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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.

Mixed shop. They exploit the fact that the vast majority of shops in Silom/Surawong don’t require minimum tips. Classic Cheap Charlie behavior. And it’s consistently on display. I've patronized Prime and would be embarrassed to tip less than 500.

But if we told court we went to my room to discuss who was bigger asshole, Trump or DeSantis, I think they’d buy it.

I think it's stupid not to. Just texted with massage guy I talk with almost every night after work. Today he had three customers: two from China who gave him total of 300 baht and one from US who gave him four times that amount. Why? His shops does not post minimum tip. Those shops that do post tips don't seem to have any problem making it understood.

Prostitution is illegal but massage is not. Many shops post both on line and in shop the minimum tip. That would not be illegal.

From the BBC By Fergus Walsh Medical editor Men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer could be safely given far less radiotherapy, a major trial has found. Doses can be cut by three-quarters meaning five higher doses is enough, instead of the 20 or so given now. The international trial involved nearly 900 men with medium-risk prostate cancer that had not spread. Lead researcher Prof Nicholas van As from the Royal Marsden Hospital said the results were "outstanding" and "fantastic" for patients. Prostate Cancer UK said the finding had the potential to save time and money for the NHS, while still giving men the best outcomes. It means thousands of men could be given larger doses of radiotherapy - also known as multi-beam radiotherapy - at each hospital visit, but less overall. The study found that after five years, 96% of the men who received five doses of the multi-beam radiotherapy were cancer-free, compared to 95% who received at least 20 doses of standard radiotherapy. Side effects, such as needing to pass urine more often, were low in both groups. The top-line results of the PACE-B trial will be released at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (Astro) conference in San Diego. Prof van As said he expected the results to lead to "enormous change" in the way radiotherapy was delivered. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66946336

Good question. Pattaya One News reports that police identified the culprits using video surveillance footage, although they don't report on the outcome of the investigation. https://pattayaone.news/pattaya-transwoman-steals-from-bahraini-tourists-purse/

The Junta in Myanmar claim that its image has been tarnished by a blockbuster movie in China. How is this even remotely possible when it has already managed to tarnish its own reputation beyond salvage. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2655306/myanmar-says-image-tarnished-by-chinese-thriller

I would endorse PeterRS' idea about making things clear in advance about fees and minimum tips. Just about all the massage shops in Saphan Kwai post minimum tips for individual guys (the tips are set by the boys themselves, as far as I know). This eliminates misunderstandings and ensures that masseur receives fair compensation. In shops where's no minimum (and that's most of the ones in the Silom area), I amazed by how many northeast Asian customers offer zero to a few hundred baht. As for Vinapu's observation, I have the same thoughts. I like to think of those guys as"Bangkok straight": they're straight until they decide they're not as the right opportunity presents itself when the door closes.🙂

If you're in town between now and October 8th,you might want to consider this street food event. Or you could also just check out the vendors who set up shop along the Silom-Surawong rectangle. From The Nation Celebrity chefs in Thailand are scheduled to showcase their culinary skills and latest street food inventions at the “SX Food Festival 2023”, an exhibition of sustainable food at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The event is part of the Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023), which runs until October 8 at the convention centre. Held under the theme “Thai Street Food Museum”, organisers modelled the exhibition venues after iconic street food neighbourhoods in Bangkok, including Yaowarat (China Town), Memorial Bridge, Chalerm Krung, Phra Nakhon, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Hua Lamphong, and the floating market. The fair opens daily from 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.

From The Nation Passengers flying from new terminal advised to allow extra 20 minutes People taking flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport have been advised to check their flight information carefully to avoid confusion now that the new satellite terminal has been opened. “If you accidentally enter the new satellite terminal [SAT-1], you will have to restart the whole check-in process again and this delay may result in you missing your flight,” the Airports of Thailand (AOT) warned on Friday. The terminal, for which a soft opening was held on Friday, is designed to handle 15 million passengers annually, marking a 33% increase in the airport’s capacity from 45 million passengers to 60 million. Currently, two airlines are scheduled to use the SAT-1 terminals for specific routes. They are: Thai AirAsia X flights to and from Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo), South Korea (Seoul), and China (Shanghai) Thai Vietjet Air flights to and from Singapore, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) and Taiwan (Taipei). “Check your boarding pass. If it says Gate S101 to S128, that means you need to travel from the main terminal to SAT-1 terminal to board your flight,” AOT director Kirati Kitmanawat said, adding that passengers are advised to use the automated people mover (APM) as the terminals are one kilometre apart. Kirati added that according to a trial run, travelling from the main terminal to SAT-1 takes no more than 18 minutes. Since the APM leaves every five minutes, he said, passengers should ensure they have at least 20 minutes to spare. Airlines that have expressed interest in using the new terminal include Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Mahan Air, All Nippon and Thai Airways International.

From CNN A sugar replacement called erythritol — used to add bulk or sweeten stevia, monkfruit and keto reduced-sugar products — has been linked to blood clotting, stroke, heart attack and death, according to a study. “The degree of risk was not modest,” said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. People with existing risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, were twice as likely to experience a heart attack or stroke if they had the highest levels of erythritol in their blood, according to the study, published February 27 in the journal Nature Medicine. “If your blood level of erythritol was in the top 25% compared to the bottom 25%, there was about a two-fold higher risk for heart attack and stroke,” Hazen said. “It’s on par with the strongest of cardiac risk factors, like diabetes.” Additional lab and animal research presented in the paper revealed that erythritol appeared to be causing blood platelets to clot more readily. Clots can break off and travel to the heart, triggering a heart attack, or to the brain, triggering a stroke.

From VN Express National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on Thursday announced that it plans to launch a direct route between the central coastal city of Da Nang and Thailand's Bangkok in November. This move materializes the outcomes of talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin on the sidelines of the recent high-level week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the latter proposed the opening of additional flight routes between the two countries. Vietnam and Thailand celebrate their 10th anniversary of strategic partnership this year. Vietnam Airlines is coordinating with relevant authorities to launch the route linking the Da Nang international airport to Bangkok-based Don Mueang international airport in early November.

It may puzzle us farangs why a high-level cop would seemingly be so careless in advertising his wealth, but to a Thai it's no mystery at all. Consider this narrative from "Bangkok 8" between Colonel Vikon and Detective Jitpleecheep, the protagonist: "Don't I know I'm vulnerable to an enquiry anytime? Don't I know that some army bastard or muckraking journalist, or some asshole who wants my job, can start digging anytime and find my stuff--my boat, my little house up north, my handful of bungalows on Samui--and start pointing the finger? Wouldn't I be happier with less assets and more peace of mind? Why d'you I think I keep that stuff where everyone can see it, when I could just sell up and put the money in a bank in Switzerland? Why?" "Because this is Asia." "Exactly. If I'm to do my job properly I have to have face. And my enemies have to see the war chest. You don't survive at the top of a greasy pole if you're a humble little cop piously shuffling files around."

From Pattaya Mail A 55-year-old tourist from Bahrain, Hasan Mohamed Almuqahwi, experienced an unfortunate incident during his late-night baht-bus ride from Soi Bua Khao back to his hotel on September 28, prompting him to report a robbery to the local Pattaya police. Hasan told the police that two women, visibly transvestites, had joined him on the baht-bus. Engaging in what seemed like casual conversation, the journey took an unexpected turn as the vehicle approached the hotel where Hasan intended to disembark. Seizing a fleeting opportunity, one of the women snatched Hasan’s bag, containing 7,000 baht, 60 Dinars, and essential documents. Hasan attempted to restrain the suspected thief, but failed. In a blink, the two transvestites made a quick escape on foot, leaving Hasan in hot pursuit but without success. Following the incident, Hasan reported the theft to the local authorities. The Pattaya police promptly initiated an investigation, diligently examining closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify and apprehend the suspects.

From The Nation The word "police" (“tumruat”) in Thai has its roots in Cambodia’s native language, Khmer, and the oldest evidence of this word in Thailand can be found in a stone inscription in Lopburi province, which was created between 1022 and 1057. It is believed that this term referred to individuals who worked in government-related roles. However, the oldest known institution in Thailand with functions similar to the modern police force existed during the Ayutthaya period under King Borommatrailokkanat (1448 to 1488). During that time, police officers acted as royal guards and worked within the Grand Palace. They would accompany the king wherever he went, and they were allowed to carry weapons within the palace grounds. Additionally, these officers served as a judicial body to settle disputes, as if the king himself were the judge. To become a police officer during this period, one had to come from a respected family lineage and earn the trust of the king. During the reign of King Mongkut or Rama IV (1851 to 1868), the police force was formally established in 1860 to maintain peace in the capital, Bangkok. Its main duties were suppressing disturbances caused by bandits and ensuring the safety of the population. They had the authority to intervene in disputes. Captain Samuel Joseph Bird Ames, an Englishman who had worked as a merchant ship captain, was appointed to establish this new police force. His expertise in maintaining regulations and discipline on ship operations led the King to believe that he could help establish a police organisation. As a result, Captain Ames became the first police chief in Thai history. The chief of police was a foreign national (“farang” in Thai), and the police officers themselves were not Thai either. Malay Muslims were hired to serve in the force, which created problems from the beginning, as they did not understand the local language, customs and traditions. They were mocked by the locals. People also complained that the police did not take their duties seriously, lacked courage, stole people's food, did not pursue criminals, and slept on the job. These issues led to a negative perception of the police. But as the police force expanded, recruitment was opened to the locals to join the police. Eventually, Thai people were recruited into the police force. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who modernised Thailand significantly, there was further development in the police force. The city was expanding, and there was a need for more police presence in various regions. Furthermore, the status of police officers was elevated to that of civil servants, and a police academy was established.

From The Nation A merger between Line Corp and Yahoo Japan Corp has created a new company called LY Corporation. Line Corp, which operates the popular mobile messaging application Line, will use the new name from October 1 onwards, it said in a statement released on Thursday. Line app also informed its users about the imminent name change in a message sent on Thursday. “We thank all the users of the Line Official Account service. Line Corporation and Yahoo Japan Corporation will merge to become a single company on October 1, 2023, and the company’s name will be changed to LY Corporation,” the message said. From October 1, LY Corporation will take over from Line Corp. It will oversee existing Line accounts in Thailand and other countries, it said.

From The Nation Representatives of certain groups on Thursday presented to Parliament on behalf of the public the drafts of three bills in the hope that lawmakers would pass legislation on same-sex marriage, promote gender acceptance, and redefine prostitution. The drafts were accepted by first deputy House Speaker Padipat Suntiphada. The draft Marriage Equality Bill proposes amending Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which limits the definition of marriage to a man and a woman, by making the marriage law applicable to any couple, regardless of gender. The draft bill on "gender identity, gender expression and sexuality" proposes that official certificates accept the gender that an individual identifies as. The third draft is an an amendment to the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, specifically to define sex workers as legal professionals who are entitled to rights and freedom to work equally. The three bills share the same goals of ensuring sexual equality, promoting acceptance and equal treatment of all individuals regardless of their genders, sexual identity, or profession, said a representative.

I understand from a reliable source that Dreamboy was nearly full for the first show Monday and managed to field about 50 on stage. Although Sol seems to be off to a slow start, I'd like to think it can find its niche in that compact stretch of PP2. I'm impressed that none of the bars don't seem to be having trouble finding guys to fill the ranks.

No one better explores the infighting among Thailand’s top cops than novelist John Burdett in his bestseller “Bangkok 8.” And he does it with a gay undercurrent and memorable character development.

One of the reasons trash becomes a problem in tourist areas in Bangkok is the lack of bins to dispose of it. Walk Silom or Surawong looking for a place to toss your trash and you you'll be hard pressed to find an receptacle. At least most 7-11's have a trash can outside the door but that's not the practice with most stores and vendors. In the evening it's common to find ever growing piles of loose and bagged rubbish appearing on the sidewalks, acting as temporary feeding stations for animals until the collectors arrive after midnight.

Although I have no reason to doubt that Brazil and Spain would score high even in a scientifically-conducted poll, but anyone who's been to Thailand (every body here I'd guess) likely believes it belongs in the top 10. Or have my last 21 years been a total deception?