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From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The highpoint of the British addiction to Thailand was the year 2011 when there were almost 900,000 entries by British passport holders. The information was from the Thai immigration bureau, though it was likely a slight overestimate as it counted re-entries by the same person as additional individuals. These days the bureau sadly does not publish data in the same detailed way country by country. Meanwhile, another useful statistical source, the UK government’s shock annual report British Behaviour Abroad, was discontinued several years ago. Maybe it provided too many salacious stories about sex, drugs and awful traffic accidents. The number of Brits declined in the mid-2020s to about half the 2011 totals. In spite of the covid pandemic, the international tourist numbers in Thailand are now approaching the 2019 figure of almost 40 million according to the Tourist Authority of Thailand. However, the principal recruiting grounds are now China, Russia and India whose nationals are no longer required to obtain prior visas. According to the Board of Investment, Brits have shown little interest in longstay visas such as the newish 10-year Long Term Residence which encourages the well-heeled to make a base in Thailand. The decline in British tourist numbers to Thailand has several roots. There’s stiff competition from eastern Europe and sun-baked rivals in south east Asia. The rising cost of international air fares and immigration bureaucracy, notably the TM30 residence form which can carry a financial penalty if ignored may also be factors. Almost daily reports of Brits being arrested and jailed in Thailand and disturbing stories about the non-insured facing huge bills after a traffic accident surely play a role. The notion that Thailand is the Wild West where anything goes, assuming it was once true, is now buried six feet under. The 2011 statistics showed there were around 60,000 Brits living in Thailand for most or all of the year. The UK Institute for Public Policy recently estimated the number at only 41,000 in 2024. For working expats, the opportunities in traditional industries such as oil and gas are smaller, whilst the Japanese and the Chinese are the dominant foreign presence in newer industries such as car manufacture and industrial estates. Working without a permit and using illegal Thai nominees in businesses these days are risky lifestyles with ongoing surveillance by police and employment officials. British retirees have long been a feature of the expat population in Thailand, but their numbers are also in decline. Inflationary pressures, not to mention the high cost of inpatient hospital care, are significant issues especially as some British pensions – including the state one – are frozen from annual increases. Expat clubs in Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai have been dominated of late by talk of the Thai Revenue policy to tax “assessable” foreign income with complaining British voices being amongst the loudest. Social media is abundant with English-speaking expats threatening to leave Thailand for pastures new in Cambodia, Vietnam or the Philippines where the tax authorities are, it is hoped, more indulgent. It certainly does look like the British love affair with Thailand is losing its magic.

From The Thaiger The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) anticipates the closure of the final chapters in the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway’s first phase, reveals Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Spanning 251 kilometres and boasting a staggering budget of 179.4 billion baht, the ambitious project links the bustling heart of Bangkok to the vibrant cityscape of Nakhon Ratchasima. Divided into 14 meticulously crafted contracts, only two remain awaiting the stroke of the pen, said Surapong. “Contract No. 4-5, tasked with the 13.3 kilometre Ban Pho–Phra Kaeo section in Ayutthaya, is on the cusp of fruition with a budget of 9.9 billion baht. Pending only the completion of a heritage impact assessment (HIA) report on the proposed Ayutthaya station.” Surapong reveals further that the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy is poised to submit the HIA report to Unesco imminently. “Approval is anticipated, given the scrutiny by the UN agency throughout the HIA process. The railway and station, strategically planned away from Ayutthaya’s World Heritage site, should encounter no hurdles.” Meanwhile, Contract No. 4-1 hangs in the balance, tethered to a 15.2-kilometre segment between Bang Sue and Don Muang in Bangkok. Originally envisioned as part of the high-speed railway network linking three major airports, its fate rests on the Board of Investment’s (BoI) impending decision, reported Bangkok Post. “Without BoI’s green light by May 22, alternative routes beckon. SRT might seize the reins solely for the Bang Sue-Don Muang stretch, a crucial lifeline to salvage the project’s punctuality.” Amidst delays plaguing the venture since its 2015 inception, the finish line now glimmers on the horizon: 2028.

From Thailand News Agency The acting national police chief has signed an order to suspend Pol. Gen. Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn and four subordinates from police duties following criminal proceedings. All five officers are suspected of being involved in money laundering linked to a gambling network. Pol. Gen. Surachate had earlier his legal team reschedule his meeting with the police investigators on the case at the Tao Poon police station for April 27. Acting national police chief Pol.Gen. Kitrat Panphet on Thursday met the prime minister at Government House before he later disclosed that he had signed the suspension order for Pol. Gen. Surachate and his four subordinates. The Prime Minister must be informed as he earlier issued the order for Pol. Gen. Surachate to perform duties at the Prime Minister’s Office, said the acting police chief. However, he said Pol. Gen. Surachate has the right to appeal this order according to the law.

And that's a bad thing?

You can eat pad kaprow and flush warm water up your derrière? As my grandmother would say, this is going beyond the beyonds. Floridarob, as recording secretary, suggest you put this on agenda for confab you suggested in Thailand and Vietnam thread.

Don't know what "IG" or "repping" means but that's probably due to age gap. Messy? Hope you don't mean like expanded version of water sports.

Saigon can be more expensive than Hanoi and even Bangkok, but I think guys from north are hotter. Why not go with Viet guy?

From Thai PBS World Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked at 58 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024, an improvement from last year’s 68th placing. The international airport ranking website places Doha Hamad Airport at the top of the list. Singapore Changi, last year’s winner, dropped to second place this year. Airports of Thailand (AOT) adds that their satellite terminal one (SAT-1) received 4 stars this year, for the architecture, cleanliness, overall atmosphere, facilities and automation. These automatic systems include check-ins terminals, bag drop, self-boarding gates and the passenger validation system. While Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is aiming for Thailand to become a regional aviation hub, the current per-passenger duration for international in-bound processing at Suvarnabhumi Airport is 26 minutes and 37 minutes per out-bound passenger. Meanwhile, the time taken for domestic arrivals is 15 minutes per passenger and 25 minutes per passenger for departures. Don Mueang International Airport is ranked tenth among the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Terminals. The rankings are based on traveller questionnaires conducted from August 2023 to March 2024. View full list: https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z-airport-awards-winners-2024/

It was conceived by those in power to remain in power. And so far it's been quite successful.

From the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Inhalant abusers risk an array of other devastating medical consequences. The highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to fatal heart failure within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing. This syndrome, known as "sudden sniffing death," can result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young person. Sudden sniffing death is associated particularly with the abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols. Inhalant abuse also can cause death by— asphyxiation — from repeated inhalations that lead to high concentrations of inhaled fumes, which displace available oxygen in the lungs; suffocation — from blocking air from entering the lungs when inhaling fumes from a plastic bag placed over the head; convulsions or seizures — from abnormal electrical discharges in the brain; coma — from the brain shutting down all but the most vital functions; choking — from inhalation of vomit after inhalant use; or fatal injury — from accidents, including motor vehicle fatalities, suffered while intoxicated. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/inhalants/what-are-other-medical-consequences-inhalant-abuse

To some, that's the attraction.

Sounds more like the non-European Union.

Many thanks for providing a long-awaited and current report on Prince. Encouraged to hear this legendary venue is living up to its reputation. While other crowd pleases like Hero have left the scene, Prince endures.

From Global Construction Review Cambodia will start work this year on a controversial plan to dig a 180km canal to link Phnom Penh to the sea, The Star newspaper reports. The Funan Techo canal, which is expected to cost $1.7bn, will link the capital to the country’s only deepwater port at Sihanoukville and a new port at Kampot. China Road and Bridge Corporation, a subsidiary of China Communications, will build it over four years. Wesley Holzer, a public diplomacy officer at the US embassy in Phnom Penh, said the Cambodian people, along with people in neighbouring countries, would “benefit from transparency on any major undertaking with potential implications for regional water management, agricultural sustainability, and security”. Vietnam has expressed concern about the impact of the canal on the fragile ecology of the Mekong basin and is also reported to be concerned that it will allow Chinese navy ships to approach its territory.

From Pattaya News The brand new Pattaya beachfront market, Chang Beach Street Food, is throwing a splashy Songkran party to celebrate its grand opening! Chang Beach Street Food is a new Thai-styled market in the vibrant city of Pattaya, offering over 200 shop booths overflowing with delicious food and unique finds. The market is situated near Pattaya Soi 6, and it is open everyday from 4:00 PM to midnight, with ample parking to ease your visit. From April 17th to 19th, the market will also host a special three-day event called “STAR WATER Songkran Party” to celebrate its grand opening. This event features featuring more than 10 of Thailand’s top artists and DJs taking the stage. Tickets for the event are 100 baht, with gates opening at 6:00 PM each night.

From Thai PBS World After the 250 junta-appointed senators complete their five-year term on May 10, they will be replaced by a 200-member Senate elected from thousands of candidates via a complex voting system that excludes full public participation. Over 210,000 people have informed the Election Commission (EC) that they wish to run for election to the Senate, and the EC expects at least 100,000 candidates to contest. However, the six rounds of voting required – two each at the district, provincial and national levels – means all 200 seats in the Upper House will not be filled until mid-July. Critics describe the selection system as defined in the 2018 Organic Act on the Acquisition of Senators as “the most complicated in the world”. They say that without a national election by all eligible voters, the system will end up selecting senators who represent the applicants rather than the respective occupational groups as intended by the Constitution drafters. In the interim, the current senators – who are prohibited by the Constitution from seeking another term – will take caretaker roles after their term expires, although they can no longer vote with MPs to select a new prime minister. Under the current Constitution, in force since April 2017, the Senate consists of 200 members selected by and among “persons having the knowledge, expertise, experience, profession, or characteristics or common interests or working or having worked in varied areas of the society”. However, the charter’s transitory provisions state that during the first five years of the first Parliament, the Senate shall comprise 250 members appointed by the King upon the advice of the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-next-senate-and-the-most-complicated-election-in-the-world/

From Thai PBS World Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down next month and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over, the second non-member of the Lee family to lead the wealthy nation. “I will relinquish my role as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024 and DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence Wong will be sworn in as the next Prime Minister on the same day,” Lee said on social media on Monday. Wong, who is also the finance minister, was chosen as Lee’s heir-apparent in 2022 from a new generation of lawmakers from the People’s Action Party (PAP) which has ruled uninterrupted since independence in 1965. “I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I pledge to give you my all in this undertaking,” Wong said on social media. The 51-year-old, US-educated economist is widely seen as a social media-savvy stalwart who effectively handled the Covid-19 crisis when he oversaw the government’s pandemic taskforce.

From Thai PBS World Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn sounds surprisingly cheerful given that his high-flying career has just plunged into another crisis. It’s as if he were trying to prove he is the proverbial cat with nine lives. “I wish everyone a safe return to their home provinces for happy meals with their family during Songkran … Happy Thai New Year,” he wrote recently on Facebook. Last month, Surachate was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister along with National Police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol after a dispute erupted between Thailand’s top two cops. The transfer order, signed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last month, declared that their hostility threatened to escalate and undermine public trust in the police force. The conflict has been escalating since last September when Torsak beat competition from the more senior Surachate (counting from the number of years since becoming a superintendent) to be named the new national police chief Surachate had been a strong contender for the top post in the Royal Thai Police (RTP). But just days before the appointment was made, armed policemen raided Surachate’s house in Bangkok over online gambling allegations. Many observers believe the raid was timed to shatter Surachate’s chance of rising to the top. Born to a junior policeman, Surachate grew up in the deep South province of Songkhla. As a teenager, he enrolled in the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School’s Class 31 where his name was inscribed on the school’s plaque for impeccable behavior and sports performances. After graduating, he joined the Royal Police Cadet Academy’s (RPCA) Class 47. Surachate was the shining star of RPCA Class 47 alumni, rising quickly through the police ranks. After being appointed deputy inspector at the age of just 24, he rose to inspector at 30, deputy superintendent at 34 and superintendent at 38. Aged 42, he became the deputy commander of Songkhla police. He simultaneously led a forward command overseeing four insurgency-hit border districts, which earned him bonus years on his service record – a privilege preserved for officers in the insurgency-hit southern border provinces. The extra years of service helped secure his meteoric rise at a relatively young age. Surachate had not even celebrated his 45th birthday when he won a promotion to the rank of major general. Then in 2018, at the age of 48, he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed chief of the Immigration Bureau. He also doubled as head of the Police Cyber Taskforce, handing him the authority to investigate cases across Thailand. High-profile cases and the press conferences that accompanied them saw Surachate quickly rise to national prominence. His recent transfer, however, is not the first blow he has suffered. Surachate has experienced similar if not worse setbacks in his career before. Back in 2019, then-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha not only removed him from his police role but also shunted Surachate from the force altogether, transferring him into the civil service. Surachate filed a complaint against Prayut’s transfer order with the Central Administrative Court but lost the case. Many believed back then that his police career was over, but he defied expectations by returning to the RTP in grand style in 2021. Three years ago, Surachate was appointed to a new post on the same level as assistant national police chief that seemed created especially for his return. He managed to rebuild his police and public profile effectively and was promoted to the post of deputy national police chief, apparently on track for the top job. But disaster struck when he was implicated in an online gambling scandal. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/surachate-hakparn-the-rollercoaster-career-of-thailands-most-famous-policeman/

"Reminiscences of the past are best avoided and what is required is a quick look and a quiet turn away." John Mortimer, Rumpole of the Bailey

....and massage shops provide the water, and often other nourishment.

Judging by the trucks and jeeps, I agree.

From Wikipedia Trump University (also known as the Trump Wealth Institute and Trump Entrepreneur Initiative LLC) was an American company that ran a real estate training program from 2005 to 2010. It was owned and operated by The Trump Organization. A separate organization, Trump Institute, was licensed by Trump University but not owned by The Trump Organization. In 2011, amid multiple investigations, lawsuits and student complaints, it ceased operations. It was founded in 2004 by Donald Trump, who was U.S. president from 2017 to 2021, and his associates Michael Sexton and Jonathan Spitalny. The company offered courses in real estate, asset management, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. Despite its name, the organization was not an accredited university or college. It conducted three- and five-day seminars (often called "retreats") and used high-pressure tactics to sell them to its customers. It did not confer college credit, grant degrees, or grade its students. In 2011, the company became the subject of an inquiry by the New York Attorney General's office for illegal business practices, which resulted in a lawsuit filed in August 2013. An article in the National Review called the organization a "massive scam".] Trump University was also the subject of two class actions in federal court. The lawsuits centered around allegations that Trump University defrauded its students by using misleading marketing practices and engaging in aggressive sales tactics. The company and the lawsuits against it received renewed interest due to Trump's candidacy in the 2016 presidential election. Despite repeatedly insisting he would not settle, Trump settled all three lawsuits in November 2016 for a total of $25 million after being elected president.

Have yet to encounter shop in Bangkok without AC. Most shops don't open before 11 but usually remain open until midnight in Silom area and often later in Saphan Kwai. Comfort supplied by the masseurs. 🙂 Avoid outdoor activities between 11 and 4. Early morning and Twilight good time for walking parks. The bars don't open until after dark so no problem there. Siam Paragon, Icon Siam and Central World are all great malls but my favorite has become Samyan Mitrtown. Besides the great stores and food offerings, there's an observation deck and discount cinema. It's adjacent to a major university so the people watching is guaranteed to be fun. Just one stop away from Silom MRT station. https://www.samyan-mitrtown.com/en/

From CNBC International travel roared back last year, pushing airports from London to Tokyo up in a global ranking of passenger traffic. Dubai International Airport ranked as the second busiest in 2023, up from fifth place in 2022 and fourth place in 2019, according to Airports Council International’s preliminary ranking, which was released on Monday. Passenger traffic to Tokyo Haneda International Airport jumped 55% last year from 2022, and the airport ranked fifth, up from 16th place a year earlier. Global airports served 8.5 billion passengers last year, up 27% from 2022 but still about 6% below pre-pandemic counts, ACI said, citing preliminary figures. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Air Lines ’ biggest hub, once again topped the list of the busiest airports, serving 104.7 million passengers, ACI said. Here are the 2023 rankings (with 2022 rankings in parentheses): Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (1) Dubai International Airport (5) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (2) London Heathrow (8) Tokyo Haneda International Airport (16) Denver International Airport (3) Istanbul Airport (7) Los Angeles International Airport (6) Chicago O’Hare International Airport (4) New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (9)

From CNBC Trump Media shares plunge after company files to issue additional DJT stock plunged more than 17% in premarket trading Monday after the company filed to issue millions of additional shares of stock. Trump Media’s dramatic slide came as Donald Trump headed to a Manhattan court to begin jury selection for his criminal trial on hush money-related charges. Trump is the majority stakeholder in the company. Trump Media, which created the Truth Social app and trades under the stock ticker DJT on the Nasdaq, fell nearly 20% last week.