Hospital care for tourists without (travel) insurance
People constantly hear or read stories about foreigners, expats and tourists who have insufficient means for treatment in a Thai hospital and who do not have (travel) insurance. Sometimes it seems that government hospitals provide free medical care and then you hear that the costs are indeed charged. The Phuket News went to investigate.
The rubber market in Thailand
Earlier this week we received a visit from five Thais from faraway Trang. Two couples and a daughter. One man is from my wife's village, if I understand it is the son of an aunt. He started looking for work years ago and found it as a rubber tapper in Trang.
Start of ASEAN economic community
The year 2016 is also the start of the ASEAN economic community based on the European model in Southeast Asia. The economic community must make a significant contribution to the regional growth and development potential of the participating countries.
Abolition of the old minimum wage in Thailand
In the course of next year, the current minimum daily wage of 300 baht will probably be abolished. It will then be replaced by the old system based on basic living income by province.
A 'Dutch' tuktuk from Thailand: the Global Tuk Tuk Factory
In Thailand, tuktuks are built to European standards by a Dutch-led company. Gringo wanted to know more about this and made an appointment with Peter van Gurp, the director of Global Tuk Tuk Factory Thailand. Hans Geleijnse and Gringo went to Bang Bon southwest of Bangkok.
From 1 January 2016 you can no longer safely use the internet with older telephones
From January 1, 2016, anyone with a mobile phone older than five years will no longer be able to access secure websites such as Facebook, Google and Twitter.
Large price differences at hospitals in Thailand
Anyone who has lived in Thailand for a longer period of time or who visits more often will undoubtedly notice the differences in prices in the hospitals. This is also often a topic of conversation. The government is now conducting research into this and the results are remarkable.
Shrimp industry Thailand: Still human trafficking and slavery
Thailand is one of the largest shrimp suppliers. Millions of tons of shrimp are exported from Thailand to Europe, the United States and Asia every year. The industry has a bad reputation because human trafficking and slavery are common. The Thai government has promised to fight these abuses, but the results are meager.
Claim for Burma-Thailand benefits
The Taskforce Indies Reparation of Rights (TFIR) Foundation is committed to the interests of all those who have suffered material or immaterial damage in any way as a result of the Japanese occupation in the Dutch East Indies and the independence of Indonesia.
'Flying to Thailand: passenger data will be stored'
Whether we like it or not, we will soon have to give up a bit of privacy if it is up to Europe. The storage of passenger data of flights to, from and between European countries is likely to become a reality. On Thursday, a committee of the European Parliament voted in favor of a new law, which the EU parliament will vote on in January.
Elephant better than TNT detection dog
Elephants can smell landmines. After reading this message, Joseph had to think back to Motola the elephant who stepped on a landmine in the north of Thailand near the border with Burma and has been living on three legs in the elephant hospital in Lampang for many years.
The Tax and Customs Administration requires (contrary to the treaty) tax registration in Thailand
Are they coincidences or is it a calculated attack on the tax exemption of Dutch citizens in Thailand? Reports are increasingly appearing that the Dutch tax authorities are ignoring the 1975 treaty with Thailand to prevent double taxation.
Minors children in the hands of human traffickers
Recently a posting appeared on Thailandblog about orphaned children (21 percent) in Thailand, who are being cared for by their grandparents. Another problem is human traffickers who visit rural villages to recruit children, who usually end up in prostitution.
Medical costs for tourists in Thailand are very high
If you go on holiday to Thailand, it is better to make sure that he or she also takes out a good travel insurance with cover for medical costs. Anyone who thinks that the costs of medical care in the 'Land of Smiles' are low will be disappointed.
Parentless children in ghost towns are the victims
More than 3 million children in Thailand grow up without parents, because they work far away in the big city. They are cared for by their grandparents. This has serious consequences, according to a study.
The largest climate conference ever in Paris
On Sunday, November 29, the largest climate conference in the world will take place in Paris. Many people worldwide will also raise their voices to advocate for the reduction or even abolition of fossil fuels. Sustainable energy will be advocated in order to combat climate change on earth.
The flip side of the Loy Krathong festival
Thailand's health ministry has urged parents to pay close attention to their children during the Loy Krathong festivities to protect them from accidents.