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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Property Watch: Keeping Phuket property dealings honest
PHUKET: I have written quite a few articles over the years, hopefully in a balanced way, on reservation deposits, property investments and purchases in Phuket, which have always included a word of caution about how practices in Thailand on property deposits can vary significantly from other Asian property investment destinations, such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Certain elements of Phuket’s…
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Looking Back: History of the Emerald Buddha
PHUKET: The Emerald Buddha is one of Thailand’s most revered artifacts. Contrary to its name, it is actually carved out of jade. It is a figurine of the seated meditating Buddha. A beautiful and ancient piece of art, it draws tens of thousands of visitors to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew every year. No one really knows who…
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Profile: Watcharapong Saikaew – First professional CMP in Thailand
PHUKET: Watcharapong Saikaew, or Pom, as he is better known, is the Assistant Director of Events at Angsana Laguna Phuket and the first Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) in Thailand. With a lucrative career and a four-year Hotel and Tourism Management degree from Prince of Songkla University under his belt, he is a proud flag bearer for the Banyan Tree group,…
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Excuse buster: The miracles of nature’s ‘super foods’
PHUKET: One thing in common at nearly all the centers I work at in Phuket is giving clients Apple Cider vinegar. Either clients have it as a salad dressing or it’s given with water before meals. A lot has been written about its remarkable healing properties. Is it a true health wonder or is it mostly fiction? I am always…
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By The Book: Market signals in the new year
PHUKET: Last year, Thailand experienced a record number of tourist arrivals – 32.6 million (up 9 per cent year-on-year), generating 1.6 trillion baht in revenue (up 12.6 per cent year-on-year). As we go further into 2017, occupancy rates for rental properties over the high season look good – albeit slightly lower than previous years – especially for pool villas, which…
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Understanding your place on the happiness scale [video]
PHUKET: There is no single key to happiness that will work for every single person out there, which is what makes Lisa Cypers Kamen’s holistic approach to understanding where we are on the happiness scale, and where we want to be, so insightful. ‘Are We Happy Yet? Eight Keys to Unlocking a Joyful Life’ is a hands-on guide to changing…
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Law, Life and Society: Consequences of holiday debauchery
PHUKET: There are numerous ‘dek khrueng’ or ‘half-children’ born to women who work in Thailand’s red-light districts. Many foreign men come to Thailand for a short holiday to spend their time with Thai women. Some of them leave without knowing that they have a child. Others know about, but still decide to return to their home country. These women are…
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Profile: What victory means for Miss Grand Krabi 2017
PHUKET: Phuket native Pamela Pasinetti was recently crowned ‘Miss Grand Krabi 2017’. Poised and elegant in her gown and tiara, Pamela spoke to Simon J Hand of Gazette Radio to talk about her pageant experience. Now 23 years of age, Pamela has always had big dreams. “I’ve always wanted to be a pageant queen,” she smiled. “It’s something every young…
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Property Watch: Seeing through Phuket property transience
PHUKET: There are many themes of life in Phuket that are either interwoven or operate independently. It is possible, as many local Phuketians will testify, to exist in Phuket without even meeting your friends on a regular basis because you live on ‘different sides of the island’, or ‘don’t like driving over the hill’, or because of the traffic jams.…
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Gardening: Two valuable Mexican climbers
PHUKET: I am not talking about social climbers or even those intrepid fellows who scale up the sheer cliffs at Railay. Rather, I’m referring to two members of the vine brigade who have received less than their due footage in these columns. I was reminded of the value of the garlic vine when I visited an estate, the common parts…
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Party it up like you’re in Ibiza
PHUKET: Did you know that the Balearic island of Ibiza and the Andaman island of Phuket are within a few square miles of being the same size? There are other connections too: quite a large chunk of Ibiza has UNESCO World Heritage status, while Phuket cuisine recently picked up the UNESCO seal of approval. Additionally, a significant and growing chunk…
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Excuse Buster: A healthy treat for gluten intolerant foodies
PHUKET: Consider the irony: a gluten intolerant nutritionist marries a German baker’s daughter… things could get very interesting. However, I am really lucky to have a very accepting father-in-law who also enjoys making breads and bakery goods that I can eat too. He was recently with us over Christmas and came up with a new low-carb, gluten-free bread recipe that…
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Across the Land: Evolution of high season property market
PHUKET: The last two months have been particularly ‘different’ from the past years’ norms in Phuket in more ways than one. Firstly, the weather has not been as predictable. Hot, sunny days are now interlaced with cloudy, rainy days and the weather forecast is hardly ever accurate. If you think the weather forecast in Phuket is sounding a little like…
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On Deck: Resurgence of sail boats in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s marine destination reputation was, to a large part, built by the sailing fraternity. That statement is perhaps a red rag to some bulls, but in my opinion, the industry was built on the back of initial efforts by the sailing fraternity and for this, they should be grateful. Thirty years ago, back in 1987, the Phuket King’s Cup…
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Keep It Green: Opening the floodgates to a watery embrace
PHUKET: Southern Thailand has recently been in the watery embrace of floods that are unprecedented in their severity. A few statistics to clarify the situation: the inundation has affected 13 provinces in Southern Thailand, with Songkhla being the worst hit – 14 out of 16 districts have been declared disaster areas. There have been more than 40 recorded fatalities, while…
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Profile: Tasana Nagavajara – A musical feast for the soul
PHUKET: Bangkok native Tasana Nagavajara is the artistic director of Pro Musica and is currently performing a series of classical concerts as the violinist for Pro Musica Ensemble. The trio is touring Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Bangkok this month, with the Phuket performance tonight – Monday January 23 – at Mom Tri Villa Royale. Mr Tasana has been…
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Phuket International Boat Show draws crowds
PHUKET: The 2017 Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) presented by Thailand Elite was held from January 5-8 and aimed to impress with an abundance of action in the marina and waterside Exhibition Hall – and a busy boardwalk at host venue Royal Phuket Marina. Despite the unexpected rainy weather on the last two days, visitor turnout was strong, with a…
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Profile: Tara Sudlow – A special connection with Phuket
PHUKET: Tara Sudlow is a Perth native who moved to Phuket 22 years ago, and for the last 13 years has been running her own real estate company here. “I first visited Phuket in 1986 at the age of 14. I was a very shy kid back then, always hanging around my mother. Then, I met this amazing Thai family…
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Property: Angsana Beachfront Residences attract global interest
Advertorial: PHUKET: The Banyan Tree Group’s launch of Angsana Beachfront Residences, its inaugural investment in resort style living in Thailand at Laguna Phuket, Bang Tao Beach, is already being hailed a success. Over 60% of the beachfront luxury branded condominiums have been sold since the project was announced last month (story here). “We are receiving a level of response in…
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Across the Land: What the new airport means for Phang Nga
PHUKET: It’s been three months since the new Phuket International Airport terminal was officially opened, but the moans and groans about the efficiency of the airport remain, with passengers complaining of long delays at immigration counters – whether inbound or outbound. Even the domestic terminal has seen long queues waiting for luggage, and a chaos of cars, taxis and limousines…
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Gardening: Returning to the scene of the crime
PHUKET: I was recently asked to return to the scene of a crime. Well, not an actual one, but an on-site consultation at which I was asked how the neglected common parts of an estate might be given – literally – a new lease on life. This is a high-end residential estate with spectacular villas perched on a precipitous hillside…
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On Deck: Two voices are better than one
PHUKET: Recent comments from Weerasak Kowsurat of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) caught my eye, and could have profound repercussions for Thailand’s yacht charter industry. The following is excerpted from a December 23 article in The Nation: “TCEB chairman of the board Weerasak Kowsurat said … providing MICE visas and MICE work permits to business travellers … could…
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Profile: Yoga for peace of mind, body and soul
PHUKET: Kanokwan Borunphan, 26, is a yoga instructor in Phuket. Although she started out in the field just two years ago, she already has her hands full with classes and students of various ages. “I love yoga and practice it every chance I get. When I first started out, I took classes in Phuket Town for two months, but it…
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Laguna Golf clinches 11 awards
PHUKET: Laguna Golf Group clinched a total of 11 awards at the prestigious Asia Golf Awards 2016 in Hua Hin, Thailand; the World Golf Awards 2016 in Algarve, Portugal; and the IAGTO Awards 2017 in Mallorca, Spain. Presented only for the 3rd time by Asia Golf Awards, the group was crowned ‘Asia Pacific Custodian of the Environment’, in recognition of…
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Angsana launches beachfront branded freehold residences
Advertorial PHUKET: The Banyan Tree Group has launched a new dimension in resort style living with its first branded condominiums in Thailand under the Angsana brand. Aimed at foreign buyers seeking high-quality freehold properties by the sea, the two and three-bedroom residences – each with a private swimming pool and expansive patio – are one of the last remaining ‘absolute…
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Excuse buster: Healthy holiday recipes
PHUKET: I hope you have had a great festive season and that those with children are enjoying their time with them during the holidays. I thought I would offer some healthy, tasty and easily made alternatives to the standard treats that will keep both kids and grownups happy. You’ll notice that the recipe is full of good fats such as…
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Looking Back: Planning a Royal funeral
PHUKET: Royal funerals are solemn affairs that take months to plan. When a monarch or a high-ranking royal passes away, their body is taken to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace complex. There, the body lies in state while craftsmen build the royal funeral pyre, an intricately crafted structure which takes up to nine months to…
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Festive five per cent financing offered for Laguna Park’s townhomes, villas
Advertorial PHUKET: Investors in Laguna Park’s two-bedroom town houses and five-bedroom villas located next to the Laguna Phuket Golf Course are being offered a special five per cent financing option for the festive period. Aimed at couples and growing families, the homes by the Banyan Tree Group are priced from 9.3 million baht and come ready to move in with…
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Profile: Thomas and Sonia Baumgartner – all eyes on the finish line
PHUKET: Thomas and Sonja Baumgartner may be two among thousands of athletes who competed in this year’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon, but their story is an inspiring one nonetheless. Hailing from snowy Switzerland, the couple are regular vacationers to Phuket. Although of an active and sporty disposition, they had never thought about taking part in a triathlon event until their daughter…
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By the book: Preparing your property for sale
PHUKET: The onset of high season is here again. The monsoon rains have passed, the sun is out and businesses are preparing for the influx of tourists to Phuket. The next six months are when most buyers will visit Phuket and when most property sales occur. Phuket real estate brokers will have already been short-listing those properties they will concentrate…
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