this little cafe in Rawai, next to Fisherman Way, has carved out a firm following with expats and tourists as the place to go for a fix of fresh. Here are 10 reasons why the Phuket Gazette tips its hat to Delish. Ice Coffee: Start the day straw-in-mouth slurping…
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Soi Dog Phuket facing closure, B5mn needed
PHUKET: THE Soi Dog Foundation’s future (SDF) on Phuket is uncertain. Currently situated on 11.5 rai in Mai Khao, the foundation, which has been tackling Phuket’s severe stray dog problem since 2003, purchased half of the site in 2009. They are now facing pressure from the landowner to buy the other half, which SDF currently utilizes, by October for 10…
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Phuket a haven for addicts
PHUKET: Although illegal, over-the-counter sale and purchase of benzodiazepine derivative drug like diezapam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) is common in Thailand, and is even tacitly accepted by many local authorities. However the practice exposes buyers to health risks including addiction or overdose. Last year, a high-ranking source in the Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) admitted to The Gazette that his…
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Pencilling humor into Phuket people’s lives
PHUKET: THE provocative and amusing work of Dutch artist Iskander Walen is everywhere, even on Phuket. His art has been exhibited in Paris and Singapore, featuring regularly in Today newspaper, FHM and I-S magazines to name a few, as well as being published in two best-selling books. His popularity lies in the simplicity of his art. Whether it’s a sculpture…
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Bypass Bali, go for the Gilis
PHUKET: BALI is a bit overrated these days, having been bombarded by Eat, Pray, Love-inspired hippie wannabes and Australians on their version of spring break. From Ubud to Kuta, Bali’s understated charm is morphing into commercialized hell. But there’s a way to escape this: Bail out of Bali and head to the Gili islands. The “Gilis” comprise three small islands…
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Phuket’s Blue Elephant dazzles guests
PHUKET: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide’s top salespeople were on Phuket earlier this month as part of the organizationn’s “Dazzling Thailand 2011” incentive trip. The once-in-a-lifetime incentive trip was part of hotel group’s annual reward program for sales people exceeding their targets last year. Accompanied by their partners, the hot-shot salespeople arrived on Phuket on May 3, and bedded down…
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Baby Tuptim’s year-long fight for life a tale of Phuket love
PHUKET: Tuptim is happy in the arms of her doting father Rattanachai “Kru Nai” as the Gazette arrives at Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, where Kru Nai works as a trainer. A throng of beaming family friends faun over little Tuptim, eager to learn of her welfare. The eyes of Tuptim’s mother Soisuda “Nit” Pile are trained on her daughter,…
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‘Grand old dame’ of Bangkok Airways in Phuket needs some love!
PHUKET: Dilapidation fears may cause Bangkok Airways to lose its rights to use a classic building in Phuket Town as its office. The two-storey building, located on six rai in the green enclave of the provincial offices on Damrong Road, has stood empty for seven years. Government Officers, led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosut-thirak, inspected the building on May…
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Phuket dart league calls for new teams
PHUKET: Dart players of Phuket step forward: the Patong Darts League (PDL) is seeking one more team to round out the field to six in the next season of play, tentatively scheduled to begin on May 10. One of the longest-running competitive leagues on the island, the PDL has been enjoying games continuously for over a decade and has seen…
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Phuket’s Home for Life: Now assisting more than 200 women, children with HIV/Aids
PHUKET: There aren’t many places to turn to in Thailand for the many thousands of destitute, HIV-positive women who have been cast out of their home communities due to ignorance, but the Life Home Project (LHP) on Phuket’s Sireh Island accepts such women from all over the nation, warmly welcoming them into their family. Last month, the LHP took in…
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Phuket’s Michael Venezuela is mad about fame, and bringing it here
PHUKET: He has danced with Jennifer Lopez, toured with Destiny’s Child, rubbed shoulders with OJ Simpson – in a Miami strip club – and talked his way into the Playboy Mansion. But why is Famous Nightclub’s Michael Venezuela so obsessed with fame and bringing celebrities to Patong? And why on earth does he wear that white suit? The former MTV…
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