Another Sunday means another edition of Thailand Weekly! With the holiday season fast approaching, I’d imagine that MANY of you are just a few weeks out from landing in this amazing country. My grandparents actually arrive tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to getting some quality time in with them. It’ll be special to have them here for a much warmer Christmas than what we’re used to back in Canada! 🇹🇭
Phuket’s Free Diving Festival Is Back 🏊
For the 2nd year in a row, the world’s top free divers have descended on Phuket for a week of diving deep below the surface of the Andaman Sea. Spearheaded by Adam Stern and Bangkok Freedivers alongside 5-Star Marine, the festival is officially named ‘Deep Week’ and will see 100 athletes from Europe, Australia, and the US participate, making it the world’s largest freediving festival. Shaun Stenning of 5-Star Marine says that “this type of exciting event attracts a different kind of customer to Phuket as well as highlighting the very best of the Island’s surrounding waters”. Phuket was chosen due to its water clarity, tip top diving conditions, and access to protected dive sites.
Our Take
This is one of those stories I wanted to include for a few reasons. First off, it’s cool to see some of the world’s top athletes all on Phuket at the same time. It’s a big deal that it was chosen to host this event and it always feels good to highlight instances where Thailand shines bright. Secondly, it’s the perfect gateway for a bonus ‘Thailand Travel Tip’ in this weeks edition of Thailand Weekly. The tip? Book a boat tour with 5-Star Marine the next time you’re in Phuket! It’s one of the most special things I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing and is an amazing example of people that have perfected their craft. ‘Nuff said!
Bangkok Creating 101 New Micro Parks 🌴
If you’re someone that appreciates Bangkok’s network of parks and green spaces, this story is for you. Over the next three years, 101 ‘pocket-parks’ will pop up in various locations around the city to ensure that all residents have access to adequate nature. The new sites will total 649 Rai of new greenery (about twice the size of the popular Lumpini Park) and also result in an additional one million trees being planted across the city. Fity one of these pocket-parks will open by the end of this year, followed by another twenty four throughout 2023, twenty in 2024, and then six in 2025. The move is part of Governor Sittipunt’s election promise to ‘greenify’ the Thai capital.
Our Take
I love this. Bangkok has done such a great job making the city greener in recent years… specifically with the edition of the Benjakiti Central Forest. To have another 101 mini-parks scattered throughout the city is something that’s quite exciting for someone like me that enjoys a good walk. It’s also something that I feel confident will actually happen. One thing that city officials seem to be quite good at here is pushing things like this ahead. The Central Forest project I mentioned above moved along extremely fast once they broke ground. I can’t wait to see where these mini-parks pop up.
Thailand Travel Tip
One of the coolest things about making YouTube videos is the fact that you meet some really cool people along the way. Whether it’s those that we make videos with (shoutout Dana and Jib), those that watch the videos (shout out to all of YOU), or those that work with us (shout out Fahski and Yok), Chris and I have made some lifelong friends over the past few years. The other group of people that deserve a special shout out are our members… also known as ‘Board of Directors’. This a play on words, and is meant to represent the antithesis of what it means to be ‘corporate’. They’re the tightest-knit group of people in the entire RW4U community and are true Thailand Lovers from over 20 different countries. Whether it’s members-only Meetups and Parties, free Awkward shirts, private Facebook Groups, members-only WhatsApp Chats, Discount Codes, or regular Flight Giveaways, this group is the ultimate community for anyone that loves this amazing country. We’re actually hosting a private members party down in Samui next week which will be epic. If you’re interested in joining and connecting with other like-minded people while also enjoying a ton of perks and benefits, just click here. If not, totally cool. Hope you continue to enjoy the videos we share on YouTube. Lots of good stuff comin’ up on the heels of this ‘Top 25’ series!
13 Year Old Thai Teen Joins Red Bull F1 Program 🏎️
With F1 racing typically being a sport dominated by Europeans, Thailand now has someone to root for with 13-year old Enzo Tarnvanichkul becoming the first Thai person ever to join Red Bull’s driver development program. Sharing the news on Instagram this past Friday, Enzo wrote “I am very proud to announce that I will be joining the Red Bull youth programme in 2023. I am looking forward to my new journey. Thank you for this opportunity, I will try to do my best on the track and in my career.” Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha immediately congratulated the teenager for securing a spot in the prestigious F1 development program and wished him luck on his journey to becoming a pro racer.
Our Take
I love to read stories like this. Being from Canada… a country that is often overshadowed by the US in things like entertainment, sport, etc., I’m a big fan of the ‘underdog story’. It’s super cool to see a Thai teenager making big moves and shining bright in a sport that’s dominated by a different part of the world. Same principle goes for LISA of Blackpink. Watching local Thai talent thrive internationally is always something that I appreciate.
Only In Thailand 🇹🇭
Monkey meal time? Well that’s exactly what went down on Sunday afternoon in central Thailand at the annual Monkey Feast Festival in Lopburi province. This year’s festival theme was ‘monkeys feeding monkeys’, and that’s exactly what happened. Volunteers set out statues of monkeys holding up plates of food so that the real one’s weren't scared and could feast away in peace. I never knew that this festival existed but hey, that's what makes this country so unique. There’s a LOT of funky things that go down. Only in Thailand baby 🇹🇭
Press Worthy 🔥
