Imagine drifting through the tropical paradise of Hawaii, marveling at the cherry blossoms in Japan, and savoring the fiery delights of Thailand, only to return home with an uninvited guest in your cranium. This bizarre and gritty saga unfolded around a 30-year-old woman from New England, USA. Her idyllic holiday turned grim after she discovered her travels had landed her in a sinister struggle with rare parasitic worms taking up residence in her brain. Who would have thought that a dream vacation could spiral into a medical horror show? Upon her return, she was plagued by severe headaches and an unsettling burning sensation crawling from her feet to her arms. A trip to the ER offered little relief; she was sent home with some pills to quell what was wrongly chalked up to anxiety. Little did anyone know, she was harboring Angiostrongylus cantonensis, more ominously known as the rat lungworm.…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the heart of Phuket Old Town, the vibrant Valentine’s Day atmosphere was interrupted by a flurry of activity that had nothing to do with romance. Instead, it was a tale of intrigue, international law, and a peppering of legal drama. It was here, amid the pleasant clinking of glasses and live music at Michelangelo’s Bar & Lounge Live Concert Music, that the story unfolded – with the arrest of Ronald Ray, a 67-year-old American seemingly more at home with legal loopholes than laughter-filled Valentine soirées. This wasn’t your typical tourist arrest, mind you. No tales of drunken disorderly conduct or minor visa mishaps. No, Ray was at the center of a much deeper saga involving the twisting labyrinth of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act. You see, Thailand has a quirky little law that requires foreign nationals to obtain specific permits to operate certain types of businesses—everything from rice milling to…
In the enchanting land of Chiang Mai, where lush landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, a team of intrepid park rangers aren’t just soaking in the picturesque views. On a bustling Monday, these guardians of nature rose to the occasion, battling a blazing forest fire, their silhouettes framed against a backdrop of towering flames and a turquoise sky. (Photo: Panumet Tanraksa) Fast forward to Tuesday morning, the mystical North and portions of the tranquil upper northeastern provinces of Thailand came under an unexpected veil—not of mist, but of ultrafine dust. According to the diligent number-crunchers at the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), these airborne particulates, PM2.5 in technical parlance, were playing hide-and-seek across the skies. Picture this: in the wee hours at 8am, Gistda’s meteorological detectives unveiled a tale of three provinces—Phrae, Lampang, and Lamphun—wrapped snugly in ‘red levels’ of PM2.5, a state deemed hazardous…
In a spate of budgetary scrutiny, the main opposition People’s Party (PP) has raised quite the storm around the Social Security Office’s (SSO) spending habits. The focal point of their discontent? Alleged extravagant expenses on overseas junkets, training programs that never seem to hit the mark, and a public relations strategy that’s more fluff than substance. If you think that sounds like a political thriller, hold onto your seats, because Bangkok MP and tireless watchdog, Ratchanok Srinok, is digging deep into the numbers. In a fiery Facebook address following a satirically named “Hack the SSO Budget” forum, Ms. Ratchanok unwrapped six juicy tidbits of fiscal intrigue. She unflinchingly pointed out how the SSO’s budget seemed to have grown not just legs, but wings over the last few years. The spending spree skyrocketed from 4 billion baht in 2020 to a jaw-dropping 6.61 billion baht in 2023. That’s a two-year financial…
On a typical morning in bustling Bangkok, where the symphony of early traffic tunes resonates with the city’s vibrant energy, the air quality report delivered an uplifting message. Across all 50 districts of the Thai capital, air quality fluctuated between the “green” and “yellow” spectrums, signifying conditions ranging from good to moderate, according to the Air Quality Information Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). This encouraging data had city residents breathing a sigh of relief, quite literally, as the average PM2.5 levels hovered at a comfortable 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). This figure sits comfortably below the national standard threshold of 37.5 µg/m³ based on a three-hour average taken from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. To put it in perspective, just yesterday at the same time, the readings climbed to 34.9 µg/m³, presenting an improvement that the city dweller can’t help but cheer for. But what’s the deal…
Imagine this: the sun is warmly casting its golden rays over Thale Noi in the Khuan Khanun district of Phatthalung. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is casually feeding a buffalo, her soft smile mirroring the gentle tranquility of the scene. This seemingly idyllic moment, however, is much more than a picturesque pause in a busy schedule—it’s part of a comprehensive plan to propel Thailand’s southern provinces towards a horizon where potential meets reality. On a bustling Monday, amidst the welcomed murmurs of anticipation from the local crowd, the Prime Minister stood committed to transforming the South into a powerhouse of progress. Her itinerary was packed, beginning with an insightful visit to inspect a pivotal water management scheme for Songkhla Lake. It seems that water management isn’t the only flow she’s interested in cultivating. There’s a larger stream—a strategic cascade of improvements earmarked for every corner of these flourishing regions. Brimming with…
The anticipation is palpable as Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone gears up for a landmark journey this Thursday to the vibrant land of Thailand. This inaugural official visit marks a significant chapter in the diplomatic saga between Laos and Thailand, and all eyes are set on the promising exchanges that are poised to unfold. This highly-anticipated event was set into motion when Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended a warm invitation, now graciously accepted by Mr. Sonexay. The diplomatic stage is set for the dynamic duo to convene and delve into meaningful discussions designed to fortify the ties that bind these neighboring nations. Topics on the table are as diverse as they are crucial, spanning the realms of trade, connectivity, and deepening people-to-people interactions. As the curtains rise on this diplomatic dance, both leaders are expected to turn a focused lens on pressing mutual challenges. The specters of narcotics, the relentless…
The wheels are turning, and the buzz is in the air as the government’s legal advisory body, the Council of State, wraps up its scrutiny of the much-anticipated Entertainment Complex Bill. With an online public hearing slated until March 1, the stage is set for everyone to voice their opinions and concerns before this groundbreaking proposal takes its next big step—heading to the parliament. “We’ve had our pens busy, tweaking and adjusting the bill,” shared Atavit Suwanpakdee, the sage chairman of the Minister of Industry’s advisory board. He noted that while the council has polished some sections, curiosity remains about how many entertainment locations will dot the landscape and where exactly they will thrive. A notable update: casinos will take up no more than 10% of these venues. Time to put on your thinking caps, planners! Atavit revealed he’s on board with the idea of all-inclusive entertainment complexes, but clarity…
Imagine a giant living among us, a majestic creature stomping right into the pages of the Guinness World Records. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, meet Thailand’s own King Kong, a water buffalo who has taken the world by storm with its towering grandeur. In the serene landscapes of Nakhon Ratchasima, where the grass is evergreen and the sun kisses the horizon, strides King Kong, now heralded as the planet’s tallest buffalo. Standing at an awe-inspiring 185 centimeters (6 feet 0.8 inches) from hoof to shoulder, this nearly mythical figure stands head and shoulders above his kin by a staggering 50 centimeters. Despite his Herculean stature, King Kong carries himself with the gentleness of a seasoned statesman. Picture this: a giant enjoying life’s simple pleasures with serene abandonment—frolicking in refreshing ponds, nibbling on bananas, and winning hearts left and right with his affable personality. Clearly, King Kong is more than just a…
In the sun-kissed yet sometimes mystifying province of Krabi, an unsettling story has emerged involving a Turkish national who seems to have slipped through the fingers of justice—not once, but twice. This tale of misadventure kicks off with a Thai scuba diving trainer, who, puzzled and frustrated, turned to Channel 7 for help after her complaints went seemingly unheard by the authorities at Ao Nang Police Station. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, dive with me into the murky depths of this peculiar narrative. Picture this: it’s a serene day in Krabi on February 12 when a 33-year-old Turkish man, who shall remain nameless for now, decides to shake things up a bit. Our protagonist—if you can call him that—was caught red-handed by the lenses of modern technology. A video shows him picking up a rock, crossing a seemingly innocuous road, and launching it at the parked car…