Tara Abhasakun

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.
  • Northern Thailand NewsDrunk as a monk: Intoxicated Thai monks defrocked after selling temple items

    Drunk as a monk: Intoxicated Thai monks defrocked after selling temple items

    In northeast Thailand’s Nong Bua Lamphu province, two intoxicated monks were defrocked after testing positive for high levels of alcohol consumption. The monks were also accused of selling temple-owned items without permission. Concerned locals alerted the Mueang Nong Bua Lamphu Police about the monks’ behaviour on a recent Tuesday. The police, accompanied by around 20 frustrated residents, visited the temple…

  • Thailand NewsKhon Kaen zoo conducts health check on giant turtles as breeding season ends

    Khon Kaen zoo conducts health check on giant turtles as breeding season ends

    Khon Kaen Zoo conducted health checks on various species of tortoises and turtles in preparation for their egg-laying season after the completion of the breeding period. Some of the tortoises weighed over 70 kilograms, yet maintained good health. Khon Kaen Zoo has been focusing on the breeding and conservation of various species of tortoises, including the Aldabran giant tortoise, with…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsLorry crashes into house after swerving to avoid truck in Thailand

    Lorry crashes into house after swerving to avoid truck in Thailand

    A six-wheel lorry veered off the road and crashed into a house in Thailand‘s eastern Chanthaburi province, causing significant damage to the property. The homeowner narrowly escaped injury, while the truck driver stated that a sudden lane change by a pickup truck forced him off the road. The incident occurred yesterday in the Chanthaburi district when the vehicle lost control…

  • Road deathsMotorbike rider killed in tragic collision with 6-wheel truck in central Thailand

    Motorbike rider killed in tragic collision with 6-wheel truck in central Thailand

    A tragic accident occurred at Nawanakorn Industrial Estate in Thailand‘s central Pathum Thani province when a 26 year old man on a motorbike collided with a six-wheeled truck, resulting in his death. The incident took place at 7.30pm yesterday, and authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. The deceased man, originally from Ban Haet district in the northeast Khon…

  • Tourism NewsCruise liner with 1,800 tourists makes its way to Koh Samui

    Cruise liner with 1,800 tourists makes its way to Koh Samui

    A cruise liner embarked from Chon Buri with 1,800 tourists on board and made its way to Cambodia and Vietnam, before finally arriving on the picturesque shores of Koh Samui. Witchawut Jintoe, the governor of Surat Thani, informed The Phuket Express that this week the COSTA SERENA cruise liner docked at the Na Thon Pier, bringing Thai and Asian tourists…

  • Crime NewsPattaya authorities kick beggar out of bar for being dressed as lion performer

    Pattaya authorities kick beggar out of bar for being dressed as lion performer

    Pattaya authorities kicked a beggar out of a bar because he was dressed as a lion performer. Pattaya City Municipality officers, known as Tessagit, have taken a firm stance against individuals dressed as lion performers. Officers say they are just beggars who irritate business owners and customers. Following multiple complaints from bar owners in the popular Soi 6 area of…

  • LifestyleBangkok International Food Festival 2023 starts today

    Bangkok International Food Festival 2023 starts today

    The Bangkok International Food Festival 2023 starts today (May 26) at centralwOrld shopping plaza and complex. The festival will be held until May 30. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to further elevate Thailand’s standing as a premier gastronomy tourism destination and provide an immersive experience for tourists. This event, centred around the culinary arts, will showcase Thailand’s vibrant…

  • Krabi NewsDead dolphin found on Krabi beach with wound on body

    Dead dolphin found on Krabi beach with wound on body

    In a sad development for Thailand’s wildlife lovers, a dead dolphin was found washed up on a beach in Thailand’s Krabi province, with a wound on its body. The lifeless body of the dolphin was discovered on the island of Koh Sri Boya in the Nuea Khlong district yesterday morning. A village headman told the Department of Marine and Coastal…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya steps up sterilisation efforts with stray dogs

    Pattaya steps up sterilisation efforts with stray dogs

    Thailand’s eastern city of Pattaya is stepping up its sterilisation efforts with stray dogs roaming the city’s streets and beaches. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet deployed teams of veterinarians and environmental health experts from the Department of Public Health and Environment, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. These teams have been assigned to clean the beaches regularly and implement regular sterilisation programmes within…

  • Crime NewsRobbery fail: Gold shop robber in Thailand injured by cop’s bullet

    Robbery fail: Gold shop robber in Thailand injured by cop’s bullet

    A gold shop robber in central Thailand failed at his goal of running away with several gold items after a cop shot him. The robber ended up seriously injured from the gunshot wound. The incident occurred in the Samut Chedi district of Thailand’s Samut Prakan province yesterday. A male suspect on a motorbike entered a gold shop near a market…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok blaze damages over 40 homes

    Bangkok blaze damages over 40 homes

    A blaze in Bangkok‘s Thon Buri district damaged over 40 homes yesterday morning. The fire broke out in the Talat Phlu sub-district. Talat Phlu Police Station was alerted about the blaze on Soi Wutthakat 18, off Wutthakat Road, at around 5.45am. Firefighters from nearby areas rushed to the scene to find the flames ripping through the area, which has many…

  • Crime NewsSuspect reportedly admits he killed Pattaya woman over financial dispute

    Suspect reportedly admits he killed Pattaya woman over financial dispute

    In the latest development on the killing of a Pattaya woman named Rattana Thammarak, the prime suspect has reportedly admitted that he killed Rattana over a financial dispute, according to Pattaya Police. The suspect, 39 year old Watcharaphon Ansongkram, also known as Kik or ‘Kik Kilo 10,’ arrived at Pattaya Police Station yesterday, May 24, at 10am for interrogation on…

  • Tourism NewsOnly a week left to experience Grand Canyon of Thailand before rain

    Only a week left to experience Grand Canyon of Thailand before rain

    Travellers are advised to seize the opportunity to witness the extraordinary beauty of a natural site known as Thailand‘s “Grand Canyon,” locally known as Sam Phan Bok, before the end of May, when it will start to rain more. This leaves only a week left for exploration. Located in the Ban Pho Sai district of Ubon Ratchathani province in Thailand’s…

  • South Thailand NewsSouth Thailand bus crash leaves 10 wounded

    South Thailand bus crash leaves 10 wounded

    A bus crash in South Thailand‘s Songkhla province left 10 people wounded yesterday morning. The bus was carrying 30 passengers from Bangkok to Hat Yai. Rattaphum Police were alerted to the incident on Asia Road in the Kamphaengphet sub-district of Rattaphum district. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and found the bus on the side of the road. Ten injured…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsMan’s body found floating in sea off Thailand’s Chon Buri province

    Man’s body found floating in sea off Thailand’s Chon Buri province

    A man’s body was found floating in the sea off Thailand‘s eastern Chon Buri province yesterday. The body of the man, believed to be a missing Cambodian boat worker, was discovered near a mangrove swamp in Sattahip district. An unidentified citizen reported the body to Sattahip Police at around 11.30am. The body is suspected to be that of Yook Thienia…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket motorbike crash injures elderly expat

    Phuket motorbike crash injures elderly expat

    A Phuket motorbike crash injured an elderly expat yesterday morning. Chalong Police arrived at the scene on Wiset Road in Rawai to find a foreign motorbike rider, 73 year old Georgi Simeonov Georgiev with minor injuries. The other rider involved in the accident was a 31 Thai man named Kittisak Buayai. Georgiev’s nationality was not provided by police. After reviewing…

  • Thailand NewsThai durian farmers on the lookout for thieves after prices jump

    Thai durian farmers on the lookout for thieves after prices jump

    Thai durian farmers are on the lookout for thieves now that durian prices have jumped. Durian farmers in the northern Tak province, located near the border with Myanmar, are taking extra precautions to protect their orchards from thieves following a significant increase in durian prices this year. The rising prices prompted farmers to guard their fruit day and night, according…

  • Phuket NewsAustralian TikTok star gives Patong fruit vendor 2,000 baht as reward for kindness (video)

    Australian TikTok star gives Patong fruit vendor 2,000 baht as reward for kindness (video)

    An Australian TikTok star with 1.5 million followers gave a Patong fruit vendor 2,000 baht as a reward for his kindness and generosity. TikTok star Luke Erwin this week shared a brief video where he decided to test the generosity of a fruit vendor in Patong. In the video, Erwin approached the vendor, saying that he hadn’t had any food…

  • Thailand NewsBrooke shields celebrates daughter’s birthday in Thailand

    Brooke shields celebrates daughter’s birthday in Thailand

    Renowned American actress and model Brooke Shields celebrated her daughter’s birthday in Thailand. Shields has been savouring the picturesque beauty of Thailand following the recent promotional activities for her documentary, Pretty Baby, Daily Mail reported. After spending nearly a week in the Southeast Asian country, Shields shared on Instagram more photos of her idyllic family time. In a heartfelt post…

  • Crime NewsAuthorities charge 3 suspects in murder of Chinese businessman in South Thailand

    Authorities charge 3 suspects in murder of Chinese businessman in South Thailand

    UPDATE The authorities officially charged three suspects involved in the murder of a Chinese businessman in South Thailand‘s Trang province. Yesterday morning (May 18), over 30 police officers from Mueang Trang Police Station and Trang Provincial Police Station held a reenactment of the incident. More than 20 relatives of the deceased businessman, including his children and wife, attended the reenactment.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s National Health Security System starts free condom initiative

    Thailand’s National Health Security System starts free condom initiative

    Thailand announced a new initiative to provide free condoms to individuals holding universal healthcare cards as part of the National Health Security System, also known as the 30-baht health scheme. The initiative aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people of reproductive ages, Pattaya Mail reported yesterday. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek highlighted the…

  • Crime NewsCops catch last suspects in Pattaya robbery of Chinese tourists

    Cops catch last suspects in Pattaya robbery of Chinese tourists

    Cops caught all the last suspects involved in the robbery case targeting Chinese tourists in Pattaya on May 3. The arrests were made at a border location in Thailand’s eastern Sa Kaeo province. Yesterday morning, Pattaya Police apprehended the three remaining suspects linked to the robbery. The individuals were identified as 31 year old Sarawut Suthaphot, the alleged mastermind behind…

  • World NewsBuckingham Palace gives no comment on Meghan and Harry’s NYC car chase

    Buckingham Palace gives no comment on Meghan and Harry’s NYC car chase

    Buckingham Palace did not comment on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s reported involvement in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York City on Tuesday night. People magazine reached out to the palace for a statement yesterday, but no comment was provided. The palace usually does not comment on matters involving 38 year old Prince Harry, and 41 year old Meghan,…

  • Phuket NewsShirtless Patong man scares people with machete

    Shirtless Patong man scares people with machete

    A shirtless Patong man scared locals and tourists by walking around and swaying a machete back and forth. Patong Police arrested the man yesterday morning near the Suwan Khiriwing Temple (Patong Temple). Officers found the shirtless man swaying the machete and wandering aimlessly in the area. Residents were scared since there is a large number of tourists in the area.…

  • Tourism NewsTAT aims to reel in foodie tourists with new sustainable culinary programme (video)

    TAT aims to reel in foodie tourists with new sustainable culinary programme (video)

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set its sights on further enhancing Thailand’s reputation as a culinary destination while promoting sustainability. The TAT is now aiming to reel in foodie tourists with the new Amazing Thailand Culinary City programme, aimed at promoting gastronomy tourism. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, stated that the Amazing Thailand Culinary…

  • Crime NewsSuspect says he stabbed Chinese businessman to death in South Thailand

    Suspect says he stabbed Chinese businessman to death in South Thailand

    UPDATE In the latest development on the killing of a Chinese businessman in South Thailand‘s Trang province, police have caught three suspects believed to be involved. One of the suspects says he stabbed the victim to death. Colonel Sakda Jaroenkun, Deputy Commander of the Region 9 Police, told The Phuket Express that police in Satun successfully arrested three suspects identified…

  • World NewsAmerican drunk driver tried to switch seats with dog to dodge arrest

    American drunk driver tried to switch seats with dog to dodge arrest

    In some rather embarrassing news, an American drunk driver in Colorado tried to switch seats with his dog who was in the passenger seat, to dodge arrest as police approached his car. Springfield Police wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, the man had been driving 52 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone near 7th and Main Street. The…

  • Crime NewsCleaners find Chinese businessman’s body with stab wounds at South Thailand resort

    Cleaners find Chinese businessman’s body with stab wounds at South Thailand resort

    Cleaners at a resort in South Thailand‘s Trang province found a Chinese businessman‘s body with stab and slash wounds yesterday. Police were alerted of the incident in the Tub Tieng sub-district of Trang’s main city district in the afternoon. The victim was 43 year old Zhiru Li, The Phuket Express reported. According to resort staff, a room cleaner attempted to…

  • Tourism NewsThai officials seek to draw tourists to lesser-known spots

    Thai officials seek to draw tourists to lesser-known spots

    Thai officials are seeking to draw tourists to lesser-known spots in the Land of Smiles. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently launched a new campaign aimed at promoting Thailand’s lesser-known destinations, NNT reported yesterday. Dubbed “Amazing Secondary Cities, Must Visit, Must Love,” the campaign aims to highlight the unique cultural heritage of these areas through storytelling, to provide meaningful…

  • Tourism NewsFirst direct Tigerair flight from Taiwan makes its way to Phuket

    First direct Tigerair flight from Taiwan makes its way to Phuket

    The first direct flight by Taiwan‘s Tigerair made its way to Phuket yesterday. The flight arrived at Phuket International Airport, carrying 190 passengers. Airport officials and staff welcomed the passengers upon their arrival, The Phuket Express reported. Last month, it was reported that Tigerair, a subsidiary of China Airlines, will be the only airline currently servicing the Taipei – Phuket route…