Tara Abhasakun

A Thai-American dual citizen, Tara has reported news and spoken on a number of human rights and cultural news issues in Thailand. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history from The College of Wooster. She interned at Southeast Asia Globe, and has written for a number of outlets. Tara reports on a range of Thailand news issues.
  • Economy NewsThailand’s diesel price set to drop

    Thailand’s diesel price set to drop

    Thailand’s diesel price was set to drop yesterday. The country’s domestic price of diesel was expected to drop by 0.5 baht per litre, according to the Oil Fuel Fund Office (Offo). This is the second reduction in diesel prices this month, with another 0.5 baht per litre drop scheduled for February 22. Officials determined last week that the price would…

  • Thailand NewsBritish diver from Thai cave rescue honours team captain who died in UK

    British diver from Thai cave rescue honours team captain who died in UK

    A British diver who participated in the 2018 Thai cave rescue made a statement honouring the captain of the Wild Boars football team, who recently passed away in the UK. The diver, Rick Stanton, expressed his sorrow at the death of Duangphet Phromthep, the 17 year old student he helped to save. Stanton said he was “shocked and saddened” to…

  • Crime NewsCops catch more suspects in South Thailand with hundreds of thousands of meth pills

    Cops catch more suspects in South Thailand with hundreds of thousands of meth pills

    Cops once again caught suspects in South Thailand with hundreds of thousands of meth pills. Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau told local media today that on February 9, they arrested four suspects with 400,000 meth pills in Chumphon province. The bureau said it was alerted by a concerned citizen that a large amount of meth pills was being transferred…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s LGBTQ couples push for marriage equality on Valentine’s Day

    Thailand’s LGBTQ couples push for marriage equality on Valentine’s Day

    Thailand’s LGBTQ couples pushed for marriage equality on Valentine’s Day yesterday. The 128 LGBTQ couples in Bangkok and Ayutthaya took part in a marriage registration campaign. Dusit District Office and Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University held the campaign at Suan Sunandha Palace, which was decorated for the event. Authorities are hoping that this campaign is a starting point in passing the…

  • Pattaya NewsHealth officials urged Pattaya teens to have safe sex on Valentine’s Day

    Health officials urged Pattaya teens to have safe sex on Valentine’s Day

    In a city known as a sex hub, Pattaya’s health officials sent a message to the city’s teenagers on Valentine’s Day (yesterday). Health officials urged Pattaya teens to practice safe sex on Valentine’s Day. In a lecture to students at a school, the Public Health Department’s Nurse Na-anya Jantrakard urged sexually active teens to use condoms, to avoid sexually transmitted…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThai Meteorological Department issues weather warning after Bangkok rain

    Thai Meteorological Department issues weather warning after Bangkok rain

    The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning after moderate to heavy rain hit 15 districts of Bangkok today. The downpour caused flooding in several areas, with the highest rainfall of 62.5 millimetres recorded in Lat Krabang, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Flood Control Centre. The 15 districts affected by the rain are: Lat Krabang, Min Buri,…

  • Transport NewsBangkok’s number of train passengers reaches all-time high

    Bangkok’s number of train passengers reaches all-time high

    Bangkok‘s number of train passengers reached an all-time high on Friday, February 10. The number of people travelling by rail in and around Thailand’s capital city climbed to 1,577,330 that day, according to the Department of Rail Transport. The department’s numbers revealed that the BTS Green Line served the most passengers, with 916,390 people using the service, followed by the…

  • Phuket NewsOver 100 Phuket couples tie the knot on Valentine’s Day

    Over 100 Phuket couples tie the knot on Valentine’s Day

    Over 100 happy Phuket couples officially tied the knot on Valentine’s Day yesterday. The couples registered their marriages at the Mueang Phuket District Office. To congratulate the newlyweds, District Chief Pairoj Srilamoon gave the couples souvenirs, including hotel vouchers for the first 20 couples. All couples were presented with special frames for their marriage certificates. The couples also had a…

  • Pattaya NewsNearly 100 Pattaya couples register marriages while riding elephants on Valentine’s Day

    Nearly 100 Pattaya couples register marriages while riding elephants on Valentine’s Day

    Love was in the air in Pattaya on Valentine’s Day (yesterday) when nearly 100 couples registered marriages while riding elephants. A total of 99 lucky couples registered their marriages on elephants’ back at Pattaya’s Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. Sattahip district Sunthorn Munawaro travelled to the garden to register the couples. The event, which has been held annually since 2010, was…

  • Tourism NewsTourism Authority of Thailand tells India ‘a million thanks’

    Tourism Authority of Thailand tells India ‘a million thanks’

    Thailand’s tourism officials are expressing their gratitude to India for the high number of Indian tourists in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has recently hosted an event in New Delhi, India, titled “A Million Thanks: Amazing Thailand Night Reception,” to express gratitude to the Indian travel industry for promoting Thailand as a top tourist destination. The event took…

  • Crime NewsJealous Pattaya man stabs girlfriend in neck in front of teenage son

    Jealous Pattaya man stabs girlfriend in neck in front of teenage son

    Yet another grizzly incident of domestic violence has been reported in Pattaya. A jealous Pattaya man stabbed his girlfriend in the neck with scissors in front of their teenage son, after catching her texting another man. The incident happened last night in the Nong Prue sub-district of Bang Lamung district. Police and rescuers rushed to the couple’s apartment to find…

  • Tourism NewsThailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province sees large tourism rise in 2022

    Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province sees large tourism rise in 2022

    Thailand’s Prachuap Khiri Khan province saw a significant rise in the number of tourists visiting in 2022, with the number of both domestic and international tourists showing a substantial increase. The province is home to the world-famous, scenic seaside town and district of Hua Hin. The data, released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), reveals an almost five-fold increase…

  • Northern Thailand NewsA Valentine’s Day surprise: agency spots heart-shaped forest in Chiang Rai

    A Valentine’s Day surprise: agency spots heart-shaped forest in Chiang Rai

    Nature nerds will be delighted to learn on Valentine’s Day (today) that Thailand’s space technology agency has discovered a heart-shaped forest in the northern Chiang Rai province. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) added a unique touch to the celebration of Valentine’s Day by releasing an incredible aerial photo of the forest. The photo was captured by the…

  • Central Thailand NewsBig Joke urges police to step up search for missing baby in central Thailand

    Big Joke urges police to step up search for missing baby in central Thailand

    Thailand‘s Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn urges police to step up efforts in the search for a missing baby in the central Nakhon Pathom province. Surachate summoned a team of investigators to meet with him at the Royal Thai Police headquarters to assess the progress of the case and to see what can be done to…

  • Politics News‘No roses on Valentine’s Day!’ Bangkok election commission advises candidates

    ‘No roses on Valentine’s Day!’ Bangkok election commission advises candidates

    It turns out roses on Valentine’s Day aren’t a good idea for everyone. The director of the Election Commission’s Bangkok branch yesterday advised candidates in the upcoming general election on May 7 not to hand out roses on Valentine’s Day. The director, Samran Tanpanit, said that roses handed out on such special occasions could be considered by authorities as a…

  • Phuket NewsConflicting reports emerge on Canadian man reportedly mugged in Patong

    Conflicting reports emerge on Canadian man reportedly mugged in Patong

    UPDATE Conflicting reports are emerging on the Canadian man who was allegedly mugged in Patong on Friday night. Earlier, Phuket Tourist Police said that the man, 28 year old William Lamarche Saint Louis, told them that five men violently mugged him near Patong Beach. Saint Louis said he had been drinking at a bar before going for a walk at…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket officials warn tourists to beware of jellyfish

    Phuket officials warn tourists to beware of jellyfish

    Phuket officials are warning tourists to beware of potentially dangerous jellyfish while enjoying the island’s beaches. The warning issued today comes after more than 30 visitors reported being stung by jellyfish at Kata Beach last week, with most experiencing mild symptoms. In response to this, signs have been placed at over 20 popular tourist destinations around Phuket, including Patong, Nai…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket rescuers bring French tourists lost in forest to safety

    Phuket rescuers bring French tourists lost in forest to safety

    Phuket rescuers brought two French tourists lost in a forest to safety between last night and this morning. The tourists, a man identified only as Victor, and his girlfriend, had arrived in Phuket earlier yesterday and decided to go for a walk on a local beach. The couple followed a trail up the Nai Thon mountain but found themselves lost and…

  • Phuket NewsPatong police officer reportedly refused to help Canadian tourist violently mugged

    Patong police officer reportedly refused to help Canadian tourist violently mugged

    A Patong police officer reportedly refused to help a Canadian tourist who was violently mugged. The victim, 28 year old William Lamarche Saint Louis, said five men violently mugged him near Patong Beach on Friday. Saint Louis told Patong Police he had been drinking at a bar before going for a walk at night. He said five men approached him…

  • Crime NewsGerman tourist snatches Russian woman’s pricey sunglasses at Thai immigration office

    German tourist snatches Russian woman’s pricey sunglasses at Thai immigration office

    A German tourist snatched a Russian woman’s pricey sunglasses at a Thai immigration office, Thai media reported on Saturday. The two holidaymakers were both getting their visas extended at the immigration office South Thailand’s Surat Thani province. CCTV footage caught the crook, 31 year old Marcel, grabbing the sunglasses that the woman left on a chair at the office while…

  • Tourism NewsTAT takes part in major tourism exchange event in India

    TAT takes part in major tourism exchange event in India

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) took part in a major tourism exchange event in New Delhi, India last week. TAT participated in South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) for the 14th time, heading up a strong delegation of over 40 tourism suppliers. SATTE, which is India’s largest travel fair, was held from February 9 to 11 2023 at…

  • Crime NewsPolice hunt for fake government officials after robbery in Pattaya

    Police hunt for fake government officials after robbery in Pattaya

    Police are on the hunt for three fake government officials after a robbery in Pattaya last week. The victim, 37 year old Prasit, claimed that on February 7, a group of people wearing what appeared to be government officials’ jackets broke into his house in Bang Lamung’s Naklue sub-district. Prasit said the suspects accused him of being a motorcycle thief,…

  • Crime NewsThai police report over 400 romance scams last month

    Thai police report over 400 romance scams last month

    Thai police say there were over 400 reports of romance scams last month. Royal Thai Police (RTP) said yesterday that 403 police reports in January 2023 were related to love frauds, resulting in substantial financial losses of over 190 million baht. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and RTP is now urging the public to be aware of the issue of…

  • Phuket NewsBlaze severely damages Phuket luxury villa

    Blaze severely damages Phuket luxury villa

    A massive blaze severely damaged a luxury villa in the Cherng Talay neighbourhood of Phuket‘s Thalang district on Saturday morning. Four fire trucks were deployed to the scene to find the fire rapidly spreading. It took firefighters around two hours to fully put out the flames at the villa on Soi Pasak 1. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, several…

  • Tourism NewsChinese tourists flock to Folding Umbrella Market in central Thailand

    Chinese tourists flock to Folding Umbrella Market in central Thailand

    Chinese tourists are flocking to the Folding Umbrella Market in Thailand’s central province of Samut Songkram. The Folding Umbrella Market, also known as the Rom Hoop Market or Mae Klong Railway Market, is a unique tourist attraction. The market is set up alongside a railway line and when a train approaches, the vendors must quickly fold their parasols and clear…

  • Crime NewsNew Zealand authorities seize tonnes of cocaine floating in ocean

    New Zealand authorities seize tonnes of cocaine floating in ocean

    In a major drugs bust, New Zealand authorities seized over 3 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster stated on Wednesday that the amount of cocaine was enough to service the Australian market for a year and was more than what New Zealand would use in 30 years. The massive haul of 81 bales weighing…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesMeteorological Department warns of extreme heat in some Thai provinces

    Meteorological Department warns of extreme heat in some Thai provinces

    Thailand’s summer season is coming and many are bracing for the heat. The summer season is expected to last from the end of February to mid-May, and Thailand’s Meteorological Department has warned that some provinces in the country may experience extreme heat. Temperatures in these provinces could rise as high as almost 45°Celsius, the department said. Although the highest temperature…

  • Phuket NewsGraffitist spray paints anti-Putin slogan in Phuket

    Graffitist spray paints anti-Putin slogan in Phuket

    A graffitist spray painted an anti-Putin slogan on a large rock on a Phuket beach. The Phuket News reported that the slogan criticising Russia’s president on the rock at Nai Thon Beach was first spotted by a foreigner yesterday morning. Lifeguards confirmed that the graffiti had not been on the rock at 7pm the night before it was found. Lifeguard…

  • Crime NewsRowdy Pattaya teens terrify tourists by throwing ping pong bombs

    Rowdy Pattaya teens terrify tourists by throwing ping pong bombs

    A rowdy crowd of Pattaya teens terrified tourists and residents by throwing ping pong bombs at Bali Hai Pier on Wednesday night. The incident is the latest case of trouble-making teens causing chaos in Pattaya, which is commonly known as Southeast Asia’s sin city. Residents reported seeing a group of approximately 10 teenagers arrive on motorbikes and begin throwing the…

  • Phuket NewsCops bust large group of French motorbike racers in Patong

    Cops bust large group of French motorbike racers in Patong

    Motorbike racing tourists are once again causing a public nuisance in Thailand, this time in Patong. Cops busted a large group of French motorbike racers in Patong on Wednesday night. Footage of the racers went viral on local social media platforms, causing outrage among residents. The residents complained that the racers were disturbing them when they were trying to relax,…