Posts published in “Thailand”

Embarking on a weekend escapade to the sun-kissed shores of Hua Hin should be as breezy as a cool ocean wind. Yet, thanks to the infamous Rama II Road, many road-trippers find themselves on an unpredictable adventure that feels more like a treacherous gamble than a relaxing journey. This notorious highway that snakes out from the bustling cityscape of Bangkok to the enchanting southern destinations has earned a dismal reputation as one of Thailand’s most perilous routes. Bedeviled by ongoing construction projects that seem to sprout more traffic cones than palm trees and a density of traffic that would make a pack of sardines feel spacious, Rama II Road has also become infamous for its alarming rate of accidents. The statistics are hair-raising: between 2018 and 2024, a staggering 2,245 traffic collisions were recorded. These incidents left 136 people dead and injured a further 1,320. Such grim figures have prompted…

In a bold and much-anticipated move to restore order to Pattaya’s often chaotic boating sector, the city’s deputy mayor spearheaded an overdue operation to retrieve sunken buoys from a once ambitious docking project. This cleanup effort finally got rolling on June 25, years after the dampening impact of Tropical Storm Vamco, which left the area’s waters littered and ill-equipped for marine tourism. Manoch Nongyai, Pattaya City’s Deputy Mayor, joined forces with the Pattaya Natural Resources and Environment Office to tackle the mess at Bali Hai Cape, a known hotspot in the city’s vibrant southern stretch. The primary aim was clear: extract the submerged orphaned buoys that had been part of the Smart Boat Docking Project—a grand vision with a 300-million-baht price tag. This project was envisioned to revolutionize Pattaya’s maritime tourism, serving as a hydraulic docking site for over 300 boats. Unfortunately, the venture hit a watery grave when the…

A certain culinary adventure took an unexpected turn for a South Korean tourist recently in the charming city of Chiang Mai, turning what was a sizzling business venture into a spicy legal conundrum. The adventuresome entrepreneur, passionate about bringing a slice of the Korean food craze to Thailand, found himself arrested after inadvertently running afoul of Thai labor laws. His foodie dream began, as it often does, with a wholesome desire to share the beloved flavors of Korean fried chicken with the world. Stationed outside a bustling shopping center, the South Korean national had transformed his knack for delectable fried creations into a full-fledged operation, complete with a charming food truck that became quite the local favorite. However, without the crucial work authorization, his business ambitions did not sit well with the authorities. It wasn’t long before tourist police received a tip-off about his culinary activities, leading to an unannounced…

Amid tumultuous tides sweeping through Thailand’s economic landscape, one company seems to be standing firm, extending a lifeline to those hardest hit. As the kingdom faces a stumbling economy and a stringent squeeze on culinary enterprises, Grab Thailand is stepping up with a beacon of hope. This food delivery titan has unfurled a slew of innovative initiatives aimed squarely at aiding small-scale restaurant owners and independent entrepreneurs to navigate through these choppy financial waters. With a cargo of zero commission deals, avant-garde AI tools, and micro-loans, Grab is setting a course to rescue many from the brink. At the helm, Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, the head honcho of Grab Thailand, describes a landscape where global economic ripples and a dip in domestic tourism are restricting growth, leaving GDP projections for 2025 at a modest 1.8%. “The food and beverage sector stands at a colossal 640 billion baht, yet it’s anticipated to expand…

The usually tranquil northern Thailand found itself embroiled in drama as a bizarre yet unsettling incident unfolded in Pathum Thani. A woman who works for the provincial administrative organisation, going by the pseudonym A, reported a harrowing escapade to the Ko Kret police station that paints a vivid picture of trust gone awry. This rollercoaster of events took place post-midnight on the humid Thursday of June 19th, when revelry ended with troubling revelations. A 38-year-old A, presumably basking in the afterglow of a municipal office party, found herself unexpectedly caught in a web of deceit spun by B, another council member who allegedly moonlighted as a rogue gentleman. Offering what seemed to be a chivalrous gesture at almost the witching hour of 11:30 pm, B kindly proposed to escort A back to her lodge nested at a local institution. With an air of trust and oblivion to the impending theatrics,…

The neon-lit allure of Pattaya is never one to shy away from a little drama, and yesterday proved no exception. In a scene right out of a reality TV show, an argument between two local women erupted into a wildly unrestrained catfight, right in the heart of South Pattaya. The frenetic fracas, caught in vibrant detail on a 79-second viral video, unfolded mere steps away from the area’s notorious Walking Street, where the party never truly sleeps and the music, apparently, doesn’t either. The scuffle, which took place behind the Marine Hotel, drew a large, energetic crowd of both locals and tourists, who seemed more eager to watch the spectacle than to stop it. Despite the morning sun shining bright, nearby bars continued to crank out music at full blast, raising eyebrows about how strictly—or loosely—Pattaya manages its nightlife rules. The plot thickened when a brave foreign tourist attempted to…

In a riveting twist of events, the serene province of Chiang Rai was the backdrop for a high-stakes operation that unfolded at the Jam Pong checkpoint. Here, a coalition of vigilant officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation teamed up with multiple agencies to dismantle an elaborate network trafficking the carcasses of rare wildlife. The spotlight fell on two Laotian nationals caught red-handed, trying to smuggle over 100 kilograms of these illicit goods across borders, stirring a wave of action amongst the authorities who are keen on escalating the investigation and ensuring justice is served. The meticulously orchestrated raid on June 25 was spearheaded by the perceptive and steadfast Chaincharn Sriyong. At the helm of the Office of Prevention and Suppression Support 3 (Northern Region), he gathered a formidable team including the Chiang Khong Wildlife Checkpoint officials, the Patrol Unit of the Conservation Area Administration Office…

In the serene district of Sri Racha, where the gentle hum of everyday life often keeps the coastal breezes company, an unfathomable tragedy unfolded that left the community reeling. Picture this: a love story that began with joyful promises and adoring glances that recently descended into an unending nightmare, as a young couple’s rented abode transformed from marital bliss into a chilling crime scene. The scene was set in Moo 5, Khao Khansong, where the sweet aroma of pineapples usually served as a balm to the pressures of life. Just past 7 p.m. on that fateful Monday, an air of eerie calm was shattered by the arrival of nervous whispers among neighbors and the growing wail of police sirens. Inside the modest confines of their shared room, the lifeless body of 21-year-old Nannaphat Wandi from Udon Thani laid prostrate on the bedroom floor, punctured multiple times by a blade wielded…

The political landscape in Thailand is currently a hotbed of speculation and anticipation, as the People’s Party (PP) deliberates over whether to join forces with the Bhumjaithai Party’s bold move to instigate a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. With parliament set to reconvene on July 3, the air is thick with political maneuvering and strategic calculations. Parit Wacharasindhu, a list MP and spokesperson for the PP, recently expressed the party’s cautious stance on the matter. He openly suggested that the Bhumjaithai Party needs to engage in broader consultations with other opposition factions to firmly justify the urgency and necessity of such a significant parliamentary motion. Without cross-party support, this motion could very well fizzle out like a damp firecracker, particularly since many political observers are already advising a watchful wait for the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle. Bhumjaithai, which recently transitioned to the opposition after a highly embarrassing leak of…

Picture this: the vibrant cityscape of Bangkok transformed into a whirlwind of chaos, as a major political protest readies to unfurl its drama against the backdrop of the bustling Victory Monument. As the clock ticks ever so closer to Saturday, June 28, the city braces itself for significant disruption, which has already left one of its famed hospitals—Ramathibodi Hospital—out of commission for the afternoon. Citing safety concerns arising from the imminent rally, the hospital has made the difficult decision to suspend services at its special and premium clinics from 3pm onwards, leaving countless patients scrambling for alternatives. For more information, patients can meander through the hospital’s website, www.rama.mahidol.ac.th, a digital haven amidst the tumult awaiting them this Saturday. At the forefront of the fray, the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) steps in as the steely-eyed guardian of the streets, issuing a stern advisory to Bangkok’s commuters: avoid Victory Monument and its…