Category: The Bangkok Post

Golf balls do occasionally collide. It doesn’t happen too often but it does occur occasionally. If a shot is played from off the putting surface and your ball hits another ball, what should you do?

First of all, there’s no penalty and the player whose ball was in motion should be played from where it has come to rest. For the player whose ball has been moved, they should follow Rule 9.6 — Ball lifted or moved by an outside influence. If it is known or certain that your ball at rest has been moved by an outside influence again, there is no penalty, and you must replace the ball where it originally sat. And if that spot is not known, it must be estimated.

If your ball knocked another player’s ball into the hole and as long as your shot has been played from off the putting surface, the rules say that you will play the ball as it lies and the person whose ball has been knocked into the cup must replace their ball on its original spot. If you didn’t play your ball from where it had come to rest after knocking another golfer’s ball into the hole, you would receive a general penalty for playing from a wrong place.

Out of Bounds: Annoying playing partners have some terrible habits. Breathing is one of them.

A wild elephant was hit by an ambulance in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary in Chachoensao on Monday night.

The park chief said it happened about 10.50pm on Oct 27 between Ban Na Yao and Khlong Toei.

The ambulance was transporting three patients to Sanam Chai Khet Hospital when a wild elephant emerged suddenly from the dark roadside and crossed directly in front of it.

The driver said he braked but was unable to stop in time. The ambulance hit the elephant, knocking it down. The animal got back on its feet and retreated into the forest.

The ambulance driver sustained minor injuries. The three patients were transferred to another vehicle and continued their journey to hospital.

The injured elephant had since returned to the sanctuary, an official said, and will be closely monitored in the coming days.

In all of my years in Thailand and numerous visits to Phuket, it was time to venture into the unseen. to places I’ve never been before.

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa drew the straw and I found myself turning left from Phuket airport to the scenic beaches of Khuk Khak Beach. The luxury beach resort is just over two hours from the airport but the ride is smooth and scenic, and goes by in a flash. especially if one dozes off in the car.

Arriving at the lobby, though small, one can see the ocean and almost immediately a sense of calm overcomes you and you can’t wait to get to your room and laze around. The resort is vast and is only two-storeys high with the upstairs rooms and suites offering beach and lagoon pool views. But it is the Deluxe Lagoon Pool Access rooms that you’re after or the Pool Villas, which come in a choice of one or two bedrooms. There is also a Duplex Suite and a Family Lagoon Pool Access.

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa caters to every family member, be it a child or the elderly. The ‘longest pool in Southeast Asia’ intertwines itself around the property and one can experience its vastness by swimming around. Pro tip: It is also a good exercise (2.5km) in case you wanted to skip the well-equipped gym. The gym also hosts various classes throughout the day. There is plenty to do around the resort and it is one of those places where you check-in and don’t leave till check-out time.

The beach is vast and should you feel fed-up of lying on the sundecks, there’s always a huge beach chess game to play or jenga. The other option would be to keep moving from pool to pool as there are so many, for a change in scenery. There’s an entire section of pool dedicated to children with a water slide and wave pool, though the adults were also having the time of their lives on it. There is a water trampoline, jacuzzis and the infinity and aquamarine swim-up bars for refreshments, because one may get a little thirsty being surrounded by water.

Close to the kids pool is the Bamboo shark nursery. Native to the Andaman Sea, Bamboo sharks are listed as a ‘near threatened’ species due to their popularity among collectors and exotic diners, as well as overfishing and destruction of their natural habitat. The Bamboo Shark Nursery and Conservation Center at the resort helps breed and nurture bamboo sharks before releasing them back into the wild to restore the balance of the marine ecosystem. One can book an appointment to learn more about the centre at the lobby.

However, for me the crowning glory of the property was the JW Garden, which is just across the road from the resort. Inspired by the JW founders – J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott’s love for the outdoors, The JW Garden is a signature element of the JW Marriott experience focused on creating sensory connections with the natural world. This is the second-largest garden in the JW Marriott family, in the world.

The tranquillity of the JW Garden is a good place to reconnect with nature, as there are freshwater lakes surrounded by tropical marshes and scrubland, which are home to more than 100 species of wild birds, reptiles, fish and colourful insects.

The JW Garden is a working farm, complete with chickens, ducks, goats and water buffaloes. It also is organic and grows herbs and vegetables used throughout the property. The farm is open to guests and is ideal for early morning walks, runs or strolls. There is horticulture and a cultivation of more than 200 varieties of plants, fruits, vegetables, leaves and herbs. The chickens and ducks supply the hotel with free-range eggs daily, and a separate JW Garden counter can be found at breakfast, offering the freshest eggs, salads and vegetables.

Breakfast matches the property in size and offerings. Everything under the sun you can think of makes an appearance at breakfast, including starting the day with ginger shots. The resort’s signature restaurant, Drift, is also where the farm’s produce is on display, along with its sustainability efforts and waste management. There is an entire tasting menu with ingredients from the farm, showcasing the zero-waste management. Few things go to waste here.

You are spoilt for choice at this resort. There are 11 restaurants serving different cuisines and needless to say, the Italian restaurant is by far the busiest. Offering pizzas from the wood-fired ovens to at least 15 different types of olive oil, showcased in a tasting menu, Olive offers an impressive selection of crafted authentic Italian classic dishes and hand-selected wines.

There are Thai and Japanese restaurants, with casual all-day dining at the Sala, the Deli and Waterfront, which is also the breakfast scene. To get your juices flowing, there are two swim-up bars, Infinity and Aquamarine, and sundowners are best enjoyed at the Beach Bar, and a nightcap at Czar Bar.

The body isn’t forgotten with Quan Spa offering a host of massages and luxury wellness therapies. The spa is designed like a Balinese house and the minute you enter, a different sense of tranquility washes over you. Bliss.

Focus on what matters most – you at JW Marriott Khao Lak. What better place than to unwind and take a break from the life in the fast lane.

Thailand expects Israeli tourists to be better behaved in future following a meeting between Thai police and a top Israeli security official, amid growing discontent with visitors from the Jewish state.

Police said that at Monday’s meeting Avi Bitton, an adviser to the Israeli Security Council, had strongly supported the need for Thailand to take swift action against Israeli offenders, including those running illegal businesses.

“We hope the discussion, to some extent, will resolve the problem of Israeli tourists engaging in inappropriate behaviour,” Pol Maj Gen Suwat, who is the Surat Thani police chief, said after the talks in Phuket.

The meeting came amid rising public sentiment against Israeli citizens in Thailand fuelled by bad behaviour and running of illegal businesses.

Four destinations are popular with Israelis and sanctuaries have been opened exclusively for their use. They have built these six Chabads, exclusive communities, in Pai district in Mae Hong Son, and on three islands – Phuket, Koh Samui and Phangan.

Mr Bitton explained the need to use maximum security at those places where Israelis stay, with no outsiders allowed inside, for the safety of their citizens because of the war in Gaza, police said.

He promised to allow Thai authorities to inspect the areas.

About 300,000 Israeli tourists visited Thailand from January to September this year, a 57% leap on the same period last year.

The influx of tourists from Israel has led to dissatisfaction among Thais as many show little respect for Thai law. Recently, on Oct 14, four of them were arrested on Koh Samui for holding a party with drugs.

One of the more infamous incidents was in May when an Israeli woman refused to take off her shoes before entering a Thai restaurant on Koh Phangan, saying “My money built your country”.

Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom will return to action against Martyna Dominczak at ONE Fight Night 38 in Bangkok on December 6 – and she’s back under familiar guidance.

The 23-year-old Thai, nicknamed ‘The Queen,’ has rejoined Mehdi Zatout’s Venum Training Camp ahead of her first fight since ONE 172 in March, when she outpointed Kana Morimoto in Tokyo to retain her atomweight kickboxing title.

That performance drew criticism from Zatout, her former head coach, who bluntly told the Bangkok Post backstage that night she had performed poorly, having left Venum in 2024 following an acrimonious fallout.

Now, the Algerian-French coach believes she has rediscovered her top level.

‘She is ready and she is on fire,’ Zatout told the Bangkok Post after Tuesday’s fight announcement.

Phetjeeja is undefeated in ONE Championship with seven straight wins and four finishes, having first earned her contract through the ONE Friday Fights series under the watchful eye of Zatout.

Poland’s Dominczak – formerly Martyna Kierczynska before her recent marriage to coach Maciej Dominczak – has won three of her four bouts since joining ONE in February 2024, including two in a row since dropping to atomweight.

The winner is expected to earn a title shot against Brazil’s Allycia Rodrigues, the long-reigning ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion.

Rodrigues previously told the Bangkok Post she had already signed to face Phetjeeja before the fight was scrapped – a bout many believe remains destined to happen.

Government agencies are moving forward with preparations for the Loy Krathong Festival, which falls on Nov 5, while ensuring the celebrations are conducted respectfully during the national mourning period and with strict safety measures in place.

Nirun Phongsitthithawon, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), said on Tuesday the Ministry of Interior has not ordered the cancellation of this year’s festivities.

However, local authorities have been instructed to adjust celebration formats to align with the mourning period following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, and to prioritise public safety.

Provincial governors, district chiefs, and the permanent secretary of Bangkok have been directed to strictly enforce regulations concerning fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, floating lanterns, and other hazardous items.

Violators may face up to three years in prison, a fine of 60,000 baht, or both. Local registrars and officials are to work with administrative organisations to inspect vendors and firework manufacturers, taking legal action against unlicensed operators.

Boat overloading is strictly prohibited, and registrars are instructed to revoke firearm licences if gun owners are found firing weapons into the air without cause.

Meanwhile, the Marine Department, led by Director-General Kritphet Chaichuea, has intensified safety efforts on waterways.

The Office of Waterway Safety and Environment on Tuesday convened meetings with relevant agencies, private operators, and riverside businesses to finalise safety measures.

The Chao Phraya River has been designated a controlled navigation zone during the festival, with all vessels advised to exercise caution.

On the evening of Nov 5, a total of 809 officers and 72 patrol boats will be deployed on the Chao Phraya River.

The British Council has launched the IELTS Prize 2025, inviting content creators to apply as IELTS ambassadors and share their experiences and preparation tips through social media content.

The initiative is open to students, teachers and individuals who have taken or will take the IELTS test with the British Council between Jan 1 last year and Nov 25 this year.

They are required to create and post social media content — either a static post or a short video — on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or Lemon8, sharing their IELTS preparation tips, experiences and reasons for choosing the British Council as their test centre.

All entries must include the hashtags #IELTSPrize #BritishCouncilIELTS and complete the online registration form.

A total of 20 candidates will be shortlisted based on the content, quality and creativity of their submissions. The finalists will be invited to an online interview round, where 10 winners will be selected as IELTS ambassadors.

Each ambassador will receive a certificate and a limited-edition IELTS prize kit. In addition, the three participants with the highest total engagement across all social media channels will receive cash prizes of 20,000 baht, 15,000 baht and 10,000 baht respectively, while the remaining seven winners will have their IELTS test fees reimbursed by the British Council.

Applications should be made by Nov 25. Shortlisted candidates will be announced on Dec 2, with the final winners revealed on Dec 16.

AI projects are among the latest top draws in terms of global investment, with governments around the world, including Thailand, courting tech companies to launch such projects in their countries.

Most are coming in the form of data centres, with servers, data storage and network equipment becoming the hot new investment for many.

The New York Times recently reported that 60% of the 1,244 largest data centres in the world were outside the United States. At least 575 such projects are reportedly now being built in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Southeast Asia is also emerging as a major data centre hub led by Singapore and Malaysia. The Thai government is also expecting a windfall as Malaysia’s Johor Bahru and Singapore are facing shortages of both electricity and water. Local developers are asking the government to upgrade the electricity network and produce more clean energy to cater to data centres.

The country plans to invest in and attract data centre development, expanding capacity from 350 megawatts to 1,000MW within three years, based on a total investment of US$6.5 billion (211 billion baht).

Behind all this economic data, there are rising complaints about the growing competition for resources between various communities and data centres.

AI data centres are known for their insatiable demand for electricity to run AI apps, and they require massive amounts of water to keep their systems cool.

Mexico and South Africa are reportedly seeing electricity blackouts get worse, while in Ireland, data centres consume more than 20% of the country’s electricity, and 7% of power demand in Singapore is attributed to AI data centres.

In Chile, underground water is allegedly being depleted due to this trend. Similar concerns have been reported in Brazil, Britain, India, the Netherlands, Singapore and Spain.

The big question is: Are the Thai government and other responsible bodies aware of this burden?

As the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) has become the designated area for data centres, notably in the provinces of Chon Buri and Rayong, have policymakers prepared enough water to cater to their farm sectors, the large petrochemical complex in Rayong, the tourism industry in Pattaya, and all these data centres?

Lest we forget, water shortages have pitted farmers against the industrial sector in recent years. The arrival of more data centres will exacerbate such tensions.

In terms of electricity, the government will have to supply more power to data centres that run 24/7. Many data centres owned by companies in Western countries also require a clean, stable power supply.

Is all this investment to boost the power supply worth the economic gain, given the risks and pitfalls? After all, a one-gigawatt centre can consume as much power and water as 200,000 to 300,000 households, yet it may only employ 50 workers.

Regardless, data centres are the backbone of the digital economy, which uses traditional ones as its foundation. This, in turn, attracts investment in next-generation data centres.

The government needs to prepare proper resource management and laws to ensure the fair allocation of water and prevent these centres from opening in rural and farm communities.

Above all, the government must work harder to create a suitably skilled workforce and talent base.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Wednesday that Thailand has not engaged in currency manipulation, and that the central bank has the tools to manage the currency without resorting to intervention.

Mr Ekniti also told reporters that the government would put illicit fund movements under more scrutiny by December.

‘We have not distorted the management of the baht in the past as it is something our central bank has been very cautious about,’ he said.

‘There are mechanisms in place to oversee the currency without the need for intervention. It is our intention not to cause any distortions.’

He spoke shortly after the US Treasury and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) announced an agreement not to use capital flow measures or government investment vehicles such as pension funds to target exchange rates to gain a trade advantage.

The agreement does not affect Thailand’s exchange rate policy and its objective of maintaining exchange rate stability, said Chayawadee Chai-anant, assistant governor for corporate relations at the central bank.

The US Treasury maintains a list of countries that it has declared currency manipulators, based on an analysis of factors such as currency intervention or monetary policy that appear to influence exchange rates. Businesses in such countries can be barred from US government procurement contracts.

In its most recent report released in June 2025, there are no countries designated as currency manipulators, but nine economies are on the Treasury’s ‘monitoring list’ of major trading partners whose practices merit close attention: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland.

‘Grey money’ in crosshairs

In another development, Mr Ekniti said Thai authorities were making progress on improving investigations of ‘grey money’ to meet international standards.

The goal is to be on par with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the IMF and the Bank for International Settlements, all of which uphold rigorous standards for anti-money laundering investigations.

He said his objective for a subcommittee dealing with the issue is to identify where along the flow of grey money leaks occur that prevent proper investigation, with the panel expected to reach some conclusions by December.

The subcommittee operates under the National Committee for the Prevention and Suppression of Technology-Related Crimes, chaired by the prime minister. Members include representatives from the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Department of Special Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The national police chief, the justice minister and the digital economy and society minister serve as vice-chairs of the panel chaired by Mr Ekniti, aiming to link the various facets of investigations into grey money.

‘Investigating grey money will not be a short-term measure – we will elevate efforts to connect the dots so the pathways of grey money become visible,’ said Mr Ekniti.

Singapore Biennale returns on Friday and runs until March 29 next year, inviting visitors to reimagine Singapore.

Coinciding with the city-state’s 60th birthday this year, the eighth edition of the biennale is anchored by the theme “Pure Intention”. Curated by Hsu Fang-Tze, Selene Yap, Duncan Bass and Ong Puay Khim, the event features more than 80 artists and over 100 works, including more than 30 new commissions.

Singapore Biennale 2025 (SB2025) is commissioned by the National Arts Council, Singapore and organised by Singapore Art Museum.

Under “Pure Intention”, the biennale explores the evolution of Singapore. Visitors can look forward to art in unexpected places — from pre-colonial and colonial landmarks to shopping malls, historic housing estates and green spaces. Locations include Rail Corridor South, Wessex Estate, Tanglin Halt, Civic District, Orchard and Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

In a joint statement, the curators said: “SB2025 provides a unique opportunity for us to reflect on the many ways our city has been shaped by its architecture and systems, as well as the people who move through it. By inviting diverse voices to respond to themes of rapid urban development, historical contradictions and speculative futures with pure intention, this edition unpacks Singapore’s multifaceted realities within global narratives. In activating spaces that are part of our daily rhythms, we hope to foster greater dialogue across cultures and communities, sparking moments of connection and curiosity towards the cosmopolitan futures we share.”

A nature trail that bears memories of its commercial route, the Railway Corridor features installations from two Thai artists. In collaboration with Guo-Liang Tan from Singapore, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, a filmmaker and artist who has won awards at the Cannes Film Festival, presents the scrolled theatre backdrop — a key signature in his films — as a kinetic outdoor installation. Meanwhile, Tanatchai Bandasak explores the connection between Singapore and Malaysia through objects.

The list of participating artists is available on the website. An admission ticket is required for entry to Singapore Art Museum at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. All other sites, located in publicly accessible spaces across the city, are free and open to all.