Author

Greg Jorgensen

Creator of the award-winning travel blog Siam Stories and host of Thai Tourism Board official podcast (2008-2024). Former Lonely Planet contributor and author of three bestselling guidebooks on Thailand. Relocated from Portland to Bangkok in 2003 and never looked back.

708 articles

May 29, 2023

Tour Boat Ignites at Ayutthaya River Pier: No Injuries Reported

A tour boat at an Ayutthaya river pier caught fire in the early hours of May 28, 2023, resulting in no casualties, according to local authorities. ## The Incident

May 29, 2023

Tragic Drowning Incident at Phuket's Patong Beach

On a fateful Saturday morning, a Russian man tragically drowned while swimming in the sea off Patong Beach in Phuket. Pol Maj Chaiyakorn Tangsakul, an investigator at Patong police station, reported the incident at 7:55 am. On a fateful Saturday morning, a Russian man tragically drowned while swimming in the sea off Patong Beach in Phuket. Pol Maj Chaiyakorn Tangsakul, an investigator at Patong police station, reported the incident at 7:55 am.

May 28, 2023

COSTA SERENA Cruise Ship: A One-Day Adventure in Koh Samui

The COSTA SERENA cruise ship made a memorable stop at Nathon Pier, Koh Samui, bringing over 1,800 tourists to experience the beautiful island. Docking on May 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., the ship embarked on a oneday trip covering Laem Chabang (Thailand), Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Phu Quoc Island (Vietnam), and finally Koh Samui (Thailand). Various local authorities, including the Koh Samui Municipality, police officers, and Harbor Department officers, ensured a smooth and wellorganized visit for these eager tourists.

May 27, 2023

Princess Drives 'Women Power': Sustainable Village Project in the Deep South

HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya's sustainable village project is helping to empower women and promote local wisdom throughout the deep South of Thailand. The Ministry of Interior has expanded this initiative, aiming to improve living conditions in remote areas through sustainable development with the assistance of the United Nations. The project supports local communities in food, water, and medicine security while promoting social equality, environmental preservation, and local wisdom.

May 25, 2023

Illegal Migrants Apprehended at Thailand's Western Border

On the early morning of May 24, 2023, fortynine Myanmar nationals were arrested in Thong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi, and charged with illegal entry. Acting on a tipoff, soldiers from the Surasee Task Force and Thong Pha Phum police discovered the group hiding in a teak forest near Moo 1 village in tambon Tha Khanun. The group comprised of 29 men and 20 women, all undocumented.

May 25, 2023

Storm Warning for Upper Thailand

Upper regions of Thailand are expected to experience scattered thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail, and possible lightning strikes from May 810, according to the Meteorological Department. This weather is being influenced by a moderate highpressure system originating from China, extending over the upper Northeast Region of Thailand and the South China Sea starting from Monday. Concurrently, southerly and southeasterly winds are bringing humidity from the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea to the upper part of the country, where hot to very hot weather persists.

May 24, 2023

Chinese Ponzi Scheme Key Member Arrested

A 35yearold key member of a Chinese Ponzi scheme network has been arrested by immigration police on charges of cybercrime, fraud, and investment scams. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Zhao, was apprehended after the Chinese embassy in Bangkok worked with the Immigration Bureau (IB) to track him down.

May 24, 2023

Giant Panda Lin Hui's Death Attributed to Old Age

Thai and Chinese experts have determined that the giant panda Lin Hui passed away last month due to old age, according to Chiang Mai Zoo director Wuthichai Muangman. The 21yearold panda had been living at the zoo for the past 20 years and was under proper care, as confirmed by the experts.

May 24, 2023

Preah Vihear: A Testament to Time and Territorial Tensions

The enigmatic Preah Vihear temple ruins, cloaked in a rich tapestry of history and culture, stand as a poignant reminder of the shared heritage and the territorial strife between Thailand and Cambodia. Suspended in a state of accessibility for over 15 years due to border conflicts, the temple awaits the chance to reopen its gates, offering a beacon of hope for peaceful dialogue and an influx of tourism.

May 23, 2023

CIB Takes Action on Temple Fraud Cases

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is collaborating with the AntiCorruption Division (ACD) and the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to tackle financial crimes and sexual misconduct within Buddhist temples. ## HighProfile Scandal

May 22, 2023

Thailand Welcomes 10 Million Foreign Tourists Since January

Thailand has seen an influx of nearly 10 million foreign tourists from January to May 15, contributing approximately 391 billion baht in revenue. The majority of visitors come from East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The government anticipates reaching seven million Chinese tourists this year.

May 20, 2023

South Korean National Arrested for Drug Smuggling Allegations

A South Korean man has been apprehended by the police in Thailand after receiving a tipoff about his alleged involvement in the smuggling of crystal methamphetamine to South Korea. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) collaborated with the Korea National Police earlier this month to investigate the 46yearold suspect, identified as Chun Younbae. Chun has been allegedly smuggling crystal meth to South Korea between 2021 and 2022.

May 19, 2023

District Chief Arrested for Alleged Bribery in Cockfighting Operations

A district chief in Nakhon Sawan, northern Thailand, was arrested on allegations of demanding bribes from a cockfighting operator. Prasit Phattanasitthicheewin, a 59yearold chief of Mae Wong district office, was arrested by a team of police led by Counter Corruption Division (CCD) commander Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankew on charges of bribery and malfeasance in office.

May 19, 2023

The Cyanide Murders: Gambling Addiction as a Potential Motive

Sararat "Aem" Rangsiwuthaporn, dubbed "Aem Cyanide" by netizens, is suspected of murdering 14 people using cyanide. The police investigation into her financial activities uncovered a possible motive: a serious gambling addiction. A staggering 78 million baht ($2.3 million) passed through her bank accounts, with some funds transferred to proxy accounts set up to receive cash transfers from gamblers.

May 19, 2023

Man Arrested for Killing and Burying Bank Manager in Nonthaburi

Tasapong Supromin, a 32yearold man, was arrested by Nonthaburi investigators and Din Daeng police in Din Daeng district, Bangkok, for the murder of a 53yearold bank manager, Rotenaruebet Hasadindetdamrong. The suspect was taken to the Sai Noi police station in Nonthaburi after his arrest.

May 18, 2023

Six Still Critical After Phuket Boat Accident

Phuket, Thailand Six people, including four Russians and two Thais, are in critical but stable condition after a speedboat accident in Chalong Bay, Phuket. ## Accident Details

May 18, 2023

Phuket Speedboat Accident: 30 Injured and 1 Missing

On a fateful Wednesday evening, a speedboat carrying 33 Russian tourists met with an unfortunate accident in Chalong Bay, Phuket. The crash left 30 people injured, with one tourist still missing. The boat, Thanathip Marine 555, was returning from the Phi Phi islands to Chalong Bay when it hit a channel marker at around 5:30 PM.

May 18, 2023

Polish Tourist Denied Bail in Murder Case

A Polish tourist, Jan Jerzy LagodaFilippow, aged 25, was arrested in Sa Kaeo province's Aranyaprathet district on Monday while attempting to flee to Cambodia. He is suspected of murdering and dismembering his Ukrainian girlfriend, Alona Savchenko, aged 25, in a highrise condominium in Bangkok's Bang Kholaem district after arriving as a tourist on April 29.

May 18, 2023

Illegal Migration in Kanchanaburi: 42 Arrested Near Border

In a recent crackdown, 42 jobseekers from Myanmar were arrested after illegally crossing the border into Sangkhla Buri district in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand. The group was comprised of 27 men and 15 women, all of whom were apprehended following a tipoff about suspiciouslooking individuals in the area.

May 17, 2023

Tragic Discovery of a Toddler's Body in Narathiwat

In a shocking incident in Muang district, Narathiwat, a threeyearold girl named Norasabeena Naekama was found dead and naked not far from her home on Tuesday, May 16th. Just two days earlier, Norasabeena had mysteriously disappeared from her home. In a shocking incident in Muang district, Narathiwat, a threeyearold girl named Norasabeena Naekama was found dead and naked not far from her home on Tuesday, May 16th. Just two days earlier, Norasabeena had mysteriously disappeared from her home.