Pete
- Travel
Travel Guide: Where to go with family in Thailand 2022
Thailand is open for international travellers, with the Thai New Year of Songkran just around the corner. Thailand provides all you need for an excellent family vacation, including beautiful beaches, a variety of scenery, interesting activities for the kiddos, friendly locals and reasonably priced food. Travelling with your family can take a lot of planning, especially if you don’t know…
- Thailand News
Workers on online platforms are reportedly underpaid – Thailand Labour Ministry
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, a lot of people have been working from home, and many have become freelancers. The idea might sound good on paper, but they faced many challenges from having limited access to government welfare and being underpaid and undervalued. Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Labour Ministry had organised a forum for people to voice their…
- Property News
Frasers to invest 10 billion baht in industrial space, ‘new economy’ by 2025
Frasers Property Industrial aims to invest 10 billion baht to expand its industrial buildings from 3 to 4 million square metres by 2025, with 50% of new projects directed at the “new economy” category, according to the Bangkok Post. FPIT expects to continue its dominance by expanding its market share to 60% — up from the pre-pandemic 40%. This year,…
- Crime News
Police in Isaan Thailand told to be lenient with cannabis growers after grandma’s arrest
Following the arrest of a 70-year-old woman and her relative for growing a cannabis plant at their home in the Isaan province Khon Kaen, local police have been advised to use common sense, and good judgment when enforcing the laws on cannabis as Thailand loosens laws to become more marijuana-friendly. The women spent the night in jail and were punished…
- Property
Thailand condo market improved slightly in 2021, despite cautious expat buyers — CBRE
Thailand’s condominium market saw a modest improvement in 2021, despite the overall “sentiment” remaining low with a lack of foreign buying power. That’s according to a report by CBRE, which measured the pandemic’s effect on the country’s economy, customer confidence, spending power and an oversupply of options. The report found that fewer international investors has compounded the situation. Foreign buyers,…
- Thailand News
Siriraj Hospital announces Thailand’s first successful multi-visceral transplant
Thailand’s first successful multi-visceral transplant, where one of the intestines is replaced along with other abdominal organs, was completed by Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital. The surgery is a simultaneous transplant of multiple organs, including the liver, small intestines and sometimes the stomach. For the patient in Thailand, surgeons transplanted the intestine, liver, pancreas, and stomach. The…
- Pattaya News
No Songkran water fights in Pattaya, mayor confirms
The mayor of Pattaya has approved the Songkran celebration but has changed the spotlight to traditional and religious activities instead. With fears and concerns about Covid-19, water and foam events, as well as alcohol consumption and celebrations will be prohibited for another year. Masks must be worn at all times, including outdoors. To meet with the “Covid Free Setting” guideline,…
- Thailand News
Cryptocurrency payments banned in Thailand, trading still okay
You can put your hopes to rest as Thailand will ban any use of cryptocurrencies as a form of payment. Officials believe that its widespread use will harm the country’s financial system and economy. The new rules that prevent using digital currencies as a form of payment will take effect from April 1. Businesses are given extra time until the…
- Property
5 smart devices to customise your property in Thailand
When it comes to different types of smart home devices, there’s a huge selection across a wide price range. Adding gadgets you can operate remotely will make your house a little more manageable a lot more automated. So pimp out your property with these 5 tech items for a smarter home. Google Nest Mini The Nest Mini is an excellent…
- Covid-19 News
Omicron BA.2 is expected to dominate infections in Malaysia
Malaysia’s health director-general warned in a statement on Monday that the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron will likely become dominant in the country, raising concerns about its possible high rate of transmission. Omicron has started to overtake Delta as the major coronavirus strain in Malaysia, according to continuing research and tracking. Cases that involve BA.2 increased to 27% between March 1…
- Thailand News
Daughter of former PM Thaksin moves up in political career, closer to PM candidacy
Thailand’s main opposition party is leaning closer to choosing their candidate for prime minister and reports say the daughter of the former leader Thaksin Shinawatra might run as the party’s candidate. Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, was announced as the project leader for a Pheu Thai party campaign to draw in new members, but when asked about becoming a candidate for prime minister,…
- Songkran News
Businesses on Khao San Road push for Songkran rules to be eased
Business owners on Bangkok’s Khao San Road are pushing for government officials to allow the gritty nightlife district to host activities for Songkran, the Thai New Year which is celebrated with massive water fights. Khao San Road has been known as a top destination for backpackers on a budget with cheap beer, buckets of alcohol, laughing gas balloons, and scorpion-on-a-stick.…
- Travel
City Guide: 5 private hospitals to get treated in Bangkok
If you ever need medical attention in Bangkok, you can be confident that the Thai capital’s health care services are outstanding and on the level with western standards. Private hospitals offer one of the best services because they have high-end equipment and facilities, internationally qualified doctors, and multilingual employees. Bangkok’s private hospitals don’t look like the average and common hospitals.…
- Thailand News
Thai-Myanmar bridge bombed, impacting trade between the countries
After an anti-government in Myanmar bombed a bridge between Thailand’s Mae Sot and Myawaddy on March 11, trade between the two countries has been impacted. The event has resulted in a decrease in the number of Thai transport trucks passing via the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tak, northern Thailand. Earlier this week, a temporary bridge was built to assist…
- Thailand News
Singapore and Thailand to discuss cruise trips to Phuket
Cruise trips from Singapore to Phuket are in the works, with plans to offer the trip to fully vaccinated tourists starting in the third quarter of 2022. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control will hold talks with Singapore authorities to negotiate requirements for travellers, which may include proof of a rapid antigen test, or ATK, taken within 24 hours before departure as…
- Property
Central Patana to open largest mixed-use project in Chanthaburi
Central Pattana is set to unveil Central Chanthaburi — the largest and most comprehensive mixed-use development in eastern Thailand. The complex, which is scheduled to officially open on May 26, will exemplify the company’s mixed-use project model in urban cities to strengthen the local economy. Central Chanthaburi is anticipated to be a new city landmark, consisting of a hotel, shopping…
- Thailand News
Carl’s Jr. says goodbye to Thailand, stores in Bangkok and Pattaya close next week
The American fast-food chain, Carl’s Jr., is saying goodbye to Thailand. All six of its stores in Bangkok and Pattaya will close by the end of the month. The R&R Restaurant Group, which owns the franchise rights to run Carl’s Jr. chains in Thailand, says that it can no longer afford to operate it. The group says it was forced to…
- Property
Singapore home sales down 22%, as expat workforce hits 12-year low
Home sales in Singapore have fallen to their lowest rate in nearly 2 years, as cooling policies and rising property taxes slowed the residential market. The number of foreign white-collar professionals working in the city-state has also reached a 12-year low. The poor property sales reflect a lack of consumer confidence after the Singapore government raised taxes on high-end residences…
- Thailand News
Police crack down on alleged network selling forged documents, fake Covid test results
Thai police cracked down on the sales and production of fake PCR Covid-19 test results as well education certificates and other documents needed for jobs overseas. Three people, who police suspect are part of a large network, were arrested for allegedly posing as medical practitioners selling the forged documents. The Department of Health Service Support received complaints about the sales…
- Thailand News
Park officials ordered to detain dangerous elephant after it killed a villager, damaged farms
A dangerous wild elephant that killed a woman and damaged farms is being tracked down in the central province of Prachin Buri. The 25 year old elephant has caused so much damage and disruption that an order has been issued for park officials to immediately find and detain the elephant. They’ve also been advised to take extreme care for their…
- World News
Malaysia launches “test and release” for vaccinated travellers from Thailand, Cambodia
Travellers from Thailand and Cambodia, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, can now enter Malaysia by air without undergoing a lengthy quarantine through the country’s Vaccinated Travel Lane, or VTL, scheme, which was first launched with Singapore. Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently announced that the country will fully reopen borders to vaccinated travellers on April 1. Similar to Thailand’s Test…
- Property
Siamese Asset plans 6 residential properties, targets healthcare and foreigners
Siamese Asset plans to build 6 new residential properties in the Bangkok area for a total cost of more than 11 billion baht, including properties that would provide nursing care for the elderly and rehabilitation clients. Siamese Taling Chan is one of the new projects the company has envisioned for the healthcare sector in 2022. It would be a combination…
- Thailand News
Professional Muay Thai fighter trains Thai and US troops
As a special instructor, Thailand’s internationally known Muay Thai boxer, Buakaw Banchamek, has been coaching Muay Thai to Thai and US soldiers participating in the joint exercise Hanuman Guardian 2022, which is taking place in Thailand’s central province of Lop Buri. Buakaw, who is currently an army officer, taught theoretical and practical techniques on Monday in the 31st Infantry Regiment’s…
- Property
Thailand self-built home costs to rise at least 5%, as metal and fuel prices spike
The prices of self-built homes are projected to rise by 5-8 percent, spurred by rising metal and fuel costs in the wake the war in Ukraine. Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last month, metal prices have increased by 50%. Key construction materials, various metals account for some 20% of home building costs. As a result, the prices of…
- News
Mastercard is working on accepting digital currency payments in Thailand
Mastercard is working on accepting digital currencies as payment, according to the Thailand and Myanmar manager of the payments technology company. Mastercard has been collaborating with associated parties in Thailand and around the world to plan for a future of transactions using digital currencies. Digital currencies are expected to become a critical choice for consumers and people want to use…
- Travel
Travel Guide: To tip or not to tip when travelling in Thailand?
Tipping can be expressed in a variety of ways depending on where you are. While it’s not considered standard in Thailand, it is happily accepted. But it’s not as simple as tipping a portion of your check. There are some scenarios where tipping is appropriate and others where it’s not. The tipping culture varies heavily depending on where you eat.…
- Property
Sansiri to launch 28 low-rise properties in 2022, bolstering ‘affordable’ housing in Thailand
Thailand real estate developer Sansiri says it aims to launch 28 new projects worth 39 billion baht in 2022, more than double last year’s figure, citing its growing confidence in low-rise housing projects for the domestic market. Last year, Sansiri’s presales for low-rise properties totalled 22.4 billion baht, comfortably exceeding its goal of 20 billion baht by 12%, according to…
- Thailand News
Thai prisons ban alcohol-based gel after inmate dies, others hospitalised from drinking hand sanitiser
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is being banned at Thai prisons after one inmate died, another blinded, and 31 others injured from mixing the hand gel with soft drinks to get drunk. All forms of alcohol products are typically prohibited on prison grounds, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, with major outbreaks at Thai prisons infecting tens of thousands of inmates, rules were…
- Thailand News
Royal Thai Air Force says Thailand needs new fighter jets for national security
New fighter jets are needed to improve Thailand’s national security and replace the current aircraft that are due to be decommissioned, according to the Royal Thai Air Force. The air force started a 10-year plan to decommission fighter jets in 2021, cutting the fleet in half by 2032. Officers say new jets are needed for main air defence operations. The…
- Property
Bangkok office owners should update, renovate now — JLL Thailand
Bangkok property owners should update their older office spaces now to maintain renters and adjust to changing consumer habits. Renovations and upgrades of older facilities are necessary in the face of lower demand and increased competition, as local developers plan to introduce more than 2 million square metres of new office spaces between 2022-2026. Owners of ageing office buildings in…
