The vibrant city of Bangkok is set to revolutionize its public transport system, and it’s going green! From August 1 onwards, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is turning eco-friendly transportation up a notch by launching five brand-new electric shuttle routes. This grand move comes as part of the BMA Feeder initiative, aiming to ease the daily grind of traffic congestion, purify the capital’s air, and seamlessly connect commuters to the bustling city’s rail network. According to the tireless BMA spokesperson, Aekvarunyoo Amrapala, this fresh wave of expansion marks a pivotal leap in enhancing the city’s first- and last-mile connectivity, vital for the convenience of Bangkok’s residents. The program put its first footprint forward back in December 2024 with two initial pilot routes, navigating daily between Wat Purawas and Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge, and the lively Thonburi Market to MRT Lak Song. Now, with five additional routes, the network will snake…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Thailand’s idyllic southern beaches, renowned for their pristine shores and turquoise waters, were shrouded in tragedy over the weekend as unforgiving weather conditions claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists in separate, heart-wrenching incidents in Phuket and Krabi. What began as a relaxing escape to paradise ended in despair for 53-year-old Wang Yang on Sunday, July 20, after a dramatic thunderstorm unleashed chaos upon Koh Hey Beach in Phuket. With shadows cast by threatening clouds, late afternoon brought calamity as a massive tree branch, heavy with rain, succumbed to gravity during the tempest. Wang, unwinding under its supposed shelter with her husband and a tour group, was met with a grim fate when the branch unexpectedly crashed down upon her. The clock struck 5:30 PM in a scene that would forever alter her husband’s world. Locals propelled into action, rushing Wang and her husband to the nearest hospital as the…
In an unexpected turn of events, a dramatic story unfolded as Welsh holidaymaker Ashton Jones found himself teetering on the brink of life in a Thai hospital. Jones, a 29-year-old from Cwmbran, launched his tai-adventures with a buddy in the vibrant city of Bangkok on May 30, planning what was supposed to be an unforgettable lads’ trip. Yet within just five days, this exciting voyage took a harrowing detour. News reached his family with heart-stopping intensity: Ashton had disappeared. As panic gripped his loved ones, a whirlwind of searching and hand-wringing ensued, culminating in his discovery at Chon Buri Hospital. There, this young wanderer had already undergone critical brain surgery to save his life. Even now, the Thai authorities are diligently piecing together the events that led to his precarious condition. The tale took a grim twist as the realization dawned—that Ashton did not have travel insurance, and the medical…
Odd adventures are no stranger to Grab motorcycle riders, but one Phuket-based rider had a particularly baffling encounter that has captured the online community’s imagination. Just yesterday, on July 21, the rider shared his peculiar story with the Phuket Times, accompanied by a video that’s already making waves. This motorized tale began with a routine ride from Rawai to Patong—only, this wasn’t your typical passenger. Upon reaching her destination, the female passenger suddenly seemed to morph into an Olympic sprinter, dashing into the annals of ride-share folklore! It all started innocuously enough. Our intrepid Grab rider picked up his fare in Rawai, zooming through the picturesque streets of Phuket towards Patong. Once they arrived, however, things took an unexpected turn. The passenger had previously claimed that her banking app was playing the old digital trick of “insufficient funds” and promised to pay the fare in old-fashioned cash instead. Assuring the…
There’s a rather unfortunate tale emerging from the serene locales of Lampang, involving a savvy businesswoman finding herself ensnared in quite the precarious situation. This wouldn’t be the usual business hustle or mere construction haggling saga; instead, it treads the gritty line of an enthralling fraud mystery, complete with false promises, lofty claims, and… well, a pinch of deceit. Picture this: a construction conundrum billing itself in the southern border provinces of Thailand, an area known for its bustling construction contracts and equally bustling opportunists. Phak, our astute businesswoman, and her partner, Bom, fell prey to an elaborate charade. What’s at stake here—a staggering 7 million baht (cue wide-eyed expressions) and a heck of a lot of trust. Apparently, their entrepreneurial spirit guided them unwittingly into the clutches of a crafty imposter. The tale turns a shade more intriguing—this was not just any run-of-the-mill fraudster. The accused, basking in their…
Pattaya, once a haven for beach lovers and revelers, has taken on a new persona that’s straight out of a modern crime thriller. The city is now a cutting-edge surveillance hub, flaunting a state-of-the-art AI-powered security system that has notably transformed its crime-fighting landscape. The Thai police have pulled a literal rabbit out of the hat with their claims that this innovative approach has reduced physical assaults and property-related misdemeanors by a staggering 40%. As you wander through Pattaya’s bustling streets, remember – someone or something is almost certainly watching you. Lieutenant General Yingos Thepchamnong, the man steering this tech-driven operation, divulged that their ‘Pattaya model’ is the secret behind this monumental drop in crime. This model is no run-of-the-mill strategy; it merges mobile surveillance units with smart cameras and an insightful AI-powered database teeming with profiles of wanted and high-risk individuals. Oh yes, it’s like something pulled right out…
In the quaint and typically restful village of Chai Chumphon, nestled within the picturesque Lap Lae district of Uttaradit province, a dark cloud of tragedy overshadowed what should have been a normal afternoon. On the balmy afternoon of July 21, the quiet serenity was shattered by a shocking incident that sent ripples of disbelief and concern resonating through the community. The focal point of this unsettling drama was a well-known construction materials warehouse, a hub of activity in Moo 4 that serviced the community’s endless stream of builders and DIY enthusiasts. This bustling haven of hardware was the location where Numn, the respected store owner, tragically lost his life. A fatal gunshot interrupted his routine task of retrieving steel rods for a waiting customer, marking a grim end to a busy day and a beloved figure within the community. As the clock ticked towards 3 PM, an ominous presence descended…
Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat recently found herself at the center of an online uproar, not for a policy decision or educational reform, but for donning a pair of jeans. During her official visit to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narumon’s choice of attire, specifically her long, ripped jeans paired with a casual black jacket and sneakers, revived an age-old debate: the dress code double standard in Thai schools. From July 18 to 20, accompanied by other officials from the Ministry of Education, Narumon visited various schools in the province, engaging with teachers and students, and evaluating the challenges they encounter in order to tailor ministry support. However, it was her visit to Benjamarachutit Nakhon Si Thammarat School that set social media ablaze. The relaxed ensemble she chose raised eyebrows and invited criticism about the appropriateness of such attire by a government official. Online observers quickly highlighted the contrast…
In the bustling realm of global tourism, where countries vie like athletes at the Olympics for top honors, Thailand is charting a fresh path. It is a path not lined with mere footsteps of tourists but paved with their enriching experiences. Moving to the rhythm of “The New Thailand,” the nation has set its sights on the ambitious horizon of 2026, where it hopes to bask in the glow of a 2.8 trillion baht tourism revenue, thus catapulting into the upper echelon of the world’s tourism greats. The maestro conducting this symphony of strategies is none other than TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. “Our focus is on the music, not the noise,” she states with conviction, encapsulating the core of Thailand’s new tourism orchestra—quality over quantity. Under this fresh vision, Thailand seeks to amplify the allure of sustainable travel and foster grassroots ventures that uplift local communities. It’s a daring dance…
In a twist of fate that unfolded in the bustling city of Bangkok, a 41-year-old man known as Pongpan found himself caught in the web of his own actions. On July 18, Pongpan was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in a modest rented room in the Din Daeng district. His crime? Allegedly breaking into coin-operated car wash machines not once, but twice—acts driven by the throes of unemployment and financial woes. The tale began on a seemingly ordinary day, July 2, when the victim received an unsettling tip-off from a vigilant relative. Their shop had been violated; an unknown individual had forced entry and pilfered approximately 10,000 baht, equivalent to about $310 USD, from the car wash’s coin repository. The shop’s CCTV system, a silent witness, captured a grainy yet telling sequence of events. In the footage, a man, face partially obscured by a cap, slipped into the shop at…