At 11:20 AM on May 10, 2025, in Phuket Province, Prime Minister Anuthon Chanyaweerakul and the Minister of Natural Resources visited Bang Tao Beach in Thalang District to review reports on the prolonged illegal encroachment of public beach areas. The delegation included Deputy Minister Vorasit Leangprasit, PM Secretary Traisuli Triserngkul, and senior officials from the National Police and Phuket Provincial Government.

The Prime Minister said he came to the area with grave concern, as citizens had reported being threatened and intimidated by gangsters and criminal elements. He rejected labeling them as influential figures, stating they deserve no such title—calling them ordinary thugs instead. He warned that under his administration, there will be no room for such criminal intimidation of the public.

Anuthon declared that these elements are not truly influential and warned that if they show up, residents should report them to the subdistrict administrator, police, or local authorities. He pledged to use his full authority to protect and safeguard the public. He emphasized that solving the problem requires addressing root causes one by one, and that all parties must be honest about the fact that no legitimate land rights exist for illegal structures.

The PM noted that two years ago, he visited Bang Tao Beach and found that all unauthorized structures on government land were illegal. He stated that if business operators acknowledge this, the government can explore legitimate options for public use of the area. However, he made clear that any arrangement cannot restrict public access to the beach.

Anuthon expressed satisfaction that as Prime Minister, he now has greater authority to enforce policies across all ministries. He emphasized his top priority is eliminating influential crime gangs and mafia operations in Thailand. He warned that state officials will be the real mafia against criminal gangs, and urged citizens to have faith that gangster thugs will face serious consequences.

Luang Pho Phrom Thawaro was a revered meditation master known for his compassionate nature and ascetic lifestyle. Born April 12, 1883, in Ayutthaya, he was ordained at Wat Khian Lai on March 15, 1903. He studied Khmer language and meditation techniques under senior monks before embarking on a long pilgrimage through Myanmar, visiting sacred sites including the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Upon returning to Thailand through Mae La Mao in Tak province, heavy rains forced him to take shelter in a small cave at Khao Chong Khae in Tak Kli district, Nakhon Sawan. Impressed by his austere practice, local villagers invited him to establish a permanent monastery there, which became Wat Chong Khae. He served as the temple's first abbot for 54 years until retiring in 1971, passing away peacefully on January 30, 1975, at age 91. Among his many revered amulets, the first-edition coin from 1964 is particularly prized. Created by the temple's committee to fund the ordination hall, these oval-shaped amulets feature copper with gold plating or burnished copper finishes. The front depicts Luang Pho Phrom in meditation posture wearing monastic robes, with ancient characters above and his name inscribed below. The reverse bears the inscription 'Age 79, Vassa 59' along with the temple's name and location details. When acquiring these amulets, collectors should verify the clarity of the imagery and sharpness of the lettering.

This article explores several notable Buddhist amulets and their histories. It begins with a dharma message from Luang Pho Cha Subhadto of Wat Nong Pa Phong in Ubon Ratchathani, warning against reading medicine prescriptions while forgetting to take the medicine itself. The piece then details various commemorative coins created for charitable purposes, including the 'Udom Khwamsuk Edition' coins created in 1997 by Thangchai Udomkhwamsuk and Dr. Pisanu Raksagulkant to raise funds for Ban Suan Pa Tong Hospital in Chiang Mai. These coins were produced in multiple materials including gold, brass, silver, and copper, featuring the image of Luang Pu Kamphan Khosapanyo in meditation pose with nagas on the sides. The article also discusses coins of Luang Pho Charn Inmutoto from Wat Bang Bo in Samut Prakan, created in 1970, featuring a half-body frontal image with a distinctive protruding forehead mark. Additionally, it covers Luang Pho Kuay Chutinthro's coins from Wat Khositaram (Wat Ban Khaen) in Saiyok, Chai Nat, minted in 2016 in various metals to support monastery construction. Finally, the article mentions coins from Wat Phra Song in Nakhon Phanom, originally created in 1976 by a military development unit, featuring ancient Khmer art imagery of a 2,000-year-old sandstone Buddha statue.

Phra Kru Pariyatti Varathorn, also known as Luang Pho Phiu Panantho, former abbot of Sri Maharaj Temple in Sri Racha District, Chonburi Province, was a venerable monk deeply respected by the local community. Originally named Phiu Ratanjinda, he was born on Thursday, March 24, 1913, in Semet Subdistrict, Muang District, Chonburi.

As a child, he studied at Putthayakam School at Khao Bang Thray Temple and completed junior secondary education. At age 15, he ordained as a novice, and at age 20, he took full monastic vows at Khao Bang Thray Temple under Somdej Phra Phutthakhos Acharya (Charoen Yanavaro) of Thepsirin Temple as his preceptor, along with other senior monks in supervisory roles.

He excelled in his monastic studies, earning top honors in Dharma studies and Pali scripture examination, eventually returning to Khao Bang Thray Temple where he taught Buddhist studies for many years. He was deeply grateful to his preceptor and faithfully followed his exemplary conduct.

In 1943, when the abbot position at Sri Maharaj Temple became vacant, his preceptor appointed him as abbot. He served in this role for 51 years, becoming a model for monks and laypeople alike and earning great respect throughout Sri Racha.

During his tenure, he received several ecclesiastical ranks and titles. He was known for his selfless dedication, wisdom, and development work. His major accomplishments included constructing the main ordination hall (costing 20 million baht and taking over a decade to complete) and numerous other temple buildings and structures at both Sri Maharaj Temple and Koh Loy Temple.

He had many disciples from all walks of life, including high-ranking government officials, military personnel, police, and ordinary citizens. Despite his advancing age, he remained diligent in both material development and spiritual reformation of the temple and its congregation.

As he approached 80 years old, his health deteriorated from overwork and lack of rest. In late 1991, he was admitted to Somdej Hospital in Sri Racha with emphysema. He passed away peacefully on January 18, 1994, at age 81 in his 60th year of monastic life.

To commemorate his legacy, devotees created sacred amulets, including the famous 'Luang Pho Tanchai Medal from Sri Maharaj Temple, First Edition,' created in 1970 to commemorate the casting of the main Buddha image. The medal features an oval shape with an attached loop and depicts Luang Pho Tanchai on the front in a meditation posture with the inscription 'Special Edition, Luang Pho Tanchai 1970' on the base. The reverse side displays a water yantra design surrounded by Khmer script. These medals were produced in three versions: 20 gold medals, silver medals, and others.

Thailand remains a destination that travelers worldwide must visit at least once in their lifetime, and the country's beautiful southern seas proved their worth again when Ao Kuek Bay in Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga Province, was ranked 10th best beach in the world for 2026.

The ranking comes from "The World's 50 Best Beaches 2026," compiled by a global network of over 1,000 tourism experts whose votes were tallied on May 4, 2025. Artthapol Charoenchunsa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, explained that the ranking was determined by sea and nature tourism influencers, and that beyond Ao Kuek's striking beauty, the ranking also considered conservation efforts and area management practices.

"This success reflects Thailand's pride and demonstrates the effectiveness of proactive management measures," said Artthapol. "These include limiting visitor numbers according to carrying capacity, seasonal resource restoration closures, and strict waste management, resulting in high levels of integrity in marine and coastal ecosystems."

The director-general noted that the park limits daily visitors to Ao Kuek Bay to no more than 1,700 people. Around the bay, there are four deep diving spots: Donald Duck Bay, Turtle Rock, Turtle Gully, and Snapper Alley, all subject to strict diving regulations and conservation measures. Divers must hold an Advanced certification and tour operators must employ park-registered Dive Masters. Sunscreen must be coral-safe, and tourists must take all waste back with them or dispose only of easily biodegradable items.

About 80% of current visitors are foreigners who typically book through tour operators, giving tour businesses a critical role in enforcing visitor limits and educating tourists about regulations. Artthapol emphasized that this success serves as a model for upgrading national parks nationwide to promote Thailand's sustainable conservation tourism.

According to Similan Islands National Park's Facebook page, "Similan" comes from the Malay word meaning "nine" and consists of nine islands arranged north to south: Ko Huuyong, Ko Payang, Ko Payran, Ko Meang, Ko Ha, Ko Hok, Ko Payu, Ko Similan, and Ko Bangu. Later, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon were added, bringing the total to 11 islands.

Ao Kuek Bay, located on Koh Similan (Island Eight) about 70 kilometers offshore, is the largest island in the archipelago. Its distinctive features include pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear water revealing the sandy bottom and fish schools below, and colors that shift from light blue near the shore to deep blue in deeper waters. The bay's northern end features the iconic "Sailing Rock" landmark, a massive boulder perched on a cliff to the left of the bay.

Two close colleagues who have worked together for years consider Danny Sripin an idol for how to live life. They are Pa Gig Kiarti Kitcharoen and Tik Klin Si, who have known each other for over 30 years. Recently, Pa Gig and Tik Klin Si shared untold stories about Danny on the show Kuay Saep on Channel One 31, including life lessons that helped Danny achieve his success today.

How did Pa Gig and Tik Klin Si meet?

Pa Gig: We two met in a film called 'Klin Si and Gao Bpaeng' in 1987. At that time, Tik was filming this movie playing a student, and in real life he was also a student. He was born in 1961, so he was still a fifth-year student then. He's two years older than me.

Tik: I enrolled around 1980 and graduated in 1987, the same time as you.

Pa Gig: He studied painting but became a senior arts instructor because this generation studied at multiple institutions. We've been friends for 40 years.

What about Danny?

Pa Gig: We've stopped keeping in touch now because if we continued, I'd have to follow him around (smiles). I want to say that for me and Danny, we've known each other a long time. My feelings are mixed—I'm sad that he's gone, but I'm glad he left peacefully. He's stopped now, he doesn't have to be tired anymore. It's like he took a rest and doesn't have to worry about anything anymore. But I don't know what the next world is like because I've never been there. I'm sad we won't see each other anymore, but I'm okay. He's probably free from all worries and burdens now. But I don't need to be too emotional because we weren't blood relatives. Looking back, I first knew Danny when we were both young actors playing students in movies.

Did Tik meet Danny before Pa Gig?

Tik: I met him when we were kids. He was a half-foreign child back then. It started from our friend's house in Din Daeng, and Danny's house was nearby. We used to tease him.

Pa Gig: Danny wasn't even 10 years old back then because his mother's house was next to Tik's friend's house.

Tik: We went to our friend's house which was a music rehearsal room. We used to hang around there, and Danny was a little kid in the neighboring house. We'd tease the kid. Now we're talking about his charm and how we interacted when we met. After that, we heard Danny had become a Doraemon character. That was when the half-foreign trend was coming. Then he went to perform at Kantana, and he became a star.

Pa Gig: When he joined Kantana, he was already a star. But Tik Klin Si wasn't a star yet—he was just a regular student.

When did you seriously work together with Danny?

Pa Gig: It was probably when we officially opened a company together. The show 'Sap Khun Saam' and 'Game Pan Naa,' where Danny was already a big star. Danny had diverse talents. Besides being an actor, he could do comedy and host. He was very good at speaking and had great abilities in this area. Then we moved to doing the game show 'Game Pan Naa,' and we had Danny join the 'Meo Miao Gang'—the cat gang—to bring other people on the show.

So when you started doing the show together, did you end up going drinking until morning?

Pa Gig: Well, this started even before we worked together.

Tik: We have to say this was a recreational activity we did together happily, using drinks as a catalyst. At that time, we were around 30 and Danny was in his early 20s.

Pa Gig: Danny went along with us. He was a fun guy, and we were entertainers.