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From CNBC (11 Feb.) Chinese investors are spending billions on Thai property despite a turbulent political scene Thailand's popularity among Chinese property investors has soared despite a 2014 military coup and uncertainty about upcoming elections. According to recent data from online Chinese real estate portal Juwai.com, Thailand was the most popular country in the world when it comes to inquiries from potential real estate buyers in 2018 — climbing up from the sixth spot in 2016. Thailand was the fourth-most-popular country for Chinese property investment in 2018, according to Juwai, with $2.3 billion coming in from Chinese sources. Chinese investors have continued pouring their money into Thailand's property sector even as the kingdom barrels toward an uncertain national election. That underscores the Southeast Asian nation's enduring popularity with the Chinese — tourists from Asia's top economy have for years seen Thailand as a top spot for holidays. According to recent data from online Chinese real estate portal Juwai.com, Thailand was its most popular country when it comes to inquiries from potential real estate buyers in 2018 — climbing up from the sixth spot in 2016. Thailand will hold general elections on March 24, but Juwai CEO Carrie Law said the company hasn't seen "a link between the Thai election and Chinese property buying." "While the election is momentous for Thailand, most of the buyers we work with are unconcerned about the outcome," she told CNBC. Thailand's economy has been powering ahead since its 2014 coup, reaching 3.9 percent GDP growth in 2017. That was its best in five years, but that growth is expected to slow a bit this year due to weaker global growth, the World Bank projected. Even though that recent coup was the second in less than a decade, the political upheaval did little to cool Thailand's huge property increases. In fact, Sansiri — one of Thailand's biggest developers — set up its international business unit in 2014 after seeing growing interest from foreign buyers, said Nanmanas Jiwattanakul, the company's assistant executive vice president of international business development. Chinese buyers make up 70 percent of Sansiri's international sales, she said. Foreign buyers have not been deterred by the country's political limbo over the last five years as the Thai economy, business processes and policies have showed consistency and resilience despite numerous government changes, Nanmanas added. Thai property prices have roughly doubled in the last decade, so investors see the country as good place to grow their wealth, Nanmanas said. Still, she added, it's more than just financial calculus leading people to purchase property in Thailand, they're also buying holiday or retirement homes. Thailand was the fourth-most-popular country for Chinese property investment in 2018, according to Juwai. With $2.3 billion coming in from Chinese sources, the Southeast Asian nation ranked behind only the U.S. ($30 billion), Hong Kong ($16 billion) and Australia ($14 billion.) https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/thailand-property-chinese-buying-interest-has-surged-in-recent-years.html

Excerpted from South China Morning Post (10 Feb.) Andrey Korneev (left) and Nazar Moroz at MixFight Pattaya. Photo: Claudia Hinterseer It’s hard to imagine a building less in sync with its surroundings. In the crooked soi s (side-streets) of northern Pattaya, cluttered with motorbike taxis encircling steaming street-food stalls, All Saints Russian Orthodox Church may as well have come from outer space. Yet here it stands, in the middle of this quintessentially Thai streetscape – its bright white walls and bronze onion domes gleaming proudly in the ferocious afternoon sun. This dissonance is even more pronounced inside, where the temperature seems to drop, silence descends and the bleached white light of the outside world is replaced by the flickering of dozens of candles. Murals depicting the gospels adorn the ceilings and walls, flanked by a mixture of Thai and Cyrillic script. Most visit briefly but thousands have stayed, buying homes and starting businesses. There were 50,000 Russians on long-term visas in Pattaya in 2013, excluding Russian speakers from former Soviet states such as Belarus, Ukraine and Estonia. Their presence is evident on the city’s streets, in real estate agencies and restaurants featuring signs and menus in Russian. Pattaya’s Russian-speaking community was thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons last year, however, after Alex Kirillov and Anastasia Vashukevich were arrested for running “sex seminars” in the city. Detained last February during a session in a hotel room that was reportedly attended by about 40 Russian tourists, they were charged with offences related to prostitution. The pair were deported in December and banned from the country. As if Vashukevich’s sobriquet of “Belarusian sex trainer” wasn’t salacious enough, she also claimed to have inside information about how Russian operatives helped swing 2016’s US election in Donald Trump’s favour. Her claims remain unsubstantiated, but the case brought a renewed focus on Pattaya’s seedy underbelly. Plenty of visitors come to explore the red light district around Walking Street, although the city also draws a mix of retirees, families and singles with no interest in that side of Pattaya. The influx of visitors, and those who have settled, has made this the most Russian of cities in Asia. They chafe at the stereotype of their adopted city as a bottomless barrel of sex and sleaze. It is their home, and they are ready to defend it. Continues with pics and videos https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2185341/pattaya-love-forget-sex-trainers-meet-real-russians-thailands

From CNN Travel (7 Feb.) A display of mooncakes for sale on Bangkok's Pracha Rat Bamphen Road. his neighborhood lacks the frothy, bustling, gigantic sprawl and saturated neon of the capital's frenetic, 200-year-old Chinatown on Yaowarat Road along the Chao Phraya River, five miles (eight kilometers) away. It's also missing Chinese architecture, such as Yaowarat's temples, shrines, dragon latticework and antique buildings dating back to the late 1700s, when Bangkok's earliest Chinese merchants and settlers moved into the area. Instead, Pracha Rat Bamphen's small, unique lures include cafe-sized restaurants offering classic dishes from China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, which are difficult to find in the city's traditional Chinatown. From Yunnan to Bangkok In China, during the 1960s and '70s, the communist regime of Chairman Mao Zedong exiled some intellectuals and other rivals south to Yunnan so they couldn't influence Beijing's political struggles. These exiles joined Yunnan's indigenous minority ethnic groups in the mountainous province bordering Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, and together influenced the creation of recipes different from elsewhere in China. Some of those now elderly Chinese, their offspring and others recently began traveling from Yunnan to live in or visit Bangkok, and now often reside or eat along Pracha Rat Bamphen Road instead of Chinatown. Other Chinese immigrants are moving to this road from Chengdu city and elsewhere in central Sichuan province, famous for its fiery, spiced meals. Continues with pics https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bangkok-new-chinatown/index.html

Certainly agree about the upgrades. The worst one I experienced was on an iPad that disabled both cameras. I want to put in a rave for the virus protection that I purchased when I got my current PC. "ESET" I find is superior and more bug free than the others I've used over time. It has stopped occasional malware attacks and warns about questionable websites. It's been around for about 30 years but has a low profile. ESET comes with a mode especially dedicated to banking and financial websites.

From The News Hour - US PBS (6 Feb.) How this Thai educational movement empowers rural students More and more in Thailand, rural students learn in traditional classrooms, but with an emphasis on hands-on activities. The idea is to empower young villagers to bring economic development to their communities, as well as learn leadership, empathy and compassion. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro returns to Thailand to talk with the man leading the effort there. It's not something you typically see in a Thai public school. There's dancing, games and paper-making. And the teachers on this day were visiting students from a unique nearby high school. It's part of a new approach the government is seeking to expand across Thailand. It's begun with an initial 180 schools, and is based on the nonprofit 7-12 grade Mechai Bamboo School named after its founder, Mechai Viravaidya. The Bamboo School was started nine years ago in rural Eastern Thailand as a way to inspire young villagers to bring economic development to their communities. On a typical day, students might be performing for patients at a nearby hospital. That's after handing out meals they had prepared at the school kitchen using produce grown in the school garden. Students do learn in traditional classrooms, but the emphasis is hands-on. The Bamboo School was started nine years ago in rural Eastern Thailand as a way to inspire young villagers to bring economic development to their communities. On a typical day, students might be performing for patients at a nearby hospital. That's after handing out meals they had prepared at the school kitchen using produce grown in the school garden. Students do learn in traditional classrooms, but the emphasis is hands-on. Continues with video https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-this-thai-educational-movement-empowers-rural-students

From Bloomberg News (6 Feb.) Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as expected, as slower inflation and a soaring currency give policy makers room to pause after December’s hike. Four of the six members of the Monetary Policy Committee present at the meeting voted to hold the one-day bond repurchase rate at 1.75 percent, the Bank of Thailand said in a statement on Wednesday. Two called for a 25 basis point hike, while one member was absent. All 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted the decision. “The committee viewed that accommodative monetary policy would remain appropriate in the period ahead,” the central bank said, as it continues to monitor economic growth, inflation and financial stability. Key Insights After the first rate hike in seven years in December, economists see the Bank of Thailand on hold this year, given subdued inflation and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s shift to a prolonged pause in its tightening cycle Policy makers cited financial stability risks as a reason to remain cautious. While recent credit restrictions would help curb “vulnerabilities” in the financial system, developments in the mortgage loan market, real estate sector, and rising debt in the economy “still warranted monitoring,” the bank said Consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in 18 months in January, gaining just 0.3 percent from a year ago, on the back of low oil prices and a strong baht. Inflation has undershot the central bank’s 1 percent to 4 percent target range in the past three months The baht has surged more than 4 percent against the dollar this year, the best performer in a basket of major Asian currencies tracked by Bloomberg. The central bank said the currency will remain “volatile” due to external risks Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said last week an overshooting currency will put export-reliant Thailand at a disadvantage and it is the central bank’s job to curb swings in the baht Continues at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-06/thailand-holds-interest-rate-as-inflation-eases-baht-gains

From Khaosod English (6 Feb.) Papers Please! BTS Cash Card Users Must Disclose Personal Info BANGKOK — Starting in nine days, commuters who pay their skytrain fares with top-up cards must give up their ID card numbers, email addresses and phone numbers to the system’s operator. Citing a clause in 20-year-old anti-money legislation, the BTS said its so-called Rabbit Cards could be used for illicit financial activities and therefore must be registered. The explanation didn’t fly on social media, where many suspected ulterior motives. “Starting this Feb. 15, when topping up cash or trips at BTS ticket offices and the Rabbit service center at BTS Siam station, staff will ask for your ID card for registration and verification,” the operator announced online earlier this week. The statement said phone numbers and email address must also be provided. Foreigners must use their passports for registration. After Feb. 15, topping up without registration will not be possible. The BTS said the Rabbit Cards, which can also be used for purchases at a number of shops and restaurants, could be used for money laundering. But netizens questioned how that could be feasible as the cards are capped at 4,000 baht. Other systems are also citing the law to make similar demands, but they seem to be unrestricted debit cards that can be used to purchase anything. Users of TrueMoney Wallet, an online cash platform provided by telecom giant True, must also register their personal information by Feb. 28. One transparency activist noted it was strange that the BTS was pushing for mass registration as the interim parliament is considering an online privacy bill that could be enacted any time soon. “This is a pessimistic interpretation, but my life experience taught me not to be optimistic about these kind of issues,” Arthit Suriyawongkul wrote online. “The anti-money laundering act has existed for a long time, but they have never forced any registration prior to this.” The privacy bill – Thailand’s first such law – will ban any use or transaction of personal information without users’ consent, but will also allow information collected prior to the bill’s enactment to be used “according to the original purposes.” One comment on Blognone, a tech news site, warned that the personal information of BTS users is at risk under the new policy. “If someday there’s a data breach of all names and surnames tied to all travel records, I wish you all good luck,” user Lew wrote. “If [Rabbit Cards] can be used for money laundering, the BTS should issue regular top-up cards that can only be used for the BTS, which do not require any verification, just like food court cash cards,” another user Jonathan_Job wrote. The exposure of private data is not uncommon in Thailand, where activists say there is little protection for users. In 2017, the police inadvertabtly made information of 790,000 residents visited by police patrols public on their website. The information included names, full addresses, phone numbers and what they told visiting police officers. A year later, True Corp. exposed scans of its customers national ID cards, passports and driver’s licenses. The firm later blamed the unsecured storage on “hacks.” The BTS Skytrain is owned by City Hall which grants a management concession to the Bangkok Mass Transit System Co. Ltd.. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2019/02/06/papers-please-bts-cash-card-users-must-disclose-personal-info/

While the experts report on the startling increase in internet commerce in the Kingdom, I believe that the gay male community became aware of it long ago. This forum--and others--have seen many posts over many years citing the advent of the "apps" and the effect they're having on the once thriving brick-and-mortar venues most of us love. We blame the apps, and ballooning property values of course, for the phenomenon. What seems clear is that there are two camps. One heralds the apps for their convenience and potential to save on off fees. The other laments the declining number of locations they can physically visit to view what's on offer and enjoy the environment provided by the actual--and not cyber--marketplace. Just look around this forum and we read the latest news about the closing of Twilight and now the latest bulletin on the coming demise of soi 4. Posters have been writing about the gradual shrinking of Sunee Plaza for many years, along with changes in BT and Jomtien. Some in the Bangkok-centric crowd still get misty eyed over the closure of clubs that have been shut for a few decades . Punters don't like change, especially the older ones among us like me. The apps certainly make it possible view a large number of guys and possibly engage in some cyber negotiations. But even its advocates frequently cite the sterility of the experience. But that's the cost of convenience. Personally, I want to engage them in the real world, check their facial expressions and generally note any other physical clues I can gather (Christiampfc could do a more precise description of this process but you get the idea). Having said this, I admit there's not anything we can do to turn back the tide. We can certainly enjoy the venues that remain and support them. We who confine most of our activity to Bangkok can hope that some way, some how, some of our favorite venues will find new homes, preferably in the Silom area. Or maybe they'll migrate further out to less expensive neighborhoods. Saphan Kwai, for example, once offered many gay venues. I think the massage scene will survive the cyber monster longer than the bar scene will. But I also do not foresee complete extinction of the bars and clubs. The customer base will always be there to some degree. The ancient principle of supply and demand will take care of the rest. From the Nation (4 Feb.) Ecommerce in Thailand grew to Bt3.2 trillion last year Thai eCommerce grew the most in the Asean region last year, due to changes in consumer behaviour, and its value is expected to hit Bt3.2 trillion, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) said on Saturday. The number of internet users has grown four times over the past 10 years, and many Thaiinternational platforms have grown to support the number of online shoppers, along with increasing confidence in ePayment and faster logistics and delivery services, ETDA said. Service providers have chosen to use Big Data to analyse the behaviour and needs of consumers, while AI is being used to develop the quality of the product and services through uses of Chatbots. Trends show that growth will continue with the arrival of 5G, creating new innovations that will lift up the quality of life for consumers.Surangkana Wayuparp, president of Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Public Organisation) or ETDA, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) said that the results of surveys show that the value of eCommerce in Thailand has grown consistently between 810 per cent per year. ETDA has been collecting these statistics since 2014. When comparing the number of internet users over the past 10 years, there were only 16.1 million internet users in 2008; latest information revealed that in 2017, there were 45.2 million users. This reflects the change in consumer behaviour that has come as a result of the changes in technology and communication devices, as well as the reduction of the price of these devices and services, which has resulted in more people having more online access. This has resulted in the eCommerce market of Thailand growing as well, including increasing numbers of both buyers and online sellers, which is also in line with the growth of platforms by Thai and international businesses. Surangkana said: “Thailand is a country that has considerable strengths in the B2C sector – one of the biggest growths in Asean. Comparing 2016 and 2017, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/business/30363445

Started using Qatar about four years ago, also. My first New York-BKK biz fare was about $2,500. I had no complaints. Compared to the other Gulf hubs, I found Doha fairly easy to get around with spacious concourses and a comfortable lounge. Fares are now on a par with other major carriers and prices have about doubled. But it's not the in-flight service that I'm taking issue with. The problems I recently encountered can only get worse when Qatar eliminates the frequent flier phone contact center. When website access is the only option, you're forced into a cookie-cutter decision matrix. I much prefer to talk with a live rep to navigate the tricky process of attempting to check and confirm upgrades. You can no longer do that on Qatar. As you say, things have changed. About flight rules, if a partner airline sells you a ticket with its flight numbers on it (code sharing), it becomes the issuer of record. This process is distinct from simply transferring your miles to another network carrier and flying with that carrier's flight numbers.

As you imply, it suggests "you don't belong here....". Some hi-so Thais can take a persevere pleasure in belittling their countrymen to make themselves feel even more superior..

Floridarob, these are the links to the pics. They identify the place as the Appollo. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=appollo+club+jakarta&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fca%2Ff0%2Ff4%2Fcaf0f4807718fce789198febaf1057a7.jpg https://duckduckgo.com/?q=appollo+jakarta&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F--SgCZABRdq0%2FUC9O9Dr0U_I%2FAAAAAAAADvw%2FeOPsnb5ABrc%2Fs1600%2Fjakarta%2Bgogo%2Bgay.JPG Travelgayasia has reviews from 2017-18 about the Appollo: https://www.travelgayasia.com/jakarta-gay-bars-and-dance-clubs/

Floridarob, It seems that a few posters on Trip Advisor had a good time there also. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294229-d3308315-Reviews-Apollo_Bar_Club-Jakarta_Java.html Some random pics from the net:

When I was making reservation of the trip on Qatar nine months out, my plan was to use Qmiles to upgrade to biz. When I called the Privilege Club, they told me I couldn't check upgrade availability until after I purchased the ticket. However, agent assured me that my Gold status and fact that I was buying flexi ticket significantly improved my chances of getting the upgrades. Went ahead and purchased it and immediately attempted to upgrade. Qatar would only upgrade the DOH-BKK segments. So I attempted to cancel the refundable ticket. This involved numerous calls and emails, all of which produced conflicting instructions. I was unable to either cancel on the website or at either the reservations or Privilege Club contact centers. I finally appealed to my credit card issuer who is pursuing the matter with Qatar. My advice is if you are considering a Gulf carrier, purchase your ticket only through a One World or other network partner airline. If you are in the US or EU, you enjoy far better protection. Better yet, avoid the Gulf carriers altogether. There are too many other good airlines out there with competitive fares and good schedules.

IMO, spend all of them as quickly as possible. All of the big 3 Gulf carriers are experiencing financial problems. Ethiad seems to be in the most difficulty, Emirates finds itself over extended and Qatar continues to feel the effects of the embargo imposed by its neighbors due to its friendly policies towards Iran. Destinations and flight frequencies are being trimmed and new equipment orders being cancelled outright or cut back. I'm having problems trying to get Qatar to refund their highest cost economy "flexi" ticket (sold as having fully refundable fare basis). This is not a good omen for what lies ahead.

From Khaosod English Feb. 1) BANGKOK — Thailand is expected to receive a large influx of visitors for Chinese New Year, raising hope among officials that a rebound in mainland arrivals is underway. Up to 325,000 Chinese travelers are projected to visit the kingdom to celebrate the Year of the Pig, according to a forecast published by Kasikorn Bank, while an aviation official said at least 13,330 flights will arrive at Bangkok’s two international airports. Aeronautical Radio director Somnuk Rongthong said air traffic controllers have been put on full alert to monitor the airspace and clear up any delays during the holiday, which lasts Feb. 4 to 10. Total flights arriving in Thailand will increase by 6.4 percent from the same period of time last year, Somnuk said. The Airport Authority of Thailand said at least 10,000 Chinese tourists have been arriving daily via Suvarnabhumi Airport since late December. The agency expects an average of 200,000 arrivals per day from all nations during the Chinese New Year – known as the Golden Week in China. Chinese arrivals took a major hit after a ferry sank in July 2018, killing more than 40 Chinese passengers. Numbers of Chinese visitors to Thailand did not recover until December, when arrivals rose by 2 percent over the year prior. In a report published today, Kasikorn Bank’s research department said Thailand will welcome about 10.9 million Chinese tourists this year, though it added that the slowing Chinese economy and competition from other countries remain threats to the industry. “It will be a challenge to maintain and sustain the growth rate,” the report said. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2019/02/01/13300-flights-loaded-with-tourists-inbound-to-bangkok-for-cny/

English is the language of international corporate business, I'd agree, as I do with "...people who travel and EXPECT others to speak English are fools." But the issue in this thread is about Starbucks' decision not to post Thai language in their outlets inside of the host country. You don't have to be in Thailand long to understand that it is a society in which the majority indigenous Thai are dominated in many aspects of their life (business, industry, education--and now, Starbucks) by the minority Thai Chinese population. That's the reasons coups are so frequent. I think it's great that the minority population places high value on their education and business acumen but I also believe that the majority deserves a place at the table. For a retailer to ignore the majority of the citizenry, regardless of their socioeconomic status, is an insult to them individually and collectively. And the Thai guys we associate with bars and massage shops are from the indigenous population.I hope we'd all want to be in solidarity with them. It doesn't seem that the French got the memo in this case....

Starbucks menu in Barcelona...... And in Japan... And in Moscow... What's good for the Spanish, the Japanese and the Russians should be good for Thais, too.

From Bloomberg News (Jan. 31) A year after Airbus SE won what appeared to be a lifesaving order for its A380 double-decker, the flagship program’s future is once again on the line. Gulf carrier Emirates may convert some or all of its most recent 20 superjumbo orders into smaller A350s, people familiar with the matter said. That would slash the backlog and lead Airbus to kill off a plane that’s had limited interest from other airlines, just 11 years after it entered commercial service. Airbus would keep the superjumbo going until other outstanding orders for the model were fulfilled, mostly from an earlier Emirates deal, according to the people, who asked not to be named as the talks are private. But the move would ultimately mean shuttering a production line the manufacturer has fought to retain in anticipation of a revival in demand. Toulouse, France-based Airbus seemed to have secured the A380’s future when it agreed last January to sell as many as 36 planes to Emirates. Since then, though, it has struggled to find an engine maker willing to meet the carrier’s price and performance demands. An alliance of General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney showed little enthusiasm, while incumbent supplier Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc has failed to agree terms after months of negotiations. Airbus said in a stock-exchange statement that it’s in discussions with Emirates in relation to the A380 contract, which includes 16 options. The airline said talks were ongoing, while London-based Rolls-Royce declined to comment. Adding the smaller plane, which features composite wings and two engines, making it more fuel efficient than the four-turbine A380, would give Emirates a three-model lineup. As well as being the No. 1 superjumbo operator the carrier also has the biggest fleet of Boeing Co. 777s and is the leading customer for the upgraded 777X model. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-31/airbus-a380-future-on-line-as-emirates-said-to-mull-a350-switch?srnd=premium https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boeing-delivers-first-airplane-737-093800610.html

Any place in Thailand that lists menu items in English damn well should have it in Thai. To neglect to do so reeks of hi-so elitism.

From The Nation (Jan. 31) Fleet of small planes to spray water over Rama II Road in bid to fight pollution A FLEET of 47 planes is set to take off tomorrow to spray water over Bangkok’s most polluted areas in a bid to bring down the level of hazardous particles in the air. The operation will be jointly organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Bangkok Aviation Centre. “Water will be sprayed over the entire stretch of Rama II Road in Bangkok and will probably extend to the portion of the road adjacent to Samut Sakhon province,” Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday. He added that the target area would be about 60 kilometres long and 1km wide. “The planes will fly about 300 to 400 metres above ground,” he said. Rama II Road, which is a key route for people and cargo heading to the country’s South, has been blanketed with a dangerous level of PM2.5 dust particles for several days already. BMA has also dispatched drones to spray water in the hope of lowering the dust particles. Each drone carries 10 litres of water. “These drones will continue even after small planes from the Bangkok Aviation Centre join our efforts,” the Bangkok governor said. Aswin has also called on people to help by using diesel-run vehicles only when it is very necessary and refraining from burning outdoor fires. Chinese shrines and foundations have been asked to perform Chinese New Year rituals in a less polluting manner. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363323

Just assumed (I know: never assume anything) that it was affiliated. In any case, Russian founder cleverly latched on to an established corporate brand name with a simple lower case letter. Perhaps she was influenced by Igor Grabar (a Russian post-impressionist painter, publisher, restorer and historian of art) but that may be another story. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” ― Oscar Wilde On another note, don't think I'd be eager (or Igor) to agree to take the package of a stranger across international borders.

From Bloomberg News (29 Jan.) Central Group, which controls Thailand’s biggest shopping mall and department store operator, plans to invest $200 million in ride-hailing giant Grab, people familiar with the matter said. The deal seals a strategic partnership under which the conglomerate will help Grab expand its business in Thailand, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. Central Group will invest in Grab’s Thai unit, one of the people said. Grab and Central Group representatives declined to comment. With an empire that also includes hotels, supermarkets and restaurants, Central Group is counting on online growth to help drive sales. The company announced a $500 million joint venture with JD.com Inc. in 2017, teaming up with China’s second-largest e-commerce operator. Bloomberg first reported in September it was in talks to buy a significant minority stake in Grab’s local unit. Grab, which bought out Uber Technologies Inc.’s business in Southeast Asia, is expanding beyond its roots as a ride-hailing app by adding services such as food delivery, payments and logistics. GrabFood is now available in six major Southeast Asian countries and GrabExpress, its logistics and goods delivery service, in 150 cities, according to the company. The Singapore-based startup said this week it attracted more than $3 billion of investments in 2018 as part of its Series H funding round. Grab last year outlined ambitious fundraising plans and predicted that sales will double to $2 billion in 2019. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-30/thailand-s-central-group-is-said-to-invest-200-million-in-grab

From The Nation (30 Jan.) The Education Ministry on Wednesday ordered educational institutes in Greater Bangkok to close for two days, starting tomorrow, after air pollution worsened. The ministry will review the situation this weekend to decide whether the measures would be extended, said minister Dr Theerakiat Charoensettasin. The decision followed instructions from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for the ministry to consider urgent measures to deal with the worsening air pollution in Bangkok on Wednesday, the minister said. The Pollution Control Department reported of unsafe levels of PM2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns or less in diameter – in 39 locations around the city, of which 23 were along main roads. The level hit 141 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air – nearly three times the safe limit of 50 – on Rama II Road in Muang Samut Sakhon, Samut Sakhon province, 45 kilometres from Bangkok. If the situation remains unchanged, the order to suspend the classes may have to continue, he said. The minister was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Office of the Vocational Education Commission, Office of the Private Education Commission and Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC). Theerakiat said that the OHEC will ask cooperation from universities to consider suspension of classes for the sake of students. Referring to the O-net examination scheduled to take place between February 2-3, he said nothing could be done at the moment so the examination will proceed as scheduled. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30363218

Agree that Tet (lunar New Year) is not an opportune time for tourists to visit Vietnam. It's not that you would be treated poorly or inconvenienced more than you could manage, but because it's truly a moment when the Vietnamese wish to celebrate among themselves. They want to let their hair down, renew old friendships and reunite with family. Although "Tet" is frequently associated by westerners with the North's 1968 military offensive in the South that began during the holiday, that has nothing to do with the celebrations that combine national, cultural and religious traditions. Let them enjoy the biggest holiday on their calendar.