leah

Leah is a translator and news writer for the Thaiger. Leah studied East Asian Religions and Thai Studies at the University of Leeds and Chiang Mai University. Leah covers crime, politics, environment, human rights, entertainment, travel and culture in Thailand and southeast Asia.
  • Crime NewsSenior Thai naval officer allegedly forces marines to drink semen

    Senior Thai naval officer allegedly forces marines to drink semen

    In a video circulating online, a senior naval officer is seen forcing trainee marines to drink what he says is semen mixed with fish sauce. Today, a naval base in Chon Buri province confirmed that the clip is real and happened at Sattahip Naval Base in October last year. The Royal Thai Navy has launched an investigation into the incident…

  • Thailand NewsPrice of ‘Mama’ noodles to increase

    Price of ‘Mama’ noodles to increase

    One of the cheapest ways to satisfy your hunger in Thailand is to eat instant ‘Mama’ noodles, which have cost an affordable 6 baht per packet since 2014. However, Mama’s producer said they plan to increase the price of their instant noodles next month to compensate for rising costs of transport and raw materials. Thailand’s Minister of Commerce said he…

  • Cannabis NewsThousands apply for ‘weed licenses’ prior to delisting of marijuana as a narcotic

    Thousands apply for ‘weed licenses’ prior to delisting of marijuana as a narcotic

    Cannabis will be delisted as a narcotic in Thailand on June 9, and thousands of people and organisations have already submitted applications for a “weed license” to Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The big questions such as “Can my home grown marijuana plant contain high levels of THC?”, “Does my medical condition qualify for cultivating and consuming marijuana…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Corpse found floating in Gulf of Thailand

    UPDATE: Corpse found floating in Gulf of Thailand

    UPDATE: A man has confessed to the murder of 23 year old Chalermchai Siang, whose body was found floating on the surface of the ocean 500 metres away from the shore in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on Monday. Three rocks had been attached to Chalermchai’s body in an attempt to weigh it down and his wrists and ankles had been…

  • Thailand NewsMan becomes first person ever to rollerblade across Thailand

    Man becomes first person ever to rollerblade across Thailand

    A Thai man set a new record on Sunday by becoming the first person in the world to rollerblade from the northernmost to the southernmost tip of Thailand. The man’s journey from Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai to Betong district in Yala covered 2,051 kilometres and took 55 days. People have famously run the same route and many Thai’s…

  • Cannabis NewsUS company opens medical marijuana clinic in Thailand

    US company opens medical marijuana clinic in Thailand

    A US cannabis company has jointly opened a medical marijuana clinic in Thailand, making it the first foreign franchise to do so. The clinic, located on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 13, treats Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, eating disorders and insomnia. The clinic predicts that changes to Thai laws in July will allow them to give patients THC-dominant products for research purposes. Smoking…

  • Thailand NewsNot cleaning your air conditioner can cause pneumonia, says Department of Health

    Not cleaning your air conditioner can cause pneumonia, says Department of Health

    Professional air conditioner cleaning services have been swamped with work this week after Thailand’s Department of Health announced that dirty air conditioning units can cause pneumonia. Moist air conditioner units are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses and fungi according to the department. High numbers of private residences and businesses have requested professional cleaning of their air conditioner units this week…

  • Thailand NewsCountry with biggest penis size revealed… it’s not Thailand

    Country with biggest penis size revealed… it’s not Thailand

    In a recent survey conducted by online pharmacy From Mars comparing erect penis sizes in 86 countries, Thai penises were ranked as the 7th smallest in the world (#80). The average erect Thai penis measures in at 4.27 inches (10.8cm). We’re not sure on the accuracy of the measurements, or how they performed them. Some of the measurements may be…

  • Thailand NewsTourism to Thailand is increasing, but still has nothing on pre-pandemic levels

    Tourism to Thailand is increasing, but still has nothing on pre-pandemic levels

    As entry restrictions into Thailand continue to ease, tourists are trickling back into the kingdom. Numbers of foreign arrivals are high compared to last year, but numbers are still low when compared with pre-pandemic levels. Tourism is expected to increase further from May 1, when tourists will no longer have to undergo any pre-travel or on-arrival Covid tests, and unvaccinated…

  • Northern Thailand NewsYoung Thai woman missing for 1 year makes contact with family

    Young Thai woman missing for 1 year makes contact with family

    A Thai woman who was filed as a missing person over a year ago made contact with her elder sister on Friday. The 23 year old, from the northeast province of Buriram, reportedly said she broke off contact with her family because she didn’t want them to find out that a Phuket debt collector was chasing her for 100,000 baht.…

  • Thailand NewsOfficer who killed eye doctor at Bangkok Zebra crossing sentenced to prison

    Officer who killed eye doctor at Bangkok Zebra crossing sentenced to prison

    The crowd control police officer who killed an ophthalmologist with his motorbike at a zebra crossing in Bangkok in January, has been sentenced to prison today. The officer will serve a 1 year and 15 day prison sentence and pay a 4,000 baht fine. He has been charged with 9 different counts. On January 21 this year, 21 year old…

  • Thailand NewsNo quarantine for unvaccinated travellers in Thailand and other countries

    No quarantine for unvaccinated travellers in Thailand and other countries

    International travellers who are unvaccinated for Covid-19 will soon be able to enter Thailand by air without quarantine, as long as they provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure. They’ll just need to upload their negative test result onto the Thailand Pass system before boarding their flight. Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Friday…

  • Phuket NewsTwo Ukrainian fugitives arrested in Phuket over US tax evasion scandal

    Two Ukrainian fugitives arrested in Phuket over US tax evasion scandal

    Two Ukrainian nationals wanted for fraud and tax evasion in the US were arrested in Phuket on Tuesday. The men fled to Thailand after warrants for their arrest were issued in Florida earlier this month. The pair are accused of providing employment for hundreds of illegal immigrants in America from 2007 – 2021 and evading $10 million in employment taxes.…

  • Thailand NewsInstant noodles replace flowers at unusual Thai funeral

    Instant noodles replace flowers at unusual Thai funeral

    Bouquets of instant noodles replaced flowers at an unusual funeral today at a temple in Phitsanulok province, northern Thailand. In a magnificent display, hundreds of sachets of Mama noodles and other dried foods were arranged like flowers around the coffin. Prabhali Konghoon, who died peacefully at age 68, had unique wishes for his funeral which his relatives carried out for…

  • Crime NewsDeath penalty for Thai man who killed high school student

    Death penalty for Thai man who killed high school student

    A Thai man has been sentenced to death over the murder of a high school student in Trang province, southern Thailand, in 2018. The man shot and killed a 16 year old boy and shot and wounded another man who was the only witness to the murder. The victims’ families are satisfied with the Supreme Court’s ruling after fighting for…

  • Crime NewsThai activist writes about his sex life behind bars, gets put back in prison

    Thai activist writes about his sex life behind bars, gets put back in prison

    A Thai activist is facing one year behind bars for writing about his sexual experiences in prison on his Facebook account. Ekachai Hongkangwan was sentenced to one year in prison without parole yesterday. The activist’s relatives have applied to get him out on bail and are awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision, which is expected to take two to three…

  • Thailand NewsNorthern Thai man reveals secret to 44 baht electricity bill

    Northern Thai man reveals secret to 44 baht electricity bill

    In Thailand, the price of your electricity bill almost completely depends on your use, or non use, of air conditioning, especially if you decided to sleep with it on. But one man in Phitsanulok, central Thailand, found a way to get his bill down from 4000 baht to just 44 baht, yet keep his air conditioner on all day and…

  • Thailand NewsGhost demands 20K baht from Thai man who destroyed spirit house

    Ghost demands 20K baht from Thai man who destroyed spirit house

    A Thai man from Chon Buri province claims a vengeful spirit possessed his body and forced him to attempt suicide on two occasions. A Buddhist monk reportedly communicated with the spirit in the early hours of this morning and, apparently, the ghost wants the man to rectify a crime he committed 19 years ago… by repaying 20,000 baht and ordaining…

  • South Thailand NewsRebel group PULO won’t engage in peace talks if independence is off the table

    Rebel group PULO won’t engage in peace talks if independence is off the table

    The leader of a rebel group in Thailand’s Deep South said the rebels will not engage in peace talks with the Thai government if the possibility of independence in Thailand’s southern border region is off the table. Under the framework of Thailand’s current constitution, the kingdom remains indivisible. The group’s leader Kasturi Makhota made the announcement days after his rebel…

  • Thailand NewsService Hall at Don Mueang Airport collapses in storm

    Service Hall at Don Mueang Airport collapses in storm

    A thunderstorm hit Bangkok yesterday, causing the Service Hall at Don Mueang International airport to collapse. The hall was built just one year ago but hasn’t yet been used due to low levels of international travel throughout the pandemic. No injuries or deaths were reported. Luckily there was no one in there at the time. The walls of the Service…

  • Thailand NewsThai monk celebrating Songkran passes out drunk, says he didn’t do anything wrong

    Thai monk celebrating Songkran passes out drunk, says he didn’t do anything wrong

    A Buddhist monk was found passed out on the floor with his private parts on show at his temple after he got drunk to bring in the Thai New Year. The monk, who resides at a temple in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, says he didn’t do anything wrong. The 50 year old ex-policeman, who has been ordained as…

  • Thailand NewsThai rapper ‘Elevenfinger’ suspected of bombing PM Prayut’s residence

    Thai rapper ‘Elevenfinger’ suspected of bombing PM Prayut’s residence

    A political rapper known as “Elevenfinger” has become the main suspect in the bombing that happened at Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha’s residence on Sunday. The rapper was pictured with the group of motorcyclists who approached the gates of the PM’s residence and threw a bomb, which exploded on the lawn opposite the house. The rapper was arrested today…

  • Cannabis NewsYou can grow ‘as many cannabis plants as you like’ in Thai homes from June 9, but…

    You can grow ‘as many cannabis plants as you like’ in Thai homes from June 9, but…

    People in Thailand will be allowed to grow “as many cannabis plants” as they like in their own homes from June 9, according to Thailand’s health minister and medical marijuana pioneer Anutin Charnvirakul. However… if you don’t read the fine print you can still get into trouble with the law. As usual, the fine print is confusing. Bottomline, don’t be…

  • Thailand NewsBomb thrown at PM Prayut’s house, protesters burn coffin decorated with his image

    Bomb thrown at PM Prayut’s house, protesters burn coffin decorated with his image

    Yesterday, a teenager threw a “ping pong” bomb at Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s house. On the same day, a mob of “Red Shirt” protesters took to the streets of Bangkok to burn a coffin adorned with pictures of PM Prayut’s face. Yesterday’s protests were to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the 2010 Red Shirt protests, where 90 people died…

  • Thailand NewsPolice arrest tiger cub smugglers in Central Thailand

    Police arrest tiger cub smugglers in Central Thailand

    Police seized a four month old tiger cub in a car park in the central province of Nonthaburi yesterday. Three men wanted on arrest warrants were arrested on suspicion of possessing and trafficking protected wildlife without permission. All three men confessed to importing the tiger cub from Laos. The cub was found in a basket inside a Honda pickup truck…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s latest ganja product: marijuana infused fish sauce

    Thailand’s latest ganja product: marijuana infused fish sauce

    There are few products left in Thailand that haven’t yet been infused with cannabis since Anutin Charnvirakul’s marijuana mystery tour began. The latest product, marijuana infused fish sauce, debuted at an event in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen last weekend. Yum? As we have said many times before, products are currently allowed to contain a maximum of 0.2% THC,…

  • Thailand NewsBurmese continue to flood across Thai-Myanmar border, fleeing unrest

    Burmese continue to flood across Thai-Myanmar border, fleeing unrest

    Police raided a house in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday to find 71 Burmese migrants hiding inside. A Thai man who was also inside the house told police he was hired to pick up the migrants who had illegally crossed over the border from Myanmar and transport them to the house. The migrants told police they were heading…

  • Thailand News1 groom, 3 brides at unusual Thai wedding… who paid the dowry?

    1 groom, 3 brides at unusual Thai wedding… who paid the dowry?

    Thai traditions went out the window at an unusual wedding last week in Nonthaburi province, central Thailand. The groom was in for a surprise when his three girlfriends asked for his hand in marriage and presented him with a dowry of 100,000 baht each on his 35th birthday. Together, the women have a total of nine children with the groom,…