- Bangkok hottest in Thailand on Thursday as temperature soars past 50C/
- Songkran activities at Bluport mall/
- Be Well Clinic to move/
- Dispute resolution center opened in Hua Hin/
- Six people caught allegedly trapping macaques at temple in Phetchaburi/
- Chiang Mai issues urgent work-from-home warning as PM2.5 soars even higher/
- Shivering fox cubs rescued from forest fire in Lampang/
- PM2.5 in Mae Hong Son tourist town at hazardous levels/
- Police launch home-minding service for Songkran/
- Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports/
- With plastic-eating machines, Thai communities turn a profit fighting pollution/
- Thousands flee into Thailand amid renewed Myanmar fighting/
- Marijuana Gold Rush: Weed conundrum polarizes society ahead of election/How medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients/Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame/Thailand’s First Cannabis Greenhouse: Step Forward for Medical Cannabis Industry/Why ASEAN countries should not look at Thailand for legalizing medical cannabis/
- Tourism: 5 Thai beaches appear on list of top 100 beaches in the world/High flight costs said due to strong and swift recovery in tourism/What the big oil production cuts mean to airfares/Five-point plan to bring down airfares/Thailand to accept electronic VOA applications for 17 countries/Thai medical tourism market to recover to pre-Covid level in 2023/Pattaya Police Launch City-Wide Search Targeting Overstaying Foreigners/Phuket Close to a Drought, Phuket Officials Urge Residents to Save Water/Pattaya, Navy Helping Koh Larn Cope With Water Shortage/
- Thailand Experience: Snorkeling in Thailand: A Guide to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi & Koh Lanta/Phuket vs Bali: how to choose between the two divine islands/Rain of fire at Buddhist temple in Nan/
- Links: 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
Bangkok hottest in Thailand on Thursday as temperature soars past 50C
Bangkok will be the hottest area of the country on Thursday, with a heat index of 50.2 degrees Centigrade (122F), according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
The capital’s southeastern Bang Na district topped the forecasted five hottest places in the country as hot season gripped Thailand. Second-hottest was Chonburi’s Laem Chabang at 49.4C, followed by Phuket (47.9C), Si Sa Ket (41.5C) and Phetchabun (40.6C). Continued …
Songkran activities at Bluport mall
Be Well Clinic to move
The management team at Hua’s Be Well Medical Center has announced big changes for their Black Mountain satellite clinic, with a move to purpose-built premises at a location on the main road, close to the water park near the Black Mountain Golf Course entrance road.
Operations at the current location, established in November 2021, will cease from today. The new premises are expected to be open in the first quarter of 2024 as part of a larger healthcare and restaurant project. Continued …
Dispute resolution center opened in Hua Hin
A Public Dispute Resolution Center at Hua Hin police station will be responsible for mediating disputes that are classified as “petty offenses.”
These include verbal disputes, minor physical assaults, and other non-criminal issues that do not require legal intervention.
Six people caught allegedly trapping macaques at temple in Phetchaburi
Police arrested six suspects and seized three pickup trucks as they were trying to trap macaque monkeys at a temple in Phetchaburi province yesterday.
Police also found one monkey, traps and 40 blue plastic bags used to contain the animals after their capture. Continued …
Chiang Mai issues urgent work-from-home warning as PM2.5 soars even higher
Government agencies in Chiang Mai were ordered to let staff work from home on Friday as levels of PM2.5 smog surged to almost unprecedented levels.
In an urgent announcement issued on Friday morning, Chiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthavorn said officials who can work from home or online without impacting public services should be allowed to do so. Continued …
Shivering fox cubs rescued from forest fire in Lampang
PM2.5 in Mae Hong Son tourist town at hazardous levels
The tourist town of Pai in Mae Hong Son province is choking with PM2.5 ultra-fine dust at a hazardous 398 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of air on Thursday morning following weeks of forest fires and burning of farmland, the authorities said.
The Mae Hong Son operation center for tackling forest fires and smog added that the PM2.5 level in Muang district was measured at 196 µg/m3 and at 132 µg/m3 in Mae Saring district. Continued …
Police launch home-minding service for Songkran
Householders have been invited to “Leave your home with the police” during the long Songkran holiday.
Thousands of Thais are expected to start heading home from April 12 to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year on April 13. The public holiday for the three-day festival runs until April 18 this year.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) today announced its scheme aimed at ensuring no one breaks into people’s homes while they enjoy the long holiday break. Continued …
Thailand chips away at US trade deficit with 62% increase in chip market exports
The United States has been experiencing a growing deficit in its chipmaking trade with Asia, but the good news is that Thailand is helping to chip away at that gap.
According to U.S. Census data, U.S. imports of chips grew 17% from last year to US$4.86 billion in February, with Asia accounting for 83% of that total. Continued …
With plastic-eating machines, Thai communities turn a profit fighting pollution
I found the workshop down a narrow soi in Bangkok’s old town. Several large sacks of plastic bottle caps, carefully sorted by color, sat by the entrance. Machines filled the rest of the shed.
Small and hand-operated, the machinery was there to be fed. I pressed a green button, and hungry teeth rotated rapidly at the bottom of a clear container, rattling like an aggressive kitchen blender.
I scooped handfuls of orange and red caps into the shredder. Once inside, they danced about like popcorn, becoming ever smaller as the teeth chomped them into tiny, thin flakes. The goal was to turn the caps into something new, ensuring they would no longer head to a landfill or, worse, into the ocean. Continued …
Thousands flee into Thailand amid renewed Myanmar fighting
Thousands of people have fled across the border to Thailand amid fierce fighting between Myanmar’s armed rebel groups and the military, according to Thai officials.
Myanmar was plunged into turmoil when the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to mass protests and an armed uprising. Continued …
Weed conundrum polarizes society ahead of election
Despite the different stances political parties take when it comes to the subject of cannabis – with most objecting to its recreational use – and another potential shift in the plant’s legal status, many sellers remain unconcerned.
As the May 14 general election draws near, parties have begun publishing their policies in a bid to woo voters. The legal status of cannabis, frequently described as being in an unregulated “vacuum”, is a subject of significant public concern, however, and political parties seem keen to capitalize on this. Continued …
How medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients
Before getting into the story of how medical cannabis is changing the lives of Thai patients, let’s first talk about the medical products that can be made from cannabis.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, has been increasingly recognized for its potential therapeutic properties. The following are some of the key medical products derived from cannabis. Continued …
Thailand’s promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame
Thailand’s decriminalization of cannabis has delighted its fans, alarmed some health experts and has increasingly disappointed farmers who have been undercut by illegal imports, sending a promise of a new bonanza crop up in smoke.
Marijuana has also become an election football, with the opposition criticizing the ruling pro-military coalition in the run-up to May 14 polls for rushing through decriminalization last year to what they say is the detriment of society, youngsters in particular. Continued …
Thailand’s First Cannabis Greenhouse: Step Forward for Medical Cannabis Industry
The medical cannabis industry is a rapidly growing sector of the healthcare industry. It has seen tremendous growth in the last two decades, as more and more countries have passed laws legalizing the use of the same for certain medical conditions. This has opened up new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors who are looking to capitalize on the burgeoning market.
This medical sector offers many financial opportunities, including retail dispensaries, cultivation, processing, and delivery services. There are also opportunities to provide consulting services to help patients and businesses navigate the complex legal and regulatory environment surrounding the industry. Continued …
Why ASEAN countries should not look at Thailand for legalizing medical cannabis
Cannabis use was decriminalized in Thailand since June 2022. Yet, almost a year on, the country still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis products.
Amid the legal ambiguity, a fast-growing cannabis industry has emerged with significant implications for both Thailand and the broader Southeast Asia region, home to some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Continued …
5 Thai beaches appear on list of top 100 beaches in the world
The prime minister has expressed satisfaction with five of Thailand’s beaches being included among the Top 100 Beaches on Earth ranking published by the worldbeachguide.com website.
Koh Kradan in Trang province came in at number one on the list of the world’s best 100 beaches. Railay Beach in Krabi was placed on the ninth spot on the list, with Freedom Beach in Phuket ranked 18th and Laem Had Beach on Phang-nga’s Koh Yao Yai placing at the 21st spot. Ao Tanote on Surat Thani’s Koh Tao was ranked 44th. Continued …
High flight costs said due to strong and swift recovery in tourism
The Transport Ministry is pointing to the stronger-than-expected recovery in tourism for the high cost of flights, saying the surging number of international and domestic tourists created a large gap between supply and demand.
Thailand has attracted an average of 140,000 visitors a day since its reopened its borders in November 2021, Acting Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said on Thursday. Continued …
What the big oil production cuts mean to airfares
The recent move by the big oil majors to cut production by over one million barrels a day as a “precautionary” measure to stabilize the oil market will have a domino effect on airfares, according to industry experts.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday announced plans to lower oil production by 1.16 million barrels per day, starting next month, which has already led to a surge in oil prices. This reduction in oil production will lead to a decrease in the supply of oil, driving up the price of oil, which will ultimately impact the cost of airline operations. Continued …
Five-point plan to bring down airfares
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Transport Ministry to proceed with a five-point plan to tackle the soaring prices of air tickets in the short and long term.
Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said the ministry has informed the prime minister of the measures taken and those in the pipeline to address the substantial hikes, which is due to the surge in demand after the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued …
Thailand to accept electronic VOA applications for 17 countries
BLS International Services on Wednesday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand to accept electronic visa-on-arrival (EVOA) applications for 17 countries. ”This convergence of forces is expected to propel Thailand’s tourism inflow steadily, with estimated 75,000-plus applications expected for the upcoming season,” the city-based company said.
The company collaborates with more than 46 client governments, including diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates, as well as employs technology and processes that ensure data security. Continued …
Thai medical tourism market to recover to pre-Covid level in 2023
According to SCB EIC estimates, the Thai medical tourism market in 2023 is likely to recover to a higher level than in 2019 and will be valued at 2 billion baht.
The future growth of the Thai medical tourism market is fueled by a number of health megatrends. These include the entrance of the silver economy in 2021, which is driving demand for medical care and innovation in anti-aging technology. Continued …
Pattaya Police Launch City-Wide Search Targeting Overstaying Foreigners
Pattaya Police and immigration launched a city-wide search Wednesday targeting foreigners on overstay or who might have been involved in illegal activities.
About 50 law enforcement officers swept across Pattaya City at 10:30pm to deter illegal activities. Continued …
Phuket Close to a Drought, Phuket Officials Urge Residents to Save Water
Officials are urging Phuket residents to save water, as water resources are limited and Phuket could be close to a drought.
Phuket Provincial Administrative Chief officer Somprat Prabsongkram said Phuket has three major reservoirs, which are the Khlong Katha Reservoir in Chalong, Bang Ward Reservoir, and the Bang Neow Dam Reservoir. These three reservoirs will only have enough water resources to last until July without rain. Residents have to save water. Continued …
Pattaya, Navy Helping Koh Larn Cope With Water Shortage
With Koh Larn off Pattaya being among the islands facing water shortage, this seaside city’s authorities, together with the navy, are now helping to partly alleviate the crisis by transporting badly needed fresh water.
Pattaya City Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai said this popular tourist destination has two sources of fresh water, with one being what is produced by East Water Co.’s desalination plant and the other ground water, plus what the local residents have stored during the rainy season. Continued …
Snorkeling in Thailand: A Guide to Koh Phi Phi, Krabi & Koh Lanta
Thailand is a beautiful country known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and abundant marine life. One of the must-do activities when in Thailand is snorkeling, and with its rich underwater world, there are plenty of places to do so.
We will focus on three popular destinations for snorkeling in Thailand – Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, and Koh Lanta – and provide recommendations on where to stay and eat, as well as tips to make the most of your snorkeling trip. Continued …
Phuket vs Bali: how to choose between the two divine islands
Anyone planning a trip to Southeast Asia confronts an embarrassment of riches. This magical part of the world has enough beaches, sunset spots, temples and fiery food to fill several lifetimes of travel. Yet, since we only have one, tough choices lie in store. Enter a pair of seasoned writers to make the case for their pick of two of the region’s most beloved hubs, Phuket and Bali.
For anyone who loves Phuket – as I do – it’s a magical island that instantly defies its stereotypes without making any fuss. Continued …
Rain of fire at Buddhist temple in Nan
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
Hua Hin-Chaing Mai flight schedule through October
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