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From Pattaya News An Australian tourist expressed frustration after losing all his belongings and a large sum of money allegedly to a pickpocket on a tour bus while traveling to Pattaya to celebrate Loy Krathong. On November 27th, around 4:30 PM, Mr. Jeevarass Palasunoram, an Australian tourist in his 30s, reported the incident to Pol. Lt. Col. Natchaphon Saengsi, Deputy Superintendent for investigation at Pattaya Police Station. According to Mr. Jeevarass, he had taken an air-conditioned tour bus from Ekamai in Bangkok to Pattaya. Upon arriving in Pattaya around 4:30 PM, he discovered that his wallet, containing 9,500 Australian dollars (around 200,000 Thai baht), 1,500 Thai baht, and various documents, was missing from his backpack, which he had placed in the overhead compartment above his seat Mr. Jeevarass immediately reported the incident to the police upon reaching his hotel in Pattaya. The police attempted to inspect the bus for any clues but were informed by the unnamed bus driver that the vehicle did not have any security cameras. Without clear leads or evidence, Pol. Lt. Col. Natchaphon told local media that he was unable to determine where Mr. Jeevarass might have dropped his belongings or whether the theft occurred on the bus. The investigation into the incident remains inconclusive at the time of reporting.

From Thai PBS World Education Ministry assigned to improve Thais’ English proficiency Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered the Education Ministry to come up with measures rapidly, to improve English proficiency among Thai people, students in particular, after Thailand’s very poor ranking on the global Education First (EF) English Proficiency Index 2023. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the order was made during a weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. EF ranks 113 countries, where English is not the first language, based on scores in 2.2 million Education First Standardised English Tests taken in 2022. At the top of the list is the Netherlands, with an average score of 647 out of 800, followed by Singapore (631), while Denmark, scoring 615, and Norway, with 614, swapped places at fourth and fifth place. Thailand is ranked 101st, which places the country below seven other ASEAN countries, namely Singapore, the Philippines (578 – 20th), Malaysia (568 – 25th), Vietnam (505 – 58th), Indonesia (473 – 79th), Myanmar (450 – 90th) and Cambodia in 98th place with 421. Laos and Brunei were excluded from the listing. The average score is 502. Thailand’s score puts it in the category of “very low English proficiency” countries. It was also noted that Thailand’s average score has not improved since the index was introduced in 2011, except in 2017, when the score increased slightly.

This matter is particularly troubling because the warning provided was from a staunch ally that had the assets to collect superior signals intelligence and surveillance monitoring. On the surface it seems incredulous that it would not be taken seriously. it takes me back to 9/11. A field agent in the Southwest was the recipient of a tip that a group of middle eastern men taking flying lessons for commercial jets. What the tipster said was unusual that they wanted training in take off and flight ops but had expressed no interest in landing instruction. The info was passed on to FBI headquarters in Washington where it was never taken seriously for reasons yet to be explained.

From CNN ’Boys love’ stars becoming fashion’s newest power players Nattawin 'Apo' Wattanagitiphat and Phakphum ‘Mile’ Romsaithong attend Dior's Spring-Summer 2024 menswear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 23. Back in February, Nattawin Wattanagitiphat’s fans spared no expense in marking the Thai actor’s 29th birthday. Videos that made their way onto social media showed ‘Apo,’ as he is affectionately known, wading through a sea of flower bouquet stands, multiple cakes towering over six feet tall, gold bars, cash and even a Rolex watch all gifted by his fan base. Local media reported his birthday haul totaled 50 million Thai baht, or around $1.4 million. With such an army of intense supporters behind him, it’s little wonder then that Apo was named by Christian Dior as a men’s ambassador this summer, along with his co-star Phakphum ‘Mile’ Romsaithong. The two actors, who star as an on-screen couple in a BL television series (a “boys’ love” drama featuring gay romance themes) called “KinnPorsche,” have become a valuable marketing vehicle for the brand. The pair have appeared at events across Asia, including Dior’s show in India, and on the covers of various editions of Vogue, GQ and other magazines. One reason they provide a good return on investment is the remarkably high engagement they generate on social media. Data from a report released by Lefty.io, a social media analytics company, and public relations firm Karla Otto found that Apo and Mile were ranked 3rd and 5th in earned media value for the Spring-Summer 2024 show season on Instagram and TikTok — only after Kylie Jenner and Zendaya, who have 399 million and 185 million followers respectively on Instagram. In comparison, the Thai actors have just 3.5 million Instagram followers each. Still, they are able to induce a fanaticism that’s typically only seen with South Korean stars. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/style/thai-celebrities-boys-love-fashion-brands/index.html

From CNN Twenty-three Thai and Nepali workers were killed in the dormitory and safe room where they lived in the Hamas attack. On the morning of October 7, Hamas fighters streamed into the quiet lanes of kibbutz Alumim, setting off on a rampage of killing and destruction. But most of their victims in the community weren’t Israeli, or even Jewish, they were Thai and Nepali farm workers, sleeping in a dormitory right in the militants’ path. Some of the men limped, others were pushed. Flanked by gunmen, the men were marched to their deaths. Security staff watched helplessly on CCTV from just a few hundred meters away as the 23 men were massacred.

From The Nation Thai Airways has taken over the operation of 9 domestic routes from Thai Smile Airways following the restructuring of its business model that has seen it integrate its subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, which operates domestic and short-haul international flights. Flights starting from December 1 Bangkok-Chiang Mai: daily, 35 flights per wee Bangkok-Phuket: daily, 56 flights per week Bangkok-Udon Thani: daily, 21 flights per week Flights starting from January 1 Bangkok-Khon Kaen: daily, 28 flights per week Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani: daily, 14 flights per week Bangkok-Krabi: daily, 14 flights per week Bangkok-Hat Yai: daily, 21 flights per week Bangkok-Narathiwat: daily, 7 flights per week ————————— The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s governor said on Tuesday that Chinese airlines simply chose to return the extra time slots allocated to them. TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool was referring to reports carried by several Thai news websites that 10 Chinese airlines had cancelled flights to Thailand for the months of December and January due to lower-than-expected bookings. Thapanee added that she was informed by five TAT offices in China that several airlines will start flying to and from China and will also introduce new routes between the two countries. They include VietJet, China Eastern, Nok Air, 9 Air, Thai Lion Air and Air Asia.

And thankfully I run into very few ASEAN guys who use cologne. Anticipation of the promise of sexual intimacy is a big driver of my emotional responses.

When Lawrence of Arabia first screened in 1962, the 227-minute epic was interrupted midstream with 20-minute intermission. Good for viewers and great for concession sales. I still stream it because I consider it among the five best films ever produced.

From Coconuts Bangkok Thailand earned a “very low proficiency” score in English, according to the latest survey by Swiss-based language education company Education First (EF). In yet another year of unsatisfactory pasa angrit (English language) proficiency, Thailand ranked 101st out of 113 non-native-English-speaking countries in the annual EF English Language Proficiency Index report. Thailand notched up a score of 416, which caused it to drop four places from last year. The global average is 502. Thailand came dead last among the eight ASEAN countries in the survey, behind Cambodia, which ranked 98th globally. Singapore (obviously) continues to rank at the top amongst the Asian countries, coming 2nd overall and trailing behind the Netherlands at number one. Singapore is the only Asian country to be ranked in the “very high proficiency” category. Since 2011, Thailand has always ranked near the bottom of the survey, while other Asian countries score higher proficiencies in the English language. In 2022, Thailand was ranked 97th out of 111. In 2021, the country fared even worse, coming in at 100 out of 112. ======= By contrast, some of the best English is spoken by the Myanmar waiters at Hot Male beer bar and the Vietnamese waiters at Fresh Boy.

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.