reader

From The Nation Chiang Mai police on Thursday arrested a Norwegian, 58, for allegedly slashing the throat of his Thai gay lover, 39, at their house in Muang district of Chiang Ma province. Ben Roy Eiek was arrested on charges of murdering of Chalit, who was found with a slit throat at a house in Ban Wang Sing Kham in Tambon Pa Daed at 9pm on Tuesday. When police arrived at the scene, they found Eiek in the house but he denied killing the man, claiming he was suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and had no strength to attack his lover. He claimed his lover was killed by an attacker who fled the scene. Police investigators doubted his claims and gathered scientific evidence at the scene and studied feeds from a security camera in the house before they obtained an arrest warrant for Eiek. Police also doubted his claims about suffering from ALS disease as he could not provide any medical proof. The man was taken to the Muang Chiang Mai Police Station for legal action and police would seek a Norwegian interpreter and a volunteer lawyer to assist the man during further interrogations.

From Pattaya Mail Over 100 PCEC members packed into the meetings zone of the Holiday Inn, Pattaya, to hear attorney at law Dr Jessataporn Bunnag (Chang) and his colleague Mr Chatchai Seelasophano talk on “Thai Law and You”. They are both based at the V2B international law office located adjacent to the immigration bureau in Jomtien. They began by outlining the services of the company which, apart from court matters, cover notarial and translation, visas for foreigners here and for Thais going abroad, passport renewal for some countries and general liaison with embassies and consulates. Dr Bunnag also runs two language academies, a driving school and the registration center for nationals of neighboring countries working in Thailand. Mr Chatchai then described the differences between civil and criminal law and emphasized the importance of obtaining police reports as quickly as possible. Some areas of Thai law, for example slander and libel, can be criminal as well as civil. He described how foreigners on bail for criminal offences must not ignore their visas but must obtain documentation from the court to allow the immigration bureau to extend the permission to stay. Chatchai observed there were no juries in Thai trials and stressed that cases, with the appeal structures, can take years to resolve. In a lengthy question and answer session, members raised a wide variety of topics from routine traffic accidents and property disputes to capital offences and blacklisting procedures involving the courts and immigration. There were inevitably questions about the collapse in personal relationships or short-term liaisons which one member described as a “coin-operated girlfriend”. When buying or investing in property, members were advised to insist on seeing the originals of documents, such as the chanoot or ownership proof, and not reply on copies. Dr Bunnag described some of the charges for legal services, such as 10,000 baht for a simple Thai will, and pointed out that employing a lawyer can be an effective way of reducing delays or confusion when dealing with police, prosecutors and the courts. After thanking the guest speakers, officers of the club invited several new members to introduce themselves in this popular and welcoming expat society which meets each Wednesday morning in the Holiday Inn, north Pattaya.

From The Nation Tough new policy will not allow public to own even BB guns Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced a strong gun policy on Thursday, saying that only officials would be authorised to possess firearms, and the public would not be allowed to own them – not even imitation weapons like BB guns. The deputy premier on Thursday presided over a meeting to review the laws governing gun ownership in Thailand, following the deadly shooting in Bangkok on Tuesday that took the lives of two foreigners and left five others injured. Several senior officials, including the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration Attasit Samphanrat, attended the meeting. Anutin, who is also the Interior Minister, said that he had decided to entrust Attasit with looking into the rules on the use of firearms and other weapons and reporting back to him to determine which ones needed to be revised. He said he would not allow ordinary people to get a permit to own a firearm, not even imitation ones like BB guns or blank guns, as they were dangerous and needed to be regulated, “Only officials would be permitted [to possess firearms],” he said. The 14-year-old shooter reportedly used a modified blank pistol. Police investigation revealed that the teen also owned other types of weapons, like an M-16 gun and ammo. Anutin noted that anyone under the age of 18 should not be allowed to participate in shooting activities. Anyone using a gun at a shooting camp would have to leave the gun there. No one would be allowed to carry weapons outside the camp, he said.

From the BBC Spain, Portugal and Morocco have been named as the co-hosts, with the opening three matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The opening matches in South America are to mark the World Cup's centenary as it will be 100 years since the inaugural tournament in Montevideo. The decision is set to be ratified at a Fifa congress next year. Fifa also confirmed only bids from countries from the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation will be considered for the 2034 finals. Following that decision, Saudi Arabia announced it would be bidding to host the tournament in 2034 for the first time. Fifa's decision to host the tournament across multiple continents has drawn criticism, with one supporter's body accusing football's world governing body of engaging in a "cycle of destruction against the greatest tournament on Earth". "[It's] horrendous for supporters, disregards the environment and rolls the red carpet out to a host for 2034 with an appalling human rights record. It's the end of the World Cup as we know it," said Football Supporters Europe. Fifa president Gianni Infantino said: "In a divided world, Fifa and football are uniting

From The Thaiger October promises to be an exhilarating month for Pattaya, with a plethora of intriguing events lined up to stimulate city tourism. There is a range of activities from sports tournaments to cultural festivals, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The International Beach Tennis Tournament Pattaya Open is set to kick off on Friday, October 6, and conclude on Saturday, October 7. Tennis enthusiasts can make their way to Pattaya Beach, situated in front of the Hard Rock Hotel, to witness this international competition. The tournament serves as a fantastic opportunity to observe high-quality tennis in a unique beachfront setting. Following this, the Vegetarian Festival, also known as Mahaguson Im Boon Im Jai (มหากุศล อิ่มบุญอิ่มใจ), will kick off on October 14, lasting until October 24. The festival will be held at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Naklua. Next in line is the Master’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament, taking place from October 19 to October 22. The international softball competition will be hosted by Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club. Softball fans can enjoy watching adept athletes battle it out in this thrilling event. Towards the end of the month, on October 28, the Pattaya International Bikini Beach Race will take place on Pattaya Beach. Touted as the Sexiest Running Event in Thailand, this unique and entertaining run uniquely combines fitness and fun, reported The Pattaya News. On October 29, the end of Buddhist Lent will be observed. This religious holiday will also result in an alcohol sales ban and the closure of entertainment venues. From October 14 to mid-month, the Pattaya School Eight Festival will be held near Wat Chai and Walking Street. This event will further add to the festive atmosphere of the month. Finally, on October 31, Halloween will be celebrated. Hundreds of entertainment venues and bars are set to host spooky and scary parties, bringing the eventful month to a close.

The zoo?

From the Thai Enquirer Latest Updates on Victims and Investigation Here is what we know so far from the shooting at Siam Paragon in Bangkok on October 3: Casualties and Injuries: Two females have been killed, one Chinese national and one Myanmar national. Five people were injured, with two in critical condition, one of whom was shot in the head. The injured include one Chinese national, one Laotian, and three Thais. According to Siam Paragon, one of the injured is their security guard. Out of the seven people who were shot, six were female. The Shooter: The shooter is a 14-year-old Thai male who attended Essence School, located at SiamScape Building, not far from where the shooting took place. According to his parents, the shooter lives alone. The national police chief, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, said the shooter claimed to have heard voices telling him to commit the crime. Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said the shooter has been treated for a mental health problem at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health since February and had received treatment at another institution before. The gun used in the crime was a plastic blank gun that had been modified to shoot real rounds. The police are still investigating the source of the gun and who modified it. Some reports suggest that the shooter acquired the gun and bullets online for around 10,000 baht, but this has not been confirmed by the police. Pol Maj Gen Nakarin Sukontawit, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 6, said the motive is still unknown, as the shooter was not in the right mental condition to provide a coherent statement last night and this morning. The police have pressed five charges against the shooter, including premeditated murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm without a permit, carrying a firearm in a public place without a permit, and shooting in public without a permit. Additional charges are pending for the bullets recovered at the shooter’s residence in Bang Khae district. Pol Maj Gen Nakarin said the police are also investigating the parents of the shooter to determine whether they violated the Child Protection Act. Sorawit Limparangsri, spokesman of the Court of Justice, stated that the parents might have also violated Section 429 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which holds parents or guardians of a minor who committed a crime accountable unless they can demonstrate proper care and supervision. Unconfirmed news reports suggest that the murder was premeditated because the shooter concealed the weapon in his bag before entering a restroom on the M floor of the department store, where he changed his clothes before committing the crime. A video from the shooter’s phone showed him practicing reloading a gun, and he sent a photo of the gun’s magazine to one of his friends before committing the crime. A circulating video shows that he had been practicing shooting at a shooting range before committing the crime. According to unconfirmed news reports, messages from his phone indicate that he was under pressure from his mother due to his low academic performance in school. He had been sending photos of himself holding a gun or shooting at the shooting range to his parents. Responses: A command center has been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination, as some of the casualties and injured individuals are foreigners. The Department of Mental Health has dispatched members of the Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team to the shooter, the victims, and the victims’ families. A team is being set up at Siam Paragon to provide advice to witnesses on how to cope mentally with the situation. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is currently exploring the implementation of an alert system to notify the public about emergency situations in the future. He also said the government plans to tighten controls on the online sale of blank guns to prevent minors from accessing them. PM Srettha personally spoke to the Chinese, Myanmar, and Laotian ambassadors to inform them of the situation updates and convey apologies for the incident. Their Majesties the King and Queen have taken all the victims injured in the shooting under their royal patronage. Siam Paragon’s staff have received praise from National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Torsak and PM Srettha for adhering to their training during an active shooting incident. They assisted customers in hiding and escaping from the hazardous areas, which managed to minimize the number of casualties and injuries, Pol. Gen. Torsak said.

I've stayed in Amara executive rooms many times and recommend this location. Rooms are compact but very well appointed and spotless. Buffet breakfast is excellent and the roof-top infinity pool has many lounge chairs. No problem whatsoever with guests.

NOTE -- The Bangkok Post is reporting that the suspect is a 14-year-old boy. Other reports now put the number of killed at four. From Reuters / The Star BANGKOK (Reuters): Police have arrested a suspected gunman after a shooting at a luxury mall in Thailand's capital Bangkok, local media reported. Emergency services said at least three people were killed and three were injured in the incident at Bangkok's Siam Paragon. Television station Thai PBS reported five people wounded. Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau posted an image on its Facebook page of a man they said was the suspected gunman. Unverified videos shared on social media showed people, including children, running out of the doors of the Siam Paragon mall while security guards ushered them out. A picture posted on social media reportedly showing the culprit being arrested. - @DEENWCRP/X

From The Nation Lack of clarity over the new digital-wallet scheme is weakening the value of the baht and could eventually become a hidden cost for the Thai government. Foreign investors have been selling Thai bonds and stocks since September, ahead of the anticipated distribution of 560 billion baht (US$15 billion) via 10,000-baht digital payments to every Thai over the age of 16. The baht's depreciation over the past month is peculiar, as it is not solely due to the strong US dollar. This is evident in the fact that the baht has weakened further than the currencies of Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The baht plummeted past 37 per dollar on Tuesday morning, its lowest level in 11 months. The reason foreign investors have been selling Thai bonds at a faster rate than those of other countries in the region is twofold. First is the higher interest rate on the US dollar; second is that the market anticipates that Thai bond prices will fall in the future due to higher yields resulting from the government's 560-billion-baht digital handout. The expectation of falling bond prices has triggered a sell-off that has weakened the baht as investors take their money back home. And as the baht weakens, Thailand will need to spend more on importing goods, especially oil, a major cost for all industries in the country. Importers will also pay more for goods, extra costs that will be passed on to Thailand’s consumers. For example, iPhones here are becoming more expensive. Conversely, exporters who deal in dollars will benefit from the current situation. National banks are now likely to consider raising interest rates or implementing measures to maintain the stability of the baht. At the same time, large-scale projects such as the 560-billion-baht digital wallet scheme are putting more pressure on the baht's value. This means that the Thai government will have to borrow at higher interest rates to distribute the money. Meanwhile, with little clarity on details of the digital distribution plan, market concerns remain high, leading to sell-offs during this period of uncertainty. ====================== CROSS RATES AS OF POSTING USD 37.05 EUR 38.85 GBP 44.71 CAD 27.01 AUD 23.35

From The Nation The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has halted plans to extend the Yellow Line monorail from Lat Phrao to Ratchayothin as the proposal by Eastern Bangkok Monorail (EBM), the concessionaire of the project, has now expired. The plan has been put on hold, as some 100,000 passengers are required to use the service daily to ensure the investment feasibility of this project. Pakapong Sirikantaramas, the governor of the MRTA, revealed that the proposed expansion of the Yellow Line covering a distance of approximately 2.6 kilometers, was submitted by EBM for consideration prior to the opening of the monorail in June. The MRTA says the planned extension to Ratchayothin was not part of the original Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan (M-Map) for Bangkok and its outskirts, and it does not impact the existing rail network. Currently, the area between Ratchada and Lat Phrao is served by the MRTA's Blue Line. Pakapong added that approximately 40,000 passengers use the MRTA's Yellow Line service from Lat Phrao to Samrong on weekdays, with the number falling to about 28,000-30,000 on weekends and public holidays. During the free trial period, when the system was being tested and the service was free of charge, ridership reached 70,000 passengers per day. MRTA anticipates that daily ridership on the Yellow Line should ideally be between 70,000 and 80,000 passengers to be considered successful. If ridership increases to 100,000 passengers per day, growing at a rate of 10% annually, it would make the investment financially viable. Adjusting passenger behaviour to adopt mass transit as the primary mode of transportation will be essential for the project's success.

Peter and I both appreciate the finer points of debate and share many common interests. As I've aged my concept of what defines a good massage, a good off has evolved quite a lot. Frequently I find that the shared meal before or after is just as meaningful as the main event. Wages paid to employees who depend upon tips in the US is a hodgepodge of laws that varies from state to state. Some southern states set the minimum wage peg below $3.00 per hour as a glance at the attached link shows. https://www.minimum-wage.org/tipped Fast food workers have long been underpaid but I recently read that legislation in California has established a $20.00 per hour floor. I regret that the discussion has migrated away from the OP's entertaining trip report and appreciate his indulgence. The topic deserves a separate thread.

From Pattaya News By Adam Judd In Buriram province the construction of a temple complex at Wat Phu Man Fah is enkindling a subtle, yet potent diplomatic controversy with neighboring Cambodia. Accusations that the temple seeks to replicate the revered Angkor Wat have placed both nations on a cautious path, seeking to preserve their cultural heritage and bilateral relations. Since 2021, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts says it has been monitoring the construction activities at Wat Phu Man Fah, following concerns and appeals from its citizens over the potential architectural imitation of Angkor Wat, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992 and is emblematic of Cambodia’s national identity. The issues were prominently highlighted and mobilized through social media campaigns such as #SaveAngkorWat, embodying genuine apprehension for national heritage preservation. Addressing these concerns, the Cambodian culture ministry conducted several actions, predominantly involving diplomatic discussions with the Thai authorities, to navigate this sensitive matter judiciously. Cambodian officials have expressed a steadfast commitment to preserving their ancestral heritage and utilizing all viable means to confront and resolve this issue. This approach encompasses “diplomatic engagement, technical verifications, direct site inspections, and adherence to both national and international legal frameworks,” as stated in the ministry’s communication. Inspecting and negotiating with a sturdy stance against any attempts to mimic Cambodia’s national symbols, experts were dispatched to the Wat Phu Man Fah site, revealing that no additional construction had occurred since the initial discovery of the issue. Sum Mab, a ministry spokesperson, underlined that an astute and methodical approach, coupling vigilant monitoring and diplomatic engagements, has been the mainstay of their strategy since 2021. Despite requests, the architectural plans of the developing structure have not been provided by the Thai side, making detailed evaluations of the architectural semblance currently unfeasible. From an academic perspective, history lecturer Sambo Manara acknowledges the impassioned reaction from Cambodians, particularly the youth, accentuating a heartfelt concern for national heritage. Nevertheless, Manara advocates for measured and considerate responses to eschew potential harm to diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand. He notes that Angkor Wat replicas exist in various countries, including France, China, and Japan, and the current construction in Thailand does not yield a true replication of Angkor Wat, particularly since it is still in progress and lacking a comprehensive examination.

File under "Move along--nothing to see here" From The Nation No infighting, ‘people are just imagining things Newly appointed Royal Thai Police chief Pol General Torsak Sukwimol on Monday dismissed rumours of infighting in the bureau, saying under his supervision, RTP will be a “home” for all police officers. The issue of dissension within police ranks recently came up following raids on homes owned by Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn. Observers believe the raids may have been conducted to discredit him, as he was one of the top contenders for the National Police chief’s job. Surachate had said earlier that he believed the raids on his six houses were motivated by politics within the force. “I won’t seek revenge, but I have a lot of details that, if revealed, can put the entire Royal Thai Police Bureau under fire,” he had said. However, the new police chief told Thai-language media on Monday that there will be no infighting under his supervision. "I want to make the Royal Thai Police Bureau a home [for all policemen],” Torsak said, adding “there are no disputes in the bureau, people are just imagining things". Last Friday, photographs of Torsak standing next to Surachate began circulating, with many netizens wondering if this might mark the end of the conflict. Torsak said he had invited Surachate to meet him that day to discuss their differences. He reportedly told Surachate “you can’t find someone more sincere than me. I’m an honest person with no tricks. I say what I believe. I have never stabbed anybody in the back.” At this point, everybody is waiting to see how Torsak will allocate responsibilities among his deputies. Surachate is expected to handle security-related matters.

I've found that in most cases, you can get the same or better rate rate at the individual hotel's website, but not always. I've used Agoda from time to time over the years and never experienced a problem. However, as some have noted above, you need to carefully read the conditions (cancellation rights and payment schedule) before booking. But I agree with PeterRS that Agoda;s pricing advantage appears limited to Asian locations. By booking by credit card, you have recourse if the hotel or agency fail to honor their obligation. Other than that, it's not rocket science.

On that subject, I believe the one you should be asking is the guy who provide you with service. If you're both satisfied, it's a win-win. Looking back on my last two trips (both 60 days), I averaged about one massage every other day. They were all in the Saphan Kwai and Silom areas. So the total was somewhere in the vicinity to 56 because I didn't have any on first and last days. Of that number I had three of what I would consider disappointing or unsatisfactory. Maybe I'm just easy to please. Maybe I've just been lucky in picking the right guys. My typical tip is 1000-1200 for one hour and 1500-1700 for 90 min. Judging by how they were received, I considered it a win-win for all concerned. Quite a few of the guys became repeat providers. I enjoy getting to know them and learning something about their lives outside of the shop. I'm aware that there are members who have posted about unsatisfactory massage experiences, but wouldn't say they were numerous which is a highly subjective term. To some, five might constitute numerous, to others it may mean 25, 50 or a 100. I've very much enjoyed my experiences with these young men. You won't find me apologizing for coming to their defense. Go back a few years and many of us were bemoaning the fact that Thailand was closed and we couldn't wait to return. Now that we're traveling again, the enchantment seems to have faded for some posters. Just glad I'm not one of them. 🙂

NOTE -- Kudos to PaulSF, a good friend and sports aficionado first class for bringing this to my attention. When the Miami Marlins yesterday beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to clinch a spot in the divisional playoffs baseball playoffs, few were aware that the team's general manager, Kim Ng, is not only the first woman general manager in Major League Baseball history but the daughter of mixed east Asian ancestry (mother from Thailand and father of Cantonese descent). Her unlikely rise in a man's game had very early roots when she accepted a post with the Chicago White Sox in 1990. The rest is for the history books. From Time magazine Kim Ng took her seat on the chartered jet. As assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, she was joining the team on a road trip in 2008. Soon the Dodgers players started filing onto the plane, and a flight attendant began taking drink orders from staffers. When she reached Ng—pronounced Ang, rhymes with Hang—the flight attendant leaned in close. “So what did you do to get on this plane?” she asked. After nearly two decades in baseball front offices, Ng had become accustomed to the condescending glances, outright hostility and attempts at intimidation that come with being the only woman in the room. But this was, well, something else entirely. So Ng decided, as she had so many times in her professional life, to have some fun with the situation. “Do you really want to know?” Ng said conspiratorially, teasing a salacious secret. “Yeaaah,” the flight attendant replied, barely containing her enthusiasm. “See all these guys?” Ng said. “Yeaaah.” “They all work for me,” Ng said. Speaking during a video interview from a hotel room in Miami where she had been staying for the past month or so, Ng laughs recalling this conversation. “She slinked away,” Ng says. “The point was, Why are you asking me this?” Ng was named the general manager of the Miami Marlins in November, becoming the first female GM in the history of major North American men’s pro team sports and the first East Asian American to lead a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. She had interviewed for GM positions at least 10 times over the years, only to be passed over for someone else. But her hiring by the Marlins was not just a personal victory—it was widely celebrated as a breakthrough with the potential to place more women in traditionally male power roles, in baseball and beyond. Richard Lapchick, whose Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida publishes an annual report grading the hiring practices of sports leagues—MLB most recently got a C for gender hiring—hails Nov. 13, 2020, the day that Ng’s new position was announced, as the “most note-worthy day for baseball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.” Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton sent Ng kudos via Twitter; two of Ng’s inspirations when she was growing up, Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, also cheered the enormity of the moment on social media. On the night of President Joe Biden’s Inauguration, Ng even participated in the virtual festivities, sharing words from Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Inaugural Address celebrating peaceful presidential transitions. “It is unbelievable yet totally deserving that Kim has ascended to a position of power, influence and leadership,” King tells TIME. “Kim Ng being a GM of a major sports team is a strong indication that if you can see it, you can be it.” Ng, 52, grew up playing stickball in Queens, N.Y. One manhole cover served as home plate, a parked car to the right was first base, another manhole cover down the street was second, and a parked car to the left was third. She was always the only girl. “I grew up a tomboy, for sure,” Ng says. “Always the oddity.” Her father, who died when Kim was 11, had introduced his daughter to baseball. She slept under a poster, sponsored by Burger King, of the 1978 World Series champion New York Yankees. Baseball’s slow pace—the average sports fan’s biggest complaint about the game these days—-actually drew her in. “It gave me time to ask questions,” Ng says. “It gave me time to socialize and to be curious, and not necessarily be completely entranced.” When her family moved to Long Island, she took up organized softball. She was then the star of her team at Ridgewood High School in New Jersey and continued her career at the University of Chicago, where she hit .388 as a junior. She played multiple infield positions and emerged as the unquestioned team leader. “She was one of those loud people on the field,” says Rosalie Resch, an assistant athletic director during Ng’s years on campus. “There was no question how many outs there were.” In one photo from the time, Ng is kneeling at the front of the dugout, eyes honed in on the Chicago hitter, more immersed in the action than anyone else. Ng playing softball at Ridgewood High School in 1986 Mike Grattini—USA TODAY NETWORK/Reuters When her family moved to Long Island, she took up organized softball. She was then the star of her team at Ridgewood High School in New Jersey and continued her career at the University of Chicago, where she hit .388 as a junior. She played multiple infield positions and emerged as the unquestioned team leader. “She was one of those loud people on the field,” says Rosalie Resch, an assistant athletic director during Ng’s years on campus. “There was no question how many outs there were.” In one photo from the time, Ng is kneeling at the front of the dugout, eyes honed in on the Chicago hitter, more immersed in the action than anyone else. Photo courtesy of UChicago Athletics Read the full article at https://time.com/5943601/kim-ng-first-female-gm-miami-marlins/ ============================

From Pattaya Mail Income tax fears replace insurance worries in latest Pattaya expat poll By Barry Knyon The new top concern of Pattaya expats, almost 60 percent, is the recent announcement of the Thai internal revenue service to tax all income brought into Thailand by both Thai nationals and farang residing here over 180 days in a calendar year. According to a straw poll of 150 expats (UK, US, EU, Australia), conducted in Jomtien soi five from 26-28 September, the subject has displaced visa and insurance concerns from their traditional first place in past polls. “Touch my pension and I’m out of here, was the response of many expats. Some, mostly retirees, said they were reviewing their options such as moving to Cambodia or the Philippines where tax laws are believed to be softer or ignored for foreign residents. However, about a quarter of the respondents had never heard of the proposal or thought it did not apply to them. Five respondents thought it only referred to currency speculators, holders of off-shore accounts in Hong Kong or elsewhere or rich investors in overseas businesses. Pattaya Mail contacted a Thai tax lawyer for his personal perspective. Here is his reply, “Thai revenue is simply updating an old law by saying that tax must be paid, from next year, on foreign income even if the incoming money’s arrival is delayed into a future tax year. But there is no intention to tax again income that has already been taxed abroad. For example, the pensions of most foreign retirees are taxed initially in their home country and there are, in any case, double taxation treaties with 61 countries. The issue is whether all resident expats will need to register with Thai revenue to obtain a tax identification number (TIN) to explain their individual circumstances. Nobody can answer detailed questions until the revenue issues more guidelines for the non-business community.” Second subject choice for most respondents was concern that more long term visas would soon require compulsory hospital insurance. The prime worry was amongst the holders of non “O” retirement extensions or the annual extension granted to foreigners with a Thai spouse. There have been no official announcements, but remarks earlier in the year by a deputy national police chief, Surachate Hakparn, seem to be the main source of worry. Several respondents said they had now moved to Elite visas which guarantee multiple-entry to Thailand for 5-20 years depending on the initial cash sum paid, starting with 900,000 baht. The whole subject is controversial in Thai government circles as the evidence shows that most non-payment of hospital bills by foreigners arises from motorbike accidents involving short-term tourists under 40. Other subjects of worry raised in the field study included the future of night life in the city which some see as short-term as the Pattaya tourist profile changes to Asia and away from Europe and the future of ganja leisure smoking in view of recent government announcements to restrict use to medical treatment. Brits are understandably upset by their “frozen” old age pensions here, although respondents seem resigned to the inevitability of discrimination. Four respondents primarily raised the issue of inflation in supermarket products, whilst three referred to traffic jams which they blamed on city hall or too many music festivals. A sole Australian expat said she was really worried about an influx of Americans if Donald Trump won the general election next year.

From Pattaya Mail Heiner Moessing from Siam Properties was the guest speaker at the September 27 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC). His topic was The Joys and Perils of Property in Thailand. Heiner has been in real estate nearly all his life. After graduating at Free University Berlin (MBA) he worked for a in their private customer division where he concentrated on property matters. Heiner noted that the property market in Pattaya is quite different not only from most western countries, but also from other areas of Thailand. This is due to it being a major tourist destination as well as the choice of many retirees for their home in Thailand. One difference he pointed out was that in Pattaya, one can list properties with many agents at the same time, there is no “exclusive listing” by a single real estate agency. Also, in choosing an agent, one needs to find one that actually “listens to you” on the type of property you are seeking, whether to buy or rent, as some agents are known to ignore your wishes and show you properties that are completely different from what you are looking for. He then proceeded to explain the advantages and disadvantages of condos units as well as houses. The types of ownership structures necessitated by Thai laws that generally prohibit foreigners from owning land and allowing ownership of up to 49% of units in condominiums. This was followed with pictures of properties as he pointed out areas one needs to consider when buying or building such as ceiling height and type, ventilation, and arrangement. Heiner concluded with things to consider if you want to purchase property as an investment. For example, he said it would be better to invest say 10 million baht in several small condo units versus one single unit or house. He mentioned current market conditions noting that older condo units will often be larger and less expensive than newer units which tend to be the opposite. However, the newer condominium developments will most likely have more amenities in the common areas than older developments.

I would agree with you about Prime. But Prime is unique because it has a long-established reputation for what you refer to as an exclusively "legit" shop. But for the other shops in the area, the reason they don't require minimum tips is that none want to be the first in fear of losing business to competitors. So it boils down to favor status quo.

Heartened to hear that you don't use Google. Guess what thew me off was that you cited it as the rationale for determining the customary tip. Tbh, I don't think getting a foot massage in the Thai business class lounge quite equates with the service massage shops provide.

It's a misnomer to refer to Thailand as a country where tipping is not expected in the area of massage. Less than 95 percent of the massage industry in Thailand is aimed at or available to farangs. The remaining five percent is an outgrowth of the Vietnam War period when the population was quick to capitalize on the presence of western young men who were making Bangkok and Pattaya R&R havens. But massage parlors existed long before that event to service the local population. Without "tipping" or some other type of service fee, it would have been unable to sustain itself. Without the tradition of tipping, the influx of young men from ASEAN countries would have never come about. Nor would the they come to dominate the go-go bars we discuss so much on these pages. Tips make up their livelihood. I hope that doesn't leave you anyting less than happy. It's noteworthy that in the Saphan Kwai area that primarily serves the local population, not only is the tipping culture firmly entrenched, so are posted minimum tips.

So if the massage shop changes 500 baht for an hour massage, you think 100 baht would be a fair tip? Please don’t substitute Google for your brain in all matters.

Why tip anyone. Just consider yourself entitled to have boys service your body for the sheer thrill of it. if we all follow your logic, no one would be tipping anyone. Maids, bartenders, waiters and bellhops would get stiffed.

In other words, Macaroni, you’d be perfectly content if your employer didn’t pay you for your job. Because that’s what the tips represents to masseurs. It’s their pay. What a ridiculous attempt to justify bad behavior.