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Have made 13 visits now to Phoenix without a miss.

Buffet's latest notable buys are five of Japan's largest trading houses. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/03/18/companies/berkshire-japan-trading-firms-stake/

Some karaoke bars have songs available in different languages on request, the Beer Garden and Skybar among them.

He would have been wrong about that. 🙂

Near Super A

I should have specified “in Bangkok”.

Three things come to mind. First, hunting for take away from host bars is not often reviewed here and I can’t off-hand recall a positive one. Second, more boys and mamasans read this board than we think. Third, you know what the ST rate at is from the bars. Anyplace else guys are free to swing for the long ball with crazy numbers.

From MSN / South China Morning Post In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem Laos is facing worsening child malnutrition, with experts warning that the country's economic challenges and underfunding for agriculture are contributing to the crisis, leaving thousands of children at risk of experiencing stunted growth and other serious health complications. At the 10th National Nutrition Forum in Vientiane, speakers from global agencies and academia said there was a need for comprehensive measures to tackle the crisis, as failure to do so would hurt the Laotian economy. "Adequate nutrition is essential for a child's growth, intelligence and future earnings," Alexander Kremer, the World Bank's country manager in Laos, said at the forum on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, Laos faces extremely high rates of childhood malnutrition." https://www.msn.com/en-xl/food-and-drink/general/in-laos-1-in-3-children-has-stunted-growth-despite-surplus-rice/ar-AA1BvAta

From Phnom Penh Posr Cambodia is set to mark a significant milestone in its aviation sector with the launch of Techo International Airport (TIA) in July 2025. Designed as both a major passenger gateway and a strategic cargo hub, the airport is poised to enhance the country’s connectivity and economic growth. Located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh in Kandal and Takeo provinces, the 2,600-hectare facility — developed through a $1.5 billion investment — aims to position Cambodia as a key logistics and aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Cambodia is set to mark a significant milestone in its aviation sector with the launch of Techo International Airport (TIA) in July Designed as both a major passenger gateway and a strategic cargo hub, the airport is poised to enhance the country’s connectivity and economic growth. Located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh in Kandal and Takeo provinces, the 2,600-hectare facility — developed through a $1.5 billion investment — aims to position Cambodia as a key logistics and aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Continues with photos https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/techo-international-airport-cambodia-s-emerging-passenger-and-cargo-hub

From Culture.org Thailand will soon have its first large museum for international contemporary art called Dib Bangkok, which will open in December 2025 in the Rama IV area of downtown Bangkok. The museum, the first of its kind in the country, will exhibit modern art from all over the world. Located in a 71,000-square-foot warehouse that was first built in the 1980s, it has now been changed into a three-story art museum by Kulapat Yantrasast and his company, WHY Architecture. This same firm is also working on a major project at the Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the most famous museums in the world. The name Dib means “raw” or “natural, real state” in Thai, which matches both the design of the building and the museum’s goal to show true, honest art that speaks to people from different places. A Museum Built on One Man’s Dream The idea for Dib Bangkok came from Petch Osathanugrah, a well-known Thai businessman and art collector who was the CEO of his family’s company, Osotspa, until 2022 and was known for his strong support of modern Thai art. He believed that Thai artists deserved more attention and collected many works by both Thai and global artists. After Petch Osathanugrah passed away in 2023, his son, Purat “Chang” Osathanugrah, decided to create Dib Bangkok using his father’s collection, which now forms the main part of the museum’s art displays. This collection includes over 1,000 artworks by more than 200 artists from different countries. Most of the pieces were made from the 1990s to today and include paintings, sculptures, photos, large art setups, and digital art. The museum will feature famous Thai artists like Montien Boonma, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Kawita Vatanajyankur, as well as world-famous artists such as Damien Hirst, Frank Stella, and Takashi Murakami, creating a full picture of modern art today with both local and international work. A Unique Building for Art and Community The three-story building keeps some of its original industrial look, with bare concrete walls on the ground floor. The second floor has a special Thai-Chinese window grille from the building’s past that gives a sense of history and culture. The top floor has white gallery rooms lit by natural light from the sawtooth-shaped roof, which makes the space feel open and bright for visitors. In the center of the museum is a 15,000-square-foot courtyard that gives people a place to relax and gather, along with an outdoor sculpture garden and a cone-shaped gallery called The Chapel, which is covered with mosaic tiles and designed for quiet, deep thinking with large, immersive artworks. The museum also has a penthouse area for special events, helping it become a place for art and community gatherings. First Exhibition and Leaders of Dib Bangkok When Dib Bangkok opens, the first show will be called “Invisible Presence,” which will honor Petch Osathanugrah’s vision and show how hidden forces and ideas shape the world of art and life. The exhibition will include works by Montien Boonma, Lee Bul, Anselm Kiefer, and Alicja Kwade, with more artists to be announced. The museum will be led by Dr. Miwako Tezuka, who has worked in New York at the Japan Society and the Asia Society Museum and also at the Reversible Destiny Foundation. She will work with Ariana Chaivaranon, the museum’s curator, who has experience at the Harvard Art Museums and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. Together, they want Dib Bangkok to become a global center for sharing and learning through art, not just a place to look at it. Continues at https://culture.org/art-and-culture/dib-bangkok-art-museum-opening/

From VN Express Known as the "City of eternal spring," Da Lat offers a unique blend of romantic landscapes, colonial architecture, adventure sports, and vibrant markets. Continues with photos https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/13-breathtaking-places-you-must-visit-in-da-lat-4862766.html

Pattaya doesn’t have a monopoly on labyboys behaving badly. The Thaiger carried this account last week of foreign ladyboy attacking tourist in Phuket because he refused to buy roses from him/her.

From The BBC How The White Lotus reveals the hidden codes of male nudity on screen Full-frontal male nudity in all three series of The White Lotus has provoked waves of reaction and comment. Why does showing a penis on screen still have the ability to shock? Episode four of The White Lotus season three, which is set in Thailand, saw the increasingly agitated millionaire dad Tim Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) sit down for breakfast in a loosely tied dressing robe. His family are unaware that Tim is wanted by the FBI for illegal financial dealings and will likely end up in prison – and that he's been popping tablets of anti-anxiety medication Lorazepam like sweeties. Warning: This article contains language that some may find offensive "Everyone at the club…!" he mutters to himself in horror, and, imagining his acquaintances finding out about his crimes, he puts his hands up over his head, accidentally exposing his genitals as a result. "Oh my god, Dad!" his three near-adult children cry out in disgust. "Your balls!" It might have been only a flash of male genitalia in this third series of Mike White's hugely successful dramedy about one-percenters on holiday, but it instantly became a much-discussed moment on social media. "Jason Isaacs I was unfamiliar with ur game," one person posted on X, while another added: "[the] full frontal made me spill my soup I wasn't ready." Others connected Isaacs' nakedness back to his other famous role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. "Well, I didn't expect White Lotus to show Lucius Malfoy's wand tonight, but here we are…" one user quipped. Continues with photos https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250319-why-on-screen-male-nudity-is-still-rare-and-taboo

Pretty sure he hopes his cell mates don’t share your opinion. 🙂

From The Nation Police in Phuket province on Thursday evening rounded up 37 individuals, most of them transgender women, for alleged disruptive behaviour at Soi Bangla, a tourist neighbourhood in Patong subdistrict of Kathu district. Phuket police chief Pol Maj-General Sinlert Sukhum said the operation targeted individuals engaging in disruptive behaviours that negatively impact the province’s tourism industry as well as its positive image. Sinlert added that the arrested suspects were mostly transgender women who showed behaviour that could be classified as “unlawful”. The 37 suspects were sent to Patong Police Station for questioning and legal proceedings, he said. Bangla Road is Phuket's iconic nightlife hub, known for its vibrant atmosphere and endless entertainment. This bustling street is lined with bars, clubs, and go-go bars, offering live music, dancing and shows, attracting tourists and locals. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40047721

From VN. Express Aerial views of Tan Son Nhat's Terminal 3 show the nearly completed structure, with the official opening set for April 30, two months ahead of schedule. Surrounding infrastructure, including roadways and overpasses, is also nearing completion. Designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, Terminal 3 will increase Tan Son Nhat Airport's total capacity to 50 million per year. https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/traffic/a-closer-look-at-ho-chi-minh-city-airports-new-terminal-before-it-comes-alive-4863373.html

The following report from The Pattaya News makes it clear that the insults originated with the trans individual: Eyewitnesses reported that the incident began when the tourist was walking along a sidewalk near Soi 13/4, adjacent to Pattaya Beach. The transgender woman trailed him, hurling insults, though the exact cause of their dispute remains unclear. The situation came to a head in front of a beachside massage parlor, where a heated argument erupted. Moments later, the transgender woman attacked, striking the tourist with her high heel until his head was bloodied and split open. One witness told reporters that such incidents—ranging from violent assaults to theft—are all too common in this area. The perpetrators are often transgender women who congregate in groups, allegedly engaging in prostitution. According to the witness, trouble frequently arises when tourists, upon realizing the individuals approaching them are transgender, attempt to disengage and walk away. In response, some of these individuals fabricate accusations—claiming harassment or molestation—to extort money from the tourists. The witness suggested that the assailant in this case is a local “regular” and part of a group linked to a similar assault on a tourist in the early hours of March 17 that we reported on here. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/22/transgender-woman-in-high-heels-attacks-foreign-tourist-in-pattaya-sparking-outrage/

From Khmer Times A masseur has been arrested after he stabbed a colleague to death in Phnom Penh. On March 16, 2025, at 8:30 p.m., at the Kines massage shop located at House No. 22Z, Street 420, Group 14, Village 4, Sangkat Boeung Trabek, Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, a murder occurred. A suspect, a massage shop employee, used a sharp knife to stab another employee several times, causing serious injuries and death upon being taken to the hospital. During the act, the suspect threatened to take the victim’s phone and fled. The Phnom Penh Municipal Police Department’s Criminal and Light Penalty Office, in collaboration with the Chamkar Mon District Police Inspectorate, conducted a thorough investigation and, in cooperation with the Mueang Kompu District Police, Kandal Province, arrested the suspect on March 19, 2025, after he had fled to hide in Mueang Kompu District, Kandal Province, his hometown. After the arrest, the police seized evidence, including: 5 cell phones, 2 sharp knives with rubber handles, 1 blue Suzuki Viva motorcycle with Battambang license plate number 1H-9760, and 1 safety helmet. The suspect was identified as Tha Vandy, a 35-year-old male massage therapist. On the morning of March 21, 2025, the heavy criminal force of the Phnom Penh Police Station sent the suspect to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to deal with legal procedures.

And people still ask me why I never go to Pattaya 🙂.

From VN Express The Vietnamese government has decided to extend visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries including major tourism markets such as South Korea and Japan until 2028. Other countries include Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The government's resolution clearly states that citizens of these countries will be exempted from visas for a temporary stay period of 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type and purpose of entry, on the basis of fully meeting the entry conditions as prescribed by Vietnam’s laws, the government's portal reported. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/visa/vietnam-extends-visa-waiver-for-citizens-of-12-countries-until-2028-4858311.html

Maybe but suspending from floor was not well received.

Dragon and Koi is unique: no other bar offers the same combination of entertainment and host opportunities. The dancers are all very friendly and willing to get up close in personal while sitting with customers in booths. But that comes with expected cost. It’s still possible, however, to sit at bar, order a beer or soft drink, and enjoy the same show at very reasonable cost. You’ll be approached by dancers between sets and offered company but no need to accept. Since dancers are central to the bar’s special concept, it’s reasonable that management can’t allow performers to be offed. Whether this practice stands the test of time remains to be seen. To date, one dancer I’m aware of moved over to Freshboy for offing opportunities and appears to be doing quite well in that environment.

Be the first one to report on new place. Very easy to find.

+1. Since English is widely spoken among Filipinos, many find work in health care and other professions.