baabaabobo

We use SEAHORSE which is RO and bottled in Chalong. Costs 50 baht per 19 litre bottle delivered.

Noticed on Bangkok Post front page that it will cost one million baht to move the statues...

Anyone got a link to the video? I'd love to see it.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/tv/details.as...etoplay=1337_33

Phuket resident Daniel Clark drags a 12-foot python from under his car

after a two-hour confrontation at Ao Chalong Country Home Village. Photo by Niel Skelton.

The reticulated python is a non-venomous native of Southeast Asia.

It can reach up to 25 feet long and weigh more than 300 lbs when fully grown.

It feeds on small- to medium-sized animals by crushing them to death. Photo by Mariluna.

PHUKET: A 12-foot python attacked a Phuket-based jewelry designer when he returned home to find the aggressive snake outside his front door on Wednesday night.

Expat resident Daniel Clark said he and a friend fought with the snake for about two hours, fending it off until they were able to wrestle it to a nearby clearing at Ao Chalong Country Home Village.

His account is the most recent in a series of email and text messages to the Gazette following our report of a python attack at Vachira Phuket Hospital on Wednesday morning.

“I came home from a late-night celebration at 3am on Thursday and the snake attacked me when I tried to enter my driveway,” said Mr Clark.

He said he managed to fend off the snake with a stick but it wouldn’t leave his car port so he called neighbor Niel Skelton to help.

The snake continued to coil and lunge at the pair, eventually taking refuge under Mr Clark’s car.

Not wanting to risk another encounter with the snake in the morning, Mr Clark dragged the python out from under the car.

“I didn’t want to harm the snake, and I have friends at home who handle their pet python. We eventually managed to drag it to a clearing at the end of my soi, where it disappeared into the undergrowth,” he said.

In addition to the reports from Vachira and Mr Clark, the Gazette has learned of two separate attacks, both on women in Rawai earlier this week; an attack on a Thai man in Chalong last night; and an encounter by PGTV producer Marc Mulloy at his home, also in Chalong, early this morning.

Mr Mulloy said that his dog had come under attack and was barking fiercely at about 2am today. He said he had to drive away, with a stick, a reticulated python of “at least 12 feet long,” and that after about 20 minutes the snake finally abandoned the contest by scaling up and over a two-meter-high wall.

Reticulated pythons, a native variety commonly found throughout Southeast Asia, are recognizable by the strikingly colorful geometric pattern along their backs.

They are known as one of the world’s longest snakes, measuring 25 feet or more and weighing about 300 lbs when fully grown.

Snake experts characterize them as docile, non-venomous reptiles which are not usually aggressive unless threatened. They are powerful and prey on small- to medium-sized animals such as cats, dogs and pigs, constricting and crushing them to death.

One snake expert, Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation chief Saiyan Thamaphan, told the Gazette that he felt ongoing human encroachment on the natural habitat of snakes was the reason for the marked rise in reports of snake attacks and sightings in Phuket.

“When Phuket was less developed, snakes such as pythons and cobras used to appear only at the end of the dry season, normally in April, but that people are now encountering them throughout the year, especially near construction projects,” he said.

He added that the reptiles are very sensitive to noise and vibrations from construction work.

Anyone encountering a snake is advised not to confront or disturb the animal, but to contact the Ruamjai Foundation (076-283346/7) or the Kulsudorntum Foundation (076-246216 or 076-211706). They will have the reptile removed, often to the Phuket Zoo.

Residents are also encouraged to report snake encounters to the Gazette’s News Desk by emailing [email protected] or calling 076-236555. The newspaper is currently attempting to create a map of locations on the island where encounters are most likely.

-- Phuket Gazette 30/10/09

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday morning convened a meeting of local government office representatives, ordering them to crack down on illegal alien workers harming the Phuket tourism industry.

The meeting took place at Phuket Provincial Hall, where representatives from the local Immigration, Employment, Culture, Fine Arts and Revenue Department offices were among those ordered to carry out the crackdown.

Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop briefs local office heads on what he expects from the crackdown, which is scheduled to kick off on October 30.

The problem of illegal alien workers was not confined to illegal low-wage workers from Burma, Cambodia and Laos, Gov Wichai said.

There are also Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, stateless Rohingyas and Korean tour guides among the ranks of those working without work permits or doing jobs different to those specified in their work papers, he said.

“This is especially true in Patong, where there are beach boys, tour guides, waiters and sales people, for example.

Soi Bangla is full of alien workers who are working jobs different to those specified in their work permits and which are reserved for Thai nationals, he said.

Gov Wichai expressed dissatisfaction that the issue has remained largely ignored, despite the fact that as many as eight different government agencies have the authority to act.

“Even some media businesses are under the control of foreigners or employ foreign editors. Officers need to strictly scrutinize these businesses to determine which are working legally and which are not,” he said.

“If alien workers have work permits and follow all the regulations, we can’t do anything to them, but we need to find out which are working legally and which are not,” he said.

Noting the lack of manpower needed to carry out these investigations, Gov Wichai said he was prepared to call on the military to help if needed.

“When they make such problems as committing crimes or encroaching on public land it makes Phuket look bad. Tourists don’t know that it is not Thai people creating these problems, so we have to find the illegal aliens responsible,” he said.

After the grace period for workers from Burma, Cambodia and Laos expires at the end of October, the ensuing crackdown will target workers from every country, not just neighboring states, he said.

“We will examine them one-by-one, in great detail,” he said.

“They live here together as entire families, destroying our resources, producing trash, using our water supplies…and competing for jobs with Thai people. This is a real weak point for Thailand,” he said.

“If we taxed them all, we could generate a great deal more revenue,” he said.

Officials have ignored the problem for so long that Thai nationals are now suffering as a result, he said.

Gov Wichai gave as an example the situation at Vachira Phuket Hospital, where Thai nationals need to wait a long time to be seen by overworked physicians because of the large number of Burmese that go there for treatment.

To reverse the trend he called on all police branches to arrest illegal aliens and create an atmosphere in which foreign nationals will think twice before trying to enter the country illegally.

He described as another ‘weak point’ the fact that illegal businesses always seem to know in advance when officers are coming to make inspections.

“It happened last time we went out to check the bars,” he said.

Once the grace period passes, a meeting of representatives from all relevant government agencies would be called to co-ordinate the work effort.

The work of the government officers involved would also be scrutinized to ensure they do their part, he said.

“If we don't solve the problem, it will affect tourism in Phuket,” he said.

– Atchaa Khamlo

-- Phuket Gazette 16/10/09

And then there was light

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Light-t306666.html in Phuket News clippings

I was in France recently and the bread/pastries were not as good as La Bastogne yet more expensive.

Always found the staff pleasant and the prices are what they are.

Some good advice there thanks for sharing

Hard to imagine at the moment but there is often a drought during the high season - where is the water coming from?

Phuket road blockade over Islamic cemetery

The protest outside Thalang Police Station in Phuket.

The scene on Phuket's Thepkrasattri Road during the protest yesterday.

THALANG, PHUKET: Around 500 angry villagers blockaded Phuket’s Thepkrasattri Road for two hours yesterday after forestry officials arrested about 30 Muslims for trying to clear protected forest land.

Those arrested wanted to use 30 rai of Pa Bang Khanun Reserved Forest to build a new cemetery for Muslims from Tambon Thepkrasattri villages 6, 8 and 9.

One of those was the imam of Prusompan Mosque, Sukhum Waree.

Mr Sukhum said the Phuket Forest Office had promised Phuket Islamic Office the land two years ago, though the transfer had yet to be made official.

After armed Phuket Royal Forest Department officers made the arrests about 8am, a huge crowd of protesters closed the road in front of Thalang Police Station around midday, demanding the immediate release of all the arrested Muslims.

Long traffic jams built up on either side of the blockade, causing tourists to miss their flights from Phuket International Airport.

A crisis meeting at Thalang Police Station was held, attended by Mr Sukhum, Phuket MP Rewat Areerob, senior police officers, local politicians and community leaders.

By 2pm it was agreed to release the 30 arrested people and allow them to continue to clear the land as planned.

The protesters immediately disbanded.

Mr Sukhum said he never panicked throughout the trouble “because I did this for my people and not for myself.”

“I knew God would protect me,” he added.

Mr Sukhum explained that the old cemetery used by the villagers was set on just 7 rai and was too small to serve the more than 1,000 residents of the three nearby villages.

– Pimwara Choksakulpan

-- Phuket Gazette 5/10/09

I think we all need to understand as well, that this is the FIRST ever Reality TV show produced for a foreign audience and channel in Thailand. Regardless of whether you think it is trash or fun to watch, it is a piece of History and may even change Thailand's attitude on promoting itself to the rest of the world. People don't want to see the boring TAT videos anymore, they want to see what Thailand is REALLY like.

Today I heard from the Thai production company that assisted in making the program that the authorities have backed off and decided to view all 8 episodes before they decide to take action or not. I think they may be starting to realize that the show is not out to destroy Thailand and is only a harmless reality show on a small UK cable/sattelite tv channel.

And viewed throughout the rest of the world via internet.....all my cop buds ( real ones ) are now watching it back in the good 'ol US and of A.

Is Episode 4 on You Tube as of yet..I searched for it yesterday and only saw up to Ep.3 ??

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=3042762

There are (unfortunately) already on sale all over the island. The kids of our neigbhors are playing with it for more than a week now which drive my dogs (and me) crazy

We must be neighbours - for one week now my dog is a shivering wreck thanks to the kids letting off bangers in our soi up until bedtime at 10pm

Ditto - TOT - Phuket

Norwegian tourist drowns in calm waters off Phuket

Jorunn Olden, 65, was on vacation with her husband when she drowned in Ao Yon, Phuket yesterday.

WICHIT, PHUKET: An elderly Norwegian tourist drowned off Phuket in calm waters yesterday after the lilo she was sunbathing on drifted out to sea.

Oslo native Jorunn Olden, 65, was on vacation with her husband in Ao Yon, on Phuket’s east coast, when the tragedy struck.

Witnesses told Phuket City Police Inspector Anek Mongkol they saw her drift out at least 40 meters to sea before she fell in the water at around 1.30pm.

Local people and foreigners swam out to help her but they were too late to save her life.

A spate of tourist drownings off Phuket’s west coast, particularly at Karon Beach, has generated international attention during this year’s monsoon season.

Most deaths have involved foreigners entering rough seas after ignoring red flags warning of dangerous conditions.

The sea at Ao Yon is generally much calmer than the waters off Phuket’s west coast and was calm today when the tragedy happened.

The couple had been renting a house around half a kilometer from where Mrs Olden died.

Mr Olden (first name unknown) told police his wife had been sunbathing on a lilo for three or four hours that day, while he stayed indoors drinking with a friend.

Lt Col Anek said he thought Mrs Olden had probably fallen asleep before her lilo got carried away from the beach by the tides.

“She may have woken with a start and fallen in,” Lt Col Anek said.

When Lt Col Anek arrived at Ao Yon Beach, he found a crowd of people standing around Mrs Olden’s lifeless body.

Her husband was holding her hand, sobbing. The lilo was still floating in the water.

Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers took her body to Bangkok Hospital Phuket for an autopsy, the results of which have yet to be released.

– Khunakorn Terdkiatkhachorn

-- Phuket Gazette 21/9/09

This story was first published by the Phuket Gazette. Luang Pu Supha is 113.

PHUKET CITY: A revered Buddhist monk preparing to celebrate his 113th birthday could be the world’s oldest living man.

Luang Pu Supha, abbot of Luang Pu Supha temple in Chalong, has presented the Gazette with copies of government-issued identification papers showing that he was born in Sakon Nakhon province, in the the northeast of Thailand, on September 17, 1896.

The birth date makes Luang Pu Supha four days older than American Walter Breuning, who currently claims the Guinness World Records’ title of ‘Oldest Living Man’.

Mr Breuning will celebrate his 113th birthday on September 21.

According to the Guinness World Records’ official website, the title was to be awarded to Breuning following the death of British World War One veteran, Henry Allingham, who died on July 18 this year, aged 113.

Mr Allingham, the last surviving British WWI veteran, inherited the title, albeit briefly, from Tomoji Tanabe, a Japanese national who died on June 19.

Guinness World Records said in July that a formal announcement would be made as soon as the record had been verified by a gerontology expert.

But that was before Luang Pu Supha’s age was known.

His official identification documents, including his current house registration and ID card, show that he is four days older than the American, thus making him the world’s oldest living man.

Thanapong Korudom, chairman of the Luang Pu Supha Temple committee, told the Gazette that he would like to invite Guinness representatives to come to Phuket to verify that Luang Pu Supha is in fact the world’s oldest living man.

The secret to the aged monk’s longevity is to “eat less, speak less and always speak the truth,” Mr Thanapong said.

The revered monk was still happy and healthy despite his age, but ate only nine mouthfuls of food at each meal, Mr Thanapong said.

“We should all look within ourselves and question how Luang Pu Supha has managed to achieve his great age,” he said.

Luang Pu Supha avoids spices and salts in his diet, but is said to have a sweet tooth, his favorite dessert being khao neaw kaew (sticky rice with sugar).

For a in-depth report and another photo of the revered monk, read the September 5 issue of the Phuket Gazette, due out on the island's newsstands this afternoon.

– Fraser Morton and Kitima Pornmongkhonwat

-- Phuket Gazette 4/9/09

My wife goes to AbbYsan who has just moved into where Easy Fitness was near Central 3000 baht a month for unlimited sessions - she says they are good.

Could be a checkered keelback... and that is a toad not a frog

He urged the motorists to hand over the cash to police in case the owner later filed complaint with police.

Phuket parents make the most of lucky number nine

PHUKET: Many Phuket couples tied the knot yesterday in wedding ceremonies specially arranged to take place on the auspicious date 09/09/09. Many expectant mothers also considered it fortunate to give birth on the day considered especially lucky by Thais.

Seventeen Thai women and one Burmese gave birth at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday, ten of them naturally, the rest by Cesarean section.

Several of the new mothers who went under the knife for delivery had requested early births to coincide with the ninth day of the ninth month.

Of the 18 births, 11 of the babies were girls.

-- Phuket Gazette 10/09/09

PHUKET CITY: More has been revealed about the amazing life of Luang Pu Supha, claimed by adherents to be the oldest man in the world.

Luang Pu Supha, abbot of a temple named after him in Chalong, is preparing to celebrate his 113th birthday in Phuket next week.

Government-issued identification records presented to the Gazette show he was born on September 17, 1896.

If accurate, the birth date would make Luang Pu Supha four days older than American Walter Breuning, who currently claims the Guinness World Records’ title of ‘Oldest Living Man’.

Thanapong Korudom, President of the Wat Luang Pu Supha committee, said he would like to invite Guinness World Records to come to Phuket and verify that Luang Pu Supha is the oldest living man in the world.

For the initial report, click here:

Luang Pu Supha has lived through several historical events, including Siam changing its name to Thailand in 1939, the Japanese occupation of Thailand in 1942, Thailand becoming the 55th member of the United Nations in 1946, the coronation of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950 and the 2004 tsunami.

Nowadays, Luang Pu Supha lives quietly at his Chalong temple.

In his long lifetime, he has traveled the world in search of what Khun Thanapong says is ‘a life dedicated to truth’.

In 1905, at the age of nine, his father took him to study Buddhism at Pai Yai Temple in Ubon Ratchathani.

In 1916, the young monk embarked upon his official ordination pilgrimage that took him into the mountains of Laos, where he was ordained as a monk.

Six years later, he traveled to Burma, where he met other Thai monks who were on a pilgrimage to India.

Joining the monks, the young Luang Pu Supha set off on a series of adventures which took him to China, then Europe, before embarking on a mammoth journey back to Thailand.

In 1957 at the age of 61, Luang Pu Supha arrived back at his home province and visited his relatives for the first time since he was nine.

Piyawat Siihaveerachart, another committee member and close friend of Luang Pu Supha, said the revered monk came to Phuket when he was in his sixties because he wanted to help the impoverished sea gypsy community on Koh Sireh.

“The villagers didn’t follow a religion, but Luang Pu Supha stayed with them, taught them about Buddhism and built a temple,” he said.

Luang Pu Supha’s birthday celebrations will begin on September 16, starting with a sermon by the head monk from Chonpratharn Rangsarit Temple at 4pm.

Starting at 6.09am on the morning of September 17, monks will honor Luang Pu Supha with mass prayer ceremony at the temple.

The revered cleric will then donate 100,000 baht to Vachira Phuket Hospital and award scholarships to 139 students who will attend his birthday celebrations.

After releasing 119 birds into the wild, he will take part in a mass sit down lunch with 200 monks starting at 11am.

Members of the general public will be able to catch a glimpse of the revered monk at 2pm, when a mass prayer is held and flower offering ceremony is held on temple grounds.

– Fraser Morton and Kitima Pornmongkhonwat

-- Phuket Gazette 08/09/09

"Oho!' said the pot to the kettle;

"You are dirty and ugly and black!

Sure no one would think you were metal,

Except when you're given a crack."

"Not so! not so! kettle said to the pot;

"'Tis your own dirty image you see;

For I am so clean -without blemish or blot-

That your blackness is mirrored in me"

The Sunday brunch at Indigo Pearl included all that except for beggar's chicken

PHUKET: About 1,300 police officers battled it out with ‘protesters’ near Phuket International Airport this afternoon in a mock riot as part of a regional security drill.

The simulated riot was a scripted scenario in which a mob of about 400 protesters aimed to force the closure of Phuket’s airport, protesting against construction of a casino in Phuket.

The protesters assembled about three kilometers from the airport.

When they came to within 500 meters of the airport, the protesters were greeted by police officers armed with shields, water cannons and tear gas.

The police first attempted negotiating with the protesters and then employed escalation of force tactics, eventually dispersing the mob with the water canons and tear gas.

The police officers had been drafted in from Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani and Phang Nga provinces.

Special security advisor to the Royal Thai Police, General Wichian Pojphosri, hailed the drill a success but admitted that there was room for improvement.

“The situation looked very real. It was convincing and the officers performed satisfactorily. However, improvements need to be made in lines of communication,” he said.

The two hour drill ended at 4pm with 'some of the protesters arrested and three police officers injured'.

– Khunakorn Terdkiatkhachorn

-- Phuket Gazette 27/08/09