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I was the one who had the massage today and it felt great. And you’re trying to me how I felt. That’s pretty presumptuous for someone who not inside my skin, Spoon.

From the Tourism Authority of Thailand PRESS RELEASE: Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today approved the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme and an US$10,000 health insurance requirement for foreign visitors, effective 1 July, 2022 https://-pass-re

Simple. Use the hands in the same manner as you would in an oil massage just sans the oil. Not difficult. Thai massage doesn’t use oil but it’s a very different technique.

Made my first visit to I-Come massage, a shop operated by those folks who bring us K-Man and KK massage. Located on Soi Suan Plu (diagonally opposite Convent Road) off Sathorn, it’s about a 20-minute walk from Silom. I was greeted by an Isan guy, Bee, who immediately understood what I wanted when I told him I didn’t want oil on this hot and sticky afternoon. This surprised me because most guys automatically revert to Thai massage when I say that. The room was on the third floor with a new, round shower stall with warm water. As we got to talking, he told me used to work at the since closed Nakarat shop on Soi 4. That had been my favorite shop and was known for its stable of Thai, Vietnamese and Lao guys. Things began to click for me when he told me he remembered four of the Viet guys (among others) that I used to use there. Bee, who only returned to Bangkok three weeks earlier, has a wonderfully firm body that you can only get from doing hard manual labor. It cried out to be massaged and that’s what I spent 10 minutes doing. Bottle of water on arrival (and much appreciated after the walk over). I’m happy to give this shop—and this guy—a thumbs up.👍 Facebook link below. You can request bookings on line. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Health-Spa/I-Come-Massage-107877260701650/

From the Thaiger Crowds of eager Laotian tourists are flocking to Thailand now that Thailand and Laos have eased travel restrictions this month. Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said yesterday that the checkpoint in Nong Khai, which borders Laos in Northeastern Thailand, is now the fourth most popular entry point into Thailand. The top 3 most popular entry points are Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports, and the crossing in Sadao, in southern Songkhla, which borders Malaysia. Laotian tourists are largely arriving in the Kingdom for shopping and travel, especially in the north-eastern Nong Khai province. Thailand and Laos have been working to repair economic activities along the border, and checkpoints have also been reopened to promote tourism and trade in these spots: the fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai, the third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge as well as the municipality pier in Nakhon and in Ubon Ratchathani’s Sirindhorn district. Thailand’s commerce minister has also asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to propose to Laos that another five checkpoints be reopened in Chiang Rai. Rachada said that many checkpoints opened are crowded with people and cars.

Afraid I’ve exhausted my interest in “model” bars like Moonlight and Jupiter. Content now to leave my memories of Moonlight to those days when Babe was actually that.

From Bangkok Post Russian detained in Pattaya over death of transgender lover Police in Pattaya have detained a Russian man whose transgender girlfriend was found slain in a locked room at her house in Prasat district of Surin on Wednesday. The man, whose name was not known, was reportedly tracked down by the signal from the mobile phone he allegedly took from his dead lover. He was about 30 years old. He was arrested on Wednesday night and was being taken back to the lower northeastern province for DNA testing. If his sample matched evidence found at the scene, he would be formally arrested and charged with murder, reports said. The body of Thiraphong Lamluea, 31, was found inside a closed room at her two-storey house in tambon Kang-an around 4.30pm on Wednesday. She had three children and Thiraphong was the eldest and the main breadwinner of the family. He had been romantically involved with a Russian man for 6-7 months. They met in Phuket.

From Bangkok Post Most Covid controls to be lifted The Public Health Ministry expects the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to lift nearly all Covid-19 restrictions nationwide, meaning the virtual full-scale resumption of business and other activities including entertainment. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday that he expected the CCSA to announce nationwide green Covid-19 zones on Friday and also set the date for the relaxation to begin. As for the use of face masks, Mr Anutin said the Public Health Ministry would not announce a complete end to face mask use on Friday. Officials would consider lifting the requirement in particular areas. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the Public Health Ministry would on Friday propose the CCSA impose green zones nationwide and in practice there would not be any restrictions on business and other activities. Health authorities had no concerns about the operation of pubs, bars and karaoke shops. The number of serious Covid-19 cases dependent on ventilators had dropped to 200-300, he said. On the use of face masks, Dr Opas said the Public Health Ministry had never arrested anyone who failed to wear a face mask. It only recommended people wear masks as long as they could do so, he said. The ministry suggested people remove face masks while eating, when alone or a fair distance away from others, or when outdoors or in well-ventilated places, Dr Opas said.

Violence against gays takes multiple forms but the most damaging in the long term, I think, is ostracism from family and former friends. That’s how many of us found our way to Thailand and can not imagine a life now that doesn’t include it. As I sat in a non-gay bar the other evening with a much younger man, both enjoying the music and atmosphere, no one took notice that was evident to me. That itself was worth the long trip and cost of getting here in the first place. To me, that was what I truly yearned for.

Once the runner up behind exports, tourism is now being hailed as the “key engine supporting Thailand’s economic recovery.” An article in the Bangkok Post cites a report by Siam Commercial Bank, upgrading its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals to 7.4 million this year. Although this represents an increase of 1.7 million, it still falls far shor of the 40 million who visited in 2019.

If you have a very quick trigger, some guys may fall back on old proverb: you come, I go. I think it’s a wise practice to pace yourself—and your partner—to avoid premature climax.

From Bangkok Posr The government will temporarily halt the need for international passengers to fill out TM 6 immigration forms to ease passenger congestion at international airports. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday this would reduce the process for foreign visitors as they were already required to fill out many forms upon arrival. It will also help alleviate congestion as international arrival numbers have increased, he added. Gen Prayut said authorities will evaluate the outcome of the announcement and consider if it needs to be revised, especially if they are unable to trace passengers. The Interior Ministry will expedite the drafting of the announcement, which is expected to finish in a week. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said foreign travellers who enter Thailand bey land or sea will still be required to fill out the form. The move will save around 45.5 million baht a year in printing costs for an estimated 65 million TM 6 forms, she said. Immigration police can still collect data on arrivals via the biometric systems at airports, while other travel data can be collected from airlines, Ms Traisuree said. Thais have not needed to fill out a TM 6 since 2017.

USD 35.05 EUR 36.48 GBP 41.97

Police came through Patpong 2 tonight and informed all businesses that they must close at stroke of midnight for the next three nights. Foodland only exception.

The future is impenetrable, said the Buddha.

From The Nation President Xi Jinping’s order to ruthlessly lockdown Shanghai, China’s financial hub, has resulted in heavy damage to the country’s economy – but also unprecedented criticism of Xi’s zero-Covid policy by his No 2, Li Keqiang. The criticism by Premier Li, who heads the State Council and is the second most powerful person in China, signals a major rift within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Speaking two weeks ago at a meeting of over 100,000 local officials, Premier Li said Xi’s zero-Covid policy was leading the country towards disaster by banning over 25 million people in Shanghai from leaving their homes for almost three months. Analysts speculate that Li’s criticism stems from a deep disagreement within the CCP. In an earlier teleconference meeting of the State Council, Li declared China’s economy is facing a bigger challenge than when Covid-19 started spreading in early 2020. He said the rate of capital outflow was unprecedented, while foreign investors who once believed in the government’s disease control measures are now fed up with lockdown policies that were crippling manufacturing. This had resulted in many multinational corporations halting operations or moving out of China entirely, he added. The criticism of China’s president is shocking and unprecedented in the history of the CCP, though it has made few headlines in the foreign press. Analysts calculate that the true aim of Xi’s zero-Covid policy is not to curb infections but to cement his power after the constitution was amended to allow him to remain as president for life instead of just two terms. They believe Xi is using this policy to show that he is putting the people first by slashing the infection rate. After all, a communist party governs by forcing people to follow the rules rather than giving them options. https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/perspective/40016547

If you’re in town, the short walk (or one stop away from Silom on MRT) to Samyan Mitrtown is worth the excursion, especially at twilight. the mall / university complex has embraced Pride month in a big way. In lights, entertainment and colorful signage, the message is loud and clear: it’s okay to be gay. All the shops in the multi-story mall are geared to the needs of the university students who abound in the area, including mini versions of Big C and Home Pro. Not to be missed is the free open air observation deck which takes on a magical atmosphere as the sun goes down. https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/news/theres-a-massive-rainbow-path-in-samyan-to-celebrate-pride-month-060721 (photos courtesy Timeout Bangkok)

The times they are a changing. While walking this evening on Soi Thaniya, some of those ladies of the evening were casting big smiles at westerners.

You say that now but………

You’ve persuaded me. You have my vote for UK equivalent of secretary of transportation so you can resolve this dilemma once and for all.

+1

What you can’t prepare for is strikes by employees. You simply can’t hire people off the street to replace air traffic controllers or flight crews. You have no choice but to negotiate or endure.

What I do know is that greed knows no boundaries. If you think otherwise, you continue to fool yourself.

Other than that, hope you had a good weekend. 🙂

From CNN CNN) — Just as summer heats up, the US is lifting its long-standing requirement for all travelers entering the country to present a negative Covid-19 test. The news brings both a collective sigh of relief and a likely flood of new international travelers to an already chaotic summer season. For many American travelers, the development means no longer having to worry about the hassle of testing before returning to the States, or the cost and burden of remaining abroad to quarantine and wait for a negative test result if a pre-travel test comes up positive. US-bound international travelers, meanwhile, can plan trips without the fear of having to cancel because of a positive test. Most non-US citizens must still be vaccinated to travel to the country. And the battered travel industry is cheering the removal of the barrier to both groups of prospective customers. The rule, which was put in place in January 2021, will end for US-bound travelers beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 12. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will reassess the rule if the Covid-19 situation changes. The development comes after intense pressure from travel trade and tourism groups as the industry continues to bounce back after more than two years of a pandemic-induced downturn. For months, such organizations had been calling for the testing requirement to be scrapped, as it has been in Canada and the United Kingdom since March, as well as most countries in Europe. After Friday's news of the rule's end, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and the US Travel Association (USTA) were among the groups issuing statements applauding the move. AHLA President and CEO Chip Rogers described it as a "significant win for hotels and the broader travel industry" in a statement released Friday, calling the requirement outdated and creating a "chilling effect" on inbound international travel. USTA President and CEO Roger Dow, meanwhile, emphasized ending the testing requirement could bring an additional 5.4 million visitors to the US and an additional $9 billion in travel spending through the end of 2022. Even as many in the travel industry support the development, some experts are warning about the increased demand, decreased availability and higher prices sure to come as a result, exacerbating what has already been a chaotic travel landscape both Stateside and abroad. "Europe is going to be inundated with American travelers," Mina Agnos, president of Travelive, an agency specializing in travel to Greece with offices in Athens and Delray Beach, Florida, told CNN Travel via email. "In speaking with travel consultants across the US, the consensus is 2022 is 'three seasons in one.' Hotel availability is very tight and local services [such as] guides, drivers, local air, ferry and rail service and restaurants will all be at capacity this season," Agnos said. It's an assessment the tourism industry, especially the hotel sector, is thrilled to see. Chitra Stern, CEO of Martinhal Resorts, a family-centric luxury hotel group with properties across Portugal, said the US testing restrictions have "held many travelers back" from planning trips abroad, especially families, which are the brand's core demographic. Because a negative test is no longer required to return to the US, Stern expects to see a surge in US-based guests -- the top market for Martinhal's property in downtown Lisbon -- booking stays in Portugal and throughout Europe. "We now anticipate welcoming many more Americans booking last-minute summer trips and long weekend city breaks," Stern said. Laura Citron, CEO of Visit London, expects to see a similar bump in US travelers, who make up London's largest inbound tourism market, heading to the capital city this summer. "Throughout the pandemic, we saw spikes in bookings from the US to London when travel restrictions had been lifted," Citron told CNN Travel via text message, adding flight passengers from the US to London nearly reached pre-pandemic levels during the week of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. According to Agnos, travelers with their hearts set on a Greek vacation this summer should start planning their trips immediately, and expect to contend with crowds. If Agnos' business is any indication, the Mediterranean country is poised to see an overflow of tourism in the coming months, so much so, June is "virtually sold out" for Travelive's guides, vehicles for transfers and even yachts, Agnos said. It's a first in the travel operator's 21-year history. "Hotel availability is a serious concern, even in areas like Athens and Mykonos, where inventory was always adequate," Agnos explained. "It is the first time we have ever had to stop taking on business due to the lack of availability." https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/summer-travel-europe-floodgates-us-testing-rule-lifts/index.html