Month: January 2023

  • Thailand NewsThousands of hotel bookings cancelled after vaccine measures introduced

    Thousands of hotel bookings cancelled after vaccine measures introduced

    Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) advisory president made it known to the public yesterday that at least 1,000 hotel bookings have been cancelled after Thailand decided tourists needed two Covid-19 vaccine doses before entering the kingdom. The Minister of Transport, Saksayam Chidchob, later confirmed that travellers without a vaccine certification can enter Thailand, but they might be randomly tested at the…

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  • Thailand NewsBREAKING: Unvaccinated tourists can fly to Thailand, so long as…

    BREAKING: Unvaccinated tourists can fly to Thailand, so long as…

    After facing an international backlash for reintroducing the two-dose Covid-19 vaccine entry requirement at the last minute, Thailand will allow unvaccinated tourists to fly into the country so long as they have either proof of recovery from Covid in the past six months OR a doctor’s letter explaining why they are not vaccinated. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT)…

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  • Thailand NewsPrincess Bajrakitiyabha remains unconscious 3 weeks after collapse

    Princess Bajrakitiyabha remains unconscious 3 weeks after collapse

    Princess Bajrakitiyabha remains unconscious for more than three weeks since she collapsed with a heart problem, according to a statement from the Bureau of the Royal Household on the health of the potential heir to the throne. Princess Bajrakitiyabha, King Vajiralongkorn’s eldest child, remains unconscious after she was hospitalised on Wednesday, December 14. The Princess, 44 years old, was reported…

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  • TravelTips for riding motorcycle in Thailand

    Tips for riding motorcycle in Thailand

    PLEASE NOTE: We’re not recommending that you should ride a motorbike or motorcycle in Thailand but, if you do, these tips will help… Riding a motorbike in Thailand is a great way to get around, especially in heavy traffic where it’s often the quickest option. While some may warn against it, those who avoid hopping on a 110cc scooter miss out on…

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  • Transport NewsDriving penalty points system in effect from today

    Driving penalty points system in effect from today

    Thailand’s new driving penalty points system will come into effect today but the police are focusing on encouraging general public awareness so they understand the new rules before fully cracking down. The new points system for motorists is aimed at improving traffic law compliance, reducing accidents, and improving road safety, according to the commander of the Highway Police Division. The…

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  • World NewsIndian man jailed for urinating on 70 year old female passenger

    Indian man jailed for urinating on 70 year old female passenger

    An Indian man has been jailed after he urinated on a 70 year old woman passenger on an Air India New York to New Delhi flight. A New Delhi court sentenced Shankar Mishra to 14 days in prison for outraging the modesty of a woman while police investigated the incident on Saturday, November 26, 2022. If convicted, he faces up…

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  • Pattaya NewsBritish tourist jumps off pier in Pattaya, mental health issues suspected

    British tourist jumps off pier in Pattaya, mental health issues suspected

    Pattaya Police suspect that a British tourist who jumped off a pier on Saturday had mental health issues. The man, who was reported to be about 45 years old, suddenly jumped into the sea off Bali Hai Pier. When rescuers tried to help the man, he became aggressive and refused their efforts. The man then tried to hide behind the…

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  • Phuket NewsRomanian diver missing at sea in Phuket, Thailand

    Romanian diver missing at sea in Phuket, Thailand

    The search continues today for a Romanian man who went missing while diving in the waters of Phuket in southern Thailand yesterday. At 12.40pm, officers at Chalong Police Station were informed that a Romanian diver went missing off the coast of Promthep Cape. At 9am, 46 year old Sebastian Emil Somesan, 47 year old Alexandru Florin Miron – both of Romanian…

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  • ExpatsTwo Thailand population reports reveal conflicting data

    Two Thailand population reports reveal conflicting data

    Statistics provided by the Central Domicile Registration Office revealed that on December 31, 2022, Thailand’s official population stands at 66,090,475. The Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data contradicts this however, saying it is over 70 million residents. Last year, an announcement formally published in the Royal Gazette stated that the official population of Thailand as of December 31,…

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  • Crime NewsPolice bust Songkhla newspaper editor for drug crimes

    Police bust Songkhla newspaper editor for drug crimes

    Police busted a newspaper editor in Thailand’s southern Songkhla province for drug-related crimes on Friday. The editor was found to be working along with two other suspects. A team of officers from several divisions raided the three suspect’s rooms in the town of Sadao in the Sai Buri district. One of the suspects, 35 year old Paradorn, is an editor…

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  • Thailand TravelBest Western Hotels continues to expand with 6 new signings across the globe

    Best Western Hotels continues to expand with 6 new signings across the globe

    BWH Hotel Group is a leading, global hospitality network comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels® Collection, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotel Group®. Built on the foundation of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, an iconic hotel brand that boasts over 75 years of legacy and experience with more than 4,500 hotels in over 100 countries and territories around…

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  • Thailand NewsNEW Thailand Entry Restrictions & Chinese Tourists Return | GMT

    NEW Thailand Entry Restrictions & Chinese Tourists Return | GMT

      In today’s episode, Dog-eating Thai man gets three months in prison, Covid travel restrictions return tomorrow, and Floating beach club party barge requests to anchor in Phuket.

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  • Transport News2 men found frozen in the belly of Colombian plane

    2 men found frozen in the belly of Colombian plane

    An aircraft maintenance technician in Colombia made a shocking discovery. Under the belly of an Avianca plane at the airport in Bogota, the bodies of two young men were frozen to death. The airline technician was inspecting and performing regular maintenance on the aircraft of Colombia’s flagship airline when he was horrified by the corpses. The bodies were found today,…

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  • Thailand Weather Updates4-metre waves off Pha Ngan capsize tugboat, crew rescued

    4-metre waves off Pha Ngan capsize tugboat, crew rescued

    At 4am on Saturday, tens of thousands of tourists and partiers were dancing the night away at a Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach, Koh Pha Ngan. Just 37 kilometres away off the coast of the popular holiday island catastrophe struck as huge waves capsized a tugboat, tossing all the crew members overboard into the swelling seas. The crew of…

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  • Crime NewsBangkok mother claims murder, dismisses ‘playing Russian roulette’

    Bangkok mother claims murder, dismisses ‘playing Russian roulette’

    The Bangkok mother of the 16 year old boy who died “playing Russian roulette” last week has spoken out, claiming that her son may have been murdered. Waraporn Tumgen dismissed testimony given by six teens who witnessed her son’s death. Waraporn said… “Our family would like the police to consider all options, and not rule anything out.” Wongsatorn “Bee” Tumgen…

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  • Technology NewsTrivial tech at CES – tomorrow’s eyebrows today

    Trivial tech at CES – tomorrow’s eyebrows today

    Tech companies showed off their latest products this week at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, with new developments in video as well as lifestyle enhancements among the trivial tech at CES. The world’s biggest brands do business and meet new partners at CES, the most influential tech event in the world. It’s a proving ground for new…

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  • Eastern Thailand NewsFire destroys 7 speedboats on Koh Mak

    Fire destroys 7 speedboats on Koh Mak

    Disaster struck the island of Koh Mak in Trat province over the weekend when seven speedboats docked at Thong Lang Bay were destroyed in a fire. A group of tourists from the mainland who had taken a day trip to the holiday island were briefly stranded as the speedboats to transport them back burned and sank. Local villagers came to…

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  • Tourism NewsDoi Kloselo tourist attractions threatened by hydropower dam

    Doi Kloselo tourist attractions threatened by hydropower dam

    In Mae Hong Son province, Doi Kloselo tourist attractions are to be created in a desperate attempt by locals to stop a planned hydropower dam on the Salween River. The Salween is one of Asia’s last largely free-flowing rivers. About 3,300 kilometres long, the Salween flows from the Tibetan Plateau south into the Andaman Sea, primarily within southwest China and…

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  • Crime NewsFountain of wisdom – Chuwit’s leaking dismays cops

    Fountain of wisdom – Chuwit’s leaking dismays cops

    An unnamed senior police officer is believed to have leaked information on the Jinling nightclub case to supergrass Chuwit Kamolvisit. Chuwit’s leaking has been a source of great frustration to officers investigating Chinese organised crime in the kingdom, according to the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Thiti Saengsawang said on Friday that an investigation had begun after evidence…

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  • Phuket NewsFloating beach club party barge requests to anchor in Phuket

    Floating beach club party barge requests to anchor in Phuket

    A floating beach club barge in Phuket is seeking approval to anchor in Patong Bay. The 500-gross-ton vessel, called the Sawasdee, has luxury party amenities like a bar and swimming pool and can accommodate 500 guests with a crew of 35. The Phuket office of the Marine Department reported that the boat is currently anchored in Patong Bay, where it…

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  • Phuket NewsMan bites dog: Dog-eating Thai man gets three months

    Man bites dog: Dog-eating Thai man gets three months

    A dog-eating Thai man has been sent to prison for three months for killing, cooking and eating his pet dogs, according to the Soi Dog Foundation. The charity said on Facebook yesterday that concern was raised by Soi Dog mobile clinic staff who encountered a puppy in the Chalerm Prakiat district of Nakhon Si Thammarat with a deep laceration to…

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  • Covid-19 NewsCovid travel restrictions return tomorrow

    Covid travel restrictions return tomorrow

    It’s probably just a coincidence, but just as China is easing their travel blocks and allowing its citizens to travel abroad, Covid-19 travel restrictions are officially back. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has recently announced a set of rules that will apply to all non-Thai arrivals between January 9 and 31. These rules come as the country anticipates…

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  • Crime NewsNephew of former Pattaya deputy mayor surrenders on shooting charges

    Nephew of former Pattaya deputy mayor surrenders on shooting charges

    After losing control and shooting a British man in a road rage incident, the nephew of a former deputy mayor of Pattaya turned himself in yesterday. The 32 year old man identified only by his first name Apichat surrendered to police in Pattaya. According to Apichat’s account of the incident, the deputy mayor’s nephew was driving his car when he…

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  • EventsKoh Pha Ngan packed with back to back parties

    Koh Pha Ngan packed with back to back parties

    Business in Koh Pha Ngan has been booming with the biggest New Year’s Eve Countdown party in three years followed by the first Full Moon Party of 2023. Tens of thousands of visitors flocked to the island to take part in the (nearly) all-night beach party last night. The event was a success, though not quite as big and rowdy…

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  • Tourism NewsAlibaba’s Jack Ma enjoys a visit to Bangkok

    Alibaba’s Jack Ma enjoys a visit to Bangkok

    Billionaire Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba and Yunfeng Capital, has been enjoying his time in Thailand, visiting popular tourist attractions in the capital city of Bangkok. He was recently seen at the famous Michelin star Jay Fai street food and the Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium. The Chinese businessman ate at Thailand’s most famous street food stall and stopped to take…

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  • Tourism NewsIndian travel slowing due to new restrictions

    Indian travel slowing due to new restrictions

    The massive Indian demographic for Thai tourism has been slowing due to new Covid-19 travel restrictions the Indian government has implemented. Travellers returning from Thailand are now required to take an RT-PCR test, an expensive inconvenience that is discouraging many from travelling. The so-called meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) segment and independent travellers have been particularly put off by…

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  • Crime NewsDay of terror as drug cartel gunmen overwhelm Mexican city

    Day of terror as drug cartel gunmen overwhelm Mexican city

    At least 29 people were killed in Culiacán as drug cartel gunmen fought a bloody battle to stop the transportation of El Chapo’s son. Álvaro Arandas was approaching the check-in counter at Culiacán international airport when the pandemonium began. “You could hear the shooting – huge blasts, so much noise,” said the Mexican businessman, who had planned to board a…

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  • Thailand NewsParks officials speak to DNP bribery inquiry

    Parks officials speak to DNP bribery inquiry

    Seventeen officials from the Department of National Parks (DNP) made statements to police yesterday in connection with the DNP bribery inquiry into former department chief Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya. Rutchada was arrested at his office in Chatuchak district on December 27 on suspicion of demanding or taking bribes from subordinates and malfeasance. His arrest came when Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former head…

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  • Crime NewsTeacher shot by 6 year old student in US

    Teacher shot by 6 year old student in US

    A shocking and disturbing incident occurred at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia in the US yesterday. A 6 year old student shot and wounded a teacher, a woman in her 30s, during an altercation in the classroom. The teacher was taken to a local hospital with injuries believed to be life-threatening, but there has reportedly been “some improvement”…

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  • Environment NewsRaise the Sukhothai – salvage companies to bid for 100-million-baht contract

    Raise the Sukhothai – salvage companies to bid for 100-million-baht contract

    Private salvage companies are being asked to bid to raise the Sukhothai, according to Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sources. HTMS Sukhothai, a corvette-class warship sank in the Gulf of Thailand about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province when it was capsized by 4-metre waves and strong winds. Officers are assessing the damage to the Sukhothai…

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  • Crime NewsMonk accused of raping his daughter

    Monk accused of raping his daughter

    A 42 year old monk in Samut Prakan has been arrested for raping his daughter after visiting her for New Year blessings. On December 28, Naen, a 14 year old girl from a family with a history of sexual abuse, was violently raped by her father, Wirachai, a monk at a temple in the Greater Bangkok area province of Samut…

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  • Visa InformationWelcome to Thailand, land of the Chinese dream

    Welcome to Thailand, land of the Chinese dream

    After years of pandemic misery, China‘s social media is alive with talk of Thailand, the land of the Chinese dream. The Chinese people are drawn to what they see as the kingdom’s slower pace of balanced life, and benefits such as cheap international schools. Influencers are painting a picture of a paradise where dreams come true. Stressed-out parents, according to…

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  • Thailand NewsNext Level Adventures ft. Paddy Doyle | Thaiger Podcast Ep.19

    Next Level Adventures ft. Paddy Doyle | Thaiger Podcast Ep.19

    Youtuber, Traveller and dreamer. He quit his job as a primary school teacher, sold his belongings and hopped on his 94 Honda Dream motor bike to visit all 77 provinces of Thailand, to follow his passion for creating videos, travelling and living the Thailand dream. Paddy Doyle is an extreme example of what a hard-working man can achieve. He has…

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  • Thailand NewsGlobal food prices, hunger hit record highs

    Global food prices, hunger hit record highs

    Global food prices for grain and vegetable oil were the highest on record last year, even after falling for nine months in a row, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said, as Russia’s war in Ukraine, drought and other factors take the blame for inflation and global hunger. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in food prices, dipped…

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  • Things To DoThe benefits of practicing yoga in Thailand

    The benefits of practicing yoga in Thailand

    Yoga is an ancient practice that has been embraced by cultures around the world for centuries. Today, the practice has become increasingly popular among travellers in Thailand, as it offers a unique and spiritual way to explore the culture of the country. In Thailand, yoga is a great way to immerse oneself in the local culture and gain a deeper…

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  • ExpatsItalian legend Gianluca Vialli dies after long battle with cancer

    Italian legend Gianluca Vialli dies after long battle with cancer

    Former Italy, Sampdoria, and Chelsea star Gianluca Vialli died at the age of 58. The Cremona-born Italian, who also managed Chelsea and Watford, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 but was cleared three years later only for it to return in 2021. Vialli played in Serie A, for Sampdoria and Juventus, before moving to Chelsea in England to finish…

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  • Things To DoHow to get around Thailand on a budget (2023)

    How to get around Thailand on a budget (2023)

    Travelling around Thailand on a budget can be a great way to explore this beautiful country while still saving money. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get around Thailand on a budget. 1. Travel by bus or train The bus system in Thailand is extensive and covers the whole country. It’s a great way to get from…

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