Thai Life
Thailand guides, travel tips, cultural insights, and essential local information—discover everything you need to know about living, visiting, and experiencing the Land of Smiles. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand guides.
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Looking Back: History of the Emerald Buddha
PHUKET: The Emerald Buddha is one of Thailand’s most revered artifacts. Contrary to its name, it is actually carved out of jade. It is a figurine of the seated meditating Buddha. A beautiful and ancient piece of art, it draws tens of thousands of visitors to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew every year. No one really knows who…
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Profile: Watcharapong Saikaew – First professional CMP in Thailand
PHUKET: Watcharapong Saikaew, or Pom, as he is better known, is the Assistant Director of Events at Angsana Laguna Phuket and the first Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) in Thailand. With a lucrative career and a four-year Hotel and Tourism Management degree from Prince of Songkla University under his belt, he is a proud flag bearer for the Banyan Tree group,…
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Excuse buster: The miracles of nature’s ‘super foods’
PHUKET: One thing in common at nearly all the centers I work at in Phuket is giving clients Apple Cider vinegar. Either clients have it as a salad dressing or it’s given with water before meals. A lot has been written about its remarkable healing properties. Is it a true health wonder or is it mostly fiction? I am always…
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Keep It Green: Small initiatives to clean up the environment
PHUKET: In one of his last essays, “Civilization and Its Discontents”, Sigmund Freud, one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, argued that mankind had a ‘death wish’, a willed capacity for self-destruction. “Civilization’s aim was,” he said, “to combine single human individuals, families, then races, peoples and nations into one great unity, the unity of mankind”. But he…
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Understanding your place on the happiness scale [video]
PHUKET: There is no single key to happiness that will work for every single person out there, which is what makes Lisa Cypers Kamen’s holistic approach to understanding where we are on the happiness scale, and where we want to be, so insightful. ‘Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life’ is a hands-on guide to changing…
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Law, Life and Society: Consequences of holiday debauchery
PHUKET: There are numerous ‘dek khrueng’ or ‘half-children’ born to women who work in Thailand’s red-light districts. Many foreign men come to Thailand for a short holiday to spend their time with Thai women. Some of them leave without knowing that they have a child. Others know about, but still decide to return to their home country. These women are…
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Profile: What victory means for Miss Grand Krabi 2017
PHUKET: Phuket native Pamela Pasinetti was recently crowned ‘Miss Grand Krabi 2017’. Poised and elegant in her gown and tiara, Pamela spoke to Simon J Hand of Gazette Radio to talk about her pageant experience. Now 23 years of age, Pamela has always had big dreams. “I’ve always wanted to be a pageant queen,” she smiled. “It’s something every young…
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‘Flying moth’ comes to town
PHUKET: There’s a new bird in town that goes by the name of Shadow. Light as a feather and built entirely with carbon fiber, the Shadow is a Moth equipped with hydrofoils that allow it to ‘fly’ up to a height of at least 5 feet. The idea of the ‘Moth’ dates back to 1928 when the first model of…
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Gardening: Two valuable Mexican climbers
PHUKET: I am not talking about social climbers or even those intrepid fellows who scale up the sheer cliffs at Railay. Rather, I’m referring to two members of the vine brigade who have received less than their due footage in these columns. I was reminded of the value of the garlic vine when I visited an estate, the common parts…
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Party it up like you’re in Ibiza
PHUKET: Did you know that the Balearic island of Ibiza and the Andaman island of Phuket are within a few square miles of being the same size? There are other connections too: quite a large chunk of Ibiza has UNESCO World Heritage status, while Phuket cuisine recently picked up the UNESCO seal of approval. Additionally, a significant and growing chunk…
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Excuse Buster: A healthy treat for gluten intolerant foodies
PHUKET: Consider the irony: a gluten intolerant nutritionist marries a German baker’s daughter… things could get very interesting. However, I am really lucky to have a very accepting father-in-law who also enjoys making breads and bakery goods that I can eat too. He was recently with us over Christmas and came up with a new low-carb, gluten-free bread recipe that…
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Looking Back: The rise and fall of Chiang Mai
PHUKET: Chiang Mai has existed as a city for over 700 years. It is older than Bangkok and probably as old as Sukhothai. In the past, Chiang Mai was the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, an independent kingdom rich in resources and unique in its culture and traditions. The city was founded by King Mengrai, who came to the…
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On Deck: Resurgence of sail boats in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s marine destination reputation was, to a large part, built by the sailing fraternity. That statement is perhaps a red rag to some bulls, but in my opinion, the industry was built on the back of initial efforts by the sailing fraternity and for this, they should be grateful. Thirty years ago, back in 1987, the Phuket King’s Cup…
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Keep It Green: Opening the floodgates to a watery embrace
PHUKET: Southern Thailand has recently been in the watery embrace of floods that are unprecedented in their severity. A few statistics to clarify the situation: the inundation has affected 13 provinces in Southern Thailand, with Songkhla being the worst hit – 14 out of 16 districts have been declared disaster areas. There have been more than 40 recorded fatalities, while…
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Profile: Tasana Nagavajara – A musical feast for the soul
PHUKET: Bangkok native Tasana Nagavajara is the artistic director of Pro Musica and is currently performing a series of classical concerts as the violinist for Pro Musica Ensemble. The trio is touring Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Bangkok this month, with the Phuket performance tonight – Monday January 23 – at Mom Tri Villa Royale. Mr Tasana has been…
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Law, Life and Society: Becoming a professional teacher in Thailand
PHUKET: If there is one thing that impels young professionals to come and visit Thailand, it’s the idea that the grass looks greener on this side of the world. Thailand offers vast employment opportunities to foreigners, especially in the field of education. I recall being reluctant, yet interested, as I started looking into the possibility of becoming a teacher about…
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Profile: Tara Sudlow – A special connection with Phuket
PHUKET: Tara Sudlow is a Perth native who moved to Phuket 22 years ago, and for the last 13 years has been running her own real estate company here. “I first visited Phuket in 1986 at the age of 14. I was a very shy kid back then, always hanging around my mother. Then, I met this amazing Thai family…
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Property: Angsana Beachfront Residences attract global interest
Advertorial: PHUKET: The Banyan Tree Group’s launch of Angsana Beachfront Residences, its inaugural investment in resort style living in Thailand at Laguna Phuket, Bang Tao Beach, is already being hailed a success. Over 60% of the beachfront luxury branded condominiums have been sold since the project was announced last month (story here). “We are receiving a level of response in…
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Across the Land: What the new airport means for Phang Nga
PHUKET: It’s been three months since the new Phuket International Airport terminal was officially opened, but the moans and groans about the efficiency of the airport remain, with passengers complaining of long delays at immigration counters – whether inbound or outbound. Even the domestic terminal has seen long queues waiting for luggage, and a chaos of cars, taxis and limousines…
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Property: Banyan Tree redefines grandeur
Advertorial PHUKET: The Banyan Tree Group has unveiled designs for a selection of five-bedroom villas adjacent to Bang Tao Beach on the west coast of Phuket. With the infrastructure already complete, the Group is inviting interested parties to make appointments for private viewings of the newly-launched ‘Banyan Tree Grand Residences’. “The Banyan Tree Group is renowned around the world for…
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On Deck: Two voices are better than one
PHUKET: Recent comments from Weerasak Kowsurat of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) caught my eye, and could have profound repercussions for Thailand’s yacht charter industry. The following is excerpted from a December 23 article in The Nation: “TCEB chairman of the board Weerasak Kowsurat said … providing MICE visas and MICE work permits to business travellers … could…
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Profile: Yoga for peace of mind, body and soul
PHUKET: Kanokwan Borunphan, 26, is a yoga instructor in Phuket. Although she started out in the field just two years ago, she already has her hands full with classes and students of various ages. “I love yoga and practice it every chance I get. When I first started out, I took classes in Phuket Town for two months, but it…
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Laguna Golf clinches 11 awards
PHUKET: Laguna Golf Group clinched a total of 11 awards at the prestigious Asia Golf Awards 2016 in Hua Hin, Thailand; the World Golf Awards 2016 in Algarve, Portugal; and the IAGTO Awards 2017 in Mallorca, Spain. Presented only for the 3rd time by Asia Golf Awards, the group was crowned ‘Asia Pacific Custodian of the Environment’, in recognition of…
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On Deck: Yachting forum needs better exposure
PHUKET: We’ve had one regatta, two superyacht rendezvous and a yacht show in the last month in Phuket. Squeezed in between all of that was the little-discussed Thailand Yachting Forum (TYF). Held a day before the Thailand Yacht Show, the second TYF was this year hosted by Phuket Boat Lagoon. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing, kicked it…
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Excuse buster: Healthy holiday recipes
PHUKET: I hope you have had a great festive season and that those with children are enjoying their time with them during the holidays. I thought I would offer some healthy, tasty and easily made alternatives to the standard treats that will keep both kids and grownups happy. You’ll notice that the recipe is full of good fats such as…
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Looking Back: Planning a Royal funeral
PHUKET: Royal funerals are solemn affairs that take months to plan. When a monarch or a high-ranking royal passes away, their body is taken to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace complex. There, the body lies in state while craftsmen build the royal funeral pyre, an intricately crafted structure which takes up to nine months to…
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Festive five per cent financing offered for Laguna Park’s townhomes, villas
Advertorial PHUKET: Investors in Laguna Park’s two-bedroom town houses and five-bedroom villas located next to the Laguna Phuket Golf Course are being offered a special five per cent financing option for the festive period. Aimed at couples and growing families, the homes by the Banyan Tree Group are priced from 9.3 million baht and come ready to move in with…
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Keep It Green: Reefers, rogues and regulations
PHUKET: According to recent statistics, Thailand has the fourth largest seafood export industry in the world, valued at a massive 6.5 billion dollars a year. With its fleet of Phuket-based fishing vessels and substantial shrimp-farming industry, the island is a significant contributor to this figure. However, adverse international publicity in the last few years has caused some decline, following allegations…
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By the book: Preparing your property for sale
PHUKET: The onset of high season is here again. The monsoon rains have passed, the sun is out and businesses are preparing for the influx of tourists to Phuket. The next six months are when most buyers will visit Phuket and when most property sales occur. Phuket real estate brokers will have already been short-listing those properties they will concentrate…
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Second phase of Cassia apartments attracts investors with assurance of 7 p/c returns
Advertorial World-class developer of premium resorts, hotels and residences, The Banyan Tree Group is enticing investors to Cassia Phuket apartments at Laguna Phuket with a promise of 7 per cent returns over three years for owners. With the first phase already sold out, the second phase of the contemporary upmarket two-bedroom apartments in the grounds of the Laguna resort are…
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