The Phuket News
Window on Phuket Phuket News TV Phuket Live 89.5 Where to Eat
The Phuket News Novosti Phuket Khao Phuket

Login | Create Account | Search

Window on Phuket
Phuket News TV
The Phuket News
Where to Eat
Phuket Live 89.5
Login | Create Account      The Phuket News Novosti Phuket Khao Phuket
Poll | Currency | Weather | Facebook | Youtube | Search
Pedal Power: Eleven Countries, Two Legs, One Wild Ride for Phuket
Pedal Power: Eleven Countries, Two Legs, One Wild Ride for Phuket
Most people cross Europe at 30,000 feet with a gin and tonic in hand. I, on the other hand, thought it’d be a great idea to do it on a bicycle.
The Pilgrimage: Pedaling Taiwan’s Perimeter
The Pilgrimage: Pedaling Taiwan’s Perimeter
There’s something wonderfully absurd about cycling around an entire country. Yet every year, thousands pedal the perimeter of Taiwan. It’s part endurance test, part cultural immersion and an entirely questionable life choice that somehow transformed into a popular pilgrimage.
Five years on, does it make a difference?
Five years on, does it make a difference?
“From the bottom of your bellies, make some noise!” Michelle Mouillé urges volunteers at the end of every beach cleanup she organises. An emphatic chorus of “Save Our Oceans” typically erupts after this plea.
Off the grid in the Kentucky Bluegrass
Off the grid in the Kentucky Bluegrass
Most visitors to the United States flock to the coastal cities. If you seek the “other America,” consider an offbeat visit to the state of Kentucky. I have deep roots in Kentucky and a post-Songkran trip reminded me of the unassuming allure of this state known for bluegrass, horses and bourbon.
Road tripping through Southern Thailand
Road tripping through Southern Thailand
Just beyond Phuket’s shores lies an eclectic region of sleepy fishing villages, ancient rainforests, postcard-perfect coastlines and limestone karsts that pierce the sky. Thailand’s southern peninsula, sandwiched between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, makes for a fantastic multi day circular road trip.
In Sri Lanka, a monkey of a surprise
In Sri Lanka, a monkey of a surprise
It is a short list of countries where you can surf, encounter diverse wildlife and visit spectacular archaeological sites. Peru, Mexico and Indonesia come to mind. If you also want to meander among tea estates, this shortlist narrows further.
Phuket Globetrotter: Are the Indian Ocean Isles Worth a Visit?
Phuket Globetrotter: Are the Indian Ocean Isles Worth a Visit?
Living in the paradise that is Phuket, it takes a lot to get us packing for another island. We set off on two back-to-back journeys to explore other islands - in the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives - scattered across the Indian Ocean.
Protecting Phuket’s most valuable natural resource
Protecting Phuket’s most valuable natural resource
“It’s hard, dirty work. And sometimes shocking,” Michelle Mouillé says of cleaning up around the island. With over 95 kilometres of coastline, Phuket boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. These beaches are a major draw for visitors and play a crucial role in the local economy through tourism.
Phuket Globetrotter: In maddening Madagascar, a rare environmental success story
Phuket Globetrotter: In maddening Madagascar, a rare environmental success story
Madagascar, a jewel of biodiversity, appears like a failing state. Since breaking up with France in 1960, Madagascar’s been stuck in a political soap opera ‒ featuring more coups than a chicken coop and elections shadier than a baobab tree.
Phuket Globetrotter: The Caucasus, where history is not past but present
Phuket Globetrotter: The Caucasus, where history is not past but present
Nestled between the Black and Caspian Seas, the Caucasus region stands as one of Earth’s most fascinating crossroads. This mountainous territory, where Europe dissolves into Asia, has long been a collision of cultures, languages and empires. Georgia’s ancient Christian churches share the region with Azerbaijan’s Islamic heritage, while the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus Mountains ‒ and legacy of decades of Soviet rule ‒ loom overall.
Phuket Globetrotter: Ghost towns and Green Lines – the Cyprus problem revisited
Phuket Globetrotter: Ghost towns and Green Lines – the Cyprus problem revisited
Cyprus is often described as a Mediterranean melting pot ‒ Greek, Turkish and a dash of British influence ‒ served with a side of halloumi. An island so irresistible that foreigners dating from Alexander the Great has sought a piece of this real estate. Today’s Cyprus features a political landscape unlike any other in Europe. Which makes it the ideal place for Phuket Globetrotter to pay a visit.
Phuket Globetrotter: In Moldova, blasts from the past
Phuket Globetrotter: In Moldova, blasts from the past
A land journey into the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic has all the features of any other border crossing. A visitor immediately encounters immigration and customs formalities, the national flag and currency, and Cyrillic alphabet. The first hint that things might be a little off occurs when the immigration officer returns your passport without an entry stamp. Instead, you receive a loose piece of paper to document your entry. 
Phuket Globetrotter: At the DNC, is this ‘moment’ a movement?
Phuket Globetrotter: At the DNC, is this ‘moment’ a movement?
Ah, Chicago, where the pizza is deep and the hot dogs are naked. If you found yourself in the Windy City in late August attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC), as I did as a credentialed journalist representing The Phuket News, you were in for a political spectacle for the ages.
Phuket Globetrotter: From sceptic to fan, an odyssey at the Paris Olympics
Phuket Globetrotter: From sceptic to fan, an odyssey at the Paris Olympics
When I first obtained the coveted tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics, I’ll admit I was sceptical. As someone who is allergic to large crowds and mass tourism, the prospect of attending the world’s most celebrated sporting spectacle created apprehension. With millions of people converging on a city that has a love-hate reputation with visitors, how could this possibly be fun?
Phuket Globetrotter: How not to plan a trip across the Pacific
Phuket Globetrotter: How not to plan a trip across the Pacific
“Surely this can’t be right”, I muttered aloud as I attempted online check-in for our flight to the Solomon Islands. To my dismay, I discovered that our pricey tickets had zero baggage allowance and the additional fees would be US$120 per bag.
Phuket Globetrotter: Got tribal instincts? Try Vanuatu
Phuket Globetrotter: Got tribal instincts? Try Vanuatu
We need to get off this volcano right now, Patrick declared as he grabbed my hand. Immersed in thick toxic volcanic smog on the narrow rim of Mount Yasur with near zero visibility, we slowly and deliberately descended out of the plume. Mount Yasur, perhaps the world’s most accessible active volcano, is known for its frequent explosions. We ventured to the rim in the hope of witnessing a natural fireworks show of agitated lava, but mother nature dished out a very different experience that evening.
Phuket Globetrotter: Does travel really make a difference?
Phuket Globetrotter: Does travel really make a difference?
Aki Ra, a Cambodian child soldier in the Khmer Rouge who was taken from his family at age 5, explained: “It was normal to me… It’s what I knew.”
Phuket Globetrotter: When others zig, why not zag?
Phuket Globetrotter: When others zig, why not zag?
Leaving before 5am still wasn’t enough to beat the crowds. Pedalling through Siem Reap’s sleepy streets, it didn’t take long to realise that we weren’t alone. Tourists using all forms of transport were on a pilgrimage to witness sunrise at Angkor Wat. On this morning, there were easily 10,000 visitors, all jockeying for that perfect position.
Globetrotter: ‘You just got a golden shower!’
Globetrotter: ‘You just got a golden shower!’
I knew it was a dangerous position as I stood at the base of a towering tree. Head tilted back, I observed a chimpanzee and her toddler stationed on a high branch directly above. It was an unobstructed backside view. After a morning of dispirited trekking in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, I was willing to take any view.
Phuket Globetrotter: Upended in Uganda
Phuket Globetrotter: Upended in Uganda
I sensed this would be a different journey before I got off the plane in Uganda. The first bottleneck occurred while deplaning at Entebbe airport, a process that abruptly jammed without explanation. Military people were milling on the ground, more than seemed justified for a routine flight from Dubai. Something was happening outside.