Latest News

The Phuket community is invited to come out for “A Night in Rwanda”, an evening of fun and fundraising in support of the Ubushobozi project in Rwanda, at the Shanti Lodge on Soi Bang Rae, Chalong, starting at 6:30 on Friday, November 30. The project, which means ‘power’ or ‘empowerment’, in the local language, was set up to assist young girls in villages in the Musanze area of the country by providing them with sewing machines and teaching both sewing and life skills as a way to help them to eventually sustain themselves.
 
Proceeds from ticket sales to “A Night in Rwanda” will be donated to the project, and the price of 600 baht per person includes hors d’oeuvres and two glasses of wine. Among the fantastic raffle prize and auction items kindly donated in support of the project is a two-night stay at Twinpalms Phuket Resort and dinner for two at Catch Beach Club.
 
For more information and tickets please contact Jeanne Siporin at 087 8955617 or jsiporin@gmail.com or Petra Teslerova at 080 5348064 or petra.teslerova@seznam.cz. Tickets are also available at Shanti Lodge. Details about the Ubushobizi project are here: www.ubushobozi.org.

One of Thailand’s most beautiful festivals, Loy Krathong, falls on November 28 this year and many events across Phuket will take place in the cool evening hours. On Loy Krathong, festivities include making elaborate floating vessels out of banana tree trunks, flowers and leaves, then lighting a candle on it and setting it afloat on a river, lake or sea in the hope of better fortunes in love and life. Couples like to set off a krathong together as a way to strengthen their romantic bond.
 
Every beach in Phuket will be thronged with festival-goers, and many places in Phuket City including Saphan Hin park and King Rama IX park will host lively Loy Krathong events.
 
http://www.loikrathong.net/en/index.php

Athletes from around the world are arriving to Phuket this week to prepare for the launch of two international triathlon events at Laguna Phuket.
 
The Laguna Phuket Triathlon on Sunday, November 25, and Ironman 70.3 on Sunday, December 2, are linked by a “Tri-Fest” of related training and social events for the many age-group and professional athletes who join the competitions. The Tri-Fest week sees triathlon devotees rubbing shoulders with professional athletes at training and social events, all held in a carnival atmosphere.
 
Visit http://www.lagunaphuket.com/events/tri-fest/ for more information.

Travellers to Southeast Asia are about to have an easier time with their arrival process with the launch of a pilot visa project for Thailand and Cambodia on November 21. Under the new arrangement, visitors will be able to apply for a visa at either a Cambodian or Thai embassy that will be valid for both countries.
 
This is the first of many initiatives in Southeast Asia to ease travel and business between countries. If this visa process goes well, it could pave the way for a single visa available for travel in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Musicians from around the world are set to play at the 2nd Phuket City Jazz Summit starting at 8pm on November 4 at the Katina Hotel. Being organised in collaboration with the Phuket Jazz Society, the Summit aims to promote jazz music to a wider audience in Phuket.
 
For more information call Francisco Bona on 080-0528636 or visit the event’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/410486785667107/

Phuket’s place as a sporting destination is being further boosted by the launch of the ITF Men’s Future Tennis Tournament this Saturday, October 27, at the Thanyapura Sports & Leisure centre. Players from across the world will join the tournament, being played in three stages, in their aim to accumulate points for world ranking on the professional tennis circuit.
 
Three week-long tournaments will be held, first from October 27-November 3, then November 3-10, with the third tournament taking place from November 10-17. Visit www.thanyapura.com for more information.

Some Thailand’s top travel industry players were among those honoured at the World Travel Awards’ Asia, Australasia, and Indian Ocean ceremony hosted in Singapore on October 18.
 
A packed delegation travelled from 42 nations to attend the 2012 ceremony, which saw Thailand-based businesses being handed top prizes. Among the Phuket resorts receiving acclaim was the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, which was named Asia’s Leading Beach Resort.
 
Find the complete list of World Travel Awards results here: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/winners2012-4

Phuket comedy fans are in for another evening of mirth on October 24 when the Punchline Comedy Club presents another night of stand-up-comedy at the Holiday Inn Resort in Patong. The line-up of performers includes Eddy Brimson, Mickey Hutton and Marcus Ryan.
 
Tickets before the performance are 960 baht and are 1,200 baht on the day. For details visit http://phuketcomedy.com or contact Marc Mulloy on 087-2677789 or marcmulloy@gmail.com.

Koh Samui is set to host a great week of jazz music from October 14 to 20. The Samui International Jazz Music Festival 2012 will feature some 40 Thai and international artists performing at several beachside locations around the island. A mix of free main stage events and more intimate paid concerts at five hotel venues ensure that no one will miss out on the music.
 
Among the artists set to play are Chicago native Paulette McWilliams, pianist Peter Beets, and the Karen Devroop Jazz Quartet. Find the full event schedule on the Samui International Jazz Music Festival website: http://www.samuijazz.com