Tucked away amidst the serene landscapes of Pathum Thani province lies a sprawling expanse known as the Alpine Golf and Sports Club. This picturesque venue, dotted with verdant greens and rolling fairways, has recently come under the glare of the spotlight for reasons beyond its golfing prowess. The Department of Lands (DoL) finds itself at a crossroads, potentially footing a hefty compensation bill to the tune of 7.7 billion baht following an intriguing twist decreed by the Interior Ministry. The Ministry has mandated the revocation of ownership titles for the golf club and several nearby residential properties, igniting a saga entangled with law, land, and legacy. The narrative took a compelling turn when Director-General Pornpoth Penpas addressed the swirling concerns. With a demeanor as steady as an ace putt under pressure, he assured the public that the department would respond with unwavering diligence, guided firmly by facts and court rulings.…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Bangkok, a city renowned for its bustling streets, vibrant culture, and exquisite cuisine, got shaken up a bit this past weekend—not by an earthquake, but by some significant arrests. Thirteen people found themselves on the wrong side of the law for peddling illegal substances to unsuspecting tourists along the illustrious Sukhumvit Road. As part of a concerted effort to clean up Bangkok’s inner-city areas, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) launched a robust crackdown, targeting drug dealers who have become a recurrent blight in districts such as Phra Khanong and, most notably, the Nana neighbourhood that straddles Klong Toey and Watthana. The operation was spearheaded by none other than Pol Lt Gen Santi Chaniramai, the famed NSB commissioner, who addressed the media on a tranquil Monday morning. Among those nabbed were 11 individuals claiming roots from various African nations, including Nigeria and Ivory Coast, along with a pair of Thai nationals.…
In a twist of fate that left Pathum Thani gripped with shock and an uncomfortable intrigue, a routine day unfolded into a macabre mystery. It all began with what seemed to be an innocuous, idle taxi by the side of the road. Yet, as hours ticked by, a grim revelation was unearthed – the driver was deceased right there in the driver’s seat. The serene everyday bustle of Soi 21 on Rangsit-Pathum Thani Road was shattered as vendors and passersby unearthed this distressing reality. The first ripples of suspicion echoed from the vendors who noticed the taxi’s eerie stillness. Though eager passengers entered the cab, none of them ever drove away. Their curiosity piqued, they peered through the windows of the stationary vehicle. To their horror, they found that the driver had quietly departed from this world. The alarm was raised at precisely 3 PM on January 20th, prompting Second…
In the heart of the tranquil Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, the calm was shattered by a mystery darker than the night sky. It was the fatal shooting of a well-liked teacher that shook the corridors of Bang Pa-In district and sent shock waves through the community. The echoes of the gunfire had barely faded when the diligent detectives, like protagonists in a gritty novel, began their chase for justice. Their pivotal clue was discovered two kilometers from where the life of the 60-year-old Nak, a teacher, and legal advisor, came to a tragic end. The fateful day was marked by relentless inquiries at the Bang Pa-In Police Station, where Police Major General Naruenat Phuttaisong, a steady figure known for his unwavering commitment, led the charge. Alongside Police Colonel Peerapat Chuchuay, an ace in investigations, they deliberated the case’s every twist and turn. Their mission? To piece together an intricate…
In a bold maneuver set to transform Thailand’s economic and social landscape, the Thai government is ambitiously advancing a contentious plan to legalize casinos, cleverly cloaked as “entertainment complexes.” This revolutionary initiative is the latest development following former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s compelling proposal to legalize online gambling, which promises a substantial influx of tax revenue. Now, the Digital Economy and Society Ministry is neck-deep in deliberations with various stakeholders to iron out the nitty-gritty of online gambling regulation. Currently being scrutinized by the House of Representatives, this proposal has ignited a fervent debate. Many civil society groups are raising red flags, worried that loosening the reins on gambling may open a Pandora’s box of social woes if regulations lack teeth. There’s apprehension that these glittering projects may line the pockets of a privileged few, leaving society burdened with the adverse consequences. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, at the helm of the Association of…
In an astonishing twist worthy of a science fiction saga, the serene life of Thai villagers was jolted by what they initially feared to be a close encounter of the third kind. The cause of their terror? What they believed were the remnants of an extraterrestrial being washed ashore. Yet, once courage had been mustered and the villagers returned to the mysterious site, they were relieved to unveil the true identity of the ‘alien’—not as an intergalactic visitor, but as a rare marine creature emerging from the hidden depths of the Gulf of Thailand. Today, on January 20, the Rare and Endangered Marine Animal Rescue Network sprang into action, showcasing the kind of rapid response that would make even the most seasoned support team beam with pride. The drama unfolded deep within the mangrove forest of the Ao Pak Phaya conservation area in Village 6, Tha Sak Subdistrict, Nakhon Si…
The tranquil allure of Pattaya Beach, a magnet for sun-seeking tourists, was suddenly overshadowed by a cunning crime that left an Indian holidaymaker, Pravin Manik Tavada, in disbelief and dismay. In the soft glow of neon lights spilling out from the famed Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Tavada, a 42-year-old businessman from India who manages a thriving hotel back home, was unwinding with friends. But his idyllic vacation took an unexpected turn, wrapped in the guise of a friendly hug. Three effervescent Thai ladyboys approached Tavada and his entourage with a seemingly innocuous offer—a simple embrace. Such displays of camaraderie are not uncommon in the vibrant nightlife of Pattaya. However, these affectionate overtures soon revealed a more nefarious intent. Amidst shared laughter and the ocean breeze, Tavada would later discover his cherished 40-gram gold necklace, valued at about 132,000 baht, had vanished. What Tavada initially chalked up to a sales pitch…
In a story pulled straight out of a traveler’s nightmare, a British tourist has laid bare the dreadful conditions he faced while detained in Thailand, offering a stark cautionary tale to fellow globetrotters. The 29-year-old former soldier, opting to remain unnamed, spent 15 harrowing days in captivity after the seemingly trivial mistake of overstaying his visa set off a chain of events he would come to regret deeply. “Hell” is the only word he could muster to describe the ordeal. From the suffocating confines to the deplorable sanitation, his experience painted a bleak picture of neglect and discomfort. Imagine being crammed into a suffocating room, shoulder to shoulder with 130 others, and denied ventilation — an environment so oppressive that prisoners were only granted an hour of freedom per week. The air he breathed inside the detention center was as stifling as the circumstances themselves. Sanitation was a term only…
Imagine a cozy evening in Pai district, the charming northern gem of Mae Hong Son province, where the gentle rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of crickets set the perfect soundtrack. But wait—what’s this? There’s a different kind of rumble that has paisans sitting up a bit straighter in their hammocks. Fifteen earthquakes in a row! That’s right, starting from Sunday night and stretching all the way into Monday afternoon, the Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department reported that tambon Wiang Nuea was the epicenter of quite the shaking spree. With a series of mini-quakes, ranging in magnitude from a meek 1.7 to a more respectable 3.4 on the Richter scale, Pai’s peaceful vibe was given a bit of a shakedown. Despite the ground deciding to take up a new hobby of jitterbugging, it seems that our charming Pai didn’t sustain any kind of damage—neither to public properties…
There is a whirlwind of activity brewing in the realm of land ownership and titanic compensation figures in Thailand, and it’s centered around an unlikely venue—the serene fairways of the Alpine Golf and Sports Club in Pathum Thani province. This is no casual par-3 delight; it’s an unfolding legal novela with potential economic shockwaves that could ripple far beyond the finely manicured greens. The Department of Lands (DoL) is bracing itself for the potential aftermath that could leave it paying up to a whopping 7.7 billion baht in compensation. The root of the intrigue is a recent order by the Interior Ministry that has revoked the ownership titles of the aforementioned golf haven along with the adjacent residences. Why, you ask? It seems the lush acres originally belonged to a Buddhist temple—and, you guessed it—selling them was a cardinal no-no. Pacing the sidelines with careful words, DoL’s director-general, Pornpoth Penpas,…