Koh Phangan News
Luke Howard Case Remains Unsolved
The inquest looking into the circumstances of the bike crash that killed Luke Howard, 21, remains unsolved due to lack of supporting evidence. Howard died three days after his scooter went in a head-on collision with a taxi in Koh Phangan last June 11. Howard’s mom, Debbie Knight, has expressed her frustration over the investigation of the case. “I will have to accept the fact that there would not be answers to some of my questions, or whether or not it would have mattered had he been in a place that could have provided better healthcare,” she admits.
Later investigation revealed that Howard was not wearing a safety helmet at the time of the incident. Post-mortem analysis conducted in the UK confirmed that he had died of a severe head injury.
Originally from Celeborn Street, South Wood-ham Ferrers, Luke Howard had his run- in with the law in his teens, smoking cannabis at the age of 15 and getting involved in petty crimes. But his life changed for the better after he had found work as a caretaker in a school in Edmonton, North London. Soon afterwards, Howard pursued his life-long ambition to travel, and was set to head to Australia to culminate his seven month-long trip.
Meanwhile, the driver of the taxi involved in the accident currently remains at large and is hunted down by the Thai authorities on charges of dangerous driving.
Best Western Launches Resort in Phangan
Best Western International, known as the World's Largest Hotel Chain, is set to unveil the newly-renovated Phanganburi Resort and Spa, which will add to the island's eclectic array of beachfront accommodation.
Strategically located by the popular Haad Rin Beach, which serves as the venue for the island's world-renowned Full Moon Parties, the Phanganburi Resort and Spa serves as a convenient getaway location.
According to Rashane Sala-Ngarm, Best Western's Senior Manager for International Development, their newest resort was developed with the market's needs in mind. Phanganburi seeks to serve as a relaxing refuge for Full Moon party-goers, and we considered the needs of this particular group, who are looking to book accommodations with the best value, he said.
He further explained the group's intention to entice more tourists from all over the world to visit Phanganburi. We seek to promote the new resort to attract tourists from Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, which are Koh Phangan's main markets, Sala-Ngarm adds.
The 105-room resort has its own beach front as its main attraction, with amenities such two swimming pools, a beach restaurant, its own outdoor pool bar, tour desk, mini mart, and function rooms all with a pleasant tropical atmosphere serving as the backdrop.
Each of Phanganburi's rooms and cottages have a private balcony and equipped with satellite TV, internet, and telephone services. Room facilities include an in-room safety box, mini-bar, airconditioner, with a private bathroom offering your choice of a hot or cold shower.
The Phanganburi Resort is set to open its doors to Koh Phangan tourists by November 2010.
Irish Surfer Dies on Phangan
The body of an Irish surfer has been recovered in Koh Phangan after an extensive search.
Michael O’Brien, 24, was reported missing last week while on a surfing holiday in the island. His father, who had been in Thailand for a visit, had aided the authorities during the search operation.
“It’s really sad, since Michael’s dad was really enjoying his holiday and was even overjoyed to meet his grandchild”, one of the victim’s friends remarked. Originally from Templeogue, Dublin, the dad-of-one O’Brien was married to a Thai lady and had been living in the country for a number of years.
The surfer is believed to have been caught up in the high waves of the island paradise. He is also thought to be related to Linsey O’Brien, who had met the same tragic fate in 2006 when she fell from a cruise ship, after ingesting an allegedly lethal alcoholic mix.
The Irish consulate in Bangkok, along with its Embassy in Malaysia has been actively assisting O’Brien’s family since the surfer went missing. His family will continue receiving support, as confirmed by a Foreign Affairs representative in a recent interview.
Koh Phangan in TV Show
The white shores of Thailand’s full moon party island, Koh Phangan is among the highlighted settings for newest reality show to hit British television, Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand.
The series chronicles the dangers and drama that tourists face as they seek to have the perfect holiday in the Land of Smiles. Koh Phangan remains as one of Thailand’s favorite tourist destinations mainly because of the world-renowned Full Moon Party, which turns the island paradise into one big party rife with drugs and mayhem. Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand reveals more about the trouble that lurks beneath the full moon in Episode Two of the series.
A drunken spree spells hell for Jamie, a young British tourist, as he becomes the victim of assault and robbery. He struggles to explain to the local police what has happened as he nurses a serious head injury, but the cops just don’t seem to understand—nor care. This is attributed mainly due to the language barrier, as most of the local Thais speak little to no English.
Meanwhile, what started out as a lovers’ dream holiday turns into a real-life nightmare as Micha Dixon gets detained for possession of marijuana and gets into a tiff with the Thai authorities. With family and friends collecting money for bail and Micha’s boyfriend Martin pleading her case with the help of a British lawyer, Micha eventually gets to leave the island, but not without suffering from the torture of potentially facing time in Thai jail.
Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand also features scenes shot in Phuket and Pattaya, known as Thailand’s major tourist hubs. Produced by Bravo Entertainment, the show is currently on a rough cut of its third episode, but has received a warning from the Thailand Film Office to put a halt to its airing, as authorities believe that the reality series is a threat to the image of Thai tourism. The show’s executives otherwise argue that the show is mainly created for the British audience and does not intend anyway to deface Thailand’s image as a vacation destination.
With the Full Moon parties long associated with debauchery, Koh Phangan authorities are currently undertaking strategies to execute a crackdown against violence and drugs on the island. The Office of Narcotics is carrying out a joint operation with local residents and tour operators to eliminate drug use in the midst of these wild events. With its humble beginnings from a farewell party for tourists held along the shores of Koh Phangan some two decades ago, the Full Moon Party draws a huge majority of revelers from all over the world.
German Expat Shot in Koh Phangan
A gunshot attack on one of the island’s long-term residents has raised questions about the safety situation in Koh Phangan.
German expat Ralf Flederer, 39, attempted to run for his life when two men attacked him in the middle of the night, but ended up getting shot in the hip before he was able to escape. The victim is well known on the island as the publihser of Kohphangannews.org, a news blog and web portal.
Now seeking treatment at the Bangkok Samui Hospital, Ralf believes that Phangan’s party planners played a role in the attack, as he along with other island residents actively filed complaints with the local police against the raucous all-nighters that result from the Full Moon Party and its various incarnations.
Unable to see any progress or initiative with the Phangan police, Ralf and the other residents took their complaint to the Government Anti-Corruption Bureau in Bangkok. “I started getting threats when the Bureau started their investigation,” Ralf shares. “Ten days before the attack, somebody shot at the coconuts in my yard.” The 17-year resident of Phangan further elaborates that the new party regulations set by the Bangkok authorities, which only allows festivities to last until 6 am, may play a role in the recent shooting.
The recent increase of violence and foreign victims on the island, including a missing backpacker and a German tourist found dead near the party grounds, has furthered the notion that Koh Phangan is now starting to become a lawless island.
Koh Phangan, dubbed as the Island of Madness, draws in party revelers from around the globe to experience the moon-themed shindigs on the island. The Full Moon Party has since branched into several varieties, including the Half Moon, Black Moon, and Shiva Moon parties among others, most of which are held in Baan Thai, the island’s party epicenter. These events, which attract mostly hordes of young travelers, often reek of alcohol and drugs against the backdrop of all-night partying.
New Year 08 / 09 on Koh Phangan
New Years eve on Koh Phangan saw thousands of revelers crowd Haad Rin to see in '09 full moon party style.
Despite reports of tourism declines due to political disputes and the Suvarnabhumi airport closure, Haad Rin beach saw no shortage of eager party goers over the new year.
As the new year count down approached visitors eager to make it to the beach to see in the new year were caught in traffic jams stretching back in to the Haad Rin Hills.
Those fortunate enough to make it to the beach in time were treated to a Haad Rin style New Year, buckets on the beach, fire shows and electronic music until the small hours of the morning.
There is no doubt that Phangan did see some reduction in visitor numbers as a whole, however most resorts in the Haad Rin area were reported to be fully booked over the new year period.
Phangan Resort Development Shelved
Today's Bangkok Post reported that the Body Shape Corporation plans to delay the development of a 500 Million THB boutique resort on Koh Phangan.
Thailand's tourism industry arrival figures have been dampened this high season by the recent political clashes in Bangkok and protests which resulted in the closure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
This in conjunction with the global economic slowdown has lead the Body Shape president Pranee Suebwonglee to suspend development as visitor numbers are expected to decline substantially.
The original development was a joint venture set to commence on a 10 Rai site on Koh Phangan Surat Thani.
Body Shape expects to resume the development in one to two years when tourism arrival numbers recover.
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Phangan.TV News Blog.
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