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From Thai PBS World Thailand’s top Muay Thai champion Buakaw Banchamek knocked out his Japanese rival, Yoshihiro Sato, in just 2 minutes and 18 seconds of the first round in a special World Series match at Rajadamnern Stadium last night (Friday). It was the fifth encounter between the two fighters and first held in Thailand. In their first match, about 14 years ago in Japan, Sato knocked out Buakaw. The fight last night was held under a kickboxing rule which bans knee or elbow strikes. The fight was to be decided on a knock-out. It was fierce fight, with the opponents exchanging punches and kicks from the start of the first round. In just 2 minutes and 18 seconds, Buakaw managed to put Sato on the floor. Continues with video https://www.thaipbsworld.com/buakaw-beats-japanese-fighter-in-2-minute-and-18-second-ko/

From Thai PBS World / AFP Emergency service personnel are seen in the alley where a Halloween stampede took place late October 29, in the neighbourhood of Itaewon in Seoul on October 30, 2022. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) (AFP) – At least 149 people were killed and scores more were injured in a stampede at a packed Halloween event in central Seoul late Saturday, officials said, in one of South Korea’s worst peacetime accidents. The crowd surge and crush happened in the capital’s popular Itaewon district, where local reports said as many as 100,000 people had gone to celebrate Halloween on Saturday night, clogging the area’s narrow alleyways and winding streets. Eye-witnesses described scrambling to get out of the suffocating crowd as people ended up piling on top of one another, with paramedics, quickly overwhelmed by the number of victims, asking passers-by to administer first aid. “There were so many people just being pushed around and I got caught in the crowd and I couldn’t get out at first too,” 30-year-old Jeon Ga-eul told AFP. “I felt like an accident was bound to happen.” The fire department told AFP that at least 149 people, including two foreigners, had been killed in the stampede, which occurred around 10:00 pm (1300 GMT). The ministry of interior said that an estimated 150 people had been injured, as of 6 am local time. “The high number of casualties was the result of many being trampled during the Halloween event,” fire official Choi Seong-beom told reporters at the scene Sunday morning, adding that the death toll could climb. AFP photos from the scene showed scores of bodies spread on the pavement covered by bed sheets and emergency workers dressed in orange vests loading even more bodies on stretchers into ambulances. “People were layered on top of others like a tomb. Some were gradually losing their consciousness while some looked dead by that point,” one eye-witness told the Yonhap News Agency. In an interview with local broadcaster YTN, Lee Beom-suk, a doctor who administered first aid to the victims described scenes of tragedy and chaos. “When I first attempted CPR there were two victims lying on the pavement. But the number exploded soon after, outnumbering first responders at the scene,” Lee said. “Many bystanders came to help us with CPR.” “It’s hard to put in words to describe,” he added. “So many victims’ faces were pale. I could not catch their pulse or breath and many of them had a bloody nose. When I tried CPR, I also pumped blood out of their mouths.” Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/nearly-150-killed-in-halloween-stampede-in-seoul/

Hope it was as good for you as it was for him.

Shops were informed about an hour in advance from what I understand.

I’ve come across many Japanese sites about gay Bangkok. I believe Japanese men and women don’t want to have sex in their own country and prefer Bangkok. There were four Japanese women, buying bottles and freely distributing tips at Freshboys last time I was there.

I’m luxuriating in Bkk….but I’m not as much work 🙂

Give me Bangkok any day.

From Pattaya News Thailand’s first ever BBQ & music festival, “Meatfest,” will arrive in Pattaya this weekend. Featuring BBQ competitions, live bands, food stalls, and competitions, Meatfest will take place at Jaybees Bar in Chonburi from October 29th to 30th. The gates will be opened from 1 pm before the buster sausage eating and chilli wings eating competitions kick start at 2 pm and 3.30 pm, respectively.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The opening of the China – Laos bullet train in December 2021 has transformed the future of regional vacations according to travel specialists. The train runs several times daily from the Chinese border to Vientiane, capital of Laos, which in turn is close to the Thailand with plentiful rail and road connections. The top rail speed is 160 km an hour with a distance of 422 km. The Association of Thai Travel agents points out that the Chinese government still bans group tours abroad, but that the rules are already being slackened. For example, compulsory quarantine on return to China is being replaced by home isolation in some provinces. In the meantime, most Chinese visitors to Thailand are business people, Elite card holders and Chinese nationals with longstay visas in Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia who are avoiding Beijing’s Covid travel restrictions by residing outside of China. China’s president Xi is unlikely to waive all Covid travel restrictions before a national congress meeting in March 2023, but some estimates suggest more than half a million Chinese nationals have already visited Thailand this year. Recent reports of police raids in Bangkok suggest that there are clubs and casinos run and patronized by Chinese citizens, often contrary to immigration rules. The Thai government is currently considering cancelling the 2,000 baht fee which accompanies the 30 days visa on arrival for Chinese nationals, with the option of a further 15 days on application at Thai immigration. The idea would be to increase Chinese tourism massively, especially as the bullet train access is expected to attract many more economy visitors once Covid rules are rescinded by Beijing. Although Thailand is numerically dependent on Chinese tourism – about one third of 40 million visitors in 2019 hailed from China – critics say that few Thai business people benefit greatly from the phenomenon. The Chinese tourists are mostly zero-sum, that is paid for in advance of travel with favored hotels, restaurants, entertainment and hotels booked beforehand. This applies equally to economy tourists and the wealthy hi-fliers. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/chinese-tourists-to-thailand-no-longer-dependent-on-air-travel-414451

From the Thaiger A new book published by Gallup reveals confidence is falling and stress and anxiety are rising among the people of Thailand. The book, Blind Spot, highlighted the percentage of Thai people who said they were worried for much of the previous day doubled between 2012 (18%) and 2019 (36%). It then surged again after the COVID-19 pandemic, to 50% in 2020 and 46% in 2021. Similarly, the percentage who reported a lot of stress the previous day rose from 17% in 2012 to 44% in 2021. The Gallup World Poll revealed the percentage of people across the world who experienced worry for much of the previous day rose from 32% in 2012 to 42% in 2021. But the 28% rise in Thailand was one of the highest around the globe putting the kingdom in fifth place behind Afghanistan, Mali, Bangladesh, and Venezuela. The US-based analytics and advisory company believes the increase in stress and anxiety is because of increasing economic inequality throughout the kingdom. Thai household incomes have plummeted among the people at the bottom of the nation’s income distribution. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thais-in-top-5-most-anxious-stressed-nations-in-the-world-says-gallup-book

From the Thaiger The implementation of Thailand’s new cash deposit machine(CDM) rule will be postponed after customers complained it would cause unnecessary inconvenience and extra fees for people who do not use credit/debit cards. Currently, you can deposit cash into a bank account using a CDM with just an account number so long as the machine belongs to the same bank.

When I visited Super A shortly after it reopened, I was told room upstairs 500. It seems the old practice of raising prices when things are slow has taken hold 🙂.

if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Bangkok (this is, after all, Thailand), there are no absolutes. What is true today is not necessarily so tomorrow. I was sitting at the bar with PaulSF when the bartender related the news about the closing and how it would affect what they’ll do going forward. i agree that new district police commanders frequently exercise their authority as a way of announcing their arrival only to revert to same same once they’re known and established. Yesterday the cops closed all the massage shops on Silom Soi 6 at 16:00 only to allow them to reopen three hours later.

From the Thaiger A new skywalk has opened in the northern province of Chiang Rai at the meeting point between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar – also known as the ‘Golden Triangle.’ The “Three Lands Skywalk” stands about 486 feet above sea level and offers panoramic views of mountains, forests, and the Mekong River. The new attraction is located about 400 metres away from the Mekong in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district, near the auspicious Phra Borommathat Buddhanimit Chedi. The skywalk has two lanes made entirely of glass connected by a walkway. At the end of each lane stands a glorious cherry blossom tree. Up to 100 tourists are welcome on the skywalk at any one time and are required to wear the shoe protectors provided. The skywalk opens from 7.30am – 6pm. A shuttle from the temple costs 30 baht and the skywalk’s entrance fee costs 40 baht per person. Although, it’s not clear whether foreigners will be charged more. The skywalk cost 32 million baht to construct and was entirely funded by donations raised by Wat Phra That Pha Ngaotemple.

Poolice have reportedly informed bar and club operators in Patpong that all venues must be closed with lights out by 2 a.m. It’s rumored that the order, which takes effect on Monday, could be a measure taken in connection with the big APEC gathering next month.

From the Thai Enquirer The Chinese government will continue to try and increase their control over Thai media, the founder of a Thai student publishing house which said that a Chinese businessman tried to buy them out told Thai Enquirer. “China has been influencing Thailand for a long time now and their attempt to try and buy our small publication made me think how many news agencies in Thailand have already been supported by China which is why they do not dare to speak about Chinese issues,” said Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a pro-democracy activist and founder of the Sam Yan Press. “We thought about staying silence on the matter because it was risky but if we remain silence, people will not know about this attempt to control a Thai publication by China and the need for Thai press to be free from influences from abroad,” he said. The publication, which translated and published many books that were critical to Beijing’s human rights records include those of political dissidents in China such as Liu Xiobo and Ilham Tohti, said in a series of tweets and a statement that they were approached by an investigator from a private investigation company in Bangkok which has a Chinese client who wanted to offer the publication 2 million Baht for them to shut down. The investigator claimed that the Chinese businessman wanted Sam Yan Press to shut down to show his influence in Thailand for the Chinese government to see, the publication said. The investigator also said in an email with the offer that the publication should shut down before the National Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 20th congress which took place between October 16 and 22. Sam Yan Press have released a series of emails between the publication and the investigator between May 5 and October 2 that was seen by Thai Enquirer which include the name of the representative, the name of the company that he claimed to represent and his phone number as evidence for their claims. Continues at https://www.thaienquirer.com/45477/chinese-businessman-wanted-to-shutter-local-media-house-to-please-recently-held-ccp-meeting-in-beijing/ ============ The Bangkok Post is also investigating aspects of this story. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2424310/cops-look-at-pubs-ties-to-china-groups

From the Thaiger The Mountain B nightclub tragedy claimed a 26th victim this morning almost three months after the fire in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand, on August 5. A 26 year old submarine operator for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) died at 2am after fighting for his life in hospital for 83 days.

You sure sound like someone who’s been around a lot longer. Posters can change their screen names but not their writing styles. 😉 it was just a few months ago that you were chastising members about the contents of their posts. Now it seems you’re eager for their advice. You recommended therapy because we weren’t meeting your standards and posting about “nothingness.” in any case, looking forward to your first trip report that I’m sure is forthcoming.

Why don’t you enlighten us with wisdom gained from 52 years as a board member—longevity no one else here can come anywhere near.

From Channel News Asia An old pagoda inside The Artist's House. (Photo: CNA/Pichayada Promchertchoo) Once part of the Kamphaeng Bangchak temple ground, the old pagoda has become an architectural centrepiece of The Artist’s House since it was opened to the public in 2009. The space is dedicated to art and offers a platform for artists to create and showcase their work – from paintings to sculptures, woodcut prints and performances. Visitors can also enjoy drinks from its small cafe, browse around its shop and gallery, or simply relax in the building and soak up the slow life by the water. By making art easily accessible to the public, its founders hope the presence of visitors in Klong Bang Luang will breathe life into the declining community and help preserve its traditional way of life along the canal before it vanishes. “We thought if businesses could be created here, people wouldn’t have to go far to find jobs. They could just stay here and that would be nice,” said Chumpol Akkapantanon, an artist and founder behind The Artist’s House or Ban Silapin, as it is locally known. In front of him, a silver bird sculpture rests near the base of the pagoda. The contemporary art and remnants of the past stand side by side in a lush green space behind the two-storey teak house, which once belonged to an old family of goldsmiths and traders. Back in 2007, Chumpol led a renovation project that transformed their dilapidated dwelling into an art space. At that time, he recalled, the community was quiet and decrepit. Boats and waterways had been taken over by cars and roads and many residents had left their wooden houses by the canal for new accommodation and careers downtown. Those who remained were mostly the elderly, including Prapai Raksamruad, then in her late sixties. She was the last family member to live in the run-down building where The Artist’s House stands today.“She wanted to sell the house to someone who wouldn’t destroy but restore it,” Chumpol recounted. “The house was out of shape. Everything was decaying. Nobody would want to buy it and she was living there alone. It was so miserable and depressing. I was thinking how I could help her because selling it would be hard.” Continues with more photos at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-bangkok-artist-house-klong-bang-luang-2982476 Getting there: The closest BTS Skytrain Station to the Artist’s House is Bang Wa. From there, visitors can either walk about 20 minutes or get a motorbike taxi to their final destination.

From Thai News Agency BANGKOK, Oct 26 (TNA) – About 100 policemen raided a building in Charoen Rat area of Sathorn district and found a lot of foreigners and narcotics. Detective, metropolitan, immigration and forensic police searched the building where there were about 20 karaoke rooms and a storage room that kept several hundred packs of ketamine and “happy water” drugs. There police found 237 people, mostly Chinese, as well as 29 Thai workers and Cambodians. Pol Maj Gen Nitithorn Jintakanon, deputy Bangkok police chief, said the place was operated as an unauthorized karaoke shop for foreign tourists, especially Chinese people. There were also narcotic trade and gambling. Police also seized about 30 luxury cars, some of which used fake registration. Police would find out if any people there were involved in illicit drug business or money laundering, he said. The business owner at the building was Chinese and police did not reveal his name pending investigation. (TNA)

What I particularly liked about Xone is its efficiency. On my first visit they entered all data from passport into system. My second visit was processed more quickly because they had retained it. Be sure to get queue ticket from dispenser before entering shop. Expect them to take your currency and put it into plastic envelope that then goes to back room. You’ll be asked to step aside while order is filled. When ready (usually only a few minutes) your number will be called again to pick up your cash. When I was there a few days ago all three windows open and six customers being served.

Since you’ve been a board member for 52 years, shouldn’t you be answering these questions from legit newbies?

I believe there were about 10 in big cock (strike pole) show. I stayed for full show (10:15 sharp to 11:30). I understand from very good source (veteran member and Vietnam guy aficionado; need Isay more 🙂) that second show is shorter and that you will likely see fewer guys overall because many offs may have occurred by then. But keep in mind waiters also offable.

All war is cruel and this one is particularly so. Myanmar’s civil war appears to have no end in sight. An air strike killed at least 50 people at a concert in Kachin State yesterday, several news outlets reported. The concert had been held to celebrate the anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO). The number of casualties is believed to be the highest in a single air attack ever since Myanmar’s military took power in February 2021. The Kachin Artists Association claimed that 300-500 people were at the concert. Those killed included a singer, a keyboard player, and Kachin officers and soldiers.