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From LA Times By Stephanie Yang BANGKOK, Thailand — In 2019, business was booming for Owen Zhu. He was one year into his new career in real estate, showing Bangkok properties to Chinese investors. Then the pandemic halted travel and spending. Even now, Chinese buyers are slow to return. The exception has been one group that has since become Zhu’s specialty: LGBTQ+ clients looking to build a new life for themselves outside China. “Most of them are buying to live in or to retire in — not like many straight people or friends, who are prioritizing investments,” Zhu, 40, said. Before the pandemic, Zhu estimates, about one-fourth of his clients were LGBTQ+. Now they make up two-thirds of his customer base. As China has clamped down on queer representation and advocacy, Bangkok, long the “gay capital” of Asia, has offered visitors a reprieve from the conservative culture back home. Here, the thriving nightlife of gay bars and clubs draws many potential buyers to look for apartments near the city center, Zhu said. Zhu, who is also gay and from China, bought an apartment in Bangkok in 2017 for his eventual retirement. As friends started asking his advice on how to make their own purchases, he quit his job in Chinese media to help them find properties full time. As his clientele has changed, so has Zhu’s marketing on Chinese social media. In between property listings, he now shares updates on efforts to legalize same-sex marriage and surrogacy in Thailand. With demand growing, Zhu said he hopes to start a housing complex catering to gay Chinese in the next few years. Continues at https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-05-30/chinese-lgbt-emigrants-thailand

From The Thaiger he United Kingdom Foreign Office issued a travel warning to British touristsheading to Thailand ahead of the summer holidays: “Behave, or end up in jail!” The Foreign Office advised British holidaymakers flying to the Land of Smiles to be cautious of the new visa rules. “From 1 June 2024, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter Thailand without a visa (visa exemption) for tourism and short-term businessengagements for a period not exceeding 60 days. If you intend to stay longer (for work, study, or other reasons), you need to obtain a visa before you travel. “If you stay beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined 500 Thai baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. You risk being held in detention.” You also risk being “deported at your own expense” and “banned from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years.” The Foreign Office warns that “conditions in detention centres can be harsh.” It adds that holidaymakers can find more information on visas or entry requirements by contacting the Royal Thai Embassy or the local Immigration Office. Tax duty The UK Foreign Office has explained that there are strict regulations regarding goods that can be brought into and taken out of Thailand. Holidaymakers must declare any items that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. The Foreign Office has specifically issued a warning about importing cigarettes, reported National World. “It is illegal to import more than 200 cigarettes per person into Thailand. This is enforced at customs on arrival. If you go over the limit, you could be fined 10 times the value. Furthermore, your cigarettes will likely be confiscated.” The UK Foreign Office also revealed details regarding passport validity requirements. “Your passport must remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Thailand. Entry to Thailand may be denied if your passport is damaged or has missing pages.

From Pattaya Mail A foreign tourist fell to his death at a 39-story luxury condominium on Thepprasit Road, South Pattaya on June 3. The victim, identified as Mr. Roman Vlasenko, a 38-year-old Russian national, was discovered in the parking area beside the building, wearing blue sportswear and lying face down with severe injuries to his body. Thantawan Khontaratkul, the condominium’s security guard, recounted hearing a loud noise resembling something hitting metal barriers while patrolling the area. Upon investigation, residents directed him to the spot where the incident had occurred. There, he found Mr. Vlasenko, who had jumped to his death. Security camera footage showed Mr. Vlasenko taking the elevator from the ground floor to the 29th floor, which features a common area garden with a scenic view. Subsequently, he made the fateful decision to jump from the building, resulting in instantaneous fatality upon impact with the ground. Further scrutiny of security recordings unveiled disturbing behaviour preceding the incident. Mr. Vlasenko, reportedly intoxicated and armed with a water gun, was seen harassing office staff within the condominium during the recent Songkran festival. Investigations into Vlasenko’s circumstances revealed he had been residing on the 21st floor of the condominium, where he had fallen behind on rent payments for several months. Additionally, his credit card had been restricted, potentially adding to his distress. The embarrassing incident of drunken misconduct during Songkran festivities may have exacerbated his emotional turmoil, ultimately leading to the tragic decision to end his life by jumping from the building. ======= From Pattaya News An American tourist was found dead on Tuesday morning after falling from the seventh floor of a hotel in Pattaya. Pattaya police received a report of the incident at around 6:06 AM on June 4th. Officers and rescue workers arrived at the unidentified hotel located on Soi Thappraya 15 to find the deceased victim, identified by police as Mr. Michael Jeffery Bruggink, a 43-year-old American tourist, lying face down in a narrow space behind the hotel’s parking lot. The victim was topless, and there were no signs of violence on his body nor forced entry in his hotel room. However, authorities discovered cannabis and a significant number of syringes in the room, which has subsequently been sealed off for further forensic examination. Hotel security guard Mr. Supornchai Hadkham, 34, reported that he did not witness the fall and was unsure how or when it happened. He noticed Mr. Bruggink while patrolling the area and immediately contacted authorities after finding the tourist unresponsive. he cause of the incident is currently under investigation, with police considering the possibility of both accidental fall or suicide. Forensic examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause, and the victim’s embassy will be notified.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Bob and his longtime partner Oh in their favorite restaurant. American Robert (Bob) Pelletier is one of that large group of farang who settled in Pattaya around the beginning of the century. Born in 1939 at the port city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, he spent some years in Fall River, more famous perhaps for the alleged but unproven murders of Lizzie Borden. Bob gained a degree in accountancy – “money is always an interesting subject” – and joined the National Guard before being called up on active duty in the army air corps. He had an early military career to become Assistant Chief of Protocol and resigned in 1963. Bob then settled into a financial career, working for many years as a dealer consultant or chief financial officer for various companies including General Motors. He discovered Thailand in 1997 as a tourist and took up Pattaya residence in 2004. He had already met his permanent Thai partner Oh and they have lived together ever since. “What matters in gay or straight relationships is love, commitment and letting the other person have air to breathe,” says Bob, “and we have our own friends and hobbies.” He adds that, as you get older, you need someone to lift you up literally and figuratively. Retirement years, even in Fun City, can be boring with nothing to do. Bob is a keen bridge player and was one of the 30-plus foreigners arrested for gambling in 2016. “It was a very unfortunate mistake by the authorities and we were never charged or taken to court,” he explains, “but several members were in their nineties and found the several hours of confinement at the police station extremely upsetting as they needed their medicine.” Bob has substantial experience of condominium affairs as a member, and twice chairman, of the management committee. “It’s interesting voluntary work and I dealt mostly with executive affairs as the day to day running is the responsibility of a management company,” he recalls. Bob still sits on the committee and, whilst we were talking, two tenants came to tell him about a water leak and a noisy neighbor. Bob is a good listener and certainly needs to be. Most years Bob returns to America for a month or so to visit his extended family. I asked him what he finds attractive about living in Pattaya. “The hospital system here is good, quality restaurants are plentiful and the locals are mostly friendly and good natured.” But he adds that the best places to live tend to deteriorate over time. “Pattaya was green and clean when I arrived here, but the traffic chaos and the urban sprawl are obviously negative factors these days. But you learn to live with it all.” And the gay scene? “Sure, that’s changed a lot too. When I first arrived, all the action was in gay bars and issues like same sex marriage were never mentioned. Even holding a gay pride rally was controversial to some people. These days, gay life is open and sexual orientation is becoming an irrelevance in Thailand which is an excellent development.” Bob concludes, “Even in your eighties you can be out and proud.”

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Some gay activists are not so sure about a new national headcount of sexual minorities in Thailand to help design a better living and welfare policy for them. Chadlerm Jandee said, “Sexuality is a very wide spectrum and LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbians, Gays, Transgenders, Queers, Intersex, Asexuals and others.” He added that many people who have gay experiences don’t necessarily identify as homosexual. Thai premier Srettha Thavisin said the forthcoming marriage act for same sex partners is not the end of the story. “We then want to pursue gender recognition (the right of people to choose their identity on official documents) and sex worker laws,” he explained. The new survey of the National Statistical Office and others will be based on provincial households and online surveys of Thais aged 15 and above. There have already been many attempts in Thailand to pinpoint gay numbers. Ipsos, the market research organization, this year estimated 9 percent of 71 million Thais, but others have suggested anywhere from 3 percent to over 20 percent. It is generally agreed that younger Thais, in particular the GenZ generation presently aged up to 27 years, are more likely to identify with a sexual minority than older citizens. Research into gay numbers worldwide has a long history. American Alfred Kinsey in the 1940s toyed with a 10 percent ceiling and was the first to recognize the spectrum of sexuality on the scale of 0-6. In Nazi Germany, SS leader Heinrich Himmler set up a committee to combat homosexuality and ordered the expansion of Dachau concentration camp after being told gays were 2 percent of the adult population. Porranee Phuprasert, assistant manager of ThaiHealth, said the new survey will collect data on health, mental condition, living conditions and relationships in an attempt to combat stereotypes and discrimination. He said gays still face hostility in the workplace and from gay bashers. Meanwhile, the prime minister is keen to boost revenue by maximizing international tourist arrivals during the 2024 Global Gay Pride Calendar. Ann “Waaddao” Chumaporn, an organizer of gay pride events, said more gay people were prepared to come out these days. “20 years ago, there were no mobile phones, no Facebook, no widespread internet, no nothing. There were only posters that I had put up in gay bars,” Ann concluded. “If there are more Thais now identifying as gay or belonging to a sexual minority, that’s no surprise.”

A friend and I accompanied Jason1975 to The One Club last night, arriving at 10pm. The only thing I’d add to his review is that they need to develop some new stage activities before show begins. At the moment, they just have a few guys standing on stage at a time but not doing anything in particular to hold your attention. Management had done a good job of refurbishing interior.

From CNBC Mexico’s left-leaning climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum has secured enough votes to become the Latin American country’s first-ever female president. The country’s electoral institute published a rapid count estimate late Sunday night saying that Sheinbaum had won the presidential election. The estimate has a margin of error of +/-1.5%, the institute said. A protégé of her long-time ally and mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum is now poised to succeed AMLO when his six-year term as president comes to an end on Oct. 1. In a speech after the preliminary results, Sheinbaum said the government will have “republican austerity, financial and fiscal discipline and autonomy,” according to a CNBC translation, adding that the country “will never have an authoritarian or oppressive government.”

From The Thaiger Starting December 1, Thai Airways (THAI) will resume its daily direct passenger flights between Brussels Airport and Bangkok. This eagerly awaited route, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, significantly enhances Brussels Airport’s intercontinental offerings. After a four-year hiatus, Brussels Airport is thrilled to welcome back THAI, a former member of its prestigious airline community. The airline has once again chosen Brussels Airport as its hub in the Benelux region, much to the delight of Belgian travellers. From December 1, THAI will operate a daily service to Bangkok using the state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8. Known for its fuel efficiency and reduced noise impact, this aircraft will serve both tourism and business travellers. The return of the Thai airline marks a significant enhancement to Brussels Airport’s intercontinental network, providing direct access to one of Asia’s most vibrant destinations. In related news, Airbus has inked a deal with THAI to retrofit its fleet of 20 A320ceo aircraft with premium reclining business class seats. This marks Airbus’ first-ever cabin retrofit for a single-aisle fleet in this part of the world.

The owner has obviously learned something in marketing 101: put your best face out front.

Will only comment on Bangkok. if anything, Thailand—and Bangkok in particular—is renowned for its massage industry. That’s not to say he it doesn’t have a noteworthy sauna scene but it’s a distant second attraction. If you have a fairly good body, you’ll probably have rewarding experience at the at the top saunas where the younger crowds gather. Otherwise, places like 39 Underground and Heaven saunas might be better choices. Massage shops on the other hand accommodate all comers. It would be a mistake IMO not to liberally sample the offerings.

Search pornhub or other sites for Mexico City metro.

You’re both right. The queue is actually for “Beef,” a dance club for the beefier set. Apparently they have many admirers because those awaiting admission weren’t necessarily beefy and represented a cross section of ages. https://www.facebook.com/beef.bkkbar/?mibextid=LQQJ4d Bi Polar on the other hand is geared toward ladyboys and their admirers. https://www.facebook.com/bipolarsilom/ (A tip of the hat to Jason1975 for setting me straight—well on that matter anyway)

From Thai PBS World In its effort to promote gender diversity, Thailand will not stop at legalising same-sex marriage, which it will later become effective this year, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today. “Thailand will continue to support gender diversity after successfully passing the marriage equality bill. We are looking forward to pushing for gender recognition and sex worker laws,” he said. He was speaking at the start of Pride parades at the National Stadium. With him were Pheu Thai party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and other senior party members. Srettha also mentioned equality regarding gender honorifics, allowing LGBTQ+ people to choose their titles on official documents. Srettha did not, however, provide details about sex worker legislation. Visitors from around the world are celebrating Pride Month in Thailand this June. Events are scheduled to take place in several Thai destinations, as Thailand works to become a top “LGBTQ+ Friendly Destination.” Bangkok Pride, starting today, will continue for a month and will include many LGBTQ+-related fora at various venues in Bangkok and other provinces. Aiming for gender equality and the creation of an environment that nurtures diversity, Thailand is committed to empowering all citizens, regardless of age, gender, religion, nationality, or social status, and welcomes tourists from around the world, according to the government, according to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. Chiang Mai is also celebrating Pride Month with parades, concerts and art exhibitions. On Koh Samui, in Surat Thani, the “Pride Nation Samui International Festival”, on the theme of “Let’s Join PRIDEradise”, will take place between June 24and 29. A pride parade and music festival will take place on June 29on Chaweng Beach.

Frim The Thaiger In an unprecedented global crackdown, a leading cybercrime organisation, described as the world’s most sophisticated hacking group, has been successfully dismantled. This victory comes as a result of a tireless combined operation between Thai and US security services. The operation orchestrated by the FBI and Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), resulted in the arrest of three top-ranking members of the international cybercrime syndicate. The fallout of the arrests, unlike any seen before, is set to have a significant impact on global cybercrime activities. The syndicate had been operating extensive illegal activities involving unauthorised system access, theft of confidential information, and cryptocurrency fraud across borders, wreaking havoc on the global digital economy. The arrested individuals are now facing serious charges under the Computer Crimes Act, which could equate to a decade-long sentence for each charge. Officers searched a target house in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, and three condominium rooms in Na Jomtien. They found 7.5 million baht in cash, both Thai and foreign currencies, 13 luxury watches including 3 AUDEMARS PIGUET watches worth over 30 million baht, 23 pieces of jewelry worth over 50 million baht.

The lure of gaining admittance to Bi-Polar, the club that occupied the space that once housed my beloved Nakarat, reached must be an all-time high Friday night when 100+ queued up behind the velvet rope that stretched to the Croom hotel entrance and overflowed beyond. It’s become a destination on Soi 4.

Except this of course.

OMG, you stole someone else’s passport! However, you had no problem poking fun at ladyboys above, depicting them as ladybugs and pieces of fruit.

I was right then. You’ve never been here. 😅

Believe it or not, there are some days when I actually think they wouldn’t be doing it if they weren’t getting paid.

From The Nation Jaturon Phakdeewanit, director general of the Department of Tourism, said a world-class film crew from Hollywood is preparing to shoot the movie "Jurassic World 4" in Thailand. The filming locations will include Krabi and Trang provinces, with a shooting period of about one month, from June 13 to July 16, 2024. Furthermore, the latest report from the Thailand Film Office said the production team of "Jurassic World 4" is also interested in filming in areas of Bangkok, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. It is expected that this project will generate revenue of 650 million baht for Thailand. These funds will be distributed to various sectors in the country, including payment for Thai crew members, equipment rental, accommodation, venue rental, transportation costs, Covid-19 prevention measures, and catering expenses, among others.

If the above link to Phet Boy masseurs doesn’t show complete list, try this one. https://phetboyspa.blogspot.com/2024/02/phetboy-spa.html

It indeed may be fun but not exactly satisfying in the biblical sense.😉

Visited Phet Boy shop this afternoon. General observations: Less than a five minute walk from BTS (see above). Found it to be very clean with rooms on second floor (mattress pad on floor). There a generous size shower down the hall with ample hot water. I was presented with bottle of water upon entering and wasn’t asked for payment until I was leaving. Minimum tips range from 800 to 1200 for one hour massage. You choose your masseur from the long list at following link. You’ll recognize many—if not most—from the photos from others shops around Saphan Kwai. https://phetboyspa.blogspot.com/ One hour oil is 380. My masseur (from Myanmar) was cheerful and offered what could be best described as full service and I tipped accordingly. Overall impression was positive and I’m fairly sure that I’ll be e returning. The shop is located a few minutes walk from multiple other all-male shops on same side of road, GBeat and 15m among them. K Man is just across the road. Be advised that some photos the shops display can be three or more years old. So occasionally the guy who opens the door may be a bit older and possibly heavier than pictured. This applies to all shops. That’s one big advantage the shops in the Silom area have over the SK shops.

From The Thaiger hai police dismantled a sprawling network that illegally enabled foreigners, predominantly Russians, to secure long-term stays in Thailand through deceptive company setups. This elaborate scheme, orchestrated by a 45 year old Russian woman and her Thai accomplice, has rocked the idyllic province of Phuket. Police revealed that the Russian mastermind arrived in Thailand in 2012 and, alongside a Thai woman, facilitated the registration of over 270 shell companies. These companies were fronts to sidestep Thai laws that limit foreign businessownership to 49%, a rule designed to safeguard local competition. Puttidej Bunkrapue, commander of the police Economic Crime Suppression Division explained that foreigners can operate a business in Thailand, but it must be a joint venture with a Thai partner. Through this illicit service, foreigners were either listed as shareholders or employed by these shell entities, securing them work permits and long-term residency. Authorities suspect the operation has been running since 2016 but noted a surge in clientele following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Chief investigator Krit Woratat confirmed that at least 50 foreigners had been officially charged by yesterday. Phuket, renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant nightlife, has seen a marked influx of Russian tourists and expatriates. From 2019 to early 2024, over 90,000 Russians visited the province, reported Thai PBS World. The number of companies registered under Russian names skyrocketed to over 1,600 from 2023 to early 2024, a dramatic increase compared to the annual average of 30 companies between 2016 and 2022.