Posts published in “Thailand”

Imagine strolling down Songwat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown — lanterns swaying, the aroma of grilled seafood teasing your senses — when a neatly choreographed pickpocket performance unravels behind an umbrella. That’s exactly what happened on December 15, and thanks to a vigilant local’s viral post, the moment was caught on camera and served as a cautionary tale for anyone wandering the neighborhood with a tote bag and a smile. Chanatib Bunpasoet-chn shared the CCTV video on his Facebook page with a blunt caption: “Scam warning.” The footage, filmed outside Song Viet restaurant, shows three women moving in concert around a foreign tourist. Hats and face masks obscure their features, while umbrellas—seemingly innocuous in Bangkok’s weather—become improvised privacy screens. It’s petty-theft choreography with a bold prop. The clip is eerily calm. One suspect in a brown T-shirt trails the victim, slipping her hand into the tote and extracting valuables. She doesn’t…

The quiet scrubland of Lam Luk Ka turned grim on December 15 when a construction worker, recently released from prison, was found dead beneath a dilapidated shack in a dark, electricity-free patch of Pathum Thani. What began as an ordinary return-from-work check by a colleague ended with police tape, forensic lights and questions that have yet to be answered. The deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Somphong Kaewkunok, a construction worker who, according to those who knew him, had been living alone at the remote site. It was a friend — 45-year-old construction worker Peerapong Changrom — who first noticed something amiss. Returning at about 11:00 a.m., Peerapong saw Somphong’s leg protruding from under the small shelter. It was only later that evening, after a friend had been alerted and then called authorities, that police and rescue teams arrived at Chanprasong Soi in Lam Luk Ka district. The scene was…

A One-Day Romance: How Two Korean Sisters Fell Head-Over-Heels for Bangkok Two South Korean YouTubers have confessed a travel crush that bloomed in record time. The sibling duo behind the 누룽지자매 (nurungji sisters) channel dropped a Bangkok vlog on December 13 and, by the end of the first day, announced they had “fallen in love with Bangkok very quickly within one day.” No, it wasn’t a rom-com montage — just genuine, wide-eyed delight at a city that surprised them at every turn. The sisters—who keep their private lives private—shared a candid, upbeat travel diary that turned unexpected snags into heartwarming discoveries. Their title teased a twist: their first-day experience was completely the opposite of what they’d expected. Spoiler: opposite here meant better. Much better. Small moments, big impressions Right after landing, the sisters hustled to find an ATM because cash is king in Bangkok’s bustling streets. While walking, they noticed…

Phuket residents breathed a collective sigh of relief after Chalong police arrested two suspects on December 12 in connection with a string of motorbike thefts that had rattled the island community earlier this month. What began as a few baffling disappearances quickly turned into a focused investigation that led officers to hidden stashes of stolen machines and, ultimately, to two young suspects — one adult and one juvenile. A brief timeline: early-morning vanishings and a delayed report The police probe began after three incidents were reported between November 30 and December 11, with victims describing four motorcycles taken from areas in and around Chalong. The most glaring early theft happened in the dead of night on December 2: at 3:27 a.m., two electric motorbikes belonging to a French national were stolen. Another bike — an electric motocross machine — was actually taken on November 30, though that theft was only…

When a Phuket local posted grainy photos of two foreign men spray-painting walls around Kata, the island’s online neighbourhood quickly ignited. The post — shared on December 15 by Facebook user Yotwadee Panthong in a group for Phuket residents — showed two men caught mid-spray, cans in hand and paint on fingers, leaving fresh streaks of pastel blue across walls and a rusty door. The caption didn’t mince words: “Can anyone take action against these foreigners? They have gone too far, spray-painting everywhere. Shops in Kata should not sell spray colour so easily. Is this graffiti, art, or just rubbish? Who allowed this to happen, and is it even legal?” The pictures are telling. One man, in a white tank top, black trousers and sunglasses, posed in front of a newly painted swathe of light-blue paint. The other, wearing a black T-shirt, beige trousers and a white cap, was photographed…

What began as an ordinary afternoon in Kamphaeng Phet turned into a real-life phone drama on December 16, when quick-thinking relatives and prompt police action rescued a 19-year-old vocational student from a sophisticated call scam at a local resort. The incident—part of a growing pattern of frauds in Thailand—also revealed that another student from the same college had already fallen victim earlier that day, losing 7,384 baht from his student loan and freelance earnings. The rescued teenager, identified only as Rainbow, was discovered alone in a resort room in Mueang district after relatives tracked his location using a GPS signal. According to investigators, Rainbow had been targeted by scammers impersonating officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). The fraudsters used pressure, fear and a promise of reimbursement to manipulate him into isolating himself and preparing to move money. Rainbow told police the contact began with a call from an…

The morning of December 15 gave the sleepy Tha Talat neighbourhood in Sam Phran district an unwelcome jolt when an ammonia leak at the Siam Pyramid Company ice factory sent a sharp, irritating scent winding through the streets of Nakhon Pathom. What began as a whiff quickly became a full-blown safety operation: more than 100 nearby residents were evacuated, a temporary command centre sprang up at Wat Rai Khing Royal Temple, and emergency teams scrambled to contain a chemical scare that had everyone holding their breath — literally. Ammonia, commonly used in industrial refrigeration systems, is a powerful refrigerant but also a potent irritant when it escapes. The chemical’s pungent odor and ability to inflame airways made the leak especially alarming for households close to the factory. Pho Kaew Police Station, medical staff from Sam Phran Hospital, and volunteers from the Por Teck Tung Foundation were among the first responders…

Drama, disappointment and a dash of digital suspicion: Thailand’s women’s Arena of Valor (RoV) squad found themselves at the centre of an unexpected SEA Games storyline on December 15 that left fans buzzing long after the servers cooled. After a decisive 0–3 defeat to Vietnam in the upper bracket final, Team Thailand was relegated to the lower bracket — where they must now topple Laos to earn a rematch with Vietnam for the gold. But it wasn’t the game scoreline alone that dominated chatter; an internal issue that surfaced during the broadcast saw one player removed from the tournament, and social media quickly turned the situation into a thriller worthy of its own highlight reel. Late yesterday, Jomkhon “Givemeakiss” Phumsinin posted a terse, emotional line on Facebook: “Knowing the truth broke my heart, but I’ll do my best.” The quote captured the mood around the Thai roster — part shock,…