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Malaysia’s struggling flagship carrier has unexpectedly agreed to explore a partnership with its fierce Singaporean competitor While there has been resistance against a future merger on grounds of national pride, some analysts say such an alliance makes good business sense https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3016531/does-singapore-airlines-and-malaysia-airlines-partnership-clear

At the risk of misjudging the readership of a gay Thailand forum, isn’t that among the key reasons this board is so successful? It provides, among other things, erotic thrills. And I don’t think massages are a totally series of random events. Most experienced masseurs learn what works consistently best and tend to repeat the process.

From Bangkok Post (11 May) Bumrungrad admits transfusion the cause in HIV case The Thai Red Cross Society confirmed on Friday that its procedures for collecting and dispensing blood are in line with global standards, as fears of HIV/Aids being accidentally transmitted by the organisation have skyrocketed in the wake of a disclosure by a leading hospital in Bangkok. Bumrungrad International Hospital issued a statement on Thursday claiming one of its patient had become infected with the autoimmune disease from blood given by the society, the country's top blood donor. The Thai Red Cross said that while it followed world best practices, there is a ''window period", usually in the first several weeks, during which a donor may have contracted the disease but it is not yet detectable. It claimed there was no technology in the world able to detect the disease at such an early stage, and urged donors to inform officials of the truth if they have engaged in any risky behavior in the weeks prior to donating Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1675608/hospital-in-hot-water-over-hiv-case

There's only one way to find that guy. Come on back where you don't have to reset that clock in your head. The boys do it for you.

Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok (10 May) Prevalence of Unsafe Sex Leads to the Return of Syphilis in Thailand Syphilis is back, and that is very bad, the Department of Disease (DDC) control has warned. The department – assigned to monitor the outbreak – believes the rising rate of syphilis, especially amongst citizens aged 15-24, reflects increasing rates of unsafe sex taking place among young adults. The rate of syphilis infections has been gradually going up since 2013. Just last year, diagnosis increased by 36.9 percent among the age group in question, DDC director-general Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said Tuesday, according to ThaiPBS. Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby. Though syphilis is a serious ailment, it can be cured with medication. Without treatment, however, the infection can lead to serious complications and health problems like brain damage, paralysis, and blindness. Syphilis causes sores on the original site of infection, usually around the genitals, mouth, anus or rectum though some patients don’t notice or feel the sores. Continues with chart and links https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prevalence-of-unsafe-sex-leads-to-the-return-of-syphilis-in-thailand/

One of Bangkok bars is Small's on the restaurant row strip of Soi Suan Plu. On the recommendation of DivineMadman, I visited there with a friend a few trips back and enjoyed the atmosphere as much as the food. It's a reasonable walk from Silom and there's a handful of massage shops in close proximity (AEN and Art Massage to name a few). From Coconuts Bangkok (10 May) ......among the winners of this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars The rankings of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 were announced at a ceremony in Singapore last night, and seven of our city’s bars made the list this year. Named best hotel bar and best bar of the year by The Bar Awards last month, Bangkok’s oldest jazz establishment The Bamboo Bar continues to lead in these industry awards, at no. 8 (up from no. 9 last year). Also on the list are Thonglor’s theater-themed Backstage Cocktail Bar (no. 20), Silom cocktail lounge Vesper (no. 26) and rum-focused tiki bar Tropic City (no. 31). Craft cocktail venue in Rabbit Hole secured the 34th spot on the list, followed by Soi Suan Phlu jazz bar Smalls at no. 42 and Chinatown’s Teens of Thailand at no. 48. Continues with photos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/7-bangkok-bars-among-the-winners-of-this-years-asias-50-best-bars/

From Bangkok Post (10 May) Private hospitals ordered to display medicine prices Starting next week, private hospitals must display the prices of medicines so that consumers can make better-informed decisions prior to purchase, the government said on Friday. As well, private hospitals must give patients the opportunity to buy medicines from pharmacies outside the hospital using prescriptions provided by their doctors. Acting Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara made the comment after chairing a meeting of the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services, which approved the proposals on Friday. “Prices of medicines must be shown either on the hospital’s website or via QR codes on a chart displayed clearly at the hospital,” she said. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1675448/medicine-price-displays-mandatory

From The Nation (9 May) Sophon TV has reported on the state of Pattaya’s beaches and said a 2.6km stretch was a “filthy mess” with a travel operator blaming tourists. “From north to south Pattaya the beach is a disgrace”, according to Sophon TV. “The water is black and horrible.” It said the tide line was strewn with plastic bags, bottles, foam containers and other rubbish. Ladda Limkun, a beach operator, blamed tourists. “People who eat and drink on the beach just don’t clean up after themselves. And tourists on boat trips just toss their trash in the sea, meaning it washes up on the shore. The authorities have been slow to react to the latest eyesore of rubbish,” she added. Continues with photos http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30369106

I've used the SR airport locations a few times in past and the rate rate was good. I only exchanged enough cash to get me through the first night. When I get off the flight, I'm exhausted and just want to get to the hotel. Not a good frame of mind to do a big exchange and then board a crowded train. I try to follow the advice of ggobkk above: take whatever Thai notes I have left at trip's end home with me so I don't have to stop before getting train or taxi on my next arrival.

Seeing that a lot of members responded to your query, think you could (hehehe) see your way clear to tell us where this little bureau just around the corner is, *n? ;)))

The SR card sounds like it may be a good option. Since you'd be loading it with baht for which you got a good exchange rate, it frees you of worries of having too much cash.

I believe the answer to your conundrum is explained by Asnstudent's description of the guy: ".... I chose a super cute shorter boy. Luckily, my boy turned out to be really cute on a closer look with a perfect muscular body when he took his shirt off.. ... the cutest boy I've encountered on this trip, with a baby face, but nice eyebrows, perfectly muscular body, hairy at appropriate places, and very well endowed. ...He was the cutest guy of my trip this time. .... If it was not my last day, i might have asked my masseur's Line info." I think many of us have paid the same--if not more--at least once for the same experience that remains imprinted indelibly in our memory. --------------- You've got to accentuate the positive eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative But don't mess with mister inbetween You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum have faith, a pandemonium Libel to walk up on the scene Johnny Mercer, 1944

Wherever you use a credit card, be very sure (before you sign the charge slip) that the transaction is denominated in Thai baht (not pounds, euros or dollars). This avoids an additional currency exchange that benefits the vendor's bank and disadvantages you. And be sure you get a receipt of the transaction. SuperRich has two locations in the Silom area. The most convenient is on the third floor of the Silom Complex (adjacent to Saladaeng BTS station) and further down Silom next to the plaza that houses the famous Arena Massage. It's been my experience that you get a slightly better exchange rate at the latter branch, but not worth going out of your way for unless you're doing a large transaction.

Here's one way to put this in context. Many of the staff who work the venues around Silom have their evening meals delivered by vendors who charge about 40 baht. So if you give someone a 20 baht note, it's half the cost of their dinner. If a guy chooses to turn up his nose at this, there are others who won't. That's what separates us from the animals: we take money. As you've learned, having a select stable of regulars is good practice. You know you're already comfortable with each other and and the quality of the experience is predictable. Glad that served you well as your trip draws to a close. Agree that Foodland is a fine choice to get meals to go at a reasonable price that you and your guest will be happy with. And it's a 24/7 operation. As I mentioned in another thread, having you and Gold Member posting great trip reports simultaneously has been a treat. Your keen sense of what engages the reader leaves us always looking forward to more. Thanks for the effort.

Trip reports are the meat and potatoes of the forum and you have served up an overflowing serving. We rarely read reports that feature traveling with partner, traveling with child, traveling with relatives in addition to candid reports of bars, massage shops, eateries and dance venues all packed into one experience. That your thread is running parallel with Asnstudent's excellent report leaves readers with an embarrassment of riches to tweak their time between visits. What also distinguishes your report is that you take us to places that we usually don't hear that much about. You wander regularly off the Silom/Surawong reservation and entertained us with your sharp eye for detail. I echo Divine Madman's recommendation above.

I understand that everybody enjoys getting a bargain but somehow I don't quite equate getting a massage with going to Walmart. Paying a guy 1k to 1.5k to toil over your body for 60-90 minutes and then pleasuring you with a happy ending doesn't seem outrageous. And I can appreciate that some punters prefer the apps to a gay--or non-gay--massage shop. But among the benefits I find of using a shop are the opportunity to see what's available in person and not bringing a stranger into my hotel or apartment. In any case, I can't see myself entering a shop and saying, "I'll give you exactly 840 baht for a handjob and not a satang more."

Above incident serves as a good reminder for all of us. If planning to visit around high-season events, it's worth it to make reservations well in advance. Some booking sites like Agoda allow cancellations within a specified time frame. In any case, it's better than ending up at a place that ties to extort you. Even if you had paid the crazy demand the cash would have never ended up in till but rather in the pockets of front desk staff.

From South China Morning Post (3 May) China’s airlines jostle for position at new mega airport, in rare glimpse into Beijing’s palace intrigue Air China gets a foothold at Daxing International Airport to escalate competition with China Eastern and China Southern Intensive lobbying, high-level horse trading and political manoeuvring are dominating a drama which will help define the future of China’s airline market China’s big three state-owned airlines are engaged in a tussle for the rights to fly into and out of the new mega airport in Beijing, which will be among the world’s biggest when it opens in September. Intensive lobbying, high-level horse trading and political manoeuvring are dominating a drama which will help define the future of the world’s biggest airline market. The three state-owned airlines are scrapping it out for landing slots at Beijing Daxing International Airport, in an episode of palace intrigue which offers a rare glimpse into how politics, state directives and market competition are often woven together in the Chinese economy. Between them, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines hold two-thirds of China’s civil aviation market. They are vying for premium slots at Daxing, which will launch on September 30. A plan published by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in January showed that China Eastern and China Southern would relocate their flights to the new airport, an 80 billion yuan (US$11.9 billion) mega facility with seven runways. Each would be given 40 per cent of Daxing’s air traffic resources, while Air China would remain at the old Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), which is in a northeastern suburb of Beijing and which is currently the country’s busiest airport, serving 101 million passengers last year. Continues with many photos https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3008696/chinas-airlines-jostle-position-new-mega-airport-rare-glimpse

The time you were allotted at LuckyBoys was way out of line. I think at least 10 minutes since you had already brought him a drink. In the situation at Moonlight, where you're well known to the mamasans and other staff, you should have been cut more slack. Being a regular has to count for something. If not, there's no reason to develop relationships with mamasans there.

From Khaosod English (30 Apr.) BANGKOK — The government said Tuesday it has petitioned the United Nations to recognise Thai massage as part of its intangible heritage. Speaking to reporters today, Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanara said UNESCO will convene to make its decision in November. If accepted, Thai massage – or nuad thai – will be Thailand’s second entry in UNESCO’s intangible world heritage list. Last year, the agency granted a similar status to Thai traditional masked dance. “We have already submitted it,” Veera said. “Right now it is under consideration.” He said he has high hopes that UNESCO will recognize Thai massage as an important part of Thai culture. “We have submitted very detailed information,” Veera told reporters. “And we have high expectations, because Thai massage is considered part of Thailand’s unique intangible heritage.” In its submission, the Thai government said there are about 25,000 practitioners of the craft nationwide. It also said Thai massage is a manifestation of folk knowledge of the body’s workings that has been passed down for centuries. “Nuad Thai is considered part of the art, science and culture of Thai traditional healthcare,” the government said in its application. About 50 entries around the world are vying this year for recognition in UNESCO’s prestigious list of intangible heritage – a distinction given to oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals and more. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/culture/2019/04/30/govt-hopeful-thai-massage-gets-unesco-recognition/

From Khaosod English (2 May) New Queen Appointed Ahead of Coronation BANGKOK — A former commander of His Majesty the King’s bodyguards was named the new Queen of Thailand today. A royal command issued on Wednesday, just three days before the formal coronation of King Vajiralongkorn is due to take place, announced that the King has married Gen. Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya and therefore elevated her to be Queen Suthida. News footage released by the Royal Household Bureau on Wednesday night shows the couple married at Dusit Palace in Bangkok. Little is known about Thailand’s new Queen, though media reports say Suthida has been serving in the Ratchawanlop Guards, a unit of bodyguards protecting the then-Crown Prince, since 2013. She is often seen escorting the King in a number of important state ceremonies. In October 2016, Suthida was awarded the Rattanabhorn Medal by the King for serving as his bodyguard. A year later, he awarded her with another accolade, the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chomklao. Continues with photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2019/05/01/new-queen-appointed-ahead-of-coronation/

Thank you for reporting on what is one of the most discussed guys in recent forum memory who--up until now--was pretty much an enigma. Actually, he will probably remain so because you were wise enough to omit the complete details. Leaving some things to your discretion and our imagination is appreciated as both you your guest deserve some privacy.

From Bangkok Post (29 Apr.) Fresh from his move from the Border Patrol Police Bureau, newly appointed Immigration Bureau (IB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang has given assurances that his performance will be up to scratch in his new role. He told the Bangkok Post the IB's job mainly involves safeguarding national security and providing assistance to tourists. It is necessary for the IB to collaborate and share information with Interpol and the immigration authorities of other countries to keep track of foreign criminal gangs, he said. "We want to assist good tourists who have purchasing power. They bring income to the country. As for security arrangements, we focus on checking backgrounds of various people with Interpol and immigration authorities in other countries,'' Pol Lt Gen Sompong said. The current priority is to crack down on pickpockets from neighbouring countries who target both Thais and foreign travellers during festivals and other key events, Pol Lt Gen Sompong said, adding authorities had also been told to remain on high alert along border areas with natural channels through which these criminals can pass unmonitored. Continues with photos https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/1668672

You did yourself proud in saving your baht to buy drinks for those who don't have tits. lol. That bar has the perfect location for observing the comings and goings of DBP, LuckyBoys, Bangkok Massage and the list goes on. They have a few outside tables and many stools only about five meters across the soi from the action. As one veteran member suggested during my last trip, maybe we should just take over those straight bars that suite our purpose.

Just curious, Will, but were they harassing you about being gay or complaining about the goings on across the soi?