reader

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The unfortunate British tourist Pamela Gatehouse is facing medical and repatriation costs of around 80,000 pounds (3 million baht) and much more if a private plane evacuation proves necessary. Her husband says their travel insurance proved worthless because they visited India before Thailand, a technicality which invalidated all claims. Inevitably, the British embassy was contacted but there is no slush fund to cover non-insured tourists or expats. Indeed, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London has in the past pointed out that British taxpayers cannot, and should not, subsidize overseas tragedies no matter how pitiful. Any other policy, of course, would open the floodgates as Brits abroad would queue up in huge numbers to benefit from the unexpected generosity. Gofundme might help a bit – it has provided over 7,000 pounds (30,000 baht) to date in the Gatehouse case. Traditionally, most of the cash in medical emergencies is volunteered in the first few days, soon drying up. The only other routes to try are compassionate friends and relatives back in the UK or negotiations with the private hospital to arrange a discount. There have been examples where hospital administrators have knocked off 10 percent as the case nears outpatient status. Worth a try. It is a common myth that travel insurance, which the Gatehouses paid for, covers any and all medical issues abroad. Allianz Travel Insurance points out that “if a situation is not specified in the terms, it’s not covered”. Claims are regularly rejected because of ambiguous terms such as pre-existing conditions, foreseeable events and risky behaviour. Travel insurance is a competitive, even cut-throat industry, with companies trying to look as cheap as possible whilst maximizing their own escape clauses. In the past 12 months, Brits in Thai hospitals for serious operations (assuming they had any insurance) have been rejected by their cover companies for not wearing a crash helmet, failing breath or drugs tests, negligence in personal conduct, inadequate vehicle insurance, self-incrimination (overstaying a visa), failure to return regularly to UK, refusal to accept outpatient treatment when offered and a host of other phrases which disguise the horror of individuals’ misfortunes. As regards compulsory medical insurance, Thai authorities are diffident. Cheap package deals for the millions from India, China and Russia would rise in cost if mandatory cover was introduced. A few expat visas such as the 10-year Long Term Residence and work authorizations require it, but well over 90 percent of foreigners can visit without any insurance requirement. Meanwhile, the Thai health authorities regularly grumble about foreigners’ unpaid bills. In early 2024, the Thai government launched a medical support scheme for foreign tourists which was centrally funded with 50 million baht (11 million UK). It was discretionary, complicated and not well publicized after the initial press conferences. There were the usual warnings about carelessness, intention to take part in an illegal activity or risky conduct. Much of the fund was spent on compensation for the relatives of foreigners who died in traffic accidents. The scheme ran until December 2024 but has not been renewed so far as is known. A recurrent promise of the government has been to introduced a travel tax of 300 baht (7 pounds) on all foreigners arriving in Thailand. The revenue would be used to repair or renovate public monuments visited by tourists with a smaller percentage perhaps paying the costs of foreigners’ accidents. Maybe anyway. But there has been no travel surcharge to date and no recent announcements. When it comes to significant medical treatment in any south east Asian country, you are essentially on your own. On the other hand, 99 percent of travellers won’t have a problem. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/everyone-passes-the-buck-on-paying-for-emergency-medical-treatment-in-thailand-491691

Didn’t go upstairs. Only observed Midnight bar. I plan to give new HM owners another week or so before seeing show,

Under new management, the staff at Midnight Bar (formerly known as Hot Male Beer Bar) appears to have settled on new attire for bar staff of white shirts. Under the predominant blue lighting, they do indeed stand out. Freshboy, which for a long time utilized a few waiters to act as barkers, now has 2-3 dedicated staff in red polo shirts on the soi, doing the job. And they must be effective because the house was packed Saturday night for the shows. Even some of the benches boys use when not on stage were occupied by customers. A non member tells me that he went to Atlas Bar Friday. Show started at 10:50 with total of 16 customers. He didn’t see any twinks and there was no f show. Saw one guy get offed. A member reports that a bodybuilding competition scheduled for next month has been postponed.

From theconsrructor.org Viscoelastic dampers have been successfully incorporated in a number of tall buildings as a viable energy dissipating system to suppress wind-and earthquake-induced motion of building structures. A tuned mass damper, also known as a harmonic absorber or seismic damper, is a device mounted in structures to reduce mechanical vibrations, consisting of a mass mounted on one or more damped springs. Its oscillation frequency is tuned to be similar to the resonant frequency of the object it is mounted to, and reduces the object's maximum amplitude while weighing much less than it.

From CNN Imagine you’re booking a flight. For most people, it’s an easy decision: the cheapest fare or the easiest route will be the one to win out. But for many, it’s a different scenario. They’re willing to spend more, fly at awkward times or even make multiple connections to reach their destination — all to earn airline loyalty points. This is the dance of the frequent flyer program — often a costly dance, but one that reaps benefits in the form of lounge access, free seat selection, priority security and other things that make flying in the crowded 21st century a little more bearable — as long as you spend or fly enough to earn enough points to reach the “elite” tiers of airlines’ loyalty programs. But with airlines increasingly changing their programs to make it harder to accrue status, has the points bubble burst? “Earning real value from airline loyalty programs is tougher than ever,” says Kyle Olsen, travel products editor at CNN Underscored. “Airlines have raised [flight] redemption costs and made rewards less valuable. Higher spending requirements make status harder to achieve. Dynamic pricing means award flights cost more points than before.” This year, three carriers in the Oneworld airline alliance — British Airways, Iberia and Qantas — will change their loyalty schemes. From April, it’ll be harder to achieve status on the first two, while from August, spending loyalty points on Qantas will require a higher spend. Rob Burgess, editor of “avgeek” website Head for Points, calls it a “downward trend.” “BA and Iberia are turning their programs into recognition schemes for their biggest spenders rather than loyalty schemes,” he says. Those Oneworld changes come on the heels of Delta Air Lines, whose much criticized toughening up of their own program made it tougher to acquire status last year. CEO Ed Bastian cited crowded lounges as one reason for the changes. Suddenly the “elites” weren’t feeling so … elite. So are loyalty programs worth it anymore? And with suggestions that airlines are no longer interested in rewarding the little guys, are there any that still work for the average Joe? Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/travel/airline-loyalty-programs-points-2025-changes/index.html

You’re not wrong; it does.

I pay $42 per night for my Abnb condo. If you don’t stay at Capella, @Olddaddy, you won’t have to haggle. 🙂

Not since Nikon’s infamous Saturday Night Massacre have we seen anything on this scale. From CNN In an unprecedented purge of the military’s senior leadership Friday night, President Donald Trump fired the top US general just moments before his defense secretary fired the chief of the US Navy and the vice chief of the Air Force. Trump announced he was dismissing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown and replacing him with Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine – an extraordinary move since Caine is retired, according to an Air Force official, and is not a four-star general. Trump called Brown a “fine gentleman” and an “outstanding leader,” while hinting at the firings to come. “Finally, I have also directed Secretary [of Defense Pete] Hegseth to solicit nominations for five additional high level positions, which will be announced soon,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Minutes later, Hegseth released a statement announcing he’d fired Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the chief of the Navy. The removal of the second Black man to serve as America’s most senior general and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff appears to send a strong signal from an administration that has outlawed diversity and inclusion efforts across the military and wider government. Hegseth called Franchetti a “DEI hire” in his 2024 book, in which he wrote: “If naval operations suffer, at least we can hold our heads high. Because at least we have another first! The first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — hooray.” Hegseth on Friday also said that Gen. James Slife, the vice chief of the Air Force, had been fired, and that he was “requesting nominations” for the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy and Air Force, indicating they will be replaced. “Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars,” Hegseth said Friday night. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/21/politics/trump-fires-top-us-general-cq-brown/index.html

Have long ago stopped worrying about age. That’s why I keep returning to Bangkok. Good looking guys still compete for my attention in bars and massage shops because currency is timeless.

One of best views in town is found from the terrace of G’s.

What I like about Berkshire is that it issues no dividends but reinvests profits to make acquisitions (his latest was additional shares of Occidental Petroleum). Buffett is last one to pitch his own stock, nudging new investors towards the 500. He’s three things that Trump can never be: humble, brilliant and trustworthy.

Agree. If there’s anything retail investors hate it’s uncertainty. In moments like this, I think the sage advice of Warren Buffett provides the best succor: buy when others are fearful; sell when others are greedy.

From The Thaiger A gang of Thai people attacked two Indian men for allegedly groping the breastsand bottoms of two Thai women on a road along Pattaya Beach. The altercation occurred near Pattaya Beach at around 5.30am,yesterday, February 20. CCTV footage showed two Indian men running away from a group of Thai women. The women were heard screaming for help, prompting motorcycle taxi riders and male bystanders to intervene. The confrontation resulted in injuries to five people including two Indian men, two Thai women, and a motorcycle taxi rider. According to a report by Channel 7, the altercation was rooted by a sexual assault. Six Indian men approached two Thai women who were standing on the beach. While talking to the women, two of the Indian men allegedly groped their breasts and bottoms. One of the men also reportedly recorded a video of the assault, further enraging the Thai women. The women demanded that the Indian man delete the video but he refused. An argument ensued, during which four of the Indian men who were not involved in the alleged assault left the scene. The dispute turned violent when one of the Indian men reportedly punched a Thai woman in the eye. A physical altercation followed, and the two Indian men eventually fled. The Thai women sought assistance from people nearby, leading to the chaotic scenes captured on CCTV. In the footage, the women can be heard demanding compensation from the Indian men, who refused to comply. A motorcycle taxi rider, identified as Ruengsak, who attempted to assist the Thai women, stated that one of the Indian men punched him in the eye and mouth, causing him to collapse to the ground. He also sustained a knee injury during the incident. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/2-indian-men-attacked-in-pattaya-for-allegedly-groping-thai-women

On Friday evening, the filming moved over to the outdoor dining area on Patpong 1, presenting a surprise attraction to tourists who’ve been drawn to the area in increasingly large numbers. The decision to make Patpong the location has been a challenge that seems to have been handled well. In most cases, visitors have close access to the proceedings. Traffic is occasionally halted during actual shoots but Patpong 2 remains open to foot and road traffic. Some of the prime viewing points has been from the sidewalk in front of Foodland and a few of the smaller bars on PP2.

From The Nation The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has ordered its provincial and district branches nationwide to closely monitor areas and communities where foreigners have settled to ensure legal compliance and prevent residents from being disturbed. The order was issued on Friday (February 21) via radio dispatch from ISOC’s Second Operational Command, which supervises immigrant-related issues. Provincial and district ISOC offices have been told to prevent clashes between foreigners and Thais from escalating into community-level confrontations, which might affect international relationships. ISOC officials were instructed to prioritise Thailand’s national interests, national security, local economy, investment and tourism. Furthermore, efforts must be made to ensure peaceful and sustainable coexistence among Thai and foreigners without conflict or division. The move comes after repeated clashes between Israelis and local citizens and entrepreneurs in Pai district of Mae Hong Son province since earlier this month. Several businesses and restaurants in Pai have put up signs refusing service to Israeli nationals after reported disruptive behaviour by foreign tourists at local establishments and a hospital. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40046544

From CNBC After an extremely strong 2024 for the U.S. stock market, investors are getting better returns, at least for the moment, from equities located beyond the red, white and blue borders. Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, stocks in Europe and China are vastly outperforming the U.S. equity market. The S&P 500 is up a little over 1% since Jan. 20, as of the close on Thursday after the latest sell-off, while the broad-based MSCI China ETF has risen roughly 17%. The iShares Eurozone ETF is up roughly 6% in that same time span. The iShares China Large Cap ETF, meanwhile, is up about 16%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is barely hanging onto a positive return over the past month. The leaders of U.S. tech are not faring better against Chinese rivals in the markets. The Invesco QQQ ETF is up about 2.5%, while the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF has risen roughly 20%.

NOTE — could this affect plan to inaugurate prior arrival notice for foreigners scheduled for May 1, 2025? From Bangkok Post The Immigration Bureau failed to collect the biometric data of about 17 million travellers who entered and exited Thailand last year after the system reached its maximum capacity, according to People’s Party deputy leader Rangsiman Rome. “Thailand currently does not utilise the biometric system for border control security. This lack of data collection poses a significant risk of criminals re-entering the country,” the opposition politician said in a post on his Facebook account on Friday. “Throughout the entire year of 2024 and up to today, there has been no actual collection of biometric data. What is being collected are merely photographs of facial images and fingerprint photos, not true biometrics,” added Mr Rangsiman, who chairs the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and Reform. Since the previous licence for the system expired, about 17 million people have arrived in and departed Thailand without their biometric details being recorded. It could take up to 29 months for the Immigration Bureau to get a new system up and running as the procurement process has not even begun, he said. Mr Rangsiman stressed that many people, including immigration officers, are unaware of the issue. He also revealed that the bureau had discussed the issue on seven occasions with the National Security Committee. However, higher authorities have not taken action, he noted. “This is a complete failure of police organisation,” Mr Rangsiman said. “This loophole likely explains why so many transnational criminal groups continue to operate freely in Thailand. It is also difficult to remove them due to the inefficiency of state agencies.” Pol Col Neti Khanboon, head of the database division at the bureau’s IT centre, admitted the system had reached full capacity while testifying before Mr Rangsiman’s committee on Thursday. He said the current biometric system can store personal identity data for 50 million people. Purchasing an unlimited licence would require a budget of 500 million baht, he said, adding that a new personal identity collection system was being developed with a budget of 3 billion baht. Personal identity data collection relies on facial photographs, fingerprint images and written records. In 2024, 17 million people entered and left the country without biometric records, he confirmed. “The limited capacity of the biometric system is a weakness,” he conceded. The biometric system used by the bureau was procured in 2019 at a cost of 2.1 billion baht. Among those who spoke out against it publicly was Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the high-profile officer who has feuded with many senior figures and was dismissed from the force last year. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2965620/thai-immigration-biometric-system-no-longer-functioning

Agree that in some cases the best exit is a civil “no thank you.”

Good luck! In the end, you invariably find that you get what you pay for.

You can find scores of members who look back with fondness on the old days in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. That does not constitute an endorsement of illicit or illegal activities. We should exercise great caution before we assassinate another member’s character based on alleged innuendo.

Didn’t ask. Too engaged just being grateful for current opportunities.

From International Monetary Fund Rising Rates May Trigger Financial Instability Before the pandemic, investors worried about how persistently low inflation and interest rates would crimp bank profits. Paradoxically, they also worried about bank profitability when post-COVID reopening sent inflation and central bank interest rates soaring. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank and other US lenders in early 2023 appeared to validate these fears. Our new research on the relationship between inflation and bank profitability helps us make sense of these concerns. Most banks are largely insulated from shifts in inflation—the exposure of income and expenses tend to offset each other. Yet some have significant inflation exposures, which may lead to financial instability if concentrated losses lead to wider panics in the banking sector. As several major central banks are reassessing their monetary policy frameworks in the aftermath of the post-pandemic inflation surge, a deeper understanding of the links between inflation and bank profitability can help design better monetary policy frameworks. Our findings imply that central banks may need to consider financial stability when setting their policy stance to combat inflation. Does inflation matter for bank profitability? This question has received surprisingly little attention. We answer it by combining balance sheet and income data for more than 6,600 banks in advanced and emerging economies with nearly three decades of IMF economic data. Continues at https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2025/02/13/rising-rates-may-trigger-financial-instability-complicating-fight-against-inflation

Is there something environmental that renders otherwise sane men stupid when the enter Pattaya. From Pattaya News Pattaya, Thailand – February 20th, 2025 Pattaya City Police arrested a 54-year-old woman, identified as Ms. Kam, on Thursday afternoon for stealing an ATM card from a British man and withdrawing 40,000 baht. The arrest, carried out by officers from Task Force 2 and the Pattaya City Police Operations Center, took place at approximately 3:00 p.m. at a restaurant near the entrance of Soi Jomtien 4. The operation followed the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Pattaya Provincial Court (No. 85/2568) on February 19th, 2025, charging Ms. Kam with “theft and improper use of another person’s electronic card.” The incident dates back to February 2nd, 2025, when the victim, Mr. A, a British man who lives near Bangkok, brought Ms. Kam to stay with him at a hotel on Soi Six off of Second Road in Pattaya. According to reports, after Ms. Kam left the room around noon, Mr. Marshall woke up and discovered that his Kasikorn Bank ATM card was missing. Subsequent checks revealed that four unauthorized withdrawals, totaling 40,000 baht, had been made from his account. It’s not clear how she obtained his pin number although the police suggested she might have seen him use his pin to pay for a purchase earlier. Following the victim’s report who contacted multiple local media sources to assist as he had limited mobility due to a foot infection, Pattaya police launched an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage and gathering evidence that led to the identification of Ms. Kam as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, resulting in her capture on February 20th. During interrogation, Ms. Kam confessed to the crime, admitting that she stole the ATM card and withdrew the 40,000 baht, which she claimed to have spent on personal expenses. A background check revealed that this was not her first offense. Ms. Kam has a documented criminal history, including three prior convictions for theft and a violation of the Gambling Act. Despite serving prison time for previous offenses, she has continued to re-offend after each release. Police have handed Ms. Kam over to investigation officers for further legal proceedings. Authorities emphasized their commitment to cracking down on repeat offenders targeting tourists in Pattaya. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/02/21/pattaya-police-arrest-54-year-old-woman-for-stealing-british-mans-atm-card-and-withdrawing-40000-baht/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon There is currently no official ban on Thai banks opening accounts for foreign tourists. But it’s clear that the government’s latest attempts to reduce call center scamming and flight-prone cryptocurrency deals are having a very marked effect. In a separate announcement, the beginning of April 2025 will see new accounts subject to further bureaucracy such as biometric authentication via facial recognition and the restriction for each account to be linked to a single registered device. It’s certainly possible that accounts may then become easier for short term tourists to open provided they have sound reasons, for example purchasing a condominium unit or applying for a long stay visa or financing a dowry. Whatever. In the meantime, some thwarted tourists may have alternatives. Some embassies are still willing to confirm regular income (even if not transmitted to Thailand) and may have authority to issue letters of guarantee to more than one nationality. Richer wannabe expats may reexamine alternative visas such as Elite or Long Term Residence, neither of which demands a Thai bank account at application. Not to mention the Destination Thailand Visa which, in some Thai embassies, has multiple options for proving the 500,000 baht (US$19,000) baseline requirement. Of course, each of these visa choices has its pluses and minuses, so individual research is crucial. Another option is to forget about permits for now and opt for a border run giving 60 days visa exempt on entry with an automatic extension at local immigration for a further month. The extension fee is a standard 1,900 baht (US$54) provided the paperwork is in order. But fines may apply if address verification (TM30) or the 90 days address notification (TM47) has been overlooked. Although it is true that foreigners cannot reside in Thailand forever on visa exempt entries, the route may provide a temporary reprieve whilst opening bank accounts remains uncertain. For the future, it is possible that other government agencies may be able to confirm the income of expat individuals: for example, foreigners registering with the Thai Revenue Department (TRD) and submitting a tax return on overseas transfers. These individuals will have a receipt showing the amount they transferred in the previous calendar year and the tax paid. When submitting a tax return, expats do not provide any income documentation or personal wealth information: they simply write the appropriate amount on the form. The point here is that the receipt will have the government logo at the heading. There is no suggestion here that it is, or should be, compulsory for all expats to report to the TRD. Many live on historic savings and others may have exemption because of specific detail in double taxation treaties and a host of other factors too complex to discuss here. However, for those who do feel it necessary to obtain a tax identification number based on overseas transfers, this route could conceivably provide the necessary authority to open a Thai bank account. The current system of retiree permits, especially the “O” non-immigrant visa with annual extensions, has been basically the same for 30 years apart from larger cash requirements. The assumption that nothing much will change in the next 30 is unduly optimistic. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/the-future-of-retiree-bank-accounts-in-thailand-491241

A member with much experience in patronizing massage shops outside Silom and Sukhumvit reports that Phetboy’s “Diamond Boy Spa” in Ramkhamhaeng has yet to actually open its doors.