INSIDE - Phuket News

The Indigo Pearl Resort donated 616,000 baht to the Phuket Sunshine Village on 27 June. The funds were raised through the silent auction of the exclusive tin mining statuettes designed by world renowned architect, Bill Bensley.

The Thai law that states that those who ride motorcycles without helmets should be fined, has been in operation since 1996, but the Phuket police finally became more visibly active in enforcing it on 1 July, 2010.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Phuket and Phang Nga and low budget airline Air Asia have joined forces to launch a travel campaign in a bid to boost tourism numbers during the low season.

More than 900 Phuketians experienced an American 4th of July picnic - Phuket Navy League Style - at the HeadStart International School in Phuket.

British-born sisters Kasia (9) and Alicia (6) Sambrook will be climbing the 4km high Mount Kinabalu – positioned between the Himalayas and New Guinea – on 14 July to raise funds for the Soi Dogs Foundation.

The other ‘Phuket Post Office’ has found a way around the World Cup gambling ban by launching a special ‘predict the world cup results’ postcard.

Plans to build two tunnels to ease traffic congestion at the Bypass Road/Tesco Lotus intersection and at the Thai Naan/Central Festival intersection have been given a final once over by the Highway Department and Phuket Vice Governor.

While many of us will be watching the World Cup 2010 from the comfort of our armchairs this month, a young Englishman is in training for perhaps the biggest challenge of his life – running up the Big Buddha Hill in Phuket.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) held a meeting last month to check whether sufficient preparations were in place to help potential victims from floods and landslides in the 14 risk areas in Phuket.

The Phuket Andaman Halal 2010 - a festival that celebrates the Islamic faith and culture – will be held in Saphan Hin, from 18-20 June.