“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.”

• 3,500 runners join Hua Hin Marathon Sunday/
• Centara World Masters Golf underway this week/
• Wild Animal Network Conference June 13-15/
• Hua Hin Charity Gold Day June 17/
• Thailand’s air pollution problem could worsen this year/
• Nine Years After 2014 Coup, Charade Continues with Pita The New Target/
• MFP survives first calls for dissolution/
• Gang arrested for stealing sacred stone from Sam Roi Yot National park/
• Less water in Thailand’s four main reservoirs this year/
• Thailand’s soaring egg prices crack traders and consumers alike/
• Dengue fever outbreak hits 3-year high; nearly 20,000 affected, 15 deaths/
• Foreigners Rounded Up In Surat Thani Crackdown/
• Thai Police Seize 200 Million Baht Worth of Heroin Destined for Australia/
• Three Pit Bulls abandoned, starved, and turned cannibal in Nonthaburi/
• In reality, Thailand not the LGBTQ+ paradise it pretends to be/
• Economy: Thailand EV hub ambition recharged by soaring investment/Bitkub revenue dips 48% as crypto sinks/Thailand is a global capital of (illegal) sex work/Thanisorn “Phet” Boonsoong on Thailand’s Burgeoning Cannabis Industry/
• Tourism: 25 million international tourists expected in next 7 months/Thailand boosts wellness tourism with 5-year traditional Thai medicine plan/Suvarnabhumi satellite terminal set for soft takeoff in September/Airfares may stay sky-high, say industry experts/
• Thailand Experience : Four seaside surf festivals for June and July, including PKK/5 Offbeat Islands In Thailand You Must Explore/
• International: Vietnam’s power crisis deepens as hydroelectric reservoirs near dangerous levels/Colombian Child plane crash survivors in ‘acceptable’ state of health/SEC Lawsuits Against Binance And Coinbase Raise Questions About Crypto’s Future/Djokovic celebrates 23rd Grand Slam/
• 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

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3,500 runners join Hua Hin Marathon Sunday

Over 3,500 runners participated in this year’s 3rd Hua Hin Marathon yesterday. The event was organized by Preserve Hua Hin, and began at Wat Khao Krailart in Khao Takiab.

The 42-kilometer route ran through Hua Hin almost to the airport, before ending at Wat Khao Krailart.

Yoshiyuki Ono of Japan won the event with a time of 02:47:54, Thai athlete อนุชิต บุญยกิจ finished second, while Hua Hin’s Lewis Chalk finished third.

A special part of the run was held by Hua Hin-based runners made up of Thais and expats who guided visually impaired students from Phetchaburi’s Thanmik Wittaya school. A related fund-raising campaign raised over 30,000 THB for Thanmik Wittaya school (see photo above).

Centara World Masters Golf underway this week

Eighteen countries are represented in the more than 400 golfers entered in this week’s Centara World Masters Golf Championship.

Australian golfers make up the majority of the field, but there are also participants from Norfolk Island, Pakistan, New Caledonia, Qatar, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, India, the UK, UAE, USA, Thailand, Germany, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa.

Thailand’s air pollution problem could worsen this year

Thailand’s polluted air has been a staggering issue for years now, especially in the north, where the air quality is reported to be detrimental to people’s health. But, as the rainy season is approaching, deluding our view that the air pollution has subsided, the opposite is true.

This year, Thailand is seeing worse haze than the previous. The air pollution is caused by various factors such as urban transportation, industrial pollution, forest fires and agricultural burning to clear the land for the next crop cycle–made worse by this year’s El Nino, which makes the air even more dry and susceptible to burning. Continued …

Nine Years After 2014 Coup, Charade Continues with Pita The New Target

Afarce, a charade, a travesty of justice, ludicrous, shambolic, and absurd – these are some of the words described the reactions of some Thais and foreigners upon learning that the Election Commission on Friday has considered to take up the case on whether Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has violated Article 151 of the election laws by holding ITV media shares.

Article 151 criminalized anyone who applied to run for MP knowingly that he or she lacks the qualifications – and holding media shares disqualifies you. Pita could face between one to 10 years in prison, slapped with a fine between 20,000 to 200,000 baht, and banned from voting for 20 years. Continued …

MFP survives first calls for dissolution

Four recent petitions along with a request to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) have been dismissed as groundless and no reason for dissolution by the Election Commission (EC), according to a source.

The dismissal of the petitions to dissolve the MFP was made while the eight-party coalition led by the MFP goes about forming a new government. Continued …

Gang arrested for stealing sacred stone from Sam Roi Yot National park

Officials have announced the arrest of a gang that had been illegally cutting and stealing stone from Sam Roi Yot National Park.

The illegal activity took place near the Tham Kaew Cave, an area of cultural and ecological significance within the national park, officials said. Continued …

Less water in Thailand’s four main reservoirs this year

Water levels in the reservoirs behind Thailand’s four main dams have dropped substantially, raising concerns of insufficient supply for agriculture and consumption.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department, the combined water volume in the big and medium-sized reservoirs across the country is estimated at 16.13 billion cubic meters, compared to 18.616 billion cubic meters at this time last year. Continued …

Thailand’s soaring egg prices crack traders and consumers alike

The soaring cost of eggs in Thailand has left traders and consumers concerned, with some attributing the price hike to a shortage of supplies at farms and increased export demand.

Wanchai Rungmitcharatsaeng, a 65-year-old egg shop owner in Khon Kaen’s Mueang district, has been in the business for over 20 years and claims that egg prices have reached an all-time high. Continued …

Dengue fever outbreak hits 3-year high; nearly 20,000 affected, 15 deaths

A recent warning from Thailand’s government deputy spokesperson, Trisuree Trisaranakul, has alerted the public to the rapidly growing dengue fever outbreak.

With nearly 20,000 reported cases and 15 deaths in the past five months, the epidemic reached its highest level in three years. Citizens are urged to take precautions to protect themselves and their children during the rainy season from June to August when the infection rate is expected to rise. Continued …

Foreigners Rounded Up In Surat Thani Crackdown

An ongoing crackdown by Immigration police in Surat Thani province has so far netted six foreigners for overstaying their visa and two others for illegal entry.

In the province-wide sweep taking place during June 7-21, another two persons were also arrested for not giving notification of the foreigners staying in their property within 24 hours of their arrival. Continued …

Thai Police Seize 200 Million Baht Worth of Heroin Destined for Australia

Anti-drug police confiscated 32 kilograms of heroin worth 200 million baht in Bangkok yesterday. The drugs were reportedly destined for Melbourne, Australia.

On June 10, at the Customs X-ray and Technology Center, Bangkok Port Customs Office, Phanthong Loykulnan, spokesman of the Customs Department, announced the results of the seizure of 32 kilograms of heroin, with a value exceeding 200 million baht. Continued …

Three Pit Bulls abandoned, starved, and turned cannibal in Nonthaburi

Four malnourished Pit Bulls were abandoned by their owner in a house in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi. One of the dogs was killed by the other dogs eating it before concerned neighbors contacted local authorities for assistance.

Residents of a village in Bang Bua Thong were shocked to discover this alarming case after a TikTok user posted about the pit bulls. The abandoned dogs were left to starve in a house after the owner moved away without them. With no one to provide food or water, the pit bulls were left to feed on each other, resulting in one canine’s death. Continued …

In reality, Thailand not the LGBTQ+ paradise it pretends to be

June is when we celebrate Pride Month worldwide, and of course, many businesses change their profile photos to be rainbows for a month. Some brands would launch a new product serving in all rainbow colors.

We’d talk about LGBTQ+ for a bit and once June has passed, everything goes back to normal like Pride Month was just one of those marketing campaigns Lazada does once a month. Continued …

Thailand EV hub ambition recharged by soaring investment

Thailand’s ambition to become a regional hub for three industries – electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, upstream electronic manufacturing, and digital and creative – has received a significant boost from soaring investment, the Board of Investment (BOI) reports.

The BOI informed caretaker PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recently that total investment value surged to 185.7 billion baht from January to March, up 77% from the same period last year. Continued …

Bitkub revenue dips 48% as crypto sinks

Bitkub Online (BO), the owner of Bitkub Exchange, Thailand’s leading cryptocurrency platform, reported a 48% year-on-year decline in revenue last year as the crypto market plunged.

The total investments of its clients decreased 65% from a year earlier. Continued …

Thailand is a global capital of (illegal) sex work

In an apartment near Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street, Auchanaporn Pilasata studies her reflection in the mirror, applies another layer of plum-shade lipstick, and touches up her black eyeliner.

In the corner of her mirror are two photographs: one from when she looked like a scrawny 15-year-old boy, and another, post-transition, as the stunning woman she is today. Continued …

Thanisorn “Phet” Boonsoong on Thailand’s Burgeoning Cannabis Industry

With a BSBA finance and entrepreneurship qualification from Northeastern University in Boston under his belt, Thanisorn “Phet” Boonsoong has made an impressive name for himself in various pursuits, including the burgeoning field of cannabis and hemp production.

He is currently keeping busy as the CEO of Eastern Spectrum Group, Thailand’s pioneer cannabis plant manufacturer. It’s been quite a roller coaster year for everyone involved in the kingdom’s marijuana industry, which literally exploded after the plant was decriminalized exactly 12 months ago. Continued …

25 million international tourists expected in next 7 months

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) disclosed that Thailand’s tourism revenue for the first five months of 2023 reached 959 billion baht, with international visitors accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total. The agency expects its tourism revenue to reach 2.38 trillion baht by the end of 2023, around 80% of the 3 trillion baht recorded in 2019.

TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn stated Thai tourists accounted for 360 billion baht from nearly 100 million domestic trips, while international tourists generated an income of 599 million baht from 10.56 million trips. He said that the country welcomed 1.97 million overseas tourists last month, the majority of whom came from Malaysia, followed by China, India, South Korea, and Laos. Continued …

Thailand boosts wellness tourism with 5-year traditional Thai medicine plan

The Public Health Ministry is implementing a five-year traditional Thai medicine development plan to boost wellness tourism, a government spokesman announced on Sunday.

Anucha Burapachaisri said outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had acknowledged the five-year plan (2023-2027) for steering local traditional and alternative medicine to generate revenue for the country. Continued …

Suvarnabhumi satellite terminal set for soft takeoff in September

Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok is set to soft launch its Satellite Airport Terminal 1 (SAT-1) in September, with a full opening planned for early next year. Airports of Thailand (AoT) President Kerati Kijmanawat stated the new 216,000-square-meter facility, with a capacity for 28 aircraft parking bays, aims to address existing issues at the airport.

With the ability to accommodate 15 million passengers per year, SAT-1 will increase Suvarnabhumi’s annual passenger handling capacity to 60 million. The AoT board is expected to be informed of the soft opening plans later this month. Continued …

Airfares may stay sky-high, say industry experts

Despite the recent fall in oil prices, high airfares may stay in place for some time to come, say airline industry professionals and experts.

The gradual return of demand for travel last year following the lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions had already given the signal for higher fares. Continued …

Four seaside surf festivals for June and July, including PKK

Four seaside locations in Phangnga, Phuket, Songkhla and Prachuap Khiri Khan are the venues for four exciting festivals under the Amazing Ultimate Festival by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in June and July.

Huahin Beach Life 2023 will be held at Hua Don Beach in Khao Takiab, Prachuap Khiri Khan, from July 21 to 23. Hipsters will get a blissful beach experience with Sup Clinic sessions and fun workshops. Continued …

5 Offbeat Islands In Thailand You Must Explore

Away from the bustling cities of Bangkok, Thailand unpacks an array of destinations where you can unwind to the sound of gushing waves and swaying palm trees. While this description may conjure up images of the picturesque shores of Phi Phi and Koh Samui Islands, there are several offbeat ones you can escape to.

The best part is that it has everything that makes Thailand an enchanting destination, such as its delicious cuisine and warm hospitality. It couples it with the solitude reminiscent of more secluded vacation spots like the Maldives. While these lesser-known island spots in Thailand may not be as expensive as a holiday to the Maldives, they measure up just as well when you compare their beauty. Continued …

Vietnam’s power crisis deepens as hydroelectric reservoirs near dangerous levels

Two out of the three largest hydroelectric reservoirs in Vietnam, Son La and Lai Chau, are at dead water levels, with only Hoa Binh reservoir having enough water to generate electricity. Continued …

Colombian Child plane crash survivors in ‘acceptable’ state of health

Colombian President Gustavo Petro visited on Saturday four indigenous children who had been missing for more than five weeks in Colombia’s southern jungle after surviving a plane crash. Continued …

SEC Lawsuits Against Binance And Coinbase Raise Questions About Crypto’s Future

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed lawsuits last week against the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, deepening tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns. Continued …

Djokovic celebrates 23rd Grand Slam

Novak Djokovic won a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the French Open on Sunday to stand alone at the summit of men’s tennis with a 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 victory over fourth seed Casper Ruud in the final. 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

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