The government of Thailand says security in the capital city of Bangkok will be ramped up ahead of the New Year holiday. The Royal Guards’ major-general Chalermpol Srisawat says security personnel will be draughted into key districts and they will be carrying out foot patrols to ensure there are no untoward incidents.
Tourism authorities in Myanmar have set a new deadline for when tourists will have to pay in local currency to enter the historic city of Bagan. The changeover is scheduled for 1 January 2016. From this date, visitors will be required to pay MMK25,000 to enter the historical park in central Myanmar.
Thailand has launched a drink awareness campaign for drivers ahead of the upcoming festive season holidays. The National Police Traffic Division has joined forces with the Thai arm of the Moet Hennessy Diageo drinks group in the move to persuade drivers to take a taxi if they have been drinking.
The governors of the Thai and Malaysian national rail companies presided over ceremonies on Monday to inaugurate a new service. The two jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon that launched daily services between the southern Thai town of Hat Yai and Padang Besar on the Malaysian border.
Thailand and Cambodia last week agreed to expedite construction of a railway track to link the two countries. Agreement was reached during a state visit to Thailand by Cambodian prime-minister Hun Sen.
The operator of Bangkok’s elevated urban trains has announced services will run until 02:00 on New Year’s Day. Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) director Surapong Laoha-unya said the after-midnight services would allow revellers more time to get home from New Year’s Eve parties.
The management team at Bangkok’s planetarium have scheduled its reopening for the New Year. The Sukhumvit Road facility is due to open on 5 January 2016 and eight months after it closed for a major revamp.
A dress designed to resemble Thailand’s ubiquitous tuktuk won the best costume award at yesterday’s Miss Universe 2015 Pageant. Thailand’s representative at the Los Angles awards, Aniporn Chalermburanawong, wore a minidress complete with imitation handlebars and the front of one of the vehicles strapped to her back.
A Thai government specialist has recommended that resources to protect the Phi Phi islands are increased. Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says the southern Andaman Sea islands need more patrol boats, more park rangers and more buoys to cordon off and protect corals.
The annual Chiang Mai Jazz Festival is scheduled to take place over the forthcoming Christmas weekend. The northern Thai city’s Promenada Resort Mall is the venue for the fifth extravaganza in the series.
The recurring dreams of a Thai temple abbot have led to the discovery of a long-lost head from a revered Buddha statue. The ordained monk of a temple in Suphan Buri Province dreamt about the statue head nine times before discussing it with local residents.
Workers at the main park in Phuket Town are preparing it to stage the annual Phuket Red Cross Fair. The eagerly awaited event begins on 26 December and will continue through the New Year until 5 January.
Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana has confirmed he will be flying in to Thailand for a concert in the New Year. The Latin-American rock star and his band are set to play at the Impact Arena in Bangkok’s Muang Thong Thani complex on 29 February 2016.
Phuket’s governor says a proposed film memorabilia museum could be built in the resort town of Karon. Chamroen Tipayapongtada told reporters on the southern Thai island he had talked the matter over with local council officials in Karon and they seemed quite keen on the idea.
Thailand’s prime minister attended a test run on one of Bangkok’s new mass-transit Purple Line trains yesterday morning. He followed this up by going to a ceremony to commemorate the successful completion of the nation’s first tunnel under a river.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has added some extra services to its timetable for the forthcoming New Year holiday period. The SRT explained that all of its trains for the period between 30 January and 4 January were fully booked.
Fishermen and national park marine officers have reported seeing whale sharks swimming in the waters of Phang Nga Bay over the past two weeks. One park ranger said one of the huge sea creatures swam beside his boat for several minutes on Friday while he was close to the shores of Krabi.
Ground frost provided a rare sight for people visiting the national park containing Thailand’s highest mountain late last week. Doi Inthanon National Park’s chief ranger, Pornthep Charoensuebsakul, said frost blanketed flowers and grass close to the radar station at the peak on Thursday morning.
Organisers at a country club in Phetchaburi Province are busy preparing for the biggest music extravaganza on Thailand’s annual calendar. Kaeng Krachan Country Club is the venue for the seventh Big Mountain Music Festival on 19 and 20 December.
The annual Geminids meteor shower phenomenon is scheduled to light up the sky over northern Thailand on Monday night. A National Astronomical Research Institute (NARI) senior director said the meteors would be visible throughout the night from around 20:30 onwards.