PHUKET: Internet sensation Matthew “Dancing Matt” Harding was in Phuket yesterday to record his latest video and promote the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s most recent promotional campaign: “Go Thailand: All That Is Missing Is You”. Perhaps the world’s most well-known globetrotter, Matt was in Phuket for just one day. He met with the media at Mission Hills Phuket Golf Club prior to a shoot in the Kata-Karon area.
PHUKET: With close to 4,000 downloads since it’s launch, the Phuket Gazette’s latest iPad App has soared to the top of the App store’s search results for “Phuket”. The new version (1.1), launched just ten days ago, on November 28, is rated 4.
PHUKET: Officers at Phuket’s Kathu Police Station today stepped up their campaign to have students at Kathu Witthaya School use the pedestrian bridge instead of risking life and limb by crossing the busy road in front of the school. Tung Tong Police Superintendent Col Kraitong Chantongbai told the Phuket Gazette that nearly every day he receives reports of students being involved in an accident or narrowly escaping serious injury while crossing the road.
PHUKET: More than 200 inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison will be back on the streets soon, following the Royal Pardon decreed by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of his 84th birthday yesterday. Phuket Provincial Prison Director Rapin Nichanon said prison officials were still reviewing the paperwork and could not give an exact figure on how many inmates would be released on pardon.
PHUKET: The second lunar eclipse to be visible from Phuket this year will occur on the night of December 10, a date annually observed in Thailand as the Constitution Day public holiday. Weather permitting, the entire eclipse should be visible from Asia and Australia
PHUKET: Boats confirmed for display at the Phuket International Boat Show 2012 (PIMEX) have a combined value of more than US$ 50 million (approx 1.5 billion baht).
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Texas gunman shoots woman, 4 children before killing self Phuket GazettePHUKET: A Texas man opened fire on five people, including four children, on Wednesday afternoon before reportedly killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, local authorities said on Thursday. The shooting happened at around 3.20p.
PHUKET: Walking into my local shopping center yesterday I was amazed to see Christmas decorations adorning the shops and general surroundings. A quick check of the date on my watch and I realized that although the trees, baubles and tinsel were a trifle early, it certainly was closer to the holidays than I had imagined! This gave me food for thought and with 2011 racing by at a rate of knots I have located my crystal ball and had a look ahead to 2012. Firstly to say that 2011 has been a difficult year for the world economy and financial markets would be quite an understatement.
PHUKET: Local groundwater well-drilling operators have threatened to blockade the Phuket office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) if the office’s chief, Chaipadung Promsawadi, doesn’t start recognizing power of attorneys as an acceptable form of representation. Before approving permits for new wells to be dug, Mr Chaipadung wants to meet the owners of the companies that have applied for the wells to be dug, instead of being presented with a document saying they have empowered another person or company to do it for them. Mr Chaipadung introduced the new rule when he transferred to the Phuket NRE office as chief on October 11.
PHUKET: The American Citizen Services section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok is at the Hilton Arcadia Phuket Resort and Spa in Karon this morning.