On March 24, 2569 (2026) at approximately 2:00 PM, under the direction of Angkur Silathewaakul, Governor of Krabi Province, Sakda Seedaeng, District Officer of Ko Lanta, Police Major Sirithum Naakwonrun, Commander of Ko Lanta Police Station, and Police Lieutenant Chatchai Choonuarong, Deputy Commander of Ko Lanta Police Station 20, organized a ceremony to distribute royal flood relief supplies to residents of Moo 4, Ban Thung Yee Pheng, Saladam Subdistrict, Ko Lanta District, Krabi Province.

On March 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM, Pol.Col. Sirithum Nakworn (Commander of Ko Lanta Police Station), Pol.Maj. Muhammad Damuna (Deputy Commander of Ko Lanta Police Station), and Lt.Col. Watthana Krarai (Deputy Chief of Krabi Provincial Police) joined a community engagement activity during Ramadan. They distributed dried dates and essential consumer goods to religious leaders at Baanlobar Mosque in Moo 3, Saladam Subdistrict, Ko Lanta District, Krabi Province, for breaking the fast during Ramadan—an important month of religious observance in Islam. The initiative aims to foster positive relationships between the community and government agencies.

Phuket native Chef Nok puts her roots to work at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort just off Makham Bay, where Tamarind is putting a new spin on Southern Thai favorites.

In recent years, Southern Thai food has been getting a lot more glory, and the fusion bites at Tamarind blend Thai with global inspiration—think tomyum and lobster paella—all found at a postcard-perfect space just 45 minutes from Phuket’s airport.

Start off with their pomelo salad with grilled scallops or their Thai crab and betel leaf curry (gaeng khua poo bai chaplu); the locally caught crab comes with a classic yellow curry that’s a can’t miss for the Thai food purists.

Getting into the mains, the borders start to shift a little for a delicate balance of international and Thai influences. The Southern-style with beef stew features beef cheeks, caramalized Chiang Mai figs, soya jus, and a little bit of star anise to get that umami going. Heading to Italy via Phuket comes the tagliatelle duck panang curry, the Panang Ped, putting the Thai spices and tradition to work with freshly made noodles.

Other insta-worthy dishes include the likes of the green papaya salad with smoked rock lobster—with a large, succulent lobster tail rising out of the dish—and the Thai spicy-style paella with seafood featuring juicy squid, mussels and prawns.

To finish off, try the Phuket coconut ice-cream with candied bananas—a classic. Or, for you durian fiends out there, the khao niew durian dessert paired with sticky rice. They say durian is an acquired taste, and this is how you acquire it.

As for the setting, the Tamarind space features indoor and outdoor open-air seating where you can stay safe from the rays and still take in that Makham Bay view. And that beautiful sea view isn’t just for looks, you know. Tamarind focuses on sustainability which means they work with local fishermen and markets to source fresh seafood from the markets of the city—including fresh-as-it-gets crab meat straight from the sea.

It’s the beach, it’s got the creativity and the spice, and it’s doing ingredients right—what’s not to like?

A controversial giant demon statue was taken down yesterday evening after months of criticism over alleged promotion of devil worship, pet sacrifices, and just being outright terrifying to some.

The infamous Kru Kai Kaeo statue was removed from the front of Bangkok’s The Bazaar Hotel in Huai Khwang district. The order came from the State Railway of Thailand who had asked the hotel for its removal by Saturday.

The hotel’s operator, Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadaphisek, was ordered to pay a hefty fine of THB1.3 million for violating the Building Control Act.

The spot where the four-meter tall statue sat alongside its nine-tailed fox figure will be renovated into an activity area for guests, according to hotel owner Pairoj Thungthong.

The statue, known for its menacing glare and winged demon features, attracted so much attention from the public since it was erected in the beginning of August. It was deemed frightening by some, including a group called the “Council of Artists Promoting Buddhism” who had lobbied to have it removed, claiming it encourages people to worship demons and offer pets as sacrificial animals. Thankfully, there have been no reports indicating that either had happened at the site.

Kru Kai Kaeo, according to some believers, was said to be a teacher of former Khmer empire ruler Jayavarman VII. While some say he is a god of wealth, critics and scholars say they have never heard of him.

Another group called the National Thai People Council petitioned Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt to remove the statue as it posed “a threat to Thai culture and beliefs.”

Strolling past the luxurious Chalermnit Art de Maison residence building along Sukhumvit 53 road, one would think it’s merely an unassuming condominium with impressive architecture. But at the very front of the building, just beyond the architectural grandeur, lies a hidden gem of a pizzeria.

How does one find the pizzeria? At the front of the building is a small pathway leading to an unmarked door. Inside this door, lies Pizza Maru — a pizzeria serving Neo-Napoli pizza.

The pizzeria’s owners — Nanu Youttananukorn, Dhyan ho, and Himd Janthachotbutr – said that their intention to keep it hidden isn’t a mere gimmick.

“As new players in town, operation wise, it makes more sense to open once a week, just because of the labor costs,” Nanu tells Coconuts. “Also our clientele is still growing. The last thing we want is our staff to hang around, so if there is more demand then we will expand.”

The pizzeria is open from 5pm. Bookings can be made via their Instagram page and seats are limited. While that gives the pizzeria somewhat of an exclusive feel, it does mean patrons are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

Formerly an office space with a bar, the spot features a homey yet classy vibe, with a DJ booth opposite the open kitchen.

Nanu, a designer who took up making pizza during COVID, says the pizzeria relies on word-of-mouth marketing and Instagram. No doubt, the hidden entrance will surely make people talk.

When Coconuts visited the pizzeria, the owners shared their plan to utilize delivery via Line.

But how is the pizza? At the open tables, you can see Pizza Maru’s owners and staff hard at work baking fresh pies in an oven.

For those out of the loop, neo-napoli pizza utilizes lower temperatures and longer baking times, as well as the hydration in which the amount of water proportionate to the amount of flour used. More water is used for Neo-napoli, or contemporary Napoli, resulting in a fluffier and crunchier dough.

“Our dough is processed two days before use, spending 48 hours fermenting,” Nanu explains.

Pizza Maru offers some classic toppings including margherita, anchovy marinara, pepperoni, and four cheeses. All of Pizza Maru’s pies achieve a balance of fluffy and crispy crusts with soft and gooey bites in the center.

However, we must recommend trying one of their original pizzas, particularly the Kale Blue Cheese (THB420).

“It’s always been our intention to do something quirky and keep some of the things that people expect in a pizzeria but also something new,” Nanu said.

Apart from the pizzas, the pizzeria has a sizable collection of wine bottles ranging from THB1,790 – THB2,190. Hoping to have only one glass of wine? Well, you’re out of luck, as the pizzeria sells wine by the bottle at the moment, so be sure to come with a group. However, you can also order a bottle of Regency Thai brandy for THB850, sodas and sparkling tea. The latter comes in strawberry jasmine and passionfruit mango.

Once you’ve had your fill of pizzas, you can push it all down with a cup of ice-cream in either matcha or salted caramel flavors (THB120).

Initially only open one Thursday per week, Pizza Maru is now open for business Tuesdays through Thursdays. As of publishing, the staff is ready to serve customers for their ninth session.

Next time if you’re hankering for a more intimate pizzeria that doubles as a small home, take the sorta secretive beaten path in the front of the Chalermnit Art De Maison building.

Owners Nanu Youttananukorn and Dhyan Ho preparing pizzas before opening time. Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

Kale Blue Cheese Pizza. Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

Photo: Nicky Tanskul / Coconuts

FIND IT

Pizza MaruChalermnit Art de Maison106/1 Sukhumvit 53 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, WatthanaThursdays, 5pm-late