The Beer Bar

Tbh, I doubt any of us will change our drinking habits as a result of these actions. I quickly got lost the further I read. From Thai News Agency The Excise Department has adjusted the rates of excise taxes on wine, brewed beverage, and service establishments, aiming to stimulate tourism and expenditure, effective from February 23. Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Director-General of the Excise Department, revealed that this adjustment of excise tax rates on alcoholic beverages strengthens price competitiveness at the regional level, leading to increased spending by both foreign and domestic tourists of all levels. It also encourages high-quality tourists to vis…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0nndepe1do Tourist paralysed after Thailand motorbike crash

From The Star South Korea has decided to ban its nationals from traveling to the "Golden Triangle" region in Laos infamous for criminal activities starting next month, the foreign ministry has announced. The Level 4 travel alert, the highest in the government's four-tier travel advisory system, for the region will take effect Feb 1, Yonhap News Agency citing the ministry. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, located along the Mekong River in the Laos province of Bokeo, is known for illegal activities, such as trafficking and scamming. The decision to raise the advisory came as South Koreans have been subject to multiple crimes despite a Level 3 a…

From Pattaya News The Pattaya International Kite on the Beach 2024, touted as Thailand’s longest beachside international kite festival spanning over 1 kilometer, has kicked off on Pattaya Beach today with a dazzling display of vibrant kites and unique designs. Featuring participants from various countries, notable kites include the Tabrix, a blue dragon-shaped kite from Germany, the Wyverex, a green dragon-themed kite, and the Sea Dragon, all showcasing advanced craftsmanship and considered among the world’s most valuable dragon kites. A highlight of this year’s festival is the unique beach-themed kites crafted by experienced Australian designers, m…

From Pattaya News On February 21st, 2024, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, the Secretary-General of the Office of the Thai Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), launched a search operation together with 200 officers in the Nana area, Bangkok, to deter and prevent narcotic crimes. Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat publicly revealed that locals filed complaint reports of witnessing a group of foreigners selling illicit substances to Thai and foreign tourists in the Nana area, causing insecurity in life. Previously, there was a case of a Swiss tourist found dead from taking exceeding doses of cocaine. Upon police investigation, it was found that the Swiss tourist bought the illici…

From Thai News Agency Cambodia’s Supreme Privy Council President Hun Sen today visited his long-time friend former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at his residence in Bangkok, marking an important visit as the first significant guest to visit Thaksin since he was released on parole on February 18 after serving half of a one-year sentence. The text accompanying the photos is in Khmer and translates to Thai as: “I came to visit my brother Thaksin in Bangkok. Despite being unwell, he warmly welcomed me. Ung Ing, his youngest daughter and the leader of the Pheu Thai Party was also there to join us. “To strengthen our close relationship, I invited Ung In…

From Thai PBS World The Thai and US navies launched a joint operation today, to search for the remains of five crew missing from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai corvette, to salvage some weaponry and to disable some US-made military equipment. A US navy ship, the “Ocean Valor”, from the US naval base in Hawaii, and a flotilla of Royal Thai Navy (RTN) vessels, including the Rattanakosin, two mine sweepers, two frigates and one mid-sized troop carrier, 17 American and 40 Thai divers are involved in the operation. The US navy ship is part of the US military presence in the Cobra Gold military exercise, involving military personnelfrom Thailand, the US and some allie…

From Pattaya News Makha Bucha, the second most important Buddhist day for Thai people, is only a few days away from today, February 19th, 2024. If you’re visiting Thailand during this time, here is what you need to know. What is Makha Bucha? Makha Bucha, which falls on this Saturday, February 24th, commemorates four key events in the Buddha’s life, emphasizing his teachings and principles. Temples hold special ceremonies, including candle processions and chanting, during this day while Thai people observe the occasion by visiting temples, practicing meditation, and abstaining from vices like alcohol and entertainment. What does this mean for our foreign…

From The Nati The Thai embassy in Yangon has been flooded with visa applications as Myanmar youths are seeking to leave the country following a junta announcement on compulsory military conscription that now also includes women. More than 1,000 people – many of them young Myanmar men and women – lined up at the Thai embassy to apply for visas on Friday. A long queue was formed inside the compound while a large number of people gathered outside the embassy. The embassy said it was issuing 400 numbered tickets a day in order to manage the queue, news agency Agence France Presse reported. …

From The Nation The Social Development and Human Security Ministry is holding a workshop next month to address the problem of Thailand’s ageing society. The seminar, “Enhancing the Security of Thai Families through Population Crisis Management”, will be held on March 7 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa explained that the workshop was being held to address the problem of Thailand’s changing demographics. In 2023, Thailand had more than 13 million people aged 60 and above, while the number of ne…

From NNT South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and NASA have launched a joint air quality study across Asia, including Thailand, to investigate the sources of winter air pollution. Announced by the South Korean Ministry of Environment, the research began in South Korea and will extend through Malaysia and Thailand, concluding on March 25. This year’s study, taking place from February to March, looks into the factors behind increased air pollution levels during winter, a shift from the previous study conducted in May to June 2016. The findings from this research are expected to be released in detailed reports that will serve both ac…

From Pattaya Mail Thailand’s Ministry of Culture will hold the “World Songkran Festival” activities nationwide from 1 to 21 April 2024. This 21-day Songkran Festival will be organized with a cultural network in 76 provinces and 50 districts in Bangkok, which is expected to promote local traditions and help it become one of the world’s renowned destinations for travelers. Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, originally observed as a three-day national holiday from 13 to 15 April. The main activities are the pouring of scented water onto sacred Buddha images and the palms of one’s parents, as well as the famous water-splashing activity. The Minis…

From The Nation Foreign tourists will receive medical coverage of up to 500,000 baht in case of accidents in Thailand, and compensation of up to 1 million baht in the event of death under the government’s new campaign to enhance tourists’ confidence while travelling in Thailand. The campaign, a collaboration between the Tourism and Sports and Public Health ministries, aims to assure foreign tourists that they will be properly taken care of while they are in the kingdom, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said at the launch of the campaign on Wednesday. Explaining that the camp…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The 90 days reporting desk has pride of place at Jomtien immigration bureau. There are several reasons why most expats in Thailand have to report their presence and address every three months. The usual justification is to keep an eye on any wayward farang or to prevent tourists from staying more than three months (including an extension) without leaving the country. But immigration officers say the 90 days report has other uses, for example assisting embassies to locate an individual in Thailand whose relative has just died in the home country. Up to date registration of 90 days is also likely to be necessary for obt…

Landed in Incheon last night with ~65 minutes to make transfer to BKK. Security was deluged with incoming passengers and was late for my flight. Very surprised that flight that was supposed to take off at 7:05 was WAITING for me at 7:18!!!! NOT what I expected as expected as I arrived to the plane a little sweating and short of breath. Captain asked if I was ok and got me a water BEFORE I was seated. My apologies to anyone on the flight. Thought I was going to overnight at the airport for sure.

From CNBC Hidden cameras are being found in hotel rooms, house rentals, cruise ships, and even airplane bathrooms, leaving many travelers to wonder: “Could a hidden camera be watching me?” Spycams, as they’re called, are getting smaller, harder to find and easier to buy. From alarm clocks to air fresheners, water bottles and toothbrush holders, cameras come embedded in common household items that seamlessly blend with home decor. They can be purchased in shops or online, and through retailers like Amazon and Walmart. And rather than having to retrieve the camera to obtain the recording, owners can stream live images straight to thei…

My fiance and I are on a tour, and one of the women on our tour put plastic tape around her ankles so that they wouldn't get abraded, since she was wearing "no-show" socks. My fiance also sometimes wears these, and then sometimes gets blisters or abrasions around his ankles because of this. For this trip, I begged him to avoid wearing those socks, since there's a lot of walking, and I don't want to deal with unnecessary ankle skin problems. I don't understand the reasoning behind these no-show socks. Do people who wear them believe their ankles are so beautiful, that others will be enthralled by viewing their ankle skin? If anything, I thought the plastic tape around the …

From Pattaya News The Change: Previously, only income earned within Thailand was subject to income tax. Now, under Departmental Instruction No. Paw 161/2566, any foreign-sourced income brought into Thailand becomes taxable. This includes: • Salaries from overseas employment • Pensions and retirement income • Investment income like dividends and capital gains • Rental income from abroad Key Requirements: • If you’re a Thai citizen or expat resident (180 days or more per year), you must report your foreign income on your tax return if you bring it into Thailand. • The tax now applies to income brought in in any tax year, regardless of when it wa…

From The Nation Airport extensions and aviation upgrades are part of the government’s top priorities for reshaping the country and fostering sustained growth, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared. Speaking at the "Reshaping Thailand for a Sustainable Future" seminar hosted by Krungthai Bank on Friday, Srettha said his government’s mission was to make every visitor’s experience in Thailand memorable from the time they step on Thai soil to the moment they leave. Addressing concerns regarding immigration procedures, particularly during departure, Thavisin cited London’s Heathrow Airport as an example, where visitors can leave without wasting ti…

From The Thaiger An unruly British man was arrested after his flight from Bangkok to LondonHeathrow landed following a cowardly attack on a Thai Airways member of staff. The 35 year old unnamed British man went berserk only minutes after the flight from the Thai capital took off on February 7 and proceeded to smash up the aircraft’s toilet. A passenger managed to capture the disgraceful footage of the unhinged man assaulting a flight attendant who was trying to calm him down. The belligerent passenger was also seen attempting to exchange blows with other passengers and crew members who intervened. The motive behind his erratic behaviour remains unknown. …

‘Jellyfish’ UAP video is likely the 'real deal': UFO expert | Banfield https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/jellyfish-uap-video-is-likely-the-real-deal-ufo-expert-banfield/vi-AA1mJr2Y?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=1aa2b1ef82714f9a824ab19d550f5a9d&ei=110 Filmed over Iraq in 2018

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Thai premier Srettha Thavisin has told the Cabinet that he is seeking a much more powerful Thai passport which will be enable holders to enter far more than the 34 countries which currently do not require a prior visa or a visa on arrival. Thailand has recently expanded its visa-free policy to several nations including China, Russia and India. Mr Srettha is particularly pleased with the Thai-Chinese agreement which permanently allows tourists visa exemption in both directions. Vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Phumiphiphat Meesamran, told the Bangkok Post that the Thai government should now push for visa…

Fro Newstalk (NZ) Best destinations in the world 1. Dubai, UAE 2. Bali, Indonesia 3. London, UK 4. Hanoi, Vietnam 5. Rome, Italy 6. Paris, France 7. Cancun, Mexico 8. Marrakech, Morocco 9. Crete, Greece 10. Hoi An, Vietnam 11. New Delhi, India 12. Istanbul, Turkey 13. Cusco, Peru 14. Barcelona, Spain 15. Bangkok, Thailand 16. Dominican Republic 17. Playa del Carmen, Mexico 18. Phuket, Thailand 19. Hurghada, Egypt 20. Madrid, Spain 21. Siem Reap, Cambodia 22. Lisbon, Portugal 23. Amsterdam, Netherlands 24. Kathmandu, Nepal 25. New York City, US …

From The Nation Loading... The National Identity Committee resolved on Thursday to designate the “wai” – the Thai way of greeting or paying respects – as a national identity, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said. Somsak, who chaired the committee’s meeting on Thursday, said that he would later seek a Cabinet endorsement to the resolution so that the “wai” would become Thailand’s official national identity. Wai, the most common gre…

From Forbes Thailand's cannabis landscape may change soon as the Southeast Asian country is to ban recreational use of cannabis. The new Thai government has introduced a bill to amend the current cannabis legislation in order to ban the recreational use of cannabis after decriminalization has led the country to flourish cannabis stores around the country. Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew signed last weekend a bill to amend the current cannabis legislation, emphasizing that it can't be used recreationally, as reported by local news media outlets. Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalize recreational cannabis in 2022 after regula…