- Hua Hin Marathon postponed to June 11/
- Prachuap Khiri Run to be held July 16/
- Siege in Phetchaburi: Police shoot man dead after he kills 3, injures four/
- Massive Indian Scam Syndicate bilked 365 American retirees/
- Study finds most Thai youth not developing job skills/
- Thai industry group: Emphasize climate-linked areas/
- Recovered Caesium-137 cannister ‘not a threat to local Thai produce’/
- Van Gogh works to come alive at Bangkok gallery/
- Tourism: Over 5.5 million tourists have already visited Thailand this year/Chinese tourists rush to board ‘fashion time machine’ in Chiang Mai/Thailand welcomes Really Cool Airlines/Thailand’s ‘Really Cool Airlines’ may not be a joke, but difficult to take seriously/Bangkok Airways expects profit for 2023/Safari park in Thailand responds to bungee cord incident/
- Thailand Experience: A land of giants/Where to find the best food in Phuket/From ancient to modern: The cannabis tale of Thailand/
- International: Federal Reserve raises interest rates amid banking turmoil/
- 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
Hua Hin Marathon postponed to June 11
The Hua Hin Marathon has been postponed to June 11, race organizers have announced.
The marathon, which is one of the region’s most eagerly anticipated races, has been postponed from its original date of May 14.
May 14 is now the date Thailand will hold the general election. Continued …
Prachuap Khiri Run to be held July 16
One of the region’s most eye-catching running events will be held in Prachuap Khiri Khan in July, the provincial administration has announced.
The Tipco Prachuap Khiri Run 2023, which will take place on July 16, will take participants along the stunning Prachuap Bay and the Wing 5 military base.
Runners will have the opportunity to take in the beautiful surroundings, with the route boasting some breathtaking views along the bay and across the runway at the military base. Continued …
Siege in Phetchaburi: Police shoot man dead after he kills 3, injures four
A gunman who killed three people execution-style ahead of his pending court case was shot dead by police after a 15-hour standoff in Phetchaburi province on Thursday morning.
Anuwat Waenthong, 29, launched the attack at 1.30pm in Soi 4 of Krungphet Villa housing estate in the Ton Mamuang neighbourhood, 170 kilometers southwest of Bangkok.
Police said the gunman fired multiple bullets in the area, killing three people, including a motorcycle delivery driver, and injuring four more before taking shelter in a house. Continued …
Massive Indian Scam Syndicate bilked 365 American retirees
Five Indian phone scammers and 15 Thai accomplices were arrested following a major scam bust yesterday across Thailand. The suspects swindled 365 American retirees out of over three billion baht, according to police.
The raids carried out by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), police commandos, and officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office struck 36 premises in Chonburi, Rayong, Roi Et, and Surat Thani, and resulted in the arrest of over 20 phone scam suspects.
Police Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, deputy national police chief, told a press briefing that the suspects mainly targeted elderly American citizens and had tricked 365 people into transferring them three billion baht. Continued …
Study finds most Thai youth not developing job skills
The rising share of youth who are Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET) in Thailand represents a concerning social and economic phenomenon.
While nearly 1.4 million (or 15 %) youth aged 15-24 years in Thailand are NEET, a new Unicef-led study released today finds most of them (68 %) lack the motivation to develop skills or work due to a perceived lack of opportunities.
The new study – In-depth Research on Youth Not in Employment, Education or Training in Thailand – is the first in-depth study that provides a comprehensive picture of youth NEET in Thailand. Continued …
Thai industry group: Emphasize climate-linked areas
Despite the country’s dependence on tourism to boost its revenue, Thailand needs to further drive its economy through electric vehicles (EVs) and bio-, circular and green (BCG) economic development amid a rapidly changing world, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The world is increasingly disrupted by high-level digital technology and is adopting more clean energy in an effort to combat climate change.
A new government must be aware of these factors and design policies that match the changing technological, environmental and economic conditions, said Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. Continued …
Recovered Caesium-137 cannister ‘not a threat to local Thai produce’
Thai officials say the recently recovered Caesium-137 canister is not a threat to local produce, despite it being smelted. The concerns over the effects of the tube’s radioactive properties were raised as contaminated furnace dust was discovered at a steel plant in Prachin Buri’s Kabin Buri district this week.
Out of fear, customers canceled purchase orders of fruit from the province, despite authorities insisting that no contamination had been detected within a 5-kilometer radius of the factory.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said checks for radioactive substances in such products found that radiation levels did not exceed safety limits. Continued …
Van Gogh works to come alive at Bangkok gallery
Can’t afford a weekend getaway to the Musee D’Orsay? An upcoming exhibition will be a must see for Van Goghites — or at least fans of “Loving Vincent,” or that one episode of Doctor Who.
At the Van Gogh Alive display, patrons will be greeted by moving, otherworldly portrayals of Vincent Van Gogh’s works on the walls, floors, and ceilings, accompanied by a dynamic soundtrack. The exhibition is also interactive, allowing visitors to engage with the works.
Apart from the famed Starry Night, other highlights include Sunflower Room, which is designed to make visitors feel as though they’re standing in a field of Van Gogh’s most challenging subjects. Continued …
Over 5.5 million tourists have already visited Thailand this year
About 5.57 million foreign tourists visited Thailand from Jan. 1 to March 18, generating 215.05 billion baht in revenue, deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Taisaranakul said on Wednesday, citing data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
Although both the domestic and foreign tourism markets are improving, the influx of foreign visitors has caused congestion at many areas in airports, such as check-in counters and the Immigration Bureau’s passport checkpoints, Traisulee said.
The price of flight tickets has also risen sharply, she added. Continued …
Chinese tourists rush to board ‘fashion time machine’ in Chiang Mai
The surreal sight of Chinese tourists wandering around in Thai traditional outfits is becoming commonplace in Chiang Mai.
Visitors from China have returned after three years of Covid-19 with a thirst for memorable and “authentic” Thai experiences as they tour historical temples and other attractions in the northern province.
Surrounded by crowds of Thais in jeans and T-shirts, Chinese tourists stand out in finery that was fashionable several centuries ago in Thailand. Continued …
Thailand welcomes Really Cool Airlines
A new airline has come to town, in the form of Thailand-based Really Cool Airlines.
The new airline will announce aircraft types, destinations and its route network in the coming months, with operations expected to commence by the end of 2023. Details on the approaches and services will also be revealed soon.
Patee Sarasin, CEO of Really Cool Airlines, said: “We are thrilled to introduce Really Cool Airlines and look forward to providing travelers with an exceptional flying experience. Our team of experts has worked tirelessly to create a new standard for the aviation industry, and we’re excited to unveil in the coming months what we have in store.” Continued …
Thailand’s ‘Really Cool Airlines’ may not be a joke, but difficult to take seriously
Get ready to fly the “really cool” skies, maybe, after the former head of Nok Air announced that he is launching a new airline that hopefully flies better than its name.
Five years after he left Nok, Patee Sarasin’s announcement “Really Cool Airlines” was so chockablock with scam-adjacent, threadbare buzzwords such as gamification, blockchain, and NFTs that it might be mistaken as satire to anyone who has paid attention to the past two years.
Announced as the world’s first “GameFi airline” (customers will play blockchain games!), Patee said Really Cool would be managed by “crypto-native citizens from our Really Cool Air GameFi.” Continued …
Bangkok Airways expects profit for 2023
Bangkok Airways expects its passenger rate to hit 70%-80% of the pre-pandemic level this year, roughly 4.4 million people from more than 40,000 flights, and will possibly post an annual profit for the first time since 2019.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, president of Bangkok Airways, said long-haul demand has grown better than expected since the final quarter of last year, which will help to hit the target of 15 billion baht in revenue for 2023.
Puttipong said European passengers currently accounted for 60% of the total, followed by Asia-Pacific and Thai passengers. Continued …
Safari park in Thailand responds to bungee cord incident
Staff from Chang Thai Thappraya Safari Park in Pattaya, Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand, have commented on the broken bungee cord incident that nearly killed a tourist from Hong Kong last month.
The bungee jump operator, 41-year-old Natthaphon Yokcharoen, took reporters to see the scene of the incident, a platform about 30 meters high above a lake.
Nattaphon said that all bungee jumpers are required to sign a document before jumping and staff demonstrate how it’s done before tourists take the leap. Continued …
A land of giants
(Editor: This park allows the riding of elephants. Expat News encourages readers to avoid elephant rides, which are damaging to their spines.)
As our car wound through the Khotcha-anajak project, also known as the Elephant Kingdom, one of my friends gestured enthusiastically out the window and her eyes twinkled with delight like a child when she spotted elephants ambling about seeking food in a green meadow.
“Have you never seen an elephant before?” was a question I couldn’t help but ask her. She emphasized how unique this scene was compared to what was seen in a zoo. We appeared to be on a safari, exploring a woodland with a field of open grazing animals.
In response to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother’s commitment to conserve Thai elephants, the Zoological Park Organization of Thailand established the project in 2009 to repatriate pachyderms that once roamed large-city streets to the northeastern town of Surin. Continued …
Where to find the best food in Phuket
Sheltering from an impetuous morning shower in Phuket Town, I’m wishing I was a camel. Or a llama. Really, anything with a second (or third) stomach. Ignoring my own oft-repeated mantra when joining a street food tour – pace yourself – I’m already in danger of peaking too early at a Burmese breakfast restaurant.
Our guide for the morning is Pema, an effervescent Thai local who seems to know all the vendors at Phuket Town’s Central Market. It’s aunty this and cousin that as our group is steered past mini-mountains of fragrant curry paste and carefully stacked pyramids of tropical fruit.
At the nearby Mingalar tea shop, we’re soon slurping on cardamom-laced tea, feasting on lahpet thoke (tea leaf salad), and dimpled Burmese flatbreads are emerging from a simple wood-fired oven that’s been glowing since well before dawn. Continued …
From ancient to modern: The cannabis tale of Thailand
In June 2022, Thailand made history by becoming the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis nationwide. The decision has put the spotlight on the country’s relationship with the plant, and it’s a fascinating tale that stretches back centuries.
Let’s dive into the long and winding history between Thailand and marijuana – a journey full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and of course, a lot of weed.
It’s hard to imagine a time when cannabis wasn’t the subject of such a bad rap in the mainstream. But believe it or not, cannabis was completely legal in Thailand for centuries. Continued …
Federal Reserve raises interest rates amid banking turmoil
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs amid recent turmoil in financial markets spurred by the collapse of two U.S. banks. Continued …
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-Chiang Mai flight schedules
