• Cha Am festival features coffees, craft beers this weekend/
• Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin teaches children to swim/
• Hua Hin student wins top prize in national English-speaking competition/
• Diesel tax cut extended to July 20/
• Why Thailand is becoming ASEAN economic superstar/
• Most oppose liberalization of alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis, gambling/
• Cannabis industry in the balance as parties battle it out ahead of polls/
• Committee on Public Health Suggests E-cig Regulation and to End Vaping Ban/
• Radioactive material missing from power plant in Thailand/
• Isaan locals hope to win big in tomorrow’s lottery – thanks to this!/
• Why thousands of Thais are flocking to a dead singer’s shrine/
• House to be dissolved next Monday/
• Baskin-Robbins in Thailand shutters all stores/
• Tourism: Is Thailand Safe?/Chiang Mai holding its breath over smog’s effects on tourism/Phuket tourism still needs 17,000 workers/Chinese tourists are traveling again — but not the way they used to/
• Thailand Experience: Power of Thai amulets lures foreign tourists to Phitsanulok/Cooking with Chiang Mai chef Yaowadee “Yao” Chookong/
• International: Collapse of 3 US banks creates shock waves/US bank fears hit Asia stocks/How Indonesia’s new capital is driving indigenous people out of their land/Facebook Parent Meta Slashes Another 10,000 Jobs/Subway ‘surfing’ leaves a grisly, lethal toll in New York City/City of blight: Paris visitors alarmed at trash strike/
• 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

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Cha Am festival features coffees, craft beers this weekend

If you’re a fan of both coffee and craft beer, there’s an event happening in Cha Am March 17-19 that you won’t want to miss – the Sun Coffee and Moon Craft festival.

This unique event combines two of the world’s most popular beverages in a single festival, with coffee featured during the day and craft beers taking center stage at night.

The Sun Coffee and Moon Craft festival takes place over the weekend and offers visitors a chance to sample a wide range of high-quality coffee and other craft products. Continued …

Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin teaches kids to swim

The Rotary Club of Royal Hua Hin has launched a new project aimed at preventing drowning accidents involving children.

On Monday, 55 students from Ban Bo Fai School took part in a pilot course at the Greenway Hua Hin Resort resort swimming pool, where they learned how to swim and how to be safe when in water.

Also in attendance were Phil Lawrence, project chairman, Alan Cooper, charter president, and project assistant Kamolthip Sangsripet, as well as members of the club. Continued …

Hua Hin student wins top prize in national English-speaking competition

A student from Hua Hin recently talked her way to victory in a national English speaking competition.

Emily Pairin Hart, 12, finished ahead of students from across Thailand to win the top prize in the “impromptu speech” category at the 70th Student Arts & Crafts Competition, which was held in Ratchaburi in late January.

The Student Arts & Crafts competition is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Education to encourage the development of both teachers and students in the arts and creativity. Continued …

Diesel tax cut extended to July 20

The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to extend an excise tax cut on diesel for another two months to July 20 to help reduce the costs of living, a government official said on Tuesday.

The tax cut of 5 baht (US$0.14) per liter will lead to a loss in revenue of 20 billion baht ($579.20 million), or about 10 billion baht ($289.60 million) in lost revenue per month, government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri told a news conference. Continued …

Why Thailand is becoming ASEAN economic superstar

Nobody needs to be reminded that businesses are in a challenging environment; some sectors are still managing the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, and many are dealing with the impacts of the global economic crisis.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Although the global IPO (initial public offering) market is currently in a dip, there are glimmers of positivity, particularly across ASEAN.

Insights from BDO show strong overall momentum for IPOs across the ASEAN markets, with high customer activity levels despite some sectors still feeling the effects of the pandemic. In Malaysia, for example, total IPOs in terms of number and market capitalization for 2022 will be at record levels from the last few years. Continued …

Most oppose liberalization of alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis, gambling

A network of 12 children’s and family’s rights groups, tobacco, alcohol and cannabis research institutes have disclosed results of their opinion poll, which shows that the majority of respondents disagree with political parties’ policies for liberalization of alcohol, e-cigarettes, cannabis and gambling.

Professor Sawitri Assanangkornchai, director of the Center of Alcohol Statistics, said yesterday a survey of people aged over 18 across the country shows that 56.1% of the respondents oppose the decriminalization of cannabis, while over half disagree with the household use of cannabis and the growing of cannabis in the backyard.

In the survey, 55.5% of the respondents also disagree with the removal of the restriction on the sale of alcohol during specific hours and more than half of alcohol drinkers oppose the proposal to liberalize alchol production. Continued …

Cannabis industry in the balance as parties battle it out ahead of polls

The fate of Thailand’s cannabis industry may hang on who wins the upcoming general election. Several parties are keen to undo the herb’s decriminalization that went into full effect in mid-2022.

Among them are the Pheu Thai, Democrat and Move Forward parties, all of whom have announced their stance clearly ahead of the election, which is tentatively set for May 7.

Pheu Thai’s deputy leader, Sutin Klungsang, said his party plans to restrict the use of marijuana to medical and research purposes. Continued …

Committee on Public Health Suggests E-cigarette Regulation and to End Ban on Vaping

A subcommittee report on the Study of Impacts on Health and Monitoring the Enforcement of Public Health Related Laws under the Committee on Public Health points out that the current e-cigarette ban in Thailand is ineffective; instead, it has led to issues in terms of the clarity of the law, which has caused unaligned interpretations of the law for relevant agencies, unfair treatment toward e-cigarette users and problems of corruption, while being unable to reduce the smoking rate or prevent the sale of products to children and young people.

The report suggests that the government lift the ban on e-cigarettes and apply harm reduction measures along with current tobacco control policies.

Dr. Ekkapob Pianpises, former MP of Chiang Rai province and spokesman of the Committee on Public Health, House of Representatives, told the press about the publication from the Public Health subcommittee on tobacco and e-cigarette control, stating: Continued …

Radioactive material missing from power plant in Thailand

Officials from Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) and Prachin Buri provincial administration are trying to recover an unspecified amount of Cesium-137 radioactive material, which went missing from a steam power plant in Prachin Buri Province on Feb. 23.

The dangerous material is contained in a steel tube, about five inches in diameter and 12 inches long, and anyone who encounters it is advised to stay away and immediately alert the authorities.

Prachin Buri Gov. Ronnarong Nakornjinda and OAP Secretary-General Permsuk Sutchaphiwat went to the power plant to investigate. The governor expressed concern that the dangerous material might have been stolen or improperly disposed of, which will be harmful to people who come into close contact with it. Continued …

Isaan locals hope to win big in tomorrow’s lottery – thanks to this!

Locals in the northeast of Thailand are hoping to win big in the latest lottery draw tomorrow – thanks to a mysterious stone.

It appeared in the cassava field of a lady called Wipha who claimed to have had several lottery wins off the back of it.

Now all the locals in the Non Din Daeng subdistrict of Buriram have been arming themselves with joss-sticks and fizzy drink – essential equipment in divining the numbers – along with the all important praying. – Siam Rath

Why thousands of Thais are flocking to a dead singer’s shrine

Yesterday, more than 2,000 people gathered at the shrine of famous Morlam singer Honey Sri-isan in Kalasin province, northeast Thailand, for a lottery number selection event hosted by a 16-year-old singer who is believed by fans to carry the reborn spirit of Honey Sri-Isan, who died in a car accident in 1992.

Newcomer to the Morlam scene, Ung-ing Petchbanpaeng performed at Mae Honey’s shrine (“Mother Honey“) and drew number predictions (6, 2, 5) for the upcoming national lottery draw on March 16.

Yesterday was the third time Ung-ing performed at the shrine of Mother Honey, attracting a 4-kilometer queue of cars. Fans say Ung-ing, also born in Kalasin province, correctly predicted the lottery numbers for the latest two draws. Continued …

House to be dissolved next Monday

The House of Representatives will be dissolved on March 20, PM’s Office Minister Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday as he was heading for the weekly Cabinet meeting.

He also said that this was the last Cabinet meeting before the caretaker Cabinet takes over.

“This is likely to be the last Cabinet meeting (under the full authority of the government) as reported by the media,” Thanakorn replied when asked to confirm if this was indeed the last meeting. Continued …

Baskin-Robbins in Thailand shutters all stores

US-based ice cream brand Baskin-Robbins has announced it is shutting down its business in Thailand after suffering losses over the past 10 years.

Baskin-Robbins entered the Thai market in 1996 under Golden Scoop, a subsidiary of retail operator and master franchisee Mud & Hound.

Mud & Hound owns Thai and international brands including Au Bon Pain, Dunkin’ Donuts and Greyhound Café. Continued …

Our regular menu is also available

Is Thailand Safe?

With its striking, turquoise waters and picture-perfect climate, it’s no wonder Thailand is among the most popular tourist destinations in all of Southeast Asia.

The good news for would-be travelers is that Thailand is considered safe. The country is considered a Level 1 destination by the U.S. Department of State, which signals that travelers need to practice normal precautions.

That means all tourists should exercise caution and stay aware of potential criminal activity during their visit to the Land of Smiles. Continued …

Chiang Mai holding its breath over smog’s effects on tourism

Chiang Mai tourism operators are anxious, hoping the province’s unsafe levels of PM2.5 air particle pollution subsides later this month as the Songkran holiday draws near.

Phunut Thanalaopanich, president of the northern chapter of the Thai Hotels Assn., said the polluted environment is affecting tourism sentiment this month, as fewer bookings have been made.

The average occupancy in March is forecast to reach 50%-60%, largely driven by guests who booked reservations before learning about the unhealthy levels of air pollution in the province, according to the association. Continued …

Phuket tourism still needs 17,000 workers

Phuket tourism has rapidly recovered, but 17,000 staffers are still needed, as more foreign tourists are coming.

The president of the Thai Hotel Assn., Southern Chapter, Sueksit Suwandissakun, said, “Phuket tourism has rapidly recovered since the middle of last year. Eighty-eight percent of hotel rooms have been sold from January to this month, which is about the same number as before Covid-19.

“Chinese tourists are coming back and a new and growing tourist market are Kazakhstani tourists,” Sueksit noted. Continued …

Chinese tourists are traveling again — but not the way they used to

Chinese tourists are raring to travel again. But this time, the usual suspects — Venice, Paris and Madrid, for example — aren’t their top picks.

As China’s reopening gains momentum after three years of Covid-19 restrictions, the country’s travel-hungry citizens are emerging much changed, according to the Chinese Outbound Tourism Research Institute, an independent consulting company based in Germany.

“The Chinese tourists we will welcome this year and in the coming years are very different from those who came before,” Wolfgang Georg Arlt, founder and chief executive of COTRI, said at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair. Continued …

Power of Thai amulets lures foreign tourists to Phitsanulok

Thai amulets have proved a big hit among Chinese and Taiwanese tourists visiting a historic temple in Phitsanulok province.

Around two dozen Chinese and Taiwanese tourists attended a religious ceremony at the Sukhothai-era Wat Ratchaburana in Muang district on Tuesday along with local devotees.

The ceremony was led by revered Buddhist monks from several temples in the province, who recited prayers over 100 amulets of Brahma and Buddha. Continued …

Cooking with Chiang Mai chef Yaowadee “Yao” Chookong

Yaowadee “Yao” Chookong is a leading figure in Chiang Mai’s culinary world.

She is chef and co-founder of Maadae Slow Fish Kitchen, a Michelin-recognized restaurant that specializes in sustainable seafood sourced directly from fishermen in southern Thailand. She is also leader of Slow Food Community: Food for Change – Chiang Mai, an organization that aims to promote a back-to-basics, community-oriented way of eating to promote sustainability and localized food systems.

Yao also runs small-group Thai cooking classes rooted in healthy, local and natural ingredients. Outside of these roles, she has authored one cookbook, “The Yao of Cooking”, and is now writing a second: “Bring Me Curry When I’m Gone”. Video …

Collapse of 3 US banks creates shock waves

The collapse of three U.S. banks in less than a week has sent shock waves through the financial industry, with global stocks plunging and public confidence shaken. Continued …

US bank fears hit Asia stocks

The Thai stock exchange fell more than 3%, almost 50 points, on Tuesday in tandem with most Asian stock markets due to fears of contagion effects from the collapse of U.S. banks. Continued …

How Indonesia’s new capital is driving indigenous people out of their land

As plans by Indonesia’s president to build a $32-billion new capital city on Borneo island slowly start to take shape, villagers who belong to the indigenous Balik tribe have seen a rapid transformation in their once sleepy forest backwater. Continued …

Facebook Parent Meta Slashes Another 10,000 Jobs

Facebook parent Meta is slashing another 10,000 jobs and will not fill 5,000 open positions as the social media pioneer cuts costs. The company announced 11,000 job cuts in November, about 13% of its workforce at the time. Continued …

Subway ‘surfing’ leaves a grisly, lethal toll in New York City

One-time subway “surfer” Isa Islam has a straightforward message for thrill-seeking youngsters sparking a surge in riders traveling on the roofs of New York City trains: don’t do it. Continued …

City of blight: Paris visitors alarmed at trash strike

Portuguese tourist Fabio Figueirado wanted to admire beautiful buildings on a romantic getaway in Paris, but instead he and his girlfriend have found themselves navigating pavements piled high with garbage. 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