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From Thai PBS World Pubs and bars in parts of Thailand a step closer to 4am closing The Cabinet agreed in principle on Tuesday to an amendment to the Interior Ministry’s regulations which would allow pubs and bars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chon Buri and Koh Samui to stay open until 4am. It was not, however, specified when the new licencing hours will come into effect, but earlier reports tentatively suggested December 15. The Interior Ministry has proposed the changes to promote tourism and increase revenues. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said that the new closing time is not only intended for tourists, but also for Thais whose businesses are related to tourism, such as restaurants and food shops.

Exactly, DOA. Your posts should indeed be moved to dung heap. You again display great magnanimity.

Can appreciate your wish to keep posts on topic but I think it would be very difficult to enforce and too regimented for this forum, I would, however, endorse your suggestion of getting rid of this thread in its entirety.

True but isn’t that the case for half the threads on this forum? Staying on topic has never been a requirement. Members respond extemporaneously and one post leads to another.

Thanks. I better understand your line of thinking up to a point. What still puzzles me is how Brazilians fit into this. Are you saying that no one hates them? I don’t but I can’t speak for the rest of the world. However, if you judge from recent elections there, half the Brazilians appear to hate the other half. Not really unlike many other countries.

I for one thought it was downright magnanimous of you to volunteer your post to be moved to Beer Bar where you could feed on it from your perch. Btw, DOA, your writing style has given away your older screen name.

us What does that have to do with my post about Thai guys, et al?

Came across a video on CNN this morning that showed the building where a group of Thai hostages, working a dairy farm near Gaza, were taken by Hamas and slaughtered. Murder in all its forms seems epidemic across the globe at this moment in time.

Sorry, I don’t get it.

From CNN Almost three years on from its bloody coup, Myanmar’s military junta is facing the biggest threat to its hold on power as it fights wars on multiple fronts across the South Asian nation. In recent weeks, powerful armed ethnic militias have joined with resistance forces to mount major new offensives with unprecedented coordination, exposing the limits of the deeply unpopular junta’s capabilities as it loses strategic border towns, key military positions and vital trade routes at a scale not seen in decades, according to experts. “The junta is actively collapsing right now and that’s only become possible because there is this wider effort across the country,” said Matthew Arnold, an independent Myanmar analyst. Calling it an “existential moment for the military,” Arnold said the resistance is “now focused on taking major towns to fundamentally defeat the junta.” An offensive named Operation 1027, launched in late October by an alliance of three powerful ethnic rebel armies in the country’s northeast, has since catalyzed into a nationwide push to take control of towns and areas in Myanmar’s north, west and southeast. Nearly 200 civilians have been killed and 335,000 people newly displaced by the fighting since October 27, according to the United Nations. Civil war between Myanmar’s myriad ethnic armies and successive military governments has raged for decades. But the latest escalation in fighting comes off the back of nationwide public resistance to army chief Min Aung Hlaing’s February 2021 coup, which sacked the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

And the Thai guys, the Myanmar guys, the Vietnam guys…..I could go on. 🙂

From Pattaya Mail Tham Luang cave to open to tours The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is set to introduce guided tours to Chamber 3 of the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province. This section of the cave was the operations base for the notable rescue of the “Wild Boars” football team five years ago. DNP Director-General Athapol Charoenchansa said the tours, which start on December 15, will allow groups of 10-12 visitors to traverse to Chamber 2 and Chamber 3, giving them a first-hand look at the challenges faced during the rescue. Previously, Chamber 3, about two kilometers from the cave’s entrance, was exclusively accessible to researchers and experts. Officials expressed hope that the upcoming tours will showcase a significant part of Thailand’s history to the public while allowing visitors to appreciate the intricacies and efforts of the high-profile rescue mission. (NNT)

From Pattaya News Sunday evening, November 26th, a South Korean tourist created a disturbance by threatening to leap from an upscale condominium complex in Pattaya. Additionally, he scattered a bundle of Thai banknotes valued at over 100,000 baht from his balcony. The bizarre incident took place at 4 PM Sunday at an 8-story condo building located in Soi Buakhao in Central Pattaya, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. The name of the condo was withheld by request. Upon receiving a report of a foreigner threatening to jump from his 8th-floor balcony, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescue workers immediately rushed to the location, along with police officers from Pattaya Police Station. There, authorities witnessed a Korean tourist, whose name was withheld to protect his privacy, marching in circles on the balcony. The 41-year-old man appeared confused and paranoid as he shouted loudly while making threats to jump from the balcony if anyone tried to approach him. Meanwhile, the rescue workers below inflated their air cushion in case the man might jump. Pattaya police subsequently brought in a Korean interpreter to pacify him. He eventually opened his room door to allow police officers to take him to the ground floor for a chat. The tourist, now calm, claimed to Pattaya police that he suffers a heart disease and recently arrived in Pattaya about a month ago. Over the past 2-3 days, he had been stressed because his Thai girlfriend, who was not identified, allegedly deceived him, taking his money to open a business and then leaving him. Additionally, when he called a Korean friend to demand borrowed money to be repaid, he was verbally abused. Frustrated and stressed, he exploded emotionally, leading to the mentioned actions. The police subsequently transported the tourist to a hospital for a medical check and reached out to his relatives in South Korea to address the situation.

Bamboo has become yet another victim or corporate fraud from within its own ranks. When it first announced ambitious expansion plans in the heady days of air travel before Covid struck, I was hopeful that increased competition on long haul Ir routes into SE Asia would keep fares in check. The pandemic changed all that but the majority of the well-managed carriers not only survived but are now thriving. Sadly, it looks like greed is going to clip Bamboo’s wings. At the moment, what the market needs—well, what the consumer needs—is for the huge China carriers to resume international service to a level it was pre-Covid. It looked for a while that it was baked in but now an outbreak of respiratory illness in the northern part of the country is making headwinds along with some political and economic issues. In the meantime, fliers have no choice but to accept a higher rate environment. Longer but less frequent trips is one work around for the retired crowd and business nomads. Value can still be found but it requires a lot of flexibility. ========= From Thai PBS World Thai Health Ministry dealing with potential spread of respiratory illness from China The Thai Ministry of Public Health has adopted four precautionary measures to cope with a respiratory illness which is now spreading among children in northern China. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-health-ministry-dealing-with-potential-spread-of-respiratory-illness-from-china/

You forget that forum gets read by many non-members. But in any case, Moses, I can well appreciate why you are eager to take advantage of the free speech opportunity the forum offers because you certainly can’t in Russia. But you do risk turning off potential clients with your geopolitical positions. So if that isn’t a concern, knock yourself out, man. And for the record, I would care if I knew I was patronizing a business whose views are so much at odds with my own. I’m satisfied at this point that I do indeed have a good picture of how Siam Roads operates. Not really different than a hotel booking service. To your credit, it’s a good model to mimic.

From Thai PBS World Senior Advisor on Research and Policy at the HIV Research and Innovation Institute, Professor Dr. Praphan Phanuphak, has expressed optimism about Thailand’s ability to end AIDS. Ending AIDS as a public health threat as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal agenda was achievable if policymakers fully invested in community-led responses, and sectors worked together to support and revise policies and regulations that currently impede the work of community organizations, said Praphan, the first doctor to diagnose an AIDS patient in Thailand. “We just need a strong, genuine political commitment from our government that we can end AIDS within the lifetime within a 4-year period of this government by strong advocating on the HIV testing.” The Thai PM should lead Thailand by advocating for HIV testing once in a lifetime, the doctor said. World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1, is a global initiative to raise awareness, show support for those living with HIV, and commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. It provides an opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV, reduce stigma, and promote education and understanding of the virus. This year’s theme, “Let Communities Lead,” aligns with Thailand’s innovative and effective community-driven approach in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

But you told us just how it works above. You mean that this isn’t how it works?

Have been traveling for the past week and just now got around to complerly reading this thread. When it first starred I thought OP would be grateful that so many chimed in about his situation and other things. Members here always go out of their way to help with inquiries, especially from newbies. Somehow I’m inclined to think he was just looking for opportunity to go out like drama Queen.

From The Nation Giant retail chain Big C is pushing its flagship branch — Big C Rajdamri — in the heart of Bangkok to be Thailand’s No. 1 shopping destination for tourists. The superstore in Pathumwan district features local brand products that make perfect souvenirs in representing Thailand’s charms and uniqueness to global audiences. Located in the heart of the city, opposite CentralWorld shopping mall and near the famous Erawan Shrine, Big C Rajdamri has gained a reputation among foreign tourists as a shopping landmark that offers Thai products and delicacies at affordable prices under one roof. The popularity of Big C Rajdamri has prompted the company to plan the launch of five new “tourist stores” in primary and secondary tourist cities across Thailand, for example, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai, with each location focusing on products that carry geographical indication (GI) of its respective province.

But you certainly cater to the clients needs by arranging their tours, taking their money and facilitating the delivery of the service. The question was is your entanglement in geopolitical arguments a wise business decision and not about freedom of speech. You expect us to believe that English-speaking guides who interact with English-speaking clients aren’t aware of forums like this?

From Thai PBS World Police name three in hunt for suspects in Khlong Toei shootings Bangkok police have asked the public to report any sightings or information on the whereabouts of three suspects wanted in connection with the fatal shootings of a school teacher and an Uthenthawai vocational student in the Khlong Toei area earlier this month. Arrest warrants have been issued for Anawin Kaewkeb, Abdulloh Dueramae and Nokvuth Ruangsri on charges of murder, illegal possession of and carrying of firearms in public without a permit, discharging a firearm in public and illegal assembly of more than five people for criminal activities. Mug shots of the three suspects have been posted on the Facebook page of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. A teacher from Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarida Sinprasert, was shot dead near her school on Sunthorn Kosa Road on November 11th and an Uthenthawai student was fatally shot by two gunmen riding a motorcycle in the same incident. The student died a few days later at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Eight suspects, most of them dropouts from a vocational college opposite the National Stadium, are currently being held in police custody. =========== The Bangkok Post is reporting that the suspects are among 84 members of an organized crime gang. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2692829/shooting-probe-unearths-macabre-student-gang

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon A group of expats based in Pattaya, mainly holding one year extensions of stay for retirement or marriage, have written to Premier Srettha Thavisin to campaign for more humane treatment. Leader John Foulds, a British retiree, said that the government seemed to be interested only in expanding short term tourists by abolishing visas for mass markets, such as China and India, and easing the life of wealthy expat professionals on large salaries. He quoted the recent announcement about 10 year executive or professional work permits in the Eastern Economic Corridor offering specially discounted tax rates on earnings and confirming avoidance of 90 days reporting. Mr Foulds explained, “By contrast, there never seems to be any good news for the mainstay expats who have retired here on pensions or are supporting Thai wives and families over many years. Now it looks like we may be faced by demands to register with the Thai tax system because of changing revenue rules and face more hurdles in renewing their annual visas.” He suggested that expats on one year renewals should be exempt from revenue regulations, at any rate until the system was open and equitable. “The very idea that expats like me living on an already taxed pension need to produce a whole load of annual paperwork to justify why we should not be re-taxed is a very sour notion.” Amongst other visa complaints raised by the group are recent changes to the 90 day reporting system which require (in Chonburi) a new form and accompanying passport copies every three months, an increasing amount of paperwork required from Thai banks about the account holder’s cash balance and periodic alarm raised about compulsory medical insurance. “It’s as if older retirees in my position are being deliberately squeezed or forced into expensive visa options such as the 10-year Long Term Residence or 5-20 years Elite,” added Mr. Foulds. He said many retirees he knew were already planning to leave Thailand or relocate to more friendly visa regimes in Vietnam or Cambodia. Expat visas in Thailand are now a complex field of options, each with its own set of rules. More recent choices have been aimed at wealthier foreigners or those prepared to pay lavishly upfront for a specific number of years. As regards the traditional one year extensions of stay based on retirement and marriage, there are thought to be at least 300,000 mostly-male visa holders including a sizeable number financially supporting Thai wives and families. Although Thai immigration does not publish comprehensive data, there may be 200,000 more foreigners living here part time on tourist and non-immigrant visas which they use together with spells of time outside the country. A spokesperson for the Tourist Authority of Thailand said that she was well aware that the recent Thai revenue announcement had caused alarm in some expat quarters, but feedback was still being fed into headquarters. A representative of the Thai immigration hotline pointed out that the regulations for retiree and marriage annual extensions had remained basically the same for the past 15 years, if subject to some minor local variations. Given Thailand’s former good reputation as a retirement haven and the high daily spending by many foreigners with annual retiree or family permits, Mr. Foulds’ group is advising the Thai premier not to ignore these contributions to the national coffers. A sizeable market is in danger of being lost.

So I guess that means it certainly doesn’t need your particular expertise, DOA.

As Totally Oz suggested, I think you should pursue your dream of happiness. You may find that you’re a people person after all.

Thai LionAir is investigating an engine fire incident that occurred when one of its planes took off from Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport. After reaching 6,000 feet, passengers noticed shaking and sparks from the right wing’s engine. The pilot promptly shut down the engine and safely landed the plane back at the airport. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2692354/thai-lionair-to-probe-engine-fire-over-don-mueang