reader

Probably won’t see any relief until Chinese carriers can reenter US markets in numbers before Covid. And that’s even less likely under Trump administration.

From Pattaya News The government has launched an ambitious strategy to enhance its tourism sector, with measures targeting both international and domestic travelers. The sector, which generated 1.892 trillion baht in 2023, is expected to play a crucial role in driving economic recovery and growth, with plans to boost tourism revenue to 3.4 trillion baht in 2025 and attract over 40 million international visitors. The “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year 2025” campaign, introduced in October, is foundational to these efforts. Collaborating with major corporations such as Grab, Agoda, Expedia, and Thai Airways, the campaign promotes Thai culture, lesser-known destinations, and unique experiences under the banner of “5 Must-Do in Thailand.” Enhanced connectivity and accessibility, including expanded flight capacities, are also key to ensuring Thailand’s position as a regional tourism hub. The central administration has also embraced seasonal and thematic events, such as the Thailand Winter Festivals 2024, themed “7 Wonders of Thailand,” featuring celebrations such as Loy Krathong, food festivals, and music events. These events were intended to encourage year-end travel and attract international visitors. Additionally, the “72 Unique Travel Styles” campaign, launched in November, promotes domestic tourism by introducing 72 curated travel routes designed to distribute economic benefits to local communities. Visa reforms are another cornerstone of the government’s strategy. Policies such as 60-day visa exemptions, expanded e-Visa services, and the introduction of the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for digital nomads are expected to boost arrivals. Long-term measures include simplifying visa categories and integrating visa services into a comprehensive Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system by mid-2025. To support these initiatives, Thailand is advancing plans to become an aviation hub. The Ministry of Transport has unveiled short- and long-term goals, including airport upgrades, enhanced baggage handling systems, and the construction of new airports by 2030 to improve traveler experiences and strengthen connections between aviation and tourism.

From Pattaya Mail The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) launched the “Cut the Rabbit: Crackdown on Sex Creators” operation, arresting seven individuals, including foreigners and Thai nationals, for creating explicit content and distributing it online, December 9. Following a directive from the National Police Chief to intensify the fight against transnational crime, CIB’s Human Trafficking Division tracked online platforms and uncovered a network using Thailand as a base to produce and distribute pornography worldwide. The police obtained court warrants and raided several locations, resulting in the arrest of seven suspects. The first suspect, Benjamin, a British national, was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He was responsible for creating content that enticed Thai women to ride tuk-tuks before engaging in sexual acts at tourist locations, which he advertised on X (formerly Twitter) and shared on his website, with over 140,000 followers. The second suspect, Volker, a German national, was arrested at his residence in Banglamung, Chonburi. He created content featuring foreign nationals having sex with transgender individuals who had not undergone gender confirmation surgery. This content was shared on X and the OnlyFans platform, reaching over 150,000 followers. Two Thai transgender individuals were also arrested for their involvement. The third suspect, Svezdan, a Serbian national, was arrested at a condo in Banglamung. He produced content involving foreign tourists and Thai women or transgender individuals engaging in sexual acts, including collaborations with famous Thai sex creators. His content, shared across X, Instagram, TikTok, and OnlyFans, amassed over 200,000 followers. The fourth suspect, Andrei, a Russian national, was apprehended at a condo on Rama 4 Road. He created group sex content with foreign nationals and Thai individuals, which was then promoted on social media with over 600,000 followers. Thai nationals Thanasilp, 30, and Saengthian, 26, were arrested at different locations for creating similar content involving male participants. They filmed explicit acts and promoted them online, charging viewers for access to exclusive groups. The final suspect, Rattana, a 36-year-old Thai woman, was arrested in Banglamung. She produced content promoted on X and OnlyFans, gaining over 200,000 followers. Of the six suspects arrested, all confessed to the charges, except Benjamin, who denied distributing the videos, claiming he only filmed them and sent them to a friend abroad for uploading. (TNA) https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/operation-cut-the-rabbit-thais-and-foreigners-arrested-for-producing-and-distributing-explicit-content-online-483128

Got massage with it last night and it was notable improvement. Absorbed well and residue washed off easily with help of the guy in shower.

+1 😀

I can report back that hi-so men are insanely jealous of Isaan men for obvious reason.

From Web MD Semen is a complex substance created by the male reproductive organs. The fluid is made mostly of water, plasma, and mucus (a lubricating substance). It also contains 5 to 25 calories, and is made up of small amounts of essential nutrients, including: Calcium Citrate Fructose Glucose Lactic acid Magnesium Potassium Protein Zinc

I say it’s so damn easy to get under your skin 🙂

Not at all. We avenged Pearl Harbor and the Japanese atrocities in Korea, China and every country they invaded. Russia, as you recall, was all too keen to join us in the final phase of defeat of Japan, grabbing land it still occupies. But I guess that slipped your memory.

Try not to laugh as it will make Moses feel sad.

What’s the rush?

From the BBC Fall of Assad is a blow to Russia's prestige For nearly a decade it was Russian firepower that had kept Bashar al-Assad in power. Until the extraordinary events of the last 24 hours. Damascus has fallen, Syria's president has been toppled and has, reportedly, flown to Moscow. Quoting a source in the Kremlin, Russian news agencies and state TV reported that Russia has granted Assad and his family asylum "on humanitarian grounds". In a matter of days, the Kremlin's Syria project has unravelled in the most dramatic circumstances, with Moscow powerless to prevent it. In a statement the Russian foreign ministry announced that Moscow was "following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern." The fall of the Assad regime is a blow to Russia's prestige. By sending thousands of troops in 2015 to shore up President Assad, one of Russia's key objectives had been to assert itself as a global power. It was Vladimir Putin's first major challenge to the power and dominance of the West, away from the former Soviet space. And a successful one, it had seemed. In 2017 President Putin visited Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria and declared that it was mission accomplished. Despite regular reports that Russian airstrikes were causing civilian casualties, the Russian defence ministry felt confident enough to fly international media out to Syria to witness the Russian military operation. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clygege97qwo

One of life’s greatest experiences is traveling with someone you love. You’ll never forget these days.

It seems that we’ll never see the end to this because the school involved appear helpless to intervene in effective manner. ======== From The Thaigee A young engineering student was fatally stabbed by a gang of youths on motorcycles in Bangkok yesterday. The incident took place near the entrance of Soi Phetkasem 55/2 in Bang Khae, leaving a 19 year old dead and his friend narrowly escaping harm. Police Lieutenant Yanapol Phonyiem received reports of the fatal stabbing, with officers, forensic specialists, and a medical team from Siriraj Hospital promptly arriving at the scene. A body identified as 19 year old Ratthapoom, was found lying in a pool of blood on the pavement. The victim wore a red patterned short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, showing two knife wounds on his lip and chest. Nearby, a red Yamaha NMAX motorcycle with the registration number 6 Kor 9159 Bangkok was discovered. Thammoon, an 18 year old friend of the deceased and the motorcycle’s driver, appeared visibly shaken by the ordeal. According to initial investigations, the victim had graduated from a local technical college in Phetkasem about a year ago and was working as a coin-operated washing machine repairman. He and his friend were returning home from a market trip when they encountered the group of six youths. The gang, riding three motorcycles, cut them off, forcing them to stop. The attackers, intimidating in their approach, demanded to see the victim’s belt buckle. Four of the youths then assaulted Ratthapoom, stabbing him and leaving him in a pool of blood. Meanwhile, Thammoon was pursued by two other gang members who also demanded to see his belt buckle. Upon realizing he wasn’t wearing one, Thammoon declared he was not in school, prompting the gang to flee towards Bang Khae, reported KhaoSod. “They forced us to stop, and then they just attacked him.” The police are actively reviewing CCTV footage from the area and along the escape route to identify and apprehend the suspects involved. The urgency to bring the perpetrators to justice is evident as the community reels from the senseless act of violence.

Tip and touch was an event in the highest tradition of slut pursuits. 🙂

If it had been an unsatisfactory or otherwise disappointing massage, I would—and routinely do—give guy second chance. But not in face of sheer greed. This guy knew from previous session I was a fair tipper and sent several messages, asking me when I was coming back.

From The Thaiger n a heart-wrenching tale from Thailand, two young men, driven by noble pursuits, have seen their career dreams dashed due to the crushing stigma surrounding HIV. One man hoped to step into his late father’s shoes as a police officer in the troubled southern regions while the other longed for the skies as a 27 year old flight attendant. Both passed their exams with flying colours, only to be rejected solely for being HIV-positive, highlighting Thailand’s ongoing battle with discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite Thailand’s cutting-edge treatments that let those with HIV lead healthy lives, rampant workplace prejudice still prevails. As the world observed Human Rights Day just yesterday, December 15, the spotlight landed on this pressing issue. Supattra Nakapew of the Thailand Human Rights Commission revealed that, over the past three years, 32 complaints poured in citing discriminatory hiring practices against PLHIV in both public and private sectors. “The discrimination often starts at the recruitment stage, where an HIV test is unjustly required.” Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-faces-criticism-over-hiv-discrimination-in-employment-practices

From The Thaiger Singaporean tourist dies allegedly due to oil massage in Phuket A 52 year old Singaporean man died at a massage shop in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket after an oil massage. The cause of his death remains undetermined. Officers from Patong Police Station were called to Patong Hospital on Saturday, December 7, to investigate the death of the Singaporean man, identified as Lee Mun Tuck. Upon their arrival, they found Tuck shirtless, lying on a medical bed in the hospital’s emergency unit. According to medical staff, Tuck was picked up from the massage shop located near Patong Beach in Phuket’s Kathu district. An autopsy to determine the cause of death was pending approval from his family. A reporter from ThaiRath interviewed one of the shop’s employees on Sunday, December 8. The employee stated that the masseuse who provided the service to Tuck was not at work that day. The worker insisted that the man passed away at the hospital, not at the shop. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/singaporean-tourist-dies-allegedly-due-to-oil-massage-in-phuket ======= Thai singer dies from neck injury allegedly linked to massage in Udon Thani A Thai female singer died yesterday morning from complications caused by a herniated cervical disc, allegedly linked to a massage at a shop in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The singer, Chayada “Phing” Praohom, who was associated with Guitar Record, became bedridden and received intensive care at Udon Thani Hospital before her death, yesterday, December 8. Since mid-October, she has been updating her fans about her condition through her Facebook account. The 20 year old singer revealed that she initially sought a massage at a shop in Udon Thani to relieve shoulder pain. However, her condition worsened, eventually requiring hospitalisation. In one of her posts, she expressed her regret. “I felt pain, so I just wanted a massage, but I never expected it to be this dangerous. I lost my money to the massage and my health.” Phing explained that she first felt pain in the back of her neck two days after her initial massage but dismissed it as a normal after-effect. She later returned to the same shop for a second massage with the same masseuse. Two weeks after the second session, her pain intensified, and she struggled to lie on her back or face. Assuming it was still a normal reaction, she went for a third massage, this time with a different masseuse. She reported that the new masseuse applied excessive pressure, leaving her shoulder bruised for weeks. Subsequently, she experienced numbness in her fingertips, fever-like symptoms, and pain radiating from her shoulder to her legs. Her left side began to lose sensation. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-singer-dies-from-neck-injury-allegedly-linked-to-massage-in-udon-thani

I repeated it in message I translated to Thai on LiNE after I left shop. Whether “received” up for debate.

Good friend gave me bottle of coconut oil recently and plan to have one of my fav masseurs use it tonight at Silom Plaza. (Friend will know just who I mean😀).

I genuinely liked the guy and message I wanted to send was “you just lost good customer because of greed”.

No, but I gave guy his tip in presence of manager who speaks English.

Since I post frequently on your everyday massage shops around Bangkok, I’ll describe a very recent disappointing experience. A few weeks ago I was approached by a guy outside a shop on upper Silom Rd. I agreed to a one-hour message. Before beginning, he asked “how much you give me? and I replied 1200. He smiled and we had a satisfactory time. Before leaving we exchanged LINE and I told him I could see him one more time before I returned home. Sent him Message to say I would see him a few days ago and he said he just had 28th birthday. I took him at his word and when he asked me same question on how much I give him I said 1200 plus 300 for your birthday. He agreed but 15 minutes into massage he stopped and wrote message on phone: “Why you give me so little?” I sat up, got off table and told him, “massage is over. If 1500 baht not enough for 60 minutes, I give you 1,000 for just 15 minutes.” He tried walking back what he said but the moment had passed. in my book, there’s no quicker way to ruin a massage than trying to renegotiate (aka, haggle) once the session begins. To be fair, this was first time this happened in a few trips. Every masseur has the right to negotiate tip before session and I have same. But once we agree, that’s end of it. Fortunately just about every guy understands this. Experience cost me 550 shop fee and 1,000 baht. He lost what could have been regular customer to simple greed.

I don’t like to use oil because it’s so hard to remove the residue after the massage. But when I tell guys no oil, most default to Thai massage style. To avoid this, I begin session be demonstrating on them what I want. They usually adapt fairly quickly because it’s simply oil massage sans the oil. I agree with Spoon. Poorly trained Thai massage can result in potentially harmful pressure to vertebrae, particularly in older adults.

+1 This activity is taking place on the home turf of Bangkok’s hi-so community. These are the same folks who look down on the tourists—and their own—who visit Patpong, Nana and Cowboy where the ‘lowlifes’ gather. But behind the doors that open only to the ruling classes and those of their ilk, drugs are the currency of choice.