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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.

From Pattaya News On February 21st, 2024, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, the Secretary-General of the Office of the Thai Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), launched a search operation together with 200 officers in the Nana area, Bangkok, to deter and prevent narcotic crimes. Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat publicly revealed that locals filed complaint reports of witnessing a group of foreigners selling illicit substances to Thai and foreign tourists in the Nana area, causing insecurity in life. Previously, there was a case of a Swiss tourist found dead from taking exceeding doses of cocaine. Upon police investigation, it was found that the Swiss tourist bought the illicit substance from a group of West African people in the Nana area, according to Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat. In a week of police inspection, six West African suspects allegedly linked to a drug trafficking network were captured with cocaine and heroin, and property in dispute worth more than 4.6 million baht, according to Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat.

From Thai PBS World / Radio Free Asia (RFA) A Chinese-owned hotel in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, was forced to terminate its ring-toss game, in which Chinese men took turns tossing hoops at young Lao women to win wine and beer, according to Radio Free Asia. The decision was made after a short video of the game went viral and received angry comments criticizing the treatment of women in such a manner. RFA reported that the video showed a dozen young Lao women standing still on steps outside the building as a group of Chinese men took turns throwing hoops at them, hoping to ring their bodies for cans and bottles of beer, wine, or spirits they held. The video was posted on February 15 on the Facebook page of Joseph Akaravong. He questioned why Lao officials allowed the hotel to use women as part of a game, asking, “What does the Lao Women’s Union say about this kind of action? Isn’t it illegal? It’s not like stealing values. Are these people human?” The post received more than 4,000 comments and 3,300 shares, with most people denouncing it as inappropriate behavior that degraded the women’s dignity. “We only see this activity at festivals where vendors use ducks as prizes, not to use humans to hold prizes,” one Lao citizen, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told RFA. “The majority of Laotians view this activity as demeaning to Lao women and girls. It is very heartless.” According to RFA, many Laotians also resent the influx of Chinese people who have poured into the landlocked country in recent decades to set up businesses, build large-scale infrastructure projects, and even engage in illegal activities.

There seems to be some confusion about overheard wires and this incident While just about all of the subway lines in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx are underground, much of those in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are above ground. Trains get their power through a third (conductor) rail and not overhead power lines.

From Thai News Agency Cambodia’s Supreme Privy Council President Hun Sen today visited his long-time friend former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at his residence in Bangkok, marking an important visit as the first significant guest to visit Thaksin since he was released on parole on February 18 after serving half of a one-year sentence. The text accompanying the photos is in Khmer and translates to Thai as: “I came to visit my brother Thaksin in Bangkok. Despite being unwell, he warmly welcomed me. Ung Ing, his youngest daughter and the leader of the Pheu Thai Party was also there to join us. “To strengthen our close relationship, I invited Ung Ing to visit Cambodia on March 14-15.” Dating back to 1992, the relationship between Thaksin and Samdech Hun Sen began before Thaksin became Prime Minister. Thaksin once said that Hun Sen is like a brother and that Cambodia is like another home during difficult times. Meanwhile, Hun Sen stated that Thaksin is like an elder brother to him. During the period when Thaksin lived abroad in self-exile, Hun Sen appointed him as his personal advisor and economic advisor to the Cambodian government. ===================== NOTE — I find it difficult to follow the family ever-expanding grip on the control of the Cambodia government. And I’m not ant all sure this article makes it any more clear. From AFP Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia’s parliament on Wednesday approved ex-ruler Hun Sen’s youngest son as a deputy prime minister, the latest member of the family to be promoted since the former leader handed the reins to his eldest son Hun Manet. Hun Sen stepped down in August after nearly four decades of ruling Cambodia with an iron fist, handing power to Hun Manet following a landslide win in national polls held without any significant opposition parties. The government, formed by Hun Manet last year, now includes a number of relatives, with several children of Hun Sen’s allies also holding top jobs. All 120 lawmakers, including Hun Sen, endorsed 41-year-old civil service minister Hun Many as a deputy PM on Wednesday at the request of Hun Manet. There are ten other deputy PMs already serving. Hun Manet told lawmakers the promotion of his youngest brother was in line with the need to achieve the “highest efficiency of the government’s policy”, with his goal to turn Cambodia into a high-income country by 2050. Among the ten other deputy PMs is Hun Sen’s nephew Neth Savoeun, a former national police chief. Hun Sen’s second son Hun Manith, 42, is the head of the defence ministry’s military intelligence unit and a deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. After coming to power in 1985, Hun Sen helped modernise a country devastated by civil war and genocide. Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction, entrenched graft and the elimination of nearly all political rivals.

From Thai PBS World The opposition Move Forward party has vowed to continue to push for a bill seeking to allow members of the LGBTQ community to choose their own honorific name prefixes, after it was shot down in parliament on Wednesday. Move Forward party-list MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat said that the party will not back off from its push for the passage of the bill in the next parliamentary session, adding that they are supportive of LGBTQ people. Another Move Forward MP, Paramee Waichongcharoen, said that his highest dream is that, one day, he can remove the prefix “Mister” from his name. He questioned the sincerity of government coalition parties and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin regarding equal rights for the LGBTQ community. The House of Representatives rejected the bill by 256:152 votes, with one abstention, after a lengthy debate. The bill was proposed by Tunyawaj and seconded by several of the party’s MPs. Tunyawaj said that, even though the Constitution guarantees human dignity and gender equality, there is still no law which guarantees the rights of LGBTQ people to choose theirhonorifics and they must accept those associated with their sex at birth or marital status, namely Mr, Mrs or Miss. He said that many LGBTQ individuals are embarrassed bytheir honorifics, as they do not reflect their chosen gender, which also affects their livelihood. In Thailand, transgender individuals cannot change their honorifics, so transgender women must use the prefix ‘Nai’ (Mister) in legal documents and cannot switch to ‘Nang-sao’ (Miss).

From Thai PBS World The Thai and US navies launched a joint operation today, to search for the remains of five crew missing from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai corvette, to salvage some weaponry and to disable some US-made military equipment. A US navy ship, the “Ocean Valor”, from the US naval base in Hawaii, and a flotilla of Royal Thai Navy (RTN) vessels, including the Rattanakosin, two mine sweepers, two frigates and one mid-sized troop carrier, 17 American and 40 Thai divers are involved in the operation. The US navy ship is part of the US military presence in the Cobra Gold military exercise, involving military personnelfrom Thailand, the US and some allies. Thai and foreign reporters will observe the operation from one of the RTN vessels, which left the port in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan early this morning. RTN Commander-in-Chief Admiral Adoong Pan-iam will also join the observation team and will answer questions from the reporters. The task today is for divers take pictures of the ill-fated Sukhothai vessel, which is resting on the sea bed at a depth of about 50 metres, about 20 nautical miles from the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Sukhothai corvette sank in the Gulf on the night of December 18th, 2022. 22 naval officers and men were killed and five are still unaccounted for, even after extensive searches.

From Pattaya News On February 20th, 2024, at 9:30 PM, Pattaya police discovered the deceased body of a 72-year-old Dutch national identified as Mr. Ronald Paul Pijiman in his room at an 8-story condominium along Thappraya Road. The victim’s identity was disclosed by Pattaya police who had also reportedly contacted the embassy and relatives of the victim. His body was found inside a room on the 4th floor. Inside, investigators observed two glasses on the dining table next to a kitchen knife. No signs of forced entry or disturbance were found. In the bedroom, Mr. Pijiman was found lying face down near the bathroom entrance, deceased for an estimated 3-4 days with blood and bodily fluids on the floor. An examination revealed a wound on his neck. Police found various items on the victim’s bed, including a wooden drawer, two opened soda bottles, a glass, earphones, charging cable, a pen and two false teeth. The room also housed numerous empty soda and plastic coke bottles scattered alongside a notebook. CCTV footage showed Mr. Pijiman entering the room at 10 AM on February 16th and remaining there until the discovery of his body. The cause of his neck injury remains under investigation, with forensic analysis pending to determine if it was self-inflicted or inflicted by another person. Authorities were alerted by a condo security guard who reported a foul odor similar to a dead animal. Although no dead animals were found, the smell led them to Mr. Pijiman’s locked room.