Tag Archives: thailand inflation

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Wednesday’s news-Aug 2

  • No alcohol sales today for religious holiday/
  • Foreign ‘Mafia’ group holds gun to head of tourists in Pattaya/
  • Robbery at Hua Hin gold shop: Thief flees with necklaces worth 300,000 THB/
  • Boy, 9, missing off PKK beach/
  • Local radio station Surf FM re-brands to SURF Radio/
  • Major landslide warning for 45 provinces as Thailand braces for heavy rainfall/
  • Wondering how to keep strong and age well? Think muscle health/
  • Mega changes ahead for Thailand’s Elite visa/
  • Move Forward ready to sacrifice government position to ensure no coup makers/
  • Tragic Fireworks Warehouse Explosion Leaves Community Severely Affected/
  • Economy: Employment on the rise as Thai economy continues to recover/Thai inflation to remain relatively low in Q3/Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought/Global warming could inflict massive loss on Thai agriculture/Founder of Wind Energy Holdings awarded US$900M in compensation by UK court/
  • Tourism: Beach beating: 20 Thai transwomen assault foreigners in Pattaya/Two Indian Men Drown At Phuket Beach After Allegedly Ignoring No Swimming Warnings/Bangkok: Digital nomads’ No.1 destination/Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding/Marine officials close Maya Bay for 2 months’ ‘rest’ from tourists/Full Moon Party faces Buddha Days, water shortages this month/
  • Thailand Experience: What footprints do we, as tourists, leave behind?/5 great ways retirees in Thailand spend their free time/Indulging in Meaningful Wellness experiences in Koh Samui/Surin marks Asanha Bucha with elephant parade/Things to See and Do in Northern Thailand/
  • International: Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of power/Food security at risk without global cooperation, authorities warn/Myanmar junta pardons ex-leader Suu Kyi for five offenses/Chinese EVs smash monthly sales records/
  • 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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No alcohol sales today for religious holiday

Foreign ‘Mafia’ group holds gun to head of tourists in Pattaya

A shocking incident took place at the Voice of Navy 5 Viewpoint in Pattaya, as a Thai witness captured a distressing video of a foreign mafia member threatening a group of Asian men at gunpoint.

The video, lasting 1.39 minutes, shows a foreign mafia man dressed in all-black attire brandishing a gun and intimidating approximately 10 foreigners, believed to be Kuwaiti nationals. The most alarming moment was when the gunman pointed his weapon directly at the head of one of the men. Continued …

Robbery at Hua Hin gold shop: Thief flees with necklaces worth 300,000 THB

A thief dressed as a FoodPanda delivery rider struck a well-known gold shop in Hua Hin on Tuesday, brazenly escaping with a haul of gold necklaces worth nearly 300,000 baht.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 PM when Deputy Superintendent of Police at Hua Hin Police Station Pichaya Rongleua received a report of a robbery at the Yaowarat Gold Shop on Chomsin Road. Continued …

Boy, 9, missing off PKK beach

A search used rubber boats and drones to inspect an area of approximately 3 kilometers in search of a 9-year-old boy who went missing after swimming in the sea at Suan Son Beach yesterday. There were strong winds and waves at the time.

The missing boy and his family were visiting Samut Sakhon Province. The rescue operation involved hundreds of officials who combed an 800-meter stretch along the coastline. Specialized rescue divers searched an additional 1-kilometer distance into the sea.

Local radio station Surf FM re-brands to SURF Radio

The radio station started life 20 years ago by Pongsawatch Charoennithithat with a vision to provide English radio for expat residents and visitors to the area.

While the radio station initially experienced some success, it soon faced challenges due to inadequate signal, and low advertising sales. Continued … 

Major landslide warning for 45 provinces as Thailand braces for heavy rainfall

Continual rainfall appears to be holding Thailand under its reign. The Thai Meteorology Department (TMD) warned of potential landslides in 45 provinces, including Bangkok.

The precipitation accumulation could lead to sudden flooding and running forest water in the northern, eastern, and western southern provinces. Residents in these locations are advised to be cautious, especially around mountainous areas, or near river paths. Continued … 

Wondering how to keep strong and age well? Think muscle health

Sometimes it’s not until later in life that a person starts to think about aging well.Healthy aging can mean many things, from keeping your memory intact to maintaining an active social life to staying in peak physical condition.

One component of aging well is supporting your muscle health. Muscle loss begins around age 40 and increases year after year, accelerating at around age 70. Continued …

Mega changes ahead for Thailand’s Elite visa

The Thai Elite visa, which offers multiple-entry stays between five and 20 years, will totally replace its current packages on Oct. 1, 2023. Founded by then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003, Thailand Privilege Card Co. is wholly owned by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. But a new senior management team at Elite has decided to introduce unprecedented changes.

All new applications for Elite must be made by Sept. 15 under the existing application rules: after that it will be too late. Current holders of the popular Elite Easy Access – a five-year visa available for a cash payment of 600,000 baht – have until Aug. 15 to transfer to a longer Elite visa, usually for 20 years: after that it will be too late. Continued …

Move Forward ready to sacrifice government position to ensure no coupmakers

The Move Forward is ready to move to the opposition to ensure that neither the Palang Pracharath Party or the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party are in the next government coalition, a MFP MP said today.

Despite taking the lead in forming the government, the Pheu Thai Party has experienced difficulties due to Move Forward Party’s electoral promise to amend the lese-majeste laws and the refusal of the senate and more conservative parties to side with them while MFP was in the coalition. Continued …

Tragic Fireworks Warehouse Explosion Leaves Community Severely Affected

The death toll from the massive explosion at a fireworks and firecracker warehouse in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat has risen to 12, with more than 120 people injured. About 100 residential buildings in the area were also damaged.

Of the injured, 10 people are still being treated in hospitals, while the rest have returned home but are still suffering from the psychological aftermath. Continued with video …

Employment on the rise as Thai economy continues to recover

The employment situation for Thais has consistently improved, reflecting the continued economic recovery following the pandemic, the National Statistical Office reported this week.

During thesecond quarter of 2023, 660,000 people found jobs, bringing the total number of employed individuals to 39.7 million. The increase in working hours also indicates a rise in job opportunities, with around 560,000 more people working full time (35-49 hours per week) compared to the same period in 2022. Continued …

Thai inflation to remain relatively low in Q3

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) expects domestic inflation to remain relatively low in the third quarter following the 2.49% inflation in the first half of this year, while the Commerce Ministry estimates this year’s domestic inflation at 1%-2% with a median figure of 1.5%.

According to Wisit Limluecha, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and chairman of the Processed Food and Future Food Committee (PFC) of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the food industry is facing risks and challenges, such as economic stagnation, inflation, rising oil prices, and the effects of the El Nino phenomenon. Continued …

Thai govt mulls halting Central Plains rice farming amid anticipated drought

In a bid to counteract the effects of a potential drought, the central government of Thailand is contemplating the suspension of rice cultivation in the Central Plains region. This proposal comes alongside the potential establishment of a command center to combat reduced rainfall and water shortages.

The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) initiated this conversation, citing apprehensions about the forecasted decrease in this year’s nationwide rainfall. Surasri Kidtimonton, the secretary-general of the ONWR, expressed worry that the rainfall for the year has fallen below average, sparking prospects of a more arid rainy season. Continued …

Global warming could inflict massive loss on Thai agriculture

Global warming could break new records next year, severely affecting the agricultural sector and potentially causing losses of over 2.85 trillion baht by the year 2045, weather experts have warned.

During a panel discussion entitled “Cope and Adapt to Prevent the Global Warming Crisis”, Associate Professor Vishnu Atthavanich from the Faculty of Economics at Kasetsart University said that around 1.2 trillion trees would need to be planted just to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted in the past decade, adding that planting such a massive number of trees over a short period would be extremely challenging, if not impossible. Continued …

Founder of Wind Energy Holdings awarded US$900M in compensation by UK court

Founder and former CEO of Thai renewable energy firm Wind Energy Holdings (WEH) has been awarded US$900 million (about 30 billion baht) in compensation by a British court over a share sale swindle.

On July 31, the British court ordered the current chairman of Wind Energy Holdings (WEH) and 13 other co-defendants to compensate the founder of the company for fraudulently conspiring to lure the plaintiff into selling his shares in WEH at an undervalued price, according to a BBC Thai report. Continued …

Beach beating: 20 Thai transwomen assault foreigners in Pattaya

In the early hours of this morning, a gang of 20 Thai transwomen unleashed a physical assault on three foreigners along Beach Road in Pattaya, raising concerns due to their previous involvement in violent acts in the area.

The Pattaya Tourist Police swiftly responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene to aid the victims, comprising two Saudi Arabian men and one Palestinian man. Visibly shaken, the foreigners were taken to the police station for questioning. Continued …

Two Indian Men Drown At Phuket Beach After Allegedly Ignoring No Swimming Warnings

Two Indian tourists drowned at Karon Beach, Mueang Phuket, after allegedly ignoring red flags and no swimming warnings.

Emergency responders were notified of the incident at 6:45pm at Karon Beach on Tuesday. They arrived at the beach with red flags, which meant no swimming allowed, placed along the beach. Continued …

Bangkok: Digital nomads’ No.1 destination

Bangkok earned the prestigious title of top city for digital nomads worldwide, according to a recent survey conducted by CommercialSearch, a renowned platform specializing in working and co-working spaces. The bustling metropolis outshone all its competitors in this year’s rankings of the Best Cities for Digital Nomads.

CommercialSearch’s evaluation process involved assessing cities globally with populations exceeding 400,000 residents and completing data in all their metrics. From this comprehensive list, 57 cities emerged as the top contenders, with only one city selected from each country, ensuring a diverse set of large, well-connected urban centers that present outstanding choices for those embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. Affordability, Internet speed, coworking costs, fun factor, and safety were the key factors considered for the rankings. Continued …

Tourism revival in Thailand risks airport slot overcrowding

In anticipation of the upcoming high season, Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) has expressed concerns over the slot capacity at international airports. As more flights are set to resume, it is predicted that the country will receive around 8 million tourists this year, primarily derived from long-haul markets anticipating a significant tourism revival.

The TAT’s expectations for overall foreign visitors this year include at least six million individuals from Europe, one million from the Americas, and an estimated half a million from the Middle East. Continued …

Marine officials close Maya Bay for 2 months’ ‘rest’ from tourists

Krabi’s Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Leh, has been closed for two months to give the ecosystem time to recover before the return of the tourist high season. The closure has been confirmed by Ratchanok Phaenoi, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park.

The picturesque bay, arguably the most famous in Thailand thanks to the 2000 Leonard di Caprio movie, The Beach, will re-open on Sept. 30. Continued …

Full Moon Party faces Buddha Days, water shortages this month

Local party and event organizers have scrambled to host the infamous Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Pha Ngan this week while facing a number of setbacks. The country is seeing a surge in tourism due to the super-extended six-day holiday weekend, but that brings a downside for the partygoers on the island.

Normally, the week of Full Moon is full of all-night parties for at least five days, with popular shindigs like Waterfall Party and OXA Beach two nights before Full Moon, the legendary Jungle Experience the night before, Maya the day after and another Waterfall Party two days after, along with many other weekly and monthly events around the island. Continued …

What footprints do we, as tourists, leave behind?

When COVID broke out, I was an expat living in northern Thailand. In 2020, and most of 2021, the country had no access to COVID vaccines. The Thai government shut its borders to prevent the spread of disease. Most foreigners were locked out of Thailand. I was locked in.

Thailand’s shutdown of international tourism reduced the spread of COVID and was good for the natural environment. Local media reported that endangered animals were returning to coastal areas. Unfortunately, the Thai economy is heavily dependent upon international tourism. For the Thai people, the shutdown was a financial disaster. Continued …

5 great ways retirees in Thailand spend their free time

If you’re a retired expat settling down in Thailand, we bet you are keen to find your golden years with more than just basking in the sun (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course). When the days feel a bit long, and you find yourself browsing “things to do when retired and bored” on your search engine, it’s a clear sign that you need to shake things up a bit.

But don’t worry. Thailand has a wealth of entertainment and activities that are perfect for retirees. Here are some of the most exciting ways to make your retirement in Thailand feel vibrant and thrilling. Continued …

Indulging in Meaningful Wellness experiences in Koh Samui

Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, is not only well-known for turquoise waters, white sand, and tropical rain forests but also for being one of the top wellness destinations in Thailand. What makes the tropical paradise a wellness destination? Well, it’s not merely due to its sandy beaches.

The amicable and rich culture, healthy and authentic southern Thai delicacies, diverse flora, well-protected fauna and the island’s unrivaled serenity all enrich one’s body, mind and soul. So, what is an ideal “well-cation” in Samui? Read on to find out what a perfectly curated wellness experience in Koh Samui looks like. Continued …

Surin marks Asanha Bucha with elephant parade

Thirty-seven elephants carried 71 monks in a merit-making ceremony marking Asanha Puja Day in the northeastern province of Surin on Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of Thai Buddhists attended the ceremony to offer food and refreshments to the monks, while visitors took close-up shots of the elephant parade. According to the local report, this is the world’s only merit-making ceremony held on the elephant back. Continued … 

Things to See and Do in Northern Thailand

Earlier this year, I was planning a trip to Thailand, as I’d not been to this popular destination in a long while. Initially, I had wanted to book a trip to Bangkok or Phuket, as I was familiar with those locations and missed traveling there.

But after thinking it over, I decided to try something new for once. After looking up potential destinations to visit in Thailand, I made up my mind to book a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s beloved “Rose in the North”. Continued … 

Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of power

Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges Tuesday for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol, with the Justice Department moving to hold him accountable for an effort to block the transfer of presidential power.

The four-count indictment, the third criminal case against Trump, provided deeper insight into a dark chapter in American history that has already been the subject of exhaustive federal investigations and captivating public hearings. It chronicles a months-long campaign of lies about the election results and says that, even when those falsehoods culminated in a chaotic insurrection at the Capitol, Trump sought to exploit that violence by trying to delay further the counting of votes that sealed his defeat. Continued …

Food security at risk without global cooperation, authorities warn

Amidst the global food crisis, caused by soaring prices worldwide due to the Russian war in Ukraine and volatile weather conditions, India’s ban on rice exports has raised concerns about food security. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed that several countries review their food export policies to address the increasing food security concerns. Continued … 

Myanmar junta pardons ex-leader Suu Kyi for five offenses

Myanmar’s military-led government has reduced the prison sentences of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi in clemency connected to a religious holiday in the Buddhist-majority country, state media said Tuesday. Continued …

Chinese EVs smash monthly sales records

Three of China’s top electric vehicle (EV) start-ups reported record monthly sales in July, as a release of pent-up demand in the world’s largest market for battery-powered cars continues. Continued …

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, and 6pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 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.

Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day

Hua Hin now has once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. 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

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

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 Hughways – 1586
  • State Railway – 1590
bangkok, hua hin, pattaya, phuket, thai economy, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism

Wednesday’s News-July 5

  • Bus service times to airport updated/
  • Chomsin Road, Petchkasem road closures through July 11/
  • ‘3 strikes’ for Pita’s PM bid/
  • Inflation unexpectedly up in June but at slower pace/
  • Dry spell could last into 2024/
  • Fun facts about elephant’s repatriation from Sri Lanka/
  • Off-duty police officer kills 2 in drunken accident in Ayutthaya/
  • 64 Deaths in 4 Months From Phuket Road Accidents/
  • ‘Dancing Fountain’ Project Collapses in Pattaya/
  • Economy: Drought menacing Thailand threatens global supply of sugar and rice/
  • Tourism: Why you should never leave a negative hotel review in Thailand/Koh Samui battling extreme water crisis after being overrun by tourists/
  • Thailand Experience: 10 best restaurants in Silom, Bangkok/Five places to be wild at heart/
  • International: UN warns world to prepare for El Nino impact/We may be underestimating the climate risk to crops/10 dead, 38 wounded in three mass shootings ahead of US July 4 holiday/Approval for Japan’s Fukushima water discharge stirs global debate/Israel’s ethnic cleansing quest continues in Palestine/
  • 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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Bus service times to airport updated

The Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport bus service schedule has been updated for the low season timetable. The price of tickets has been reduced to 294 THB.

Also, the service between Hua Hin and Pattaya has been updated.

The new schedule is as follows:

  • Departure from Hua Hin: 10am, 2pm, 5pm
  • Departure from Suvarnabhumi: 10am, 1:30pm, 5pm

New schedule for Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service

  • Hua Hin to Pattaya 9 am
  • Pattaya to Hua Hin 8 am

Price: 473 baht

‘3 strikes’ for Pita’s PM bid

If Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat fails in his bid to win the prime minister’s post during the first round of voting, he can expect one or two more chances before another deal must be struck, according to newly elected House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha. The crucial first vote is expected within 15 days, Wan said.

Asked to comment on what was likely to happen if that vote doesn’t go in Pita’s favor, Wan said: “We will have to consider how many votes he still lacks, and voting should be repeated one or two more times.” Continued …

Inflation unexpectedly up in June but at slower pace

Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.23% in June from a year earlier, slowing from a 0.53% year-on-year rise in the previous month, the Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday.

Headline inflation was the lowest in 22 months, due to lower food and energy prices and a high base last year. It is expected to rise slightly in the third quarter, the ministry said. Continued …

Dry spell could last into 2024

Much of the country is experiencing below-average rainfall due to the El Nino phenomenon, and this is only likely to intensify in November and could even linger until early next year, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).

TMD Director-general Chomparee Chompurat said drier-than-usual weather had been reported in the north, northeast, the Central Plains region, including Bangkok and its vicinity, the upper south and the western provinces, despite the rainy season starting over a month ago. Continued …

Fun facts about elephant’s repatriation from Sri Lanka

The male elephant, known in Sri Lanka as Muthu Raja (Pearly King) and Sak Surin (Mighty Surin) in Thailand, arrived in Chiang Mai on Sunday aboard a Russian Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane, a six-hour trip that reportedly cost the Thai government 19 million baht (approximately $543,000).

Off-duty police officer kills 2 in drunken accident in Ayutthaya

An Isuzu pickup truck collided with three motorbikes on Napeephat Canal Road in Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi district at around 4.30am. The incident, resulting in two fatalities and two serious injuries, quickly drew the investigative eye of a deputy inspector from Wang Noi Police Station, Wivut Jannak.

Windowing into the accident scene, three motorcycles were found scattered across the road haphazardly among a mayhem of damaged and twisted metal. A 32-year-old woman, and a 19-year-old man succumbed to their injuries upon immediate arrival at Wang Noi Hospital. Found nearby was the responsible pickup truck, driver’s door agape, its front portion crumbled in an obvious testament to the severe impact. Continued …

64 Deaths in 4 Months From Phuket Road Accidents

In total, there have been 64 deaths in four months from Phuket road accidents so far this year, which is an increase from last year.

A Phuket road safety meeting was held this week, led by Phuket Vice Gov. Arnuparp Rodkhwan Yodrabam. Arnuparp said, “The number of deaths from road accidents in Phuket has continued to increase every year. Continued …

‘Dancing Fountain’ Project Collapses in Pattaya

The ambitious project of creating a new landmark in the heart of Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya, called the “Dancing Fountain,” has been abandoned after only a few years of operation.

Recently, a fresh coat of paint was applied to cover the deteriorating area, where tourists often encountered accidents. The community questioned whether the investment budget was thoroughly evaluated. Continued …

Drought menacing Thailand threatens global supply of sugar and rice

Thailand is preparing contingency plans to deal with a potential drought that could last years and squeeze global supplies of sugar and rice.

Rainfall across the nation may be as much as 10% below average this monsoon season, and the onset of the El Nino weather pattern could lower precipitation even further over the next two years, according to government officials. Thailand is facing widespread drought conditions from early 2024, authorities have warned. Continued … 

Why you should never leave a negative hotel review in Thailand

We’ve all been there. Whether it was a rude receptionist, an infestation of bedbugs or the stingy ratio of gin to tonic, sometimes, you’ve just got to vent.

Not to settle some petty score, no. As part of a noble cause to let the Internet know, so future travelers can choose a little better. Continued …

Koh Samui battling extreme water crisis after being overrun by tourists

A popular tourist island in Thailand is facing a severe water crisis caused by a rush of tourists combined with a decline in rainfall.

Local reports said many water reserves on Koh Samui – such as the Phru Na Mueang and Phru Krajud reservoirs along with Hin Lard waterfall – have seen a drop in their water levels, aggravating the freshwater crisis. According to local estimates, the remaining water is sufficient only for the next 30 days. Continued …

10 best restaurants in Silom, Bangkok

You may know Silom as Bangkok’s bustling business district, but let us tell you a little (not-so) secret: this corner of the world doubles up as an absolute paradise for culinary aficionados as the day turns into night. With a blend of Thai and international fine dining restaurants, charming cafes, and revered street food joints, it’s safe to say the gastronomic scene in Silom is as colorful and diverse as the community itself.

But first, a word of advice. If you’ve come across the kind suggestion, “You must try the street food in Silom”, cross our hearts, you should! However, tonight we’re trading the casual flares of street food for the ties and napkins of fine dining. So, here are the 10 best upscale restaurants in Silom that are too delicious to miss. Continued …

Five places to be wild at heart

After three months of an oppressively hot summer, the rainy season is almost upon us and will last until October. That means Thailand’s countryside is preparing a welcome mat of colorful wildflowers and the promise of wild swimming.

From June to August, the Siam tulips, or dok krachiao, in pink and ivory will emerge from the ground to carpet two national parks – Pa Hin Ngam and Sai Thong. Later, in October, thrill-seekers can enjoy some rough-and-tumble action on the rapids and wild rivers. Continued …

UN warns world to prepare for El Nino impact

The United Nations on Tuesday warned the world to prepare for the effects of El Nino, saying the weather phenomenon that triggers higher global temperatures is set to persist throughout 2023. Continued …

We may be underestimating the climate risk to crops

The risks of harvest failures in multiple global breadbaskets have been underestimated, according to a study Tuesday that researchers said should be a “wake-up call” about the threat climate change poses to our food systems. Continued …

10 dead, 38 wounded in three mass shootings ahead of US July 4 holiday

Ten people were killed and 38 wounded in mass shootings in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Fort Worth ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, officials said, prompting a fresh call from President Joe Biden to pass gun control legislation. (There were more deadly shootings after this report was filed.) Continued …

Approval for Japan’s Fukushima water discharge stirs global debate

An international watchdog has given the green light to Japan’s controversial proposal to discharge treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean, declaring that the process aligns with global norms. Continued …

Israel’s ethnic cleansing quest continues in Palestine

Israel’s intent on ethnically cleansing Palestinians from their lands, the occupied areas around the West Bank, and Gaza Strip continues. Zionist forces yesterday conducted yet another bloody, horrific slaughter of innocent Palestinian men, women and children in the occupied West Bank. Continued …

UPDATED! Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

  • Leaving Hua Hin: 10am, 2pm, 4pm, 5:00pm
  • Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 10:00am, 1:30pm,  5pm

The one-way fare is 294 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 once-daily bus service to Pattaya, leaving Hua Hin at 9am and departing from Pattaya at 8am. 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

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

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 Hughways – 1586
  • State Railway – 1590
Uncategorized

Tuesday’s news-June 6

  • Swedish bank notes now useless abroad/
  • Pone Kingpetch: Thailand’s first boxing world champion to be inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame/
  • The history of Thailand’s holy-day alcohol ban – and why it could soon be lifted/
  • Thai public healthcare system reeling with large number of resignations/
  • Police Continue to Investigate Alleged Highway Bribery Scheme/
  • Krabi sets its sights on carbon neutrality by 2040/
  • PEA cuts power to two ‘Chinese casino’ towns in Myanmar/
  • Expedition To Search For Bigfoot in Thailand Announced/
  • Economy: Headline inflation lowest in 21 months/Move Forward government ‘will aim to make Thailand a semiconductor hub’/Exports seen rising up to 1% this year/
  • Thailand Experience: One of Thailand’s best holiday islands evolves to cater for Gen Z and digital nomads/Cuisine Of The Isaan Region/Teen Photographs Wild Elephants in Close-Up/
  • International: Air travel to soar near record in 2023/Video Shows US Destroyer Close-call In Taiwan Strait With Chinese Destroyer/
  • 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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Swedish bank notes now useless abroad

Several foreign banks do not want to accept the Swedish krona – which affects travelers who cannot exchange money during the trip.

According to the currency dealer Forex, it has not been possible to exchange the Swedish krona abroad for several days. For Swedish tourists, it becomes problematic, as they cannot exchange money for the local currency. According to Dagens Nyheter, Thailand and some countries in the Middle East refuse to buy in the Swedish krona. Continued …

Pone Kingpetch: Thailand’s first boxing world champion to be inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame

Hua Hin native and Thailand’s first-ever boxing world champion is set to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF). Pone Kingpetch, whose birth name was Mana Sidokbua, was born in Hua Hin on Feb. 12, 1935.

He went on to become a three-time world flyweight champion, who was known for his ferocious jab. Continued …

The history of Thailand’s holy-day alcohol ban – and why it could soon be lifted

The Move Forward Party has offered a trickle of hope to drinkers who have long agonized over the alcohol ban imposed during religious holidays. The ban will be banished if it forms the new government, the party has promised.

“Scrapping the prohibition is one of our policies,” affirmed Amarat Chokepamitkul, who was elected as a party-list MP for Move Forward when it scored a shock win in the May 14 national poll. Continued …

Thai public healthcare system reeling with large number of resignations

The rising trend of newly graduated doctors quitting, particularly due to excessive workload, has become a top concern in the Thai healthcare system. The case of Dr. Puimek Naphasorn, which gained a lot of attention on social media, highlights the challenges faced by doctors in state hospitals.

According to data from the Medical Council, as of April 4 this year, Thailand had a total of 72,250 doctors, of whom 68,725 are still active. However, it is important to note that only 66,685 of these doctors can be contacted. Continued …

Police Continue to Investigate Alleged Highway Bribery Scheme

The national police are investigating an alleged bribery scheme that enables cargo trucks to bypass checkpoints on highways. The police chief has instructed inspectors throughout the country to look into the matter and take action against any implicated officers.

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a member of the Move Forward party, revealed that truck operators make monthly payments to police officers in exchange for stickers that allow their vehicles to pass through checkpoints. Continued …

Krabi sets its sights on carbon neutrality by 2040

Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Walailak University has joined with 22 government agencies and tourism entrepreneurs to make Krabi Thailand’s first carbon-neutral tourist province by 2040.

The university is working with 10 national-level agencies and 12 tourism operators in Krabi to promote sustainable tourism and the creative economy in the resort province on Thailand’s west coast, Associate Professor Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, the university’s acting dean, said on Monday. Continued …

PEA cuts power to two ‘Chinese casino’ towns in Myanmar

The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) of Thailand has cut off the supply of electricity across the Moei river to two border towns in Myanmar where groups of Chinese businessmen have made huge illegal investments, at the request of the Myanmar government, Thai official sources said.

Both officlal border crossings between Mae Sot and Myanmar remain open to travelers and cargo trucks. Continued …

Expedition To Search For Bigfoot in Thailand Announced

Renowned Bigfoot researcher Tom Biscardi and a team of experts have announced they will be undertaking the “definitive” expedition to search for the mysterious and elusive creature.

Unlike cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster, the Mothman, the Jersey Devil and Chupacabras, Bigfoot sightings have occurred in countries scattered all over the world. Continued …

Headline inflation lowest in 21 months

Thailand’s headline inflation rate dropped to its lowest in 21 months in May due to falling energy and food prices and a high base in 2022, the Commerce Ministry said today.

The headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.53% in May from a year earlier, below a forecast rise of 1.7% in a Reuters poll, and against April’s 2.67% year-on-year increase. Continued … 

Move Forward government ‘will aim to make Thailand a semiconductor hub’

Move Forward Party, the leader of the coalition that expects to form the next government, has vowed to help Thailand become the regional hub for upstream chip innovation and production by enacting more targeted incentives for each company, Sirikanya Tansakun, the party’s deputy leader, said.

Sirikanya highlighted the significance of the semiconductor industry to the country. Technology is required to improve and transform Thailand’s electronics equipment and electric vehicle production, she said. Continued …

Exports seen rising up to 1% this year

Thailand’s exports are likely to be flat or rise up to 1% this year, as global demand has slowed but a weak baht is providing support, the Thai shippers’ council said today.

The strong export markets were the United States and Europe, but China was not as active though gradually improving, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, Chaichan Chareonsuk told a press conference. Continued …

One of Thailand’s best holiday islands evolves to cater for Gen Z and digital nomads

Koh Samui has taken advantage of the tourism hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to up its game, revamping infrastructure and reimagining its holiday attractions.

Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand 80km (50 miles) off the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, is also taking a determined step into the global spotlight. Michelin inspectors are reviewing the island’s top restaurants for inclusion in its annual guide to Thailand in 2024, while Samui is a likely location for the next series of White Lotus, HBO’s much watched black-comedy drama that follows the lives of guests and employees of a fictional resort chain. Continued …

Cuisine Of The Isaan Region

The cuisine of the Isaan region in Thailand is known for its bold flavors, spicy dishes, and unique ingredients. Isaan, also spelled as Isan or Esan, is located in the northeastern part of Thailand and is predominantly rural.

The region’s cuisine is heavily influenced by its agricultural roots and the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Here are some key features of Isaan cuisine: Continued …

Teen Photographs Wild Elephants in Close-Up

A 14-year-old boy captured images of a wild elephant emerging and wandering on the road of Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok Province.

Images published on the page “The Sound of a Sobbing Forest” (เสียงป่าสะอึ้น) were taken by Krishna Rojanaburanont, 14, son of Asampinpong Rojanaburanont, the headman of Ban Pong Pratun, Pak Chong subdistrict, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, and page members who traveled with him to photograph nature on Khao Yai on June 5. Continued …

Click on image above or email us at aim@hhexpatnews.com

Air travel to soar near record in 2023

Airlines will return to profit and fly a near-record 4.35 billion passengers this year, but the sector’s post-pandemic recovery remains fragile, an industry group said on Monday. Continued …

Video Shows US Destroyer Close-call In Taiwan Strait With Chinese Destroyer

The United States military released video Monday of what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend, in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S. ship to slow to avoid a collision. Video. 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

Book a flight

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, climate change, covid, hua hin, marijuana, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, solar, thai environment, thailand, tourism, transportation

Thursday’s News-March 9

  • Holiday weekend brings Bt548M to province/
  • Officials launch anti-smoking and jellyfish awareness campaign on Khao Takiab/
  • Bully on the Beach at Bluport March 25/
  • Arkhom cools concern over inflation, economy overheating/
  • Over 1.3 Million Air Pollution Cases So Far This Year/
  • Chiang Mai to hand out face masks as dust from fires hits hazardous levels/
  • Burning rubbish set for big fines as Nakhon Phanom smog unbearable/
  • Fighting Thailand’s wildfires from the sky/
  • New climate study raises alarm for Asian megacities/
  • Illegal Chinese investment suspected in 6 Chiang Mai property projects/
  • New Chao Phraya bridge to open in 2024
  • Bangkok to Chiang Mai high-speed rail project gears up/
  • CoorsTek Selects Solar System at Rayong Manufacturing Facility/
  • Five hunters sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for killing tiger and its cub/
  • HelloFresh Drops Thai Coconut Milk After PETA’s Monkey Labor Drive/
  • Opinion: Weed bounty may go to pot/
  • Tourism: 25-30 million foreign arrivals expected – tourism minister/TAT anticipates 6m European visitors this year/Chinese tourists, infatuated with Thai school uniforms, given warning/
  • Thailand Experience: Women make their mark in Thai gastronomy/Hok Peng Festival in northern province of Nan reveres ancient relics/
  • Covid: Covid-19 drug now free of charge/
  • International: Women march as rights under threat across the globe/’Rapid’ and ‘unprecedented’ rise in ocean plastic reported since 2005/Russian military too deficient to make major gains, US spy chief says/
  • 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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Holiday weekend brings Bt548M to province

The recent long weekend in Prachuap Khiri Khan province brought bustling tourism and generated revenue of over 548 million baht, according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Atchawun Kongkapan, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Prachuap Khiri Khan office, said during the recent long holiday weekend, the tourism atmosphere in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province was lively and that hotel occupancy rate during the long weekend was around 70%-80% on average.

Most Thai tourists were families, groups of friends and young couples, while foreign tourists mainly came from Germany, England, France, China, Korea, and Japan. Continued …

Officials launch anti-smoking and jellyfish awareness campaign on Khao Takiab

Officials visited Hua Don beach in Khao Takiab on Tuesday to launch a new anti-smoking and jellyfish awareness campaign.

The campaign aimed to educate tourists about the harmful effects of smoking on the environment, as well as raise awareness about the dangers of jellyfish in the sea.

The Smoke-free Beach project, initiated by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Region 3 (DMCR 3), seeks to reduce cigarette litter on beaches and promote designated smoking areas. Continued …

 

Arkhom cools concern over inflation, economy overheating

The economy is not overheating and authorities can control inflation rates, says Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.

He said the pace of Thailand’s economic growth was accelerating, unlike in other countries, and he hopes the rebound in the tourism sector will propel the growth momentum.

Arkhom said inflationary pressure was not caused by the demand side, but rather by rising energy prices. Continued …

Over 1.3 Million Air Pollution Cases So Far This Year

There were as many as 1,325,838 air pollution related cases in Thailand during Jan. 1-March 5 this year, with the public warned that airborne particles known as PM2.5 could lead to cardiovascular disease and lung cancer, while 31,081 people died from exposure to toxic airborne dust in 2019, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said of 1,325,838 air pollution cases recorded during this period 196,311 showed up this week, up from 161,839 last week.

This week has also seen a jump in respiratory cases to 583,238, up from 85,910 last week; skin infections soaring to 267,161 cases, up from 35,878 last week; eye infections climbing to 242,805 cases, up from 36,537 last week; and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases leaping to 208,880 cases, up from 33,413 last week. Continued …

Chiang Mai to hand out face masks as dust from fires hits hazardous levels

The Chiang Mai authorities in northern Thailand will hand out face masks to the public, as the province struggles with dangerously high levels of air pollution caused by persistent forest fires.

The fires are an annual problem between the months of December and April, when farmers set light to their fields to clear the land ready for the next crop cycle.

The government has temporarily closed several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in north and western regions because of the fires, and it is expected that cloud-seeding will be used from Saturday in some areas,. Continued …

Burning rubbish set for big fines as Nakhon Phanom smog unbearable

The northeast city on the banks of the Mekong suffocates under thick haze that landed on Tuesday, Nakhon Phanom is toughening up on residents who burn trash and greenery outdoors.

According to the city’s Office of Natural Resource and Environment, PM2.5 concentrations on Wednesday increased to 167 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg) in four districts that border Laos: Muang, Bang Phaeng, Tha Uthen, and That Phanom.

Any level beyond 50 mcg is dangerous, and chronic ailments including lung and heart difficulties have been related to long-term exposure. Continued …

Fighting Thailand’s wildfires from the sky

A joint agency mission is underway to fight the wildfire situation in the area of the Thung Salang Luang National Park of Phitsanulok Province.

Wildfires have been continuing since March 3, burning and spreading to the east and north along the highlands. With ground forces unable to travel to extinguish, the wildfire has the potential to burn thousands of acres.

Support was requested for KA-32 helicopters from the Department of Defense and armed forces, with the helicopters flying to draw water from the nearby Kang Wa-Kanghai basin, and dumping water over the forest fire to reduce the intensity of the fires. Continued …

New climate study raises alarm for Asian megacities

A new study that takes into account the effects of both climate change and normal oceanic variations predicts that by 2100 some of Asia’s major cities may be submerged.

Sea levels have already been rising as a result of rising ocean temperatures and record-breaking glacier melting brought on by climate change.

Yet, a study that was released in the journal Nature Climate Change provides new information, as well as dire warnings about the potential consequences for millions of people. Continued …

Illegal Chinese investment suspected in 6 Chiang Mai property projects

Police have begun cracking down on Chinese investment groups using Thai nominees to buy real estate in Chiang Mai.

Initial investigations uncovered six plots of land in the northern province suspected of being bought illegally by Chinese investors to build complexes, Deputy National Police Chief Surachet Hakparn told reporters on Wednesday.

Surachet spoke after meeting with officials from the provincial land office, immigration police, and local administration organizations following allegations that Chiang Mai land and real estate is being bought by Chinese companies using Thai nominees to avoid taxation under the Foreign Business Act of 1999. Continued …

New Chao Phraya bridge to open in 2024

Construction of the country’s widest river bridge, over the Chao Phraya in Bangkok, is expected to be completed next year.

The eight-lane bridge is being built parallel to Rama IX Bridge. It is a 2-kilometer-long cable-stayed structure, part of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Ring Road expressway project. It was designed to withstand a tornado-gust wind speed of 270km/h.

According to the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), this 6.6-billion-baht bridge project will relieve traffic congestion on the adjacent cable-stayed Rama IX Bridge, which is 35 years old and in need of repair. Continued …

Bangkok to Chiang Mai high-speed rail project gears up

Thailand and Japan are preparing to begin the first-phase construction of a high-speed rail project linking Bangkok with the northern province of Chiang Mai.

A feasibility study focusing on the economy and finance was reviewed at a recent technical meeting attended by the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, Public Health Management Office, Office of the National Economics and Social Development Council, and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Continued …

CoorsTek Selects Solar System at Rayong Manufacturing Facility

CoorsTek, a leading global manufacturer of technical ceramics, has signed a long-term agreement with TotalEnergies ENEOS for a 1.5 megawatt-peak (MWp) rooftop and carport solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its 110,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rayong.

Expected to generate approximately 2,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually, the system will realize significant cost savings for CoorsTek and reduce the company’s carbon footprint by about 840 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

CoorsTek broke ground on its Rayong, manufacturing facility in January of 2021 and began operations in January of 2022. The facility provides a critical production hub for the continued supply of CoorsTek high-quality engineered ceramics in Southeast Asia. Continued …

Five hunters sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison for killing tiger and its cub

Five poachers were each sentenced to a total of four years and nine months in prison and fined 5,500 baht, after they were found guilty of killing a tiger and its cub in March last year in the Thong Pha Phum National Park, in the western province of Kanchanaburi.

The five convicts were also ordered by the court to pay 750,000 baht in compensation to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

The men were caught in the process of preparing two tiger hides in Huai Pilok forest, within the territory of the national park, by a team of park rangers on a routine patrol. Continued …

HelloFresh Drops Thai Coconut Milk After PETA’s Monkey Labor Drive

Meal kit provider HelloFresh, which is based in Berlin, Germany, said it will no longer sell coconut milk sourced from Thailand, as it does not support any form of animal cruelty across its supply chain, the company announced.

The move is in line with many brands in the West that have stopped selling some Thai coconut products over recent years after campaigning by PETA, which said that it had investigated Thai coconut farms and found chained monkeys that were forced to spend long hours climbing trees and picking coconut. Abuse of primates was “rampant”, the group has said.

It also called on Thai government officials to investigate the abuse of the monkeys at these coconut plantations. Continued …

Opinion: Weed bounty may go to pot

Chuvit Kamolvisit’s latest controversial revelations that cast a further shadow over the government’s cannabis liberalization policy engineered by the Bhumjaithai Party should serve as a warning over the monitoring of such dispensaries, which have mushroomed in number after the government removed cannabis from the Category 5 list of narcotics in the Royal Gazette on June 9 last year.

The scene when health officials from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine raided the “Chuweed Shop” – a cannabis dispensary that was surprisingly located in Chuvit’s Davis Bangkok Hotel, raised the question of double standards.

Would health officials have insisted on a closer look if Chuvit – who claims he just rents the space to the operator – had not attacked Bhumjaithai Party and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul over alleged social problems arising from legalizing marijuana? Continued …

25-30 million foreign arrivals expected – tourism minister

Thailand is expecting to receive between 25 million and 30 million foreign visitors this year as its crucial travel sector rebounds, its Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Thursday.

The number compares to the record of nearly 40 million in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic emerged.

The country had 4.2 million foreign visitors in the January-February period of this year, according to a presentation by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports at a business seminar on Thursday. Continued …

TAT anticipates 6 million European visitors this year

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 6 million tourists from Europe this year, roughly 80% of the pre-pandemic total, generating more than 420 billion baht as part of total revenue of 1.5 trillion baht by year-end.

“I am confident Thailand remains the top destination in Asia for European markets,” said TAT Gov. Yuthasak Supasorn, while attending ITB Berlin 2023, one of the biggest travel fairs in Europe. Continued …

Chinese tourists, infatuated with Thai school uniforms, given warning

Chinese tourists wearing Thai student uniforms have been warned that they may violate the law if the names embroidered on their shirts match actual school names.

The image of a group of four Chinese tourists in Thai student uniforms, with their names embroidered on the shirts, has recently gone viral on social media. The four came from Hangzhou City and they bought the uniforms from a store in Bangkok’s Bang Lamphu market.

Rachapon Sirisakorn, a lawyer, said uesterday that, according to the Student Uniform Act B.E. 2551 (2008AD), if an individual, who is not a student, wears a student uniform to mislead other people into believing that he or she is a student may violate the law and may face a fine of up to 1,000 baht on conviction. Continued …

Women make their mark in Thai gastronomy

Yesterday was International Women’s Day and what better way to celebrate it than to honor the women in an industry that was once a man’s domain. Guru By Bangkok Post speaks to women who not only make a toque look good but have turned up the heat in hotel kitchens.

Having earned a culinary degree at Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney, Australia, Front Room’s Sarocha “Bua” Rajatanawin has worked her way up the career ladder from sous chef to chef de cuisine in the five years she’s been at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.

“Cooking was the equivalent of play to me as a girl and what I’ve enjoyed doing most of all since — it’s now my career without feeling like ‘work’”, she says. “After university, I completed the School of the Oriental Hotel Apprenticeship Program, then the Advanced Diploma of Professional Culinary Management at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute, in Australia. Continued …

Hok Peng Festival in northern province of Nan reveres ancient relics

In the northern town of Nan last week, in 35°C midday heat, a colorful procession of villagers wearing distinctive ethnic attire made its way to Wat Phra That Chae Haeng down a lengthy staircase, aside which a pair of naga sculptures stood like guardians.

A number of classic wood litters carried replicas of a gold, bell-shaped pagoda, as well as various Buddhist offerings such as Lanna-style flags and khan dok trees, all to mark the return of the annual seven-day Hok Peng Festival.

As legend has it, Phaya Kan Muang built a 55.5-meter-high pagoda in 1353 to house Buddha relics, including hair and a left wrist that were obtained from Sukhothai. Every year, the Hok Peng ritual is performed to worship the relics ahead of the Full Moon of the sixth northern Thai lunar month, which this year fell last Monday. Continued …

Covid-19 drug now free of charge

The anti-viral drug molnupiravir has been included in the list of essential medications covered by the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) Plus scheme, according to deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.

The drug’s inclusion means Covid-19 patients can now get molnupiravir pills for free. Prior to its inclusion, which was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, patients had to pay 15 baht for a 200-milligram dose of the anti-viral medication. Continued …

Women march as rights under threat across the globe

Women hit the streets from Kabul to Mexico City on Wednesday to mark International Women’s Day and stand up for rights that are coming under increasing attack. Continued … 

‘Rapid’ and ‘unprecedented’ rise in ocean plastic reported since 2005

The world’s oceans are choked with as many as 170 trillion particles of plastic, new research released Wednesday shows, and that number could nearly triple over the next few decades if nothing is done to stop the flow of pollution. Continued …

Russian military too deficient to make major gains, US spy chief says

The Russian military has too many deficiencies – including heavy casualties and an inability to replenish weapons and ammunition – to make “major territorial gains” in Ukraine this year, the top U.S. intelligence official told a Senate committee Wednesday. 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

 

90-day online reporting

bangkok, chiang mai, climate change, covid, hua hin, immigration, phuket, prauchuap khiri khan, real estate, thai economy, thai food, thai wildlife, thailand, tourism, transportation

Tuesday’s News-Feb 7

  • Inflation in January falls to 9-month low as cost-of-living crisis eases/
  • What you need to know about that knee problem/
  • Dental seminar set at Be Well Clinic Feb 18/
  • Muay Thai world record set – video/
  • Chinese buyers seek quick move amid zero-Covid fears/
  • Thailand deploying 20-member urban search and rescue team to Turkey/
  • Thai foodies angered as Kaeng Som named among world’s worst dishes/
  • 110 Thai immigration police officers charged in visa scandal/
  • Many Thai workers ill-prepared for old age/
  • Tourism: Forest park in Phetchaburi to become geological tourist attraction/PKK’s Golden Swan in Thap Sakae/First Chinese tour group in 3 years arrives in Phuket/Ministry to probe attack on Chinese tourist/Chinese investors return to Chiang Mai, Bangkok/Nine Swedish Tourists Survive after Boat Capsizes in Krabi/Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found/Foreigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket/
  • Thailand Experience: Thai cuisine comes in at 13 in TripAdvisor’s latest ranking/Northern Thai Food: A Guide to Regional Specialties in Thai Cuisine/
  • Covid: New Covid cases, deaths dropped by about half last week/
  • International: Rescuers Scramble In Turkey, Syria As Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 4,000/Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly?/Single-use plastics production still on the rise/
  • Links: Calendar of events/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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Inflation in January falls to 9-month low as cost-of-living crisis eases

Thailand’s headline inflation fell to a nine-month low of 5.02% in January, from 5.89% in December, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) announced Monday.

TPSO Director-general Wichanun Niwatjinda said the inflation slowdown reflected falling prices of energy and fresh foods. The TPSO expects inflation to drop further this month.

Wichanun said headline inflation in January stood at 108.18 points, up 5.02% year on year but still the lowest for the past nine months. Continued … 

What you need to know about that knee problem

Your knees are essential to your health. They have an incredibly important job of supporting and stabilizing your body as you walk, run, dance, or play sports. But most people don’t think about them until they start hurting.

Knee pain can be experienced in many different guises, it is common during growth spurts in children, or with trauma from sport or falls, or it may come on as we age with wear and tear. Knee pain can stem from the muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage or meniscus. It can sometimes also be referred from the hip joint or lower back.

Acute knee injuries often occur with sports that involve rapid acceleration or deceleration, twisting, kicking or sudden changes of direction. More gradual onset of knee pain can occur due to repetitive running, jumping and landing, kicking or squatting. Continued … 

Dental seminar set at Be Well Clinic Feb 18

The Be Well Medical Clinic in Hua Hin will hold a dental seminar, hosted by the Be Well Dental Department, on Feb. 18.

The seminar will address degeneration prevention, restorative dentistry (e.g., crowns and bridges), esthetic treatments (e.g., whitening, veneers), implants, and the speakers will also cover the possibilities, risks and costs of various therapies.

Registration will start at 9.30am with the seminar starting at 10am.

The clinic is located at the Coral Restaurant @ Banyan Resort (next to the Be Well Medical Center) Petchkasem Road, between Soi 120 and 122.

@BeWell members and Banyan Privilege Club members can attend for free, for others the fee is THB500. Advance registration is by email at event@bewell.co.th. For more information.

Muay Thai world record set

Renowned Muay Thai fighter Sombat “Buakhao” Banchamek teamed up with 3,650 soldiers to break a Guinness world record by performing the traditional Thai dance, Wai Kru, at the Amazing Muaythai Festival 2023 in Hua Hin.

Feb. 6 of every year is marked as Muay Thai Day to preserve and promote Thailand’s soft power Thai boxing.

Video 

Commander of the Royal Thai Army, Narongphan Jitkaewtae, wanted to celebrate and promote the cultural heritage of Muay Thai. So, the army collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and other relevant departments to host a celebration event named Amazing Muaythai Festival 2023. Continued …

Chinese buyers seek quick move amid zero-Covid fears

Ready-to-move-in condos in Thailand are attracting Chinese buyers, as the majority of them want to speed up relocation to the country due to concerns over the future of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy.

Kashif Ansari, co-founder and chief executive of Juwai IQI Group, the real estate marketing firm that owns the international real estate portal juwai.com in China, said Chinese buyers had a sense of urgency, which never appeared prior to the pandemic.

“If Chinese nationals are planning to move to Thailand, they want to do it right away, not in two years. These are the first movers,” he said. Continued …

Thailand deploying 20-member urban search and rescue team to Turkey

Thailand will deploy a 20-member urban search and rescue (USAR) team to the disaster zone of major earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said 20 fully equipped members of USAR Thailand are on standby and will depart as soon as they get the green light from Turkish authorities.

USAR Thailand team members are trained experts with experience in search and rescue operations in large-scale disasters at both national and international levels. Continued … 

Thai foodies angered as Kaeng Som named among world’s worst dishes

Thais are struggling to digest the news that one of their favorite foods, kaeng som (spicy-sour fish curry), has been ranked the 12th worst dish in the world by a global foody website.

Netizens are venting their anger and disgust after the distinctive watery Thai curry received a score of 2.3 out of 5 in the online food guide TasteAtlas on Saturday.

Kaeng som is made from a paste of shrimp and shallots, its sharp sweet-sour flavor coming from the addition of tamarind and sometimes lime juice. Continued …

110 Thai immigration police officers charged in visa scandal

More than 100 immigration police officers, including three generals, have been found to have issued visas illegally to foreign visitors, Police Gen. Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief, said yesterday.

All 110 of them have been charged with malfeasance in office and taking bribes, he said, adding that he expects the case to be sent to the public prosecutors this week.

The probe into visa scandal, in which immigration police officers and several local administration officials are implicated, is an extension of an investigation into the conduct of a handful of immigration police officers who were allegedly involved in issuing visas for Chinese businessman Chaiyanat Kornchayanant and other Chinese businessmen allegedly involved in “gray” businesses in Thailand. Continued …

Many Thai workers ill-prepared for old age

Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith is concerned that more than 16 million informal workers have yet to participate in any savings scheme to prepare for life during retirement, even though Thailand is expected to become an aged society in the next two years.

He said that Thailand is now an aging society, as at least 10% of the population has been 60 years old or more since 2005. A total of 12.5 million people, or 19% of the population, is currently over 60. Thai people are also enjoying a longer life span.

Arkhom added that the country is expected to become an aged society in the next couple of years when elderly people will surge to 20% of the total population. It is set to become a super-aged society in 2034 when the elderly proportion of the population reaches 28%. Continued …

Forest park in Phetchaburi to become geological tourist attraction

Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment plans to develop the Khao Nang Phanthurat Forest Park in Phetchaburi province into a geological tourist destination, to promote geological study and conservation of natural resources.

Geologists from the Department of Mineral Resources have recently found many fossilized marine creatures embedded in the limestone mountain in the park, which are thought to be from about 250 million years ago, during the Permian period.

The fossilized marine creatures include bivalves, single-shell mollusc and corals.

The limestone mountain in the forest park was created by the massive accumulation of calcium carbonate sediments, dating back more than 250 million years. Some of the fossilized corals appear like tree branches or horns, called Rugose corals, which became extinct about 250 million years ago. – thaipbsworld.com

PKK’s Golden Swan in Thap Sakae

One of the most significant religious sites in Prachuap Khiri Khan province is the “Giant Golden Swan” located on the Hua Hin-bound side of Petchkasem Road in Thap Sakae. Believers say it is a gathering spot for angels. It was built by the former abbot of Huay Luek Temple, “Phra Kru Paisarn”. People who make merit at the temple do so to ask for fortune or money, and when the request is granted, frequently bring bracelets or sculptures of swans to say thank you. (HHT)

First Chinese tour group in 3 years arrives in Phuket

Phuket tourism officials have welcomed the first Chinese tour group to visit the island in three years. The group touched down at Phuket International Airport at 3.15pm yesterday.

Passengers were welcomed by airport director Monchai Tamod and Montree Manator from the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. There were 180 passengers in the group, arriving on a direct flight from Shanghai with Spring Airlines.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese tour groups were a regular feature on the island. However, harsh outbound travel restrictions imposed by Beijing meant there have been none for nearly three years. Continued …

Ministry to probe attack on Chinese tourist

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is rushing to investigate a case involving a Chinese tourist who was assaulted by a travel agent in Phuket after the case went viral, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is still hoping to secure 7-8 million tourists from China this year as the first batch of tour groups touched down in the country on Monday.

A viral TikTok clip showed a Chinese tourist being assaulted with a knife by a member of staff at a tour agency in Phuket during an altercation after the agency was unable to return in full a 5,000-baht deposit for a Similan Islands tour package, which a tourist had booked in advance for his group.

The tourist claimed the members of the group were instead left stranded at their hotel on the morning of Jan. 31, when they were supposed to take the tour. Continued …

Chinese investors return to Chiang Mai, Bangkok

Thailand welcomed 2.24 million foreign tourists in December, a surge from 1.17 million in July. The figures are expected to exceed 2 million people in January, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimated.

The significant recovery of the tourism industry has been able to attract foreigners to invest more in the supply-side business in Thailand – especially the major tourist destination cities, including Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. These popular provinces are seeing their bright future, as TAT expects more than 30 million arrivals of foreign visitors in 2023.

The rebounding of tourism sector not only brings back visitors, but also foreign investors, Panlop Sae-Jew, chairman of the Chiang Mai Tourism Industry Council, says. Continued …

Nine Swedish Tourists Survive after Boat Capsizes in Krabi

Nine Swedish tourists have survived after a long-tailed boat capsized in Krabi.

The head of the Than Bok Khorani National Park, Weerasak Srisajjang, stated tthey were notified of the incident on Sunday near the Hong Island in the Khao Thong subdistrict, Mueang Krabi.

Rescue teams went to the scene to find nine male and female Swedish nationals and the boat captain in the sea near the long-tailed boat, which was capsized. Continued …

Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found

A body found floating in the sea near Koh Tao is believed to be the missing German tourist who jumped off a ferry shortly after it departed from Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand one week ago.

At 4pm yesterday, the Kusol Sattha Rescue Foundation was informed that a tourist boat came across the body of a male tourist floating in the Ao Muong Bay in Koh Tao subdistrict, Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province. Continued …

Foreigners, particularly Russians, accused of working illegally in Phuket

The Phuket Information Center Facebook page has accused foreigners, particularly Russians, of operating illegal businesses and working illegally in Phuket.

It shared with its followers Sunday that, “A lot of foreigners stay and work in Phuket, both legally and illegally. Recently, a group of foreigners started a car rental business. They offered both cars and minibuses and also served tourists as chauffeurs. They steal jobs from Thai people!”

“If anyone has more information on this, please send it to the page’s admin. We, together with the Phuket Tourist Police, will get rid of this issue.” Continued … 

Thai cuisine comes in at 13 in TripAdvisor’s latest ranking

Despite being a top travel destination for many, Thai cuisine only came in No. 13 in the latest ranking by online travel information and booking website TripAdvisor.

The top three food destinations in the world were the Italian capital Rome, the Greek island of Crete and the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

However, TripAdvisor sang Bangkok’s praises, saying: “Golden palaces, floating markets, majestic porcelain-laid spires … you’ve never seen a capital city quite like Bangkok. Continued …

Traditional Northern Thai food

Northern Thai Food: A Guide to Regional Specialties in Thai Cuisine

Thai cuisine is a melting pot of diverse flavors and ingredients, each region offering its own unique twist on classic dishes. If you’re tired of the usual pad Thai and green curry, head north to explore the treasure trove of delicious treats waiting to be discovered. Here’s what you need to know about the delicious northern Thai food.

Northern Thai cuisine is famous for its bold and pungent flavors. It uses plenty of chili, herbs, and spices. It’s a feast for the senses, leaving a lasting impression on the taste buds.

The region is renowned for its sausages, which consist of a mixture of pork and sticky rice. It also has a popular signature dish, Khao Soi. The local people make this rich and creamy curry with egg noodles, chicken, and a blend of spices that’ll tantalize your taste buds. Continued …

New Covid cases, deaths dropped by about half last week

Hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 last week dropped by about half from the week before, Thailand’s Disease Control Department (DCD) said on Monday.

The DCD reported that 252 Covid cases were hospitalized from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, an average of 36 patients per day. That represented a decline of 46.3% from the 472 cases hospitalized from Jan. 22-28, an average of 67 per day.

Deaths from Covid last week dropped to 17 (an average of 2-3 per day), from 29 a week earlier. Currently, 122 Covid patients are being treated in hospital for pneumonia, 78 of whom are on ventilators. Continued …

Rescuers Scramble In Turkey, Syria As Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 4,000

Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 4,000 people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region. Continued … 

Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly?

A combination of factors made the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria early Monday particularly deadly, including its timing, location, relatively quiet fault line and the weak construction of the collapsed buildings, experts said. Continued …

Single-use plastics production still on the rise

Minderoo Foundation’s Plastic Waste Makers Index (PWMI) 2023 shows the planet’s plastic pollution problem is worsening, and new estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from single-use plastics demonstrate how single-use plastics producers also contribute to the climate crisis. Continued …

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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

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

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.

 

90-day online reporting

covid, hua hin, immigration, marijuana, thai economy, thai food, thailand, tourism, transportation

Thursday’s News-Jan 5

  • Johnston leaves Surf 102.5 radio/Wildlife Friends Foundation leading the fight against animal exploitation/Headline CPI up 5.89%, in line with forecast/Business trends on the horizon for entrepreneurs in 2023/Adaptability is key to national survival/High-speed train still on track/Soaring global demand for rice pushes Thailand closer to 2nd place/Thailand-France Relations Moving Into Higher Gear/Thailand, Cambodia to tap Gulf of Thailand gas resources/Cannabis bill in limbo as House meeting lacks a quorum again/
  • Tourism: Airlines up in arms over increase in Covid measures/Thailand expects 5 million Chinese tourists this year/Call for more tourists in the provinces/British woman ‘may never walk again’ after fall from resort balcony/Park officials condemned for allowing sailboat to destroy Krabi reef/
  • Thailand Experience: Hua Hin and 8 Beautiful Lesser-Known Spots In Asia/Thailand’s Unusual Street Food Delicacy — Chicken Testicles/Tips for planning the perfect Thailand vacation/
  • Covid: China stats ‘under-represent’ true impact of Covid outbreak: WHO/Shanghai hospitals filled to the brim in COVID outbreak/Malaysia responds to China’s lifted Covid restrictions with plans to tighten borders/
  • International: Oil prices dive, Europe gas price hits lowest level since 2021/Macron promises ‘first Western tanks’ for Ukraine/New York approves composting of human bodies/Graphics show atmospheric river soaking California’s Bay Area/Tuna fetches $273,000 at New Year auction in Tokyo/
  • Links: Calendar of events/airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas

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Johnston leaves Surf 102.5 radio

Steve Johnston, a member of the Surf 102.5 FM team for the past six years, has taken the position of director of entertainment for Yas Plaza Hotels in Abu Dhabi.

During his time in Hua Hin,Johnston has been in a number of different DJ roles at the radio station. According to Surf’s Richard Buckle, “Steve has been very supportive over the years and a major contributor to the growth of the station. I wish him well in his new position.”

Johnston has previous experience working in Abu Dhabi, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Iraq.

Wildlife Friends Foundation leading the fight against animal exploitation

 

“It was a hobby that got out of hand,” says Edwin Wiek, founder of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT).

For more than 20 years, Wiek has fought to save abused and exploited animals in Thailand.

He first moved to Thailand in 1989, and in the following years ran a successful business making fashion accessories. However, following a serious and near fatal road traffic accident, Edwin’s outlook on life changed. Continued …

Headline CPI up 5.89%, in line with forecast

Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.89% in December from a year earlier, in line with analyst forecasts, but above the previous month, driven by higher energy and food prices, government data showed on Thursday.

The index compared with a forecast for a 5.9% rise in December in a Reuters poll and followed November’s 5.55% increase.

The pace remains well above the Bank of Thailand’s (BoT) target range of 1% to 3%, reinforcing expectations that the central bank will raise its key interest rate at its next meeting on Jan. 25, to bring prices back within target. Continued … 

Business trends on the horizon for entrepreneurs in 2023

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has been tough on small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of Thailand’s economic growth and development.

Increased digital transformation, changes in customer behavior, restrictions on travel, limited operations of retail outlets and restaurants, and inflation, to name but a few, caused a number of businesses to shut down.

Now, many of them have reopened, started afresh or even expanded thank to vaccinations and the government’s relaxation measures. Continued … 

Adaptability is key to national survival

Covid-19. Technological disruption. Climate crisis. These have happened at a rapid pace that challenges the adaptability of people around the world. Is Thailand prepared to withstand these challenges?

Ask the children – the future of the country – and their answers, according to the 2018 PISA Survey of 15-year-old children around the world, are not so encouraging.

Some 63% of Thai teenagers said they could not adapt well enough when change arises, and they cannot sufficiently adjust to new cultures, which is crucial in an interconnected world. That is not all. Continued …

High-speed train still on track

Lessons learned from the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project are believed to help ensure a smooth and faster operation of the next phase of the project, according to the Department of Rail Transport.

Despite some delays in construction during the first phase, the 179.41-billion-baht 253km standard-gauge railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima will still open in 2026 as initially planned, said Pichet Kunadhamraks, department director-general in a recent interview.

“The delays happened for a reason and the reason is everything needs to be decided sensibly and in the best interests of the country,” he said. Continued …

Soaring global demand for rice pushes Thailand closer to 2nd place

Thailand is on track to becoming the world’s second-largest rice exporter after its shipments in the first 11 months of last year rose to 6.91 million tons.

This surpassed the 6.67 million tons exported by Vietnam, which held second place in 2021, the Thai Rice Exporters Assn. (TREA) said yesterday.

Meanwhile, India is still the top rice exporter after having shipped 18.25 million tons from January to November last year. Continued …

Thailand-France Relations Moving Into Higher Gear

The Year 2022 will remain a turning point for the relations between Thailand and France, marked by the signing of an important road map for future cooperation, a string of agreements and visits that culminated with French President Emmanuel Macron’s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok as a special guest of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, host and chair of the forum.

A shared focus on innovation and advanced technologies to boost trade and investment is giving centuries-old bilateral cooperation a new impulse.

“Relations between Thailand and France date back more than 300 years since the reign of King Narai the Great and King Louis XIV, when the two sides first exchanged ambassadors, and over that period they have developed into the comprehensive cooperation we see now,” said H.E. Tana Weskosith, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the French Republic. “Today’s complex geopolitical and economic challenges have led Thailand and France to deepen their cooperation.” Continued …

Thailand, Cambodia to tap Gulf of Thailand gas resources

The Thai government is set to go ahead with a long-awaited joint development of petroleum resources in an energy-rich area in the Gulf of Thailand claimed by Thailand and Cambodia, according to government sources.

The sources said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon had pushed for new talks on the matter with Cambodia for years.

He raised the matter again with Suy Sem, Cambodian minister of Mines and Energy, in Bangkok on Dec. 16, 2022.

Both sides discussed possible cooperation to make use of energy resources in the overlapping claim area (OCA) as a solution to energy shortages. Continued …

Cannabis bill in limbo as House meeting lacks a quorum again

The fate of the Bhumjaithai Party’s cannabis bill has been thrown into limbo once again, after numerous MPs refused to declare their presence in the chamber, bringing the House meeting to a premature end due to the lack of a quorum.

The House was scheduled to vote on Section 11 of the bill, which the scrutiny committee had proposed for deletion, but several MPs disagreed and wanted the bill to be withdrawn.

Pheu Thai MP for Lop Buri, Ubolsak Bualuang-ngam, told Deputy House Speaker Supachai Phosu, who was chairing the meeting, not to waste the time waiting for more MPs to show up to make the quorum. Continued … 

Airlines up in arms over increase in Covid measures

The worldwide airline lobby group International Air Transport Assn. (IATA) is up in arms over global plans to re-introduce Covid-19 restrictions for passengers arriving from China. The IATA says such measures represent a “knee-jerk” reaction to China’s recent lifting of Covid restrictions.

Such a reintroduction of measures for travelers is being criticized by the IATA as it says science should supersede politics. It furthered the notion that the previous steps taken to prevent the virus from spreading have been ineffective.

The group’s director-general, Willie Walsh, says travel restrictions have been shown to only delay the peak of new Covid waves by only a few days, rather than stopping them. He also says that such measures will damage economies even more by destroying jobs and strangling international connectivity. Continued … 

Thailand expects 5 million Chinese tourists this year

Thailand is expecting at least five million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, about half the number recorded before the coronavirus pandemic, as China reopens its borders, the government tourism body said.

The return of Chinese tourists would be a further boost to the Southeast Asian country’s economy and its vital tourism sector. More than 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2019, nearly a third of the total.

“We expect some 300,000 Chinese tourists to come in the first quarter of this year,” Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said. That compared with 220,000 in the first 11 months of 2022. Continued … 

Call for more tourists in the provinces

The Federation of Thai SMEs is asking the government to draw more foreign tourists to second-tier provinces in a move to help drive local economies and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The suggestion comes as Thailand prepares for the return of Chinese tourists after Beijing announced plans to reopen its borders on Jan. 8.

Authorities should consider launching new tourism packages to promote trips to provinces that are less popular than Chiang Mai in the north and Phuket in the south, instead featuring areas rich in natural attractions and unique culture, said federation President Sangchai Theerakulwanich. Continued … 

British woman ‘may never walk again’ after fall from resort balcony

A beautician has been told that she may never walk again, as she remains in a Thai hospital following a fall from a resort balcony on what was supposed to be a dream holiday.

Maddi Neale-Shankster, 21, has been left with fractures in her spine and needing drains to remove blood and fluid from her chest after the accident on the party island of Ko Pha-Ngan.

Her mother, Karen Moseley-Neale, flew to Thailand on Sunday to be by her daughter’s side as they wait to see if surgeons will operate on her back once her chest is clear. Continued …

Park officials condemned for allowing sailboat to destroy Krabi reef

Thai netizens condemned national park officials for failing to do their job after seeing images of a tourist sailboat destroying a coral reef in the southern province of Krabi.

On Wednesday, the environmental activist Monsoon Garbage Thailand posted photos of a white sailboat docking over the coral reef near Yawasam Island. The page explained that the island was under the care of Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and docking was prohibited. Continued …

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Hua Hin’s Khao Takiab

Hua Hin and 8 Beautiful Lesser-Known Spots In Asia

Now that Eastern countries such as Japan are open to tourists again, many travelers are looking for Asian destination inspiration.

Below, TravelAwaits writers recommend beautiful, lesser-known, quaint towns to visit this year. Not all are unheard of — one is a tiny nation and another is the capital of Laos — but all are worth considering for 2023.

8. Hua Hin, Thailand

Just a few hours south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is a beautiful Gulf of Thailand beach-side community. “For the last century, the Thai Royal family has been suitably smitten by its charms,” says Michael Cullen, who tells us their summer palaces are here.

Hua Hin’s laid-back feel, authentic Thai character, choice of long, wide, safe beaches, and excellent year-round weather tick all the boxes. Outdoor lovers have an abundance of choices, such as eight golf courses (including two of Asia’s best), plus three nature-filled national parks within a 30-minute drive. Continued … 

Thailand’s Unusual Street Food Delicacy — Chicken Testicles

Thailand is world-renowned for its flavorful, exotic, and diverse street food, and for good reason. Thailand’s street food has something for everyone, from the most basic to the most adventurous dishes. One of the more daring street food delicacies, though, is chicken testicles. Yes, you heard that right.

Chicken testicles are sausage-like in structure and shape, resembling a chicken’s kidney. They’re covered in a tough skin that protects a soft interior.

Despite the fact that they are not commonly served in restaurants or commercially available, rooster testicles are considered delicacies, particularly in Chinese cuisine. People have compared the texture of testicles to that of tofu. Continued …

Tips for planning the perfect Thailand vacation

Planning the perfect Thailand vacation can be overwhelming, with so many incredible things to see and do. But with a little bit of planning and research, you can make your trip to Thailand unforgettable. Here are some tips for planning the perfect Thailand vacation in 2023.

1. Pick the right destination

With so many beautiful places to explore in Thailand, it can be hard to decide which destination is right for you. Consider your budget, the type of activities you want to do, and the length of stay. Do you want to relax on the beach, explore the jungle, or explore the city?

Decide which destination fits your vacation needs and interests. Research different destinations online to get a better idea of what each destination has to offer. Continued …

China stats ‘under-represent’ true impact of Covid outbreak: WHO

The World Health Organization criticized yesterday China’s “very narrow” definition of Covid deaths, warning that official statistics were not showing the true impact of the outbreak.

“We still do not have complete data,” the WHO’s emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters.

“We believe that the current numbers being published from China under-represent the true impact of the disease in terms of hospital admissions, in terms of ICU admissions, and particularly in terms of deaths.” Continued …

Shanghai hospitals filled to the brim in COVID outbreak

Hospitals in Shanghai were overwhelmed by visitors yesterday as international health experts predict at least one million deaths in China this year, but Beijing has reported five or fewer deaths a day since the policy u-turn.

At least seven hearses were seen in the parking lot of Shanghai’s Tongji hospital, as workers carried at least 18 yellow bags used to move bodies.

China’s axing of its stringent virus curbs last month has unleashed COVID on a 1.4 billion population that has little natural immunity having been shielded from the virus since it emerged in the central city of Wuhan three years ago. – Reuters

Malaysia responds to China’s lifted Covid restrictions with plans to tighten borders

Malaysia is responding to China’s recently lifted Covid-19 restrictions with plans to tighten its borders. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the country’s plans as fears mount over another Covid wave due to China.

“We will control and tighten (our borders) even more, including (travelers) from the U.S. and China,” Anwar said.

Anwar says the current plans are not biased against any particular nation, despite his statement mentioning the U.S. and China. He says that tightening the country’s borders was for all travelers, not just China. Continued …

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Oil prices dive, Europe gas price hits lowest level since 2021

Global oil prices plunged Wednesday over China demand concerns and European gas prices sank to their lowest levels since November 2021 as mild winter weather reduced needs. Continued …

Macron promises ‘first Western tanks’ for Ukraine

France is set to become the first Western country to deliver tanks to Ukraine, the French presidency announced Wednesday after talks between Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Continued … 

New York approves composting of human bodies

New York is the latest U.S. state to approve human composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional ways of dealing with human remains such as burial and cremation. Continued …

Graphics show atmospheric river soaking California’s Bay Area

Another major storm began pummeling the California coast on Wednesday as forecasters warned of massive amounts of rain and snow, as well as the possibility of even more storms. The powerful storm whipped up huge waves and high winds and included an atmospheric river anticipated to cause flooding and landslides in central and northern California. Continued …

Tuna fetches $273,000 at New Year auction in Tokyo

A bluefin tuna fetched 36.04 million yen (US$273,000) at the New Year’s auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market, more than double the top price last year. The price paid for the 212-kilogram fish exceeded last year’s top price for a tuna of ¥16.88 million and is the sixth highest since comparable data became available in 1999. (Kyodo News)

Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule

The VIP bus service schedule from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated. In addition, a new Cha Am boarding location has been added in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare in 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

The bus from Hua Hin to Pattaya departure time remains unchanged at 11am, at 473 baht. Tickets 

 

90-day online reporting