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From Pattaya News On May 1st, 2024, Thai national media reported Sex Worker Statistics by Country and Gender made by the International Union of Sex Workers on the occasion of Labor Day. Sex workers in Thailand were fighting for the legalization of prostitution for their basic and occupational protection rights. It was reported that earlier this year (2024), Empower Foundation and sex worker representatives submitted a letter to various Thai political parties to demand basic rights and welfare from the government that should be equal to other occupations. The bill was made and opened for opinions for more than five years from every sector. However, the story went unheard of from November 2023 for no reason. The sex worker representatives were worried that their efforts might be futile, said Ms. Chatchalawan Muangchan, the activist from Empower Foundation. Thai national media showed Sex Worker Statistics by the International Union of Sex Workers ranking the first 20 countries in 2024. The original statistics were made on October 11th, 2023. The top 10 countries rank according to the statistics could be rounded up as follows: China 5,000,000 people, India 3,000,000 people, United States 1,000,000 people, Philippines 800,000 people, Mexico 500,000 people, Germany 400,000 people, Brazil 250,000 people, Thailand 250,000 people, Bangladesh 200,000 people, and South Korea 147,000 people. Thailand was ranked in the top 10 countries to have sex workers. The number tended to increase considering that in the digital age prostitutes could provide services on online platforms globally. https://thepattayanews.com/2024/05/02/thai-sex-workers-demand-legalization-for-basic-rights-statistics-reveal-thailand-in-top-10-countries-for-sex-work/ However, the statistics were not comprehensive as a massive number of sex workers were not surveyed and did not get the basic rights and welfare that they deserved, said the organisers.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Defense minister Sutin Klungsang says the proposal for the prime minister, with the consent of the Cabinet, to suspend top military officers suspected of plotting a putsch needs further debate. When asked what criteria would be used, he said the risk could be assessed on movements and activities within the military prior to an imminent coup. However, he expected several sets of proposals by the Defense Council to be debated by the Cabinet before presentation to Parliament to become law. Mr Sutin stressed that no law could prevent a coup, but could provide a potential deterrent. Thailand has experienced a military takeover on average every seven years in the past century, not to mention several unsuccessful attempts especially in the 1980s. Generals, defending a putsch, have always said they need to defend the monarchy, end corruption and/or institute much-needed political reform. Typically, they cancel the existing constitution and pass legislation by diktat. The last coup in 2014 was bloodless and the only one in Thai history not to roll out the tanks into central Bangkok. It was briefly opposed by a few thousand demonstrators but the army quickly assumed control of the capital. Anti-military activity in the provinces was, as usual, minimal or non-existent. The courts and the press were compliant. The coup leaders held a general election in 2019 and retained power before losing the one in 2023 to the radical Move Forward Party (MFP) and the mainstream Pheu Thai. In the event, Pheu Thai made a deal with the smaller pro-military parties to form a coalition, thus excluding the sorely disappointed MFP supporters. Most Thai commentators believe there is no prospect of a coup during the present parliament as radical agendas – such as reform of the treason laws and serious army reform – are not on the agenda. The next general election is slated for 2027 with some polls suggesting very strong and enduring support for radical policies. Given the coup-culture which is still entwined into Thai culture and even expectations, that could be a challenging year.

From Thai PBS World Thai workers have little to celebrate on Labor Day this year, with the government’s promised wage hike nowhere in sight. They will have to wait until at least October for the ruling Pheu Thai Party to honor its election pledge to raise the minimum daily wage to 400 baht. In contrast, white-collar government workers including new civil servants and retired officials will enjoy salary hikes from Labor Day on May 1. New civil servants will start on 18,000 baht per month while the monthly pensions of retired officials will rise to at least 11,000 baht. “The move to increase income for civil servants is politically motivated,” said Assoc Prof Dr Kiriya Kulkolkarn, who lectures at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Economics. She argued that raising salaries in this way distorts the labor market, offering limited improvement in quality of life for middle-class earners while failing to redistribute wealth to low-income earners. Kiriya also suspected that the government policy to significantly raise the minimum wage had a political motive. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/labor-day-wage-hike-delayed-thai-workers-and-experts-bemoan-thailands-low-income-trap/

From Thai PBS World In this ever-changing world, many people are overwhelmed by uncertainties and fears. Competition at work, rampant layoffs, finances, parenting, friendships and pandemic concerns can all spark tension, leaving people feeling stressed, anxious and emotionally drained. To cope with these feelings, a large number of Thai people have turned to superstitious objects, lucky charms, amulets, talismans and even occult rites, known as mutelu, in the hope that they will bring fortune, prosperity and good luck, a study has found. The findings of a survey on mutelu behavior released in 2024 by the Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN (Thailand) revealed that 88% of respondents believed in superstition and had faith in mutelu, with ‘money’ and ‘good luck’ at the top of the most requested blessings. Mutelu, for many Thai people, refers to people who travel to holy sites or places to worship sacred objects. Many worshippers pray for blessings from amulets and talismans to bring peace, fulfil their hopes and wishes. When they receive what they asked for, they will return to developer the promised offerings. According to the study, more than half of respondents (52%) reported that they see mutelu as a spiritual anchor. And over 65% of them said they pray for blessings for themselves. The study involved over 1,200 Thai people of different age groups. Each group had particular worship and mutelu behavior, the study found. Gen X respondents (43-58 years old) prefer visiting temples, making merit, praying to boost morale and hope, as well as for good health. Gen Y respondents (27-42 years old), meanwhile request money, good luck and career advancement when practising mutelu. Gen Z respondents (11-26 years old) enjoy worship activities that fit their lifestyle and own amulets and lucky charms that are chic and trendy. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-superstition-boom-full-of-faith-in-thailand/

I noticed in many Asian cultures, it's common to display wealth with gold as a way of demonstrating success. But add booze to the equation and the outcome can prove costly.

The police officer was killed in the middle of the road, as the video in link shows. The taxi did crash into sidewalk but came to stop within the intersection.

From The Nation The Ministry of Public Health says it has known about the risk of blood-clotting side effects from AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine since the beginning, and confirmed it has not purchased additional AstraZeneca vaccines after stocks were depleted. There have been have reported cases of litigation in the United Kingdom regarding adverse effects after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, sometimes resulting in fatal blood-clotting incidents. While AstraZeneca disputes these allegations, it did admit for the first time in one court document that its vaccine could potentially cause thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or blood clotting in some cases. Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, said AstraZeneca has been providing information on vaccine side effects through medical journals since its emergency use authorisation (EUA), and now it is widely authorised. The ministry has been collecting adverse-event data as evidence, including cases of litigation. When there are recommendations or academic information available, the ministry incorporates them into vaccine guidelines, Surachoke said. For instance, when AstraZeneca provided data on blood clotting in younger age groups, the ministry recommended vaccination only for individuals aged 30 and above. “Data on blood-clotting incidents have been disclosed since the vaccine was used in emergency situations. The company itself has presented this information to all countries using the vaccine, including Thailand. As for the AstraZeneca vaccine, Thailand has already used up its supply, and there have been no additional purchases this year. Therefore, the vaccines currently available for Covid-19 are supplied by Pfizer and Moderna, Surachoke said. https://www.nationthailand.com/health-wellness/40037690

I like to think that I exercise all due caution when crossing Silom or Surawong roads but the following incident gives me a moment of pause to reconsider if I've become overconfident. From the Thaiger Drunk taxi driver crashes and kills traffic cop in Bangkok A drunk taxi driver crashed and killed a traffic police officer on Phahonyothin Road in the Bang Khen district of Bangkok on April 28. The deputy traffic inspector from the Bang Khen Police Station, 54 year old police sub-lieutenant Autsada Jamniansi, lost his life while he was on duty directing traffic during a mini-marathon event on Phahonyothin Road. He was rushed to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital but tragically succumbed to the severe injuries. Continues with vieo https://thethaiger.com/news/national/drunk-taxi-driver-crashes-and-kills-traffic-cop-in-bangkok-video .

From The Thaiger Police in Phuket have detained a British national following an altercation involving a tuk tuk driver, where the foreigner was accused of physically assaulting the driver over a fare dispute. The incident, which was captured on CCTV footage, garnered significant attention on social media, leading to a swift police response. The confrontation took place on the evening of April 26, when a tuk-tuk driver was allegedly attacked by a British tourist after a disagreement over the fare. The driver claimed the fare was 400 baht (US$10) but the tourist insisted he had paid with a 1,000 baht (US$27) note and demanded change. When the driver suggested resolving the matter at the local police station, the tourist responded aggressively. The video, just over a minute long, shows the tourist squeezing the driver’s neck and slapping his face, actions which left the driver visibly shaken and seeking justice. The footage prompted an outcry from netizens, leading to an investigation by the Karon Police Station. Last night, April 30, the police, led by senior officers from the Karon Police Station, executed an arrest warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court. The suspect, identified as 31 yeas old Luke Alexander Graham, had fled Patong for a hotel on Koh Phi Phi in the neighbouring province of Krabi.

From The Thaiger merging from the nocturnal charm of Pattaya, an intriguing tale of a Laotian tourist and a vanished 80,000 baht (US$2,150) gold necklace has surfaced. The unfortunate incident unfolded early this morning, May 1, along the bustling Sukhumvit Road in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chon Buri province. The victim, Detnakhon Inthakoummane, a 37 year old Laotian national, recounted his ordeal to the Pattaya police. His evening began with an enjoyable drinking session with friends at a bar in South Pattaya. However, as the night advanced, the merry gathering scattered, each heading back to their respective accommodations. Despite the prudent advice from his companions to avail public transport, Detnakhon decided to amble along the roadside. Overwhelmed by fatigue, he eventually succumbed to slumber on a footpath beside the street. The dawn of the new day brought with it a rude awakening. Detnakhon was taken aback to discover his two-baht-weight gold necklace was nowhere to be found. Promptly, he lodged a complaint with the Pattaya police and requested to inspect the nearby CCTV footage. The footage unveiled a sequence of events that left Detnakhon startled. It captured a tall, lean man, ostensibly clad in a motorcycle taxi vest, stopping his motorcycle to scrutinise the sleeping Detnakhon before riding off. This mysterious figure then reappeared after a while, this time minus his vest. The man approached Detnakhon, conducted a search of his body, and allegedly made off with the gold necklace.

From Pattaya News Thailand continues to experience a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures pushing power demand to unprecedented levels across the nation. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, more than three dozen districts across the country’s 77 provinces recorded their highest temperatures ever for April, traditionally the hottest month. Some records surpassed previous highs set as far back as 1958. In Bangkok, the heat index, which accounts for humidity, reached a “very dangerous” level above 52 °C, creating extreme discomfort and potential health risks. Meanwhile, the northern province of Lampang recorded a high of 44.2 °C, nearing the country’s all-time highest temperature of 44.6 °C observed in previous years.

Regardless of the reason, there's a worldwide trend that shows that the less developed regions have a higher birthrate while the most developed have the lowest. The following figures for east Asia are from Wikipedia: Philippines 2.7 Laos 2.4 Cambodia 2.3 Indonesia 2.1 Myanmar 2.1 Vietnam 1.9 Japan 1.3 Thailand 1.3 Thailand 1.3 China 1.2 Singapore 1.1 S. Korea 0.9 Hong Kong 0.8

You would be correct. Restrict my adventures geographically to Bangkok and Vietnam.🙂 +1 "For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing that they like." 🙂 The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie, 1969 Curious what horrified you about Bangkok?

So you lapped up union benefits for thee plus decades but now choose to bad mouth vehicle that made it possible?

Never been to Jomtien, or Pattaya for that matter, but your description reminds me of what I love about walking Lumpinee Park at Twilight. You can see those women dancing and the occasional young Thai guy practicing his moves on the periphery. You can feed the cats, turtles and fish. You can walk, jog or just grab a seat on a bench and watch the world of Bangkok pass by. The city's free--for an an hour or so--of any traces of hi-so and low.

From The Nation Bangkok Pride, an annual event for gender diversity groups, this year will feature grand parades, concerts and academic forums to promote the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, the organiser Naruemit Pride Ltd announced on Facebook on Monday. Bangkok Pride 2024 is scheduled to take place for five days from May 31 to June 4 across several venues in the capital. The theme of this year is “Celebration of Love” to mark Thailand’s recognition of same-sex marriage with the passing of the equal-marriage bill, the company said. The main event will be the Bangkok Pride Parade on June 1, to be participated in by members of LGBTQIA+ groups, who will express the concept of love in five topics: Love Wins, Love for Identity, Love for Dignity, Love for Peace and Earth, and Love for Freedom. Participants will march from the National Stadium to Ratchaprasong Intersection on Rama I Road in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district. The general public can join for free with no registration required. From May 31 to June 2 at Lido Connect, people can take part in Bangkok Pride Forum, a series of seminars on topics related to same-sex marriage, human rights and education. A sister forum will also be held at SCBX Next Tech, Siam Paragon shopping mall, from May 31 to June 4 covering such topics as economic, health-care, technological and environmental impacts of the equal marriage bill. Last, the Drag Bangkok concert, from May 31 to June 3, will mark the biggest gathering of drag artists of the year across various nationalities, cultures and generations. The stage will be packed with showgirls and dancers who will create the greatest and most spectacular entertainment experience at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon. For more details, visit www.bangkokpride.org or Facebook @bangkokpride.official.

From Thai PBS World The Air Force is demanding 3 billion baht in compensation from Airports of Thailand (AOT) for the proposed use of the Kantarat Golf Course, which is located between the airport’s two main runways, for the expansion of Don Mueang international airport, said Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Defence Ministry today. The House committee on the transfer of military business today invited representatives of the AOT, the Air Force, the Airports Authority of Thailand and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand for a discussion today about AOT taking over the golf course land in Don Mueang for expansion of the airport, said Jirayu, who is also chairman of the House committee. Kirati Kitmanawat, AOT president, told the meeting that, for the sake of aviation safety, the takeover of the golf course is necessary. Even though the International Civil Aviation Organisation had declared that the risk posed to aviation operations at the airport by the golf course was acceptable, Kirati noted that, on several occasions, golfers have breached restrictions by driving golf carts across the taxi ways, despite the warning signals. ================= From Thai PBS World Cutting through the tangled web of Thai military’s business interests While it has been widely known for a long time that the Thai military is heavily involved in business and commercial interests, the anatomy of businesses under the control of the armed forces is hardly known, as most of them have been concealed. The House of Representatives set up an ad hoc committee in late January to explore the possibilities of freeing the military from involvement in businesses in a bid to rid the armed forces of corruption and conflict of interest, so they could stay focused on their primary responsibility: national defense. The public in Thailand got a glimpse of the dark side of the military’s business activities in early 2020 when a junior army officer went on a shooting rampage, killing 30 people including himself, in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province in a rage over a business deal involving a housing welfare scheme. In a move to regulate business-related welfare schemes within the barracks, then Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Finance Ministry’s Treasury Department in February 2020 to classify the types of business from which the Army needed to share revenue with the department. The Navy and the Air Force also have numerous business interests in various sectors, but they did not toe the Army line. They argued that they were involved in many businesses for the internal welfare of troops and their families, rather than making profit for commercial purposes. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cutting-through-the-tangled-web-of-thai-militarys-business-interests/

NOTE -- For those of us who've been visiting the Kingdom for a few decades or so, we've seen this movie before. Before long we'll be bemoaning a stronger baht and recalling the salad days of the dollar and pound. From Thai PBS World The sharp depreciation of the baht in recent weeks has revived the debate on the short-term prospects for the Thai currency. The baht fell below the threshold of 37 to the dollar, hitting a six-month low. Among underperforming Asian currencies, the Japanese yen saw the sharpest fall of 155 to the dollar, a 10.5 per cent plunge in the current year, followed by the baht, which has depreciated 7-8 per cent. The Indonesian rupiah is also on a slide, prompting the country’s central bank to raise the policy rate by 0.25 percentage point to 6.25 per cent on April 24 in order to stabilize the currency. When asked whether the Bank of Thailand would take some actions to shore up the baht, Piti Disyatat, deputy governor of the central bank, said it was closely watching the movement of the Thai currency. “The central bank does not want to see market dysfunction, such as market disruption or a liquidity crunch. So far, we have not seen such market behavior,” Piti said. The baht’s slide against the strong dollar follows a trend across the region because the market is worried that the US Federal Reserve may keep the interest rate high for longer than earlier speculated. Piti referred to the latest US economic data, which showed slower growth and persisting high inflation rates in the first quarter. Wall Street too has adjusted its expectations of the Fed cutting the rate twice during the year to just once, probably in September. The high US interest rate has contributed to the stronger dollar. The US Fed fund rate is at a 23-year high in a range of 5.25- 5.5 per cent compared with the 2.5 per cent rate in Thailand. With an interest that is half of what’s on offer in the US, capital has flown out of Thailand’s stock and bond markets. For instance, since early this year foreign investors have sold Thai shares worth over 66 billion baht as of April 26. They have also dumped Thai government bonds resulting in capital outflows of a trillion baht. Piti also feared that the ongoing hot weather might result in fewer visitors until May, which would affect current account flows. It was a seasonal factor, he said, assuring that foreign tourists would come back later this year. Another seasonal factor leading to exchange outflows is payment of dividends to overseas shareholders in listed companies. The total amount of dividends is estimated at US$2 billion in the second quarter. Piti was confident that rising exports, spurred by cheaper goods because of the baht’s decline, would bring in foreign exchange and shore up the value of the baht. Piyasak Manason, a senior economist at InnovestX Securities Co, shared Piti’s view, arguing that the weaker baht would help boost Thailand’s exports. The baht should weaken now as over the past 12 years it had appreciated about 17-18 per cent against the currencies of other countries in the region that are Thailand’ s export competitors, he said. Generally, a stronger baht hurts Thailand’s export competitiveness as it makes Thai products more expensive. Piyasak projects the baht to rebound to 34.5 to the dollar in the fourth quarter based on assumptions that the US Federal Reserve would lower its policy rate in November. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/the-declining-value-of-the-baht-what-does-it-mean-for-thailand/

+1 Sure. Those who see division of labor as '"union bullshit" are invariably among those who've never been a union member. Full disclosure statement: I've never attended an opera.

True, but they get to experience us as our clients never do us. 🙂

Can you imagine what they say about us. 🙂

Thanks for map, Mac. If you extended it a bit further past KK Massage you find Home Spa just before expressway overpass. Readers interested in this shop may find following thread helpful.

Hmm, I believe you're mistaken, Mac. Here's photo array from Oct., 2022, featuring 16 therapists. If you scroll down through the complete current gallery you'll find 21 therapists: https://river365th.wixsite.com/365river/our-team

Thai customs authorities are preparing to strengthen the application of the value added tax (VAT) on the content of all packages arriving in the Kingdom from abroad. From The Thaiger The Customs Department of Thailand next month is set to begin levying value-added tax (VAT) on all imported goods sent through postal services, regardless of the items’ value. This move comes in response to low-priced imports from China that have been flooding the market, providing an unfair edge as domestic producers are taxed. Currently, imported goods sent via postal services are not subjected to import duties and VAT if the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) value of each item is declared to be less than 1,500 baht. However, the Finance Ministry plans to enforce the collection of VAT on all imported goods, irrespective of their value, while still maintaining the exemption from import duties. The finance permanent secretary, Lavaron Sangsnit, disclosed that the Customs Department will swiftly proclaim this new tax collection policy, which is a faster solution than revising the Revenue Code. However, he also mentioned that the threshold for exempted goods should not encompass prohibited items. https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thai-customs-to-impose-vat-on-all-postal-imports-regardless-of-value

From The Thaiger In the face of escalating civil conflict in Myanmar, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has stationed four vessels in the Andaman Sea, ready to facilitate the evacuation of Thai citizens from Myanmar. The directive came from RTN Chief Admiral Adung Pan-Iam, who has instructed the Region 3 commander to prepare two frigates, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan, and two landing ships, HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Mattaphon, for potential evacuation operations. The ships are primed for immediate action if the confrontation between Myanmar’s government army and resistance forces intensifies, endangering the lives of Thai citizens residing in Myanmar. According to a Thai security source, approximately 120 resistance fighters seized a government military base after two days of combat, reducing it to ashes. The base was reportedly crewed by a contingent of 20 soldiers. The flames and smoke from the burning base were visible from Thai territory. The conflict was located in the Dawei area, roughly 10 kilometres away from Ban Thai Muang in the Sai Yok district of Thailand. As of the time of the report, there have been no confirmed reports of casualties or injuries. This situation remains fluid and updates will follow as new information becomes available, reported Bangkok Post.