- Jeffrey McNeely: Still fighting for the environment/
- Chef Jutamas “Som” Theantae finds success in Hua Hin/
- Common mistakes to avoid while learning Thai/
- Thai researchers sound the alarm over El Nino’s thirsty forecast/
- Saudi Man Nabbed With 189 Wildlife In Smuggling Attempt/
- Covid bivalent vaccine shows rapidly declining effectiveness against XBB strain/
- Police say serial cyanide killer had accomplice in at least 4 murders/
- Non-Stop Flow Of Myanmar Refugees To Thailand Amid Fierce Fighting/
- Community planting new hope on a bare mountain/
- A life in chains: Monkeys as coconut pickers in Thailand/
- Economy: Bank of Thailand forecasts GDP growth, increased tourism/Digital push woos multinational firms/Thailand eyes sustainable construction via new waste management system/Recriminalizing cannabis may kill Thailand’s flowering weed industry/
- Tourism: Thailand urged to woo business tourists/China bookings to return to pre-pandemic level by early 2024 – Agoda/
- Thailand Experience: Top 15 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui/
- International: US Military Wins ‘Unimpeded’ Access To Papua New Guinea Bases/
- Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Expat News is pleased to welcome a new series of articles about Hua Hin residents, written by freelance journalist Felicitee Lawrie, a Sydney, Australia, native.
“Hua Hin is full of unique human beings, each with an interesting back story, dreams, passions and achievements, much of it unknown to even people who encounter them on a daily basis,” Felicitee says of her current passion.
To read more about Felicitee, click HERE.
Jeffrey McNeely: Still fighting for the environment
By Felicitee Lawrie
Jeffrey McNeely describes himself as a curious, bibliophilic outdoor enthusiast. Trained as an anthropologist and having spent two years studying nature in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal, Jeff appreciates all things scientific and takes great delight in learning more about the natural world and the various ways different human cultures interact with it.
Although he retired at the end of 2016 from his final post as chief scientist at the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this retirement has seen him only barely less busy or less productive. Continued …
Chef Jutamas “Som” Theantae finds success in Hua Hin
With well over 20 years’ experience as a professional chef, both in Thailand and abroad, Chef Jutamas “Som” Theantae has made quite a name for herself as someone who’s not afraid to push the epicurean envelope. Many Bangkok gourmands remember her fondly as the woman behind Karmakamet Conveyance restaurant, where diners were presented with intricately crafted and always unpredictable set menu dinners.
In October of 2021, she left the chaos of Bangkok behind and relocated to Hua Hin, where she opened a charming beachfront bistro appropriately named Som’s Table. Here she serves up an à la carte menu of beautifully prepared and highly imaginative gourmet comfort food dishes, which have, in turn, earned her a devoted foodie following. Continued …
Common mistakes to avoid while learning Thai
Thai is a fascinating language, filled with unique sounds, tones, and expressions that promise to make your learning experience an exciting adventure. But, like any language, Thai comes with its fair share of challenges and common Thai language mistakes that might catch you off guard.
No worries, though! Along with our friends at ALA Language School, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common mistakes you should steer clear of when learning Thai. Continued …
Thai researchers sound the alarm over El Nino’s thirsty forecast
Thai researchers are currently raising the alarm as they predict a potential drought crisis in the coming years, due to the El Nino weather pattern causing lower than average rainfall. Consequently, proactive measures and comprehensive water-management plans are urgently needed to mitigate the impact of the impending water scarcity.
A conference discussing climate change, water-resource management, and strategies for tackling future challenges was recently held by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI). Researchers and officials from related agencies attended the event to share their knowledge on the issue. Continued …
Saudi Man Nabbed With 189 Wildlife In Smuggling Attempt
A Saudi Arabian man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday after 99 wild animals and 90 aquatic animals were found in his suitcases, just as he was trying to catch a flight back to his home country.
Airport officials inspected the three suitcases the unidentified Saudi man checked in at the international departure hall after one of them became suspicious about what they contained. Upon opening them, they found a total of 189 wildlife and aquatic animals worth 259,200 baht in them. Continued …
Covid bivalent vaccine shows rapidly declining effectiveness against XBB strain
The effectiveness of bivalent Covid-19 vaccines is likely to decline rapidly as the XBB variant continues to spread, Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Thira Woratanarat, posted on Facebook today.
The news comes on the heels of Thursday’s meeting between the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee held to discuss the findings of an ongoing study. Continued …
Police say serial cyanide killer had accomplice in at least 4 murders
A close associate of suspected serial cyanide killer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn collaborated in at least four of the killings, police said on Thursday.
Deputy National Police Chief Surachet “Big Joke” Hakparn delivered the news as police prepared to hand their investigation report to public prosecutors on Monday. Continued …
Non-Stop Flow Of Myanmar Refugees To Thailand Amid Fierce Fighting
Amid fierce fighting between Myanmar junta army and Karenni Army (KA), Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Kayah state opposite Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province that started earlier this week, there is now a non-stop stream of Karenni refugees crossing over to seek shelter on the Thai side.
The fighting broke out on Tuesday between Myanmar junta’s 430th Rapid Mobility Battalion and Karenni fighters supported by PDF, the loosely organized armed wing of the pro-democracy National Unity Government, with 20 refugees having first crossed over that same evening. Continued …
Community planting new hope on a bare mountain
Residents from six villages near a gold mine in Thailand’s Loei province came together for a tree-planting event earlier this week, in an effort to restore life to a mountain ravaged by gold mining.
A community-based group called Khon Rak Ban Kerd (People Who Love Their Hometown), along with international students from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, school children and teachers from Ban Huai Phuk School and the head of the Khao Luang subdistrict administration organization collaborated to revive the once-thriving ecosystem on the mountain and heal the scars left by mining. Continued …
A life in chains: Monkeys as coconut pickers in Thailand
Nong has been walking in circles for an hour. Attached to his tight metal collar is a short 3-meter chain chained to a bamboo pole. The strong macaque monkey takes the chain in his hand, his facial expression revealing just how much he hates it.
Nong is four years old. He has lived with coconut farmer Lek and his family for two-and-a-half years. The monkey’s job is to pick coconuts from tall palm trees early in the morning, when the tropical heat on Thailand’s dream island of Koh Samui is still bearable. In order to complete his morning tasks, he is put on a slightly longer chain for some time. Continued …
Bank of Thailand forecasts GDP growth, increased tourism
Anticipating a stronger Thai economy, the Bank of Thailand has expressed confidence that GDP growth will surpass their expectations. This is attributed to the economic strategies implemented by the new government, combined with progress in the tourism and consumption sectors.
In a recent meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the central bank stated that they foresee continuous growth in the Thai economy, albeit with some inflationary risks. According to the MPC, the driving forces behind this economic expansion are tourism and private consumption, along with a predicted recovery of goods exports by the latter half of 2023. Continued …
Digital push woos multinational firms
Many foreign software firms established offices in Thailand this year to capitalize on the country’s continuing digital transformation and to serve the demand of local enterprises.
The country also attracted large foreign data center and cloud service providers from the U.S., Japan and China over the past two years. Continued …
Thailand eyes sustainable construction via new waste-management system
Thailand’s push to create a “circular economy” has been handed fresh impetus with a new solution to manage waste from its burgeoning construction industry.
Developers of the CPAC Waste Management Solution say it will help achieve sustainability in the construction industry and strengthen “circular” resource management, while supporting the sector’s rapid growth. Continued …
Recriminalizing cannabis may kill Thailand’s flowering weed industry
Move Forward Party’s policy to relist cannabis as a narcotic could have deep and wide-ranging impacts on Thailand’s flourishing marijuana industry, experts say.
“More than a million people have applied to grow cannabis, while authorities have granted 1.1 million licenses to produce or sell cannabis-related products,” reports Nikkei Asia.
After cannabis was removed from the narcotics list on June 9 last year, Kasikorn Research Centre forecast the value of Thailand’s weed market would hit 21 billion baht by 2024, driven by demand from Thais and foreign tourists. Continued …
Thailand urged to woo business tourists
Online travel agent Agoda hopes Thailand can become a preferred destination for business travelers, competing with Japan and Vietnam.
Following Japan in the top spot, Thailand became the second-largest inbound market via the Agoda platform from January to May, ahead of Vietnam in third. Continued …
China bookings to return to pre-pandemic level by early 2024 – Agoda
Overseas travel bookings from mainland China are currently at just over half of pre-pandemic levels but are on course to return to the 2019 numbers by the end of this year or early 2024, the head of online travel agency Agoda said on Thursday.
China was the world’s largest outbound tourism market before the pandemic with annual spending of $255 billion. The country reopened earlier this year after removing most of its pandemic restrictions, giving a big boost to outbound travel. Continued …
Top 15 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui
Koh Samui, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is a tropical paradise that offers a myriad of reasons to visit. In this Koh Samui Travel Guide, we will share a few enticing aspects of this stunning island destination:
Idyllic Beaches: Koh Samui boasts some of Thailand’s most picturesque beaches, with crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, and lush palm-fringed coastlines. From the popular Chaweng Beach to the tranquil Lamai Beach, you can indulge in sunbathing, swimming, or simply unwinding by the sea. Video
US Military Wins ‘Unimpeded’ Access To Papua New Guinea Bases
The U.S. military can develop and operate out of bases in Papua New Guinea, according to a landmark security pact underpinning Washington’s efforts to outflank China in the Pacific. Continued …
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6:30pm
The one-way fare is 325 baht.
The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank.
UPDATED: Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day
Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departing 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
Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October
Book a flight
