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From Thailand News Agency Thailand Offers Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Tourists BANGKOK, Sept 13 (TNA) – The Cabinet has approved 10 tourism measures, including visa-free entry for Chinese tourists from the end of September. The temporary visa waivers for travelers from China and Kazakhstan will be in effect from September 25, 2023 until February 29, 2024. Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Chai Watcharong said that the Cabinet meeting approved these 10 tourism measures to serve as quick-win strategies to expedite tangible results. It is expected that in the year 2023, Thailand will attract 28 million foreign tourists, generating revenue of 1.4 trillion baht. Furthermore, in 2024, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand is projected to reach 40 million. The tourism promotion measures include: 1. Exemption of visa requirements for Chinese and Kazakh tourists. 2. Ensuring the safety of tourists both centrally and regionally to build confidence in traveling to Thailand. 3. Public relations campaigns through the production of films and the involvement of celebrities, artists, and inspirational figures to draw more tourists to Thailand. 4. The prime minister and the Thailand’s team traveling abroad to showcase and visit target countries to promote tourism. 5. Attracting new groups of tourists and expanding into potential Chinese provinces. 6. Developing tourism destinations to meet international standards and create uniqueness, attracting tourists to various regions of Thailand. 7. Promoting year-round tourist attractions, such as the Loy Krathong Festival, to a global level, encouraging tourists worldwide to participate. 8. Creating attractive tour packages in collaboration with hotels, restaurants, and airlines. 9. Elevating Thailand to become the center of entertainment in ASEAN, drawing global travelers. 10. Establishing a news reporting center, especially on social media, for significant events to provide immediate information to tourists. These measures aim to boost Thailand’s tourism industry and attract a significant number of international tourists in the coming years. (TNA)

A friend was passing by the new bar on Patpong 2 yesterday afternoon and spoke with a worker putting the final touches on the interior. He says owner hopes to have it open as early as this Saturday (9.16).

Why not? Beats having loved only yourself.

This will be a good test of new PM's clout. It's a given the Chinese will get 30-day exemption. If he can get 90-days for others before high season, it will help solidify his position early in his term.

Crimes like burglary and robbery that take place at night are generally considered more serious and incur much harsher penalties than those that take place during the day when homeowners are much less likely to be home. Charging and penalties vary in different jurisdictions.

From The Thaiger After a discussion with the Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin, Thai Airways (THAI) is planning to increase its flights to China from 25 flights to 35 flights a week in response to the free visa policy for Chinese tourists. Srettha announced after the meeting with the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) that the government planned to extend temporary visa exemptions to Chinese tourists during Thailand’s high tourist season. The policy is expected to start from October 1 onwards, marking a first for Thailand in waiving visa requirements for Chinese visitors. The 61 year old Thai PM then discussed the policy with the Chief Executive Officer of the THAI, Chai Sri-iam, yesterday, September 11. Chai stated that the airline is pleased to cooperate with the government and would increase its flights to handle the increasing number of Chinese travellers. Chai reported that the airline had a plan to increase flights to China from 25 flights per week to 35 flights scheduled to officially be in effect on December 1 of this year. The expanded flight schedule encompasses the following details: Bangkok Beijing: Elevating from six to seven flights per week, starting December 1. Bangkok-Kunming: Elevating from three to seven flights per week, starting December 1. Bangkok-Chengdu: Elevating from two to seven flights per week, starting December 1. Bangkok-Shanghai: Maintaining 7 flights per week from October 29, 2023 to March 30, 2024. Bangkok-Guangzhou: Maintaining 7 flights per week from October 29, 2023 to March 30, 2024. According to the increasing number of flights to China, the airline also announced earlier that it planned to reintroduce nine domestic flights after its subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, is going to be closed down and merged with THAI. The nine additional routes will connect Bangkok to nine provinces, including Krabi, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Narathiwas, Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Haad Yai, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani.

From Thailand News Agency BANGKOK, Sept 12 (TNA) – A transvestite has been arrested for drugging and robbing male victims across Bangkok. Preying on men, Mr. Apichart or Ping Ping used drugs to incapacitate them before robbing them of their possessions and vehicles. Some victims were subjected to physical harm while resisting the effects of the drugs. This wicked plan involved lacing Clonazepam pills into their drinks. Pol. Lt. Gen. Thiti Sangsawang, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau ordered a thorough investigation lasting over two months. The culprits were eventually apprehended while attempting to flee across border to a neighbouring country. The suspect confessed to commit the crimes 2-3 times a month and was found to work for a Taiwanese boss, who is the head of a call center gang, based in the neighbouring country. Authorities have charged the suspect with robbery during the nighttime. They have also confiscated several items, including six identity cards belonging to others, believed to be used for fraudulent purposes, six mobile phones, cash, and Clonazepam. (TNA)

Which I think will bring you great delight.

I fondly recall the boy I'd called down from the stage many years ago at Xboys. Noticing that I'd finished my drink, he offered some of his perfectly mixed coke and ice. He turned out to be my most frequent--and expensive--dessert of the trip.

No doubt but more will go right.

From The Thaiger A crane collapse at a construction site within Srinakharinwirot University in the Asoke neighbourhood of Bangkok resulted in the death of a Thai engineer and caused injuries to two Burmese workers. The crane operator fled the scene amid the tragedy. Thong Lor Police Station officers rushed to the construction site at 4pm yesterday together with the rescuers and medical professionals. The crane collapse occurred on the balcony on the third floor of an under-construction hall. On the balcony, officers found a broken crane toppled over 38 year old engineer Thitiphon Rattana-arpa. Although rescuers worked diligently to free him from beneath the crane and administer initial aid, tragically, Thitiphon succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The identities of the two injured Burmese workers have not been disclosed but they sustained minor injuries and were promptly taken to Police General Hospital for medical attention. The crane operator, responsible for the operation that ended in disaster, fled the scene immediately after the accident. Authorities are now questioning other workers to understand the root cause of the catastrophic event. According to initial reports, the crane was being used to transport a load of cement from the ground floor to the third-floor balcony when its cable suddenly snapped, leading to the fatal collapse onto Thitiphon.

From Thai PBS World Pol Col Wachira Yaothaisong, a superintendent at the Highway Police Division and the immediate superior to Pol Maj Sivakorn Saibua, who was shot dead in Nakhon Pathom last week , shot himself at his residence in Pathum Thani province this afternoon (Monday). He is one of the 25 police officers, who were at the house of Praween Chanklai, aka “Kamnan Nok” in Nakhon Pathom province last Wednesday night and who are under investigation following the murder of Sivakorn. Initial reports say that Pol Col Wachira with his service pistol. He was among a group of police officers who had rushed Sivakorn to a hospital in Nakhon Pathom after the shooting. ================= Pol Gen Torsak tipped to be new national police chief In a move, described as a win-win, deputy police commissioner Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote will be appointed National Security Council (NSC) chief, paving the way for Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol to become the new police commissioner, an informed source said today (Monday). Both Roy, the most senior deputy commissioner of the four, and Torsak, the second most senior, will reach their retirement age next September. If either of them is promoted to the top police post, replacing Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat who is due to retire at the end of this month, one of them will retire as the deputy commissioner. “It is likely that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will transfer Roy to be NSC chief and appoint Torsak as the new police commissioner,” the source said.

From The Thaiger Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and aircraft for the process. Kittipong Kittikachorn, the Director of Suvarnabhumi, stated that the trial encompassed a comprehensive operation involving aircraft, incoming and outgoing passengers, transfer passengers, baggage handling systems, and cargo operations. The Immigration Division 2, the Cargo Clearance Customs Bureau, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services were also present to oversee the operations, he added. Kittipong also revealed that two additional trials are scheduled for the coming days, with Thai AirAsia X and Worldwide Flight Services Bangkok Air Ground Handling Co Ltd conducting one on Tuesday, and Thai Vietjet conducting another on September 20. The latter trial is specifically designed for departing passengers on night flights. The director further elaborated that between September 28 and October 28, the SAT-1 terminal will be open to three airlines: Thai AirAsia X, VietJet Air, and Emirates, during the soft-opening phase. The new terminal is projected to be fully operational by December this year, ultimately providing a solution to reduce congestion at the main terminal. The SAT-1 terminal, which has a capacity of handling 15 million passengers annually, will enable Suvarnabhumi Airport to cater to up to 60 million passengers a year, marking a significant 33% increase. The terminal boasts 28 contact gates, with eight specifically designed to accommodate Code F aircraft (the double-decker A380 superjumbo jets) and the remaining 20 for Code E aircraft (Boeing B747s). The terminal’s four-storey facility spans a total floor area of 216,000 square metres, with two underground floors dedicated to hosting the Automated People Mover (APM) train system and other systems. The APM train system, designed to connect the SAT-1 and the existing passenger terminal, can accommodate 210 passengers per train, or roughly 6,000 passengers per hour. Each trip on the train, which has a maximum speed of 80kph, takes a mere three minutes, Kittikachorn added. The commencement of the SAT-1 terminal will eliminate the need for international passengers to take shuttle buses to their gates, boosting convenience and efficiency, reports Bangkok Post.

I've found that all three of the airlines I've flown post covid (Singapore, ANA and Cathay) arrived in BKK on time, and in one case early. The immigration queues were relatively short and the Air Train got to Silom in good time.

May the wind be at your back

Based on 21 years of experience in such matters, there's an 89.6% success rate in this category 🚀

From Pattaya News Pattaya City has come up with tougher regulations to address issues related to speedboat operators at Bali Hai Pier, including the introduction of standard ticket prices and the ban on “herding” guests. On Thursday, September 7th, the Pattaya City Council assembled to devise strategies for organizing and overseeing tour boat operators, following a violent altercation among operators vying for guests aboard a boat to Koh Larn from Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya. Most importantly, the city eventually ruled that from now on tour boat operators will be prohibited from approaching and herding tourists who are looking for a boat to Koh Larn. Essentially, they used the word herding to describe pressure selling customers to speed boats versus allowing customers to approach a ticket queue. To tackle confusing ticket fares, the council has also established fixed and standard ticket prices for boat trips to Koh Larn as follows: From Bali Hai Pier to Na Baan Pier: 150 baht for a one-way trip per person, 300 baht for a round-trip per person. From Bali Hai Pier to Tawaen Beach: 200 baht for a one-way trip per person, 300 baht for a round-trip per person. Boat charter prices: For 12 passengers with one-engine boat, the rate is set at 2,800 baht (up from 2,500 baht). For a two-engine boat, the rate is set at 4,500 baht. The operators have signed an agreement with the council to follow the above regulations at the meeting. Violation will lead to a suspension of business operations at the pier for 7 days for the first offense, 15 days for the second, and 1 month for the third.

From the Thaiger Free rides are on the horizon for Thailand’s Pink Line mass-transit system in November as announced on the government’s Thai Khu Fah Facebook page. The 34.5-kilometre monorail system is currently undergoing trial runs, a crucial step in the preparation phase before its official launch, as revealed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The Pink Line’s trial runs are divided into two phases, with the first phase covering the stretch from Min Buri station (PK30) in eastern Bangkok to the Government Complex (PK12). This initial phase will continue until October 22. The subsequent phase, which will encompass the entirety of the 30 stations, will run until November 19. These free ride trials were originally announced a month ago with a lead-up to opening the Pink Line full in November, but the launch appears to have been pushed back. Commuters can anticipate free rides on the Pink Line from around mid-November, serving as a one-month trial period before the tentative start of commercial operations on December 18. The Pink Line, providing a crucial link between Min Buri and Nonthaburi, includes interchange stations that facilitate transfers to and from the Purple Line, BTS’s Green Line, and the forthcoming Orange Line. In terms of capacity, the Pink Line will utilise the same monorail train model as the currently operating Yellow Line. Each train can consist of four to seven passenger carriages, with a total capacity of up to 28,000 passengers per hour. The proposed fare structure for the Pink Line indicates a starting tariff of 14 baht, capped at 42 baht. Adjustments to these fares will align with the consumer price index, ensuring affordability for commuters.

Think I'll continue wringing my hands. 🙂

They're not the nominees until next August when the convention decides the matter in Chicago. They are only the incumbents at this stage. Should Biden become incapacitated during his term of office, the constitution provides that the vice president assumes the office. But between now and the convention, others could still declare their candidacy for nomination. There's also still ample time for either incumbent to withdraw their name from consideration.

From Pattaya Mail On the evening of September 7, a massive fire erupted at the Four Regions Floating Market in Pattaya, quickly engulfing the market due to its primarily wooden structures. The fire left a path of destruction in its wake, particularly affecting the waterside restaurants and shops, resulting in substantial estimated damages reaching tens of millions of baht. Firefighting teams from Pattaya, along with more than 20 additional firefighting vehicles from neighboring districts, urgently assembled to battle the blaze. Moderate rainfall provided some relief, aiding in the firefighting efforts. After more than an hour, the fire began to subside but was not completely extinguished. Intensive efforts persisted to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. It took four hours to finally bring the blaze under control. The total area of the Four Regions Floating Market encompasses approximately 19 rai (approximately 7.6 acres), with an estimated one rai (approximately 0.4 acres) affected, primarily within the zone housing restaurants and waterside shops. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, pending further investigation. The estimated damage is believed to be tens of millions of baht. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities, with only one minor injury due to smoke inhalation. Established in 2008 with an estimated budget of 100 million baht, the Four Regions Floating Market in Pattaya stands as a cultural tourism destination, providing insight into the traditional Thai riverside way of life. It features various attractions, including street food stalls, paddleboats, and cultural exhibitions representing the four regions of Thailand.

Size is a factor but I'd take a hard. standard issue Thai dick for a flaccid 8"+ one from anywhere, anytime.

Point taken. 🙂

The Dems are crazy if they don't have a plan B in place by now. The only one who can defeat the former president is another former president: Obama.

Or in some cases voted back in.