Oh, the bustling hub of urban voyages, Mor Chit 2, stands as the heartbeat of Bangkok’s travel arteries, catering to the eager wanderers of the North and Northeast provinces. Yet, even amidst the anticipation of the upcoming Songkran festivities, the wave of celebratory spirits was met with the droning undercurrent of public dissatisfaction. It was on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday that Government mouthpiece Chai Wacharonke took to the stage, declaring that the nation’s head honcho has laid down the gauntlet: it’s time to spruce up the old place post-haste! Yes, Mor Chit 2, the same terminal from which countless tales of ‘Hello Goodbyes’ echo, was poised for a glow-up. In what could only be described as a symphony of actions spurred by an MP’s spirited critique that reverberated through the halls of social media’s X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), the spotlight was fixed on this grand transportation mecca.…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Welcome, curious minds and political aficionados! Fasten your seatbelts, because today we’re diving into the bustling and always intriguing landscape of Thai politics. Picture this: a bustling government corridor, bustling with activity, where our very own Phumtham, donning not just his political cap but also his Commerce hat, steps up to the press with a sparkle of assurance in his eyes. It’s Tuesday, and that means the weekly Cabinet meeting is about to convene. But hold your horses! Before he delves deep into the government grind, Phumtham quells the hungry press with a juicy bite—no, folks, there will be no Cabinet reshuffle tickling our fancy anytime soon. Why’s that, you ask? Simple: it’s the picture-perfect harmony resonating through the coalition corridors. That’s right, amidst the swirling rumors, he assures us that our band of political maestros, comprising a solid crew of 11 parties, remain as unified as the musical notes…
Attention all savvy savers and fiscal enthusiasts! A breath of fresh monetary air is sweeping through the land, heralded by none other than Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke. Wave goodbye to the days of manually tallying up those pesky receipts come tax season. The fresh and sprightly Easy E-Receipt scheme is poised to revolutionize the way Thai taxpayers reclaim their hard-earned cash! Cast your minds back to the recent past – specifically, last month, when the wise sages of the Cabinet gave the thumbs up to what might just be your new financial best friend. Previously known as e-refund, the Easy E-Receipt programme has come into being, waving its magic wand to bestow tax rebates of up to a dazzling 50,000 baht on the deserving, yet previously overlooked, citizens. Mark your calendars! The Easy E-Receipt extravaganza is not an endless party—it’s a 45-day fiesta of frugality, running from the sparkly dawn…
Welcome, dear reader, to the riveting world of epidemiological updates where the wily Omicron variant is at it again, and it seems to have borrowed a page from the playbook of a certain Transformer – you know, “more than meets the eye?” Indeed, we’re talking about the sub-variant BA.2.86.xBA.5, which has been strutting around with an air of transmissibility that puts its predecessors to shame. This, according to Associate Professor Thira Woratanarat of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine – and if anyone knows their stuff, it’s this Facebook-posting virological virtuoso. What’s that? You didn’t think a surge in cases could be entertaining? Hold onto your face masks, because this tale is infused with the kind of twists that would make even a strand of RNA coil in suspense. The latest plot twist? A sudden spike in pneumonia patients, jogging our memory back to four months ago when the air was…
Picture bustling city streets in Thailand, the air filled with the tantalizing scents of spicy street food, the buzz of motorcycles weaving through traffic, and the vivid colors of bustling markets. Yet beyond this vibrant veneer, there’s a narrative unfolding—one marked by the weighty prose of economic flux. An erudite forecast from the esteemed echelons of the Thai Chamber of Commerce paints a sobering picture: a 1.5% contraction in purchasing power as the curtain rises on 2024. It seems the grim specters of creeping interest rates, the relentless march of inflation, and the tenacious aftereffects of a global pandemic are coalescing into a formidable force. However, not all chapters of this tale teeter towards the dismal. Picture a resilient Thai populace brazenly weathering the financial tempest. Amid these testing times, certain stalwarts emerge—food and beverages, personal care, household products, medicines. These are the essentials that form the lifeblood of daily…
Imagine you’re cruising down Thepharak Road in the bustling province of Samut Prakan, just as the clock strikes half-past six on a regular Tuesday evening—only to witness a scene straight out of a blockbuster movie: a wheel, dislodged from a Yellow Line train, comes barreling down and strikes a taxi. This isn’t the setup for an action flick; it was the unexpected reality commuters faced recently. And believe it or not, this story comes with a silver lining—no one was harmed in this impromptu action sequence. The train, gallivanting outbound and nearly reaching its destination at Si Thepha station, became the center of attention when physics decided to play a bit fast and loose, ejecting one of its rubber wheels into the unsuspecting urban sprawl. As you can imagine, the aftermath was a sight to see, with Suriya and a fleet of officials descending upon the scene like detectives on…
Imagine the world as your oyster, a globe-trotter’s dream where the shackles of visa applications do not tie you down. This dream is a reality for Thai nationals thanks to the benevolent visa-free arrangements sanctioned by a plethora of countries. Just bear in mind, no two countries’ hospitality is identical. Thus, let us embark on this whirlwind tour of destinations that welcome you, sans visa! First stop, Argentina – where the tango beckons. Beautiful landscapes, mouth-watering steaks, and a delightful 90-day stay without visa hurdles. Now, if you fancy a quick sojourn, make your way to the glittering shores of Bahrain with a 14-day entry stamped on arrival. Next up, the samba beats and carnival spirits of Brazil await you for another 90-day extravaganza, visa-free. Meanwhile, the serene sultanate of Brunei allows a sweet fortnight for you to revel in its riches. And not far, the ancient temples of Cambodia…
Imagine unpacking your bags, knowing that a breathtaking escapade awaits, half a world away, without the hassle of visa applications slowing you down. Well, keep that image vividly in your mind, because thanks to the diplomatic wizardry of Thailand and China, this daydream is on the verge of becoming your next vacation reality. We owe a round of high-fives to the folks behind the scenes, particularly Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his compatriots who spun this delight into diplomatic gold. On a crisp October day in Beijing, against the backdrop of grandeur that is China’s capital, a meeting unfolded that could very well redefine wanderlust for many. Thailand’s Prime Minister carved out plans with none other than President Xi Jinping, aiming to open new doors—literal and metaphorical—for tourism. This isn’t just bureaucratic chitchat; it’s a future where your Thai or Chinese passport becomes your golden ticket to adventure. Foreign…
Imagine a place where the air is as crisp as freshly laundered bedsheets, where lush green canopies stretch out as far as the eye can see, and where every breath you take is a step towards a greener future. This vision is closer to reality in Thailand than you might think, thanks to the country’s burgeoning carbon credit market. Yet, as we peel back the layers of this verdant dream, we find that the market’s full potential is yet to be tapped, with around 15 million tonnes of carbon credits ripening on Thailand’s environmental vine, according to the venerable Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO). But why, you might wonder, are these environmental treasures not being traded with the fervor of a bustling marketplace? Well, the plot thickens. Many Thai businesses are keeping their carbon credits close to their chests, like squirrels stashing nuts for the winter. They’re opting to…
Imagine, if you will, the lush landscapes and vibrant city scenes of Thailand, a country renowned for its bustling tourism industry and equally talked about for its spirited nightlife – both typically entwined with the local tipple of choice. Yet this week, the nation found its gaze cast not solely on the prospects of powdery beaches or ornate temples, but squarely on a legislative proposal as part of a riveting economic stimulus package. Researchers from the esteemed Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) have stepped into the limelight, providing a thought-provoking counterargument to the Cabinet’s latest escapade – a bold move to waive excise taxes in a bid to bolster tourism. Among them is none other than Dr Narit Pisalyabutr, a senior scholar whose insights illuminate the intricate dance between society and taxation. Dr Narit considers liquor a “lamentable commodity,” for beyond its intoxicating charm lies a darker underbelly of health…