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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Sponsored Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
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Southeast Asia’a climbing capital
PHUKET: Contrary to popular belief, Phuket is not the place to be for rock climbing. The island’s jungled interior peaks rise in an almost Appalachian profile, with relatively tame gradients to their summits. For all the international hulaballoo it receives, Phuket is almost a complete contrast to neighboring Krabi Province, whose limestone columns rise vertically out of impenetrable jungle and…
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Profile: Sirirat Rattanasuanjig – it’s all on the cards
Fortune teller Sirirat Rattanasuanjig, or ‘Adina’ as she is better known, had a near-death experience when she was a child. She was a bystander as a couple were quarreling. One of them had a knife which ended up embedded in her chest. She was rushed to the hospital and nearly died from her injury, but eventually pulled through. The near-death…
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Property Inspector: Make outdoor furniture last longer
PHUKET: Outdoor furniture can be a sizable investment even here in Thailand. In Phuket it’s either the hot sun or rain adding to deterioration. 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 a quick reference to help you…
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Phuket public health system goes digital
PHUKET: With the aim of utilizing IT and innovation to improve the healthcare sector, and public healthcare services in particular, the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) linked hands with the National Electronic and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) to develop the Personal Health Record (PHR) system. The system has initially been launched at government hospitals in five provinces, including Phuket, Nakhon…
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On Deck: Stewards of the future
PHUKET: Phuket’s low season, in my opinion, is the best time to be on the island. Sure there’s rain – and lots of it – but it’s warm, and in between the rainstorms there are some glorious days only the tropics can deliver. It’s also a great time to go sailing. The odd shower won’t put off any serious sailor…
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Property Watch: High hopes for smart moves
PHUKET: It is great to note that Phuket has the watchful eye and support of our PM General Prayuth with his visit for the opening ceremony of the new terminal at Phuket International Airport and the speech on ‘Phuket Smart City’ and ‘Startup Paradise’. Although Phuket has been experiencing growing pains from development, the island needs to develop to sustain…
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Profile: Dr Passaratep Anurukpaiboon – Raising the standard of skin care
PHUKET: Dr Passaratep Anuruk-paiboon MD, Dsc (or Dr Pat, as he is better known), is the director of dermatology and chief dermatologist at Phuket International Dermatology Institute (PDI) at Phuket International Hospital. He is originally from Bangkok, but was raised in Samui for about five years. After getting his medical degree from Mahidol University in 2003, Dr Pat began working…
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Gardening: Annuals and perennials
PHUKET: Some bedding flowers can be cultivated as annuals or perennials. It all depends on such imponderables as the climate or the whim of the gardener. Take begonias. They will not tolerate frost, so in temperate zones, if you intend to keep them for more than one season, they need to be brought indoors during the cold weather. For this…
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Excuse Buster: Choose salad dressings with care
PHUKET: First rule of nutrition, as well as weight loss, is to choose real food that is minimally processed. Often real foods (except those naturally preserved) have a short shelf life. In the past, I have spoken of the potential health dangers of transfats, vegetable oils, MSG, sugar – especially high fructose corn syrup – additives, colorings, preservatives and so…
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Getting value out of waste
PHUKET: On an island like Phuket, with millions of visitors, expats and locals coming and going every year, one of the major problems we are left dealing with is pollution. Environmentalists cry about our bleeding oceans, but no one seems to pay much heed. Perhaps it’s time we change our approach to this issue by incorporating this mentality in our…
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Blazing Saddles: Beat the rush, cycle by boat
PHUKET: There’s no doubt that cycling on Phuket is becoming more challenging by the day, as traffic volume, road works and ongoing urbanization of our once-unspoiled island proceeds apace. Yet, being an island (as we very nearly are), we have on our doorstep ideal cycling getaways to nearby islands, where beautiful and quiet rides are readily available and indeed the…
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Profile: Naphatwong Niyomadul – entrepreneur, connoisseur and philanthropist
PHUKET: Bangkokian Naphatwong Niyomadul holds the prestigious title of Owner’s Representative at Centara Blue Marine Resort & Spa Phuket, operated by Patong Cliff View Co Ltd. Well, you could say he is entitled to it and has a vested interest in the resort, which his family established in 2002. At age 36 years, Mr Naphatwong already has a wealth of…
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Across the land: Age of the robotic butler
PHUKET: Robot butlers could soon be seen in modern homes. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building an artificial intelligence system to operate and control his entire home, and the system will apparently be ready to perform a demo in the very near future. When we think of butlers, we usually envisage a man traditionally dressed in a white-wing collar…
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On Deck: A look inside the Royal Pavilion
PHUKET: I recently attended the National Science and Technology Fair in Bangkok at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. The attraction for me was a Royal Pavilion that included boats made by His Majesty the King of Thailand. Many will know that His Majesty has built a number of boats in his time. Twenty-five to be precise, all dinghies. His first was…
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Profile: Montree Todtan – Rescuing nature’s gentle giants
PHUKET: Phuket native Montree Todtan is the CEO of the soon-to-open ‘Phuket Elephant Sanctuary’ in Pa Khlok. The sanctuary is a dedicated last home for Asian elephants rescued and rehabilitated from life in the captive elephant tourism industry. Now 46 years old, Mr Montree grew up in Phuket and after completing high school went to Ramkamheang University for three years…
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CPN invests B20bn into new Central Phuket
PHUKET: Central Pattana PCL (CPN) recently confirmed long-awaited expansion plans for Phuket, announcing a 20 billion baht investment to build a second mega complex opposite Central Festival Phuket shopping mall. The new world class mega project in Phuket, to be named Central Phuket, is part of a 60 billion baht plan to develop and renovate 10 shopping centers nationwide between…
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By The Book: The British love affair with Phuket
PHUKET: For a long time, the British have been coming to Phuket on vacation, for their retirement, and to set up businesses here. For a lot of Brits coming from aboard, Phuket is an attractive location for a holiday home or investment property, and UK buyers have established themselves as a permanent segment of the island’s property market. For the…
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Getting your Aussie visa application right
PHUKET: Often you will hear people say getting a visa to Australia is very hard, but the reality is, as long as you meet the basic criteria, it could not be easier. Many people make it much harder for themselves than is necessary, and hopefully this article will assist people to be successful the first time. 1. Make sure you…
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Second TYS to feature more small boats
PHUKET: Organizers of the second edition of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) at Ao Po Grand Marina from December 15-18 are looking to add new features to attract different visitors. One of these, the ‘Premier Display’ is intended to give visitors the opportunity to view the latest small boats and other watercraft on offer in Southeast Asia. “At the first…
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Law, Life and Society: The real cost of incarceration
PHUKET: Last month, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya announced that methamphetamine will be removed from the list of Category 1 hard narcotics. It was met with controversy but it is a welcome change to a policy that has devastated Thai society. According to the Corrections Department, Thailand has a prison population of 371,347 which is the 8th largest prison population in…
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Indonesian yacht to kick off Asia Superyacht Rendezvous
PHUKET: Indonesian charter yacht S/Y Dunia Baru will help kick off the 16th annual Asia Superyacht Rendezvous for the first time this year. The 51m phinisi-style sailing yacht will be hosting the opening cocktail reception. Running from 16-18 December in Phuket, the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous is one of the largest gatherings of extra-large sailing and motor-yachts in the region, bringing…
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Profile: Mitr Kokopan – Around the world and back
PHUKET: Mitr Kokapan, or ‘Koko’, as he is better known to his friends and family, may look like your run-of-the-mill Phuket restaurant owner, but his life has been far from ordinary. Born in Isarn, he is the second of eight siblings. After moving to Bangkok at an early age, Koko started working at hotels to support himself and further his…
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Supicha targets locals with Sino style
PHUKET: Local developer Supicha Property is set to begin construction of a mixed-use commercial and residential development near the British International School (BIS) in Koh Kaew in December. The construction company has sunk 300 million baht into the Supicha Sino Koh Kaew project, situated on eight rai opposite the international school in Koh Kaew and backing on to a lake.…
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Culinary fest, tourism fair to be held in Phuket
PHUKET: Mark your calendars for two fun festivals coming to Phuket next month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office is hosting the ‘Phuket Tasty Fest 2016’ and ‘Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair 2016’ from September 9-11 at Limelight Avenue. The Tasty Fest will include live cooking demonstrations, as well as celebrity chefs creating their own dishes with local…
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On Deck: Local sailors making their mark
PHUKET: In sailing circles, attention is more often than not focused on the big international sailing events full of professionals: the America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, World Match Racing Tour etc. Locally though, and in the region, the focus is on the keelboat and multihull sailing events. As I write this, my 30th column (yep, hard to believe), the Olympics…
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Property Watch: Hiring a property expert
PHUKET: Sometimes the obvious is worth pointing out, because the obvious is very often overlooked or ignored. For example, driving safely reduces road accidents, injuries and deaths, so it is something worth repeating, over and over. Similarly, if you are looking for information on property investment in Thailand, then look to proven experts with a track record of success as…
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Profile: Walter Brown – committed to helping travellers in need
PHUKET: Walter Brown, or ‘Wal’ as he is popularly known, is the founder and coordinator of the Region 8 Police Volunteers. Originally from Australia, Wal has been in Thailand for about 10 years now. He had already been retired for 15 years before he arrived here. Living on a 40ft motor cruiser in the tropics of north Queensland, Thailand was…
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Property Inspector: Preventing mold growth in your home
PHUKET: Phuket seems to be the mold capital of the world. We all battle the mold. It surrounds us 24 hours a day in the form of spores in the air and those that have settled onto every surface inside a home. These spores are time bombs waiting to go off. In almost all instances, they already have two of…
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Young sailors cruise to victory at Topper World Championships
PHUKET: Young Phuket sailors are making a splash at international events, with two local youngsters from the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC) winning gold and bronze at the 2016 Topper World Championships held at Ballyholme in Northern Ireland last month. While this is a big deal in itself, the fact that these children come from underprivileged backgrounds makes this even…
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Excuse Buster: The flaws of nutritional science
PHUKET: I recently had a session with a gentleman who from the outset spoke about his frustration with the health industry, particularly in regard to the constant opinion changing about what is healthy and unhealthy. I agree with his sentiment – seems every few years the ‘experts’ change their minds. I remember eggs were bad, then good again 10 years…
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