Dreaming of serene sandy shores and sunlit waves? Well, the sands of Patong were anything but serene recently! A recent spectacle on Phuket’s notorious Bangla Road resembled more of a boxing ring than a holiday haven, as a viral video sees tourists swapping beach towels for punches, igniting a firestorm of controversy and debate over Thailand’s visa regulations and the presence of foreign ruffians. The drama brewed right in the heart of Patong’s bustling nightlife, where a two-on-one brawl erupted. An onlooker captured the chaos on a 48-second video, later shared by the Facebook page Phuket Expose. The footage, which has since garnered a wave of attention, shows two men pummeling a third amid a frenzy of fists and dismay from the bystanders, who, perhaps paralyzed by shock or common sense, chose to spectate rather than separate. The video’s explosive caption “Free visas, fiercely fighting 2-1, both good boxers,” has…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Thailand is capturing the world’s attention with an enchanting blend of ancient wisdom and modern healing at the World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. This year, the age-old art of Thai massage is not just soothing tired muscles but also stealing the limelight as visitors worldwide flock to experience its therapeutic touch. Displaying a dazzling array of expertise, the Thai Pavilion, presented by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, is enchanting attendees with its rich heritage, making it a must-visit at the prestigious international showcase running from April 13 to October 13 in Japan. At the heart of this captivating display is Nuad Thai, the UNESCO-recognised traditional Thai massage that seamlessly blends acupressure, yoga-like stretching, and holistic healing practices. Dr. Somruek Chungsaman, the visionary director-general of the department, enthusiastically stated, “We have handpicked skilled therapists to bring authentic Thai massage techniques to life, targeting issues like Office Syndrome, a…
In the heart of Rayong province, a controversy has unfolded as residents grapple with a towering issue—literally. Picture this: a 10-meter-high illegal landfill, seemingly appearing overnight, now looms over a quaint village in the Makham Khu sub-district of Nikhom Phatthana district. This mountainous mound of earth, suspected of being the mastermind of a Chinese investor, has disrupted more than just the skyline. Locals residing nearby are outraged, as the aftermath of this unsanctioned construction wreaks havoc on their daily lives. The culprit? A relentless dust cloud invading homes, tracks of mud snaking through once-pristine streets, and the latest misfortune—a deluge of mud and water that barged into ten lucky (or rather, unlucky) households on the fateful date of April 14. With wet feet and soggy spirits, the residents are now demanding justice. The tale began when murmurs of an 80,000-square-meter land acquisition surfaced. By February, rumblings of trucks and earthmovers…
Ah, Phuket—the crown jewel of Thailand, a destination that captures the imagination of millions while generating nearly 500 billion baht in revenue as of last year. Yet, beneath the shimmering surface of this tourist hotspot, turmoil brews with an ironic twist: the island is drowning in its success. Yes, even paradise has its problems—crumbling infrastructure, scarcity of water, and unrelenting traffic snarls. It seems, according to the island’s valiant governor Sophon Suwannarat, that despite the economic bounty Phuket rakes in, it’s been left out in the cold when it comes to governmental budgetary love. In what seems like a tale out of a sitcom, the numbers paint a vivid picture. Phuket played host to a staggering 13–14 million tourists last year, their holiday pockets generating a lush 497.5 billion baht. But irony lurks at every corner (and one’s possibly pothole-riddled) as Governor Sophon laments that infrastructure funds are still MIA.…
The vibrant celebration of Songkran, Thailand’s water festival marking the New Year, is traditionally an occasion of joy and merriment. However, this year’s festivities have taken a dark turn as authorities grapple with the aftermath of a new designer drug making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The drug, ominously dubbed “Labubu” or “Khanom,” has cast a shadow over the celebrations, with its menacing presence already resulting in fatalities and serious health issues. Under the guise of fun, this lethal substance deceptively masked by the innocuous likeness of the popular Labubu plush toy by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung, caught festival-goers unawares. What started as revelry quickly spiraled into tragedy, claiming two lives and leaving a third individual in critical condition after a bout of severe medical complications. These unfortunate victims suffered from symptoms ranging from unconsciousness and muscle spasms to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest, grim reminders of the…
In a gripping twist of events, members of the Parliamentary Official Saving and Credit Cooperative are clamoring for a comprehensive, independent investigation concerning a jaw-dropping fraud of 14 million baht. The plot thickens as suspicions mount that the net of culprits may cast wider than the current lone suspect—an employee already under scrutiny. A trusted insider disclosed that the cooperative recently found itself in the eye of a storm, acknowledging internal fraud following a preliminary probe. This probe unfurled the sordid tale of malfeasance by a finance officer. In a swift response, the Cooperative Board showed no quarter, dismissing the rogue employee without so much as a whisper of severance, and promptly filing a formal complaint with the Bang Pho police station. The wheels of justice are now in motion. Despite the board’s confident reassurances that this swindle hasn’t rocked the financial boat of the cooperative or its members’ individual…
Amidst a tempest of criticism, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra finds herself steering a ship rocked by one of Bangkok’s most ferocious earthquakes in years. Her leadership, already on shaky ground due to prior natural disasters, is now under an intense spotlight as she faces censure for not mustering a robust response to this latest calamity. The reverberations of natural disasters have consistently rippled through Ms. Paetongtarn’s tenure. Shortly after stepping into her role as prime minister on August 16 of last year, a baptism of floodwaters swept through Chiang Rai, thrusting her into the deep end of crisis management. Her absence from the front lines of the flood-stricken province, excused by her need to await formal royal endorsement, left many murmuring about a “vacuum in leadership,” underscoring a perceived need for swift national mobilization. Although the severity of the Chiang Rai flooding—a catastrophe peaking with 16 fatalities and devastation over…
Prepare your senses for a vibrant celebration as the government rolls out the red carpet for an extraordinary cultural fiesta in Bangkok from April 23 to 27. This dazzling event is a grand homage to the 243rd anniversary of the Rattanakosin Era and promises to be an unforgettable experience. Minister of Culture, Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol, has unveiled an exciting lineup of events sprawling across three iconic venues: Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, the esteemed National Museum Bangkok, and the historic Wat Prayurawongsawat. Step back in time as we honor the formidable legacy of King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great, aka King Rama I, the illustrious founder of the Chakri Dynasty. The history books mark April 21, 1782, as the moment King Rama I established Bangkok as Thailand’s thriving capital. Fast forward to 2025, and we’re embracing the 243rd year of the Rattanakosin Kingdom with jubilation! The revelry kicks off with spiritually enriching…
In the vibrant streets of Bangkok, the Songkran festival—a vibrant celebration of Thai New Year—often coincides with bustling traffic and, unfortunately, a rise in road mishaps. However, this year, a silver lining emerged as the city recorded a decrease in road accidents, attributed largely to an invigorated road safety campaign led by the resolute Deputy Governor, Assoc Prof Tavida Kamolvej. Her rallying cry, “don’t speed – wear a helmet,” is not just a slogan but a determined push for safer travel across the city’s intricate roadways. This year’s campaign did not end with the festival; a commitment has been made to dissect accident-prone areas meticulously. With an eye on accident hotspots, the aim is to bolster road safety measures year-round, potentially transforming these notorious zones into corridors of safety. Addressing a tactical gathering at the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Centre, Deputy Governor Tavida uncovered some interesting statistics. The cacophony…
Imagine, if you will, the future of emergency alerts—faster than a speeding bullet and more ubiquitous than your favorite social media app. On a typical Friday in Bangkok, a hotbed of world-class telecommunications innovation, telecom operators and regulators celebrated a milestone in emergency readiness. The scene was awash with a sense of achievement as the participating teams, including Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Corp, and the state-owned National Telecom, coordinated with the brains at the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to pull off a successful test of their cutting-edge virtual cell broadcast entity (CBE) mobile emergency alert system. Picture a typical day with the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s crowded streets and markets when suddenly, a phone buzzes with an alert. The ecosystem of cooperation between Apple’s savvy with their iOS 18 rollout in Thailand and Google’s ever-evolving Android created the bedrock for this emergency alert triumph. Whether you’re…