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.
-
Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Phuket Events: 17th Andaman Motor Show underway at Central Festival
PHUKET: The 17th Andaman Motor Show was officially launched this afternoon on a jam-packed ground floor of Central Festival Phuket. The region’s most popular and anticipated automobile exhibition will last until Wednesday, December 18. Presiding over the opening ceremony was Phuket Vice Governor Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak, who was joined on stage in the official launch countdown by Phuket…
-
To infinity and beyond – Phuket Diving
PHUKET: A tiny helmet diver stands at attention on the red rocks of a five-gallon freshwater aquarium. Having explored the treasure chest blowing bubbles through fake gold coins, as well as the single strand of Brazilian Pennywort – and even poked around the filter, he simply stands there watching sediment build on his feet, the occasional gold fish going belly…
-
The Rendezvous returns – Phuket Lifestyle
PHUKET: Final preparations are underway for the 13th Asia Superyacht Rendezvous. With nine confirmed superyachts, a stunning venue, and captains, owners and crew flying in from all over the world to attend, this looks to be the best Rendezvous to date. The Rendezvous will commence on Monday and conclude on Wednesday. With such a mix of captains and crew, from…
-
Phuket photographer revels in retro-pinup revival
PHUKET: “You don’t know what you want! Luigi know what you want!” The Italian photographer holding his camera out to the side, his other hand gesturing – thumb pressed against the tips of his fingers as if he’s plucking something out of the air and shaking it – is not Luigi. It’s Adriano Trapani of Phuket Paparazzi. Standing in front…
-
Phuket Food: Think globally cook locally
PHUKET: First on a speedboat, through the deep blue waters, east from Phuket, then in a song taew, across the lush green jungle of Khao Yao Yai – and finally I’m there: a stone’s throw away from a fisherman’s village, surrounded by rubber trees, talking to a chef. Or should I say – a celebrity. With his recent appearance on…
-
Phuket Diving: Plunging in before big splash in Bollywood
PHUKET: With her head down and pencil scribbling out numbers for a dive profile, it’s hard to believe that the woman on the far side of Scuba Cat’s Scuba Fun is about to make a big splash – not in the dive industry, but in Bollywood. Manasvi Mamgai, Miss India 2010 and Elite Model Management recruit, is about to debut…
-
The legend of the Emerging Buddha – Phuket History
PHUKET: Wat Phra Thong, or the “Temple of the Golden Buddha”, at first glance may seem like any other temple in Phuket. This old temple, located in Thalang district in the northern part of the island, was built during the 18th century towards the end of the Ayutthaya period. Walking into the main chapel, visitors will be greeted with a…
-
An incandescent talent – Phuket Books
PHUKET: Since the death of Walker Percy in 1990, Robert Stone has been the Big Kahuna of American literature. Here is what he has to say about Rachel Kushner: “The controlled intensity and perception in Rachel Kushner’s novels mark her as one of the most brilliant writers of the new century.” There is no denying the power of Kushner’s prose.…
-
Construction: Thai Watsadu Phuket now open for business
PHUKET: Numbered are the days of expensive and overpriced construction, home improvement, furnishing, landscaping and gardening materials in Phuket: The Central Retail Group have officially opened the doors of their Thai Watsadu store on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang, just north of the Heroines Monument. Phuket Governor Maitree Inthusut presided over the ribbon cutting this morning, which was also attended by…
-
Merry in the Maldives – Phuket Property Watch
PHUKET: I’ve spent more years than I can recall hovering around sea level. Visualize Robinson Crusoe walking around a desert island, umbrella in hand and deep in conversation with a coconut named Friday. A week ago I found myself on a small atoll about 45 minutes north of Malé, the capital city of the idyllic island nation, the Maldives. My…
-
AMCHAM real estate event
PHUKET: Tomorrow (Friday November 22) the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand (AMCHAM) will hold a real estate event at Angsana Laguna Phuket. Topics covered will include the trend in leasehold ownership, regulating real estate agencies in Thailand, big development news in Phuket real estate and current property tends. Shine PR’s, Natasha Eldred will moderate the event. Audience members will be…
-
EKA – Putting her heart and soul into Phuket
PHUKET: Canadian born singer EKA recently arrived in Phuket and has begun performing with her newly formed band at venues around the island. More than a decade ago she was a member of the hit Canadian girl group “Jai” which topped the Canadian charts with their first single “Checking Me Out” for three weeks in 2000. After a long hiatus…
-
Phuket Gardening: A maze in a month?
PHUKET: Some weeks ago, I received a most unusual, perhaps I should say labyrinthine email – a request from Phuket resident Alex Riva who explained: “I am planning to plant a hedge maze and was wondering what is the most cost effective and recommended type of hedge.” Somewhat bemused, I wrote back requesting more specific details. The reply included the…
-
Party with red passion – Phuket Events
PHUKET: SKAL International Phuket and South Thailand is holding its Annual Charity Dinner next Saturday, November 23, and it looks set to be the biggest yet, with loads of live entertainment and gourmet food. This year’s event, dubbed “Red Passion”, will be held at the island’s hottest new venue – Zazada Beach Club. It’s open to the public and will…
-
Phuket hotelier seeks help to give kids a break
PHUKET: They say “what you give is what you get”. But Simon Luttrell, a Phuket-based hotel owner wants to take it one step further. His goal is to give to people who have very little and expect nothing in return. It was 2005 when Simon built his first hotel in Phuket – a small building near the international airport. And…
-
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Disaster Relief Fund in Phuket
PHUKET: The Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Disaster Relief Fund was started by the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, and aims to collect funds for the victims of the recent natural disaster. The donations will be sent directly to Philippine Rotary Clubs in the affected areas over the next few days and weeks, before being allocated in the most effective way. Already…
-
Diamond condo sparkles – Phuket Property
PHUKET: Diamond Condominium, the latest project to be developed in Phuket’s high-end Bang Tao Beach area, is located just 400 meters from the beach, and minutes from the Laguna resort complex. The six rai (9,600sqm) property will contain four separate buildings surrounding a central swimming pool and landscaped community recreation area. In all, the four buildings will contain 388 units…
-
Phuket Events: Abba-cadabra!
PHUKET: With no time machine available, it seems that only magic can take us back in time. But this past weekend at Laguna Phuket what took us for an amazing journey was music – and it certainly was magical!“The gates open at 6:30pm” the tickets clearly stated. But that didn’t stop a line forming in front of Laguna Latitude Marquee…
-
Monsoon season skies – Phuket Aviation
PHUKET: Air. Of all the things we take for granted in our life, few are as easily overlooked as that chemical soup that surrounds and sustains us, breath by breath. Air is easy to take for granted; after all, it is colorless and odorless. Unless you are climbing Mt Everest, trapped in an air-tight vault, or happen to live near…
-
Light shined on blackouts – Phuket Diving
PHUKET: The death of PADI professional and freediving enthusiast Denis Lipatov last month brought into sharp focus the specter that continues to haunt the sport of freediving – shallow water blackouts (click here for article). Even the term “shallow water blackout” is rife with confusion within the freediving community, and even more so within the scuba diving community and general…
-
Phuket Gardening – Full of Ficus
PHUKET: In Saint Luke’s Gospel, Christ delivers a parable about a fig tree, barren for three years, in which the owner is exhorted to cut it down. The owner pleads: “let it alone this year “so that he can “dig about it and dung it. And if it bears, well: And if not thou shalt cut it down.” In another…
-
Commercial real estate thrives – Phuket Property Watch
PHUKET: Direct investment volumes in global real estate markets reached US$125 billion in the third quarter (Q3) of the year, preliminary findings by real estate capital solutions firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) show. Preliminary transaction volumes in the first three quarters of 2013 are up 16% over the same time period in 2012, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Capital Markets…
-
Due diligence on outstanding tax – Phuket Property Legal
PHUKET: When land and/or buildings are held by a Thai company, many owners of such companies, when contemplating a sale of the company owned property, require prospective purchasers to buy and take over their existing company in lieu of a direct sale and transfer of the underlying properties. In many cases, such companies have a low registered capital and face…
-
A blessing in disguise – Phuket In Focus
PHUKET: “Under the weather” is one way to describe how I was initially feeling one Monday morning last month as I started traversing the city-block on foot, westward bound for the province’s prime asphalt artery, where I could catch a sawng taeo to work. My oversized umbrella – held down at my side like it had been the pride of…
-
A Princess in Phang Nga Bay – Phuket Lifestyle
PHUKET: What makes a boat luxurious is not only the boat itself, it’s the quality of service on board. Boat Lagoon Cruises Luxury Charters proved this point clearly on their recent promotional cruise. I’ve seen it all – the spacious interiors, attention to detail, high quality materials, a design that combines beauty with comfort. In many ways, the White Pearl…
-
E is for ericas and eucalypts – Phuket Gardening
PHUKET: There are plenty of plants which names begin with the letter “E” but none that can rival the 2,000 strong euphorbia family. So large is the genus that that one unheralded member completely slipped through the net last week. Naturalized here, E. cotonifolia bears absolutely no resemblance to the exotic crown of thorns, or even to the brilliant yellow…
-
Phuket’s ice cream man
PHUKET: Having your own ice cream factory… admit it, you dreamed about it when you were a kid, but sadly for most of us, life ends up getting in the way. For executive chef Flavio Manzoni, however, this dream came true. Along with his wife Gai, Flavio churns out as many as five hundred liters of delicious, icy goodness a…
-
Bumper to bumper in Myanmar – Phuket Property Watch
PHUKET: There is nothing quite like raw, naked ambition. Well not exactly, but that’s perhaps best left for another time and place. Last week I found myself straight in the middle of boomtown – Yangon, Myanmar. Stopping off as I usually do for an afternoon coffee at the historically-twinged Strand Hotel, the smiling waiter pulled out his smartphone and showed…
-
Good music is forever – Phuket Events
PHUKET: Mamma mia, Phuket’s gone crazy! The tickets for the upcoming Abba Forever show sold out in days. Guests from as far as Manila, Paris and Shanghai are coming to the island to sing along and dance to the evergreen hits of the legendary Swedish pop group – Abba! But not to worry – if you missed the chance to…
-
Lock and load for dive high season – Phuket Diving
PHUKET: Lock on your tanks and load that gear on the boat because the Phuket diving high season is officially here. This year’s season was ushered in with the annual ruckus parties and dive show equipment suppliers, all brought to the industry pros of the entire Andaman region by Dive Supply and Aqua Master. Free flow drinks and all-you-can-eat grub…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.