Today’s news: A guide to Songkran/Insurance for 80-plus seniors/Most parts of Thailand to be hot/What wine goes best with Thai food?/Diesel price increasing/Australian Beef Hits 7-Eleven/Thailand and marriage equality/Be cautious with QR codes/Foreigners behaving badly/‘Land of Russian Crime’/Economy: Ministry calls for monetary stimulus/Bt600 daily wage by 2027/Multi-billion deal with Microsoft?Thai cannabis network concerned/Tourism: Global tourism is recovering/Environment: Deaths raise PM2.5 fears/Cadmium waste missing/Thailand Experience: Smithsonian Photo Contest Images/The Charm of Chai Nat/Bangkok’s Muslim enclaves/ International news/Links: Calendar of events/Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/Hua Hin train schedule/Market Village bus schedule/Air pollution index map/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
A guide to Songkran, Thailand’s annual New Year festival
On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival appears to be just one great big water fight. Every April, people young and old take to the streets all over the country, armed with plastic guns and water buckets, and engage in hours-long battles from morning till dusk.
And while that’s certainly the most famous aspect of the celebrations, Songkran is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for travelers to visit. Continued …
AIA Thailand promises insurance products catering to 80-plus senior citizens
AIA Thailand, a leader in life and health insurance, will prioritize insurance products for senior citizens aged over 80, company CEO Nikhil Advani said. The move is part of the company’s 2024 business strategy to maintain its industry leadership while continuing to grow, following the group’s global record-breaking results in 2023 of US$7.7 billion.
Speaking at his first press conference since being appointed CEO in May 2022, Advani said AIA Thailand’s focus on elder groups catered to the country as a super-aging society, where people are more concerned about living happily in both wealth and health as they age. Continued …
Most parts of Thailand expected to see a hot day, approaching 40°C
Upper Thailand will experience a hot to a very hot day on Saturday as a result of the heat low-pressure cell covering the upper portion of the country, the Thailand Meteorological Department said.
Meanwhile, the southerly winds prevailing over the lower northeast, the lower central and the east would bring isolated light thundershowers to those areas, the department added. Continued …
What wine goes best with Thai food?
Using the words “wine” and “Thai food” in the same sentence is a risky proposition, and one that’s almost always greeted with a chorus of “Why would you want to drink anything other than beer?!”
But bear with, as they say, because there’s Thai and there’s Thai, and I’m guessing that the beer drinkers (of whom I am often one) aren’t always eating the real deal – more Thai-ish, with the emphasis on the “ish”. Continued …
Diesel price increasing by 50 satang
Pump prices of diesel will increase by 50 satang a liter today morning amid rising concern about the cost of subsidizing the fuel, said Wisak Watanasap, director of the Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO). The new price of diesel B7, B10 and B20 will be 30.44 baht per liter.
Premium diesel will cost 42.44 baht, according to announcements issued on Friday evening by the country’s two largest fuel retailers, PTT Oil and Retail Business and Bangchak Corp. Continued …
Australian Beef Hits 7-Eleven Thailand
CP Foods has announced the launch of an exclusive range of ready-to-eat dishes featuring premium Australian beef, now available in all 7-Eleven stores nationwide.
The new lineup includes the CP brand’s “Beef Cheeseburger and Penne with Minced Beef Bolognese Sauce”, as well as “Sausage and Chilli Bologna with Chicken and Australian Beef” under the BUCHER brand. Continued …
Thailand walks aisle to marriage equality
At least 142 LGBTQIA+ couples have lined up to register their marriage as Thailand stands poised to become the first Southeast Asian nation to recognize unions of non-heterosexual people in law.
The draft amendment to Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code, better known as the Marriage Equality Bill, has already sailed through the House of Representatives with overwhelming support. The Senate followed suit earlier this month by approving the bill in principle. At this rate, 284 LGBTQIA+ individuals should be able to lawfully tie the knot in Thailand before the end of this year. Continued …
Be cautious with QR codes during Songkran
If there is one celebration that has made Thailand internationally recognized, it is Songkran – Thai traditional new year – in April, when Thai and foreign tourists are overwhelmed with enjoyable excursions.
Apart from the annual ritual among family and friends, you have been reminded of physical safety precautions you should take when engaging in a water battle with loaded squirt guns and buckets of water in the streets of cities and villages. However, there are fewer cyber safety tips available when it comes to the protection of your personal data and financial accounts. Continued …
‘Land of Smiles’ fast becoming ‘Land of Russian Crime’
Maybe Thailand should rebrand its “Land of Smiles’ moniker to the” Land of Russian Crime” after yet another Russian man was nabbed for criminal activity. Yesterday, a 36-year-old Russian national added his name to a catalog of former Soviet block criminals arrested for reportedly operating illegal activities.
Russian Ibragim Gaitukiev was arrested for allegedly running an unauthorized cryptocurrency exchange service on the popular tourist destination Koh Pha Ngan, in Surat Thani. Continued …
- Chalong Police Arrest Male German Overstayer After Axe Threat – Continued …
- Two Pakistani Men Arrested in Patong for Overstay – Continued …
- Kazakh woman nabbed for illegal online sex services on Koh Samui – Continued …
- Russians Caught Trading Crypto in Koh Phangan Cannabis Shop – Continued …
Deflation feared, ministry calls for monetary stimulus
Thailand’s economy is tilting toward deflation, necessitating monetary stimulus to spur it, says finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.
“Inflationary pressure is no longer a concern as Thailand’s inflation rates dropped many months in a row,” he said. Continued …
Bt600 daily wage by 2027 on target
The Labor Ministry is confident it will achieve the government’s goal of raising the country’s minimum wage to 600 baht by 2027.
Labor Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn yesterday provided an update on this year’s second minimum wage rise to 400 baht per day, saying the rise will come into effect on April 13, starting with employees working at upscale hotels and resorts in 10 provinces: Bangkok, Krabi, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phangnga, Phuket, Rayong, Songkhla and Surat Thani. Continued …
Thai PM working to seal multi-billion deal with Microsoft
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is poised to welcome Microsoft titan Satya Nadella at the Government House next month, fueling anticipation for a high-stakes dialogue on technological advancement.
Reports suggest the rendezvous will delve into investments spanning a cutting-edge data center, the Cloud First platform, and pioneering strides in artificial intelligence (AI) within Thailand’s borders. Continued …
Thai cannabis network concerned over move to criminalize marijuana
On Thursday, Prasitchai Nunual, the secretary-general of the Network for Shaping the Future of Thai Cannabis, publicly stated his concerns over bringing marijuana back into an illicit substance type by the Thai government.
Prasitchai voiced his opinion regarding the change in cannabis policy that criminalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, while being lenient on carrying five pills of amphetamine and amending alcohol control bills. Continued …
Global tourism is recovering, but for Asia it’s a mixed bag, at best
Talk to the UN world tourism organization – since January rebranded as UN Tourism – and the message is that international tourism is well on the road to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. But talk to tourism officials in Hong Kong, South Korea, mainland China or Thailand and the story is: not so fast.
In Hong Kong, officials are in a sweat over the millions flitting across the border for dinner and cheap shopping in Shenzhen, and the sluggish revival in tourists coming to experience a “Happy Hong Kong”. This weekend’s Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament may provide a fillip, but angst remains. Monthly visitor arrivals have recovered to 3.9 million but that is still 28% below the 2018 average. Continued …
Spate of university deaths raises PM2.5 fears
The recent death of an academic in Chiang Mai from lung cancer has heightened concerns about PM2.5 pollution in the northern province, which has consistently ranked as one of the world’s most air-polluted areas.
Asst. Prof. Pichaarpa Pisutserani, a lecturer at Chiang Mai University’s (CMU) faculty of political science, said the academic is the most recent CMU lecturer to succumb to lung cancer. According to Pichaarpa, three other CMU lecturers have died from lung cancer since 2022. Continued …
10,000 tons of cadmium waste missing
The Ministry of Industry is investigating the disappearance of more than 10,000 tons of cadmium tailings stored at a smelting factory in Samut Sakhon.
The probe comes after Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul led a team of officials to inspect the factory where the carcinogenic cadmium waste was stored. Continued …
Take a Trip to Thailand With These Smithsonian Photo Contest Images
With beautifully ornate, centuries-old buildings as lovely as its serene shores and national parks, Thailand offers more Instagram-worthy photo opportunities than an old roll of film could ever handle.
From royal palaces to ancient ruins, it would be nearly impossible to see this Southeast Asian country in one trip. Luckily, you don’t have to try, thanks to these spectacular shots of Thailand from the Smithsonian Magazine photo contest. Continued …
The Charm of Chai Nat
With the Songkran festival, a long national holiday, just around the corner, you might be considering taking a trip. Well, we have a suggestion for you.
Embark on a journey to the beautiful province of Chai Nat to uncover the hidden gems of sustainable farming, handicrafts, the local green market, and even the oldest police station in the country. Video …
Bangkok’s Muslim enclaves: A cultural mosaic amid Buddhist temples
In this big Buddhist city boasting 450 temples, there are also 194 mosques and some 600,000 Muslims living in communities in different nooks and crannies. And one of them is the Phetchaburi Soi 7 community, with the 150-year-old Darul Aman Mosque at the center of it.
Like other Islamic communities in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district, most of the residents of Phetchaburi Soi 7 migrated from the south of Thailand. Muslim communities in other parts of Bangkok mostly comprise people from other areas and even neighboring countries like Cambodia. Continued …
China overtakes the US as the most favored ally in Southeast Asia
A survey conducted by the ASEAN Studies Center found that most Southeast Asians would prefer to align with China over the U.S. if they had to choose sides. The survey showed that China is considered the most strategically relevant partner for ASEAN, surpassing the U.S., while Japan remains the most trusted major power in the region. Continued …
After six months of war, Israel’s isolation grows with no end in sight
When Israel declared war against Hamas last October, it stood unified at home and enjoyed broad backing from around the world following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic militant group. Six months later, Israel finds itself in a far different place: bogged down in Gaza, divided domestically, isolated internationally and increasingly at odds with its closest ally. The risk of a broader regional war remains real. Continued …
Hua Hin-Chiang Mai flight schedule
Hua Hin Chiang Mai flight schedule May 4-June 14
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
- Chiang Mai–Hua Hin, 10:20am–11:50am
- Hua Hin Chiang Mai, 12:20pm–13:35pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Chiang Mai–Hua Hin, 9am–10:30am
- Hua Hin–Chiang Mai, 11am–12:15pm
Hua Hin train schedule
Van/minibus service at Market Village
Vans and minibuses provide services to the following destinations:
- Hua Hin – Mo Chit (089-919-8055) starts service at 03:50
- Hua Hin – Kanchanaburi (085-822-6063)
- Hua Hin – New southern line service starts at 5:40
- Hua Hin – Rangsit (090-138-0427) service starts at 05:40
- Hua Hin – Nakhon Pathom (088-709-2364)
The last service departs at 6pm. Departures every 25 – 40 minutes. For inquiries or reservations, call 089-9198055,090-1380427.
Emergency hotline numbers:
- Emergency hotline – 191
- Emergency medical services – 1554
- Water accident – 1196
- Motorway hotline – 1586
- Emergency medical – 1669
- Highway police – 1193
- Tourist police – 1155
- Bus ticket – 1490
- Department of Highways – 1586
Diversification key to growing Thai economy
Thailand’s energy giant shifts to electric
Wet weather in Hua Hin set to continue
How to prepare for a medical emergency
KFC holds top spot in Thailand, so why is it failing at home in the US?
Retailers keep sugar prices down
Unlocking Thai-Australian Trade and Investment Potential
Not addictive: Tighter cannabis rules drafted
Top Emitters Vow New Climate Action in US-China Breakthrough
98% of posts reported for hate speech stay visible on Musk’s X
AI could replace 4 million jobs in South Korea