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From Pattaya Mail The second stage of the customer-care improvements at Chonburi Immigration’s headquarters in Jomtien is now underway. Once completed, the former car park will be a wholly covered and self-contained area to make waiting times and bureaucratic processing less stressful for all concerned. The changes do not affect the Foreign Workers Employment Bureau or Legal Services network located alongside. Meanwhile, rumors that the Jomtien immigration headquarters will move location either to Pattaya city center or to a rural spot in Na Jomtien have been shown inaccurate by the new multi-million baht improvements. Chief of Chonburi Immigration, police colonel Parinya Klinkesorn, on his appointment last February, promised City Hall that his aim was a smooth and hassle-free experience for law-abiding tourists and expats. =========== Tourism Authority of Thailand unveils action plan amidst political uncertainty Despite persisting concerns due to the ongoing political uncertainty, Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revealed the Tourism Authority of Thailand Action Plan 2024 (TATAP 2024) at a conference held on July 17at the Grand Center Point Space Hotel. The conference was attended by representatives from the TAT headquarters, 29 overseas offices, and domestic branches, seeking to chart the course for tourism marketing in the upcoming fiscal year. Part of a comprehensive five-year plan spanning from 2023 to 2027, TATAP 2024 focuses on sustainable tourism, enhancing capacity for accommodating tourists, ensuring readiness on the supply side, prioritizing environmental considerations, and integrating a bio-circular green economy. The plan seeks to attract the REVISIT traveler segment, encouraging visitors to return to familiar destinations. President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), expressed concerns about the potential impact of ongoing political turmoil on the tourism sector. Detailed analysis of potential protests and their repercussions on tourism is needed, as the extent of demonstrations and clashes of divergent opinions among protesters could affect the industry. Additionally, Chinese tourists, a significant segment of Thailand’s visitor arrivals, have become increasingly cautious about political gatherings and their consequences. Negative news circulating on Chinese social media, including reports of extortion and taxi meter issues, has affected Thailand’s safety image. This newfound perception among Chinese travelers could potentially impact their travel decisions.

From Pattaya News Thailand ranked in ninth place among the best countries for retirement. This recognition comes from the International Living magazine, which publishes an annual Global Retirement Index ranking the best retirement destinations. Among the listed countries in the 2023 index, Thailand stands alongside Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Greece, and France, and tied with Italy. Notably, Thailand is the only Asian country in this group. International Living has this to say about Thailand: “Thailand’s expat appeal is that it offers an affordable cost of living yet manifests an enriched way of life…. Probably the best deals to be had in Thailand are in real estate. Foreigners are able to buy condos very easily and there are bargains everywhere…. Another enormous advantage to living in Thailand is by far the healthcare facilities.”

From The Nation The Pheu Thai Party would nominate Srettha Thavisin in the third round of the election for prime minister if Move Forward Party's PM candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, fails to win the post in the second round on Wednesday, Pheu Thai PM candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Tuesday. She was commenting about the hypothetical scenario of Pita failing once again to secure at least 63 votes from senators or MPs outside the eight-party bloc. On Monday, all the coalition partners reaffirmed their stand to field and vote for Pita in the second round, while the coalition leader promised to step aside for the Pheu Thai to lead the coalition if he failed in his second bid to win the prime minister election. Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai would try its best to support Pita in the PM vote but if Pita fails, she would propose to a meeting of the Pheu Thai board to nominate Srettha in the next round of the PM vote after Pheu Thai becomes the coalition leader. Paetongtarn is the first PM candidate of Pheu Thai, Srettha the second and Chaikasem Nitisiri the third. “I don’t want any post in the executive. All three PM candidates are willing to help with the work no matter what the position,” Paetongtarn said. She said that she was not aware of a group of Pheu Thai MPs from the northeastern provinces wanting to push her to the PM post but she admitted frankly that it would not be easy to lead the country in the current situation. “So, I think the best choice is Srettha. He will be able to tackle the economic woes and solve various problems in no time if the Pheu Thai becomes the coalition leader. If not, Pheu Thai would still be willing to support the Move Forward-led coalition,” Paetongtarn said. She was confident that she would be able to explain the situation to the northeastern MPs.

From The Nation With the vacation season in full swing, people are searching for enticing travel destinations, accommodations, and flights. Kaspersky researchers have observed fraudsters taking advantage of unsuspecting users by offering cheap airline tickets, booking deals, and vacation packages. To help travellers avoid scams, the company's researchers have outlined common fraud schemes used to entice victims, along with valuable advice on planning a scam-free vacation. Ticket scams Kaspersky experts have discovered numerous fraudulent websites claiming to offer cheap airplane tickets. These well-crafted phishing pages often mimic well-known airline services and ticket aggregators. Some even display real flight details by sending search requests to legitimate aggregators and presenting the received information. However, instead of delivering the promised tickets, these scams aim to steal your money and exploit your personal information for malicious purposes. This may include selling your bank details and identifying information on the dark web. Accommodation scams The second important step of trip planning is finding accommodation, which makes it a popular lure for fraudsters to exploit. One common accommodation scam involves fake online listings for vacation rentals or apartments. Scammers create attractive listings on popular platforms, displaying appealing photos and offering low prices to entice travellers. However, once a booking is made and payment is sent, the accommodation turns out to be non-existent. Another type of accommodation scam targets hotel bookings. Fraudsters may set up fake websites that mimic legitimate hotel booking platforms. These websites often prompt users to log in using their Facebook or Google credentials, which enables scammers to gain unauthorized access to the victims' social media or email accounts. This can lead to identity theft, unauthorized transactions, and other malicious activities. Survey and giveaway scams Scammers create deceptive websites or send emails claiming that participants can earn a substantial reward, such as 100 US dollars, by completing a travel survey. These scams often prey on people's desire for financial gain and their willingness to share their opinions. However, these surveys are designed to collect personal information, such as name, address, phone number, and even financial details, under the guise of eligibility requirements or prize distribution. In reality, the promised reward is never delivered, and the information provided is used for fraudulent purposes, such as identity theft or unauthorized access to financial accounts. On top of this, the survey usually ends with a request to share the site with friends so that they can also receive a prize. In such cases, cybercriminals are using the victims themselves as a tool for spreading the scam further.

Promises and perils of crowdfunding hospital bills From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon For the 67 injured Brits who have appealed for cash to pay hospital bills in Thailand since the beginning of 2023, charity giving is both the first stop and a last resort. The British government and insurance companies will instantly recommend the route to distraught families, but the relatives in question can’t find mega-cash anywhere else in any case. Commercial funding platforms such as the highly popular GoFundMe handle most of the campaigns. A review of the ads suggests that the average amount requested was around 25,000 GBP, with about 40 percent of the cash actually donated by the time the ad was cancelled or, more commonly, simply fell into disuse. In almost every surveyed case, the reason for crowdfunding was an untimely accident such as a road accident (often involving a motorbike) or a fall from the condominium apartment. The handful of exceptions related to being beaten up on the street or being knifed in a quarrel with Thai nationals. The general assumption seems to be that provided prior travel insurance is taken out, the insured person is guaranteed free medical treatment abroad. But travel insurers look much more carefully at expensive hospital operations than claims for lost luggage or leaving your camera on a bus. In less than 10 percent of the cases did relatives explain publicly why insurers had refused to fund, but insurance assessor Duncan Webb told Pattaya Mail that the main reasons were suspicion of alcohol or narcotics abuse (including marijuana recently declassified in Thailand), not having a valid international or Thai driving licence and not wearing a crash helmet or seat belt. That failure means the patient was not observing due care and attention. According to several surveys, only about half of British tourists abroad carry any form of medical insurance. The Thai authorities did have a limited policy of covid-related cover being required during the pandemic, but this was abolished in 2022. Now only a very few Thai visas carry the requirement and they are all for non-tourist categories such as work permit holders or some long term residence foreigners registered with the Board of Investment. Uninsured foreigners are expected to pay for all inpatient and outpatient care. Inability to do so can result in treatment plan cancellation. Our survey of the 67 publicized cases revealed that over half never revealed what actually happened to the injured Brit, or are still pending. In four cases, we know that death intervened. A few others said that family members had managed to negotiate a financial agreement with the hospital, whilst still others said recovery had been good enough to secure a ticket on a commercial flight. We did not find any examples of an air ambulance being hired, the typical Thai-UK cost being 75,000 GBP or more. Charity crowdfunding is obviously here to stay although it very rarely indeed achieves the anticipated cash sums. The available evidence suggests that the more successful cash campaigns tell a complete story, provide updates with frequent photos or short videos and share the experience on social media. Fundraising events in UK to supplement the crowdfunding cash are also desirable. The average age of the 67 Brits reviewed in this case study was only 36 years and most were injured at night. So it’s hard to escape the conclusion that booze and driving are obvious routes to ending up on a hospital stretcher.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon In a wave of enthusiasm not sensed since pre-Brexit days, the British pound is now worth just over 45 baht, an improvement of 4.34 percent since the beginning of the year. The UK currency is also at a 15 month high against the US dollar, having successfully tested the 1.31 US$ bar. By most criteria, the pound is the star-performing international champion of the year so far against a basket of currencies. What’s propping up the pound are the UK’s elevated interest rates, created by stubborn inflation rates – the headline figure is 8.7 percent – which in turn are fuelled by the increased prices of imported goods. Meanwhile, inflation has been falling in the United States so that interest rates there are no longer attractive to hot-money inflows looking to make a quick profit. Expectations that the Fed will continue the hiking of American interest rates have faded. Meanwhile, the Thai baht is suffering from the failure of the 8-party coalition, led by the Move Forward Party, to take political power in Thailand with ongoing threat of prolonged civil strife. Additionally, Thai exports have been dropping in the past few months as part of a slowdown in the economy as a whole. At present, the Thai economy is rudderless as the military-backed government of general Prayut-chan-o-cha has been in caretaker mode since the general election of May 14.

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As political tensions rise while senators deliberate the fate of Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat in his quest to become Thailand’s next prime minister, the Navy has admitted that tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and grenades are missing from a Marine Corps armoury at the Sattahip naval base. From Thai PBS World: Investigators have checked CCTV footage and have discovered that one ordnance officer had opened the door of the armoury several times, using a spare key, and had stolen the ammunition. Admiral Pokkrong said that the suspect has been absent from work since July 6th, adding that a complaint was filed with Plutaluang police in the Sattahip district of Chon Buri on July 7th. The ammunition was first exposed as missing on the webpage of “CSI LA”, which came to fame when it exposed the expensive wrist watches seen on the wrist of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan several years ago.

Glad to hear good report about this place. I believe it was Vinapu who supplied instructions for locating shop (I described locations of some Saphan Kwai shops) when he was on his way to ride new Yellow line monorail.

From VN Express Young men hit Saigon streets in skirts Men wear conical hats, ao dai with pearl earings at Vietnam International Fashion Week on July 13, 2023. Photo by VIFW Several young men from the LGBTQ+ community became the highlight of the event when they dressed in skirts, crop tops, modern ao dai and accessories like conical hats, beads and pearls. Their outfits used secondhand materials like chiffon and denim to support sustainable fashion. "In my opinion, no matter how modern fashion gets, we still have to keep the beauty of tradition because that’s the identity of our national culture," stylist Khanh Dang said. The Best Street Style is a chance for young people to express their freedom and personal style through the outfits. This event takes place at the same time as the main event, every morning from 9-11 a.m. The jury will choose the person in the most impressive outfit and give them a limited-edition gift set. VIFW is taking place July 13-16 at the Military Zone 7 Gymnasium, featuring 18 shows of domestic and international designers and brands. Continues with video https://e.vnexpress.net/news/style/young-men-hit-saigon-streets-in-skirts-4629366.html

That few were aware of his pursuit of higher education, more were perhaps aware that Adul (Adun) Samon was the one of the three stateless boys and their coach who were granted Thai citizenship a few months after their rescue. Adun became best known for answering rescuer Rick Stanton question about how many of there are you with a reply in English. He speaks four other languages, including Thai, Burmese, Mandarin, and Wa, a language spoken near the Myanmar and China border. Middlebury appears to be a fine choice. One of America's finest liberal arts colleges, the school is well known for its international focus. The following photo was taken at the age of 15, a year following his rescue.

If you have a LINE account, you might try sending them a photo of the guy you wish to book on the same day (including time and duration). I've done that successfully in the past but now just show up and choose from their tablets. Since all are free agents, have at least three guys in mind in case your first choice is not available. No deposit was requested.

From The Nation Residents of tourist city Pattaya in Chonburi province have urged police to investigate gangs of motorcycle riders in the sois off South Pattaya Road in Bang Lamung district whose behaviour at night has become a noisy nuisance. The gangs, mostly made up of Arabian tourists aged 17 to 25, have been racing bikes at high speed in Soi VC Residence Hotel and Soi Yensabai from around midnight onwards, a Pattaya resident told the Nation on Thursday. Some are using bikes with modified tailpipes to up the noise level, he said, adding that those who did not participate in the race also rode their bikes up and down the street in the pack, without observing the traffic laws. The resident said that this has been going on for about two months and that these tourists were mostly using rental bikes from local businesses. “We want police and related authorities to look into these gangs that have been causing such a nuisance and jeopardising the safety of other motorists in Pattaya,” he said. “We also ask that they check the local bike rental shops to make sure that they only provide street-legal vehicles to tourists.” Bike rental is a popular business in the eastern resort city as it offers affordable and fast transport for tourists wishing to visit local markets, attractions and beaches of Pattaya. Prices start from 150 baht per day. ================= The following excerpt from Barry Kenyon's recent column highlights the dilemma the Pattaya tourism industry is facing at the moment. The much-proclaimed Indian market in Pattaya has also ceased expansion and promises of mass flights from dozens of Indian cities to U-tapao haven’t been fulfilled. Meanwhile, Cambodia is preparing to open two international airports in the next 12 months which will be able to accommodate intercontinental wide-bodied jets for the first time. “There is growing competition from neighbors such as Cambodia and Vietnam, whilst Pattaya is struggling to repair its roads,” said a Thai tourism association spokesperson. He added that many business people were concerned that the potentially-violent controversies over the appointment of a new Thai prime minister could spill over into bad news for international tourism.

From Thai PBS World Gridlock likely Friday evening as Pita supporters rally in downtown Bangkok Police are asking the public to avoid the area around the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district, where supporters of the Move Forward party will hold a rally this evening (Friday) in protest over party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s failure to become prime minister. They blame Pita’s loss on the Senate, who harshly criticised Pita and Move Forward on Thursday for insisting that the country’s lèse majesté law must be amended. The rally will start at 6pm. Police say that the public and motorists should avoid the approaches to Pathumwan intersection, near which the Arts Centre is located. The rally is being held in downtown Bangkok during Friday evening rush hour, so the already heavy traffic is expected to worsen. Police advise people to avoid Rama I Road (from Chalermpao-Charoen Pon intersections) and Phaya Thai Road (from Ratchathewi-Chula 12 intersections) Motorists can use Phetchaburi, Bantadthong, Rama 4, Henri Dunant and Wireless roads instead.

There was a period about 15 years ago if memory serves me that scrutinizing single males arriving from Thailand were more carefully screened at certain US airports, Detroit being the most well known for the practice. I was sent for special screening on successive trips but they turned up nothing. Although the luggage searches were conducted professionally they still left me uneasy so I began flying back through different airports and never experienced that again. IMO, customs and immigration practices have improved markedly since.

It's been my experience that the guys in most shops in Saphan Kwai and Soi 6 websites are not models and are available for hire. Have not found any of the guys I booked to have been photo shopped. Some actually looked better in person. I know nothing of Pattaya shops. I prefer shops with set minimum tip. Avoids negotiating and establishes baseline of service. It also keeps the cheap Charlies at bay. Again, this is based on my experiences in Bangkok and not Pattaya or elsewhere.

BTS currently repairing support columns at Saladaeng station. Let’s hope they have good contractor.

Guys can be as greedy for baht as we are for sex. When leaving bar the other night, a waiter complained I didn’t tip him. I said “but you not one who waited on me.”

You have to read the last sentence to learn that the customers did not commit any crime. From the Thaiger Police. raided a sauna and fitness spa in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok and apprehended 36 people suspected of engaging in illegal sexual activities and human trafficking. It was later concluded no money for sex passed hands and there was no evidence of human trafficking. Officers from the Children and Women Protection Sub-Division raided Phoenix Sauna on the Ratchada-Tha Phra Road at midnight on July 8, after receiving a tip-off that the place was providing sex services for its homosexual customers. According to the authorities, the sauna operated within a six-story building. The ground floor served as the reception area and housed lockers for customers, while the second floor was dedicated to fitness activities. The third to fifth floors comprised rental rooms while the sixth floor housed sauna facilities. Officers apprehended 31 male customers, the sauna’s owner, and four staff members during the raid. Some individuals were discovered engaging in sexual activities within the rented rooms and a lot of used condoms were scattered throughout the building. Following drug tests, all suspects’ results came back clean. Staff members revealed to the police that they charge customers 200 baht each and give them wristbands. Anyone who identifies as a giver would wear the band on the right wrist while those who liked to receive anal sex would wear it on the left wrist. After investigating each suspect’s criminal history, only one man came back as having form, a 25 year old named Thanawat Ongwiroj, for fraud. The Commander of the Metropolitan Police Region 8, Nanop Sukonthanapat, concluded that the establishment could not be classified as a brothel as it did not provide sexual services to its customers. The participation in sexual activities was voluntary and no money transactions passed hands between the customers or the sauna’s owner. Consequently, the police were unable to press charges against the owners, staff members, or customers. Nevertheless, the sauna’s owner, 33 year old Surasak Songram, faces a penalty of imprisonment from one to ten years and a fine from 20,000 to 200,000 baht for preparing the venue as a place for individuals to engage in sexual activities. Phoenix Sauna staff members, and the 31 men at the spa, were released without a charge as their actions did not violate any laws.

There were 28 guys on stage at Freshboy Sunday night plus 5 dancers. Of that sum, a few dozen plus were twinks. And there’s probably almost as many in Screwboy downstairs. When the show ends you can easily spot them in their basketball attire at the food stalls on Surawong. Since stunning so subjective, it’s not for me to say if any qualify. But it’s sure fun trying.

They didn’t find any drug use so this was the best charge that they could come up with. And since prostitution wasn’t alleged, that means any sex act could qualify under this statute. Totally bizarre.

Why would Bangkok’s new, state of the art, train hub (originally known as Bang Sue Station) require a transformation. And why is only one firm interested enough to bid on it. ========= From The Thaiger Contrary to the anticipation of a competitive bidding process for the commercial development of Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has revealed that only one company has stepped forward with a bid. Three firms, reportedly interested, had initially procured invitations to tender. The disclosure surfaced yesterday after the bidding process culminated earlier this week. Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, a prominent figure in the SRT governor’s office, divulged the details of four projects that were recently made open for bidding. The first project involved the commercial transformation of an expansive 47,675 square metre space at the central terminal. Central Pattana, King Power Suvarnabhumi, and Prem Group Engineering had bought invitations to tender initially. However, only the latter made the effort to submit a bid eventually. The second project, concerning the handling of a 2,303m² advertising space at the central grand station, saw Plan B Media and King Power International procure invites. As of now, both have abstained from placing a bid on the table. The third initiative aimed to spur the development of 12 Red Line electric commuter train service stations, covering a total area of 3,759m². It would link the central station and the Rangsit region in Pathum Thani. Peculiarly, none of the parties expressed interest, resulting in zero purchases for an invitation to bid. The final initiative focused on managing a 2,080m² advertising space across the 12 Red Line stations. Plan B Media and King Power International claimed invitations to tender but eventually rejected the opportunity to proceed further. After the deadline to tender bids drew to a close in the middle of the week, Prem Group Engineering emerged as the lone firm that bid for the initial project.

It’s close to impossible to encapsulate the current state of developments in the case of who becomes next prime minister but the Thai Enquirer makes a worthy effort this morning https://www.thaienquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Thai-Enquirer-News-Summary-July-10-2023.pdf

From the original source article that appeared in TPN National News: In total, 31 customers, four staffers, and one owner were found although not identified by police. No drugs were found and urine drug tests were performed on all customers but were all reportedly negative. Most of the customers told police that they came to this place to have sexual activities with other men and not for fitness center activities. Police did not find any evidence to prove that the center provided sexual exploitation. However, four staffers and the owner are facing charges of illegally gratifying the sexual desire of another person, a rare charge. =========== If it’s illegal to cause sexual gratification, how would the species survive. File under TIT.