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5 best wine bars in Bangkok offering rich and quality wine
It’s wine o’clock! Whether you’re all about fruity reds, sweet whites, or funky naturals, Bangkok has many great spots to sip your favourite varieties. But with an array of options to choose from, and the constant rise and fall of...
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Nan blossoms in pink splendour
Tourists are flocking to the far northern province of Nan, on the Laos border, this weekend to witness the beauty of wild Himalayan cherry tree blossoms, widely known as “Thai sakura”, at a research station in Nanoi district. Kanyarat Natebutr, chief of Tonnam Kunsatan research station said that the areas around the station, where cherry trees, green maple and macadamia…
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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…
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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”,…
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Criminal Court agrees to consider extradition of Bahraini footballer
The Criminal Court says it has agreed to consider the public prosecutors’ request to extradite former Bahrain national footballer Hakeem al-Araibi to his home country. The footballer currently holds Australian residency. The request was made after Bahrain supplied prosecutors with evidence and documents accusing al-Araibi of arson and possession of weapons. Bahrain had issued an arrest warrant for the footballer…
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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…
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Government apologises for Bangkok air pollution and smog
The Government has conceded to Bangkok citizens about the air pollution that continues to disrupt lives and threaten their health. “The government apologises for the inconvenience caused by the poor air quality and would like to thank everybody for support and cooperation,” said the PM yesterday. The blue sky typical of this time of year is hidden beyond a grey-yellow…
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Students sent to hospital after suffering food poisoning from school lunch
70 secondary students from the Jian Hua School in Nakhon Pathom’s Bang Len district suffered food poisoning after school lunch yesterday. Nakhon Pathom is the province to the west of Bangkok. 25 of the affected students were sent to Supan Buri’s 17th Somdet Phra Sangkharat Hospital suffering from severe diarrhoea, vomiting and seizures. 26 year old Teacher Manasawee Phutthapol says that…
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400cc Nightclub raided in Bangkok. 92 test positive for drugs.
by Kittipong Maneerit Another Bangkok nightclub has been raided as police crackdown on some clubs on the city’s outer limits. The 400cc nightclub was raided revealing at least 40 patrons under the age of 20. Meanwhile, 92 patrons tested positive for substance abuse and 26 of them under the legal drinking age. Officers of Nong Khang Plu precinct, the Office…
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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…
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Man dies in Phuket road accident at Samkong underpass entrance
A car diver has died after losing control of his vehicle near the Samkong Underpass on Bypass Road. The Phuket City Police were notified of the accident on Chalerm Phrakiet Rama 9 (Bypass Road), southbound, near the entrance of the Samkong Underpass at 1.12am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a damaged black Honda sedan. The body of…
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Bangkok air pollution reduction schemes – FAIL
OPINION Smog, air pollution, air quality, PM2.5 micron particulate. If you live in Bangkok it’s all the same thing. Four water-carrying drones took off from Bangkok City Hall this morning to join three fire engines in the latest assault on health-threatening haze. Bangkok is a city covering some 1,500 square kilometres with a population of over 8 million. The frequent…
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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…
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Conservationists call for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays
PHOTOS: จิตอาสา Go-Eco Phuket Phuket conservationists are calling for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays from fishermen after many of them have been found dead at Koh Racha Noi. A Facebook user ‘Go-Eco Phuket’, a local conversation Facebook page, yesterday posted pictures and a video with a message reading… “We were notified by our network that 11 metres under the sea…
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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…
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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…
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Monk defrocked and charged with child abuse
by Suriya Patathayo Another Buddhist monk has been arrested and defrocked. The allegations involve sexual violations against boys and posting pornographic content online. Leading the investigation, Pol Lt General Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of Thailand’s Action Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression says that the former monk has confessed that he has committed the crimes for more than 10 years.…
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Air quality for Thailand – February 1
Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. 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…
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No injuries as ceiling collapses at Tesco Lotus Samkong
A part of a ceiling at Tesco Lotus in Samkong on the Bypass road collapsed early last night. No injuries were reported. At 5.50pm yesterday a part of ceiling at the Tesco Lotus Samkong collapsed while customers were still shopping. The incident happened above the aisle kiosks near the checkout counters and caused damages to one of the kiosks. The…
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Thailand poised to break through 40 million arrivals in 2019
Thailand welcomed a record 38.27 million tourists in 2018. That’s up 7.5 percent from 2017 arrival figures. The Thai tourism ministry announced the figures this morning. In December, tourist arrivals amounted to 3.85 million. The ministry is also expecting the number of tourists visiting Thailand in 2019 to increase by another 7.5 percent. For 2019, the ministry expects to break through the…
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Bangkok air pollution: PM demands action and threatens limiting road traffic
PHOTOS: The Nation The Thai PM says he is determined to step up measures to fight the worsening air pollution problem plaguing Bangkok. Limiting the use of vehicles with an odd-even day schedule is on the cards, he said. Speaking at the opening ceremony of “Our Country, Our Future” exhibition yesterday, Prayut warned that if the smog in Bangkok was…
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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…
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Rawai villagers caught up in romance scams
by Jessada Chantharak. PHOTOS: The Nation Five impoverished residents from Rawai in Phuket’s south, say they have been tricked into opening bank accounts that were used in romance scams. Facing arrest warrants over the scams, the five villagers have filed an appeal with the Royal Thai Police’s Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression for help. The five residents claim they opened…
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His Majesty pays Phang Nga boy’s medical costs – more operations Saturday
HM the King has helped pay for some of the medical care for the seven year old boy mauled by four stray dogs at a beach in Phang Nga last weekend. He is now recovering in Vachira Phuket Hospital. The boy was attacked in Ban Tha Noon, Takua Thung district on Sunday. Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthapol, spokesperson for the hospital, says…
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Bangkok Air Quality: BKK Governor calls for help as PM2.5 smog continues
PHOTO: Jor Sor 100 traffic radio – Bangkok Air Quality Bangkok’s governor is calling on experts to provide advice on how best to tackle the severe air pollution that blankets the city and is causing the wrong sort of headlines for the capital. The Pollution Control Department reported 41 Greater Bangkok areas as having unsafe levels of PM2.5 – airborne…
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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…
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AoT defers final decision about new BKK airport terminal until February 20
PHOTO: Rendering of the new proposed Terminal for Suvarnabhumi Airports of Thailand has set a deadline of February 20 to decide whether it will go ahead with the construction of the much-needed second terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s largest and busiest airport. The 42 billion baht project has been embroiled in controversy amid criticism from organisations including the Council…
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King Maha Vajiralongkorn supports boy attacked by dogs at Sarasin Bridge
PHOTO: The Phuket PR Office His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered that the boy, bitten by soi dogs at a Phang Nga beach this week, to be under special medical care by royal command. The seven year old boy was seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge last weekend. Read the…
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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…
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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…
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Polish tourist drowns at Krabi Beach
A male Polish tourist has drowned at Nopparat Thara Beach in Ao Nang, Krabi. Ao Nang Police were notified of the incident at 1pm yesterday. Officers and emergency responders arrived to find a body of a 49 year old Polish man floating face down 100 metres from the shore. No signs of a struggle were found on his body. The…
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