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A few trips ago made almost the same pilgrimage to the Santa Cruz church on a late Sunday morning. Only difference in our route was walking over the bridge. While coming off on other side we found a very competitive game of volleyball being played beneath the bridge superstructure. We marveled at how these young men could get their bodies nearly horizontal to return the ball. Turned out to be one of the unexpected pleasures of the visit. Like you we also found the church locked when we arrived. Thanks for great photos and history.

What we don’t know is the instructions the presiding judge gave the jury prior to sending them to deliberate. I’m sure this and other derails will come out on appeal. i still believe that she willfully decided to speed with the knowledge that the consequences could indeed be fatal. And I’m satisfied that qualifies as afore thought.

From The Nation Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made an unannounced check of operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday and found the arrival and departure passenger procedures were still disappointing. Srettha announced on his X account on Saturday night that he had made another surprise inspection at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday evening to follow up on his first unannounced inspection on February 5 in the morning. “I came to check the service systems at Suvarnabhumi Airport without informing the airport in advance after I made a similar check in the morning. So, today I came to check in the evening and there were plenty of passengers,” Srettha posted on his X page. The prime minister said he found that both the arrival and departure procedures were too long. “I counted the time since a passenger got off a vehicle and entered the check-in system and passed through the security system to reach his terminal to wait for boarding. “And for arrivals, I counted from passengers' exiting their plane and coming to the immigration counters. I checked all the procedures in detail and found that they took a long time.” Srettha said that he had asked the officials in charge if they could reduce the time taken. “The answer was that the processing time was uncertain,” Srettha said. “This has to be improved urgently,” the prime minister added. Srettha said he would like the executives of both the Airports of Thailand Plc and the Immigration Bureau to go out to check the procedures during the peak hours by themselves so that they could find out what caused the bottleneck. “I’ll make a surprise check at the airport to check the procedures in detail again,” Srettha said in the post .

From AFP Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia’s ruling party claimed a landslide victory in Senate elections on Sunday, setting the stage for ex-PM Hun Sen to officially return to politics after he stepped down last year. After nearly four decades of hardline rule, Hun Sen handed power to his eldest son Hun Manet after national polls last July held without any significant opposition. Hun Sen at the time made it clear that despite his resignation, he still intended to wield influence. After polls closed Sunday afternoon, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) claimed they had swept the Senate, the country’s upper house. Spokesman Sok Eysan said early results showed the “CPP won at least 50” of the 58 seats, and added, “obviously, he (Hun Sen) has won a seat.” He confirmed the party would nominate the ex-PM as the president of the Senate — allowing him to act as head of state when the king is overseas — when it is expected to convene in April. The National Electoral Committee is expected to take several weeks to publish official results.

Please don’t give twinks a bad name.

A walk we’re all destined to take if we know a good thing when we see it (sans the pretzels).

In US, every state and the federal government have their own unique laws. Fortunately for survivors it occurred in state where it was possible to bring the charges that resulted in conviction. Here’s the federal code. From Cornell Law School Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. Every murder perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing; or committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, any arson, escape, murder, kidnapping, treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, child abuse, burglary, or robbery; or perpetrated as part of a pattern or practice of assault or torture against a child or children; or perpetrated from a premeditated design unlawfully and maliciously to effect the death of any human being other than him who is killed, is murder in the first degree. Any other murder is murder in the second degree.

Sounds delicious 🤗 I’ve found that another pleasant walk is from Screw Boy to Foodland—with boy pairing for about same price. 😋

From Thai Tourism Authority The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is organising a special excursion train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya with steam locomotive to celebrate its 127th anniversary on 26 March 2024. Travellers will get a chance to ride on a Pacific steam locomotive, numbers 824 and 850, from the World War II era. The special steam train ride will leave from Hua Lamphong. Train No. 901/902 will depart the station at 08.10 Hrs. and will arrive in Ayutthaya at 10.20 Hrs. Passengers will have six hours to tour the ancient capital, before the train leaves for Bangkok at 16.40 Hrs. and arrive in Bangkok at 18.50 Hrs. The train will stop at Sam Sen, Bang Sue, Don Mueang, and Rangsit stations, so passengers can board or disembark at any of these stations. Bookings open on 25 February 2024, from 08.30 Hrs. onwards via D-Ticket mobile application and website (www.dticket.railway.co.th) or at the ticket booths at SRT stations across Thailand. Round-trip prices for adults and children are 329 Baht for third-class, 529 Baht for second-class air-conditioned, and 799 Baht for sleeper and special air-conditioned cars. The price includes snacks and drinks on both the outbound and return trips.

+1 perp has prior record of similar behavior and knows well potential consequences of her actions. This was not accidental outcome by first-time offender.

From Thai PBS World Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is yielding no ground in his face-off with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over the central bank’s interest rate policy. Against the backdrop of slowing economic growth, Srettha wants the BOT to lower the interest rate from the current 2.5 per cent per annum, the highest in nearly a decade. The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has turned a deaf ear to the government’s exhortations and left the rate unchanged at its two previous meetings. The MPC is scheduled to hold its next meeting in April. Srettha, however, wants the MPC to call an emergency meeting to lower the rate. His call came after the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), a state think-tank, released a report on the gross domestic product in 2023: GDP grew by only 1.9 per cent, well below expectations and slower than the 2.5 per cent growth in the previous year. NESDC secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan also urged the central bank to seriously consider a rate cut in order to cushion the blow on citizens from the higher cost of living. He also wanted the central bank to relax rules on credit card payments, suggesting that the minimum monthly installment payment be reduced from 8 per cent at present to 5 per cent, as the central bank had done during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lowering the credit card installment would offer relief to credit card debtors, Danucha argued. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/will-sethaput-meet-the-fate-of-bot-governors-defying-the-government/

1 ladyboy = everyone to their own taste but stash any gold triinkets 2 ladyboys = double your pleasure and your risks 3 ladyboys = take a breathalyzer test for just thinking about it 4 ladyboys = review power of attorney and trust documents before proceeding

From Thai PBS World PM visits Thaksin at home Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin paid a private visit to former prime minister and prison parolee Thaksin Shinawatra at his Ban Chan Song La residence in Thonburi on Saturday morning. He was seen arriving in a brand new “sonic titanium” Lexus LM350H Executive 4-seater prime ministerial staff car. He lowered the window to “wai” reporters and photographers gathered in front of the residence, without giving an interview. He is the first high-ranking Thai government official to visit Thaksin since he was released on parole from the Police General Hospital on February 18th. The first VIP to visit Thaksin was former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. The prime minister said that Thaksin offered him moral support and asked him to look after his health, adding that they did not discuss politics but that he would welcome Thaksin’s recommendations or opinions. He praised Thaksin as Thailand’s most popular prime minister and for being very resourceful. Thaksin’s health, he said, appears to be improving, though he stills looks tired but is cheerful, perhaps because he is now home after 17 years of living in exile.

From Thai PBS World A passenger’s cell phone power bank, in their carry-on luggage, caught fire during a Thai Air Asia flight this morning, but the fire was quickly put out by the crew. Thai Air Asia said in a statement that the incident took place on flight FD3188, from Don Mueang airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat province at 7.20am this morning. Smoke was seen emanating from the overhead luggage compartment, but the crew quickly used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out. The flight, its passengers and crew all landed safely, the statement said. Thai Air Asia thanked the passengers who alerted the crew and helped in extinguishing the fire. The airline also warned passengers to check their reserve batteries or power banks, to make sure that they meet the required quality specifications, adding that no spare batteries or power banks can be loaded in their hold luggage and must be kept in their carry-on bags only.

Love relying on people. They’re my favorite kind of humans. 🙂

CP All, the owner of 7-11 stores, plans to add 700 additional locations after posting 112 billion baht profit on sales of 399 billion baht in 2023. https://thepattayanews.com/2024/02/24/711-in-thailand-reports-record-income-of-399-billion-baht-in-2023-announces-expansion-plans-for-700-plus-new-stores/

Don’t think you’re the least bit tacky 🙂

Guess I should have titled my post “Makha Bucha Arrives This Saturday with Nationwide Alcohol Sale Ban in Thailand” instead of “Makha Bucha Arrives This Saturday with Nationwide Alcohol Sale Ban in Thailand” 😊

Tbh, I doubt any of us will change our drinking habits as a result of these actions. I quickly got lost the further I read. From Thai News Agency The Excise Department has adjusted the rates of excise taxes on wine, brewed beverage, and service establishments, aiming to stimulate tourism and expenditure, effective from February 23. Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Director-General of the Excise Department, revealed that this adjustment of excise tax rates on alcoholic beverages strengthens price competitiveness at the regional level, leading to increased spending by both foreign and domestic tourists of all levels. It also encourages high-quality tourists to visit the kingdom. Under the measure, wine and sparkling wine made from grapes previously taxed at 10% for retail prices above 1,000 baht and 0% for retail prices not exceeding 1,000 baht, are now uniformly taxed at 5%. Additionally, the tax rate based on alcohol content has been reduced from 1,500 baht per liter of 100 degrees to 1,000 baht per liter of 100 degrees. Fruit wine, or fruit-based fermented beverages containing grapes or grape wine, previously taxed at 10% for retail prices above 1,000 baht and 0% for retail prices not exceeding 1,000 baht, are now taxed at 0% entirely. The tax rate based on alcohol content remains at the previous rate of 900 baht per liter of 100 degrees. Local fermented beverage such as “U” “Ka Chae” and “Sato” with alcohol content not exceeding 7 degrees, previously taxed at 10% based on value, are now reduced to 0%, while the tax based on volume remains unchanged at 150 baht per liter of 100 degrees. Brewed liquors with distilled spirits mixed and with alcohol content exceeding 7 degrees will continue to be taxed at 10% based on value, with an increase in volume-based tax from the previous 150 baht per liter of 100 degrees to 255 baht per liter of 100 degrees. Meanwhile, service establishments such as nightclubs, discos, bars, cocktail lounges, etc., have seen a reduction in tax rates from 10% to 5% of revenue from February 23 to December 31, 2567. The reduction in tax rates for service establishments is a short-term measure with a duration of one year, aimed at helping service business operators affected by COVID-19 to recover and promoting increased domestic employment. -819 (TNA)

From Thai PBS World No longer just a historical landmark, Phya Thai Palace is now all about light, as the palace plays host to a magnificent light show to celebrate its 101st anniversary. “The Glory of Siam”, as the show is called, transforms the palace grounds into a magical wonderland of light, sound, and storytelling, inviting visitors to experience its rich past in a truly dazzling way. This special occasion allows visitors to stroll through the palace in the evening, enjoying the gems of its architecture while basking in the illuminated spectacle. As darkness descends, the palace awakens. Mesmerizing projection mapping transforms the Piman Chakri Throne Hall into a canvas, where images of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI)’s reign and his royal activities dance across the walls, narrated by a captivating soundtrack. It’s history brought alive in a way that transcends textbooks. Projection mapping on the rear of the Phaya Thai Palace, accompanied by performers on the veranda, creates another highlight of the dazzling light show It’s projected every half-hour from 7pm to 9pm. Move deeper into the event and encounter the Roman Garden, where thousands of tiny lights twinkle amongst towering trees, creating a mesmerizing spectacle reminiscent of fireflies flitting through a moonlit forest. continues with more photos https://www.thaipbsworld.com/stepping-into-the-dazzling-light-at-wang-phya-thai/

As if there was need for another excuse to avoid UK connections. Yet leave it to pols to find one. 🙂

I think some of the best and brightest staff the ticket booths at BTS and MRT stations. No matter how I manage to mangle the name of my destination, they still deal out the correct token and provide correct change in record time—and always with a thank you. Same for the ladies who collect bus fares.

They certainly all look sufficiently Russian. Perhaps Feenstra thought they’d assimilate through proximity alone.

From The Thaiger Kamala Beach in Phuket found itself in a murky situation, the main canal has turned black and is producing an unpleasant smell. Visitors to the beach, some international tourists, watched in dismay as the polluted water flowed freely into the sea. The sight of the blackened water has led to numerous headshakes and raised eyebrows. A particularly concerned tourist even questioned why local authorities hadn’t taken any action against this glaring issue. This beach is renowned in Phuket and attracts a significant number of visitors. The sight and smell of the polluted canal are not only a nuisance to tourists but also tarnish the image of this renowned beach. Interestingly, despite the harsh reality of the polluted water, many foreign tourists were seen enjoying their time in the water. However, a significant number did their best to steer clear of the black water seeping into the sea, reported Phuket News.

From Pattaya News The Pattaya International Kite on the Beach 2024, touted as Thailand’s longest beachside international kite festival spanning over 1 kilometer, has kicked off on Pattaya Beach today with a dazzling display of vibrant kites and unique designs. Featuring participants from various countries, notable kites include the Tabrix, a blue dragon-shaped kite from Germany, the Wyverex, a green dragon-themed kite, and the Sea Dragon, all showcasing advanced craftsmanship and considered among the world’s most valuable dragon kites. A highlight of this year’s festival is the unique beach-themed kites crafted by experienced Australian designers, marking their first-ever display in Thailand. Additionally, the event boasts the participation of the renowned French Kite Whale Team, adding an international flavor to the festival. The event takes place from February 22nd to 26th, 2024, along the Pattaya Beachfront, near Central Pattaya Shopping Mall.