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.
  • Crime NewsPhuket officials swoop on encroaching beach beds, umbrellas, and restaurants

    Phuket officials swoop on encroaching beach beds, umbrellas, and restaurants

    Phuket officials swooped on encroaching beach beds, umbrellas, and restaurants on a beach in the Thalang district yesterday. A team of officials led by Thalang District Chief Bancha Tanuin inspected Lay Phang Beach in Cherng Talay. The officials asked operators to remove beach beds and umbrellas from the beach. Even though many tourists enjoy these things, authorities say they lead…

  • Pattaya NewsWire mesh impales Pattaya tourist’s ankle

    Wire mesh impales Pattaya tourist’s ankle

    A wire mesh impaled a Pattaya tourist’s ankle on Tuesday night. The tourist, 42 year old Rayong resident Sirima Khummode, said she was walking to buy food on Thepprasit Road at around 9pm. She said she accidentally stepped on some protruding iron wire mesh on the footpath. The wire penetrated Sirima’s ankle, and she screamed for help from passersby. Rescuers…

  • Road deathsPhuket crash kills foreigner, the 35th road death on island this year

    Phuket crash kills foreigner, the 35th road death on island this year

    Phuket’s number of road deaths reached 35 this year after a motorcycle crash killed a foreigner early this morning. The accident happened on Karon Beach Road on Phuket’s west coast at about 2.28am, according to Ruamjai Rescue Foundation. Rescuers and emergency medical service teams arrived on the scene to find a garbage truck parked on the side of the road.…

  • LifestyleUNESCO recognises performance style from South Thailand

    UNESCO recognises performance style from South Thailand

    UNESCO has recognised a unique performance style from South Thailand. The organisation’s Facebook page posted a cover photo of a Nora performer, with the caption, “We are #LivingHeritage.” Nora has deep cultural and social significance for southern Thais. It is known for its unique style of singing and dancing. Nora performers are known for their signature long, curled metal fingernail…

  • Crime NewsIntoxicated Bangkok man steals and crashes ambulance

    Intoxicated Bangkok man steals and crashes ambulance

    An intoxicated Bangkok man stole and crashed an ambulance on Wednesday night. The suspect, 21 year old Jirasak, allegedly stole the ambulance from Ratburana Police Station and drove it to a gas station. There, he unsuccessfully attempted to steal a pickup truck before returning to the ambulance. Jirasak drove away, and was involved in a collision, Thai PBS reported. Jirasak…

  • Crime NewsAnother Dutch national arrested in Phuket for illegally entering Thailand

    Another Dutch national arrested in Phuket for illegally entering Thailand

    A Dutch national was arrested in Phuket for illegally entering and staying in Thailand, on the same day that another citizen of the Netherlands was arrested in Phuket for the same crime. The Immigration Office at Phuket International Airport said that over the past weekend, it arrested a 61 year old Dutchman. The man was apprehended at the Immigration checkpoint…

  • Crime NewsCops arrest Iraqi in Pattaya who overstayed visa by 8 years

    Cops arrest Iraqi in Pattaya who overstayed visa by 8 years

    Cops arrested an Iraqi man in Pattaya who overstayed his visa for more than eight years. Chon Buri Immigration and Pattaya Police arrested the man at his house in Pattaya’s Map Yai Lia community on Tuesday. The man was sitting in front of his house when the cops showed up. The man turned pale and fainted when he saw the…

  • Pattaya NewsTourist spots dead body near Pattaya park

    Tourist spots dead body near Pattaya park

    A tourist spotted a dead body near a Pattaya park yesterday. Rescuers were alerted of the discovery of the decaying body at around 6pm. The body was found near a park on Soi Chaiyaphruek 4 in the Bang Lamung district. The dead man was not carrying any identification documents. He was wearing a blue shirt, shorts, and sandals. Officers said the…

  • Crime NewsPhuket scumbag allegedly rapes teenage girl he contacted online

    Phuket scumbag allegedly rapes teenage girl he contacted online

    A Phuket scumbag allegedly raped a teenage girl he contacted online. The victim’s parents told Thalang Police that the suspect, 24 year old Sumet, raped their 17 year old daughter, The Phuket Express reported yesterday. The parents said that Sumet contacted their daughter on Facebook and flirted with her. Sumet then came to their house when he knew that they…

  • Crime NewsFollowing Chinese ransom case, Big Joke says Pattaya expats will be closely scrutinised

    Following Chinese ransom case, Big Joke says Pattaya expats will be closely scrutinised

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Surachate Hakparn, also known as “Big Joke,” says that expats in Pattaya will be scrutinised closely as part of Operation X-Ray. This news follows the recent case in which a Chinese woman was abducted in Pattaya as she went to get her child from school, and gangsters demanded 1 million yuan (4.7 million baht) in ransom.…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThailand expected to have a hotter summer this year

    Thailand expected to have a hotter summer this year

    Thailand is bracing for a hotter summer this year, with the Meteorological Department forecasting an average temperature increase of one degree Celsius from last year. The hottest weather this week has been recorded in the North of the country, with temperatures peaking at 41.5°C in Phetchabun’s Mueang district on Thursday. Closer to Bangkok, the highest temperature was recorded at 38.5°C…

  • Thailand NewsStrikes in Germany force Thai Airways to cancel 6 flights

    Strikes in Germany force Thai Airways to cancel 6 flights

    Strikes in Germany have forced Thai Airways International (THAI) to cancel six flights. The strikes, called by German labour unions Verdi, and EVG, representing transport workers, are related to wage disputes, Reuters reported. The strikes are expected to cause widespread disruption to railways and airports. Operations at Frankfurt and Munich airports are at a standstill. The cancelled THAI flights are: •…

  • Hua Hin NewsAuthorities warn of huge fines or jail for smoking on Hua Hin Beach

    Authorities warn of huge fines or jail for smoking on Hua Hin Beach

    Hua Hin authorities aren’t playing around about keeping Hua Hin Beach clean. Authorities have launched a new campaign to discourage smoking on the beach, warning that anyone caught lighting up could face a fine of up to 100,000 baht (roughly £2,200) or up to one year in jail. On Thursday, officials visited the beach and walked around with warning signs…

  • Crime NewsForeign man caught stealing from exchange booth in Pattaya

    Foreign man caught stealing from exchange booth in Pattaya

    A foreign man was caught on surveillance footage stealing a coin box from a money exchange booth in Pattaya. The theft occurred at 7am yesterday Naewna reported. A 36 year old man named Kiattisak reported the incident to the Pattaya City Police Station at 3.30pm. Kiattisak said that the coin box was missing when he came to work at 8am.…

  • Crime NewsDanish thug in Pattaya allegedly attacks woman and refuses to pay for food

    Danish thug in Pattaya allegedly attacks woman and refuses to pay for food

    Yet another foreign troublemaker has made a scene at a Pattaya restaurant. A Danish thug in Pattaya allegedly attacked a woman and refused to pay for his food. The man was reportedly heavily intoxicated. The incident happened at a kebab shop near the Flipper House Hotel at around 2am yesterday, The Pattaya News reported. The victim, 44 year old Thanita Panwai, who…

  • Tourism NewsSouth Thailand island to be developed as world-class tourism spot

    South Thailand island to be developed as world-class tourism spot

    An island in South Thailand is set to be developed as a world-class tourism spot. Koh Adang, located in the southern border province of Satun, is set to become a world-class tourism destination like Langkawi in Malaysia, according to the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC). Satun province is renowned for its picturesque natural scenery, with jungles, mountains, and beaches.…

  • Environment NewsPhuket beach cleanup removes 100 kilograms of garbage

    Phuket beach cleanup removes 100 kilograms of garbage

    Thailand is facing a pollution crisis but many people in the kingdom are pitching in to fight the problem. Officials and volunteers cleaned up 100 kilograms of garbage from beaches in Phuket last week, The Phuket News reported yesterday. The cleanup at Mai Khao and Sai Kaew beaches was organised by the Sustainable Mai Khao foundation from March 15 to…

  • Tourism NewsChinese KOLs livestream their adventures in Thailand’s tropical paradises

    Chinese KOLs livestream their adventures in Thailand’s tropical paradises

    Chinese Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) have been livestreaming their adventures in Thailand’s tropical paradises. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently collaborated with Kuaishou Technology, a Chinese short video-sharing mobile app, to bring Chinese KOLs to Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga for a “Travel Adventures Thailand Episode” livestream series. The series began on Wednesday, March 15, and ends today (March…

  • Pattaya NewsMotorcyclist crashes into religious vendor stall in Pattaya, gets seriously injured

    Motorcyclist crashes into religious vendor stall in Pattaya, gets seriously injured

    A motorcyclist was seriously injured after crashing into a religious vendor stall in Pattaya. The incident happened at 2.40am yesterday on Soi Pornprapanimit in Bang Lamung district. Rescuers rushed to the scene to find the motorcyclist, 49 year old Sakhon Nakhon native Phothong Chaitamat, lying unconscious beside his motorcycle. He was bleeding heavily, so the rescuers provided him with first…

  • Road deathsTruck crushes motorbike rider to death in Phuket

    Truck crushes motorbike rider to death in Phuket

    A tragic road death occurred in Phuket after a truck crushed a motorbike rider‘s head yesterday morning. A Facebook post with a video of the incident by Phuket Info Center read… “At 10.39am today (March 23), there was an accident involving a motorcyclist who lost control [of his bike] and fell under the rear wheels of a truck. He was…

  • Phuket NewsPatong minivan crash injures four tourists and a driver

    Patong minivan crash injures four tourists and a driver

    A Patong minivan crash injured four tourists and a driver. The crash happened when one minivan transporting foreign tourists crashed into another one on the road connecting Patong Beach and Kamala in Phuket. The accident occurred on Phra Baramee Road yesterday, at 11.35am. According to MGR Online, the accident occurred when one minivan drove out of its lane and collided with…

  • Tourism NewsBangkok ranks 5th on Airbnb’s top trending global travel spots in 2023

    Bangkok ranks 5th on Airbnb’s top trending global travel spots in 2023

    Airbnb‘s latest data shows that Bangkok has emerged as one of the top global travel spots for 2023, coming in fifth on its list of top trending destinations. The Thai capital is No.5 on Airbnb’s list of top trending global travel spots in 2023, however, this is a slight drop since it was No.1 in the third quarter of last year.…

  • Pattaya NewsBeachgoers find giant sea turtle carcass in Pattaya

    Beachgoers find giant sea turtle carcass in Pattaya

    While there’s been a lot of happy news about turtles in Phang Nga recently, there’s unfortunately been some sad turtle news in Pattaya. A giant sea turtle carcass washed up on Pattaya Beach on Tuesday. Beachgoers noticed the carcass and detected a foul odour in the early hours of the morning. They promptly informed the authorities of the discovery. Officials…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s leading Muslim cleric announces the start of Ramadan

    Thailand’s leading Muslim cleric announces the start of Ramadan

    Thailand’s leading Muslim cleric announced the start of Ramadan yesterday. The cleric, Sheikul Islam Aziz Phitakkumpon, said… “As announced to Thai Muslims across the country to sight the new crescent moon after sunset on Wednesday, March 22, to mark the first day of Ramadan AH 1444. It has been confirmed that the new crescent moon has been sighted. So I…

  • Crime NewsPattaya ping pong bomb hooligans injure 2 women

    Pattaya ping pong bomb hooligans injure 2 women

    A group of teenage hooligans in Pattaya threw ping pong bombs at two women in the early hours of this morning, leaving them with injuries. The victims, 30 year old Nantawan Kosakun and 20 year old Saowalak Kanpratuyod, were riding their motorcycles home on Sukhumvit Road in North Pattaya. At around 1am, a group of approximately 10 teenagers on five…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya Zumba lovers raise 100,000 baht for disabled boy

    Pattaya Zumba lovers raise 100,000 baht for disabled boy

    Zumba is a fun activity to stay in shape, but this week, Zumba lovers in Pattaya also used the activity to raise money for a good cause. The street food market The Smile Land Pattaya, located on Phettrakul Road in Bang Lamung District, hosted an event, ‘Zumba Charity Party,’ on Monday. The Muscle Factory Pattaya gym sponsored the event, Pattaya…

  • Crime NewsAfter Patong bar bust, police on the prowl for human trafficking in Pattaya (video)

    After Patong bar bust, police on the prowl for human trafficking in Pattaya (video)

    After the Patong bar bust that made headlines last week, police are on the prowl for human trafficking in Pattaya. Police on Tuesday night carried out a joint operation in a bid to prevent human trafficking, illegal drugs, minors, and the carrying of weapons in nightspots in the area. The operation involved a police team comprised of officers from Pattaya…

  • Crime NewsMonks on drugs: two monks busted at abandoned Phuket hotel

    Monks on drugs: two monks busted at abandoned Phuket hotel

    For the umpteenth time in Thailand, monks have been busted for having a little too much fun. Two monks were found at an abandoned Phuket hotel on Tuesday, with both testing positive for illegal drugs. A village headman and a head monk found the monks at the abandoned hotel in the Thalang district. The monks were originally from a temple…

  • Road deathsPhuket motorbike accident kills woman, seriously injures man

    Phuket motorbike accident kills woman, seriously injures man

    Another tragic motorbike accident has claimed a life in Phuket. A motorbike accident killed a woman and seriously injured a man on Phuket’s Patong-Kamala road last night. Police were notified of the accident at 9.50pm, The Phuket News reported. Police and emergency responders arrived on the scene about 100 metres away from Panya restaurant. There, they found a blue and…

  • Tourism NewsChinese tourists walk around Chiang Mai in traditional Thai clothes

    Chinese tourists walk around Chiang Mai in traditional Thai clothes

    Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai are walking around in traditional Thai clothes during their sightseeing tours. After three years of travel restrictions due to Covid-19, Chinese tourists have returned to Thailand with a thirst for authentic experiences. This has created a trend in which Chinese tourists stand out in their finery at historical temples and other attractions in the northern…

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