A number of A-list celebrities have confirmed they will attend an international youth convention set to take place in Bangkok later in November. Actress Uma Thurman, boxer Manny Pacquiao and Band Aid founder Bob Geldof will be in the Thai capital for the One Young World Summit.
The provincial transport division on the southern island of Phuket is in the process of expediting a feasibility study for a monorail service. Chaiwat Thongkhamkoon, a senior manager with the department, said the assessment is just about finished and will be delivered to the Thai Transport Ministry over the next month or so.
Taking trains and buses through Thailand’s wonderful countryside gives exhilarating glimpses of a part of the world that is totally unlike anything most western visitors have ever seen. Although slower than flying, most people say that taking at least one bus or train is a part of their Thai experience. An added bonus for those looking to save money is that trains and buses are far cheaper.
Chiang Mai municipal officials have released a list of districts where the launching of the famous balloon-lanterns is prohibited in the run up to the Loy Krathong Festival. The release of the hot-air balloons, known as kom loi, is very much a part of the ancient festival’s traditions and brings countless visitors to Chiang Mai every year.
The director Of Bangkok’s Transportation Division says the municipality will hold a public enquiry into the feasibility of building a Skytrain line on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Taweesak Lertprapan told reporters the Gold Line would be three kilometres long and link Thonburi Railway Station and the soon-to-open Icon Siam shopping and lifestyle mall.
The oil slick and garbage that washed up on Hua Hin beach last week has been cleaned off. Environmental officers in the Gulf of Thailand seaside resort inspected the beach on Friday and said there was no more oil on it.
Thailand’s Transport Ministry is set to adjust fares for intercity bus routes so that operators are able to compete with low-cost airlines. Darun Saengchai is a secretary with the ministry and he says bus companies will be allowed a reduction on minimum fares for certain routes between Bangkok and other major cities in Thailand.
Chinese officials say they are certain a new train line linking the country’s southern Yunnan Province and Thailand will be completed on schedule. The Chinese end of the Trans-Asian Railway will run from the Yunnanese capital of Kunming to Rayong on the northern shore of the Gulf of Thailand.
Thousands of tourists lined the banks of the Mekong River on Tuesday evening for the annual phenomenon of the naga fireballs. They were not disappointed as local officials reported a total of 800 of the glowing balls lit up the sky over the course of the evening. This was 200 more than in 2014.
A ban on big boats entering a marine park on Thailand’s southern Andaman Sea shoreline has led to a significant regeneration of marine life and plant species. The government instigated the ban at Ao [Phang Nga](/en/travel/ratchaburi/phang-nga) National Park last year to help the park’s ecosystem recover from excessive tourism and fishing.
Holidaymakers heading for Hua Hin Beach yesterday were dismayed to find an oil slick full of debris on the waterline. The slick covered swathes of beach all the way down from the town to the headland of Khao Takiab.
Sunday sees the start of the ever-popular annual carnival in Phuket Island’s resort town of Patong. Town mayor Chalermluck Kebsup says that to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the carnival it is joining forces with the Patong Seafood Festival and visitors will be able to enjoy premium entertainment along with exciting gastronomic experiences.
The Thung Non Son meadows are one of Thailand’s most unique sights and, after being off limits to visitors for one year, are now open again. The fields are located in Phitsanulok’s Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and were closed due to the damage caused by huge influxes of visitors.
Pattaya’s Ripley’s! Believe it or Not is holding its own unique celebration of the horrors of Halloween. The attraction is entitled the Horrors of Prison and has been included in the facility’s Haunted Adventures section.
A UK based travel company has conducted a study that reveals travelling by tuktuk in Thailand is not as cheap as most people thought. Travel Republic weighed up the costs of travelling by 18 different modes of transport in common use around the world.
Bangkok Mass Transit says it is set to purchase new trains to cater to the spike in demand for public transport. CEO Surapong Laoha-Unya says the agency is set to splash out up to THB10 billion on up to 43 complete trains for use on the Skytrain network.
Meteorologists in southern Thailand say the worst smog in the past 10 years is covering the whole area. The smog caused the cancellation of some flights to holiday hotspots like Koh Samui and Phuket yesterday.
Thailand is celebrating the memory of revered King Chulalongkorn tomorrow with a national holiday. The 23 October 2015 marks the 105th anniversary of the day the beloved monarch passed away and brought to a close a 42-year reign that saw Thailand take significant steps on the road to becoming a modern state.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Culture has released a statement saying entry fees for Bagan Archaeological Zone will be payable in kyat with effect from 1 November 2015. The fee has been set at MMK25,000 which at today’s exchange rate is marginally higher than the US$20 tourists pay to enter now.
Elephants upset by the sound of motorcycles in one of Thailand’s biggest national parks forced one unlucky rider off his machine late last week. The driver of a car following the motorcyclist through Khao Yai National Park captured the whole incident on his dashboard camera and posted the images up online.