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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Phuket Lifestyle: Funk it up at the 2012 Mango House Festival
PHUKET: The Absolut Mango House Festival 2012 organizers have announced their entertainment lineup for South Thailand’s premiere house music event on March 7, 8 and 9 at the Mango House Bar and Restaurant in Lanta Old Town, Koh Lanta. The house music festival is a popular event at the island’s annual cultural extravaganza, the Lanta Lanta Festival. Back by popular…
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Phuket Valentine’s Day
History is unclear on whether any of The Beatles had journeyed to Phuket before they wrote their 1964 smash hit with its charmingly quaint lyrics…”Money Can’t Buy Me Love.” Clearly the lyricist Paul McCartney had never had the pleasure of a wander down Soi Bangla around midnight on almost any evening. Had he done so, he would have certainly witnessed…
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Phuket Books: Searching to do the right thing
PHUKET: At the age of 70, Russell Banks has written 14 novels. I’ve read two, The Book of Jamaica and Continental Drift which work out moral quandaries found on the border between a white working class hero from New England and the exotic world of the Caribbean. His latest novel, Lost Memory of Skin ( Ecco, 432 pages), takes place…
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Phuket Property: Vocation students to fill service vacancies
PHUKET: Shortages of skilled personnel in Phuket’s hospitality and service sectors look to be reduced with increased collaboration between key operators and the island’s biggest, yet underutilized supplier of human resources. Six major hotels, along with two food and beverage operators on February 7 signed bilateral agreements with the Phuket Vocational College to cooperate in jointly managing students’ vocational education.…
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Phuket Property Watch: There’s no such thing as an easy A
PHUKET: I am often reminded by a chain of long suffering editors at the Phuket Gazette that my beat is property, tourism and leisure. Do I stray? Yes, like a punch drunk lunatic, wired on rapid fire staccato sentences. Some of it makes sense. Other times, it even makes me look into the mirror and pose the question – what…
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Phuket Gardening: Reading palms again
PHUKET: I recently came across a letter in which the writer lamented the absence of palms on Phuket’s beaches. Not like the Caribbean, he declared. While this observation is more or less true, there are a few sprouting improbably from the sand dunes at secluded spots around the island. And anyway, there are plenty of alternative trees: avenues of casuarinas…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Love on a wing and a prayer
PHUKET: Finnish daredevil Jari ‘Birdman’ Kuosma will hurtle from the skies of Phuket into the waiting arms of his betrothed on Februay 25. Jari ‘The Birdman’ Kuosma is Phuket’s own adventure action hero. He is known around the world for his sky diving talents and breathtaking exploits. From his home country, Finland, to South America to Africa to California and…
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Phuket Gazette: Your horoscope by Isla Star
AQUARIUS (January 21-February 19): A talk with a close friend can mark the end of a story for Aquarians this week, but it will be important to accept that some things cannot be changed. Business should boom during the remainder of February for those who have been chasing up old contacts. If your birthday is in the week ahead, look…
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Phuket Property: Bangkok developers expand upcountry
PHUKET: Hit hard by high waters and high competition, many developers in the property market of Bangkok and its suburbs are now expanding their portfolios to include more upcountry projects. Real estate markets that stand to gain the most from such a trend include Phuket, Pattaya, Chon Buri, Hua Hin, Khao Yai and Chiang Mai. Leading property firms investing in…
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Phuket Property Watch: The art of changing places; tax hoopla; more foreign banks?
PHUKET: Sometimes more is more. At the other end of the universe less can also be more. Sounds confusing? It’s not really. Take the recent repositioning of the upscale hotel Indigo Pearl into an all villa and suite property as a prime example. Working with legendary designer Bill Bensley, an estimated 1.2 billion baht has been invested in the extreme…
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Samui hideaway secret unveiled
PHUKET: Ready to lift the veil on Koh Samui’s “best-kept secret”, the boutique Akaryn Samui is set to welcome its first guests next month. As the fourth and latest venture by Thailand hospitality pioneer Anchalika Kijkanakorn, the Akaryn Samui looks to redefine the boutique resort experience. The largely undiscovered, Hanuman Bay is a pristine crescent cove with a 500-meter powder…
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Phuket Lifestyle: BIS kids get the blues
PHUKET: Music fans are in for a treat at this year’s Phuket International Blues Rock Festival as the main act is none other than Chris Thomas King who has sold more records, and appeared in more successful movies, than any other blues artist this century. Seeing him perform live is one thing, but imagine being able to get “up close…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Lights, camera, action – online teaching its rewards and risks
PHUKET: Before the internet, teachers were limited to face-to-face learning and eventually correspondence courses. But with innovation comes progress and now many web-based agents are helping connect teachers with students around the globe. Matthew Nobel was a former expat in Thailand before moving back to the States to complete his master’s in education. Upon his return, Nobel turned to Skype…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Finn dining in Chalong
PHUKET: If anyone ever asked you, “Fancy a Flatty at Skiffer?” you would be forgiven for not knowing what they meant but after one visit to the trendy Skiffer restaurant in Chalong Bay you would likely answer in the affirmative as flatties are delicious. Having lived in Phuket for years I must have passed near this place hundreds of times…
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Phuket Books: The all-American horror tale of a tough childhood
PHUKET: In 1989, Tobias Wolfe published his block-breaking memoir This Boy’s Life, later made into a movie with Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Tobias Wolfe was the mentor of Mary Karr who published her own masterpiece memoir in 1995: The Liar’s Club. These two books about hard-scrabble childhoods marked the emergence of a new literary era and unleashed a floodgate…
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Restoring the historical buildings of Phuket Town
PHUKET: Premises such as the Standard Chartered Bank and the police station in Phuket Town will soon be restored to former glory. It’s always interesting meeting with Pranee Sakulpipatana, who works to ensure that local people learn and celebrate their heritage. She comes from a Chinese/Thai family who were originally merchants on Thalang Road, Phuket City’s “Road of Culture”. Pranee…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Dream of it and they will come
PHUKET: When was the last time you were laying on Nai Harn Beach daydreaming, “Ooh, I could really do with a grilled chicken quesadilla washed down with a pumpkin iced latte”? Granted, it may not have been recently, but the next time you do, you can have exactly that and much more without even seeking a restaurant, it will come…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Day of the kiddies
PHUKET: Children are our future as the song tells us and to prepare them for the waiting world of adulthood we endeavor to provide a wealth of learning experiences that are an important tool for their development. National Children’s Day in Thailand was celebrated on January 14 and many places marked this special occasion with events filled with fun activities.…
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Phuket’s Playground of comedy
PHUKET: Utterly uproarious and mind-bendingly brilliant is the usual hilarious result when a group of talented comedians improvise a sketch based on a random scenario pieced together by a willing audience. Phuket has its willing audience and this month the Punchline Comedy Club provides the comedic talent when they present their biggest show yet – the live stage show of…
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Phuket Fashion: Distress that dress
PHUKET: When most of us think about good fashion one word comes to mind: quality. Well-made, classic pieces will always stay in our wardrobes longer, withstanding the test of time. But when it comes to some fashion trends, the emphasis away from impeccable craftsmanship might surprise you. Distressed clothing is nothing new; we’ve all had our share of ripped jeans,…
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Phuket Gardening: Dangers in the Garden of Eden
PHUKET: Everyone knows that some plants are poisonous, and we gardeners in Phuket know that Thailand has more than its fair share. In truth, the Kingdom also has more than its fair share of edible species – as this column has frequently documented. Although you are hardly likely to attempt to eat any part of the following toxic plants, do…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Classical music hits high note in Phuket
PHUKET: There is good news for those who appreciate European classical music: Mom Luang Tri Devakul is again welcoming Phuket residents and visitors to his luxury estate at Villa Royale tonight for an evening of music and fine dining. Mom Tri has long supported the arts on the island with his Baan Kata Artsfest, a celebration of music, art and…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Eye to eye contact
Doctor Captain Wiriyaluppain is launching a series of articles to help educate Phuket Gazette readers about eye health and what to be beware of. The articles will also explain advances in eye treatment technologies. Here is the first in the series. PHUKET: As an eye doctor who has practiced in Phuket for many years, I have found that the patient…
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Phuket Lifestyle: BAKE brings uniquely Thai handcrafted coffee to Phuket
PHUKET: Since opening two years ago, BAKE by Twinpalms has become a go-to spot for Phuket island residents and visitors who love a selection of freshly baked goods, sandwiches, salads, chocolates, desserts, juice, smoothies, coffees and teas. They have now announced the addition of another sensory delight to their repertoire of premium baked goods with their new coffee roasting and…
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Phuket Property: Organic resort nets new awards
PHUKET: Accolades continue to pour down on Thanyamundra, the unique five-star organic resort perched upon the fringes of Thailand’s most ancient rainforest. Thanyamundra has been elevated to the elite ranks of hotels and resorts included on DestinAsian magazine’s prestigious Luxe List, just weeks after being voted by agoda.com as one of Asia’s Top Three Eco-Boutiques. Agoda also honored the resort…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Count Snape gets his teeth into opera
PHUKET: Dressed in a flowing black cape, a certain Mr Snape mingled with the New Year crowds in Patong on New Year’s Eve, but Andrew Snape has no relation to the character in Harry Potter. Yes, they are both teachers, wear black capes and have English accents. But “Count Snape”, as Andrew calls himself when dressed as a vampire, performs…
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In memory of Bjorn Täckmann
PHUKET: Bjorn Täckmann, an important member of the dive community in Phuket and Thailand, passed away on January 6 in a hospital in Surat Thani. He had been diagnosed with cancer last year. Mr Täckmann started diving in 1983 and moved from Denmark to Thailand in 1993 as a PADI Dive Instructor. Since then he has ushered thousands into the…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Bottom time is now family time
PHUKET: Everyone can learn to dive, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Diving is like everything worth doing, there are obstacles to overcome. Sometimes those obstacles are mental, sometimes they are physical and sometimes they are both. For Emil Engahl aged 10 it was no different. For years Emil has been coming to Phuket with his parents Mette and Lars…
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Phuket Property Briefs: Kata Group; Banyan Tree; Thai Smiles
Kata Group opens Khao Lak Resort in NovemberA new Greater Phuket resort called The Sands Khao Lak By Katathani will open this coming November. Katathani Resorts have a well known flagship property on Phuket’s west coast and the upscale villa resort The Shore at Kata Noi. Francois Huet leaves Banyan TreeOne of the island’s best known hotel faces, Francois Huet,…
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Phuket Property: Sansiri set to invest heavily this year
PHUKET: Residential developer Sansiri has earmarked 24 billion baht to launch 44 projects worth 46bn baht this year and to buy land for more projects next year. “This year we will expand our products to cover all market segments, including units priced lower than 2 million baht and over 10 million baht. This will stress our number one quality brand…
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