Thai Life

Discover the latest regional stories and happenings in Thailand with The Thaiger, your source of credible, informative, and reliable updates. Stay informed about important local events, political happenings, social issues, cultural highlights, and entertainment stories, all curated to ensure you never miss out on what’s happening in the Land of Smiles. Our journalists will keep you informed with all the essential Thai life updates and allows you to connect with the community and experience Thailand like a local.

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    A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day

    The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...

  • New ferry service to link Phuket Airport to nearby provinces

    New ferry service to link Phuket Airport to nearby provinces

    File Photo The Harbour Department will build a new pier near Phuket Airport and open five ferry routes linking Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga according to the department chief today (Thursday). Jirut Wisaljit, director-general of the Harbour Department, said the new port and the “Andaman Ring Route” ferry service would reduce congestion at the Phuket airport and on roads in…

  • An addiction to the music beats

    An addiction to the music beats

    The 19 year old Thai-French girl who was born on the island of Phuket, Sophie Marguerite Indracusin, is widely known as an actress working with Channel 7 and has been shining in through television shows and dramas as the main role for years. Now it’s time for her to introduce another perspective of herself, through her first single ‘Mary Jane’.…

  • Toons Tunes – Charlie Puth “Done For Me”

    Toons Tunes – Charlie Puth “Done For Me”

    Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon Baby faced American singer and song writer Charlie Puth stamped his mark on the world when he released the single “See You Again” which featured as a tribute to Paul Walker on the soundtrack for Furious 7. Topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks as well…

  • Patong and Kamala Number One in Hotels.com survey

    Patong and Kamala Number One in Hotels.com survey

    The recent Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com revealed that Kathu District, where Patong and Kamala beaches are located, is among the top five destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation among global travellers in 2017. The HPI uncovered the Top 5 most popular destinations for low cost 5-star accommodation – from resorts and high-end chains to villas and luxury boutiques: 1.…

  • Toons Tunes – James Bay “Pink Lemonade”

    Toons Tunes – James Bay “Pink Lemonade”

    Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon After a couple of years hiatus, English singer and songwriter James Bay returns with a new look and a new feel with soon to be released Electric Light. He rose to stardom in 2014 after the release of his single “Hold Back the River” from his debut studio…

  • Toons Tunes – John Legend & The Roots “Wake Up Everybody”

    Toons Tunes – John Legend & The Roots “Wake Up Everybody”

    Checking new and amazing music for The Thaiger everyday with Donna Toon I was lucky enough to venture up to Bangkok on the weekend with my girlfriends to see John Legend at Bitec. He was nothing short of incredible. Backed by a full band, horn section and back up singers, the American singer and songwriter is the full package, talented,…

  • 10 Destinations on the rise for 2018 – Trip Advisor

    10 Destinations on the rise for 2018 – Trip Advisor

    Trip Advisor has released a list of the destinations in Asia that are ‘on the rise’, either off the map and previously undiscovered by the travel agents, or creeping back into popularity. Thailand is already well-established as a tourist destination. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is predicting up to 37 million tourists will visit the Land of Smiles this…

  • Phuket gets Number Two in list of Top Asian Destinations

    Phuket gets Number Two in list of Top Asian Destinations

    The trip advisor list of Asia’s top 25 destinations is in. Good news… Thailand has five locations in the Top 25 reader-voted list. Bad news, Thailand’s not Number One. The Indonesian island of Bali has come in Number One with Phuket in Number Two spot. Hanoi in Vietnam is in Number 3, Cambodia’s Siam Reap Number 5 and the mega-city…

  • Laguna launches Dhawa Phuket branded residences

    Laguna launches Dhawa Phuket branded residences

    Leading island developer Laguna has launched Dhawa Phuket branded residences at the main entrance of the integrated resort. Featuring one and two-bedroom apartments, the entry level pricing starts from 4.9 million baht. Dhawa is a new brand of the Banyan Tree group that also operates Angsana and Cassia properties. Buyers of the property will have access to the full beach…

  • Fatties in Thai Business Class? Mai dai!

    Fatties in Thai Business Class? Mai dai!

    Passengers intending to fly business class on Thai Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will have to first pass the waist test (that’s ‘waist’ not ‘waste’!). Flight Lieutenant Pratthana Pattanasirim, THAI’s director of security and flight standard division, says that a passenger with waist bigger than 56 inches (142 cm) cannot fly business class on the fleet’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft.…

  • Phuket’s new Environmental Rules hit island development

    Phuket’s new Environmental Rules hit island development

    By Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com A new set of guidelines that quietly come into law late last year are set to alter the state of real estate and hotel development in Phuket. The revised regulations were issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and apply to Phuket Province. Perhaps the most significant amendment is that buildings are no…

  • 5 Reasons to head to the Top Of The Gulf Regatta 2018

    5 Reasons to head to the Top Of The Gulf Regatta 2018

    Now entering its 14th year, the Top of the Gulf Regatta at Ocean Marina in Pattaya has grown to become an award-winning multi-class regatta held annually in the Gulf of Thailand. Homed at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, the regatta has morphed from its humble roots into one of the largest sailing events in Asia today, and attract sailors of all…

  • Thailand’s outbound travel industry booms

    Thailand’s outbound travel industry booms

    We all know there’s plenty of tourists heading TO Thailand this year. But what about the traffic in the other direction? Outbound travel from Thailand is set to hit 10 million this year, nearly a third of the inbound tourist traffic this year, according to the first comprehensive market research report on what is expected to be the “the next…

  • Krabi residents, “Close Maya Bay”

    Krabi residents, “Close Maya Bay”

    An initial survey by a leading marine scientist found that most residents supported the closure of the popular Maya Bay in Krabi after more than 80% of coral reefs in the area were damaged. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the Fishery Faculty at Kasetsart University, said his team was compiling results from an opinion survey of more than 300 local…

  • “The Great Convenience Store Gourmet Challenge” Episode 1

    “The Great Convenience Store Gourmet Challenge” Episode 1

    Can a chef prepare an amazing meal simply from ingredients in a local 7/11 convenience store? One of my favourite things about living on our little slice of paradise, we get to do funky things with creative and cool people! Here’s our first episode of “The Great Convenience Store Gourmet Challenge” with Belinda Tuckwell from Firefly in Layan, Phuket.

  • Nearly 5,000 visited this year’s Thailand Yacht Show

    Nearly 5,000 visited this year’s Thailand Yacht Show

    After four days and excellent weather, the third edition of the Thailand Yacht Show finished last Sunday with the traditional symphony of horns at Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket. Over the four sunny days the show welcomed a total of 4,730 visitors who were treated to new yachts on display, activities for kids and the family and the best of…

  • Dream Beach Weddings In Phuket

    Dream Beach Weddings In Phuket

    By Thavorn Hotels & Resorts With couples seeking unique and memorable weddings, destination weddings have become the wedding trend on the rise. Couples are increasing skipping the traditional hometown ceremony and running off to a beach wedding. After all, what can more perfect than saying “I do” on the sandy beaches of Phuket? Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa provides…

  • The long and winding roads – Asia’s roads ranked

    The long and winding roads – Asia’s roads ranked

    PHOTO: Asian Development Bank “Road infrastructure is the marker of a country’s development and is significant for safety and satisfaction of the citizens.” This, according to an opinion survey by World Economic Forum very few Asian countries have the best road infrastructure. Singapore is ranked at the top in Asia and second globally in terms of road infrastructure in the…

  • Thailand Yacht Show 2018 – starts tomorrow (Thursday)

    Thailand Yacht Show 2018 – starts tomorrow (Thursday)

    Some of the world’s most prestigious marine brands are assembling at the Ao Po Grand Marina for the third edition of the Thailand Yacht Show. It starts tomorrow (Thursday) and runs until Sunday. Buyers, charterers and locals are invited to climb aboard and experience the watercraft – superyachts, catamarans, sailboats, sports-fishers, dinghies, tenders, water sport boats and day cruisers, in…

  • Firefly’s direct Penang flights go daily from March 25

    Firefly’s direct Penang flights go daily from March 25

    Firefly are upping the direct flights from Penang to Phuket from four a week to daily starting March 25. The regional airline is owned by Malaysian Airlines and flies ATR 72s with 70 seats. Flying out of Penang, Firefly flies internationally to Banda Aceh on Sumatra, Indonesia and Phuket. Locally it serves Langkawi and Kota Baru. For now the new…

  • Boom Boom on the border

    Boom Boom on the border

    PHOTO: The attractions of Thailand’s southern border town usually become apparent after sunset On one side of the Thai/Malaysian border is Sungai Golok, on the Malaysian side it’s the town of Rantau Panjang. The two towns are separated by the Golok River as well as decades of furious fighting between Muslim separatists who want to reclaim some of the southern…

  • Wow factor! Spectacular new day club in Bali.

    Wow factor! Spectacular new day club in Bali.

    Phuket has some amazing beach clubs. Indeed we used to have more but, you know… the Great Beach Purge of 2016. So for pure drool value we present this astonishing day club just opened in Bali. It’s called Omnia and is a step up for the Beach/Dayclub genre making many of the Phuket offerings looking a bit ‘shabby’ in comparison.…

  • A Tale of Two Bali’s – Tourism under the Volcano

    A Tale of Two Bali’s – Tourism under the Volcano

    The year 2017 was the best of times and the worst of time for Indonesia’s tourism icon and Phuket tourism rival, Bali. For the first nine months of the year market demand soared, only to be undermined by global news headlines over volcanic activity of Mt. Agung in October, which in turn resulted in massive hotel cancellations. As Bali sets…

  • Introducing Thaiger Property – 8,000+ listings for Phuket

    Introducing Thaiger Property – 8,000+ listings for Phuket

    Phuket Gazette/The Thaiger are proud to launch our new ThaigerProperty.com website. In Phuket, alone, there are more than 8,000 properties for sale on the website and, around Thailand, nearly 40,000 listings – by far the largest selection available. Some of the properties are exclusive, some are ‘motivated sellers’ and there’s also rental listings as well, making it a very comprehensive…

  • Graham needs a triple bypass. Doesn’t have health insurance.

    Graham needs a triple bypass. Doesn’t have health insurance.

    The plight of a British man highlights the risks for foreigners living in Thailand without health or medical insurance. Story by ThaiVisa… Graham Briar, who uploads videos about life in rural Thailand to his YouTube channel Graham & Pie, urgently needs a triple heart bypass operation but with no medical insurance and not enough money to pay for surgery he…

  • Bay Regatta returns to Phang Nga Bay

    Bay Regatta returns to Phang Nga Bay

    The 21st Bay Regatta will be held from January 31 to February 4, 2018 in and around the waters of Phang Nga Bay. The Bay Regatta is often referred to as ‘Asia’s fun regatta’, attracting both serious racing yachts and casual cruisers out to enjoy the picturesque maritime scenery. The hallmark of this popular sailing event is its fun-filled and…

  • The best events and activities for expat families in Thailand

    The best events and activities for expat families in Thailand

    by Tabby Farrar Thailand has become one of the world’s favourite destinations for travellers and expats. As well as culture and natural beauty, the nation offers a huge range of family-friendly activities. Below is a calendar of some key family and child-orientated events, followed by some all-year-round activities. JANUARY What: National Children’s Day – Wan Dek Where: National When: Second…

  • Thailand Yacht Show – attracting Superyachts to the region

    Thailand Yacht Show – attracting Superyachts to the region

    PHOTO: Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder, Thailand Yacht Show At a Press Conference in Bangkok last week Prakob Wongmaneerung, Vice Governor of Phuket, Nithee Seeprae, Executive Director of Product Promotion Department of TAT and Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder of the Thailand Yacht Show, along with numerous officials and key business leaders, gathered to re-confirm their commitment to promoting Thailand…

  • Where is the most expensive place to live in the world? And Asia?

    Where is the most expensive place to live in the world? And Asia?

    PHOTO: Thomas Tucker/Unsplash How expensive is it to live in Phuket? And Thailand? numbeo.com has crunched the numbers and listed the cost of living expenses of 540 cities around the world (Phuket gets listed as a ‘city’ on the list). The worlds most expensive city is Hamilton – Bermuda followed by Zurich – Switzerland, both almost three times the cost…

  • UPDATE: Smart Visa applications accepted after February 1

    UPDATE: Smart Visa applications accepted after February 1

    Starting February 1, eligible foreigners can apply for a new, four-year visa called the Smart Visa. The visa, itself, isn’t ‘smart’ or magically electronic but you’ll probably need to be smart to apply for it. Initially the digital nomads hoped it might help their lifestyle and allow them an easier way to remain in Thailand. The details don’t really support…