1. The Burmese Crown Prince, Mingyi Swa, invades Siam with a huge army. King Naresuan and his younger brother ride out to meet him.

As the battle starts, their war elephants go into musth and charge ahead. Their generals fail to follow. The two brothers end up alone in the middle of the enemy, under gunfire, surrounded by smoke.

When the smoke clears, Naresuan sees the Crown Prince on his elephant, in the shade of a tree. He calls out:

"My Royal Elder Brother, why do you stand in the shade of the tree? Come out and engage in elephant combat to leave honor upon the land. In the future, there will be no kings who will get to engage in elephant combat anymore."

The Crown Prince accepts. He strikes first, and Naresuan blocks with his helmet. Then Naresuan strikes back, cutting him from the right shoulder to the chest. The Crown Prince slumps over his elephant's neck, dead.

Back at camp, Naresuan wants the generals who failed to follow him executed. A senior monk talks him out of it. They are pardoned on one condition: go and conquer Tenasserim and Tavoy.

January 18 is still celebrated as Royal Thai Armed Forces Day in honour of this duel.

Source: Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya

This card has stayed with me since the 80s. I was the kid of an embassy employee way back when. Fortunately I never had to present it! 55😂5 Thought this might be a good place to share.

Hello, I am asking this question because I have a foreign family member by marriage who is not Thai, while I am Thai and live in Bangkok. A couple of months ago, he was arrested in Phuket and subsequently appeared in court a couple of days ago. He was ultimately fined, and instead of being sentenced to imprisonment, he was transferred to Immigration for immediate deportation. My family has already prepared the money needed to cover his expenses once he is transferred to the Bangkok Immigration Detention Center, including the cost of his flight home. He also has a valid passport. Given these circumstances, how long do you think it might take for him to fly out of Bangkok to back home especially since there’s multiple flights back to his home everyday, and what is the fastest possible timeframe you have seen or know about people being allowed to go back home via deportation?

Ps: I read somewhere that it could take up to 2-3 weeks have you guys ever seen anyone get out faster than that?

On October 16, 2026, the Assembly of the Poor held a peaceful all-day protest, with participants taking turns delivering speeches in Thai and English to highlight lessons from Thailand’s past foreign borrowing and the impact of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the country’s economic policies. Protesters also sang songs and held symbolic activities in an area designated by officials.

Toward the end of the protest, the group reiterated six key demands for structural economic reforms that put people first:

1. Cancel debt for low- and middle-income countries. The group called for the cancellation of 60% of the debt owed by low-income countries and 30% of the debt owed by middle-income countries, freeing up public funds for food security and social services instead of trapping countries in a cycle of inequality.

2. Allow public scrutiny of foreign borrowing. The public should be able to examine how government loans are spent, who benefits from them, and who should be held accountable when policies harm communities.

3. Stop subsidizing corporations and support agroecology. The group called for an end to public subsidies for large agribusinesses and urged the government to redirect the funds toward agroecological farming systems and food sovereignty.

4. Reform the tax system to collect more revenue from the wealthy. The group called for progressive taxation, corporate profit taxes, and wealth taxes on the rich to fund national development.

5. Democratize the central bank. The central bank must be transparent, accountable, and committed to protecting workers’ interests rather than serving big business.

6. Put people and the environment first. The group urged the government to stop fixating on GDP figures and instead evaluate policies based on their real impact on people’s livelihoods, hunger, and inequality.

In closing, leaders of the Assembly of the Poor urged the government to prioritize small-scale farmers and ordinary people over policies that benefit big business. The protest officially ended at 4:25 p.m.

สมัชชาคนจนทิ้ง 6 ข้อเรียกร้อง ก่อนประกาศยุติการชุมนุมต้าน IMF : PPTVHD36

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C23V1pMkt/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14wgSnJh51p/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EziZT8JRq/

I have not seen many Thai people wear sunglasses, despite having a very high UV rate because it is closer to the equator. I also witness many other South east Asian nations and people not liking wearing sunglasses 😎.

Whereas in the West, even though the UV is not as high as in the tropics, it is “OK” to wear them.

Why is that?

I'm in my mid 50s (white male from western English speaking country) and I was thinking to go and study Thai in Thailand.

I'm thinking University, preferably in Bangkok, and not for too long to start with (couple of months to see how it feels first).

Does anyone have similar experience? If so could you advice how difficult it was regarding visas, study workload, living etc.

I have been to Thailand as a tourist a few times before but don't speak any Thai at all.

Thanks.

I don’t know of any airports that are so weird like this. I have priority pass as a benefit and haven’t flown BKK domestic in a long time. It was confusing trying to figure out where the lounges are, and thankfully I ate at one before passing security.

And now that I’m here I remember thinking before it’s so strange that after security there are virtually no food options or even convenience stores! It’s quite plain and sterile.

So why is BKK domestic setup such that you pass the ticket check, then have access to restaurants / lounges, before then having to pass security for waiting at the gate? IMO this is quite strange and makes planning a bit awkward, personally I much prefer to go through bag check etc. before then eating or lounging- sometimes bag check can take a while, sometimes it takes but a quick minute or two.

I’m not trying to be snarky, I genuinely wonder why it’s setup like this and is this unique or not? I don’t think I’ve been in many airports so strange like this where you do ticket check, then food/lounges, and then baggage check where after you have almost nothing available for food/chilling.

I live in Phuket. I have a slow-growing brain tumour (oligodendroglioma, grade 2), found in 2019. Part of it was removed at a private hospital in Bangkok that year, and I paid for it myself.

In February I applied for an international health policy and declared the tumour and the surgery. I was accepted with a surcharge. This year my doctors recommended treatment, and when I claimed, the insurer compared my answers with my hospital records and withdrew from the contract over answers it considers incomplete.

What I'd tell anyone here with a pre-existing condition:

• Ask your hospital for your full medical records in English before you apply, and read all of it, doctors' notes included. Some notes may never have been discussed with you, and the insurer will read them anyway.
• Fill in the health questionnaire with your treating doctor, not alone and not from memory.
• If a yes/no question doesn't fit your case, ask the insurer in writing before you apply and keep the answer.
• Declare more rather than less: check-ups, scans, treatment options your doctor discussed.
• Send copies of all those records with the application, unedited, and if you can, go through a broker who knows pre-existing conditions.

I'm uninsured now. Two questions for foreigners here with a pre-existing condition: did anyone get a Thai or international policy with the condition excluded in writing, and did it pay for something unrelated? And has anyone bought accident-only cover from a Thai insurer, and did it ask health questions?

Hi Everyone!

Could you share your thoughts on Mae Sot? I've been offered a teaching position there for a few months through a TEFL program.

What is the situation like there, especially because it's so close to the Myanmar border? What is the area like in terms of scenery and nature?

I'd really appreciate it if you could take a moment to share your experiences or opinions with me. Thank you so much! 😊

Looking for t good spot to do bloodwork. Not a place that will rip me off just to take some blood and run some tests. Any good recommendation with good people.

I have noticed there is a foreigner on the streets of Pattaya that is homeless and they’ve asked me to buy them food before. She says she can’t go home cause of abuse. She looks quite young and I asked if I should call police for her but she said no.

Are there any resources for individuals in this situation? She is 16, so I just don’t think it’s safe for anyone around that age to be out, let alone in this city.

Chiang Mai rental deposit dispute: How do I protect my deposit while leaving an honest review without risking a defamation claim?

Hi!

I’m looking for advice from people who have dealt with rental deposit disputes in Thailand, particularly anyone familiar with tenant rights, the OCPB, and the risks of leaving public reviews.
I recently moved out of a rental house in Chiang Mai. My lease ended a few days ago and I had a final inspection scheduled for 5:00 PM that day. The rental agent coordinated the appointment between me and the property manager, who is the owner’s wife. The agent was supposed to attend as well, but the property manager was the one who arrived late. This delayed the inspection and disrupted my other commitments that evening.

Before moving out, I had already informed management that the sofa was damaged. I wasn’t trying to hide the damage or avoid responsibility for reasonable costs. I wanted the damage assessed, any deductions explained, and the remaining deposit returned. The property manager inspected the house and took photos of the sofa, and I returned the keys after the inspection.
I paid a ฿24,000 security deposit and a separate ฿5,000 pet deposit. I have been asking how the pet deposit will be applied, what amount will be deducted for the sofa, how much of the security deposit will be returned, and when I can expect payment. I was told that the refund requires the owner’s approval and could take 7–30 days. She was very vague about why.

The agent has not responded to my latest follow-up messages. I have also contacted the owner directly to ask him to confirm receipt of the sofa damage photos and provide a breakdown of the proposed deductions and refund timeline. At the moment, I am waiting for a clear response.

What has frustrated me most is the lack of clear communication and coordination. I disclosed the damage in advance, attended the inspection, and returned the keys, but I still don’t have a confirmed refund amount or payment date. I also feel that the agent should have been present to help coordinate the inspection and communicate my concerns, since she arranged the appointment in the first place.

I would like to leave an honest review of my experience with the agent’s coordination and communication. However, I live here and understand that online reviews can carry defamation risks here. I don’t want to make accusations I cannot prove, exaggerate what happened, or jeopardize my ability to recover my deposit.

My questions are:

What is the best way to pursue the return of my security and pet deposits in Thailand? Should I contact the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), and can I do that before the 7–30-day period has elapsed?

What documents and evidence should I prepare before filing a complaint?

Is it better to wait until the deposit is returned before publishing a review, or can I leave a factual review about the agent’s coordination and communication while the refund is still pending?

How can I describe the appointment delay, lack of responses, and unresolved deposit questions without making statements that could expose me to a defamation claim?

Has anyone successfully recovered a rental deposit through the OCPB or another formal process in Thailand?

I’m not looking to harass anyone or make unsupported allegations. I want my deposit accounted for and returned appropriately, and I want to understand how to share my genuine experience responsibly.

I’d appreciate practical advice from people who have been through this, especially anyone familiar with Chiang Mai rentals and Thai consumer protection procedures.

I’m visiting Thailand next month on a pre planned trip. I’m thinking of buying a Macbook Air M5 16GB 1TB there. The official Apple website shows 65,400 thb. Could I get it for cheaper at any local distributors that are safe to buy from? I will be in Bangkok so BKK recommendations would help. This would be my first Mac so hopping to get a good deal and also not get scammed lmao

Greetings all. I’m trying to source a bakery to make pizza dough either in ball form or par baked. Anyone know a bakery that needs a little business?

I heard there are free parking spots or rocking areas where you can park your vehicle for free for 2 or 3 days?

Anybody know the location of this?

Or is there a really cheap overnight parking place?

I want to take my motorcycle North with my girlfriend to her family's house and then she wants to take the train back to the station for work on Monday because she is a school teacher

Did anybody have any tips on parking near the train station for free? Or maybe a secure area that is cheap?

600 Protesters Head Toward Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Causing Heavy Traffic on Outbound Rama IV Road and Sunthon Kosa Road

October 15: The Royal Thai Police and the Department of Highways have issued traffic alerts advising motorists in Bangkok to avoid routes around Na Ranong Intersection toward the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center after approximately 600 protesters were spotted marching on foot and occupying the entire roadway, causing severe traffic congestion.

According to news reports, the group of approximately 600 protesters began gathering and marching from Na Ranong Intersection, proceeding along Sunthon Kosa Road toward the outbound lanes of Rama IV Road, with plans to turn into the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center area.

The march quickly slowed traffic along Sunthon Kosa Road and outbound Rama IV Road, with long queues of vehicles building up. Traffic police were dispatched to manage traffic and assist motorists, advising the public to use nearby alternative routes to minimize disruption and avoid travel delays.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EwnvAUu7v/

Are these nicotine pouches. I’d be interested in trying them if so