Category Archives: thai environment

climate change, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, thai economy, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Saturday’s News-Feb 18

  • Sansiri plans 22 Thai projects this year, including ‘Cabanas Huahin’/
  • Centara resort celebrates 100th anniversary/
  • Cave rescue: Duangpetch Promthep’s death shatters happiest of endings/
  • Thailand to get 2 new types of lottery: fully digital and semi-digital/
  • Websites of all 20 Thai ministries hacked by online gambling platforms/
  • NESDC prunes 2023 growth view to 2.7-3.7%/
    New amendments make it easier to set up companies in Thailand/
  • Thailand woos foreign film production to promote growth, cultural soft power/
  • Monkey thieves corraled in Nakhon Sawan/
  • ‘Without private sector in tow, Thai government cannot achieve sustainability goals’/
  • Police officer dies, four injured in insurgent attack in Yala Province/
  • Tourism: Surat Thani Tourism Hits Highest Growth in Thailand/Almost 2,000 Chinese flights to enter Thailand/AoT launches new plan to handle rise of passengers/Thailand’s Unique Street Food With Black Noodles shocks Indians/Netflix, Thailand partner on travel guide/Thai Airways cancels flights to Germany due to strikes/Operators seek tourism law reform following Japan scam/
  • Thailand Experience: All the single ladies… Unmarried Thai women sick of being bad-mouthed/European tourists learn to do Thai-traditional rice farming in Mae Hong Son/
  • International: Man rescued 11 days after deadly quake in Turkey/Ukraine energy supply recovering after Russian strikes/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Sansiri plans 22 Thai projects this year, including ‘Cabanas Huahin’

This year, Sansiri plans to launch 22 condominium projects in Thailand this year worth a total of US$725 million, representing a growth of 151% from the previous year. The highlight this year is the launch of Sansiri’s new luxury condominiums in sought-after mid-town locations, such as Ari and Ratchathewi.

Furthermore, the company’s new condominium brand, “Cabanas Huahin”, will be introduced and promises to stand out as a one-of-a-kind project in Hua Hin, one of the world’s top traveling destinations in Thailand.

Sansiri will also launch two new lifestyle-brand condominiums in the Sukhumvit area this year. Furthermore, the ompany has planned to inaugurate nine new Sansiri brands that cover all segments to expand further in each of its portfolios. The move will strengthen the coverage and inclusivity of all needs and price ranges – including the brands in the Sansiri Luxury Collection, a collection of super-luxury flagship and luxury residences, which will help to expand Sansiri’s luxury product portfolio. – prnasia.com

Centara resort celebrates 100th anniversary

The Hua Hin Railway Hotel, now known as the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary..

The historic hotel is known for its unique blend of Thai and colonial architecture and is recognized as not only one of the most notable landmarks in Hua Hin but one of the most iconic hotels in Southeast Asia.

The centennial celebration was a colorful and lively affair, with many attendees dressed in traditional Thai dress to honor the country’s rich culture and heritage. The event was a fitting tribute to the hotel’s rich history and its significant contribution to the local tourism industry. Continued …

Cave rescue: Duangpetch Promthep’s death shatters happiest of endings

We still do not know what caused the sudden death of Duangpetch “Dom” Promthep at the football academy in Britain to which he had been so proud to win a scholarship last year.

It casts, for the first time, a sad shadow over a story which until now had not lost its power to inspire, to lift the spirits.

The astonishing saga of the Thai boys rescued from the cave in July 2018 was that rarest of things in the news business: a tale with an almost flawlessly happy ending, although two Thai divers died, one during preparations for the rescue and one later from a blood infection picked up in the cave. Continued …

Thailand to get 2 new types of lottery: fully digital and semi-digital

The Government Lottery Office’s board approved the plan to issue two new types of lottery – the six-digit (L6) and three-digit (N3) lotteries.

The move was proposed by the Finance Ministry.

The L6 lottery will go for 80 baht each, the same as the lotteries currently available, but will only be sold in digital format. Some of these lotteries will be sold via the Pao Tang application, said Lavaron Sangsnit, chairman of the Lottery Board. Continued …

Websites of all 20 Thai ministries hacked by online gambling platforms

The websites of state agencies under all 20 Thai ministries have been attacked by hackers working for online gambling platforms, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said on Friday.

He said the hackers managed to plant malicious script on web pages of the government agencies that linked to online gambling websites.

More than 30 million URLs of compromised state-agency websites were found to have been corrupted. Continued …

NESDC prunes 2023 growth view to 2.7-3.7%

The government’s planning unit has downgraded its economic growth forecast to 2.7-3.7% for this year from 3-4% estimated in November last year, largely attributed to the global slowdown and declining exports. Continued … 

New amendments make it easier to set up companies in Thailand

The government has adjusted requirements for the registration of limited partnerships and mergers in a bid to ease the setting up of startups.

Deputy government spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul said on Friday that amendments to the Civil and Commercial Code now allow a limited partnership to be registered in the name of two people instead of three.

The amendment was announced on Nov. 8, 2022, and went into effect 90 days later, on Feb. 7. Continued …

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach !
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment

Get a beach-bed at our Anantasila beach – 500 Baht per person

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Thailand woos foreign film production to promote growth, cultural soft power

Thailand is promoting its film industry as a shooting location for foreign films in an effort to boost the economy and improve the kingdom’s image through cultural soft power, a government spokesman said.

Thailand’s popularity as a filming destination has grown over the years due to its diverse locations and skilled production crews, which will help the Southeast Asian country become known for its beauty, said Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister and government spokesman.

Encouragement of foreign film productions was another cost-effective measure, as it would generate income for businesses and locals near film locations throughout the country, Anucha said. Continued …

Monkey thieves corraled in Nakhon Sawan

The two suspects caught trying to capture long-tailed macaques were met with fury from Nakhon Sawan locals as they were brought back by police to enact their crime on Friday.

Thaweeluck, 37, and Phromphiram, 23, (last names withheld) were arrested on Thursday as they were trying to hit the creatures with tranquilizer darts.

Wat Khao No, a mountainous tourist attraction in Nakhon Sawan’s Banphot Phisai district, is famous for its long-tailed macaques. Continued …

‘Without private sector in tow, Thai government cannot achieve sustainability goals’

Thailand’s government should speed up the country’s sustainable development and ensure that private companies are achieving their own sustainable goals, experts from Baker & McKenzie said during a seminar at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok on Friday.

During the seminar on “Sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)”, the company’s partner, Yuthana Sivaraks, said ESG has been trending since the launch of the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that commits states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, on Dec. 11, 1997.

He added that the move to deal with greenhouse gas emissions had changed from voluntary to mandatory after the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, was adopted in 2015. Continued …

Police officer dies, four injured in insurgent attack in Yala Province

One police major was killed and four other officers were injured when the blast from a bomb, hidden under a road in Bannang Sata district of Thailand’s southern province of Yala, impacted the pickup truck in which they were traveling Friday.

The five-man team was on its way to investigate the torching of road rollers by suspected insurgents last night. When the truck arrived near the scene of one of the damaged rollers, insurgents, who may have been hiding nearby, detonated the device.

The powerful explosion tore a large hole in the road and blew the police car onto its roof. The police major died at the scene. – Thai PBS

Surat Thani Tourism Hits Highest Growth in Thailand

Surat Thani tourism, which includes Samui, Phangan, and Tao (Turtle) islands, has reached the highest growth in the country, with tourism revenue increasing 900% from a 600% increase of tourists year over year.

Surat Thani Gov. Witchawut Jintoe said that according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, last year Surat Thani’s revenue from tourism was 27.66 billion baht. Continued …

Almost 2,000 Chinese flights to enter Thailand

Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) authorized 1,910 flights from China to enter the kingdom, with 671 expected to arrive in February and 970 slated for arrival in March, according to CAAT President Suttipong Kongpool.

In addition, the CAAT has received 6,318 flight requests for the period from Feb. 13 to 19, bringing the total number of flights for February 2023 to 25,256. A total of 269 Chinese flights already arrived in the country last month.

The increase in flights follows the relaxation of travel restrictions by the Thai government after the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the lifting of harsh border restrictions by China on Jan. 8. Continued …

AoT launches new plan to handle rise of passengers

Suvarnabhumi International Airport has announced new measures to handle the rise of incoming passengers, as the number of arrivals at Bangkok’s main international gateway jumped following China’s decision to reopen its borders.

The Airport of Thailand (AoT) revealed on Friday that Suvarnabhumi airport has come up with many measures to tackle the delays in passenger servicing time, which have already begun improving service flow, especially during peak hours, it claimed.

According to Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Kittipong Kittikachorn, the airport received complaints about luggage claim delays from approximately 30 flights per day last month. Continued …

Thailand’s Unique Street Food With Black Noodles shocks Indians

Thai street cuisine is prepared in open spaces and served to customers searching for quick and delightful meals. It is typically sold from carts, stands, and the sides of the road.

The internet came across dark-colored noodles/spaghetti in Thailand and Indians are still recovering. In the viral video, a lady tosses bluish, black-colored noodles along with vegetables, spices and shrimp. She tosses all the ingredients together and serves them to her customer. Video 

Netflix, Thailand partner on travel guide

Netflix is partnering with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), and the Creative Economy Agency (CEA) to put together “Uncover Thailand: A Creative Travel Guide”, a first-of-its-kind Thailand travel guide.

This creative travel guide will lead tourists to discover incredible locations featured in popular films and shows from Thailand and beyond on Netflix – and include recommendations for great experiences in the surrounding areas to help travelers make the most of Thailand’s natural wonders, gastronomic experiences, rich cultures, and diverse heritage.

The launch event also saw representatives from relevant agencies engage in extensive discussion on the topic of “Promoting Thai Tourism through ‘Uncover Thailand: A Creative Travel Guide'”. Continued …

Thai Airways cancels flights to Germany due to strikes

Thai Airways announced the cancellation of all flights from Bangkok to Frankfurt and Munich and vice versa yesterday due to labor strikes at airports all over Germany.

Airport workers at major hubs in Germany were taking part in a day-long strike over pay, disrupting airline operations.

Public sector workers and ground handlers were striking at seven airports: Frankfurt Main, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dortmund, Hannover and Bremen. Continued …

Operators seek tourism law reform following Japan scam

Tour operators are calling for tourism laws to be reformed to protect travel agents, not only customers, following an alleged Japan tour scam worth 14 million baht.

Ten retail travel agents filed a complaint against one wholesale company with the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau this week, alleging they were scammed when they bought outbound package tours to Japan for a price of 21,899 baht. The wholesale company said it could not arrange the tours as promised.

According to the Tourism Department, this company has allegedly been offering scam tours to Japan since before the pandemic, with reportedly more than 400 victims. Continued …

All the single ladies… Unmarried Thai women sick of being bad-mouthed

As a foreigner who is not married and has no intention of ever marrying, unmarried Thai women are not happy with me, and neither is anyone else.

It seems to me that Thai society is composed of everyone knowing their own place and knowing everyone else’s place, too. There actually is a place for a “man like me” – it’s the big pink bucket in the corner – but I don’t fit in there either.

Being unhappily divorced and hated by your children is just fine. Being a bullet-headed sex tourist is fine. Being a 73-year-old pervert with a 40-kilogram wife 55 years younger than him is Jim Dandy.

Having no interest in marriage makes me (obviously) gay, subversive, a liar, abnormal, anti-Thai, insane, pitiful, tragic and in need of conversion therapy. Continued …

European tourists learn to do Thai-traditional rice farming in Mae Hong Son

A group of European tourists from France, Sweden, England, and Germany was guided to do Thai traditional rice farming at Fern Rim Than Resort, Ban Hua Nam Mae Sakut subdistrict, in Mae Hong Son Province.

The tourists shared that they thought the activity was fascinating. They enjoyed to learn about Thai cultures, while reconnecting with nature during their vacation.

Participating in the farming were Chettha Mosikarat, governor of Mae Hong Son Province and Thawatchai Nathipakorn, the owner of the resort. Continued …

Man rescued 11 days after deadly quake in Turkey

A man was rescued on Friday from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the southern province of Hatay, 11 days after a massive earthquake struck the area, killing more than 43,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Continued …

Ukraine energy supply recovering after Russian strikes

Ukraine was weathering a wave of Russian attacks on its power grid and seeing recovering supplies despite Russia’s campaign against key infrastructure, energy operator Ukrenergo said Friday. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, cha am, chiang mai, climate change, covid, hua hin, marijuana, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, thai economy, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Friday’s News-Feb 17

  • And yet another happy customer renews sponsorship of Expat News – IC Curtains/
  • Hua Hin Old days Festival at Bluport March 3-5/
  • Crab festival set in Cha Am March 11-18/
  • German expat, daughter have lucky escape after fire destroys home in Cha Am/
  • Try these different varieties of pad krapow in Hua Hin/
  • Wild Boar football team pays tribute to captain ‘Dom’/
  • School head shocked by Wild Boars footballer’s death/
  • Property market outlook for this year improves/
  • Three-Month Burn Ban Put in Place to Curb Haze, Wildfire/
  • Over 500 fires in northern Thailand spark alarm/
  • Eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to be closed due to forest fires/
  • Consumer products likely to cost more despite cut in diesel price/
  • Online advance booking of train tickets now requires credit or debit card/
  • Thailand’s roads claim the lives of 75 foreigners so far this year/
  • BMA, US Embassy, Tesla promote electric vehicles in Bangkok/
  • BGRIM, Innopower team up for clean energy projects/
  • Foreign Motorbike Racers in Phuket Draw Police Attention/
  • Police arrest gang selling Thai monkeys abroad for medical research/
  • Winds destroy durian crops worth 5 million baht in east/
  • Thai ecologist sounds alarm on declining shark numbers/
  • Best Thai cannabis strains for sleep and insomnia relief/
  • Tourism: Calls for scrutiny of new tourism fee fund/Entry fees to include insurance/
  • Thailand Experience: First ‘cultural map’ of the country now online/There’s Never Been a More Exciting Time to Eat Thai in Bangkok/
  • Covid: Covid infection gives similar immunity to vaccination/
  • International: 10 deadliest quakes of the past 100 years/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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And yet another happy customer renews sponsorship of Expat News

IC Curtains

Established for 15 years in Phuket and now in Hua Hin, IC Curtains and its sister companies Just Sofas and Lucky Awnings provide many complementary and interrelated products in a “one-stop shop” experience, simplifying and minimising the time and stress involved with multiple suppliers.

As a family-run business, you can be assured that our customers always come first, and we pride ourselves in giving friendly, honest service with no high-pressure selling.

We absolutely guarantee our work, and offer a free 12-month after-sales service on our workmanship and products for normal wear and tear.

We stock only the very best quality products, such as VC FABRICS, PASAYA Fabrics, ACACIA Fabrics, SUNBRELLA Umbrellas, NITAS Textiles, and SOMFY Motorised Solutions, as we can depend on both the products and their guarantees to us.

The company founder and owner “Lucky” is from Australia and has over 45 years curtain and fabrics industry experience, and over 60 years in service and retail industries, and so he really understands the level of customer service needed to keep clients happy.

Customer satisfaction is where IC Curtains really shines.

We focus on taking the time to understand your own personal style and vision, and offer advice on how to bring together the aesthetics, purpose, budget and functionality of your environment. Our goal is to help you to create the mood, tone and ambiance that you envision for your space, with the best quality products within your budget.

We simplify the process by enabling design, color and style choices for both indoor and outdoor soft furnishings and products in one place.

Our Showroom is conveniently located on Soi 112, directly opposite the well-known Maha Samutr Country Club. We are open Monday to Saturday, 8:30am to 530:pm.

We have a good range of products on display, and a full set of sample books for every product available from our suppliers.

Our loyal team has been with us for many years and includes specialists in measure and quote, cutting, sewing, fitting and support, are well trained and will leave your property as clean as when they arrived.

Call Lucky direct on 093-6294400 to make an appointment to drop-in and tell us about your unique requirements.

70/171 Soi 112 Huana Tuptai Road, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, 77110 Thailand; email: scholtesjochen3@gmail.com; tel: 093-6294400; Web; Facebook.

Crab festival set in Cha Am March 11-18

Cha Am municipality has announced its crab festival – “Gin Pu Chak@Cha-am festival” will take place March 11-18 at Cha-am viewpoint. Expect lots of fresh seafood and local cuisine, live music, entertainment, shopping and much more.

German expat, daughter have lucky escape after fire destroys home in Cha Am

A German man and his young daughter had a lucky escape after fire quickly spread through their home in Cha Am this morning.

Officials said a cigarette butt that wasn’t properly disposed of caused the fire at the three-story property located close to Phanthurat Forest Park in Khao Yai District.

The fire broke out in a bedroom on the second floor before spreading to an adjacent wardrobe and bathroom, officials said. Continued … 

Try these different varieties of pad krapow in Hua Hin

There are many dishes that are ubiquitous with Thai cuisine: som tam, pad Thai and green curry just to name a few.

But there is one dish that could perhaps be considered a part of daily life in Thailand, more so than any other.

And while dishes such as pad Thai may be more well-known internationally, it is pad krapow which is the true staple of Thai food. Continued … 

Wild Boar football team pays tribute to captain ‘Dom’

Duangpetch “Dom” Promthep, one of the 13 ‘Wild Boars” rescued from Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai province back in 2018, has died in England, said Supatpong Methigo, a monk who taught him in Chiang Rai on Wednesday.

“Note” Prachak Sutham, member of “13 Wild Boars” paid tribute to “Dom”, the captain of Wild Boars soccer team.

“R.I.P., My Dear Friend, We, 13 people, have been through a lot together, both suffering and happiness. We have risked life and death and gone through all the hardships together. You said to wait and see when you join the national team. I always believed that you could do it. Continued … 

School head shocked by Wild Boars footballer’s death

The director of a school in Chiang Mai has expressed surprise about the sudden death of young “Wild Boars” footballer Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep in England, saying the school was awaiting the autopsy results to learn the exact cause.

Duangphet was a Mathayom Suksa 5 (Grade 11) student at Vachiralai School in Saraphi district when he received a scholarship from the Zico Foundation to a football academy in in England, said Khanong Tonlek, the school director.

The boy continued to take online courses and exams at Vachiralai School to qualify to enter Mathayom Suksa 6 in the next academic year. Continued … 

Property market outlook for this year improves

The total residential property index projection for 2023 has been upgraded, as reduced transfer and mortgage fees continue to offer benefits to buyers of mid-scale properties.

Vichai Viratkapan, acting director-general of the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), said the total residential property index last year rose 21% to 91.7, from 75.7 in 2021. The 2022 figure is the highest since 2019.

“The key driver was the loan-to-value (LTV) limits that started in 2019 and eased in 2021, ending last year,” Vichai said. Continued … 

Three-Month Burn Ban Put in Place to Curb Haze, Wildfire

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha ordered the implementation of any possible measures to keep wildfire under control and seek cooperation from all concerned localities to observe no-burning rule from Feb. 1 to April 30.

Those who violate the rule will be penalized, said deputy secretary-general to the prime minister and acting government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri.

Concerned agencies are also urged to work proactively to create public awareness. If the situation is not better, plan adjustment will be necessary to beef up related measures. Continued … 

Over 500 fires in northern Thailand spark alarm

More than half of the 1,005 fires recorded in Thailand on Wednesday were in the North, causing dangerous levels of pollution, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.

The three provinces with the highest number of fires were Chiang Mai (205), Tak (156), and Mae Hong Son (146).

Of the total number of fires in Thailand, 501 were in protected forests, 361 in reserved forests, 55 in areas under the Agricultural Land Reform Office, 45 on farms, 42 in local communities, and one along a highway, the agency said. Continued …

Eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to be closed due to forest fires

Thailand’s Center for Air Pollution Mitigation has asked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to close eight national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in 17 northern provinces, in a bid to control the increasing number of forest fires.

Pollution Control Department Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi said that the closures will allow officials to work with greater flexibility and efficiency to control the hotspots, which are mostly being detected in forest reserves.

The closures affect Nam Pai, Om Koi and Pa Mae Tuen wildlife sanctuaries, and Pha Daeng, Tham Pha Thai, Ob Luang, Mae Ping and Si Nan national parks. Continued … 

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach ! 
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment

Get a beach-bed at our Anantasila beach – 500 Baht per person

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Consumer products likely to cost more despite cut in diesel price

The move by the Oil Fuel Fund Office to approve a reduction in the retail price of diesel by 50 satang per liter from Wednesday is unlikely to deter consumer goods makers from hiking prices.

President of the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Assn., Somchai Pornratanacharoen, said manufacturers were forced to hike product prices, as skyrocketing energy costs had affected their overall cost of production.

“The high energy prices last year pushed up the prices of items, such as noodles, soaps, and snacks,” he said. Continued …

Online advance booking of train tickets now requires credit or debit card

 

From yesterday, passengers who make online advance bookings for train tickets, through the D-Ticket website of the State Railway of Thailand or through its application, must pay for the tickets with their credit or debit cards.

Passengers can, however, still make advance bookings at all train stations with cash, if they do not have or do not want to use their cards.

The SRT explained that it decided to require passengers to pay for tickets when they book online because many do not show up to claim their tickets they booked within 30 days, resulting in other passengers losing the opportunity to travel. Continued … 

Thailand’s roads claim the lives of 75 foreigners so far this year

Thailand’s deadly roads have claimed the lives of 75 foreigners so far this year. A further 2,886 foreigners were injured, according to data from Thai RSC, an accident information center.

Foreigners getting into road accidents in Thailand regularly make headlines but much more go unrecorded by the media.

Data recorded from Jan. 1 – Feb. 15 reveals that 2,099 people in total died in road accidents in Thailand so far this year. Of those, 75 were foreigners. Statistics show that 106,133 were injured in road accidents so far this year, 2,886 of which were foreigners. Continued …

BMA, US Embassy, Tesla promote electric vehicles in Bangkok

Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt on Thursday participated in an activity to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) at City Hall in Phra Nakhon district.

Co-hosted by Embassy of the United States in Bangkok and private partners, EV-promotion events were also organized simultaneously at four other locations: Continued …

BGRIM, Innopower team up for clean energy projects

B.Grimm Power (BGRIM), an energy developer with the largest capacity in the small power-producer segment, has forged a venture with energy innovation firm Innopower Co. to promote clean energy projects, including electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure development.

The two companies did not elaborate on the EV-related project, saying only they will work together to develop an “ecosystem” for battery EVs, part of efforts to help the government reduce carbon dioxide emissions and avoid the severe impact of climate change. Continued …

Foreign Motorbike Racers in Phuket Draw Police Attention

A group of foreign motorbike racers were reportedly warned of being a public nuisance before a fight with locals broke out on Bangla Road in Patong.

A viral video clip of people fighting on Bangla Road went viral in social media last Wednesday.

TPN media has decided not to air the clip due to material that may disturb sensitive viewers. Continued … 

Police arrest gang selling Thai monkeys abroad for medical research

Police have busted a gang that was catching and selling Thai monkeys abroad to be “lab rats” in medical research and for “energy” food.

Some were believed to be worth as much as 100,000 baht each.

The case happened in Nakhon Sawan at a tourist area called Khao Nor, where Nan, 55, sells monkey treats. Continued …

Winds destroy durian crops worth 5 million baht in east

Like them or hate them, there is huge money in growing what are often referred to as the King of Fruits – the famously smelly and, for some, delicious Durian.

But like all crops, they can be subject to the vagaries of the weather, and disaster struck yesterday for 6-7 orchards by a reservoir in Trat, eastern Thailand.

High winds caused nearly 10,000 of the fruit weighing 1.5 – 2.5 kilos and worth 500 baht each to fall. Continued … 

Thai ecologist sounds alarm on declining shark numbers

A Thai ecologist is sounding the alarm on the decline in the number of sharks in the country’s waters.

The marine ecologist, Assistant Professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, the deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University, presented some worrying facts about the situation.

Thon said that around 75 of the 87 shark species in Thai waters are endangered. Endangered sharks include the whale shark, leopard shark, hammerhead and bull shark. Most of the shark species in the country’s territorial waters are listed as endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Continued … 

Best Thai cannabis strains for sleep and insomnia relief

Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, and one of its most common applications is to help with sleep and insomnia. With the growing popularity of cannabis as a sleep aid, it can be challenging to know which strains are the best for promoting a restful night’s sleep.

In this article, we will explore some of the best cannabis strains for sleep and insomnia, with a focus on strains that have their origins in Thailand.

Thai Stick

Thai Stick is a classic cannabis strain in Thailand that is known for its sedative effects. It is a pure Sativa strain that has been cultivated for generations in Thailand. This strain is known for its sweet and spicy flavor, and it has a high THC content, making it an effective sleep aid. Thai Stick is also known for its ability to reduce anxiety, which can be helpful for people who struggle with anxiety-related sleep disorders. Continued … 

Calls for scrutiny of new tourism fee fund

Tourism operators are concerned about the transparency of the Tourism Promotion Fund, which is estimated to have a budget of more than 13 billion baht from the 300-baht tourism fee collected from international visitors.

The cabinet this week approved collection of the fee, expected to start in June.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is projected to collect 3.9 billion baht this year and more than 10 billion from 40 million visitors estimated for next year. Continued … 

Entry fees to include insurance

Thailand will provide insurance for foreign tourists when tourism fees for international arrivals are imposed in June, deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Thursday. Continued … 

First ‘cultural map’ of the country now online

The first online cultural map of Thailand is now available with more than 2,000 cultural sites across the country, ready to be upgraded for metaverse technologies.

The virtual map is part of a database developed by the Program Management Unit for Area-based Development (PMU-A) under the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council.

The PMU-A said recently the database is a joint project of the university network for area-based development comprising 41 universities from 33 provinces. Continued … 

There’s Never Been a More Exciting Time to Eat Thai in Bangkok

For a long time, Thai fine dining in Bangkok was synonymous with lavish multicourse menus drawing on recipes from the royal court. Long regarded as the pinnacle of the country’s cuisine, these meals featured intricately carved vegetables and the choicest cuts of deboned fish and meat.

The meticulously balanced flavors were neither too spicy nor overly heavy on funky inflections such as pla ra (fermented fish paste). Restaurants specializing in oryal Thai cooking mostly catered to tourists; locals splurged on fine French or Japanese cuisine.

Around the mid-2010s, something changed. Inspired by the locavore movement sweeping through restaurants worldwide, a new crop of ambitious young Thais shifted focus to recipes and little-known ingredients from beyond the regal kitchens. Chef Napol Jantraget championed seasonal produce when he opened his casual fine diner 80/20 in 2015, and Chalee Kader highlighted northeastern Thai nose-to-tail cooking at 100 Mahaseth, which launched in Bangkok’s old town in 2017. They introduced Bangkok’s cash-flush diners to locally raised meat, tribal food-preservation techniques and herbs from the country’s rural corners that even most Thais had never heard of. Continued … 

Covid infection gives similar immunity to vaccination

The protection against Covid-19 from being previously infected lasts at least as long as that offered by vaccination, one of the largest studies conducted on the subject said today.

Ten months after getting Covid, people still had an 88% lower risk of reinfection, hospitalization and death, according to the study published in the Lancet journal.

That makes this natural immunity “at least as durable, if not more so” than two doses of Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines, the study said. Continued …

10 deadliest quakes of the past 100 years

With the estimated death toll still mounting, the massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 is among the 10 deadliest of the past 100 years, with over 41,000 dead as of Friday. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, climate change, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, solar, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism

Thursday’s News-Feb 16

  • Another happy customer renews sponsorship of Expat News/
  • Thai Cave Survivor Duangphet ‘Dom’ Phromthep Dies At 17/
  • Coach Praises ‘Wild Boars’ Football Team Captain Who Died In UK/
  • British diver from Thai cave rescue honors team captain/
  • Meet Sierra and Sahara – Thailand’s search-and-rescue stars in Turkey/
  • 4-legged lifesavers/
  • Free Stray Dog and Cat Sterilization Clinic Returns to Prachuap Khiri Khan/
  • Run for Hunger set March 11 at Monsoon Valley/
  • Thailand cuts use of plastic bags by over 148,000 tons in three years/
  • Makro launches ‘Makro PRO” to enhance online business/
  • Thailand’s diesel price set to drop/
  • Top Royal Thai Police officers under scrutiny over links to illegal online gambling/
  • Clean energy key to Thai climate goals/
  • China’s Global Influence Campaign: Its Effects in Thailand/
  • Tourism: Thailand could achieve pre-Covid tourist numbers next year as Chinese package tours resume/
  • Thailand Experience: Visit These Incredible Hidden Gems The Next Time You’re In Thailand/Street food in Bangkok: Aussie expat chef gives his top tips/
  • International: Russia declares battlefield gains as NATO ramps up weaponry for Ukraine/Conspiracy theories on ’15-minute cities’ flourish/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Another happy customer renews sponsorship of Expat News

AVATAR GARDEN in Hua Hin Soi 73 is serving the famous Nua Khu Beef Noodle Soup besides authentic Thai-Food & many homemade marinated BBQ-Dishes like Thai-Wagyu Beef-Steaks & Burgers on a Pretzel Bun, Big Pork Chops, Barracuda Steaks & Cajun-Prawns, Lamb T-Bone Steaks & Sausages, grilled at our Avatar Garden in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere.

Please Visit Us! Tel: 084 023 2408. 129/9 Soi 73 off Phetkasem Road Hua Hin; Facebook 

Thai Cave Survivor Duangphet ‘Dom’ Phromthep Dies At 17

One of the 12 famous “Wild Boar” football team members who were rescued after getting stuck in Thailand’s Tham Luang Cave for 17 days in 2018 has passed away from an unknown cause while studying in the United Kingdom.

Duangphet “Dom” Promthep had been admitted to a hospital for 2-3 days after a fall, Thai media reported. The teenage footballer was put on a ventilator but suddenly passed away. He was reported to have suffered a head injury.

The report about Dom’s passing was posted on social media yesterday by an official from the Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non National Park, Kamon Khunngamkwamdee. Continued …

Coach Praises ‘Wild Boars’ Football Team Captain Who Died In UK

The coach of the “Wild Boars” youth football team whose captain, Duangphet Phromthep, or Nong Dom, died in UK after winning a scholarship to study and play football there, praised him as a fighter who did not give up the football path.

The deceased 17-year-old youth headed a team of 12 young footballers who together with their coach, Ekaphol Chantawong, or coach Aek, were trapped in the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district for 17 days in 2018.

This led to an international operation to rescue them and three movies having been about their ordeal, namely the 2022 film “Thirteen Lives” directed by Ron Howard, 2019’s “The Cave” and 2021’s “The Rescue”. Continued …

British diver from Thai cave rescue honors team captain

A British diver who participated in the 2018 Thai cave rescue made a statement honoring the captain of the Wild Boars football team, who recently passed away in the UK.

The diver, Rick Stanton, expressed his sorrow at the death of Duangphet Phromthep, the 17-year-old student he helped to save. Stanton said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of Dom’s passing, which was announced by his school on Wednesday.

Stanton paid tribute to the teenager’s bravery during the rescue. Stanton said he remembered swimming toward Dom’s unconscious body to bring him to safety on the second day of the rescue. He also said Dom “took the lead,” and wrote the first messages to the outside world about the situation at the cave. Stanton said… Continued …

Meet Sierra and Sahara – Thailand’s search-and-rescue stars in Turkey

Two Golden Retrievers from Thailand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team are playing a starring role in the international mission following the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria.

The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake and aftershocks that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6 rose to more than 41,000 on Wednesday, with millions more affected in both countries.

Thai female sniffer dogs Sierra and Sahara quickly became social media stars after starting their mission on Saturday in Hatay, a southern Turkish province on the Mediterranean coast that borders Syria. Continued …

4-legged lifesavers

Dogs are involved in search-and-rescue missions after every major earthquake, including the recent Turkey-Syria disaster.

Before joining missions, they go through hundreds of hours of training lasting between 1.5 and 2 years.

The cost of training each dog is high but their value is incalculable in terms of human lives they save. Continued …

Free Stray Dog and Cat Sterilization Clinic Returns to Prachuap Khiri Khan

The People and Animals Thailand (PAT) clinic will offer free sterilization and vaccinations for dogs and cats in the area to help manage the population and reduce the suffering of street animals.

The PAT clinic helped more than 6,000 dogs and cats when it first opened in 2019, before it was sadly forced to close due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the free sterilization and vaccination clinic is re-opening to once again help thousands of Thailand’s street animals and help tackle the overpopulation of street cats and dogs in local areas. Continued …

Run for Hunger set March 11 at Monsoon Valley

Scholars of Sustenance Thailand – SOS Thailand is organizing a charity walk-run tobe held at Monsoon Valley Vineyard on March 11.

The first annual “Run for Hunger” event will support the Scholars of Sustenance Foundation’s food rescue mission in Hua Hin.

By participating in this event, you’ll be taking a step toward reducing food waste and creating food security in Thailand. And, the best part is that the entire family, including furry friends, can join in on the fun! Continued …

Thailand cuts use of plastic bags by over 148,000 tons in three years

The Pollution Control Department (PCD) on Wednesday credited its campaigns among the public for the sharp reduction in the use of single-use plastic and plastic shopping bags, totaling more than 148,000 tons in about three years.

PCD Director-general Pinsak Suraswadi said the department had launched the campaigns in cooperation with the Environmental Quality Promotion Department (EQPD) in 2018 with the aim of reducing single-use plastic bags and plastic shopping bags by 43% by 2021.

Pinsak said the campaigns had succeeded in reducing the use of plastic bags by 148,699 tons, according to an analysis by the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, or the Material Flow of Plastic Analysis, at the end of 2021. Continued …

Makro launches ‘Makro PRO” to enhance online business

Tanit Chearavanont, chief executive officer of Makro Thailand has launched its “Makro PRO” application to offer best customer experience and aim to grow 88% of its e-commerce business.

“Makro is committed to being an omni-channel wholesale leader, where online and offline service seamlessly integrated. Having 34 years of experience and strength in fresh food products along with a nationwide service network, the newly introduced mobile application would be a great platform to offer good variety of over 50,000 products, great value, best customer experience and opportunity for small business operators to have marketplace to build sustainable growth together with Makro,” Tanit said. Continued …

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach ! 
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment

Get a beach-bed at our Anantasila beach – 500 Baht per person

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Thailand’s diesel price set to drop

Thailand’s diesel price was set to drop yesterday. The country’s domestic price of diesel was expected to drop by 0.5 baht per liter, according to the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO). This is the second reduction in diesel prices this month, with another 0.5 baht per liter drop scheduled for Feb. 22.

Officials determined last week that the price would drop from 34.94 baht per liter to 34.44 baht per liter on Feb. 15.

According to Global Petrol Prices, Thailand’s diesel price was 34.47 on Feb. 13. Continued …

Top Royal Thai Police officers under scrutiny over links to illegal online gambling

New allegations of corruption within the Royal Thai Police linked to the kingdom’s huge illicit illegal gambling rackets have led to National Police Commissioner Damrongsak Kittiprapat ordering an expedited report by the police inspectorate seeking confirmation of serious allegations that two top police officers have been complicit in such activities including being in receipt of hefty bribes from such entities allowing a mid-level officer to fund a lavish international lifestyle.

The officer has also been linked to the operation of an upmarket massage parlor in Bangkok. Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha has given the police chief his backing to get to the bottom of the latest affair linked to the force as his government faces searching questions this week in parliament as an opposition-tabled debate gets underway.

Following an order from the prime minister’s Office as public confidence in the Royal Thai Police continues to tumble, with waves of corruption allegations at all levels battering the force week after week, Damrongsak has ordered the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the latest claims made by whistleblower xtraordinaire Chuwit Kamolvisit relating to senior officers within the force and their links to huge worldwide gambling operations and even international oil trading. Continued …

Clean energy key to Thai climate goals

Thailand has vowed to reach net-zero emissions by 2065, but without taking action against its biggest polluter – the energy sector – its promise will fall flat.

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt last year, Thailand maintained its previous goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 – another 27 years, and having net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2065 -or almost half a century.

As the country’s largest producer of car bon dioxide, which is the major cause of global warming, the energy sector also has the greatest potential to reduce emissions gases by 2065 – or almost half a century. . Continued … 

China’s Global Influence Campaign: Its Effects in Thailand

China’s global influence campaign to wield power within other countries’ societies and politics is particularly evident in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Taiwan.

In Thailand, where the public and many elites have historically had relatively warm views of China, Beijing has launched a multitude of efforts. These include signing content-sharing deals that enable Xinhua to be picked up in many elite outlets, extensively cultivating the local business community, using Confucius Institutes, expanding state media in Thailand, and many other efforts.

Many of these efforts support the military — and, in many ways, the monarchy — and, as a result, help keep the lese majeste and 112 laws in place in Thailand. Continued … 

Thailand could achieve pre-Covid tourist numbers next year as Chinese package tours resume

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) on Wednesday welcomed the return of Chinese tour groups, saying their return earlier than expected would help tourist arrivals reach the pre-Covid level next year.

Wichit Prakobkosol, an adviser to ATTA, said the number of Chinese tourists were rebounding fast because the list of 20 nations that the Chinese government allowed its people to visit as tour groups did not include Thailand’s major competitors for Chinese tourists in Asia.

He said the list did not include Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, so most Chinese tour groups chose to visit Thailand. Continued … 

Visit These Incredible Hidden Gems The Next Time You’re In Thailand

Millions of travelers visit Thailand every year, and beyond the country’s bustling capital, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, this world-famous destination is rarely explored.

Thailand is brimming with secret but bucket-list-worthy places waiting to be discovered. From incredible parks to waterfalls to islands and beaches, getting off the beaten track in this country might be challenging but definitely rewarding. They are less crowded and disclose a unique side of Thailand that only the locals are familiar with. Visit these incredible hidden gems the next time you are in Thailand.

Chanthaburi

Located in the east side of the country, Chanthaburi is a charming small town located in the province of the same name. People refer to this town as the “gem of Thailand” because it largely deals with precious gemstones, which are cleaned, polished, and then traded with foreign and local buyers. Continued …

Street food in Bangkok: Aussie expat chef gives his top tips

A Bangkok-based expat of more than a decade in Thailand has given his top tip for eating street food. Aussie chef Chris Miller says tourists should eat their hearts out but with one big caveat.

“The number one tip is, if the place is busy, it is good because Thai people vote with their feet, like everybody,” Miller explained.

“If it is well patronized, it is going to be the best. People are always worried about eating on the street when it is their first time in Thailand. Really, you don’t have to be worried. It is fresh, clean and such high production that there is very little chance of being sick.” Continued …

Russia declares battlefield gains as NATO ramps up weaponry for Ukraine

Russia said it had broken through two of Ukraine’s fortified defense lines in the east of the country, while Western countries announced more military spending on Ukraine, including artillery rounds, as Kyiv warned of continued Russian attacks. Continued … 

Conspiracy theories on ’15-minute cities’ flourish

Urban planners are fending off abuse fueled by conspiracy theories about their “15-minute city” regeneration projects, which suspicious social media users claim are the road to “climate lockdowns”. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets 

 

90-day online reporting

baht, bangkok, chiang mai, covid, hua hin, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Wednesday’s News-Feb 15

  • How to visit the lotus flower lake in Sam Roi Yot/
  • Nakhon Nayok man finally weds sweetheart after 1,200km trek/
  • Thunderstorms, strong winds, falling temperatures forecast until Friday/
  • The untold story of the world’s most resilient currency/
  • ‘Plant Trees – Get Mushrooms’ Strategy convinces farmers to save forests/
  • Cobra Gold returns to Thailand with added bite of 6,000 US troops/
  • Bangkok’s number of train passengers reaches all-time high/
  • Tourism: Cabinet approves tourist fee of 150-300 baht for all foreign arrivals/’Softening of demand after April’ – Phuket hoteliers worry about bookings/
  • Thailand Experience: Chiang Mai Food Guide: 10 Places For $2 Curry Noodles, Wagyu Pasta And More/
  • Covid: 55% rise in infections and deaths from Covid virus/
  • International: ‘Finding corpses is all we have’: Resignation after Turkey quake/Report says Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children for ‘re-education’/Air India unveils record plane order with Airbus, Boeing/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

How to visit the lotus flower lake in Sam Roi Yot

You don’t need to travel far from Hua Hin to find an amazing day out, whatever your age. Whether you’re into natural wonders, water parks, shopping or the beach, there’s something to fit your brief.

Located just a 45 minute drive from Hua Hin is the beautiful coastal town of Sam Roi Yot, also known as the “Three Hundred Peaks”, which is home to the Khao Sam Roi Yot Park.

The park was Thailand’s first coastal national park, with the park’s mountainous scenery a real stand out. The park is packed with natural wonders and noteworthy things to see and do. Continued …

Nakhon Nayok man finally weds sweetheart after 1,200km trek

The 52-year-old man who walked 1,200 kilometers to prove his love, finally tied the knot with his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. Yasothon native, Suthep “Maew” Lomjit, began his trek from Nakhon Nayok to Satun on Jan. 14. His aim was to get to his girlfriend Thanapa “Yu” Khiaw-on, 56, by Feb. 14 and ask for her hand in marriage. The couple had met via the TikTok application five years ago, but Tuesday was the first time they met in person. (The Nation)

Thunderstorms, strong winds, falling temperatures forecast until Friday

Thailand’s Meteorological Department has advised 50 provinces to brace for thunderstorms, strong winds and falling temperatures, by 1-3oC, with hailstorms in some areas from today until Friday.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok this morning, 60% of the capital was lashed by heavy rain, with poor visibility being reported by motorists on the expressways, forcing them to reduce the speed to prevent accidents.

The turbulent weather conditions are being caused by the arrival of a strong cold front from China, which is covering Thailand’s northeast and is forecast to spread to other regions, said the department, adding that these conditions will converge with the westerly winds, blowing through the north tomorrow and Friday. Continued …

The untold story of the world’s most resilient currency

In February of 1998, 25 years ago this month, I was in Bangkok, ground zero of the Asian financial crisis. The implosion of the Thai baht had triggered a serial meltdown of currencies and markets, with protesters in the streets across the region and chaos spreading.

As world leaders raced to slow the global contagion, Thailand and its neighbors had sunk into a depression. The Thai economy contracted by nearly 20%, as stocks fell by more than 60% and the baht lost more than half its value against the dollar.

Prices in Bangkok felt unbelievably cheap. I did not dare buy Thai stocks, with so much unsettled. But I did leave with many shopping bags and two golf sets, one to give away. While the drama of that year is etched in history, the epilogue comes as a surprise. Continued …

‘Plant Trees – Get Mushrooms’ Strategy convinces farmers to save forests

Chulalongkorn University successfully planted trees in the forests in Nan and Saraburi provinces through innovative seedlings with ectomycorrhiza fungi, motivating villagers and farmers to “plant trees and get mushrooms”, for extra income.

Thailand’s forests are sadly dwindling. Many of the areas in the country have been denuded and degraded forest areas where restoration seems to be impossible. Although many sectors have tried to campaign for reforestation, it has not been easy.

This is because reforestation takes a very long time and, most importantly, requires the cooperation of local villagers to continue the task of planting and maintaining the forests. Continued …

Cobra Gold returns to Thailand with added bite of 6,000 US troops

Cobra Gold 2023 will be back to full strength at the end of this month when 30 nations, including 6,000 U.S. Personnel, will join the annual war games, Thailand and the United States announced on Tuesday.

This year’s military exercise will be the first to include training for space disasters, according to the press conference at Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok.

The press conference, held by joint chief-of-staff Gen. Thitichai Thienthong and U.S. ambassador Robert Godec, announced that the 30 participating nations would be divided into the following groups: Continued … 

Bangkok’s number of train passengers reaches all-time high

Bangkok‘s number of train passengers reached an all-time high on Friday, Feb. 10. The number of people traveling by rail in and around Thailand’s capital city climbed to 1,577,330 that day, according to the Department of Rail Transport.

The department’s numbers revealed that the BTS Green Line served the most passengers, with 916,390 people using the service, followed by the Blue Line MRT with 429,825 passengers. The Airport Rail Link and the standard train service saw 72,737 and 73,659 passengers, respectively. The Red Line and Purple Line served 29,129 and 48,232 passengers, respectively, while the BTS Golden Line had the least number of passengers, with only 6,359 people using the service. Continued …

Cabinet approves tourist fee of 150-300 baht for all foreign arrivals

The Thai cabinet has approved the collection of a landing tax, ranging from 150-300 baht, to be collected from all foreign arrivals visiting Thailand, tentatively from June 1, as proposed by the National Tourism Policy Committee.

The landing tax for foreign arrivals arriving by land and sea will be 150 baht per head and 300 baht for arrivals by air. The tax is, however, not applied to those who hold diplomatic passports, work permits or special work permits for specific professions as stipulated by the Labor Ministry, children under two-years-old and transit passengers.

The cabinet also instructed the Immigration Bureau to streamline its regulations and conditions regarding immigration documents and relevant immigration laws, under which receipts for tourism fee payments can be used by the tourists when applying for re-entry permits. Continued … 

H O T HIGH SEASON SPECIAL

  • Treat yourself. Get away for the day. Get a beach bed at our Anantasila beach ! 
  • You get a Big Beach Towel for the day
  • You get to use our facilities
  • You are welcome to splash around in our infinity pool
  • You can enjoy the beautiful Anantasila environment

The Beach at Anantasila, Khao Takiab, Hua Hin

A spacious safe environment with all measures taken.

For information or reservations: e-mail fb@anantasila.com or dial 032 527638

Your deserve It!

‘Softening of demand after April’ – Phuket hoteliers worry about bookings

Phuket’s tourist arrival numbers have stabilized after the pre-Christmas/New Year surge in passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport. Since the middle of December, arrival data shows that Phuket is welcoming 10,000-15,000 passengers a day.

Since the middle of January, however, the daily arrivals have flatlined, indicating an easing of demand as both the western and Chinese New Year holidays are now passed.

While Phuket hoteliers and tour group operators are cheering on the influx of visitors back to the island, there are some disturbing trends that may threaten Phuket’s sustainable tourist revival for the rest of 2023. Continued …

Chiang Mai Food Guide: 10 Places For $2 Curry Noodles, Wagyu Pasta And More

If you’re bored of the usual Bangkok haunts, take a different route the next time you visit the Land of Smiles. Consider Chiang Mai, the largest city in Northern Thailand with a rich history and an extensive list of mountains to discover.

This up-and-coming travel destination is also known for its dynamic food culture, ranging from cheap and yummy khao soi, aka curry noodles, to aesthetic brunch cafes with a view. Here are some of the best food places in Chiang Mai that I’ve had the chance to visit recently!

1. Khao Soi Mae Sai

Khao soi, or khao soy, is an iconic Northern Thai dish that’s garnered somewhat of a cult following, which I’m unashamedly a part of. It’s a simple yet satisfying noodle dish with strong Burmese influences; you get a rich coconut gravy spiced up with herbs and aromatics, poured over egg noodles, and topped with crispy noodle shreds, pickled mustard greens and more. Continued … 

55% rise in infections and deaths from Covid virus

Scientists are urging the public not to dismiss or overlook Covid-19. While people worldwide have generally moved on from the fearful days at the height of the pandemic, the virus is still bringing infections and death and still mutating.

A Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine doctor warns about a 55.6% increase in deaths and hospital admissions last week in Thailand. He estimates the daily infection tally could be between 2,800 to 3,889 during the week of Feb. 5 to Feb. 11.

Dr. Thira Woratanarat emphasized the importance of continuing to be cautious. Thira also stressed the importance of wearing face masks correctly, as this greatly reduces the risk of catching the virus and suffering illness or death. Continued …

‘Finding corpses is all we have’: Resignation after Turkey quake

The headscarf-covered woman could not contain her rage. Selva was certain that dozens of her loved ones remained buried in the rubble of Turkey’s catastrophic quake. “But the rescuers have left,” Selva cried beside one of the myriad bonfires protecting survivors from the bitter cold. Continued …

Report says Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children for ‘re-education’

Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children – likely many more – in sites in Russian-held Crimea and Russia whose primary purpose appears to be political re-education, according to a U.S.-backed report published on Tuesday. Continued …

Air India unveils record plane order with Airbus, Boeing

Air India will purchase 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing under an historic pair of mega agreements announced Tuesday, transforming the former national carrier as it prepares for scorching growth. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, climate change, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, thai economy, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Monday’s News-Feb 13

  • Soi Hua Hin 70 will be closed today, tomorrow and Thursday/
  • Most Wanted fugitive crime boss, living in Hua Hin, arrested/
  • Pranburi Half Marathon winners/
  • Where to wine and dine your loved one this Valentine’s Day in Hua Hin/
  • Roses may fade as more intimate and public Valentine’s gifts proliferate/
  • Rose farmers get Valentine’s Day gift – pre-Covid prices/
  • Cops red-faced as scandals rock force/
  • You can now kill mosquitoes with Covid-19 herb – Fah Talai Jone/
  • Public warned after dengue fever spikes in January/
  • Over 300 hotspots detected in Chiang Mai Province on Sunday/
  • Regulating the lure of lottery and the Thai love of gambling/
  • Ambulance crashes in Thailand dismay researchers/
  • Japanese crime ring masterminded from Thailand and Philippines/
  • Why one woman plants crops to fight oppression/
  • Few Thais aware of real reasons for global warming/
  • Tourism: India lifts PCR test restrictions – tourism to Thailand expected to rise/Bangkok ranked 13th under ‘Best Food Destinations in the World’/64 airlines financially ‘crash and burn’ during pandemic/Tourism lifts retail growth projection to 6%-8%/Small hotel, hostel bookings register recovery/
  • Thailand Experience: Northern Thailand food straight from Chiang Mai’s ‘magical hills’/The best things to do in Udon Thani/7 Things I Loved About My First Trip To Thailand/
  • International: Turkey Probes Contractors As Earthquake Deaths Pass 33,000/’It’s like Verdun’: The grinding battle for Ukraine’s Bakhmut/On climate, most corporations more talk than action/China ‘considers tripling nuclear warheads’/Walking dogs for over $100,000 a year in America/Chiefs beat Eagles in Super Bowl 57/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Soi Hua Hin 70 will be closed today, tomorrow and Thursday from 9pm-4am for construction work on the new dual track train line

Most Wanted fugitive crime boss, living in Hua Hin, arrested

An organised crime boss who has been on the run for five years has been arrested in Thailand. Richard Wakeling, 55, of Brentwood, Essex, England, fled the country in January 2018 on the eve of a 12-week trial.

He was convicted in his absence of trying to import £8 million worth of amphetamine suspended in liquid in 2016 and jailed for 11 years in April 2018 at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Wakeling, who has a prosthetic lower right leg, was placed on the National Crime Agency’s Most Wanted list and appeals were issued for information to help trace him. Continued … 

Pranburi Half Marathon winners

The Pranburi Scenic Marathon was held in Pak Nam Pran on Sunday morning, with almost 4,000 runners taking part. Runners competed across distances of 5k, 10k and 21.1k.

The men’s 21k was won by Gezu Muse,Emebet Sode was the winner of the women’s 10k, and Moges Abate won the men’s 10k race.

Where to wine and dine your loved one this Valentine’s Day in Hua Hin

Valentine’s Day is a special occasion that is celebrated by couples all over the world. It is a day to express love, affection, and gratitude toward your significant other.

Hua Hin offers many romantic and unique dining experiences for couples to celebrate this day of love.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere fancy to impress someone special, or somewhere more low-key and laid back on Feb. 14, we’ve rounded up some of the most romantic restaurants in Hua Hin. Continued …

Roses may fade as more intimate and public Valentine’s gifts proliferate

Roses are facing competition on Valentine’s Day as social media platforms and applications create personalized and often more intimate ways to say “I love you” – publicly.

Online greetings are often dismissed as trite, but social media companies and apps are increasingly offering their users ways to make declarations of love more intimate and personal, and adding what may be the most motivating factor – an audience.

Line lets users create their own stickers and TikTok, of course, allows its users to create video clips to profess their adoration for another person directly and publicly. Continued …

Rose farmers get Valentine’s Day gift – pre-Covid prices

Rose growers in Tak province say they have been so overwhelmed with orders that prices are rising to as high as nine baht for a single high-quality rose.

Rose growers in Phop Phra and Mae Sot districts started sending flowers to Pak Klong wholesale market in Bangkok ahead of Valentine’s Day on Sunday.

They are being paid eight or nine baht for top-grade roses, they said. Continued …

Cops red-faced as scandals rock force

A series of recent scandals involving police officers’ misconduct has dealt further blows to public confidence in the Royal Thai Police (RTP), and increased pressure for long overdue reform.

A Pattaya police officer accused of demanding 60,000 baht from a tourist for possession of an e-cigarette has been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation.

Police Senior Sgt. Maj. Noppakrit Pornwatanathanakij, a traffic officer at Pattaya station, was initially transferred to an inactive post at the Provincial Police Office on Feb. 1 following a program that aired on Channel 3 on Jan. 31. Continued …

You can now kill mosquitoes with Covid-19 herb – Fah Talai Jone

The Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital in Prachinburi has created a mosquito spray from Fah Talai Jone, the traditional herbal medicine used by most Thais to ease symptoms of Covid-19.

The hospital, which specializes in developing alternative medicines from herbs, announced its success in creating the mosquito spray from green chiretta (Andrographis paniculate) on Saturday.

Dr. Supaporn Pitiporn, chairperson of the Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital Foundation’s local Thai wisdom development committee, and Asapha Chaocharoen, a pharmacist from the hospital’s alternative medicine center, held a press conference to announce the spray on Saturday. Continued …

Public warned after dengue fever spikes in January

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has warned people to guard against the spread of dengue fever after 2,683 cases were reported during the month of January.

According to the DDC’s weekly forecast of diseases and health hazards for Feb. 12-18, a total of 2,683 cases of dengue fever, with one death, were found during the period from Jan. 1-Feb. 1 – one case for every 405,000 people in Thailand.

The three age groups that suffered the most cases of dengue fever were 5-14 years old (11.6%), 15-24 years old (7.3%) and 0-4 years old (5.2%). Continued … 

Over 300 hotspots detected in Chiang Mai Province on Sunday

More than 300 hotspots have been detected in forests in Chiang Mai Province on Sunday and a member of the Anandamahidol Foundation Society has warned that air pollution in Thailand is expected to be worse this year than last.

Dr. Jain Charnnarong, a member of the society dedicated to solving the problem of PM2.5 in Thailand, said it is pointless for Thailand to blame its neighbors for forest fires this year because many forest fires in the country are being caused by irresponsible villagers.

“One person starts a fire in a forest and the entire village suffers,” he said, as he alleged that the arsonists are among the firefighting volunteers, adding that it is high time that efforts are stepped up to educate villagers about the impacts of starting forest fires to facilitate the hunting of wild animals or to burn farm waste. Continued …

Regulating the lure of lottery and the Thai love of gambling

A large number of people in Thailand’s middle-class and lower-income groups have been trapped in a dream of becoming rich overnight by winning a big lottery prize.

The Government Lottery Office (GLO) holds its draw twice a month — on the first and the 16th — and issues 100 million tickets for each round.

For many people, the two days when the lucky numbers to be drawn are special and full of hope. Such is the importance of the event that it is even aired live by state TV and by many social media platforms. Continued … 

Ambulance crashes in Thailand dismay researchers

The grim statistics on ambulance crashes in Thailand worsened on Friday night when a patient was badly injured in a horrific late-night crash.

An ambulance smashed into the back of a truck in the Lom Sak district in the northern part of Phetchabun province, northern Thailand, close to midnight on Friday.

The patient, who was being rushed from Khao Kho Hospital in Phetchabun to Lomsak Hospital in the same province, was badly injured. Continued …

Japanese crime ring masterminded from Thailand and Philippines

A Japanese crime ring operated from Thailand and the Philippines is behind a string of crimes across Japan.

The international crime syndicate was coordinated remotely from Thailand. The crimes being investigated include the murder of a 90-year-old woman, as well as cash-card fraud involving a number of elderly victims.

Yuki Watanabe, 38 years old, and another senior member of the Japanese crime ring, Tomonobu Kojima, 45 years old, were sent to Japanese prosecutors on Friday after they were deported to Japan from the Philippines. Continued … 

Why one woman plants crops to fight oppression

Eva Dickerson has spent her life thinking about food. Not just about what to eat, but more specifically what it means to have access to food, to groceries and space to grow crops.

“Food access might ask why there isn’t a grocery store in someone’s neighborhood,” Dickerson, 26, said, “but food apartheid might ask who planned neighborhoods so that some people have groceries in their neighborhoods and some people don’t.”

These questions form the basis of Dickerson’s work as a farmer and activist. She’s currently living in Thailand as a fellow for Princeton University in Asia and spends her time teaching children how to farm, as she tends to community gardens and harvests produce for her local community. She describes her mission as working toward “food sovereignty” and against “food apartheid.” Continued … 

Few Thais aware of real reasons for global warming

Most Thais have little awareness of the damages being done to the Earth by climate change, a National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) report published on Sunday shows.

NESDC said only 35% of Thais believe the use of fossil fuel should be reduced, a reflection of the fact that Thais generally are not too aware of the causes of climate change.

A survey conducted by Meta and Yale University last year showed that more than 50% of respondents worldwide are aware of climate change and rising global temperatures, especially those in developed countries. Continued …

India lifts PCR test restrictions – tourism to Thailand expected to rise

The elimination of pre-departure Covid-19 test requirements for travelers from India, as well as other countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, is a positive development for the Thai tourism industry and is expected to give it a much-needed boost as we move into quieter times of the year.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s upgraded target for Indian arrivals from 1.4 million to 2 million this year is a positive sign, and the market could recover faster than expected, potentially even matching the 2019 tally of 2 million arrivals by the end of the year.

However, the recovery of the Chinese market is expected to be slow, due to limited seat capacity, but the government’s decision to allow tour groups to resume overseas trips from Feb. 6 is expected to result in significant improvement in the coming months. Continued …

Bangkok ranked 13th under ‘Best Food Destinations in the World’

Bangkok is ranked 13th as world’s top food destination under the Best Food Destinations in the World – Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.

The ranking is made based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews submitted to Tripadvisor, the digital travel platform, throughout last year. Bangkok also ranks second among ASEAN cities in this Tripadvisor’s compilation.

Here’s Bangkok according to Tripadvisor: “Golden palaces, floating markets, majestic porcelain-laid spires…you’ve never seen a capital city quite like Bangkok. Visit Pratunam or Siam Square for premium shopping, then unwind in the European-style gardens of Dusit. Thon Buri is home to the awesome Wat Arun temple, and over in Phra Nakhon, you’ll find the Wat Pho temple of the Reclining Buddha. Savor mango sticky rice at a food stall before taking in the gilded splendor of the Grand Palace.” Continued …

64 airlines financially ‘crash and burn’ during pandemic

2023 was supposed to be the year that travel finally returns to normal after three years of the industry being on its knees. However, the airline bankruptcies and increase in prices have made it challenging for travelers to plan their trips.

Locally, Thai Airways has been grounded, let loose from Thai government ownership, rebooted, rerouted and, currently, battling its way out of bankruptcy.

The average economy fares for 2023 have already increased by 36%, according to UK-based booking agency Flight Center. Some destinations are nearly impossible to visit on a budget, with fares to far-flung countries like New Zealand increasing by 81% and to South Africa from the UK increasing by 42% in economy and 70% in business. Continued … 

Tourism lifts retail growth projection to 6%-8%

Thailand’s retail industry is expected to grow by 6%-8% this year, double the rate of the GDP, helped by the recovery of tourism, according to the Thai Retailers Assn. (TRA).

Yol Phokasub, president of the TRA, said the retail industry has been improving, particularly in destinations reliant on tourism such as Phuket, Samui and Pattaya.

“Tourism makes up a vital portion of the Thai economy, in addition to exports,” said Yol. “Although consumer sentiment early this year remains fragile, it is better than expected.” Continued … 

Small hotel, hostel bookings register recovery

A study of small hotels and hostels found current bookings are higher than pre-pandemic levels, with bookings from foreign tourists exceeding those of domestic tourists.

As the tourism industry recovers quickly, bookings have increased by 26% more than the pre-Covid era, said Supakrit Phansomboon, Little Hotelier’s country manager for Thailand.

The data was gathered from operators of small hotels and hostels below the three-star level in Thailand, most with 20 rooms or less per property, featured in the database of two hotel management platforms: Little Hotelier and SiteMinder. Continued … 

Tradition Northern Thai food

Northern Thailand food straight from Chiang Mai’s ‘magical hills’

In a country of high-profile tourist attractions and destinations, northern Thailand can sometimes feel neglected.

It is, after all, something of a land apart. The area’s traditions have been shaped by centuries as part of the Lanna Kingdom, an independent state that was absorbed into Siam in the late 19th century. The north has a unique juju.

As a resident of Bangkok for the best part of the last decade – and a frequent visitor to Thailand for longer than that – I can attest to its rich seam of wizardry. That’s why I’m back here in the hills for another swig of its elixir. Continued …

The best things to do in Udon Thani

Udon Thani, with its abundance of cultural spots and natural attractions, is one of the hidden gems less visited by tourists. Let us show you some things to do in the province.

Many people don’t know what to answer when prompted with the question: “What’s in Udon Thani?” It turns out that it’s not just a quiet city in Isaan, but a lively province filled with interesting places to pop by. There are department stores to shop in, great restaurants to dine at, luxurious hotels to enjoy a staycation, and even cocktail bars to sit back and relax in.

Take a snap for the ‘gram at Red Lotus Lake

When it comes to natural attractions, our minds could head to mountains and waterfalls. Red Lotus Lake is telling them to eat their hearts out, as they offer 36 square kilometers of water lilies blossoming over Nong Han Lake. However, it’s only available in all its glory from December to February, so plan carefully. Continued …

7 Things I Loved About My First Trip To Thailand

After a fabulous first visit to Vietnam in early 2020, my husband and I made it a goal to travel to more Southeast Asian countries, with Thailand topping the list. While the pandemic put the kibosh on overseas travel plans for a while, we finagled a 3-week stay in the beautiful country toward the end of 2022.

The focus of our trip together? Rest and relaxation on white-sand beaches after taking in the key sights in the capital city. We started our trip in Bangkok and then spent the bulk of our time on the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan off Thailand’s Southeast Coast.

By no means was this a comprehensive tour of the country; popular Phuket and Chiang Mai were notably absent from our agenda. Still, we scratched the surface, learning a bit about the country’s history and culture, while thoroughly enjoying the tropical weather and delicious food (oh, the food!), which left me wanting a return visit to experience more. Continued … 

Turkey Probes Contractors As Earthquake Deaths Pass 33,000

Turkish authorities are targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed in the powerful Feb. 6 earthquakes as rescuers found more survivors in the rubble Sunday, including a pregnant woman and two children, in the disaster that killed over 33,000 people. Continued …

‘It’s like Verdun’: The grinding battle for Ukraine’s Bakhmut

An ambulance screams toward a triage hub for wounded Ukrainian soldiers outside Bakhmut, the stage for the longest battle of Russia’s invasion, where there is no end in sight to a brutal stalemate. Continued …

On climate, most corporations more talk than action

The world’s biggest and richest companies are failing to deliver on their climate pledges, according to an in-depth analysis released Monday that calls on governments to crack down on corporate greenwashing. Continued …

China ‘considers tripling nuclear warheads’

China is considering tripling its stockpile of nuclear warheads to 900 by 2035, as tensions with the United States are expected to escalate further over Taiwan, sources close to the matter said Saturday. Continued …

Walking dogs for over $100,000 a year in America

Dressed in black leggings and a puffer jacket, Bethany Lane, 35, was walking down Bleecker Street in Manhattan on a recent Friday afternoon with a pack of three goldendoodles and one bernedoodle named Tinkerbelle. Continued …

Chiefs beat Eagles in Super Bowl 57

The NFL’s next dynasty may have been born in the desert Sunday night. Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35, winning Super Bowl 57. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

covid, hua hin, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, solar, thai environment, thai food, thailand, tourism

Thursday’s News-Feb 9

  • Pranburi Half-Marathon Sunday/
  • Seven social trends shaping Thai business in 2023/
  • Thailand is promoting its green transformation to US investors/
  • Family of five – including three month old infant – found shot and stabbed to death/
  • Nestle to buy renewable energy from EGAT/
  • Tourism: 16 Thai festivals to be promoted on global stage/Chiang Rai Balloon Festival canned, but not balloon rides/Chinese tourists flood Mae Klong for ‘Amazing World Class’ experience/Swedish ‘plogging’ trend reaches Koh Lanta/Many Foreigners in Phuket Allegedly Renting Cars To Provide Illegal Taxi Services/Thailand says it can’t police V IP escort packages/
  • Thailand Experience: A Guide to Finding the Best Bites on the Streets: Thailand Street Food Hotspots/
  • Covid: Covid cases drop another 30%, only 4% of Chinese arrivals test positive/
  • International: More survivors found as quake toll tops 11,200/Singapore remains the most liveable location in the world/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Pranburi Half-Marathon Sunday

Seven social trends shaping Thai business in 2023

As businesses face the reality of a global economic slowdown, observers are increasingly optimistic about Thailand’s path forward in 2023, as local companies remain durable and resilient – focusing on performance following three years of tremendous transformation.

Thailand’s Ministry of Finance recently forecast up to 3.8% economic growth in 2023, bolstered by an improved tourism sector and domestic demand. This improvement will also be seen in digital spaces, with nearly 60% of worldwide social users set to be based in Asia-Pacific this year.

With an increasingly competitive digital landscape, the potential to connect with customers where they are is crucial; and it will be platforms, creators, friends, and families that drive the discovery and evaluation of local brand products and services. Continued …

Thailand is promoting its green transformation to US investors

The Board of Investment (BOI) is promoting Thailand’s potential in the green economy to attract U.S. investors, BOI Secretary-general Narit Therdsteerasukdi said on Wednesday.

He noted that the board’s first two roadshows this year were held in Seattle and San Francisco last month.

They focused on Thailand’s policy of increasing the use of renewable energy in the industrial sector by 50%, as well as the country’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Narit Therdsteerasukdi said. Continued …

Family of five – including three month-old infant – found shot and stabbed to death

A family of five Hmong people, including three children, were found dead on a farm in Wang Chao district of Thailand’s western border province of Tak on Wednesday.

Police who rushed to the scene in Village 11 in Chiang Thong subdistrict, after being alerted by the victims’ relatives, said that the five bodies appeared to have bullet and knife wounds, adding that the victims are believed to be members of the same family, including the parents and their three children, aged three months, seven and 10.

The motive for the massacre is currently unknown, say the police. Continued …

Nestle to buy renewable energy from EGAT

Nestle (Thai), a consumer goods manufacturer and marketer, plans to focus more on clean energy for its operations, working with the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) as its trade and energy partner.

Nestle, EGAT and Innopower Co., an energy innovation firm, signed an agreement to make full use of renewable power under the second phase of the ERC sandbox, overseen by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Innopower is a subsidiary of Ratch Group Plc and Electricity Generating Plc, both subsidiaries of EGAT. Continued …

16 Thai festivals to be promoted on global stage

In an effort to promote the country’s cultural traditions and generate more revenue for communities, the Culture Ministry has chosen 16 Thai festivals to be promoted internationally, ministry Permanent Secretary Yupha Taweewattanakitborvon said on Wednesday.

She said that in alignment with the bio-circular-green economic model, the ministry has been trying to promote Thai soft power at the international level, particularly in the “5F” industries – food, films, fashion, fighting, and festivals.

The selected festivals include Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Festival (Pattani province), Ban Chiang World Heritage Festival (Uthai Thani), Korat Street Art (Nakhon Ratchasima), Hae Malai Khao Tok Festival (Yasothon), and Phuket Food Festival (Phuket). Continued …

Chiang Rai Balloon Festival canned, but not balloon rides

Chiang Rai’s annual International Balloon Fiesta has been canceled again this year, but that won’t stop Valentine’s couples from taking their love sky-high over Singha Park Chiang Rai. The Muang district attraction will still be hosting a Valentine’s Day event for couples from Feb. 12-15. The highlight will be romantic balloon rides for a bird’s eye view of Singh Park and Chiang Rai city. Before the pandemic, the International Balloon Fiesta was a major annual attraction during the week of Valentine’s Day in the northern province. The international balloon extravaganza is expected to be refloated when tourism recovers and international arrivals increase. (The Nation)

Chinese tourists flood Mae Klong for ‘Amazing World Class’ experience

Thailand is one of 20 countries that Chinese on group tours are allowed to visit. A group of 40 arrived on Spring Airlines to Don Muang airport while 90 independent travelers were welcomed, too.

Yesterday, the tourists were at the Mae Klong station waiting for a photo-opportunity of a train coming into the station through the Rum Hup market.

It was packed as the train crept through the crowded area. Continued …

Swedish ‘plogging’ trend reaches Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta – an island along Thailand‘s Andaman coast – saw its first ever plogging event last week, according to the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok.

There’s nothing worse than a beautiful landscape spoiled by plastic waste and debris. A movement in Sweden has come up with a solution.

Plogging is an activity that combines jogging with picking up litter. Continued …

Many Foreigners in Phuket Allegedly Renting Cars To Provide Illegal Taxi Services

Phuket officials are investigating after they have received many complaints that many foreigners are renting cars for doing illegal taxi services.

A team of officials from the Phuket Land Transport Office (Phuket PLTO) and the Phuket Provincial Employment Office yesterday set up a checkpoint at the Si Kor Intersection in Kathu, which many vehicles were heading up to the Patong Hill.

Phuket PLTO Chief Atcha Buajan said they have received many complaints that many foreigners in Phuket are renting cars and are being illegal taxi drivers. Continued …

Thailand says it can’t police V IP escort packages

Authorities say VIP escort packages on sale in China are difficult to police, as the transactions are made outside of Thailand.

Thailand might ask Beijing for cooperation, as happened with the crackdown on so-called zero-dollar tours in 2016.

Facebook page “Lui Chin”, which exposed the VIP escort sales on Chinese e-commerce sites last month, revealed this week that such packages are still available. Continued …

A Guide to Finding the Best Bites on the Streets: Thailand Street Food Hotspots

Thailand is a street food heaven, with endless options of tasty bites waiting to be discovered. From juicy grilled meats to savory noodles, street food in Thailand is a foodie’s dream. Get ready to explore the best street food hotspots across the land of smiles.

Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

This famous market is the largest outdoor market in the world, and it’s a must-visit destination for street food lovers. With over 15,000 stalls, Chatuchak Market offers a variety of food options, including Som Tum, a spicy papaya salad that will tantalize your taste buds, Pad Thai, the national dish of Thailand made with stir-fried noodles, juicy grilled skewers, savory Tom Yum Soup, and much more.

Come hungry, as the market is a feast for the senses and you won’t be able to resist the tempting aromas and flavors. Continued …

Covid cases drop another 30%, only 4% of Chinese arrivals test positive

The Covid-19 situation in Thailand is showing steady improvement, with a decline of 30% in hospital admissions and fatalities. According to the Department of Disease Control, the average number of hospital admissions and deaths fell to 90 and six, respectively, between Jan. 15-21.

Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, the director-general of the DDC, stated that 627 Covid-19 patients were admitted to hospitals last week, with an average of 90 cases per day. Of these cases, 277 were suffering from lung infections, with 179 requiring ventilators.

Over the past week, the death toll has decreased to 44, which represents an average of six cases a day, and a fall of 32.3% compared to the previous week. This year, there have been 2,593 hospital admissions and 167 deaths. Continued …

More survivors found as quake toll tops 11,200

Searchers were still pulling survivors on Wednesday from the rubble of the earthquake that killed over 11,200 people in Turkey and Syria, even as the window for rescues narrowed. Continued …

Singapore remains the most liveable location in the world

Singapore remains the most liveable location in the world for expatriates from East Asia, with an improved livability score in the past year, as revealed by the latest location ratings survey published by global mobility expert ECA International. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, covid, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Wednesday’s News-Feb 8

  • Train track work to close Soi 88 and Soi 70/
  • Long-boat racing returns to Khao Tao lake in November/
  • Thailand’s Valentine’s Day spending expected to jump for first time in 5 years/
  • Pet ownership in Thailand becoming more popular/
  • RTP officers must wear bodycam at all times at checkpoints/
  • A guide to traversing Bangkok’s massive new rail station/
  • 19-month-old girl, trapped in groundwater well for over 17 hours, rescued/
  • Video: Bottom trawling destroying Thailand’s fishing industry/
  • Huawei aims to groom 20,000 Thai IT developers in three years/
  • GULF, AIS, and SINGTEL to launch data center/
  • New law allows foreign talent to thrive in Thailand/
  • Tourism: Tour Operator Fined 500,000 Baht for Attack on Chinese Tourist/Thailand’s first ever seaplane airline to launch this summer/
  • Thailand Experience: The best new cafes in Bangkok right now/
  • Covid: No new variants in weeks after China ended zero-Covid: study/
  • International: Rescuers work against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 7,800/WHO: Turkey, Syria quake could affect up to 23M/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Train track work to close Soi 88 and Soi 70

Construction work for the new dual track train line will force the closure of Soi 88 today and Friday from 9pm-4am, and Soi 70 will be closed on Feb 13, 14and 16 from 9pm-4am.

Long-boat racing returns to Khao Tao lake in November

Traditional long-boat racing returns to Hua Hin in November Nov. 17-19 at Khao Tao Reservoir. Six different categories of boats are anticipated.

Long-boat racing events in Thailand date back hundreds of years and were originally held as a celebration of the bond between local communities and rivers throughout the country.

Other activities being planned include a music award for youths under 22 years old for music related to Thai long boat races. performances from the local ethnic group “Thai Song Dam”, and a food market with other tourism promotion activities or booths.

Thailand’s Valentine’s Day spending expected to jump for first time in 5 years

Thailand’s Valentine’s Day spending is expected to jump for the first time in five years this year, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC). Spending is expected to hit over 2.4 billion baht this year, the survey said.

The survey shows a 57.1% increase in spending compared to last year, with the majority of the money being spent on gifts, dining out, flowers, and movies. UTCC President Thanavath Phonvichai stated that this year’s spending is predicted to be active despite a relatively high cost of living and recent holiday spending.

The study, based on a survey of 1,225 people nationwide, showed that spending is expected to average 1,848 baht per person, compared to 1,176 baht last year. Continued …

Pet ownership in Thailand becoming more popular

Owning pets for Thai people has been found to be increasingly popular, according to data from Euromonitor. Data. The site has indicated that the number of Thais who count pets as family members has increased by 3% from 2019 to 2022. The number is expected to continue to rise as more Thais take a liking to pets.

In 2019, around 34% of Thai households had dogs or cats, with that number increasing to 37% in 2022. Part of the increase in pet ownership is attributed to the Covid pandemic. Those who worked from home or were self-quarantining at home took a liking to pets to help them stay relaxed.

The data is indicative of the wants and needs of Thais’ residential living, providing a clue for housing developers to allow pets in the future. The trend of Gen Z, Gen Y, and the elderly population who prefer having animals as companions is on the upswing. Continued …

RTP officers must wear bodycam at all times at checkpoints

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have tightened checkpoint regulations in a bid to stamp out cop corruption amid the Taiwanese actress scandal. RTP officers have been ordered to be courteous and professional and to wear body cameras while working at checkpoints in the future.

The commissioner of the RTP, Damrongsak Kittipraphat, held an online conference with police officers across the country yesterday to emphasize the necessary rules and procedures to be followed while on duty at checkpoints.

In response to the money extortion scandal exposed by a Taiwanese actress, Damrongsak said to capture all incidents and provide evidence at checkpoints, every officer on duty must wear a body camera at all times. Continued …

A guide to traversing Bangkok’s massive new rail station

While many Bangkok residents never stray far from their tight orbits around Sathorn, Thonglor, or Lat Phrao, millions of travelers will eventually make their way through the capital’s monumental new rail hub to reach all parts of the kingdom and, one day, beyond.

Those trying their luck now with Bangkok’s massive new public transit cathedral known as the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, aka Bang Sue Grand Station, would be wise to download a helpful guide to their phones for use in navigating its confusing immensity.

The author of the guide is Richard Barrow. The latest addition to the Barrow Expanded Universe is a 30-page PDF breaking down the what, where, and how of the station’s quarter-million square meters. Continued … 

19-month-old girl, trapped in groundwater well for over 17 hours, rescued

Rescuers have successfully pulled a 19-month-old Myanmar girl from a 15-meter deep groundwater hole, where she had been trapped for over 17 hours.

Cheers of joy erupted when the child, helped by rescuers, emerged from the hole, was put on a stretcher and rushed to Phop Phra District Hospital for assessment and treatment.

The rescue team reached the girl at about 8am yesterday morning, but they could not immediately pull her out because she appeared to have suffered leg injuries in the fall. Continued …

Video: Bottom trawling destroying Thailand’s fishing industry

Ocean bottom trawling is destroying our marine ecosystems and damaging future food security for Thailand. The Environmental Justice Foundation is calling for its end. Report 

Video 

Huawei aims to groom 20,000 Thai IT developers in three years

Huawei Technologies (Thailand) will focus on grooming at least 20,000 talents and developers in Thailand within three years as part of its sustainable growth strategy.

The announcement came as David Li, the company’s newly appointed CEO, unveiled Huawei’s six core business directions for Thailand in 2023 at a media briefing on Tuesday.

Huawei’s goal is to contribute social values and cultivate local digital talents in addition to achieving business success, he said, adding Huawei Thailand will place strong emphasis on developing information and communications technology (ICT) personnel in Thailand, with the goal of grooming 20,000 developers in three years. Continued … 

GULF, AIS, and SINGTEL to launch data center

A joint partnership between Gulf Energy, Singtel, and AIS will see the construction of a new 20+ MW data center, the operators said on Wednesday.

A new company, GSA Data Center Co. (GSA), has been created as a joint venture between the three companies to run the data center.

According to a statement, the data center will be a best-in-class hyperconnected data center and will serve the greater demands of enterprises and cloud service providers in Thailand and the region. The data center is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2025. Continued … 

 

New law allows foreign talent to thrive in Thailand

The government of Thailand has taken a step forward in attracting highly skilled foreign workers to the country, with the release of a new law that allows foreigners to work or invest in 18 select industries.

The Royal Thai Gazette website published a notice from the Ministry of Interior outlining the special permit for migrant workers, signed by Prime Minister Prayuth Cha-o-cha and Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda on Feb. 3.

This new law is an opportunity for skilled specialists, investors, executives, and entrepreneurs to make their mark in Thailand and a sign that the Thai government is open to foreign investment and willing to support the growth of the economy. Continued … 

Tour Operator Fined 500,000 Baht for Attack on Chinese Tourist

Phuket’s governor, officials and representatives from the tourism sector met Li Chenglong, counselor director of China’s Phuket consular office to apologize for a tour agent’s attack on a Chinese tourist.

Both sides discussed the Feb. 1 incident when a woman at a Thai tour company in Karon subdistrict kicked a Chinese customer and inflicted a cut on his arm with a small knife during their argument over the 5,000- baht refund the client demanded for a trip to Similan Island he and his family missed because the tour firm had failed to pick them up at the meeting point.

Phuket Gov. Narong Woonciew reported the penalty given to the culprit for criminal offense and violation of the Tourism Business Act. The tour operator was fined 500,000 baht and the firm has been suspended from business for six months. Continued …

Thailand’s first ever seaplane airline to launch this summer

Thailand‘s first-ever seaplane airline, Siam Seaplane, is preparing to launch this summer to take the kingdom’s tourism industry to the next level.

Siam Seaplane has formed partnerships with 60 luxury hotels and resorts, including top brands Intercontinental and Four Seasons.

Chief Business Operator Dennis Keller revealed that the company faced plenty of setbacks during the pandemic, but is now working on securing over 40 landing sites around Thailand. Continued …

The best new cafes in Bangkok right now

When life gives you lemons, trade them for coffee. A morning cup of joe helps you jump start the day, and it’s always fun to find a new favorite cafe in town to grab one from. Here are the best new cafes in Bangkok right now.

Imagine: the aroma of ground coffee beans as you walk in, the relaxing, calming vibe as you take a sip of your drink of choice, the crisp, tangy taste of the pastry that comes with your cup. A good cafe lets you forget all your problems even for just a moment. Bangkok won’t have any shortage soon when it comes to good cafes, so let us show you the new places to update your bucket list.

Dosan Dalmatian

Ever-popular Siam Square has a new cafe to add to its arsenal. All the way from Seoul to Bangkok, Dosan Dalmatian is proud to present good coffees and teas, three stories of Instagrammable corners, and a pet-friendly welcome to man’s best friends. Continued …

No new variants in weeks after China ended zero-Covid: study

No new variants of Covid-19 emerged in Beijing in the weeks after China ended its zero-Covid policy late last year, a new study said on Wednesday.

China saw an explosion of infections after starting to lift its strict pandemic measures from early December, sparking fears the world’s most populous country could become a fertile breeding ground for new, more transmissible or severe strains.

More than a dozen countries promptly imposed fresh restrictions on travelers from China, also citing a lack of transparency about the scale of the outbreak, sparking Beijing’s ire. Continued …

Rescuers work against time as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 7,800

Rescuers worked against time in harsh winter conditions on Tuesday evening, trying to dig people out of the rubble of collapsed buildings as the death toll from Turkey and Syria’s devastating earthquake jumped to more than 7,900.

Turkish authorities say some 13.5 million people were affected in an area spanning roughly 450 km (280 miles) from Adana in the west to Diyarbakir in the east, and 300 km from Malatya in the north to Hatay in the south.

Syrian authorities have reported deaths as far south as Hama, some 250 km from the epicenter. Continued … 

WHO: Turkey, Syria quake could affect up to 23M

Up to 23 million people could be affected by the massive earthquake that has killed thousands in Turkey and Syria, the WHO warned on Tuesday, promising long-term assistance. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, climate change, covid, hua hin, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, solar, thai environment, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Monday’s News-Feb 6

  • TAT Prachuap eager to build links with expat community/
  • Hot weather forecast as February ends/
  • Yoga on the beach/
  • PM2.5 dangers – guidelines issued by the ministry of education/
  • Chiang Mai struggles with dangerous PM2.5 readings for 5 days/
  • World record performance set tonight at Rajabhakti Park/
  • Bangkok is still sinking, and fast!/
  • Pitfalls of making a will in Thailand/
  • Thailand Open champ: China’s Zhu Lin/
  • Bangkok set to get 40 to 50 new pocket parks this year
  • Bryde’s whales return to marine park off Surat Thani/
  • Tourism: American tourists spend more money than Europeans in Thailand/Chinese tour groups to start arriving in Thailand today/Opinion: The Labyrinth That Is Corruption in Thailand/Mice scurry back to Thailand/Vendors decry BMA push to clean up pavements/It’s back to party mode in Koh Pha-ngan/Russian airline aborts takeoff after engine explodes on runway at Phuket Airport/Fifth round of subsidies for domestic tourism begins next month/Customs not inspecting tourists’ personal items/
  • Thailand Experience: Elephant Freedom Project Offers Unique, Ethical Elephant Tourism Experience in Chiang Mai/The only Phuket travel guide you will need to plan your Thai vacation/
  • Covid: No point in counting Covid cases anymore as virus is here to stay/Leisure/entertainment activities are not biggest source of Covid infection/
  • International: Massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake knocks down buildings in Turkey, Syria/Global food prices down for 10th consecutive month in January/Fierce battles in Bakhmut as Russian missiles hit Kharkiv/20% More To Be Paid for Solar Power from Japan Businesses’ Rooftops/US military shoots down Chinese spy balloon/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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TAT Prachuap eager to build links with expat community

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says it is eager to grow the relationship it has with the expatriate community in Hua Hin and throughout Prachuap Khiri Khan.

According to Achawan Kongkanan, director of the TAT Prachuap office, tourism officials pay close attention to the local expat community.

However, he wants to strengthen ties between the regional TAT office and foreigners who live in the area long term. Continued …

Hot weather forecast as February ends

Thailand’s dry season is forecast to begin at the end of February, 1-2 weeks later than normal, but average temperatures will be higher than last year, reaching 40-43°C in some areas from mid-March to mid-April.

According to the Thai Meteorological Department, the average maximum temperature this summer is forecast to be at 35.5°C in the north of the country, which is close to normal, but higher than last year’s 34°C.

Thailand’s north and northeast will be cool in the mornings, from the end of February to mid-March, but hot during the day time. Temperatures could reach 43°C in some areas, which will result in summer storms from mid-March to mid-April. Continued …

Yoga on the beach

More than 100 people took part in the Hua Hin Yoga Festival on Saturday in front of the Verso Hotel in Khao Takiab. The event will be held every Saturday throughout February starting at 5pm and is open to everyone. Feb. 8, 11, and 25 are the next events. (HHT)

PM2.5 dangers – guidelines issued by the ministry of education

As Thailand continues to grapple with the ongoing air pollution crisis, officials have provided guidelines for students and school staff to protect themselves from PM2.5.

The guidelines include: avoiding outdoor activities for extended periods, wearing face masks when outdoors, wearing long-sleeved shirts, taking showers or washing skin after exposure to polluted air, using air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air filters, seeking medical attention for respiratory symptoms or skin irritation, and generally maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

PM2.5, fine dust particles in the air, pose serious health risks, particularly to young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic lung disease. Continued …

Chiang Mai struggles with dangerous PM2.5 readings for 5 days

Fine dust levels in the northern city of Chiang Mai have risen beyond safe levels for five consecutive days, the provincial authorities announced on Sunday.

Chiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthavorn said the concentration of PM2.5 particulate matter had risen beyond the safe level of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) mainly due to forest fires.

The Air4Thai app operated by the Pollution Control Department reported that the air quality in Chiang Mai Muang district’s Sri Phum area came in at 73μg/m3 on Sunday morning. Air quality in Hot district’s Hang Dong area measured at 90μg/m3. Continued …

World record performance set tonight at Rajabhakti Park

The final dress rehearsal of the the world’s largest performance of the Wai Kru at Rajabhakti Park was held yesterday. Tonight, 5,000 fighters will demonstrate the Wai Kru as part of an official Guinness World Record attempt. The ceremony istarts at 6pm. (HHT)

Bangkok is still sinking, and fast!

Getting Bangkok ready for the consequences of climate change is crucial for saving this megacity from being submerged under rising sea levels, climate experts say. Continued …

Pitfalls of making a will in Thailand

While it is sometimes possible to obtain court probate without a will, that can be a difficult process for foreigners in particular. Their next-of-kin relatives might well be living thousands of miles from Thailand and dying intestate can create legal pitfalls and dangers of several kinds.

Should a will be in the Thai language?

Yes. A popular practice these days is to draw up a will in Thai with an English translation for convenience. But it is the Thai version that the probate court will accept.

The will should name an executor (responsible for carry out the terms) and be witnessed by at least two witnesses. Witnesses cannot be otherwise mentioned in the will. Continued …

Thailand Open champ: China’s Zhu Lin

China’s Zhu Lin was crowned the 2023 Thailand Open presented by E@ champion with her victory Sunday over Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko at Hua Hin’s True Arena. The WTA 250 title is the first of Zhu’s career. – HHT

Bangkok set to get 40 to 50 new pocket parks this year

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will this year open 40 to 50 small public parks that will be just 15 minutes away for most communities.

A BMA source, who asked not to be named, said on Sunday that the city administration was taking steps to set up the parks in line with Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt’s election promise.

Chadchart had promised to turn small unused plots in Bangkok into parks for locals to escape the heat and to exercise. Continued …

Bryde’s whales return to marine park off Surat Thani

Three Bryde’s whales were seen frolicking in a marine national park off the coast of Surat Thani province on Friday, but park officials were only able to identify two of them by name. They identified “Wandee” and “Wanrung” in the database of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Staff have been instructed to monitor the Bryde’s whale population since two were spotted in Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park on Feb. 1. (The Nation)

American tourists spend more money than Europeans in Thailand

Americans spend an average of 96,269 baht (US$2,887) per person while traveling in Thailand, higher than European visitors, who spend $2,684, a survey shows.

U.S. tourists spend an average of 2,000-3,000 baht on accommodation a night and they always stay in the country up to 15 days per trip, according to the survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand, which polled 200 Western tourists during the final quarter of last year.

The survey also showed that European tourists spend 1,000-2,000 baht per night on accommodations and stay in Thailand for 13 days on average. Continued …

Chinese tour groups to start arriving in Thailand today

Thailand is ready to welcome Chinese package tourists who will start arriving from today now that Beijing has lifted travel restrictions, a government spokesperson said.

In preparation for the influx, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is coordinating with the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Transport Ministry to put all necessary measures in place for welcoming tour groups from China, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Trisaranakul said.

She added that public and private agencies have estimated that the return of tour groups from China would be gradual because tour agencies have been on hold for three years during the pandemic. Continued … 

The Labyrinth That Is Corruption in Thailand

Police extortion is getting out of control, flaunting the justice system like never before – or was it?

Imagine if Taiwanese actress Charlene An did not have the mettle and social media followers to expose seven Thai policemen at a Huay Kwang checkpoint in Bangkok of extorting her and her three friends 27,000 baht on Jan. 4 for possession of three e-cigarettes and not carrying passport, then we would not have known about such disgraceful and corrupt behavior by these supposed “law enforcers.”

One wonders how many more cases went unreported over the months and years simply because the foreign victims were not famous or too afraid to speak out. Continued …

Mice scurry back to Thailand

Tourism has flourished since Thailand fully reopened in the second half of last year.

For business travel, the sector known as MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) saw a big leap after Thailand hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, with many hotels getting a boost from this segment.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Phuket have been running the bidding process for Specialized Expo 2028, with the aim of driving the economy of the island tourist site through collaboration between the private and public sectors. Continued … 

Vendors decry BMA push to clean up pavements

Authorities have been working on making the city’s sidewalks more pedestrian-friendly since Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt took office last year, as it was one of the 216 pledges he had made a month before he was elected.

The move was made possible following an administrative reorganization in December last year, which saw 19 municipal heads asked to clean up several districts across the capital.

“When a new (municipal head) arrives, they bring a fresh perspective to the problem. When I went along the Sukhumvit area, I could see it was much better already. Continued …

It’s back to party mode in Koh Pha-ngan

Koh Pha-ngan’s second full moon party after the pandemic was a resounding success, with more than 20,000 revelers showing up.

The Sunday event at Rin Beach featured concerts, fire shows and free-flowing booze, though police and security officials were at hand to ensure everybody’s safety.

Wijarn Chunthwichit, the district chief, said most tourists had traveled from Surat Thani’s other islands like Koh Samui and Koh Tao to attend the event. Continued …

Russian airline aborts takeoff after engine explodes on runway at Phuket Airport

Video on Youtube shows fire coming from the underside of a passenger plane during takeoff from Phuket International Airport.

It was Azurair Flight number ZF 3604 bound for Moscow at 5 pm on Saturday.

The flight was aborted after an engine on the right side of the aircraft exploded. The pilot was alerted to smoke by air traffic control. Continued …

Fifth round of subsidies for domestic tourism begins next month

The timeline for the fifth phase of the government’s domestic-tourism promotion campaign – which provides subsidies to hoteliers and tourists to encourage travel – will run from early March until the end of April, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Friday.

The fifth phase of the “We Travel Together” campaign received Cabinet approval on Tuesday with a budget of 2.016 billion baht.

The government provides subsidies equivalent to 40% of room rates, capped at 3,600 baht per room per night, through the campaign. A total of 560,000 room subsidies will be available and each one will include a 600 baht voucher for tourists to buy food or services. Continued … 

Customs not inspecting tourists’ personal items

Customs Department Deputy Director-general Phantong Loykulnanta has emphasized customs officials will not conduct personal inspections of arriving foreign tourists at airports, even if they are carrying or wearing multi-million-baht personal items.

He said this policy aligns with the country’s reopening.

Phantong said it is the department’s policy to make life convenient for tourists and not burden them. Continued …

Elephant Freedom Project Offers Unique, Ethical Elephant Tourism Experience in Chiang Mai

The Elephant Freedom Project, a well-established elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, offers a unique and ethical elephant tourism experience for visitors to the region. The project allows guests to spend a day in these majestic creatures’ natural environment without using chains, hooks, or riding.

Guests can interact with the elephants, feed them, and learn about their behavior and habits. They can also learn about the Elephant Freedom Project’s conservation efforts to protect these magnificent animals. The project is based on the principle that elephants should be treated with respect and dignity and that tourism should be ethical and sustainable.

“While on a recent trip from Bangkok, we spent a day at the elephant sanctuary Chiang Mai at the Elephant Freedom Project. What a wonderful experience our family had. The staff was great, the transportation and tour were all very well organized, and we had a splendid time interacting with the elephants. A well-deserved five-star recommendation.” said Henry P. Continued … 

The only Phuket travel guide you will need to plan your Thai vacation

One of Thailand’s most loved and frequently explored travel destinations, Phuket, is the largest island in the country. Laden with white sand beaches, thriving nightlife, gastronomical adventures and a lot more, the list of places to visit in Phuket is endless.

Whether you’re on a backpacking trip or for leisure, Phuket has it all. Wondering how to outline your trip? Our Phuket travel guide comprises the list of stunning attractions to see, dishes to try and things to do for a picture-perfect vacation.

Having a tropical climate pattern, Phuket is primarily warm, rainy and pleasant often. However, it never gets too cold. The coldest season, with temperatures ranging between 23°C to 30°C, starts from November and continues until February. This is the best time to travel to Phuket. The sea is the calmest during this time. You can relax and enjoy your time at the beach without having to worry about the weather. Continued … 

No point in counting Covid cases anymore as virus is here to stay

Covid-19 is not going anywhere and will soon become another seasonal disease like influenza, Chulalongkorn University’s top virologist said on Monday.

Dr. Yong Poovorawan said there is no point in counting Covid-19 cases now, as the figure only represents a fraction of the true number of infections.

Over 70% of people globally, or around 5 billion, may have been infected with Covid-19, while the recorded figure is only 700 million Covid-19 cases, he said. Continued … 

Leisure/entertainment activities are not biggest source of Covid infection

The two biggest sources of Covid-19 infections are the workplace and public transport, an infectious disease expert revealed today.

Associate Prof. Dr. Thira Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn University cited a recent study in England and Wales that showed the two most common reasons for infections were leaving home for work (17%) and public transport (12%).

The study of 11,413 samples found that essential activities (work and public transport) carried the greatest risk and were the dominant contributors to infections, said Thira. Continued … 

Massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake knocks down buildings in Turkey, Syria

A 7.8 magnitude quake knocked down multiple buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria early Monday and many casualties are feared. In northwest Syria, the opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense described the situation in the rebel-held region as “disastrous”, adding that entire buildings have collapsed and people are trapped under the rubble. Continued …

Global food prices down for 10th consecutive month in January

Global food prices dropped for the 10th consecutive month in January, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said on Friday. The latest index averaged 131.2 points in January, falling 0.8% since December. FAO reported small price decreases on its latest meat and sugar indices. Continued …

Fierce battles in Bakhmut as Russian missiles hit Kharkiv

Heavy fighting was underway Sunday in the northern parts of the front line hotspot Bakhmut, while Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv wounded five people. Continued …

20% More To Be Paid for Solar Power from Japan Businesses’ Rooftops

The Japan economy ministry plans to introduce a system in which electric power generated by solar panels on the roofs of company buildings, factories and warehouses will be purchased at 20% higher prices than power generated from panels on the ground. There are a limited number of places where solar panels can be installed, so the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is aiming to encourage the proliferation of renewable energy sources through the use of roof space. Continued …

US military shoots down Chinese spy balloon

The US military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States yesterday according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. President Joe Biden approved the operation, which resulted in a diplomatic fallout between Washington and Beijing. The balloon was first spotted in the sky over Montana earlier in the week and had traveled across the country before being shot down off the coast of South Carolina. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, hua hin, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Saturday’s News-Feb 4

  • Muay Thai festival events this weekend/
  • Today’s Thailand Open matches/
  • Hua Hin one of 30 Thai ‘Smart Cities’/
  • Commercial fishing banned 3 months off PKK, Surat Thani/
  • Bangkok disappearing under smog/
  • Confusion reigns over e-cigarette enforcement/
  • Thai Police Continue to Warn Vaping is Illegal/
  • THB24 billion for subsidies to boost domestic manufacture of EV batteries/
  • Ex-national parks chief ‘temporarily’ dismissed from government service/
  • Tourism: Digital ID now accepted to board domestic flights/85% of Hotel Rooms in South Booked Until Next Month/Bangkok’s New Chinatown bustling again as Chinese tourists return/2023: A vital year for tourism in Asia Pacific/Thai AirAsia adding back idled jets amid China tourism restart/
  • Thailand Experience: Thailand’s uber luxe eco resort Soneva Kiri/
  • International: Hong Kong to give away 500,000 free airline tickets/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Muay Thai festival events this weekend

Today’s Thailand Open matches

Hua Hin one of 30 Thai ‘Smart Cities’

Senior ministry officials were in Hua Hin recently to discuss the Hua Hin Smart City project. Hua Hin is among 30 cities in Thailand that will be transformed into “Smart Cities”, Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn, minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES), announced at the meeting.

A Smart City is defined as a city that takes advantage of modern and intelligent technology and innovation to increase the efficiency of service and city management.

The aim is to reduce the cost and resource utilization of the target city and population, with an emphasis on good design and the participation of business and people in urban development.

Commercial fishing banned 3 months off PKK, Surat Thani

The Department of Fisheries will close the southwestern part of the Gulf of Thailand for three months from large-scale commercial fishing this month, after finding a similar closure last year led to a 63% increase in mackerel in the area.

Chalermchai Suwanrak, chief of the department, revealed that the closure will ban large-scale fishing in the central section of the Gulf of Thailand in Prachuap Khiri, Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces.

The policy is part of the department’s marine resources management to allow time for mackerel to breed and nurture their young. The announcement was endorsed by the Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces. Continued …

Bangkok disappearing under smog

Bangkokians awoke to a shroud of fine dust this week with over 70 areas reporting levels of PM2.5 had breached 90 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3).

Thailand’s safety limit is 50 μg/m3. High levels of PM2.5 pose health risks, especially for people with chronic lung disease.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts levels of PM2.5 – particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – will rise across much of Thailand through Friday as the fine-dust pollution accumulates in stagnant air. Continued …

Confusion reigns over e-cigarette enforcement

A senior Thai cabinet minister called for the legalization of e-cigarettes on Friday following this week’s dramatic events linked with the damaging extortion case involving Taiwanese actress Charlene An or An Yu Qing.

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn said a move to legalize the currently illicit activity would help to raise money for the government and eliminate a dangerous breeding ground for corruption. His view appears to contradict sentiments expressed by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the Thai public health minister who controversially made cannabis legal in Thailand last year.

Anutin told a conference in August 2022 that e-cigarettes should remain prohibited as a threat to public health, despite being used regularly by over 80,000 Thai adults, many of them young while it is perfectly legal in most countries. Continued …

Thai Police Continue to Warn Vaping is Illegal

A Thai senior police officer from the Legal and Litigation Department said that anyone caught carrying e-cigarettes or vapes can be fined up to 500,000 baht and get a maximum jail term of five years.

Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiewphan, head of the department, said Wednesday that e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are prohibited products, which cannot be imported into the Kingdom, according to the 2014 and 2016 directives of the Ministry of Commerce. The statements come after several high profile cases of alleged extortion have hit Thai news.

People with e-cigarettes in their possession, therefore, violate the law for accepting or owning prohibited products and can be fined up to 500,000 baht and/or get a jail term of up to five years in line with Section 246 and Section 244 of the 2017 Customs Act, said Trairong. Continued …

THB24 billion for subsidies to boost domestic manufacture of EV batteries

A budget of 24 billion baht has been set aside to subsidize domestic manufacturing of battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs), Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said on Friday.

He said that the state subsidy was aimed at helping manufacturers cut their production costs, which would result in cheaper prices for EVs in the domestic market.

The subsidy is part of measures agreed upon by the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee at its first meeting of the year. Among other measures is a reduction in excise tax for EV battery-makers, from 8% to 1%. Continued …

Ex-national parks chief ‘temporarily’ dismissed from government service

Embattled former national park chief Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya was “temporarily dismissed” from government service yesterday, with immediate effect, after initial findings show there are grounds to support bribe-taking allegations against him.

Natural Resources and Environment Permanent Secretary Jatuporn Buruspat, who signed the dismissal order, said that the action is intended to ease pressure on and damage to the image of officials at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and to ensure transparency.

Thalerngsak Petchsuwan, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in his capacity as head of the disciplinary committee, said today that the panel had questioned about 50 people and most of them have given testimonies pointing in the same direction, namely that bribes have been paid to Rutchada, with a handful of them insisting that they paid money to Rutchada in return for images of King Chulalongkorn. Continued …

Digital ID now accepted to board domestic flights

Passengers are now allowed to use digital IDs to verify their identity when boarding domestic flights, a government spokesperson said on Friday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has given the go-ahead for the use of digital ID following the rollout of the D.DOPA mobile application, said Traisulee Taisaranakul.

D.DOPA was developed by the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) for registering a digital ID. It can be used on both the iOS and Android platforms. Continued … 

85% of Hotel Rooms in South Booked Until Next Month

The southern tourism situation has improved, with 85% of hotel rooms booked until next month, said the president of the Southern Hotel Assn.

Sueksit Suwandissakun, the president of the association, said, “Tourism in the southern part of Thailand is better than December last year. Room bookings are at 85 percent, which is more than we expected. Tourism has increased to levels at about the same as before Covid -19 in 2019. Many hotels are full in famous tourism areas. However, most of the room bookings are in three-star hotels and below.

“The booking rate this month is up to 80 percent; meanwhile, next month it is at 60 percent and even more booking is continuing . The limiting factor for tourism is that only 50 percent of flights are back to service when compared to 2019 (240 fights from 450 flights). Continued …

Bangkok’s New Chinatown bustling again as Chinese tourists return

Eateries, shops and street stalls in Bangkok’s New Chinatown area are once again bustling with customers after having been quiet for two years due to the pandemic.

The New Chinatown (not to be confused with the original Chinatown in Yaowarat area) stretches from Huai Khwang intersection to Pracha Uthit Road.

3.Most of the people spotted in the area this past week were Chinese nationals who had arrived to mark the Lunar New Year and decided to extend their vacation. Continued …

2023: A vital year for tourism in Asia Pacific

This year is shaping up as a big one for tourism in the Asia Pacific. Travel started recovering in 2022, with more and more countries throwing open their borders – and now China, with its zero-Covid policy left behind, is ready for Chinese group travel tours to start heading overseas from Feb. 6 to a handful of countries, including Thailand.

The travel and tourism outlook for Asia Pacific was recast in the evening of Dec. 26, 2022. The Chinese government decreed that, from Jan. 8, 2023, Chinese travelers would no longer need to undertake quarantine when re-entering China.

Few other details were released, but the announcement delivered what the travel industry had coveted for almost three years: the return of the world’s largest outbound market. Continued … 

Thai AirAsia adding back idled jets amid China tourism restart

Budget carrier Thai AirAsia plans to resume operations of eight aircraft that were idled during the pandemic and is considering shifting planes from other parts of the group to cater for the growing number of visitors from China.

Asia Aviation, the operator of Thailand’s biggest low-cost airline, also expects improved earnings growth with the resumption of more flights to Chinese cities, Chief Executive Officer Santisuk Klongchaiya said during an interview in Bangkok on Thursday.

“Our advance bookings have demonstrated strong earnings momentum”, Santisuk said. “We may find a big challenge to expand seat capacity with demand from Chinese travelers. But seat shortages are a problem we’re happy to deal with”. Thai AirAsia currently has 53 jets in its fleet, he said. Continued … 

Thailand’s uber luxe eco resort Soneva Kiri

Walking barefoot up the wooden pathway, it’s hard not to feel slightly Robinson Crusoe-esque. My partner admits he’s having more of a Lost Boys in Hook moment. But one thing is clear, this is unlike any place we’ve been before.

Soneva Kiri is Thailand’s uber luxe eco resort on the island of Koh Kood, one of the biggest, yet least developed islands in the country on the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

Unlike Robinson Crusoe, who washed ashore to his far-flung paradise in heavy storms, we arrive by the resort’s private eight-seater plane on an 80-minute trip from Bangkok, landing on a tiny neighboring island. Continued … 

Hong Kong to give away 500,000 free airline tickets

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will distribute 500,000 free airline tickets to woo visitors “from every part of the world” to visit the financial hub in a bid to revive the battered economy and boost its global image. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, cha am, hua hin, pattaya, prauchuap khiri khan, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Friday’s News-Feb 3

  • Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day/
  • Thailand to reduce the 50-micron PM2.5 safety standard to 37.5 microns/
  • Bangkok disappearing under smog/
  • Exposure to PM2.5 affects heart and can be fatal, study shows/
  • Diesel price to drop for first time in 7 months/
  • Here are the rules about vaping in Thailand/
  • Railway on track for completion this year/
    ‘Mink’ becomes first Thai to reach world No 1 in women’s snooker/
  • Murderer transports woman’s corpse to landfill site via motorbike/
  • Tourism: Six Bangkok policemen charged with extorting Taiwanese actress’s group/
  • Thailand Experience: Khao Yai’s top five things to do and see/A firsthand look at traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand/
  • International: Belgian couple ditch baby at airport after refusing to buy extra ticket/Google, Apple disappoint as tech earnings hit by gloom/Poland expects 40 nations to oppose Russian athletes at Olympics/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers

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Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19.

The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online.

Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

Thailand to reduce the 50-micron PM2.5 safety standard to 37.5 microns

Thailand will adjust the country’s standard safety level of air pollution from an average of 50 microns to 37.5 microns from June 1, with the hope that this will help the Pollution Control Department manage air pollution with increased efficiency, according to PCD Director-General Pinsak Suraswadi.

For the time being, he said that the PCD has implemented its Level 3 Plan, which means that they are seeking cooperation from employers by allowing their staff to work from home, and from motorists, by reducing their use of private cars to reduce emissions.

Construction sites have been instructed to reduce activities that push dust into the atmosphere, and the burning of waste in the open is prohibited, he said. Continued …

Bangkok disappearing under smog

Bangkokians awoke to a shroud of fine dust this week, with over 70 areas reporting levels of PM2.5 had breached 90 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3).

Thailand’s safety limit is 50 μg/m3. High levels of PM2.5 pose health risks, especially for people with chronic lung disease.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts levels of PM2.5 – particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – will rise across much of Thailand through Friday as the fine-dust pollution accumulates in stagnant air. Continued …

Exposure to PM2.5 affects heart and can be fatal, study shows

PM2.5 dust could put people at risk of heart disease, the head of Chulalongkorn University’s Information Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases said on Thursday.

Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha said people could die due to acute myocardial infarction if they are exposed to PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter), PM10 and nitrogen dioxide, citing the Journal of American College of Cardiology published last year.

“Apart from lung, this study has proved that dust particles also affect the heart,” he said. Continued …

Diesel price to drop for first time in 7 months

The price of diesel will fall by 50 satang to 34.50 baht per liter from Feb. 15, Oil Fuel Fund Office Director Wisak Wattanasap said on Thursday.

Wisak said the price cut would be the first in seven months.

The price has been 35 baht per liter since June 14 last year. Continued …

Here are the rules about vaping in Thailand

The Thai government introduced a ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or ‘vaping’), shisha smoking, and electronic shishas in 2014, for “health reasons and to discourage young people from starting to smoke”.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is reminding visitors to the country about this ban, which is part of the Tobacco Control Law, and the law prohibiting smoking in public areas.

Travelers to Thailand are advised not to bring any electronic cigarettes, shishas or any items associated with e-cigarettes, such as the “juice” and scented oils used in these devices. Travel agents and tour operators should also inform their clients of the ban on these products. Continued …

Railway on track for completion this year

Construction of the 145-kilometer Lop Buri-Pak Nam Pho double-track railway in Nakhon Sawan, which includes the country’s longest elevated stretch at 19km, will be completed on schedule by the end of this year, the Department of Rail Transport (DRT) said on Thursday. The 19km elevated stretch and a 10km one at ground level are being built along Highway No.366. The construction is 81.72% finished. (Bangkok Post)

‘Mink’ becomes first Thai to reach world No 1 in women’s snooker

Nutcharut “Mink” Wongharuthai on Thursday became the first Thai to reach No. 1 in the women’s world snooker rankings after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Asia-Pacific Women’s Championship 2023.

The 23-year-old made it to world No 1 after winning her first three matches to top Group A, highlighted by a break of 114 against Australia’s Linda Larrea.

The young Thai snooker ace ousted Reanne Evans of England at the top of the world rankings. Continued …

Murderer transports woman’s corpse to landfill site via motorbike

After a woman’s corpse wrapped in a yellow blanket was found dumped at a landfill site in Prachin Buri province in central Thailand yesterday, police uncovered important CCTV footage of the murderer transporting her body via motorbike.

Police believe the murder to be a result of a love triangle.

At 4.39am on Jan. 27, a man is pictured driving out of an apartment block on a Honda Icon motorbike transporting a slumped figure wrapped in a yellow blanket. Continued …

Six Bangkok policemen charged with extorting Taiwanese actress’s group

A police investigation panel on Thursday charged six Bangkok police officers – two captains and four sergeants – with bribe-taking over 27,000 baht allegedly extorted from a Taiwanese actress and her friends.

Maj-Gen. Thiradej Thammasuthee, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division, said one of the seven initial suspects was cleared, as he was not present when the bribe was allegedly demanded from actress Charlene and her group at a checkpoint in the early hours of Jan. 5.

He was among seven Huay Kwang policemen transferred on Monday after being identified as the ones who manned a temporary checkpoint in front of the Chinese Embassy on Ratchadaphisek Road where An’s group was stopped. Continued … 

Khao Yai’s top five things to do and see

Thailand is full of natural beauty, and Khao Yai may be one of the most picturesque regions in the country. Just a three-hour drive from Bangkok, this natural wonderland is teeming with amazing photo ops.

The location of Khao Yai is in Thailand’s eastern region and the province of Nakhon Ratchasima. Known as one of the big four cities of Isaan, the exotic cultural aspects will open your world to a whole new way of life.

Here, we have the five best things to do and see in Khao Yai. Continued …

A firsthand look at traditional Chinese medicine in Thailand

For anyone who’s ever had a sore throat, hot tea offers a welcome reprieve. But as Kevin Huang learned recently on a Penn Global seminar trip to Thailand, not all teas are created equally.

“Teas have different herbal properties, so they can be hot or cold, and they have different flavor profiles, like pungent, sour, sweet, salty, bitter,” explains Huang, a cell and molecular biology major from Bellmawr, New Jersey. “Each affects your body differently. Some can relieve cough; some are meant to help lower cholesterol. There are teas that address fatigue or insomnia and some for relieving stress.”

At this particular tea therapy workshop, Huang tried a varietal meant to boost energy. Fourth year School of Nursing student Linda Jiang tasted one that reduces stress and anxiety, surrounded by 18 other Penn students, who created and sipped herbal elixirs of their own. Continued …

Belgian couple ditch baby at airport after refusing to buy extra ticket

A Belgian couple at Israel’s Tel Aviv airport abandoned their baby after realizing they needed to buy a ticket for the child. The couple was late for a flight to Belgium and decided their child wasn’t worth the extra cost. They left their child at the check-in counter’s baggage conveyor belt and hurried to clear security to board their Ryanair flight to Brussels. Continued … 

Google, Apple disappoint as tech earnings hit by gloom

Google and Apple on Thursday reported downbeat results for the last quarter of 2022 as Amazon beat expectations, but warned that the coming months would be uncertain in a difficult moment for Big Tech. Continued … 

Poland expects 40 nations to oppose Russian athletes at Olympics

Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk on Thursday said he expected several dozen nations to come out against the inclusion of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Continued …

Click on imge above for more information

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.

 

90-day online reporting