Stepping into Thailand just got a whole lot easier—or shall I say, digital. As travelers meander through the arrivals hall at the bustling Suvarnabhumi Airport, there’s a new buzz in the air. Suvarnabhumi isn’t just renowned for its majestic scale or namesake nod to “Golden Land” anymore. It’s now taking a digital leap into the future of travel with the introduction of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). From May 1 onwards, the TDAC will replace the traditional TM6 paper cards, marking a new chapter for globetrotters and marking a digital revolution in Thai immigration processing. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, the mastermind at the helm of the Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi, assures us that this is not just a novelty—it’s an advance engineered to enhance traveler convenience while fortifying security. Those planning a journey to the Land of Smiles must set a reminder three days prior to touchdown.…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a gripping turn of events that unfolds under the vibrant multifaceted lights of Pattaya—a city known for both its nightlife allure and enigmatic tales—a chilling crime scene leaves both locals and tourists in shock. This coastal city, a labyrinth of adventures, is not unaccustomed to tales that make headlines, but this story intertwines mystery with a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability. On a seemingly typical sunny Saturday, amidst the usual scurry and bustle, two vigilant officers could be seen in serious discussion with a distressed staff member from a local guesthouse. Here, at the heart of the mystery, lay the scene: a secluded guesthouse room in the rustic charm of Soi Arunotai 2. Within its confines, the discovery was anything but ordinary. The scene was sinister and jarring—a young transwoman’s life tragically cut short, her body discarded in what can only be described as a brutal act of violence.…
In a display of international camaraderie, a high-profile delegation from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) set their sights on the enchanting City of Light. The troupe was a dignified ensemble, led by Torsak Chotimongkol, esteemed Chairman of the Advisers to the Governor of Bangkok. Alongside him were notable figures like Sanon Wangsrangboon, the Deputy Governor; Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the Governor’s Adviser and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO); and Kunanop Lertpraiwan, the Assistant Secretary to the Governor. They were supported by the astute officials from the BMA’s International Affairs Office, all with one aim in mind: to acquire insights, inspiration, and potential collaborations with the forward-thinking city of Paris and its partner AFD. Paris rolled out the red carpet as the delegation dove into a schedule brimming with knowledge exchange and exploration of a myriad of urban development marvels across Paris and the wider Île-de-France region. The AFD had neatly stitched together a…
In a stirring turn of events unfolding in Bangkok’s bustling Chatuchak District, the Lawyers Council of Thailand is gearing up to take significant legal action against the construction firm implicated in the tragic collapse of a towering edifice. This construction company, it seems, has set itself against a fierce tide by proposing what many deem an inadequate compensation of just 50,000 baht per victim. Given the magnitude of the calamity, it’s not surprising that this has sparked a fervent response from the legal community and beyond. The scene of this distressing incident was a 30-storey structure in the making for the State Audit Office (SAO). On March 28, the mighty edifice succumbed to the formidable tremors of an 8.2-magnitude quake, which struck near Mandalay, Myanmar, and sent ripples strong enough to wreak havoc in the heart of Bangkok. Tragedy struck with fierce finality as the building gave way, trapping over…
In the ever-evolving world of aerial technology, Thailand is taking significant strides to streamline and promote drone operations within its borders. Spearheading this initiative, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), underscores the pivotal role of the agency in regulating the efficient use of drones across the nation. He enthusiastically shares the progress made through the UAS Portal system, a state-of-the-art online platform designed to simplify and accelerate the registration process for both drone operators and their high-flying devices. This innovative portal serves as a one-stop-shop, offering extensive guidance for enthusiasts and professionals alike who are interested in exploring the skies with their drones. Manat remarks on the foresight of the platform, envisioning a future where it will adeptly manage drone airspace, ensuring a seamless integration of drones into the national landscape. One of the most exciting developments on the horizon is CAAT’s…
In a swift and well-executed police operation in the lively coastal city of Pattaya, law enforcement officers successfully apprehended a 31-year-old Uzbek national who was caught with counterfeit U.S. currency amounting to $3,000. This arrest has sent ripples through the community, particularly among the local businesses that rely on honest financial transactions to thrive. It all started when a vigilant currency exchange shop in Pattaya reported an incident where a tourist had innocently exchanged $3,000, only to later discover that the $100 bills were fake. Acting swiftly on this lead, Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, the formidable Superintendent of Pattaya City Police, initiated an investigation. Little did the suspect know, a trail of evidence was weaving a net tightly around him. The exchange shop, equipped with CCTV cameras, captured the fateful transaction and collected the culprit’s identification documents. These crucial pieces of evidence allowed the authorities to zero in on their…
In a digital age where social media dictates the rhythm of our lives, rumors can spread quicker than a forest fire. Recently, a particularly wild rumor sent panic waves across the globe: the beloved island of Phuket was to vanish beneath the ocean after a gargantuan earthquake. As you might expect, this sent netizens into a frenzy, envisioning a cataclysmic event straight out of a disaster movie. But let’s take a step back and delve into the facts, shall we? The story kicked off with a bit of doomsday-esque drama, claiming that a massive tremor would send Phuket plummeting into the sea, with a tragic loss of anywhere between 40,000 to 60,000 lives. Understandably, this raised not only eyebrows but also heart rates among locals and tourists. Yet, this thrilling tale of impending doom was nothing more than fanciful fiction whipped up to play with our fears. The Anti-Fake News…
This morning, an alarming incident unfolded at a hospital in Chiang Mai, stirring intense panic and fear among its occupants. A man, evidently distressed and brandishing a knife, stormed the outpatient ward of McCormick Hospital around 11:30 AM, bringing the usual calm of the hospital to a chaotic standstill. Witnesses described the terrifying scene as the man pressed the knife to his throat, shouting incoherently, igniting a wave of panic among staff and patients alike. The atmosphere in the hospital quickly turned claustrophobic as nurses screamed, and patients scrambled for the exits, desperate to escape the looming threat. “It was terrifying! No one knew what he was going to do next,” a staff member recalled, visibly shaken, when speaking to a KhaoSod reporter. Initial attempts by the hospital’s security team to contain the situation proved challenging. However, local police soon arrived, cordoning off the area and evacuating unrelated personnel, ensuring…
In the wee hours of April 24, beneath the glow of streetlights along Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya, a real-life drama unfolded, echoing the gripping narratives often confined to movies. Just past midnight, at 12:16 a.m., the tranquility of the night was shattered by a frantic call to the Pattaya Rescue Centre. A passerby had spotted a young woman standing on the edge of a pedestrian overpass, seemingly poised for a jump that could end in catastrophe. The woman, estimated to be in her late twenties, was precariously perched on the brink, her life hanging quite literally in the balance. Providence, however, hadn’t quite given up on her. By the time the emergency responders—including police officers and rescue volunteers—raced to the scene, a collective of vigilant passersby had already taken matters into their own hands with commendable bravery. In a pulse-racing sequence of events that would rival any thriller, these…
A cheeky escapade unfolded on the vibrant streets of Bangkok when a cunning thief thought he could turn a stolen bicycle into quick cash by selling it on Facebook. Little did he know that his brazen attempt would land him in hot water with an undercover cop, showcasing perhaps not the sharpest tool in the shed! The saga kicked off when a high-end bike, belonging to an Israeli tourist exploring the bustling Chinatown district, went missing, creating a minor international incident right in the heart of Thailand’s capital. The saga began to unfold as Erez, an adventurous 54-year-old from Israel, filed a report with the Chakkrawat police. He narrated the unfortunate disappearance of his prized black TREK FX3 bike, which he had dutifully secured on Songwat Road during his explorations. Alas, upon his return in the early hours, he found the lock severed, and his bicycle had vanished without a…