PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.

sbs.com.au Thousands of Australians like same sex couple James and Mikey find surrogacy in Thailand an attractive option, although it's illegal to 'rent a womb'. Both men tried to inseminate women. How did James and Mikey get their daughter, now aged four months, home? ''We took the risk and we made it home just fine,'' says James.

news.com.au While commercial surrogacy is illegal in Thailand, agencies happily exist under the noses of authorities. An SBS reporter said the demand meant women from nearby countries were also being trafficked into Thailand with the promise of work, but were instead being forcibly impregnated against their will.


The Monkey and the Mask: Terrifying Portraits of Indonesia's Street-Performing Macaques
http://lightbox.time.com/2013/10/29/the-monkey-and-the-mask-reflections-on-primal-fears/#14/

TERROR often stems not from the unknown, but from something familiar that has been subtly - but unmistakably - transformed. This certainly helps explain why Finnish photographer Perttu Saksa's series, 'A Kind of You,' is so unsettling.

msn.com Of all the bizarre beauty and health trends we've seen, draping yourself in live snakes is one of the stranger ones. But in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa offers a unique massage that involves having pythons draped on your bare back.

bangkokpost.com Airports of Thailand must explain details of its operating costs if it wants to raise passenger service charges by 100 baht per person, Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan has warned.

afp Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has sacked his deputy prime minister for being absent without leave and holding unauthorised meetings abroad. The move follows media reports that Qadri Jamil had met with the US pointman for Syria, Ambassador Robert Ford in Geneva to discuss proposed peace talks.

bangkokpost.com Phuket airport recorded 10.98 million passengers with 70,198 flights in the fiscal year to the end of September. The top five nationalities of tourists arriving through Suvarnabhumi are Chinese, Japanese, Indian, South Korean and Russian.

nationmultimedia.com A much-feared confrontation over the controversial amnesty bill being pushed by the Pheu Thai-led government appears more likely as Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban decided to call for rallies nationwide from tomorrow, a Democrat Party source said.

theguardian.com Former Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep have vowed to fight any legal charges against them for their alleged role in the death of anti-government demonstrators during a bloody 2010 crackdown.

smh.com.au The jury sworn in for Fleet Street's first phone hacking trial have been warned to steer clear of Facebook, Google, Twitter - and satire. Nine women and three men were chosen to judge the guilt of eight defendants, including former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson.

independent.co.uk Suu Kyi's betrayal will hit the affected Rohingya ethnic minority hard; not least because the group are in desperate need of support from principled politicians, but also because her contentions - which will be taken seriously by many - are as false as they are cowardly.

nationmultimedia.com Cabinet was informed by the Chinese embassy that Zhang Jinxiong has replaced Xu Mingliang as the consular-general for Songkhla. His responsibility extends to Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.

scmp.com Twelve of the 38 victims of Monday's apparent suicide car crash in front of Tiananmen Gate remained in intensive care in hospitals, while another five have undergone operations, official media said.

nytimes.com The contents of a 71-year-old man's carry-on bag disrupted flights at Montreal's airport for hours over the weekend. It's still unclear why Antony Piazza tried to bring what the police described as all but one component needed to make a bomb aboard a Los Angeles-bound flight.

albawaba.com Swiss will be offering services from Zurich to attractive vacation destinations all over the world this winter in collaboration with its partner Edelweiss. These will include the long-haul destinations of Tampa Bay, Cape Town, Phuket, Male, Mauritius and Punta Cana.

watoday.com.au The world's strongest beer, dubbed Snake Venom, contains a massive 67.5 per cent alcohol by volume, costs $85 to buy and should be consumed in tiny doses, its Scottish makers say.

watoday.com.au Puppetry of the Penis is seeking performers for weekend private parties and as cast members who may be involved in national, and possibly international, tours. Interested men will be sent a sheet of four tricks to practise before being asked to audition.

philstar.com Phuket, the largest and most popular island in Thailand, is known for its stunning selection of irresistible attractions. This island paradise has white-sand beaches, lush tropical forests, majestic limestone formations and a vibrant party scene that draw millions of travelers year after year.

news.com.au Casa de la Flora, Phuket, Thailand
This hotel is situated on the edge of the Khao Lok rainforest in southern Thailand, with 36 cube-shaped villas that face toward the Andaman Sea. [Oh, Rupert. Actually it's in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, at a place called Khao Lak.]



goal.com Jose Mourinho maintained his hoodoo over Arsene Wenger as Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup. Arsenal boss Wenger had failed to secure a victory over a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho in eight attempts before the clash.

afp Mexico striker Javier Hernandez scored twice as Manchester United reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Old Trafford.

nationmultimedia.com Two home pairings failed to make the cut for today's main draw of the women's Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT at Karon Beach, the penultimate FIVB Beach Volleyball Open of 2013. The eight teams that emerged from qualifying will now do battle in the top-flight six-day tournament, where prize money of nearly US$120,000 is on offer.

boxscorenews.com Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst are favorites in Phuket for the penultimate FIVB Beach Volleyball Open of 2013. One of the most popular venues on the FIVB circuit, the Open series women's event is back in Thailand for an eighth consecutive year.



Until November 3 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Karon

October 31 Halloween

November 2 Nakhonrachasima FC V Phuket FC

November 5 Melbourne Cup Day

November 8-9 Islamic New year celebrations, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

November 24-December 1 Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest. Laguna Phuket

December 5 HM The King's birthday

December 26 Commemoration of 2004 Asian Tsunami



January 9-12 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket