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I'm sure this service isn't limited to women. From Khaosod English BRIGHTER BUTTS, DARKER FUTURES Walk into any high-end department store in Bangkok and find an immense display of cosmetic brands from Avon to Yves Saint Laurent. Whatever their primary purpose, they all share one prominent feature – making parts of your body whiter. There are whitening lotions, creams and deodorants. There’s even whitening sunblock to get whatever the opposite of a tan is. In exclusive clinics and expensive spas around the city, remake a whiter you with injections, lasers, bleaches, peels, sand-jobs and more. Scratching your head yet? Now comes one of the most delicate offerings imaginable: Bleaching the “backdoor” to look bright and glowing in the farthest reaches. This whole whispered-not-spoken treatment can be had by trendy women or intrepid gents for a few thousand baht. It intrigued me – but not enough to try. So out came the questions when a new friend mumbled quietly that she does bleach her undercarriage. In the end, her burning tale was a window into the lengths someone would go to increase their stock in the infidelity game. Why do Thai women want to be white? White skin means status. It means coming from another class. It means they are the ones who can afford to pay for those dark-skinned people (farmers) to work for them. The trend started off with facial whitening slowly moved down from the face into the armpits only to now find its way further south to encompass even an area seen as little as the butt? Racism is evident in Thai society. Men prefer light-skinned women. Their darker sisters, usually from lower economic rungs, are teased. Constantly reminded of their misfortune; their inferiority complex digs deeper when validated by being at the tail-end of the pickings. Thailand’s monogamous society turns a blind eye. Encouraged by wealth, women have happily opted to be mistresses to prominent men. As for the friend who lightens the end of her tunnel, the arrangement comes happily without the responsibilities of being wife or mother. Her duty is only to make sure she is beautiful, well-groomed and available at a moment’s notice. So the reasoning behind these painful weekly whitening rituals, simply put, is assuring herself of a higher bank balance. The idea wasn’t her’s. During an early encounter, while watching porn together, he suggested she should have the attributes of a favorite porn star and persuaded her to look into such services in the city. So to secure her position as the preferred mistress, she sought professional help in the name of a spa. This educated, modern Thai lady passes the activity off as part of her grooming. It becomes part of her routine of hair, manicure, pedicure, hair removal and acne treatment. By week’s end, she becomes the fantasy. So what happens at these clinics? Are doctors present? How dangerous are these procedures? These and more were my questions. According to her: Painful, yes, and it takes a few days to heal – perfect for when he’s with the wife – but she’s getting used to it. Hydroquinone, a benzene derivative known as kojic acid, is used for the whitening. No doctors are present, but specialists dressed in white medical uniforms create the image of medical professionalism. As it requires a contortionist’s flexibility to actually admire the bleached area, how do you know the spa did a good job? By his constant reminders, she says, that it’s time for the next appointment when the naturally dark skin color begins to return. The downsides: scarred tissue, infection and pain. The upsides: a pristine feel-good factor and cleanliness. In the future, will society be judged as having gone off the rails when we became slaves to dollar signs or when porn stars became role models? http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/02/15/brighter-butts-darker-futures/

From Khaosod English A skinny man with a stylish high fade walks in holding two tall Long Islands. He hands one off and sips the other. He is M. “Okay, Zepee first, then Cher, Angele, followed by Chaka,” he instructs his colorful crew, who will soon take the stage in that order. M then slips into a chiffon dress that’s blue and yellow and leopard print. Under a khaki-colored wig cap, he tilts his head down toward a table mirror and puts on a long black wig. That’s exactly when Chakgai “M” Jermkwam ceases to exist. Now, she is M Stranger Fox. It’s almost midnight backstage at a shophouse bar in a busy soi off Silom Road when M Stranger Fox leads her drag posse down dark narrow stairs to a mezzanine stage divided by red curtains. She parts them a few inches to peek at the bar and audience below. Nodding to the DJ blaring a remix of Alaska Thunderfuck’s “Hieeee,” she wraps her fingers around a handheld microphone. She dashes out. The crowd cheers. In the 120 minutes to follow at The Stranger Bar, the five drag queens would sashay in and out to deliver high-kicking dance numbers, impeccable lip-syncs, quick-witted jokes and thrown shade to earn some 100-baht tips. While Thailand is famous for its kathoey, or ladyboys or transgender women, drag queen culture has little history in the kingdom. But it’s global rise as entertainment and identity comes as Thailand is reaching toward a new level of open-mindedness toward LGBT entertainers. Instead of playing the clown, they are seeking respect as artist-slash-geniuses and individuals. “I never dressed up like a woman before, never wore high heels before. [The Stranger Bar] made me find drag,” M said over a messy pile of heels and boots in the dressing room before the show. “Being drag allows you to be more foul-mouthed. It’s the power of eyelash, lipstick and high heels.” Continues with many photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/02/15/send-queens-thai-queer-culture-gets-drag-makeover/

From NY Times The entrance to Ba Hao, a bar in Bangkok's Chinatown district.CreditDavid Rama Terrazas Morales for The New York Times From upstart creative spaces and obscure bars to neighborhoods where a surprising urban tranquillity reigns, Bangkok remains ripe for discovery. One of the first Thai words that foreigners learn in Bangkok is farang, or foreigner. And no wonder. More than 20 million farang descend on the temples and temptations of Thailand’s capital every year, making it one of the planet’s most visited cities. You run into each other in hotels and restaurants, in the air-conditioned mega-malls of Siam Square, at the teeming Chatuchak outdoor market and the Buddhist sites of Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Together, you jostle through the crowds along the buzzing Sukhumvit strip and the backpacker haven of Khao San Road. And there you are again, venturing into the famous go-go bars of Patpong and Soi Cowboy. Fortunately, Bangkok is vast and fast-evolving, with many remote corners and newly minted hangouts. From upstart creative spaces and restaurants to obscure back street bars to the under-visited Thonburi district, Bangkok remains ripe for discovery. Continues with many photos https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/15/travel/36-hours-what-to-do-in-bangkok.html

For years I've fantasized about going to a sauna in Rio. You're bringing it into focus at just the right pace, allowing time between episodes for the experience to take shape and lust to flourish. The footfalls you hear behind you on the steps are mine.

From Bloomberg News Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged near a record low, while forecasting inflation will pick up and return to the target range next quarter. Monetary policy committee members voted unanimously to hold the one-day bond repurchase rate at 1.5 percent, where it’s been since 2015, according to a Bank of Thailand statement on its website on Wednesday. The decision was predicted by all economists in a Bloomberg survey. The Bank of Thailand, which has missed its inflation target of 1 percent to 4 percent in the past three years, is grappling with a stronger currency that’s limiting price gains and posing a threat to the nation’s exports, one of the main drivers of growth. The baht has gained more than 11 percent in the past 12 months, among the best performers in Asia. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-14/thailand-holds-key-rate-to-support-growth-momentum-as-baht-gains

From Bangkok Post Kuala Lumpur: A stereotype-laden checklist for spotting gay men and lesbian women published by a popular Malaysian newspaper has sparked outrage in the Muslim-majority nation, with activists warning it could endanger lives. The Malay-language tabloid Sinar Harian claimed gay men love to go to the gym -- just to check out other men -- wear tight clothes to show off their physiques and tend to sport beards, while their eyes widen when they see handsome men. Lesbians, the paper said, "hate men" and enjoy hugging. The list, published Friday, was swiftly met with derision online, while campaigners warned it could further stoke animosity against LGBTQ groups, who have been increasingly targeted with violence and discrimination in recent years. "It exposes these people to bullying, which could lead to violent hate crimes towards them," Eric Paulsen, Lawyers for Liberty executive director, told AFP Tuesday. Malaysia has experienced growing religious fundamentalism in recent years, sparking friction between conservative forces and those campaigning for greater rights. The country retains its colonial-era criminal ban on sodomy, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, caning or a fine. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1411695/spot-a-gay-list-in-malaysian-newspaper-sparks-outrage

From Reuters BURIRAM, Thailand (Reuters) - Loud cheers erupt as two boys trade punches at a boxing ring in Thailand’s northeastern province of Buriram. After dominating five rounds, the winner is declared; 11-year-old Nanthawat Promsod, who is better known by his boxing name - “Super Big Saksandee”.He earned 3,000 baht ($94.34) for winning the fight, and earns 1,500 baht ($47.17) for each match-up that he takes part in. He is one of at least 10 boxers aged 15 or less in the district of Satuk, where nearly every village has a boxing camp. “Muay Thai”, or Thai boxing, is said to be 2,000 years old. Known as “The Art of Eight Limbs”, it makes extensive use of elbows, hands, knees and feet. Thailand’s national sport is increasingly popular overseas too but in this Southeast Asian country it can provide a way out of poverty, as those who climb to the top of the sport can earn a lot of money. The country’s rural northeast is home to most star boxers who have gone on to win international recognition, such as welterweight Buakaw Banchamek, a two-time K-1 World MAX champion. Hailing from Surin province, Buakaw, 35, started fighting when he was eight years old, and won his first international kickboxing tournament in 2004 in Tokyo. Nanthawat wants to follow in his footsteps.“I want to become a champion,” said Nanthawat, who has had 40 fights over a two-year career and in recent months has won more than 10 consecutive fights. “I will be proud if I win at least one championship belt.” But as more Thai children, even some preschoolers, flock to Muay Thai, physicians and children’s rights bodies warn the sport could cause chronic health problems, such as neurological disorders. Jiraporn Laothamatas, a neuroradiologist and director of Thailand’s Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Center (AIMC), said a five-year study she conducted showed patterns of brain damage and memory loss in young fighters, compared to non-boxing peers. Continues with photos https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-boxing-children/boxing-fever-grips-thailands-boys-but-doctors-raise-health-concerns-idUSKBN1FX0BJ

From Daily Mail (UK) It was once one of the biggest brothels in all of Bangkok - a six-storey pleasure palace where dozens of girls worked every night entertaining hundreds of clients who described it as 'pure hedonism'. Dubbed Ocean Massage, the building included a nightclub, a coffee shop, an outdoor pool, gym, sauna and more than a hundred rooms with double beds, hot tubs and baths for girls to entertain visitors. But the huge venue was abandoned last month after police raided the parlour next door in the midst of a crackdown on the sex trade in Thailand, and the owners of Ocean Massage feared they would be targeted next. They fled in such a hurry that baby oil, talcum powder, make-up and perfume have been on shelves while dressing gowns and towels are still on some of the beds. Continues with video and pihotos http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5380951/Six-storey-brothel-Bangkok-lies-abandoned.html

From CAPA Center for Aviation Bangkok Don Mueang Airport: world’s largest LCC airport to surpass 40 million passengers in 2018 Passenger traffic at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport has more than doubled over the last four years, driven by rapid expansion in Thailand’s low cost airline sector. Don Mueang handled 38 million passengers in 2017, matching its annual throughput from over a decade earlier when it was Bangkok’s main and only airport. Don Mueang was gradually repositioned as an LCC airport in the years following the opening of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airport is now the world’s largest LCC airport, and in 2018 will likely become the first airport ever to handle more than 40 million LCC passengers in a single year. Thai LCCs currently account for 94% of seat capacity at Don Mueang, and LCCs overall accounted for 97% of total traffic at Don Mueang in 2017. https://centreforaviation.com/insights/analysis/bangkok-don-mueang-airport-worlds-largest-lcc-airport-to-surpass-40-million-passengers-in-2018-397645

A post on GB board mentions that a Twilight bar owner has been exploring move to Patpong 2 where Screw Boy is located. I walk that soi daily when in town and don't recall any vacancies but I really wasn't looking for one. Nevertheless, if there are indeed some, or if new ones become available, I can see the possibilities. In addition to being a convenient passage between Silom and Surawong, it's the home to a few good restaurants and Foodland supermarket. Lots of foot traffic from early to late. It would certainly have a lot of curb appeal potential.

They can say the same about us. Years ago I could buy a new car for $5000 and a good streak could be had at my favorite restaurant for $5. Back then I was also making a third of what I do now. Maybe it's all relative, no?

Agree that the vibe on Twilight is unique in the city and--given the trends in tastes and social media--make it unlikely that it can be recreated. Even if the push for new condos and apartments was absent, business was in a steady decline because too many go-go's were competing for declining numbers. Until fairly recently, Dream Boy experienced phenomenal success (despite the prices), mainly because of the constant flow of Chinese visitors. But when the Chinese walked down the stairs they didn't stop at the bars or restaurants on their way out. These were the domain of mostly gay farang visitors and ex-pats. But there just aren't enough of us anymore to support so many venues. Over on Soi 4, there's a different atmosphere but a more successful business model, fed primarily by strong foot traffic. The restaurants are good and the crowd is much more diversified. And it's that diversification that assures it's success. A gay presence still anchors the place and there are some flirty massage boys, although most congregate at the mouth of the soi. The same thing has occurred in major cities across the US over the years. The number of gay bars and strip clubs have declined precipitously in LA, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Boston and most Florida destinations. The decline started in the Aids crisis of the 80's and never recovered. By the time it was over, gays had migrated to the Internet. There's still a gay scene is these locations but it's different now. Hope it doesn't go to that extent in LOS. Even if it did, I'd still visit because that's where they guys I like tend to be.

The rumors about Twilight have been coming fast and furious and some are based on good sources. The ones having half of the soi closest to Rama 4 closing appear most likely to come first. As Vinapu noted, any delay on the remainder will likely be just that. Paulsf is on the ground now and he talks regularly with the managers and the boys so you can put good stock in what he reports. He's widely respected and has great coin on the street. Guess the bottom line comes down to this: if you can make it there before the wrecking ball falls, it may be your one last chance. If you can't, the value of your memories goes up. But in any case, it's not over until the last ladyboy sings.

When I was last in bkk in December, learned that Lucas (of Dick's and Tarntawan Apartments) had returned to his home country of Switzerland to work on a six-month contract. Lucas is an old Bangkok hand and has been on the soi for a few decades or more. If he's around I'm sure he'd be able to fill you in. The veteran manager at Dick's could also be a good info source.

From South China Morning Post The notorious sleazy side to Thai seaside resort Pattaya is not what is pulling in millions of Chinese tourists every year who, guided by social media like WeChat, go to see things like Tiffany’s Show, and are even buying property. A transgender extravaganza that has been running since 1974, Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya is still going strong, packing in hundreds of ogling tourists every night. The entrance fee is not cheap – 900 baht (US$28) for an ordinary ticket and 1,600 baht for VIP seats – but this does not put off an audience that nowadays is more than 60 per cent made up of Chinese tourists. Of the 35 million international tourists who visited Thailand last year, about 30 per cent came from China, making it Thailand’s main tourist market for the third year in a row. Pattaya, a seaside resort town with a seedy reputation 100km southeast of Bangkok, attracted between 2 million and 3 million Chinese tourists last year, out of an estimated 10 million international visitors, according to local tourism authorities. Unlike tourists from many other countries, however, the Chinese do not seem to be attracted to Pattaya for its notorious nightlife of girlie bars and prostitution. They are more interested in all other things Thai, including the food, silk and the exotic “ladyboy” performances staged by the 44-year-old Tiffany’s Show. “Many people have already visited the show and they have recommended it,” says Chan Xiali, 30, waiting outside the venue’s entrance with a friend. “We want to see the show because they [transgenders] are so beautiful and dance so gracefully. There is nothing like this in China.” Chan, from Guangdong province, is a so-called FIT (foreign independent tourist) visiting Thailand, but is constantly guided by social media advisers such as WeChat, which provides input on everything from hotels to street food. “I think the Chinese who come to Pattaya now are better informed,” says Alisa Phanthusak, managing director of Tiffany’s Show and part of the family that established it. “Everywhere they go in Pattaya they have WeChat giving them suggestions all the time. So this is the new word of mouth. And if you consider that China has a billion people, if you can get them all plugged in by word of mouth via social media, that’s your marketing.” “In the beginning we had a lot of [Chinese] group tours coming to Tiffany’s, but now the market has changed,” Phanthusak says. “Now we get more Chinese FIT customers than tours.” That is good news for Tiffany’s bottom line. The Chinese group tour agents and guides demand at least 50 per cent of the show’s ticket price as their cut, whereas Tiffany’s keeps 100 per cent of FIT ticket sales. http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/2132657/chinese-tourists-flocking-pattaya-transgender-shows-thai

From Bloomberg News Thailand may be run by a military government but that’s not stopping its currency appearing to be the ultimate haven asset. Thai baht implied volatilities are the lowest of any free-floating currency in the world and Thailand’s current-account surplus stood at more than 10 percent of its GDP in the third quarter. The country’s foreign-exchange reserves increased to a record in January, while it’s much less exposed to overseas investors than regional peers -- foreign ownership of its government bonds stood at around 16 percent at the end of December, lower than the 29 percent figure in Malaysia at the same time, and the 41 percent in Indonesia at the start of February.

From South China Morning Post Turning around the fortunes of Swire Pacific’s aviation and offshore marine services divisions will be the two biggest challenges facing incoming chairman Merlin Bingham Swire, according to analysts. Jonathan Galligan, head of Asia gaming and conglomerates at CLSA, singled out Cathay Pacific Airways, in which Swire Group owns a 45 per cent stake, and Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) as two underperforming units that will require a lot of time and effort to turn around. “Cathay Pacific continues to face structural challenges as competitive pressures increase, which the group will need to continue to address.” Cathay Pacific reported its worst half-year results in at least two decades, a loss of HK$2.05 billion (US$262 million), almost double the estimated HK$1.2 billion forecast by analysts. The company blamed the result for the six months ended June 2017 on fierce competition and higher jet fuel costs, including losses from fuel hedging. http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2132755/cathay-pacific-and-offshore-marine-business-will-test

Definitely. At Babylon, where you always did.

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — When 40 policemen found out earlier this week they were suspended from active duty, it wasn’t for insubordination or dereliction of duty. It was their haircuts. The order to remove them from their posts was issued after they failed to meet an ultimatum they cut their hair to a uniform style that calls for the sides and backs of their heads to be shorn close, a police spokesman said Tuesday. “First of all, police are civil servants who wear their uniforms properly. Their discipline is enforced by law,” Col. Krissana Pattanacharoen said. “Apart from the law, there’s also police regulations, which include wearing a neat and correct haircut.” Police commissioner Chakthip Chaijinda first imposed the buzz cut back in November and last week reiterated that all police stations must comply with the new style. It requires policemen to shave the sides and back of the head until they are “white,” leaving a crop of “two or three inches” of hair on the top, hence its common name khao sam daan, or three white sides. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/02/06/40-cops-suspended-not-adopting-new-haircut/

From Bangkok Post JAKARTA: The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday criticised proposals in Indonesia's parliament to criminalize gay sex and extramarital sex, saying such laws could hurt the country's beleaguered LGBT community and other minorities. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said he had raised the issue with President Joko Widodo during a three-day visit to the world's largest Muslim-majority country, where hostility toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has risen sharply in recent years. "Discussions of (revisions to the criminal code) betray strains of intolerance seemingly alien to Indonesian culture that have made inroads here," Zeid told a news briefing, adding that he believed the proposed rules were "discriminatory". "The hateful rhetoric against the LGBT community that is being cultivated seemingly for cynical political purposes will only deepen their suffering and create unnecessary divisions," he said. Indonesia's parliament is currently deliberating revisions to a Dutch colonial-era criminal code, including proposals to outlaw sex outside marriage, same-sex relations, and co-habitation, all of which were previously unregulated by law. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1409022/un-slams-indonesia-move-to-outlaw-gay-extramarital-sex

It does appear that the railroad authority is zeroing in on day trippers and one-night visitors who are traveling light (small backpack). I'm not fond of early departures but I might be persuaded to try it just for the experience of the train ride itself--one I've never made. The multiple stops, like Nogn Nooch, add attractive options. It may also help introduce first-time visitors to Pattaya. And anything that keeps travelers from taking to the road can't be a bad thing. Hope it succeeds.

TMax, you may well be right. I was going only by the map at the end of Coconuts link.

Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok On Surawong Road, behind an unassuming little shopfront, is a new bar poised to become one of Bangkok’s favorites, thanks to a luxe-meets-lowkey vibe, great music, and some of the best, strongest cocktails in town. The 88 Surawong owner and co-founder Minway Chi said that he and co-founding bartender Eric Stephenson referenced “old American classics” when creating the menu at the cozy new bar, which is the former home of The Smokin’ Pug. The space is still decked out in brick, dark wood, and black iron. The darkness of the decor adds to the cave-like feeling of the space, making it seem smaller and cozier that it may actually be. It’s a place perfect for striking up a deep conversation with a stranger. The drinks, served alongside Americana-referencing dishes like high welfare pork chops (rotating organic pork, apple slaw, and gin bbq THB320), buffalo chicken kara-age (buttermilk garlic marinade, Frank’s hot sauce, blue cheese THB280), and sawmill gravy & buttermilk biscuit(Sloane’s maple bacon sausage gravy THB240) complement a comfort soundtrack of New Order, The Cure, The Human League, and Joy Division. 88 Surawong Road (opposite Patpong 2) Open Mon.-Sat. From 5pm-1am https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/damn-fine-cocktails-could-the-88-surawong-be-bangkoks-best-new-bar/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — An air-conditioned passenger train will begin operating from the capital to Pattaya next month, state railway authorities said Monday. Depending on popularity, the new rail service may be made permanent – or canceled altogether. “We want there to be more of a tourism feel when people are on their way to Pattaya,” Oratai Suwannatas, tourism marketing executive at the State Railway of Thailand said. “We expect Thai tourists and also a large number of Chinese tourists to use the train.” The train will start trial runs on a yet unannounced date in March. It will depart Bangkok at 6:30am and reach Pattaya at 9am. For the return trip, the train will depart Pattaya at 3:50pm and reach the capital at 6:50pm. That makes for a journey a little slower than the average drive, but without the driving or hunting for a bus. The train will have six stops: Si Racha town, North Pattaya, Pattaya Floating Market, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Wat Yan Sang Wararam and finally terminate at Ban Phlu Ta Luang in Sattahip district. Oratai said that the diesel-run train is still in its planning stage and will have a trial period of six months. It will run only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Ticket prices for the of the air-conditioned trains have not been decided yet, but Oratai said that “the investment cost for trains is high. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2018/02/05/pattaya-bangkok-weekend-air-conditioned-train-run-march/

The Sun, one of the UK's many tabloids, seems to take much pleasure in displaying the booze-fueled behavior of its own citizenry vacationing in the LOS. So what? They're on holiday, they're young and they're horny. And I don't think Thais are tiring of the pounds they bring to exchange for baht. Just wish I was that young again. Continues with photos...many, many photos https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5486982/will-thailand-be-the-next-country-to-tire-of-boozy-brits-pictures-show-drunk-tourists-behaving-badly-in-countrys-top-holiday-spots/ ------------ And if you think Brits party hardy, you should have been downtown Philadelphia after the Eagles, huge underdogs going into the game, shocked the New England Patriots, 41-33, Sunday night in the highest-scoring Superbowl ever. Philly fans celebrated accordingly. From CNN