Thailand Weekly Vol. 38
Thailand News and Stories Delivered Free to Your Inbox Every Sunday š¹š
Another Sunday means another edition of Thailand Weekly! With the holiday season fast approaching, Iād imagine that MANY of you are just a few weeks out from landing in this amazing country. My grandparents actually arrive tomorrow and Iām really looking forward to getting some quality time in with them. Itāll be special to have them here for a much warmer Christmas than what weāre used to back in Canada! š¹š
Phuketās Free Diving Festival Is Back š
For the 2nd year in a row, the worldās 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 āDeep Weekā and will see 100 athletes from Europe, Australia, and the US participate, making it the worldās largest freediving festival. Shaun Stenning of 5-Star Marine says that āthis type of exciting event attracts a different kind of customer to Phuket as well as highlighting the very best of the Islandās surrounding watersā. 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, itās cool to see some of the worldās top athletes all on Phuket at the same time. Itās a big deal that it was chosen to host this event and it always feels good to highlight instances where Thailand shines bright. Secondly, itās the perfect gateway for a bonus āThailand Travel Tipā in this weeks edition of Thailand Weekly. The tip? Book a boat tour with 5-Star Marine the next time youāre in Phuket! Itās one of the most special things Iāve ever had the pleasure of experiencing and is an amazing example of people that have perfected their craft. āNuff said!
Bangkok Creating 101 New Micro Parks š“
If youāre someone that appreciates Bangkokās network of parks and green spaces, this story is for you. Over the next three years, 101 āpocket-parksā 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 Sittipuntās election promise to āgreenifyā the Thai capital.
Our Take
I love this. Bangkok has done such a great job making the city greener in recent yearsā¦ specifically with the edition of the Benjakiti Central Forest. To have another 101 mini-parks scattered throughout the city is something thatās quite exciting for someone like me that enjoys a good walk. Itās 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 canāt 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 itās 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 membersā¦ also known as āBoard of Directorsā. This a play on words, and is meant to represent the antithesis of what it means to be ācorporateā. Theyāre the tightest-knit group of people in the entire RW4U community and are true Thailand Lovers from over 20 different countries. Whether itās 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. Weāre actually hosting a private members party down in Samui next week which will be epic. If youāre 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 cominā up on the heels of this āTop 25ā series!
13 Year Old Thai Teen Joins Red Bull F1 Program šļø
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 Bullās driver development program. Sharing the news on Instagram this past Friday, Enzo wrote āI 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.ā 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 Canadaā¦ a country that is often overshadowed by the US in things like entertainment, sport, etc., Iām a big fan of the āunderdog storyā. Itās super cool to see a Thai teenager making big moves and shining bright in a sport thatās 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 š¹š
Monkey meal time? Well thatās exactly what went down on Sunday afternoon in central Thailand at the annual Monkey Feast Festival in Lopburi province. This yearās festival theme was āmonkeys feeding monkeysā, and thatās exactly what happened. Volunteers set out statues of monkeys holding up plates of food so that the real oneās 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. Thereās a LOT of funky things that go down. Only in Thailand baby š¹š