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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

When I arrived for the first time in BKK, not only could you see the air pollution, you could smell and taste it. It's improved by a wide margin since but certain weather conditions can exacerbate it. However, the only thing I believe worse than breathing it is not being there to breath it. From Bangkok Post Air pollution at unhealthy levels in Bangkok The amount of fine particulate matter in the air reached unhealthy levels in many areas of Bangkok on Monday, and the readings were rising, the Pollution Control Department warned. The unhealthy levels were recorded at all four of the department's air quality monitoring stations in Bangkok - with readings of 68 microgrammes in Wang Thonglang district, 82 microgrammes on Intarapitak Road and 63 microgrammes on Rama IV Road and on Lat Phrao Road. The problem was caused by the cold weather and lack of wind, which trapped exhaust emissions in the city environs. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1407890/air-pollution-at-unhealthy-levels-in-bangkok ----------------- 300,000 Chinese tourists during Lunar New Year The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 300,000 visitors from China during the Lunar New Year holidays, a nearly 18% rise from a year ago. During the same holidays in 2017, the number of visitors from China was hit by a government crackdown on budget tourism and the mourning period for the late king. Tourism accounts for about 12% of gross domestic product, making it one of the most important drivers of growth. The biggest number of foreign visitors come from China. Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year period, which this year begins on Feb 15 and lasts until Feb 21, will "generate about 8 billion baht in revenue", Santi Chudintra, a deputy governor at the (TAT) told reporters on Monday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1407906/tat-expects-300-000-chinese-tourists-during-lunar-new-year -------------- Panel wants end to licensing nightmare At the moment there are about 700,000 different kinds of licensing forms circulating nationwide and the panel wants to reduce this number to 1,000 to cut down on local authority budgets and standardise processes. PM's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakul, who also chairs a subcommittee looking into the laws governing business operations, said the cabinet will be asked to vastly reduce the paperwork and related procedures involved in setting up a new company. According to the minister, certain procedures need to be merged and handled by one agency so people who will no longer need to seek approval to run their businesses from many state agencies. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1407438/panel-wants-end-to-licensing-nightmare

The soi 6 neighborhood has a several things going for it. One, it already hosts various entertainment venues. Two, it's off the beaten path so less likely to "offend" the hi-so. Three, rent should be lower. Like the idea. Understand that Vietnam has acquired a frigate from the Laos Navy and is steaming toward Tuvalu as I write.

Stevie, you're the consummate troll. You try to drive members off the board with your self-centered drivel and gibberish posts. I really don't care that you were once married, fathered a child and then decided that you prefer young males instead, although I sure it came as a relief to your ex. Nor do I care that your primary criteria in judging men is whether their hips are of sufficient girth to support childbirth. Likewise, i don't give a crap to hear about your obsession with your healthy and perfect body or your compulsion to instruct others in how they might attain one, also. You contribute nothing of value and seek only to disrupt for your own perverse entertainment.. Here's how you persisted in persuading Namaz--one of the most entertaining and well-followed members--that it wasn't worth posting here any longer: Posted 03 June 2017 - 05:57 AM Numazu, reading your songkran report I had a mixture of nostalgia and satisfaction. Nostalgia for last year's songkran which I enjoyed very much with a fraction of your activities, and satisfaction for being content at home just reading about your doings. My head got a little winded reading all your coming and going, place hooping, foods and friends gluttony, endless water battles. I have the endurance for all that, but I would be a 50, 30, 20. 50% of the time enjoyable, 30% of it with a neutral feeling of having an experience, and 20% with desires for all that to end soon. Given the choice, I prefer to be a little under-entertained or under-celebrated than over-entertained, over-celebrated. Hopefully on return you could explain to your BF the disfavor of leaving a relationship issue in suspense... "will leave it for when you come back"... Perhaps he should either not have mentioned it at all, or have discussed it right there to completion. After all, in today's world you can have video talks for hours, and this time lost to sleep but with the issue resolved would have let you sleep much better thereafter. --------------- Posted 07 June 2017 - 03:49 AM About Numazu, I am not a moralist and in no way I condemn him. He is promiscuous like most we are here in different degrees. It must be in our genes. I don't judge him but I DESCRIBE him. There is an element of excess that stands out, although "pathological" may be a little strong. He says he is 36 y.o. but his obsession with sex fits more a teenager, not an adult at an age where one is normally focused on work and career and eventually family and children (even gays we can have family and children, haha.) If now he is so desperate to run around the globe in search of sex workers to pay, what... what will he have left for the time he is twice his age like me? I think there is time for everything, and to become a sex tourist is best for people who have done their duty, are retired with little or no responsibilities, with plenty of time and money to enjoy... like me! --------------- Posted 07 June 2017 - 10:26 AM At that age I traveled the world as much or more than Numazu, not as a sex tourist but working for a multinational company in the oil industry. I had my sexcapades but I was not obsessed with them like I wasn't obsessed with food or booze. My fascination with the guy is the time and effort he dedicates to his sexcapades and the writing about them. Doesn't he have a life... besides sex? There is a long way between that and "rationing".

You've always been a troll, Stevie, but now I see that you're a dumb troll to boot. Tuvalu's only 10 square miles.

You really hold a grudge. Last elections there were in 2015.

From Coconuts Bangkok University Student Pakkarapong “Toy” Khuaikhoen, won Mr. Gay World Thailand on Saturday, a contest for gay Thai men that considers more than just beauty. The 26-year-old won for speaking out against cyberbullying, which he said occurs regularly in the gay online community in Thailand. Toy is committed to rolling out campaigns to encourage online respect. “I want the LGBT community to be accepted, and it has to start from the inside. We must stop bullying each other. This is why I decided to compete. I want to be a spokesman for gender equality,” Toy told Dodeden. Toy, who is studying Arts & Communications at Nation University, will represent Thailand in the international Mr. Gay World contest, which will be held in South Africa in May. Other than promoting gender equality, Toy said he likes making Thai desserts and being in front of a camera. Mr. Gay World is an annual contest for gay men. It seeks to establish global ambassadors for LGBT and human rights. Continues with pics https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/student-crowned-mr-gay-world-thailand/