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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Sponsored 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...
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Books: Powwow with Chief Red Cloud
PHUKET: The histories of wars are told by the victors. We have Caesar’s Gallic Wars, nothing by Vercingetorix. Entire libraries are devoted to the white man’s wars against the American Indians, whose leaders remain largely mute. The exception is Red Cloud, the war chief of the Sioux. His war in 1866-1867 resulted in victory, withdrawal of the United States Army…
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Patong Bay Hill investors offered a 7% return
PHUKET: Patong Bay Group’s 20 years of experience developing hotel and entertainment business in Patong adds credence to the Group’s offer to investors in Patong Bay Hill apartments-hotel that they could enjoy a 7 percent return over 15 years, according to the group’s chief marketing officer. Kriangkrai Keesin said the Patong Bay Group is not reliant on rental income from…
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Across the Land: Strong baht, fewer buyers means soft summer market
PHUKET: The Year of the Goat (Sheep/Ram) was heralded February 19 and signaled the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year. After a disastrous Year of the Horse – two major airplane crashes, unrest in Ukraine, ISIS kidnappings and be-headings, social turmoil in Thailand – the Year of the Goat is much welcomed. For a start, The Tourism Authority of…
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Excuse Buster: Magnesium – A powerhouse mineral
PHUKET: Guess which mineral deficiency makes you twice as likely to die as people with healthy levels? According to a study published in The Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, the answer is magnesium. Many people have heard of the benefits of getting enough magnesium to relax muscles (reduce muscle cramps) and promote sleep, but did you know magnesium is responsible…
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Shop, chill and eat at Phuket’s liveliest marina
PHUKET: The Lighthouse Weekend Market returns to Boat Lagoon this Friday for a three-day weekend extravaganza, the last of the year as the southwest monsoon season officially rolls in. The events kick off with a nightly Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm, during which half-priced drinks and two-for-one specials will be offered at all the dockside bars and selected eateries.…
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Gravity defying yoga comes to Phuket
PHUKET: Aerial yoga, widely known as ‘anti-gravity’ yoga or ‘flying yoga’, is now available in Phuket, as it takes Asia, Australia and the rest of the world by storm. The new form of yoga, the first classes reportedly having been taught by Michelle Dortignac in New York City in 2006, takes adaptations of traditional yoga poses and combines them with…
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Phuket Pads: Get resort feel in bay villa
PHUKET: This type of beachfront villa in the south of the island is rare. But, why? We should start by saying that all beach fronts on the island of Phuket have been occupied by hotels and resorts, and the cost of land is so expensive that to build a private villa, for most budgets, would not be economical. Furthermore, Thai…
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Island Fever: Recall – Sportsmanship, winning
PHUKET: I’m not quite sure what compelled me to join the flock of media-crazed sports fans and buckle up for the fight of the century between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The fact it was a Sunday made the decision to couch surf a little bit easier. But in the end, I, like so many others who once went past…
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Phuket’s Hideaway breaks ground
PHUKET: Despite a nationwide slow-down in the property market, a new residential estate construction project is on track, according to the scion of a local tycoon family. Boon Yongsakul, deputy managing director of Boat Development Company, said Hideaway@Bypass is up and running as transfers of the company’s first project near Bypass Road, Bypass Biz Town, are underway. “We have about…
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Gardening: Dog days, damp plants
PHUKET: As the poet W.H. Auden once observed, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” That adage is equally applicable to the plants in your garden, though loving your charges and watering them are part and parcel of the same impulse. Now, after three months without rain, Phuket’s gardeners are all prioritizing their use of the world’s most…
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On your mind: Message plays second fiddle to messenger
PHUKET: I first became skeptical about the print media 20 years ago when my family (wife, son, and daughter) were returning to the United States from a trip to Peru. We flew out of Lima and arrived in Houston, Texas, where I picked up a copy of that day’s New York Times, which included a story about political unrest in…
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By the book: Phuket’s condo market surges
PHUKET: Phuket’s property market has changed dramatically over the past decade. One particular segment which has seen huge changes is the condominium market. More than 10 years ago, there were very few condo developments in Phuket, as the majority of new expansions were large villa developments. This was because land was much cheaper than it is now, as were labor…
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Books: Four of five ain’t bad
PHUKET: I have long wanted to read the five Patrick Melrose novels by Edward St Aubyn. Many critics have compared him to the early Evelyn Waugh, which is nonsense. While Waugh and St Aubyn share a common public school, Oxford University background and a fascination with landed gentry, their literary styles are quite different. Waugh was a terse and detached…
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Property Watch: Post-purchase pitfalls
PHUKET: There has always been a lot of talk about the safest way to invest in property in Thailand. We know there is a lot of very nice property out there. A less-talked-about issue is that of what happens after you make an investment – what are the common issues property owners face on our beautiful island? What can you…
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Looking Back: Elephants’ role in Thailand
PHUKET: Elephants have always held an important place in Thai history and culture. In an age that predated bulldozers and cranes, Siamese builders and loggers tamed mighty elephants and used their incredible strength to clear forests, transport heavy loads and even build cities. In war, Siamese kings and generals rode elephants into battle. Sitting atop elephants not only gave Siamese…
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Excuse Buster: Bare your soles – The benefits of barefoot training
PHUKET: IT’S hard to complain about life when you’re sweating it out with sand between your toes, the tropical sun on your back and the stunning blue of the Andaman ahead of you. It’s a good thing that barefoot training is catching on and becoming more popular with trainers and coaches. Many people are aware that barefoot running has been…
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Blazing Saddles: Rudy rides against cancer in global cycling tour
PHUKET: ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ is the word I would use to describe many of my fellow cyclists who I met when I cycled Bangkok to Phuket last December with Siam Bike Tours. However, one individual stood out above all others for his sheer bravery, tenacity and individualism – a 55-year-old Canadian Fire Department Captain named Rudy Pospisil. Fifteen years ago, Rudy was…
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Island Fever: Lost and found in Eden
PHUKET: As many jaded expats living in Thailand for any length of time know, the search for enduring values in a littered landscape is often a bottomless pit. Perhaps it was that herd of stampeding elephants which obliterated those rose-colored glasses. In the heat of a sunny tropical landscape, blindness is inevitable. In some ways, it might even be comforting…
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Environment- University students head Down Under for inspiration
PHUKET: Prince of Songkla University (PSU) continues its campaign to build a strong foundation in sustainability on the island through well-educated environmental leaders. The youth environment leadership project ‘Our Common Backyard’ was an initiative to do just that through the new International College of Arts and Sciences Phuket, with the help of funding from the Australian government. The students were…
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Phuket Pads: Find supreme elegance at Villa Verai
PHUKET: In terms of value for money, Phuket has it all, especially when the vast number of mid-range to luxury villas in all price ranges and located in all areas of the island is considered. Yet there is one incredible villa on the island that is likely to evoke envy in almost everyone, and this villa takes the spotlight this…
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Gardening: Splashing out on plants
PHUKET: Some time ago I encountered a stranger in a bar – as one does in Phuket – who was engaged in a project crafting massive, textured, handmade ceramic pots in his Chiang Mai atelier. Encouraged by his enthusiasm, I responded by writing two pieces about suitable big plants for big pots. One, about aquatic plants, featured water lilies (nymphaeas)…
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Phuket Pads: Winter birds looking to cash in on Phuket property market
PHUKET: More and more resorts and hotels in Phuket are offering excellent guaranteed rental returns for properties that buyers are looking to use themselves for only a short period each year. The rest of the year, the property is expected to generate rental income for its owners. This week’s property offers exactly that. Priced at 52 million baht, this one…
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Fresh food, antique decor at Phuket’s Chicroom Cafe
PHUKET: As you are driving down Phuket Road toward the Surin Circle clock tower in town, you may have noticed on the right-hand side a beautiful, modern looking building called the Chicroom Cafe. This cafe doubles as a gallery of all things eccentric and antique. The decor resembles a fancy secondhand store with all the treasures that you always wanted…
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Phuket’s secondary property sector drifts into autopilot mode
PHUKET: A familiar term for anyone with children is, ‘Where do we go from here?’ Those inquisitive, blank, questioning looks that penetrate deep into the heart of the seemingly innocent question about what’s next? Lately, the topic seems to have shifted to adults in the island’s real-estate trade. It’s been nearly a decade since the dining tables shifted from a…
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Phuket Boating: A Haven in bloom
PHUKET: The recent completion of the new dedicated superyacht pier at Phuket’s Yacht Haven Marina in Mai Khao has delivered the region its first 100-meter superyacht berths marina-side. Yacht Haven welcomes boats of all sizes, but is widely regarded as a first port of choice for superyachts. With deep-water access and sited 15-minutes’ drive to the airport, it has become…
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On your mind: Ban on “underboob selfies’ will do little to deter youth culture
PHUKET: By now you’ve probably heard that the government has warned women against posting online ‘underboob selfies’ – selfie photos of the lower half of their breasts – saying their actions could violate the country’s computer crime laws. Offenders could face up to five years in jail. Internet responses have been predictable, generally suggesting that the government might better involve…
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Up in the air: DCA woes continue
PHUKET: Fallout from the miserable results of the recent audit of Thailand’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is having direct effects both on Phuket’s tourism and general aviation industries. Well-publicized action to ban any new Thai flights imposed by the governments of Japan, South Korea and China have already affected several Thai…
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By the book: Demand for Phuket rentals outpaces supply
PHUKET: The rental market in Phuket in recent years has been very strong, with rental prices increasing across the island, giving owners very attractive returns on their investment. This surge in strength in the rental market has coincided with increasing tourist arrivals, which has led to demand for rental properties outpacing supply. Good rental properties have become more scarce as…
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Excuse Buster: Sip the prized elixir – coconut water
PHUKET: In the past few columns, I have discussed one of my favorite fats, coconut oil, and its many benefits according to the most up-to-date research. This week, I want to share some information about my favorite elixir: coconut water. More than five years ago, when I first visited Phuket, an older Thai waiter at our hotel saw how much…
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Gardening: Aristocratic aquatics
PHUKET: Hydrophytes are plants that can grow only in water or in soil that is permanently saturated. Some simple souls merely float on the surface and dangle their roots below, but the majority are rooted to the bottom or to the muddy margins of lakes, marshes or rivers. A few can actually survive in brackish or saline conditions, but for…
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