When a tornado of scandal threatened to overturn his career, Nakhonchai Khunnarong, a reputed Move Forward Party parliamentarian from Rayong, came forth to make a formal declaration through his Facebook, throwing the spotlight on a theft charge from over two decades past. Embodying the spirit of accountability, he announced an imminent exit from his duties within a matter of days. The controversy was quick to engulf the airwaves, and the election committee of Rayong decided to undertake a relentless investigation into the fiasco. Their pursuit led them to the revelation that Nakhonchai had, in fact, experienced a year and a half behind bars in the fading days of the 20th century. The reason: an unfortunate theft-related incident. It’s pertinent to highlight that, according to Nakhonchai’s version, the heist was committed by his companions at a party. Yet, destiny had chosen him and another accomplice to bear the cross of guilt,…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is venturing into unchartered waters with an optimistic projection of a huge surge in domestic travel between July 28th and August 2nd. A stellar travel activity is on the horizon with predictions of an impressive five million voyages. This level of activity could infuse up to 16.6 billion baht into the country’s economy—an astronomical development that is sending ripples of immense excitement throughout the country. Yuttasak Supasorn, the TAT Governor, made it known that this forecasted spike in domestic tourism during this unprecedented long holiday week might trigger hotel occupancy rates bouncing to a robust 63%. He observed during the first two days of this added holiday session, a noticeable amount of travel was directed towards destinations within 200-300 kilometres radius, as covered by the Bangkok Post. The top brass at TAT indicated that these mighty tourist numbers could have easily surpassed current projections,…
The highly respected Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Dasta) has gone into high gear to solidify Chiang Rai and Suphan Buri’s standing as key nodes in the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This year’s goal set in its sights: landing a place in the prestigious UCCN list, expected to be unveiled in October. Spearheading this audacious venture is none other than Dasta’s director, Gp Capt Athikun Kongmee. The specialized Thai UCCN Experts Committee has put forth Chiang Rai under the liberating banner of the City of Design category. On the other hand, they’ve championed Suphan Buri under the melodious City of Music category for the 2023 UCCN Call for Applications. These nominations root themselves in the characteristics that paint these cities distinct: their organic identities, the populace’s creative prowess, and their emerging potential as paragons of global creativity, as delineated by the esteemed Unesco. But wait, there’s more! There…
Dense in history and oozing opulence, a marvelous British mansion that was a royal residence of King Prajadhipok during the late 1930s following his voluntary abdication from the Thai throne is now up for grabs. Carrying a price tag of a whopping £5.5 million, approximately equivalent to 240 million baht, it beckons to luxury home-hunters with a taste for regal charm. Nestled near the quaint village of Biddenden in Kent, it’s a mere 70 kilometers southeast of the bustling city of London. This 27 ha property, named Vane Court, is a piece of architecture that has seen the passage of time since 1419, according to the listing by the luxury real estate mogul, Savills. “A dwelling steeped in centuries of fascinating history, Vane Court carries the unique distinction of being a former royal abode,” elaborates Will Peppitt, the overseer of southeastern sales at Savills. “Potential buyers now have a golden…
Something extraordinary is happening off the coast of Ta Waen Beach, situated in Koh Lan, Chon Buri. Spectacular shades of emerald green are swirling in the sea, transforming what was once a vista of deep, glassy blue into a vibrant, aquamarine spectacle. Though the sight is undoubtedly breathtaking, marine specialists indicate that this enchanting phenomenon may not last longer than a couple of days, tending to fade as swiftly as it appeared. Photos of the remarkable green tides at Ta Waen Beach started making waves on social media when “We Love Pattaya” shared them on their Facebook page. But while the mesmerising hues are not harmful, authorities have advised against swimming in their midst. The primary cause behind this otherworldly marine spectacle is something quite simple – plankton bloom. Sorasak Thongbongpetch, the honorable secretary of the Koh Lan community, explained the cause behind the sea’s dramatic colour change. Freshwater influx…
The bustling Bangkok city has recently witnessed the audacious arrest of a Vietnamese national, identified as Nguyen Van Viet. Strikingly, this 40-year-old individual was taken into custody amidst allegations of nifty public fraud and deliberately imputing counterfeit data in computer systems. Notably, the arrest was sanctioned following a warrant issued on the 14th of July by the Criminal Court, as divulged by the metropolitan investigation division commander, Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee. The capture ensued at his ostensibly innocuous goods depot situated in the Lat Krabang district. Vietnamese national Nguyen’s arrest astoundingly unmasked his earnings, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of baht every month. Interestingly, he minted this hefty sum through a deceptive “random parcel sending” scheme, as indicated by Gen Theeradej. The authorities retrieved a remarkable cache of 468 returned shipments with innumerable goods—approximately 5,000 including varied appliances and knives. Digging deeper into the case revealed a perplexing…
An accident-ridden vehicle lay on the Burapha Withi (Bang Na-Bang Pakong) flyover after a collision in Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan, marking one of the many casualties on Friday. (Photograph by: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan) Nearly 2,000 individuals felt the impact of road mishaps leading to 22 deaths on the first day of an extended holiday season, as reported by the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Deputy national police chief and RTP’s Traffic Police Operation Centre commander, Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote asserted on Saturday about the need for police officers to stay vigilant towards traffic offences. This mandatory vigilance roots from the anticipated surge in road trips from urban zones to provinces during the long holiday from July 28 to Aug 2. The first-day toll stood at 1,871 wounded and 22 killed. Citing speeding as the major trigger for accidents, Pol Gen Roy also mentioned that sleeping at the wheel, lane switching and…
Embedded in the heart of Thailand, the King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), in collaboration with Sinogen-Pin Petch Joint Venture and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), has unveiled a state-of-the-art prototype of an amazing 25-seater luxury rail carriage. Aptly termed ‘Beyond Horizon’, this top-tier vehicle comes furnished with individual touch screens and comprehensive facilities, ensuring comfortable travel for passengers with mobility constraints. Supervised by the project manager of Beyond Horizon and the hallowed dean of KMITL’s School of Engineering, Somyot Kaitwanidvilai, this initiative blossoms from the Transport Ministry’s creative and innovative Thai First Policy. The campaign’s ultimate goal is to infuse a larger proportion of domestic products into the mass-transit infrastructure. With a whopping 40% of the production line’s materials rooted in Thailand, the overarching aim is to prime local rail coaches for an impending nationwide network expansion. Looking two decades into Thailand’s future, there is an anticipated…
Imagine a serene coastal paradise named Freedom Beach, located in tambon Karon, in the Muang district of Phuket. This picturesque location took a somber tone recently when a Senegalese tourist tragically vanished while swimming – his disappearance stirring a wave of concern across the area. Unfortunately, as the gentle waves lapped against the shoreline on a Sunday morning, they brought with them a conclusion to the frantic search. The body of the young man, only 22, was found, putting an end to the uncertainty. Mayor Lt Jadet Vachirasorn of the Tambon Karon Municipality confirmed the recovery of the young man, Cheikhonuna Ba. A team of proficient lifeguards discovered his body at about 6.50 am after the sea had deposited it on Freedom Beach’s sun-kissed sand. Upon the discovery, officials immediately plunged into action. The law enforcement agents, accompanied by volunteers from the Kusoltham Phuket Foundation, dutifully examined the location and…
The tranquil Muno village in the Sungai Kolok district of the Narathiwat province was shaken by a catastrophic fireworks explosion in a local warehouse over the weekend. The blast resulted in waves of destruction across the area, leaving 12 people dead, 121 injured, and 292 houses with varying degrees of structural damage, with some reduced to mere rubble. These numbers were committed to public record on the official Facebook page of the provincial public relations office on Sunday. Out of the dozen lives lost in the tragedy, the bodies of seven victims were claimed by their families to perform religious rites, while the remaining five were still at the Sungai Kolok Hospital waiting for identification. Fortunately, most of the injured survivors, numbering 111, returned home, while ten remain under medical care at Sungai Kolok Hospital, of which one is in a serious condition. The calamitous incident is currently under the…