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Those seeking to buy their own slice of tropical paradise will not want to miss this event. The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Greater Phuket Chapter is hosting a seminar focussing on the zoning regulations of Phuket and Phang Nga on February 25 at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket. Local leading experts Sorachon Boonsong, Partner, Baker McKenzie Thailand, and Anurag Ramanat, Partner, South Asia Law, are the featured speakers.
 
Following their talks will be a question and answer session and cocktails. Registration starts at 4pm. The cost is 200 baht for non-members of AMCHAM. More information available on the AMCHAM website at www.amchamthailand.com.

February in Phuket will come to a soulful close with two days of blues music at the sixth annual Phuket International Blues Rock Festival on February 25 and 26. The stage shows start at 6pm each night at the Hilton Arcadia Phuket resort on Karon Beach. The bands set to play are award-winning performers from seven different counties.
 
Tickets for the two-day event are 1200 baht in advance or 1500 baht at the gate, while VIP tickets are 3000 baht in advance or 3500 baht at the gate. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Patong Rotary Club in support of its children's programs. See more details at www.phuketbluesfestival.com.

Phuket Buddhist temples will be buzzing with activity on Friday, February 18, with devotees streaming in to mark Makha Bucha Day. Falling on the full moon day of the third month in the lunar calendar, Makha Bucha marks the day that the Buddha ordained 1250 monks and presented the Fundamental Teachings.
 
On Makha Bucha day, one of Thailand's most subtle and beautiful ceremonies begin to happen around sunset, when temple-goers carry out candlelight processions to honour the Buddha and his teachings.

Though this day of love, Valentine's Day, on February 14, did not
originate in Thailand, the Kingdom has embraced this holiday with
great enthusiasm. Plenty of Phuket resorts and restaurants are hosting
romantic Valentine's Day dinners and events, while around the country
a number of unusual events are taking place.
 
In the Thai resort town of Pattaya, 14 couples are attempting to set a
new world record for the longest kiss. In order to break the current
record, they will have to keep smooching for more than 33 hours. The
couples started yesterday, and already a few have dropped out.
 
Down in the southern province of Trang, meanwhile, several couples are
donning dive gear and saying, "I do" -- or perhaps, "glub glub" --
while submerged in the balmy Andaman Sea in Trang's annual underwater
mass wedding ceremony.

The Phuket air passenger traffic figures from 2010 are in and it
looked to be the island's rosiest year yet in tourism numbers.
Arrivals topped 3.5 million for the year, which was a 22 percent
increase over the previous year. Despite the challenges of domestic
political turmoil and a global economic slump, Phuket's air traffic
was more than 19 percent higher than its previous record in 2007.
 
Visitors from Russia and China have been the major drivers of growth
for the resort island.

Phuket is gaining new direct flights from Australia with Strategic
Airlines set to start two non-stop weekly services between Melbourne
and Brisbane on February 22.
 
Australia is one of the largest sources of visitors to Phuket, and a
number of new direct flights from Australia added in recent years
helped the resort island set new air arrival records in 2010.

Phuket has been recognised as one of the hottest destinations for the
luxurious giants of the cruising world: the superyachts. The editors
of SuperYacht World named Phuket the top of its 10 new superyacht
playgrounds in a report published on CNN online this week.
 
The report highlights Phuket's newest east coast yachting facility, Ao
Po Grand Marina, as being a major part of the island's appeal. "Apart
from the stunning backdrop of the region, a large part of the
attraction of the Ao Po Grand Marina is its proximity to major
facilities. Phuket International Airport is only 15 minutes away, as
are major hotels and resorts," the report said. Having a prime
location at the "gate of Phang Nga Bay, Phuket's premier sailing
ground" was also cited as a major enticement for superyachts.
 
Locations in Qatar, Canada, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica and
Tunisia were among the other top-10 new yachting playgrounds listed.

Phuket resorts across the island are fully booked for the Chinese New
Year festivities from February 2 to 8, says Bangornrat Shinaprayoon,
Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office.
 
Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia
are set to arrive, boosting Phuket tourism revenue up to more than one
billion baht during the week, she said.
 
One of the highlights being promoted is a tour of nine Chinese shrines
around Phuket from February 4 to 10 on an open-air 'Pho Thong' taxi
bus for only 99 baht each. The Phuket Old Town fair and walking street
will run during the same period along Thalang and Phangnga roads in
Phuket Town. (Source: MCOT news online)

Give Peace a Chance. John Lennon sang this simple phrase yet for many peace remains an elusive frame of mind. American Zen priest and founding teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order, Roshi Joan Halifax, will be discussing the Zen method of skilful living in a session at Phuket International Academy on February 2 from 5pm to 7pm.
 
'The practices of a Zen peacemaker offer a skilful approach to living a socially engaged and meaningful life. The practices include being mindful of interdependence, encountering all with respect and dignity, listening and speaking truthfully and compassionately, among others.'
 
The entry fee is 300 baht per person. Visit www.phuketinternationalacademy.com for more information.