- Thailand News
Weather for February 5
Bangkok Lots of sunshine. High 33C. Winds S at 15 to 25 km/h. Phuket Mostly sunny early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 31C. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 50%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High around 35C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms…
- Thailand News
No more smoking in airports, and no more cheap Thai cigarettes
Thai smokers are under fire. As of Sunday, February 3, all airports operated by Airports of Thailand (AoT) have been declared no-smoking zones with fines up to 5,000 baht for any violators. AoT has now abolished all smoking rooms in both the offices and passenger buildings in all six airports which they manage. This comes in accordance with the 2017…
- Hua Hin News
Jetski operators in Hua Hin told to ‘stick to guidelines’
PHOTOS: Talk News Online Jetski operators on Hua Hin beaches have been warned to stick to pricing guidelines and beach locations in the Gulf holiday resort. Talk News Online reports that officials visited Hua Don beach in Hua Hin to rein in the jetski operators. Jetski operators in all seaside resorts around Thailand have a reputation for not following the…
- Thai Life
A third of expats may have to leave – Survey on new ‘retirement’ visa extension
Thailand’s farang forum, Thaivisa, has conducted two unofficial polls that indicate that many expats will be calling it quits and leaving the Kingdom. The polls are a response from the affected ThaiVisa audience, not indicative of the total expat population living in Thailand. The polls have been undertaken in the wake of new regulations issued by Thai immigration requiring retirees to lodge…
- Thailand News
Air quality for Thailand – February 4
Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Southern Thailand Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution…
- Thailand News
Weather for February 4
Bangkok Sunshine and a few clouds. High 34C. Winds S at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket Sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High near 35C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly…
- Thai Life
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra celebrate Shamita’s birthday in Phuket
Actress Shamita Shetty travelled to Phuket as her birthday destination. Shamita turned 40 on February 2. Shamita Shetty is one of Bollywood’s most popular actresses and an interior designer, along with her famous sister Shipla. Her sister Shilpa Shetty, brother-in-law Raj Kundra and friends Sarita Madhavan, Rohini Iyer and Akanksha Malhotra also accompanied her to Phuket. Glimpses from Shamita’s pre-birthday…
- Bangkok News
Elephant Boat Race comes to Bangkok March 29
Anantara Hotels Director of Operational Excellence & Events Tim Boda has announced Thailand’s first “Elephant Boat Race & River Festival” to be held between March 29 – 31, 2019. “The new three-day festival offers a wide range of activities, races and concerts aiming to raise funds to support domestic and wild elephants throughout Thailand.” Located next to Anantara Riverside Bangkok, the…
- Phuket News
Ridley sea turtles return to Phang Nga for breeding
PHOTO: World Wildlife Fund Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned to Phang Nga beaches to breed, following a 23 year absence from the beach in Thai Muang district. The turtle eggs have been collected and taken to the nursery at a turtle watch centre on Tha Sai beach for incubation. The nest on the beach has been…
- Thailand News
Thailand #1 for Chinese travellers heading overseas for Chinese New Year
Thailand, Japan and Singapore are topping the lists for Chinese travellers this Chinese New Year. The data comes from Hotelbeds.com, a leading accommodation booking platform. The website identified the top 10 international destinations for Chinese travellers for this year’s seven-day Chinese New Year holiday that starts tomorrow (Monday). Thailand was named the most popular destination followed by Japan and Singapore. The…
- Krabi News
Krabi officials declare a rabies outbreak zone
A district livestock office in Krabi province has announced a Rabies outbreak zone in the Mueang Krabi district area. Somphon Jantara, chief livestock officer of Mueang Krabi District, announced that the Sai Thai village, Moo 1 is a designated outbreak zone after a male dog tested positive for Rabies on Wednesday. A rabies temporary control zone will now run from January…
- Travel
Passengers can’t get enough of LA! Flight returns to airport three times.
PHOTO: CNN Travel 207 Hawaiian Airlines passengers just couldn’t get enough of LA yesterday. They tried to fly out of LAX three times but kept coming back. The returns to the airports were all safety related precautions and were unrelated. The Los Angeles International to Maui’s Airport flight turned back three times. The aircraft had already taken off twice, according to…
- Koh Samui News
Alleged ‘sex cult’ yoga retreat on Koh Phangan operating again
PHOTO: Narcis Tarcau, aka. Swami Vivekananda Saraswati – South China Morning Post The world’s “biggest tantric yoga school” has reopened on Koh Phangan with the accused leader back in charge amid accusations that management suppressed an investigation into the alleged abuse. The centre closed last September after 14 women alleged rape and sexual assault and made official complaints. At the…
- Entertainment
Event Round-Up – February 2019
You still have a few days left to enjoy the tail end of Bangkok Design Week which is running from 26 January to 3 February in select areas around Bangkok. Taking inspiration from the city’s rich history as a gathering point for creative minds from all over the world, Bangkok Design Week is held under the theme of “Fusing Forward”,…
- Pattaya News
Warning from Pattaya police about bogus charity collectors
Pattaya’s police chief is warning tourists against donating to street charity collectors. He claims many of the so-called charities are bogus and the money is lily going straight into their pockets. Speaking to Pattaya Mail, Pol. Col. Apichai Kroppech says that both Thais and foreigners are roaming the streets acting as charity collectors, hoping to take advantage of people’s good…
- Thai Life
Immigration officials push back against the new retirement visa guidelines
Days after new rules for the processing for foreign retiree visas were published, immigration officials are reportedly pushing back against them. The report was in Khaosod English citing inside sources. According to the Immigration department, starting March 1, foreign retirees must either show a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or hold a minimum of 800,000 baht in Thai…
- Thai Life
Thai Immigration clamps down on requirements for Retirement visas
A story in ThaiVisa is providing a lot of concern for people making applications for ‘Retirement’ and ‘Marriage’ visas so they can remain in the Kingdom. The announcement follows several of the embassies last year explaining that they will no longer be issuing a ‘proof of income’ for the purpose of visa applications in Thailand. “Foreigners now need to keep…
- Bangkok News
Send in the drones – Bangkok Governor – Air pollution – VIDEO
Authorities in Bangkok launched 50 drones yesterday in an attempt to combat the ongoing air pollution that has gained international attention. The drones were equipped with sprinklers and water was sprayed to lower the PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere. The water was laced with molasses (a gooey, surgery syrup) help capture the fine particles of pollution and bring them to…
- Phuket News
Chinese tourist couple found after getting lost in Thalang jungle
PHOTOS: The Thalang Police and The Phuket Tourist Police Officers were searching for about four hours for a Chinese tourist couple who were lost in the Khao Phra Thaew Non – Hunting area forest in Thalang district last night. The local Tourist Police and the Thalang Police were notified of the pair getting lost early in the evening after they called the Phuket Tourist…
- Thailand News
Weather for February 1
Bangkok Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 34C. Winds E at 10 to 15 km/h. Phuket A mix of clouds and sun. High 31C. Winds E at 15 to 30 km/h. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 31C. Winds SSW at 10…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya air quality suffering as well
Pattaya public health authorities are advising residents at the resort to keep up-to-date with news about Pattaya’s air quality woes. Report in The Pattaya News suggest that the 2.5 PM particulate matter was at its worst in the early morning hours and in the evenings. Here’s the current reading of Pattaya air quality (5pm Thursday). Thai environmental specialist Rungnapha Thapnonghee…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok Air Quality: PM2.5 dust particle problem closes 437 schools
PHOTO: Thai PBS At least one group of Bangkokians were happy today. The Ministry of Education ordered all schools in Bangkok closed until at least this weekend. The situation will be reviewed after then. Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwangkuang ordered all the 437 schools under the supervision of the City Hall closed until the weekend in order to prevent young school…
- Phuket News
Peter Denman from Channel 3 visits Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation
The famous actor from Channel 3, Thai-British Peter Denman, paid a visit to Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket on January 28. He visited so he could get to know more about the work they do and spend some quality time with the animals. He has also been nominated to be one of Soi Dog’s Brand Ambassadors as well. During the visit, he had…
- Krabi News
68 year old Canadian drowns off Koh Phi Phi
PHOTO: Nui Bay, only accessible by long tail boat Police on Koh Phi Phi have confirmed that a 68 year old Canadian has died after being recovered from the water at Nui Bay. The incident happed around lunchtime yesterday (Wednesday). The man has been identified as Zbigniew Sarna and Embassy officials have been alerted. Mr Sarna was travelling with a…
- Thailand News
Weather for January 31
Bangkok Partly to mostly cloudy. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Phuket Partly cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 32C. Winds E at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 30%. Chiang Mai Plenty of sunshine. High 33C. Winds light and variable. Pattaya Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms. High 29C. Winds WSW…
- Thailand News
Air quality for Thailand – January 31
Central Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok smog: Odd-even number plate driving rule threatened
PHOTO: PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. Praying for a change in the weather? PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is warning that he might be forced to introduce the odd-even number rule for traffic in Bangkok if all other measures to ease the health-threatening smog problem in Bangkok and its peripherals fail (they have so far). With his Article 44 powers, the Prime Minister could…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok smog: Students stay at home whilst drones buzz overhead
High smog levels in Bangkok are forcing more than 400 schools to close today and tomorrow in an attempt to protect children from harmful effects. The education department says it will review the situation over the weekend. The Thai capital city is experiencing some of its worst-ever ongoing air pollution levels which are exacerbated by ultra-fine dust particles known as…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok smog: 50 drones to be launched spraying molasses to relieve smog
Bangkok is preparing to launch 50 drones tomorrow for spraying water in the skies over the capital. The water will contain molasses to aid in the attachment to smog particles. The Thai News Agency is reporting that Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang says they have contacted a drone club in Nakhon Ratchasima to get 50 drones which can carry 10 litres…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok smog forces school closures and PM insists on odd/even car driving days
The Education Ministry is ordering educational institutes in Greater Bangkok to close for two days, starting tomorrow (Thursday), after smog worsened today. The ministry will review the situation this weekend to decide whether the measures would be extended, said minister Dr Theerakiat Charoensettasin. The decision follows instructions from PM Prayut Chan-o-cha for the ministry to consider urgent measures to deal…