Chiang Mai News

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  • Happy Birthday Sweet 17

    Happy Birthday Sweet 17

    PHOTO: The Nation Happy birthday Lin Hui. Lin Hui is one of the stars of Thailand’s ‘panda frenzy’ a decade ago. Today she’s 17 years old and fans assembled at the Chiang Mai Zoo to sing “Happy Birthday” and maybe share some special birthday bamboo. Lin Hui’s mate Chuang Chuang got in on the fun as well, sharing her birthday…

  • Australian living in Chiang Mai hangs himself from a roadside tree

    Australian living in Chiang Mai hangs himself from a roadside tree

    An Australian man is believed to have hanged himself from a tree on a roadside in Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong district this morning. The man has been identified as Nicholas James Watek. A passer-by called the Hang Dong police around 9.30am after he saw the man hanging from a tree on Soi Bon Kai Doi Tham in Ban Doi Tham village…

  • Greed unravelled the trio’s grisly plot – Phrae double murder

    Greed unravelled the trio’s grisly plot – Phrae double murder

    PHOTO: Alan and Nod receive the keys to their new pick-up truck. The bodies of 64 year old Alan Hogg and his 61 year old wife, Nod Suddaen, wee unearthed yesterday morning following a short investigation where greed brought the plot unstuck for the killers. After a few hours of interrogation three men admitted to collusion in the plot to…

  • A backpack full of meth pills headed for Chiang Mai

    A backpack full of meth pills headed for Chiang Mai

    A Chiang Mai man has been arrested las night after allegedly trying to smuggle 100,000 methamphetamine pills into the city from the Myanmar border, 100 kilometres away. Police at a checkpoint in Mae Ai district had signalled for a motorcyclist to stop but he sped off. With officers in pursuit, he lost control of his motorbike and came to grief…

  • Police find bodies of Briton, Thai wife buried behind their house in Phrae

    Police find bodies of Briton, Thai wife buried behind their house in Phrae

    The bodies of a Briton and his Thai wife were found buried over 2 metres deep in the garden of their property in Phrae Muang district today after they went missing on September 19. The Nation is reporting that the bodies of 64 year old Alan Scott Hogg and 61 year old Nott Sudaen were found buried beside a creek on…

  • Three men have confessed, one remains on the run – murder of Phrae married couple

    Three men have confessed, one remains on the run – murder of Phrae married couple

    Three men have confessed to the murder of a missing couple – a British expat and his Thai wife – in Phrae. Police say the three men were hired by the woman older brother to kill the married couple. Police made the arrests in Wang Chin district late yesterday. They say they eventually had the confessions after hours of ‘intense’…

  • Bodies of missing British man and Thai wife found buried in garden in Phrae

    Bodies of missing British man and Thai wife found buried in garden in Phrae

    The bodies of a missing British man (earlier reported as Australian) and his Thai wife have been found buried in the garden of their home in Phrae, northern Thailand. 64 year old Alan Hogg from Scotland, and his Thai wife, 61 year old Nott Suddaen, were reported missing from their home in the Phrae province last Thursday. A weekend report…

  • Ambulance slams into tree in Lampang killing three

    Ambulance slams into tree in Lampang killing three

    An ambulance returning to Phayao, after delivering a patient to Phitsanulok, has hit a tree in Lampang this morning, killing two nurses and the driver. Police say the accident happened at 7am on the Ngao-Phayao road in Ban Huay Oon village of Lampang’s Ngao district. The two nurses were identified as 42 year old Angsumalin Rakchat and 21 year old…

  • Thailand’s air quality measurement standards raise concerns

    Thailand’s air quality measurement standards raise concerns

    by Chularat Saengpassa From next month, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) will set PM2.5 particles as an indicator of Thailand’s air quality, but the move does not ease the concerns of people in the know. “I must tell you that the PCD intend to use the ‘24-hour mean’ as the indicator and that may be misleading,” said Tara Buakamsri, the…

  • Making your point, head first into a fish spa

    Making your point, head first into a fish spa

    Sometimes you have to go the extra distance to prove your point. Like putting your head in a fish spa. Sanook reports that a Thai owner of hundreds of fish spas around the country has made hi point about an Australian woman and the foreign media for discrediting his business. The actions of Chaiyaporn Lojaya follow the Australian’s claim in…

  • Storms and strong winds hit Chiang Mai

    Storms and strong winds hit Chiang Mai

    A major road in Chiang Mai province has been blocked by fallen trees and power poles following strong winds and heavy rains today. Trees and power poles on the Chiang Mai-Fang road in Mae Taeng district were brought down at about 10am, officials said. Phairin Limcharoen, chief of the province’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, coordinated with the Provincial Electricity…

  • Tourists caught up in Chiang Mai karaoke bar overcharge ‘scam’

    Tourists caught up in Chiang Mai karaoke bar overcharge ‘scam’

    PHOTO: Daily News A Chinese tourist and three friends lodged an official complaint with the Chiang Mai police about the operators of a karaoke bar who allegedly overcharged them. They say they were ‘shocked’ after being presented with a bill for 14,000 baht. The incident on Monday night resulted in the men seeking police assistance after being handed the bill.…

  • Green light for new Chiang Mai light rail project

    Green light for new Chiang Mai light rail project

    The Thai cabinet has given the green light for the new light rail transit system in Chiang Mai.The new service will traverse above and below ground over a route of around 35 kilometres. The announcement was made on September 11 by the Thai government spokesman, Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd that the cabinet has approved the light rail transit system in…

  • Chiang Mai bids for listing as a World Heritage Site

    Chiang Mai bids for listing as a World Heritage Site

    PHOTOS: Photo courtesy of the Chiang Mai World Heritage Project Chiang Mai may soon be Thailand’s sixth World Heritage Site. Thailand’s current five world heritage sites include the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site in Udon Thani; the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex; the Historic City of Ayutthaya; the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns; and the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife…

  • Bangkok’s MRT given the green light to run Phuket and Chiang Mai light rails

    Bangkok’s MRT given the green light to run Phuket and Chiang Mai light rails

    Bangkok’s subway operator. the MRTA (Mass Rapid Transit Authority) has been given the green light to invest in the proposed Phuket/Phang Nga and Chiang Mai light rail services. The MRT is also going to run the service when the services are eventually constructed. The cabinet has approved some of the basic details of the project that will give the MRTA…

  • Restaurant harassed by men claiming to be military officers

    Restaurant harassed by men claiming to be military officers

    PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life A Chiang Mai restaurant has filed a complaint after claims they were harassed by men who said they were military officers. A report was made to the Chiang Mai Internal Security Operations Command. They sent 20 officers to investigate Huen Huay Keaw Restaurant on September 4 after the restaurant complained about ‘official misconduct by military…

  • Despite the heavy rain and floods in some regions, rainfall is up to 50% less than usual

    Despite the heavy rain and floods in some regions, rainfall is up to 50% less than usual

    For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously. – George Gissing Tell that to the people of northern Thailand who have had rain pummeling localised areas for two months and now being warned…

  • Chinese setting up shop in Chiang Mai

    Chinese setting up shop in Chiang Mai

    by Jintana Panyaarvudh The charm and beauty of Chiang Mai, the capital of northern Thailand, has made the province not only a must-see destination but also a golden nest for foreign investors – especially Chinese seeking business opportunities. Take Chinese entrepreneurs like Cherry and Zong Dan, for example. Having fallen for Chiang Mai’s charms, they opted to start their first…

  • Dead Australian found in a Chiang Mai condo

    Dead Australian found in a Chiang Mai condo

    PHOTO: Komchadluek The body of a 45 year old Australian has been found at a condo in Chiang Mai. Police and rescue workers were called to the One Plus condo located near the town centre after a maid reported a foul smell coming from the man’s room. The maid alerted the building’s manager who gained access to the room to discover…

  • The world’s first mahout training school opens in Chiang Mai

    The world’s first mahout training school opens in Chiang Mai

    The school bell rings and it’s off to learn how to manage and care for elephants in the world’s first mahout training school launched in Chiang Mai province. Maetang Elephant Camp has joined forces with Chiang Mai Rajabhat University to launch the unique school which is expected to open its gates for student admissions next year, said the camp owner…

  • VietJet upgrades to larger planes for Chiang Mai sectors

    VietJet upgrades to larger planes for Chiang Mai sectors

    Vietjet, the Vietnamese-owned budget carrier, says it will add its newest Airbus A321 aircraft on some flights to Chiang Mai. Vietjet is the first airline to assign the 230-seat aircraft to a domestic route in Thailand replacing the smaller 180-seat A320 on two flights daily to Chiang Mai during the morning and evening peak traffic hours. By mid-September, up to…

  • Land expropriation for new Chiang Mai airport expected to start next month

    Land expropriation for new Chiang Mai airport expected to start next month

    PHOTO: chiangmaicitylife.com Chiang Mai’s second airport is progressing with the expropriation of private land set to start in September. Chiang Mai City Life reports that, following the Airports of Thailand approval of new airport projects in Chiang Mai and Phuket with the budget of 125 billion baht, the board will be proceeding on the expropriation of private land. Story about…

  • Thai woman drugs, then steals from two tourists – one of them is dead

    Thai woman drugs, then steals from two tourists – one of them is dead

    Chiang Mai police are on the hunt for a Thai woman they believe has been responsible for the drugging and robbery of two foreigners – one of them has died as a consequence of her crimes. An Indian and US tourist were independently drugged and robbed by a “pretty, short-haired” Thai woman. The Nation is reporting that the Chiang Mai…

  • Thai woman takes out guard and four cars after parking fine outside Chiang Mai airport

    Thai woman takes out guard and four cars after parking fine outside Chiang Mai airport

    A Thai woman, aged around 40, took out her anger on cars and security personnel outside the domestic terminal of Chiang Mai airport yesterday afternoon. Apparently she was angry that she had been clamped then fined for parking in the drop-off area. Witnesses say the woman had parked illegally outside and gone into the terminal. According to the Sanook report, announcements…

  • Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep houses to be immediately vacated

    Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep houses to be immediately vacated

    PHOTO: The Nation It’s time to go. The Chiang Mai OrBorJor and protest groups opposing the Doi Suthep housing project for judges and officials have agreed that the 45 housing units for judges must be immediately vacated. As those who still stay at a nine-unit condominium building, the meeting agreed that they must be moved too, to a smaller condo building within…

  • Gang violence flares up at a pub, ends up at hospital – Chiang Mai

    Gang violence flares up at a pub, ends up at hospital – Chiang Mai

    PHOTOS: Sanook Two gangs of young people went at it late into last night in Chiang Mai. When all the dust had settled one victim was recovering at the Chiang Mai Medical Centre. Sanook is reporting that the trouble started outside a pub in the Nimmanhaemin area of the city. A 21 year old was taken to Chiang Mai Medical Centre…

  • Protesters demand removal of the court-owned properties on Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

    Protesters demand removal of the court-owned properties on Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

    The fight over the Doi Suthep houses, deemed illegal several months ago, has taken a new tack over the weekend with an approach to the Department of Agriculture in Chiang Rai to build new offices and housing for judges there. But Doi Suthep protesters that’s not good enough. They say that the resolution to build new offices and residences for the…

  • Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep

    Flash mobs staged to protest the buildings on Doi Suthep

    By Nisanart Kangwanwong The Doi Suthep protesters in Chiang Mai had their campaign to remove the Thai judges housing development interrupted by the rescue mission at the Tham Luang Caves in nearby Chiang Rai. Now the “Rak Chiang Mai” community network has organised four flash mobs at four key locations of Chiang Mai’s Muang district to highlight what they says…

  • Chinese call centre gang raided in Chiang Mai

    Chinese call centre gang raided in Chiang Mai

    PHOTO: Chiang Mai City Life Thai police have had a lot of success recently tracking down call centre gangs in all parts of the country. This time in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai City Life is reporting that a Chinese call centre scam operation was raided yesterday. Four Chinese citizens were arrested. The arrests occurred on August 7 at a housing…

  • Warning out for Samui ferry as waves reach 3 metres in Gulf of Thailand

    Warning out for Samui ferry as waves reach 3 metres in Gulf of Thailand

    The Samui Harbour Office has issued warnings to the ferry operator to be careful in both directions on the Surat Thani run with waves up high as three metres today in the Gulf of Thailand. The office has also prohibited small boats from leaving the shores of Koh Samui. The ferry boat operator was warned to check lifejackets and all…