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Keep in mind that "asking" price is for the "business" and not the property. Business is the name and contents of shop (massage chairs, tables, etc.).

Most take feedback very well., especially if they think it will affect their tip.🙂

If I find that I don't like the pressure or some other aspect of the massage, I get up and ask masseur to lie down and I demonstrate what I want him to do. Works for me.

That's the protective sheeting to protect it from he elements during construction. It looks like there will be two entrances to property (Surawong and Rama 4). It's a condominium and many of the units have already been sold.

From The Telegraph Jake Coyner runs a specialist kratom café in Bangkok that sells kratom sodas, tea bags and capsules. His clientele are wealthier international consumers - Krerkburin Kerngburi ‘Well, this is trippy,’ says Jake Coyner, as the makeshift polystyrene raft we’re sitting on floats along shallow waterways. He can’t help but laugh: just beyond the walls of a nearby surreal, UFO-shaped Buddhist temple, a legal, non-prescription opioid is flourishing. At Sherb’s farm, a smallholding on the outskirts of Bangkok, close to 1,500 ‘top-quality’ kratom trees are growing between the irrigation channels. Native to south-east Asia, the plant’s psychoactive leaves are touted as an energy-enhancing stimulant, a pain-relieving substance, or a euphoric mood booster, depending on how you consume it. ‘It comes from the same family as the coffee plant, and like coffee there are different varieties – horseshoe crab, the golden coin, the finial,’ Coyner, 41, says, examining the trees that supply his own business, OG Kratom. ‘I think more people are starting to explore its benefits, and Thailand is having almost a renaissance movement right now. It’s been a really interesting few years.’ Kratom, from the tree Mitragyna speciosa, has long been used in south-east Asia, where labourers chew leaves for an energy boost, and traditional healers brew teas to tackle pain or common ailments such as stomach cramps. But it divides regulators and health experts worldwide: some laud its medicinal properties and believe it could help wean people off harder opioids; others cite addiction concerns, recreational misuse and side effects including hallucinations and vomiting. More still warn that the information to make a judgment is lacking. In 2021, a World Health Organization committee on drug dependence found there was not enough evidence for an international ban, yet said kratom should be ‘kept under surveillance’. But in Thailand, where kratom was decriminalised three years ago, a fledgling industry has found fertile ground among foreigners. In 2021, the government removed the substance from the narcotics list that had restricted its use since the 1970s. The drug hasn’t exploded like cannabis – some 6,000 marijuana dispensaries have popped up since weed rules changed in 2022 – but kratom is seeping into new markets, including expats and backpackers. ‘Traditionally, it’s been used a lot by farmers and labourers to give them energy, so it has this stigma as almost a “low-class energy drink”,’ says Coyner, a South Korean American who’s lived here for 15 years. ‘If you come from a good background in Thailand, cannabis is still cool but kratom is looked down on. What I’m trying to do is very different, I’m taking kratom seriously… and purposefully presenting a clean image for my products.’ Unlike the street stalls selling leaves and bootleg brews for as little as 40 baht (90p) to motorbike drivers and construction workers, his specialist café in Bangkok is full of kratom sodas, tea bags and capsules targeting wealthier international consumers. ‘Most of my customers are over 30. They’re using it for pain relief, as an alternative to alcohol, or because of previous drug addiction issues,’ says Coyner. Continues at https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/a-legal-opioid-potion-is-proving-a-hit-with-backpackers-in-thailand-so-i-gave-it-a-go/ar-AA1pJoXe

From Pattaya News An upcoming US Embassy outreach is coming to Pattaya. Below is the information! Provision of Consular Services: Tuesday, September 17, 09:00 AM- 11:00 AM The American Citizens Services Unit will be providing limited consular services at American Legion Post TH02 in Pattaya City, Chon Buri province, from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM on September 17, 2024. Please note, that these services are limited by appointments only for: Passport renewals (for adults holding 10 years passport) Passport renewals for minors (age 0-15) First-time adult passport (age 16 and above) Notary services To sign up for services, please register below. Reservations are by appointment only with additional consideration for those with limited mobility.

Not that I'm aware of.

I believe that you'll find that expected tips are quite similar to those at nearby 15M Massage and K Man. I usually translate to Thai when messaging shops.

GBeat Massage in Saphan Kwai today posted seven pages of guys. Here's a sample:

Several years ago (well before covid) I recall some posts about them but don't recall seeing anything recent.

I believe it was One Spa that offered the 12-hour promotion. The current KK Massage offer (4 sessions, 1k baht does not have to be used all at once.

From Pattaya News On the morning of September 1st, 2024, Thai national media reported that Thailand’s men’s 4×100-meter relay team secured a bronze medal at the World Athletics U20 Championship 2024, in Lima, Peru. The team finished in 39.39 seconds, clinching third place in the final. The relay team, consisting of “Bew” Puripol Boonson, “Bird” Weerayut Daenkhanob, “Best” Sarawut Nuansi, and “Tata” Chutitath Pruksorranan, had previously set a new Thai national junior record by winning their heat with a time of 39.56 seconds, ranking second overall in the heats, just behind Jamaica. In the final, the Thai team maintained their strong performance. Bew Puripol, running the anchor leg, sprinted ahead of competitors in the final meters to secure the bronze with another national record of 39.39 seconds. Jamaica won gold with a time of 39.18 seconds, and the United Kingdom took silver with 39.21 seconds.

Hearing rumor that owner of M-Star Massage on Silom Soi 6 is interested in selling business for 1.5 million baht.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Although Thailand has suffered a military coup about every seven years since 1932, experts say the conditions are not right for a putsch right now. Coup historian Barbara Tuchman said, “To put the garment of legitimacy is the first aim of every coup,” but the circumstances are very different from those in 2014 when general Prayut Chan-o-cha cancelled the constitution with considerable public support. For example, the Ministry of Defence regulations have now been amended to allow the prime minister to suspend generals suspected of planning a coup as well as abolishing the military courts against which there was no appeal. More significantly, the military-supporting civilian “yellow shirts” who organized vast street demonstrations against the civilian administration 10 years ago are no longer a powerful force in Thai politics. At that time, the pretext for military intervention was the attempt in parliament to abandon the criminal charges against exiled Thaksin Shinawatra and allow him to “come home”. Of course Thaksin is now a free man, having received even a pardon from the monarch, and an influential adviser to the ruling Pheu Thai party. The former prime minister two days ago dismissed the possibility of another coup precisely because the ingredients of violence and chaos on the Bangkok streets isn’t present. These days the military-backed parties in the Thai parliament are much weaker than before. The unelected Senate, with 250 individuals nominated by the Prayut government, has been abolished and its successor body is not empowered to play any part in choosing the prime minister. Former deputy premier general Prawit Wongsuwon heads up the small Palang Pracharath Party, but this has recently split into two feuding parts with about half its members actually joining the civilian Pheu Thai administration. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who split with general Prawit before last year’s general election, has now retired from active politics to become a member of the Privy Council. The Thai army, with its 1,700 generals, is no longer a unified force in the political arena. Of course, the advent of yet another ruling military junta cannot be discounted altogether. Suspicion of billionaire tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra remains very significant and he has yet to face a trial on charges of disloyalty to the crown. But the main argument against the likelihood of a coup is the existence of an alternative way of subverting politics: the constitution court. The unelected body of nine judges, created in 1997, has jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding political parties. This is the body which recently banned the popular Move Forward Party (now renamed People’s Party) and dismissed the prime minister Srettha Thavisin. Many observers now refer to the reality of judicial coups rather than military interventions. There is no need for “warfare” when you have “lawfare”.

New KK Massage promotion is offering four (4) one-hour sessions for $1,000 baht through Sept. 6.

+1 Would tip well for the opportinty 🙂

Richard Barrow's Train Guide is a good tarting point if you're new to buying tickets or have questions about the process. Options for buying train tickets online in Thailand: D-Ticket (Official site) SRT D-Ticket App: App Store or Google Play 12Go Thailand (travel agency) Baolau (travel agency) PLEASE NOTE: Long distance trains on the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines now leave from the new terminal station in Bangkok. When buying your tickets to leave from Bangkok, you need to enter “Krung Thep Aphiwat”. For local and commuter trains, including tourist trains and trains on the Eastern Line, these will still go from Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong). You need to type “Bangkok” as your departure station for these trains. I always like to try and use the official site to buy my train tickets, but when I was abroad recently, I had trouble verifying my payment and couldn’t buy my tickets. Other people living abroad also told me they sometimes had trouble registering or even opening the website. It is true that the official site now has an English version, but they don’t translate everything. Sometimes important information is only shown in Thai. Overall, the interface and the support is not user-friendly which is why many people choose to use an agency site such as 12Go even though there is a service fee. Agency sites have the added advantage that everything is in English including the support. You can also buy through tickets that includes buses and boats. Useful if you want to go to the islands by train. ADVANCE TICKETS: Starting from 1st July 2024, you can buy train tickets 180 days in advance for all long distance Special Express, Express and Rapid trains. However, you must be travelling at least 60% of the entire route to book 180 days in advance. If it is between 25% and 59% of the entire route, then you can book 30 days in advance. Less than 25% of the route, you can only buy one day in advance. Please also note, for local and commuter trains, usually numbered 3xx or 4xx, you can only buy these tickets on the day at the station. You cannot buy these kind of tickets online. You'll also find links to purchasing tickets for buses, ferries and flights in SE Asia at link below. https://www.thaitrainguide.com/tickets/

I've thought about what kind of act would fit well into Tawan's reputation. I think this guy would do the trick. I believe he'd appeal to all cumers.

From Bangkok Post The new cabinet's line-up is expected to be submitted for royal endorsement this weekend. After the former opposition Democrat Party forged an alliance with the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the new cabinet will now have the support of 322 MPs in parliament. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Friday that Pheu Thai was verifying the eligibility and backgrounds of the candidates before submitting the approved list for royal endorsement. "Pheu Thai is trying to ensure each cabinet minister is a good fit," said Mr Phumtham, who became acting prime minister following Srettha Thavisin's dismissal by the Constitutional Court. Prommin Lertsuridej, the PM's secretary-general, said on Friday that the government now has a sizeable majority, following the Democrats' participation. MPs supporting the coalition government include 141 from Pheu Thai, 70 from the Bhumjaithai Party, 36 from the United Thai Nation Party, 25 Democrats, 10 from the Charthaipattana Party, three from Chart Pattana, and 21 from a faction led by Capt Thamanat Prompow within the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2856792/cabinet-list-heads-to-king

From The Thaiger A night of camaraderie and drinks in Pattaya turned into a nightmare when a 62 year old South Korean tourist plunged to his death from the 10th floor of a hotel in the early hours today. The tragedy, which has left friends and police searching for answers, unfolded at around 5.05am, sending shockwaves through the popular holiday destination. Local police, led by Police Lieutenant Phuttharak Sonkamhan of Pattaya City Police Station, swiftly responded to the scene at a 38-story hotel in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district. Forensic officers from Chon Buri’s District 2 and rescue teams from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya joined them in their investigation. The lifeless body of Byung Yong Lee, a farmer from South Korea, was found on the 5th floor, entangled in a grove of trees. The 62 year old had fallen from the balcony of his 10th-floor room, suffering fatal injuries. Despite the severe trauma, initial investigations revealed no signs of foul play. According to hotel staff, Lee and a group of fellow Korean tourists had checked in the day before. Lee’s friend, who had shared a room with him for over 30 years, recounted their final hours together. After a night of drinking, Lee’s friend awoke to find him missing. Disturbingly, the deceased’s shoes were still in the room, leading his friend to check the balcony, where he discovered Lee’s body below. He immediately alerted hotel staff and security, who contacted the police. Through a translator, Lee’s friend expressed his shock, noting that while the deceased South Korean national had been noticeably intoxicated, how he ended up falling from the balcony remains a mystery.

From VN Express The state-owned China Communications Construction Company is interested in major infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including the north-south high-speed railroad and urban metro systems. Its CEO, Wang Hai Huai, told Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at a meeting in Hanoi Wednesday that the company has been closely tracking major transportation projects in Vietnam, such as the high-speed rail, infrastructure projects connecting China and Vietnam, and metro networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The company is also willing to invest in nearshore and offshore wind power plants in Vietnam using the latest technologies. It first started operations in Vietnam in 1996 and has since undertaken more than 30 projects worth over US$3 billion, including seaports, nearshore wind power plants and industrial zones. Lauding the company’s road, railway and energy projects, Ha called on it to engage in practical and effective cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, construction, transportation, and agriculture to help implement the high-level agreements between the two countries and parties. He urged CCCC to participate in certain infrastructure projects such as the north-south high-speed rail road and three rail links to the Chinese border. Vietnam plans to begin work on a 1,500-kilometer high-speed rail link between the northern and southern regions in 2026 or 2027. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a conference in July that the government should conduct research for building a rail that allows speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It should be completed by 2035, he added.

From The Thaiger The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its business arm, Krungthep Thanakom (KT), are urgently reviewing a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruling before they settle a colossal 11.75 billion baht debt owed to the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC). This follows a Supreme Administrative Court order on July 26, which gave BMA and KT just 180 days to pay up. The debt, linked to the operating and maintenance (O&M) costs of the Saphan Taksin-Bang Wa and On Nut-Kheha Green Line extensions, is now under intense scrutiny due to a potentially game-changing NACC ruling. The NACC previously determined that the BMA’s decision to hire BTSC to operate three extensions of the Green Line between 2021 and 2042 might have violated key laws, including the Private Participation in State Undertaking Act and the Act Concerning Offences Relating to the Submission of Bids to Government Agencies.

Mamasan had his agenda and it appears to be aimed at getting the boy back to the bar for last show. The excuse "nobody does long time anymore" is a new one in my experience. You definitely made right move when he asked for tip.

Agree that sexual tastes run the gamut. What seems most important is how individuals identify themselves in that expansive range. We really can't put ourselves in another's shoes because our sexual attraction is wholly unique. What we can do, however, is accept someone else's description of their unique attraction. Having said that, I don't believe I'm going out on a limb here in saying that 99.67% of members here are gay. 🙂

Same same.