Petch Petpailin

Petpailin, or Petch, is a Thai translator and writer for The Thaiger who focuses on translating breakingThai news stories into English. With a background in field journalism, Petch brings several years of experience to the English News desk at The Thaiger. Before joining The Thaiger, Petch worked as a content writer for several known blogging sites in Bangkok, including Happio and The Smart Local. Her articles have been syndicated by many big publishers in Thailand and internationally, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Bangkok Post. She is a news writer who stops reading news on the weekends to spend more time cafe hopping and petting dwarf shrimp! But during office hours, you can find Petch on LinkedIn and you can reach her by email at petch@thethaiger.com.
  • Crime NewsThai tourist robbed of more than 65,000 baht in assets in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Thai tourist robbed of more than 65,000 baht in assets in Pattaya

    A 24 year old woman was robbed while on a vacation with her family on Koh Larn Island in Pattaya. Nantapak Saelim’s shoulder bag containing over 65,000 baht in cash and jewellery was stolen from outside of her Airbnb holiday home on Friday night while she was inside the accommodation with her husband and 2 daughters. The Thai woman admitted…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya residents unhappy with new storm drainage project | Thaiger

    Pattaya residents unhappy with new storm drainage project

    Pattaya residents are unhappy with the launch of a new project to solve flooded roads during Thailand’s rainy season. The city government plans to install the storm drainage system along Sukhumvit Road, with the first phase expected to start next month. The Pattaya Public Relations Department’s official Facebook page yesterday announced the first phase of the storm drainage system begins…

  • World NewsLaos to ban public from holding foreign currencies | Thaiger

    Laos to ban public from holding foreign currencies

    The Central Bank of Laos plans to ban residents from holding foreign currencies to address problems such as inflation, and the depreciation of the Kip. The Laotian Times yesterday reported that the Governor of the Central Bank of Laos, Sonexay Sitphaxay, promised to solve foreign exchange problems during a press conference on May 27. The governor acknowledged public concern regarding…

  • Bangkok NewsBMTA promises to solve public bus shortage | Thaiger

    BMTA promises to solve public bus shortage

    Bangkok Mass Transit Authority promises to solve the public bus shortage after people in the city made complaints on social media. The BMTA director responded to the criticism and called for patience. He says they are working to improve bus routes and increase bus staff and added commuters will see an improvement in a month. รถเมล์ไทยแฟนคลับ Rotmaethai, which means public…

  • Northern Thailand NewsWoman gets justice after washing her laundry in public | Thaiger

    Woman gets justice after washing her laundry in public

    A woman’s appeal for justice through social media has been successful after she was beaten by a member of the local authority in the La Haan Sai district of the Isaan province of Buriram. Wichuda told the media that she was assaulted by a member of Buriram’s Subdistrict Administrative Organization because she complained about the plumbing. The 27 year old…

  • Pattaya NewsThai woman drowns while taking diving lessons in Chon Buri | Thaiger

    Thai woman drowns while taking diving lessons in Chon Buri

    A 35 year old Thai woman drowned yesterday while taking a diving lesson near Koh Juang in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri. The woman, Hathaya Rimpanawet, was diving with other students offshore when a strong current pulled her beneath the water with a 10 kilogram counterweight attached to her wrist. The woman’s diving instructor, Tararat Thianpajeekun, says he, and…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThai OnlyFans couple who turned holiday resort into a porn shoot wanted by police | Thaiger

    Thai OnlyFans couple who turned holiday resort into a porn shoot wanted by police

    Police are looking for a Thai OnlyFans couple who turned the popular holiday resort of Wang Nam Khiao into a porn shoot setting. Three of the couple’s sex tapes were circulated online yesterday in secret group chats in the popular Thai Line application. The videos, which soon went viral, feature the couple having sex in a resort room with a…

  • Thailand NewsThailand warms to drop temperature checks | Thaiger

    Thailand warms to drop temperature checks

    The Ministry of Public Health will suggest to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to remove temperature measurement devices and checkpoints from all the country’s airports and other locations throughout Thailand because there is no evidence proving that the checks prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Head of the Health Technical Office from the Ministry of Public Health, Rungruang Kitphati,…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMan changes surname to “Ganjaram” to celebrate cannabis decriminalisation | Thaiger

    Man changes surname to “Ganjaram” to celebrate cannabis decriminalisation

    A Thai man in the Isaan province of Buriram has changed his surname to “Ganjaram” to celebrate the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand. He says his pregnant wife had already checked the surname’s meaning and found it had a good essence, and added his newborn baby, expected to born on June 22, will be proud of him. On Friday, one…

  • Thailand NewsMinimum Thai wage up to 650 baht for 16 careers | Thaiger

    Minimum Thai wage up to 650 baht for 16 careers

    The Thai Royal Gazette has now officially announced the increase of the minimum Thai wage for workers in 16 careers, focusing on workers in construction, service and industrial industries. The wage is increased up to 650 baht per day from the former rate of about 313 – 336 baht per day. The policy was launched on June 10 and would…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMae Sot district proposed as site of Thailand’s 1st official casino | Thaiger

    Mae Sot district proposed as site of Thailand’s 1st official casino

    An Entertainment Complex Committee, set up by the government, has proposed Mae Sot district in the northern province of Tak as an ideal location for Thailand’s first legal entertainment complex, with a casino. The committee has announced that they’ve gathered all information from their survey, both negative and positive, and is ready to submit the findings to the Thai cabinet.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Digital Economy Minister ‘clarifies’ about the posting of crime pics or videos online | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Digital Economy Minister ‘clarifies’ about the posting of crime pics or videos online

    Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Minister, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, is warning crime witnesses that spreading pictures or videos of the incidents via online channels ‘could’ violate the new Personal Data Protection Act or PDPA. The minister says the safer way to help victims is to hand the evidence to the police officers. Thailand officially operated the PDPA or the Personal Data…

  • Thailand NewsSurvey reveals Thais want to drop outdoor mask rules and extend nightlife to 2am | Thaiger

    Survey reveals Thais want to drop outdoor mask rules and extend nightlife to 2am

    A National Institute of Development Administration survey revealed nearly half of all Thai people agree that the country should drop the outdoor mask rules mandate, and nearly 50% of those polled agreed to extend nightlife hours from 12am to 2am. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday informed Thai media that he thought many Thai people were still scared of catching the…

  • Thailand NewsFormer Thai pop star reveals his new business – collecting the faces of dead people | Thaiger

    Former Thai pop star reveals his new business – collecting the faces of dead people

    A former famous Thai pop star may not be making hit records anymore but he’s fine with that now he has a new line of business – collecting the faces of dead people. Jakkapong “Jill” Karnsomphot, one half of the 90s pop combo, Jack-Jill, with his twin brother Jakkaphan “Jack” Karnsomphot, collect the dried facial skins of dead people who…

  • Pattaya NewsNightlife operators blame officials for unfinished work on Pattaya Walking Street | Thaiger

    Nightlife operators blame officials for unfinished work on Pattaya Walking Street

    Business operators on Pattaya Walking Street have blamed the authorities for causing a public nuisance and spoiling the city’s reputation because of an unfinished road renovation project. The Pattaya Walking Street Business Association insist the road needs to be completed faster than the current schedule, and more street lights installed, if it is to save face with the public. In…

  • Bangkok NewsSuvarnabhumi increases check-in counters in preparation for high season tourists | Thaiger

    Suvarnabhumi increases check-in counters in preparation for high season tourists

    Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is increasing the number of check-in counters in preparation for an upcoming surge of tourists. But the ‘surge’ is still a few months away. The nation’s capital city is expecting around 70,000 travellers to arrive per day, and for it to increase to 100,000 people per day during the high season. Suvarnabhumi Airport General Manager, Kittipong Kittikachon,…

  • Thailand NewsJoe Ferrari: From high profile police chief and luxury vehicle collector to a life in prison | Thaiger

    Joe Ferrari: From high profile police chief and luxury vehicle collector to a life in prison

    Former Nakhon Sawan provincial police chief, Thitisan Utthanaphon, aka. Joe Ferrari, was in the media spotlight today after he was sentenced to a life in prison for the torture and murder of an alleged drug trafficker. The 41 year old, along with six of his colleagues, was caught torturing a man to death on a CCTV camera leaked on Thai…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok motorcycle taxi rider arrested for attempted rape and kidnap of a teenage student | Thaiger

    Bangkok motorcycle taxi rider arrested for attempted rape and kidnap of a teenage student

    A motorcycle taxi driver, Somsak Jangsat, was arrested in the Phra Khanong area of Bangkok yesterday after he tried to rape a teenage girl. Somsak tricked the 17 year old student into using his taxi service saying he would take her home after school but instead kidnapped the girl and took her to a love motel where he tried to…

  • Thailand NewsThailand exempts entry visa for Saudi tourists allowing 30-day stay | Thaiger

    Thailand exempts entry visa for Saudi tourists allowing 30-day stay

    Thailand yesterday moved a step further to its future relationship with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia when it announced a 30-day visa exemption will be available to all Saudi citizens. Saudis can now enter Thailand and stay for 30 days without applying for a visa before departure. The move comes as both nations step up to restore diplomatic relations which…

  • Transport NewsAngry central Thai locals go bananas over poor road conditions | Thaiger

    Angry central Thai locals go bananas over poor road conditions

    Residents in Ang Thong, in central Thailand, are so angry with officials in the Department of Rural Roads about the treacherous state of their roads that they have planted banana trees in the cracks of the tarmac in protest. Ang Thong locals have reported the dangerous conditions of their highways, roads and thoroughfares, to officials on a number of occasions…

  • Bangkok NewsFrench Thai kickboxer makes a dick of himself | Thaiger

    French Thai kickboxer makes a dick of himself

    French Muay Thai Kickboxer, Jimmy Vienot, unintentionally made a bit of an idiot of himself after his recent triumph over Petchmorakot Petchyindee at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok. The Frenchman, who defeated Petchmorakot on May 20, wanted, มวยไทย, meaning Muay Thai, inked on his arm, but the result came back not just wrong, but terribly wrong. Instead, a communication…

  • Central Thailand NewsThai thrill-seeker charged for high-jinks riding on a highway | Thaiger

    Thai thrill-seeker charged for high-jinks riding on a highway

    A Thai thrill-seeker has been charged with riding his motorbike dangerously in the central province of Nakhon Sawan. The 49 year old, named Chat, was recorded on video riding with no hands down a highway and at one stage almost ran into the back of a refrigerator truck. The terrifying spectacle was recorded by another motorist who uploaded the video to…

  • Bangkok NewsPenny-pinching government owe 150 police officers more than 1 million baht in overtime | Thaiger

    Penny-pinching government owe 150 police officers more than 1 million baht in overtime

    Government House security police yesterday acknowledged they are still owed more than 1 million baht for special overtime services from last year. Some 150 police officers, from the Supervision Division 4 of the Special Branch Bureau 3, who take care of Government House security, say they informed their superiors in the relevant departments about their missing salary but claim that…

  • World NewsSingapore hails Thailand a leading digital nation in ASEAN | Thaiger

    Singapore hails Thailand a leading digital nation in ASEAN

    The Digital Economy and Society Minister, Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, travelled to Singapore yesterday to sign a digital partnership agreement with Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong. Chaiwut, together with the Thai ambassador to Singapore, and the Thai PM’s secretary, met with Gan Kim Yong and agreed to promote 8 items on the MoU agenda, including digital transformation, e-commerce policies,…

  • Thailand NewsSexy makeover of Thai wealth goddess ‘Nang Kwak’ goes viral | Thaiger

    Sexy makeover of Thai wealth goddess ‘Nang Kwak’ goes viral

    A tattoo artist’s controversial sexy makeover of a Thai goddess on his Facebook page has gone viral. Tattoo artist Ajarn Joe changed the traditional costume on a Thai wealth goddess, ‘Nang Kwak,’ to a sexy dress and it lit the blue touch paper on social media. The response to the post has been mixed, with some passionately defending the makeover…

  • Crime NewsBangkok taxi driver caught on video beating Chinese passenger with an iron bar | Thaiger

    Bangkok taxi driver caught on video beating Chinese passenger with an iron bar

    A dash cam video featuring a taxi driver who bludgeoning a man to the ground on a Bangkok road has emerged. A witness said the victim, a Chinese passenger, tried to negotiate a fair price for the service but became irate by the taxi driver and smashed his hand down on the hood of the car making the driver angry.…

  • Thailand NewsCannabis penalties to be quashed from Thursday | Thaiger

    Cannabis penalties to be quashed from Thursday

    Thailand’s Courts of Justice announced that suspects and prisoners on charges related to cannabis use and possession would be freed after cannabis and hemp are removed from the Public Health Ministry’s Category 5 drug list. But as we slowly learn the details of cannabis in Thailand, post June 9, we are learning that it’s not all clear and plain sailing…

  • Thailand NewsGovernment official expects Thailand’s first monkeypox case to happen at Pride Parade | Thaiger

    Government official expects Thailand’s first monkeypox case to happen at Pride Parade

    A government official expects Thailand to record its first monkeypox case on Sunday at the nation’s first official Pride Parade in Bangkok. The Bangkok Naruemit Pride Parade, which will traverse the length of Silom Road, starts at Maha Uma Devi Temple on Pan Road, at 4pm. The parade plans to bring together the LGBTQ community, activists and allies, and help further…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket drops outdoor face mask requirement | Thaiger

    Phuket drops outdoor face mask requirement

    Wearing a mask in outdoor public spaces will no longer be a requirement in Phuket province, effective from yesterday, June 1. Medical or cloth face masks will still be required to be worn indoors, in crowded spaces and in badly ventilated spaces. The mask requirement – indoors and outdoors – is still in effect in all other provinces around the…

  • Bangkok NewsCar shot by unidentified gunman on road near MBK in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Car shot by unidentified gunman on road near MBK in Bangkok

    A motorist is in shock today after an unidentified teenage gunman shot at him while he was driving near MBK shopping mall in Bangkok. Chawinroj Ritmangkornsook travelled from Samyan, down Phaya Thai Road, and stopped to park his white Toyota Yaris at the Rajamangala Institute of Technology Uthentawai Campus, when he witnessed the teenager walking close to the institute’s fence…