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Impressive photo essay of the preparations in progress. From Bloomberg News http://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2017-09-08/thailand-s-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-cremation-prep-underway

There are some days when my only food intake (outside of a hotel breakfast) comes from 7-Eleven. Love those <40 baht meals they'll heat up in microwave. That and a beer will do...and maybe an icecream sandwich.

Can't agree. We're talking about major hotels with international branding. Don't recall visiting a hotel of that caliber that didn't routinely change bed linens daily. Exception is if a different policy is posted (and that's usually limited to serviced apartments) or when you are requested to place a card on your bed to indicate that you want (or don't want) linens changed.

The Bolshoi couldn't have choreographed a better climax!

There's another service commercial laundries confidentially offer hoteliers. Instead of the full cleaning service (wash, rinse and press) they'll offer a discount of about 30% where sheets are only sent through rinse cycle and pressed. They look fine. However, sheets regularly not exposed to soap and bleach eventually (especially in a hot, humid climate) take on a faint to no-so-faint "body" odor about them. When checking into any hotel room, I usually take a few minutes to check the bed by pulling back cover sheet and check for body hairs, stains or odors before lifting bottom sheet off mattress and check for evidence of bedbugs. I sniff pillows for freshness. I then check bathroom and give shower curtain the sniff test (if it has a bad odor, I request housekeeping to change it). Last thing I do is use hand sanitizer to clean remote, usually the germiest thing in the room. It's not uncommon for guest, when making reservation, to request a particular room he has a preference for. In this case, the person who first checked in would only need to notify follow-up team member of room number. The other method would be for first person to make reservation (and pay for) for two night and explain upon registering that he would be staying just one night and that a colleague would be occupying the room on the next night.

Is this something quite recent? I was upstairs there in June for massage.

I'm surprised to hear about this. I've used lockers at Banana Club in past with no problem. I've always found the manager to be very concerned with his shop's reputation. He frequently responds to customer comments left on Travel Gay Asia site. The issue of how best to secure cash when in massage places has come up from time to time. I think the easiest and most foolproof solution is to stuff a 7-Eleven bag in your pocket and after removing pants (assuming that's where your baht is), roll them up and put them in bag, tying a knot with the handles. Take the bag with you into shower and hang it on hook. While in the room, place bag on hook or other location where you can glance at it from time to time. That way you can bypass the locker system altogether.

From South China Morning Post Top hotels in Beijing accused of reusing dirty bedlinen, failing to wash bathtubs, basins Consumer group uses hidden cameras, UV stamps to test hygiene standards at US$300-a-night rooms The Beijing Tourism Association has said it will investigate claims made by a consumer rights group of poor hygiene standards at several five-star hotels in the city. The association issued a statement on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, after being made aware of research carried out by the group, whose English name is “Better Choice, Better Life”. The latter claimed in a video published via its Weibo account that W Hotel in Beijing, Intercontinental Hotel Beijing in Sanlitun, JW Marriott Beijing and Hilton Beijing had failed to change bedlinen between guest visits. Using hidden cameras, the video shows the researchers checking in to rooms at the four hotels – and also at the Shangri-La – in the city. Once inside, they recorded themselves marking the bedlinen, wash basins, baths and other items with fluorescent stamps that are visible only under UV light. After a short stay, during which they “messed up” the rooms a little, the researchers checked out. The following day, their colleagues checked in to the same rooms to record the findings. By looking for the UV marks – which the group claimed would quickly disappear if wiped or washed – the researchers were able to determine how thoroughly the rooms had been cleaned. In most cases, the rooms had been tidied, but much of the bedding had not been replaced or cleaned, the group said. The Shangri-La got the highest marks for cleanliness, with a researcher finding just one “dirty” pillowcase on the return visit. The video also showed that bathtubs and toilet seats had not been properly cleaned, as was the case for several glass tumblers. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2110187/top-hotels-beijing-accused-reusing-dirty-bedlinen-failing-wash

Not at all. As a top, whenever I'm presented with less than standard Thai issue equipment (forget who first coined the expression but I like it), I become determined to satisfy him and the effort is almost always met with an enthusiastic and appreciative response. I'm grateful, of course, when he actually turns into a grower. My personal preference is a smooth tool with emphasis on length over girth with a slight upward bend. Only thing I find less than appetizing are mooks of any sort.

Suppose there are worse things you could find in your bed. Excerpts from Coconuts Bangkok / Thairath / T news An American man who owns a vacation house in Prachuap Khiri Khan had to go to the local police with CCTV footage yesterday morning after his house was burglarized for the ninth time. On each occasion, the thief stole various items from Sullivan, 37, including electrical gear. The expat was angry, but to add insult to injury, during the break-ins, the intruder sometimes drank Sullivan’s beer and took a nap in his bed, reported Thairath. The police began to investigate and found the intruder in just five hours with the help of the footage. The suspect is an 18-year-old rubber factory worker and Laos national named Pek. They issued a warrant for his arrest on Monday, reported T News. Pek has been charged with five counts of theft and admitted to the break-ins. Oh, and he stole some zzzz’s when he napped in Sullivan’s bed. http://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/zachery-sullivan-burglarized-nine-times-intruder-drank-beer-took-nap/

NOTE -- I would not be at all surprised if Christian hasn't already posted about this on his site, or if he hasn't he will make plans to travel to Chiang Mai. From Lonely Planet Commissioned by Panyaden International School in Thailand to design them a sports hall, Chiangmai Life Architects (CLA) opted to use a local and abundant natural material; bamboo. The result is an impressive fete of engineering that’s expected to last at least 50 years. According to CLA, a firm who specialize in bamboo and earth architecture,“the brief was to build a hall that should be big enough to hold the projected capacity of 300 students, but still smoothly integrate with the previous earthen and bamboo buildings of the school, as well as the natural hilly landscape of the area. It should provide modern sports facilities and use only bamboo to maintain the low carbon footprint and the Green School mission of Panyaden.” Incredibly, due to the way the bamboo is woven, supportive reinforcements weren’t necessary. “The sports hall utilizes prefabricated bamboo trusses to span more than 17 meters without steel reinforcements or connections. It combines modern organic design, 21st century engineering and a natural material. The bamboo was all well selected for age, and treated with borax salt. No toxic chemicals were involved in the treatment process.” Continues with other photos https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2017/09/05/panyaden-international-school-thailand-sports-hall/

Clarification from Khaosod English 13 Airlines Blocked From Flying Abroad Await Judgment September 5, 2017 6:36 pm BANGKOK — Thirteen Thai airlines ordered to halt international flights for failing to meet international regulations will be reevaluated at the end of the month, the interim cabinet announced Tuesday. Four days after the carriers had to suspend international flights for being out of compliance with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization’s requirements for safety and other standards, the cabinet said. Nine major Thai airlines passed review by the UN body and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, but 13 did not. Domestic flights were unaffected. The airlines that failed to pass international safety standards include low-cost domestic carriers such as Orient Thai Airlines, Thai VietJet Air and Siam Air Transport. The rest – mostly private charter jet and cargo carriers – are Mjets, K-Mile Air, Jet Asia Airways, AC Aviation, Siam Land Flying, Asia Atlantic Airlines, VIP Jets, H.S. Aviation, Advance Aviation and Skyview Airways. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/09/05/13-airlines-blocked-flying-abroad-await-judgment/

Inexplicably, the following article neglects to identify the 16 airlines "suspending" operations. Since TIT, I would not automatically assume that they've actually ceased flying passengers simply because they are "required" to. From The Nation 16 Thai airlines suspend their operations after failing safety assessments SIXTEEN airlines registered in Thailand have failed safety and related regulatory assessments conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), requiring them to suspend operations until they get new Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs), as authorities enforce stricter rules in accordance with requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The ICAO is due to send delegates to inspect Thailand’s new aviation safety regulatory system later this month or in early October, after which the agency is expected to consider lifting its “red flag”, which was imposed in 2015 due to safety concerns. According to a government committee chaired by Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan, Thai authorities had already issued AOCs to nine airlines under the new regulatory system, while another 11 airlines were in the process of applying for AOCs. New challenges Due to the Thai aviation sector’s rapid growth rate over the past decades, there have been concerns about safety and other issues facing a large number of airlines registered in Thailand. In addition, the regulatory system needs to be overhauled to cope with new challenges resulting in the restructuring of multiple agencies, including the CAAT. As a result of failing to pass the CAAT’s assessments, all 16 airlines were ordered to suspend their service as of last Friday, in line with the ICAO’s regulations. According to Colonel Sirichan Nga-thong, a spokesperson for Prawit, the ICAO had already inspected the safety and other related aspects at Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang international airports as well as those of the CAAT in July. The results are understood to be satisfactory with no significant safety or related concerns. After ICAO delegates review the country’s overall aviation safety and regulatory system, the agency is expected to report its assessment within the next 60 days, especially regarding the status of the red flag affecting Thailand. Thailand has faced a shortage of qualified personnel and training officials regarding aviation and safety issues following years of a boom in the aviation and tourism sectors. The number of foreign tourists has increased rapidly over past decades to about 30 million this year. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30325783

From Pattaya Mail The military will turn the screws on Pattaya’s baht buses and taxis again this month, ending the practice of warning drivers and banning them from camping outside malls and hotels. Maj. Gen. Popanan Lueng­panuwat, head of the National Council for Peace and Order in Banglamung, met with transport operators, police and city officials Aug. 22 to announce yet another “D-Day” on enforcement of its traffic policies. Starting Sept. 1, he said, drivers of tour buses, baht buses and taxi cabs caught violating traffic and parking rules no longer will receive a warning. They will be fined on the spot and, in some cases, their vehicles impounded for seven days. Popanan noted that since the army imposed its new rules in February, more than 700 drivers have been cited, fined and trucks impounded, but violations continue. http://www.pattayamail.com/news/army-turns-screws-baht-buses-taxis-184869

"selter" was of course seltzer. My misspelling prompted me to find out if "selter" was actually a word and learned that it's a brand (Selters) of a natural spring water from the area of the Tanus Mountains in Germany. However, I wouldn't tip if either ended up down my pants.

Excerpts from South China Morning Post Why did China invite Thailand to the BRICS party? Clue: its sleeper hit of an economy Take a guess: which Southeast Asian country did Beijing invite for the BRICS Summit that begins on Sunday in Xiamen, where leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will discuss the future of emerging economies over tea? Option A: Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy; Option B: Cambodia, the region’s fastest growing economy, or; Option C: Thailand, which is riding a wave of political uncertainty, even if it is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia. And the answer is ... Yes, Thailand. Beijing’s invitation might have raised eyebrows in some quarters as it came at around the timeYingluck Shinawarta, the former prime minister of Thailand, was fleeing the country ahead of a verdict in her trial over a controversial rice subsidy scheme. Yingluck was supposed to appear in court on August 25 but followed the path of her brother, Thaksin, into self-imposed exile. Her disappearance served as a reminder of Thailand’s years-long political chaos. Analysts see Beijing’s invitation as returning a favour – Bangkok is its all weather ally and has helped China navigate its territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China Sea – and as a signal of Thailand’s still sound position in the global economy. “Thailand could play an important role in economic integration in the region,” said Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, a senior economist at the Bangkok office of the World Bank. Despite persistent political unrest, “there is no fundamental problem in the Thai economy”. Exports make up nearly two-thirds of Thailand’s economic output while tourism contributes 12 per cent. Surges in both sectors are a key to Thailand’s growth. http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/2109399/why-did-china-invite-thailand-brics-party-clue-its-sleeper-hit

Would only pay in advance if request came from a boy I've been with before. About the guy who wouldn't undress, what did he think he was there for? "A little song, a little dance, a little selter down your pants"?* Assumed that you paid him accordingly. ------- * credit Chuckles the Clown (Mary Tyler Moore Show half-a-century ago).

You're making great use of your time, that's for sure. Always disappointed when guy doesn't shower after with me for practical and well as erotic reasons: it's not easy to get that oil off your back. If he doesn't, I don't choose him again. That's one of he reasons I like Banana Club where the boy always showers before and after with you.

Find this especially good indicator as I get older! This brings up a good point. Although I don't believe they doubt that they'll get paid the following day, boys who live hand-to-mouth--particularly in low season--experience a natural anxiety. I don't view it as a sign of distrust from a guy I know, just normal stress that I can relieve with a simple act of trust that they'll uphold their part of the bargain.

From Coconuts Bangkok A team at the renowned animal welfare charity Soi Dog Foundation, based in Phuket but very active in Bangkok as well, is pushing ahead with a project to transform unwanted – and often brutally mistreated – street dogs into a valuable watchdogs to protect communities. Together with a creative team at advertising agency Cheil Thailand, collaborators are developing a “smart vest” to take full advantage of the dogs’ biologically-bred sense of purpose and keen senses, with the hope of integrating them better into Phuket’s communities. Leading the team, Pakornkrit Khantaprab explained, “We’ve created a smart vest for stray dogs to turn them into watchdogs. The vest will combine technology with dog instincts – such as barking, super senses and territorial behavior.” When the dog wearing the vest barks, a notification will be sent immediately to people near the location where the dog is barking via 4G/WiFi, Pakornkrit said. Anybody with the mobile phone application the team created can access the information and even view what the dog can see via a high-definition camera stitched into the vest, he added. “Our app can distinguish between normal barking and furious barking. The sound waves are different,” Pakornkrit explained. “Technically, the camera can be accessed all the time but we can program it to activate only when the dogs are barking,” he said. To prevent the camera from being activated when the dogs are getting up to inappropriate “happier” things, Pakornkrit said, “The sound waves are also different. We have programmed it to detect only when they bark at something suspicious.” https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/soi-dog-foundation-employ-street-dogs-watchdogs-via-high-tech-vests-video/

From CNN Richard Quest's take on the resiliency of Thailand: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/01/investing/quest-thailand-tourism-tourism/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom

I have to defer to Christian on many issues for several reasons: He has lived virtually full-time in Bangkok for about four years He reads and speaks Thai He's probably traveled more about the country than any other non-Thai member He's a keen observer with a practiced eye for detail This has enabled him to acquire a much more nuanced view than the occasional visitor. That doesn't mean I necessarily agree with him on all issues but I have much respect for his positions on matters of mutual interest. For those of us who don't understand the spoken language, he's able to eavesdrop on converstaions wherever he finds himself. If I could understand Thai, I'm sure it would indeed influence my experiences. I'm free to interpret the sounds I can't translate in a manner that fits my mood, intentions and desires. Ignorance can be bliss....especially when it comes to matters of sex.

True, but if I was being assaulted by the loud music I wouldn't give a damn about the purity of the motive of the cops who stopped it.

One would think so but, like in so many cases, TIT. Don't hold your breath. From Thai PBS BMTA scraps bid for NGV bus fleet due to no-show of any bidders August 24, 2017 Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, the only operator of city bus service, decided to scrap the bid to find a supplier for 489 NGV buses after no representatives of the three companies earlier showed interest to join the bid failed to show up to submit their bids for the deal on Thursday – the closing date for bid submission. BMTA board chairman Natthachart Charuchinda said it was necessary for the board to cancel the bid because none of the three companies namely Bestlin Group, Thai Technology and Development Company and JVCC Chor Thavee Joint Venture showed up within the 11 am deadline for the bid submission. He said authorities concerned would review the TOR and the median price of the bus fleet which used the bidding price offered by Bestlin Group that enabled the company to win the contract in the last bid. He added that the process would take about two months after which a new would be staged. An informed source said that the 3,387 median price was too low, making it impossible for any potential suppliers to deliver the bus fleet as required. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bmta-scraps-bid-ngv-bus-fleet-due-no-show-bidders/

Excerpts from Khaosod English AYUTTHAYA — A disciplinary inquiry has cleared a policeman in Ayutthaya province of wrongdoing for the invitations he sent for his same-sex wedding. Three months after he was laced under invstigation following his marriage, Lance Cpl. Thanadet Sukthawinand said Wednesday that he had been cleared without further repercussion. In May, police said they were investigating whether Thanadet’s marriage violated any police regulations. “Nothing came of it,” the lance corporal said, adding he’s still on the force. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2017/08/30/cop-cleared-wrongdoing-marrying-boyfriend/