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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    Why traders in Thailand are choosing EC Markets for gold and forex trading

    Gold and forex trading have long been favourites among investors in Thailand, but why are so many traders now turning to EC Markets? The answer lies in a combination of tight spreads, ultra-fast execution, Thai baht (THB) deposit support, and...

  • ‘Boss’ is off the front page of Interpol – the search for the fugitive Red Bull heir

    ‘Boss’ is off the front page of Interpol – the search for the fugitive Red Bull heir

    by The Nation Weekend The Interpol website’s removal of its red notice against Thai fugitive Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, involved in a 2012 hit-and-run road incident in which a Bangkok policeman died, will negatively affect an international effort to bring him to justice. This claim from a senior Thai prosecutor. While the Interpol matter is directly handled by the Royal Thai…

  • Mong Thongdee approaches the citizenship finish line

    Mong Thongdee approaches the citizenship finish line

    Good news for Thailand’s favourite paper plane flyer. The stateless paper-folding airplane competition champion, Mong Thongdee, has applied for Thai nationality. The process is expected to take three weeks. It’s only taken a decade since he first promised citizenship as a result of him representing the country in international paper-plane contests in Japan. The 21 year old stateless man, Mong…

  • Responsible property purchases – do your homework and seek a second opinion

    Responsible property purchases – do your homework and seek a second opinion

    Many times prospective buyers of property in Thailand search online for legal information in regards to their purchase. They soon discover that online legal advice varies depending on the law office, lawyer or advisor providing the information. In some cases advice is given which recommends that to secure an investment in property a Thai company should be incorporated to hold…

  • Getting longer life out of your outdoor furniture

    Getting longer life out of your outdoor furniture

    Outdoor furniture can be a sizable investment even here in Thailand. In Phuket it’s either the hot sun or rain adding to deterioration. The sun and heat are relentless. But with proper care and cleaning, you can enjoy your outdoor furniture for years. New furniture comes with care instructions; however this is not always the case in Thailand. So here’s…

  • SHOW DC to host “Dance Battle Revolution 2018”

    SHOW DC to host “Dance Battle Revolution 2018”

    Dance competition with three categories – B-Boy, Hip Hop and Cover Dance. Prizes worth more than 100,000 baht. SHOW DC invites dance lovers from all over Thailand to showcase their dancing talent at “Dance Battle Revolution 2018”. An all-new dance competition hosted by SHOW DC, it’s open for three dance styles – B-Boy, Hip Hop and Cover Dance. Dancers will have…

  • Sakchai completes his mission to visit Doi Inthanon with his partner’s ashes

    Sakchai completes his mission to visit Doi Inthanon with his partner’s ashes

    The man who headed out on an epic journey of 1,500 kilometers to fulfill a promise to take his girlfriend to Thailand’s highest mountain 18 months ago, has run into beaurocrats in Chiang Mai. The man headed out from Trang in March 2017 with his partner’s ashes. Along the way he befriended a kitten and two stray dogs who have…

  • The rise of the mixed use retail development

    The rise of the mixed use retail development

    As our lifeststyles continue to change and morph along with technological and social evolution, so too our living spaces and the locations we choose to live. Behavioural changes among urbanites have led to the rise of mixed-use projects in Southeast Asian countries, according to property experts. Christian Olofsson, shopping centre & mixed-use director of IKEA/Southeast Asia, told The Nation that…

  • Paper plane champ hopes for Thai ID soon

    Paper plane champ hopes for Thai ID soon

    by Kriengkrai Rattana Almost a decade after earning fame for winning a national paper-aeroplane championship at the age of 12, Mong Thongdee is poised to become a Thai citizen. Born in Thailand of Burmese ancestry, the young Chiang Mai man has been stateless all his life, but says he’s looking forward to continuing his studies on to the highest level…

  • Centipedes “if you aggravate them they will bite”

    Centipedes “if you aggravate them they will bite”

    In the wake of the death of the woman on Tuesday following a centipede bite on Sunday, we’re tried to find more concrete information about centipedes. Finding specific information about these creatures is little difficult so we share some links to kick off your research. An article from the Pattaya Unlimited blog warns that there are some centipedes that have…

  • From tropical paradise to busy urban island – Phuket

    From tropical paradise to busy urban island – Phuket

    By Bill Barnett Phuket’s tourists, expats and property buyers are finding new reasons to head to the Pearl of the Andaman. They’re now spending more time and money seeking out alternative activities in areas other than the famed west-coast beaches. A report says that the island is transforming into a more well-rounded destination as visitors and new residents takes advantage…

  • Hands-on schooling setting an example in Chiang Mai

    Hands-on schooling setting an example in Chiang Mai

    by Chularat Saengpassa PHOTO: Padungkiat Jaiwong, far left, and fellow barbers of the “HK Barber” salon at Wat Huai Kaew School in Chiang Mai’s Mae On district show off their haircutting equipment. “Take me to your heart, Take me to your soul. Give me your hand before I’m old, Show me what love is, haven’t got a clue, Show me…

  • The new Blue Tree waterpark and entertainment precinct unveiled

    The new Blue Tree waterpark and entertainment precinct unveiled

    Phuket’s tourism industry has received a major shot in the arm with the unveiling of the new Blue Tree Phuket – a US$40 million investment and multi-dimensional destination waterpark and entertainment complex set over 140 rai in Cherng Talay. Positioning themselves as ‘Phuket’s premier family attraction’, Blue Tree is the island’s first international-standard, fully integrated waterpark and family entertainment complex.…

  • Fern helps her mum sell food in Krabi. She also speaks four languages fluently.

    Fern helps her mum sell food in Krabi. She also speaks four languages fluently.

    PHOTO: A five year old Thai girl, who can speak three foreign languages, helps her mother to sell food along the beach in Krabi. A young beach vendor who sells food along Klong Heng Beach in Krabi, is carrying two baskets with fruits and snacks. She can speak Thai but also Chinese, English and Bahasa Malay languages. She is seen…

  • Central Phuket opens on September 10

    Central Phuket opens on September 10

    The new Central Phuket is set to open its doors on September 10. The announcement was made at Centara Grand Beach Resort, also owned by the Central Pattana Group. The concept of the new shopping centre, twice as big as the current Central Festival, is ‘The World Comes To Play’. The new complex will feature 20 of the world’s biggest…

  • Observations of a working expat couple, and their 9.5 kilogram cat ‘George’

    Observations of a working expat couple, and their 9.5 kilogram cat ‘George’

    All expats have a story of how they ended up in the Land of Smiles. Few are just ‘I got a job here’. It usually happens the other way around where people visit Thailand and find a reason to stay. John Read, writing for the Financial Times, and his husband German, have lived and worked in many of the world’s…

  • Toon’s back on the road again

    Toon’s back on the road again

    “The director admits there were many times when he was sure Toon couldn’t possibly finish his mission.” A documentary comes out next month and follows the epic run led by Athiwara ‘Toon’ Khongmalai when he ran Thailand – south to north – to raise funds for Thailand’s public hospitals. The trials, tribulations and triumphs captured on 16,300 minutes of footage…

  • The world’s riskiest place to visit, if you’re British

    The world’s riskiest place to visit, if you’re British

    PHOTO: worldatlas.com If you’re British, where in the world is the riskiest place for you to visit? New research by Endsleigh Insurance Services has unveiled the world’s riskiest holiday destinations. Thailand has been found to be the world’s riskiest holiday destination for British tourists, according to a new report. The report looked at data from 2017, ranking countries on where the most…

  • Buying off plan? A few things to consider.

    Buying off plan? A few things to consider.

    Many developers offer units and condo “off-plan” for sale at an early stage of the project development, even before the first brick has been laid. The lure is usually a lower price and getting the pick of the best location in the development. Some of us may not be familiar with the term “off-plan”. Generally speaking, buying off-plan means buying…

  • Buying property in Thailand – the basics

    Buying property in Thailand – the basics

    by Kevin Hodges There are many, MANY properties for sale in Phuket and around Thailand. In a market that has peaks and troughs it’s best to buy in partnership with respected sales agents who know the current market and can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls. Buying property in Thailand is not straight forward, so you will need…

  • Goodbye e-commerce, hello ‘new retail’

    Goodbye e-commerce, hello ‘new retail’

    PHOTOS: Alibaba Group Our lifestyles are quickly evolving as the digital age kills off the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ inexorably creeps in to our daily life. Goodby Kodak and Polaroid – hello smartphone cameras and Facebook. Goodbye newspapers – hello instant news websites, blogs and live-streaming. The same is happening to retail as the shopfront moves to websites and screens…

  • Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera

    Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera

    ADVERTISEMENT Sony Thailand steps up its game with new smartphones introduced to compete offerings from some of the Chinese companies as well as Samsung and Apple. Sony have announced the new XZ2 Premium, which has one of the most remarkable cameras ever integrated into a smartphone. The new phone boasts the world’s highest ISO 12800 sensitivity for video recording in…

  • Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi

    Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi

    It’s getting easier and easier to get around the region with new start-ups opening up the skies and current operators always introducing new routes. Now, the people that brought us the slogan “now Everyone Can Fly”, Air Asia, is launched four direct flights a week between Chiang Mai and Hanoi, Vietnam’s northern capital. The Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights start…

  • Kata Rocks welcomes its new General Manager

    Kata Rocks welcomes its new General Manager

    Ms Somjai Tungkoo, new General Manager of Kata Rocks Infinite Luxury is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Somjai Tungkoo as General Manager of Kata Rocks, its award-winning resort in Phuket, Thailand. Somjai has more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. She began her career in Phuket, Thailand as a Human Resources Coordinator at the Cape Panwa…

  • TECNO hit the smartphone sweet spot

    TECNO hit the smartphone sweet spot

    PRESS RELEASE Leading Chinese smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile, is experiencing exponential growth in Thailand on the back of success with its Camon CM and SPARK CM models which have proven a big hit with Millennials due in large part to their mid-market price point and use of the latest state-of-the-art technologies. “The Camon CM and SPARK CM are the first…

  • Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province

    Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province

    By Pattarawadee Saengmanee, The Nation Weekend The former capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist map for more than a decade. But his southern province bordered by Narathiwat, Yala, and Songkhla has plenty to offer the…

  • Are huge LED screens coming to your cinemas?

    Are huge LED screens coming to your cinemas?

    First there was celluloid film, then digital projection. Now cinemas are toying with using giant LED screen technology. Ben Hobbs from H3-digital.com reports on the emerging cinema technology… If you go to the cinema, today, anywhere in the world to watch a movie – you will be watching a projected image, shone onto a white (or grey) screen. It’s been…

  • Deadly link: Puppy factories and rabies

    Deadly link: Puppy factories and rabies

    (12 minute read) A media release from soidog.org The panic over rabies that erupted at the beginning of this year seems to have died down. Fourteen people have died; dozens of dogs were poisoned and thousands more died after being incarcerated in government pounds as officials across the country stumbled to stamp out the spread of the disease. Yet absolutely nothing…

  • Event Round-Up with The Sponsorship Experts – August 2018

    Event Round-Up with The Sponsorship Experts – August 2018

    by Paul Poole The running craze continues in August with races held throughout the country. The month starts off with Bangkok Airways Phuket Marathon 2018 on August 5 where runners can choose between three distances, 21, 10 and five kilometres, and CIMB Thai Triathlon for ASEAN Day 2018, also on August 5. Perfect for beginners, the event allows participants to…

  • What a difference an airport could make

    What a difference an airport could make

    Phuket’s Northern neighbour Phang Nga, and its key tourism magnet of Khao Lak, is seeing increasingly broader demand. One clear sign of the times is the new international offerings in the current pipeline including such brands as Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Avani. And a new airport to service the area as well. Read more about the confirmed new Phang Nga airport HERE.…

  • 5 property checks buyers mysteriously overlook in Thailand

    5 property checks buyers mysteriously overlook in Thailand

    by Desmond Hughes In many countries, once a decision to purchase a property has been made, a deposit paid, the parties should be able to sit back and handover legal matters to their lawyers, and concentrate on admittedly stressful practical matters such as furniture removal, checking boilers / heating / air conditioning systems and often working through a ‘chain’ of…