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Thank you. Unlike yourself, many members here speak no Thai. I hope our Thai friends don’t consider us low class because of it.

From The Nation Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) is looking to the future with an ambitious plan to expand Don Mueang airport over the next six years. According to AOT’s CEO Kirati Kitmanawat, the AOT’s capital investment plan to develop Don Mueang International Airport phase 3 with an estimated investment of 36.83 billion baht has been approved by the Cabinet. The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be completed and open for bidding in 2024. Construction will begin in 2025, and the new facilities will gradually be operational in 2029. The objective of the development of Don Mueang Airport phase 3 is to expand its capacity to accommodate passenger traffic, improve service quality for both air and ground transportation systems, enhance efficiency, and reduce congestion within the airport. The current capacity of the airport is 30 million passengers per year. The addition of a third passenger terminal will provide 160,000 square metres of usable space for international passengers, increasing the airport's capacity to accommodate an additional 50 million passengers per year. Improvements will also be made to the traffic system for passenger convenience, among them the construction of connections from the Don Mueang Tollway to the passenger terminal. The new Terminal 3 will serve international passengers and international flight routes exclusively. The current passenger terminals 1 and 2 will be renovated to accommodate domestic passengers, with a total usable space of up to 240,000 sqm, making Don Mueang Airport a fully equipped domestic aviation centre. The first will see the construction of Passenger Terminal 3 to the south of the airport, along with Aircraft Stand 6, and the renovation of the 7-story car park building to serve passenger drop-off and pick-up. Another will focus on developing the northern side of the airport including aircraft parking bays, expansion of the northern concourse as well as the construction of airline offices and a VVIP support building. Other segments include the construction of operational zones, the renovation of the existing passenger terminal buildings, construction of public utility systems. and monitoring, inspecting, and ensuring the quality of the environment during the renovation and restoration phase of the project. Funding will come from AOT's revenue, which is sufficient for the investment. In addition to the development of airport infrastructure, AOT is also accelerating the implementation of innovative services for passengers including Common Use Self Service (CUSS) kiosks that allow passengers to self-check-in, and the Common Use Bag Drop (CUBD) machines enabling passengers to tag their luggage, as well as an Automatic Return Tray System (ARTS) for baggage trays, all of which will help alleviate congestion and queueing issues at the passenger card inspection counters and outbound passenger screening areas. Efforts will also be made to integrate various service data of the airport onto the SAWASDEE by AOT application, allowing users to access information at any time.

Pay with cash to beat the bastards.

The building is gradually opening as offices being occupied. You can now walk through a street level passage from Silom to the soi that runs behind Silom Complex.

Coffee Grinder has added a second barista (“Mac”) this week and he’s already mastered the art. The hot and cold drinks and fresh pastry make this a welcome relief from the heat and great place to relax. From the Grinder’s Facebook page:

Wholeheartedly agree that a decent policy should. But it’s not until you read all the exclusions many insurers put in their terms can you appreciate how indecent some of these policies can be.

It was issued to all retirees as part of pension benefit by insurer that supplied coverage for active members of pension system. It supplements what Medicare doesn’t cover. It can’t be purchased by individuals outside system. I was unaware of the international provision until I took time to read through entire policy when I returned home. Had I known about it, I could have used it in place of the Thai policy I took out. I recall some news accounts in Thai press that reported how profitable those Covid-era polices turned out to be for insurers.

Most travel policies I’ve seen don’t cover pre-existing conditions but do cover unforeseen events such as accidents and this certainly sounds like one. Many policies are not primary coverage and won’t pay if you have primary coverage with another carrier. I took out a required policy when I made my first post-Covid trip. I had to use emergency room after a fall that resulted in scalp and face lacerations. When I presented proof of coverage from the Thai issued policy I was informed (at Bangkok Christian Hospital) that coverage only applied to care sought in public health hospital. Upon return home I learned that my US private policy did cover unforeseen events anywhere and was reimbursed less $50 deductible.

Job One for all insurance companies: figure out why your policy doesn’t cover you. From The Thaiger A British student is fighting for his life in hospital after a harrowing fall from a hotel balcony in Thailand. The 21 year old Teesside University student is unconscious in a Thai hospital suffering from major internal and external injuries following a plunge from a balcony in Chiang Mai. Jack Heathcock had been on what his sister Chloe described as a ‘dream backpacking adventure’ around Thailand with two friends when the unfortunate incident occurred on June 17. The nursing student was due to return to Middlesbrough in the North-East of England on June 19 but he fell from a third storey balcony in the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai, where he is now fighting for his life. Heathcock was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent multiple surgeries to address damage to his spleen, liver, and kidneys, as well as injuries including a lung bleed, brain trauma, and fractures to his neck and pelvis. Despite the passage of more than two weeks, the British student remains in critical condition, and his family is desperately seeking a way to bring him back home, reported the Teesside Gazette. Upon receiving news of the accident from their son’s friend, Jack’s parents, Ian and Joy Heathcock, wasted no time and flew to Thailand to be by his side. Although Jack had travel insurance, the family claims that the insurance company is refusing to cover the costs associated with his treatment.

From Tourism Authority of Thailand Bangkok, 5 July 2023 – Bangkok has become the first international destination for Malaysia’s newest low-cost airline MYAirline, with the launch of a new daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Suvarnabhumi Airport on 28 June 2023 and a second daily flight to Don Mueang International Airport on 1 July 2023. From 17 August 2023 a second daily flight will be added to both airports, bringing the total daily flights operated by MYAirline between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to four. The airline, established in January 2021, said it was the first Malaysian carrier to fly to both Bangkok airports, and that it planned to add flights to other destinations in Thailand in the future, such as Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai.

Could you please define “low class,” Christian?

This afternoon strolled through Patpong to observe the small army of young men erecting the night market. Along the way paid homage to memories of Madrid. (I believe Patpong Museim has the sign)

From CNN 91-year-old male model with the face of a classic cinema star Celine van Heel began photographing her grandfather while staying with him during Covid-19 lockdowns. Now he has tens of thousands of followers online. One of The Spanish King’s most striking images to date appeared around Europe last year, as part of a campaign for moto outerwear brand Schott NYC. Photographed by van Heel in a retro bowling alley, Garcia-Carro drapes a red varsity jacket around his shoulders, thumbs behind his belt buckle and waistband of his slouchy khakis as highlighted strands of hair fall across his face. “It’s all about attitude,” Schott wrote in captions accompanying social media posts promoting the image. “His look, the way he looks at the camera — it’s simple, but it really defines him,” van Heel said of the image. In other shots from the campaign, García-Caro poses with younger models, standing out with his formidable presence. But behind the scenes, her grandfather was playful, bowling for real when they weren’t photographing. “It was so much fun. He always surprises me,” she said. Van Heel says she’s always been close with her grandfather, but their relationship grew during Covid-19 lockdowns in spring 2020, when she stayed with him and her grandmother in Spain for an extended period so they wouldn’t be alone. At the time, she was an executive assistant at the French fashion magazine L’Officiel and had never tried her hand at photography (It is now her full-time career). But shut in their home, she began styling and shooting García-Carro, curating an Instagram account for him that soon began attracting followers. “He’s always been super stylish,” she commented. “When he was young, he was already wearing these long fur coats like Macklemore… and aviator sunglasses.” García-Carro has lived many lives: a rancher in Argentina, restaurant owner in Uruguay and real estate agent in Spain among them. As a model, his first editorial — with Van Heel’s images — landed in L’Officiel China’s print edition in 2020. Soon, opportunities with other publications and brands followed suit, including Zara, with which he collaborated on a capsule collection that included a silk robe, pajamas, jeans and sunglasses. The Spanish King may appear much younger than 91 — van Heel jokes that “he’s made a pact with the devil,” especially since he still smokes and tans regularly — but he credits his late-in-life career with giving him “a new life, and so much energy.” “I look even younger than before! What I find most rewarding about modeling is to meet young people, to learn new things, to be active,” he said. “I don’t want to be sitting in my living room watching life go by.” Van Heel believes her grandfather is the perfect example of why no one should feel the need to act their age. “When you’re 70 or 80 years old, it doesn’t mean your life is over and you have to act like a sweet older grandma and do nothing else,” she said. “You can do anything at any age.”

I constantly find myself scanning the passing guys on sidewalks of Silom. If one catches my eye I just smile and look back after a few seconds. Certainly no guarantee but it doesn’t cost anything and occasionally I’ll get a hit because the Silom-Surawong rectangle is a target rich environment. We talk a lot about looking for smiles from others but it’s actually a reciprocal opportunity.

I’ve had three massages this trip at this shop and in all cases it was the eye contact from guys sitting outside. The service was very good on all counts. Left satisfied and would repeat. Be advised that the cubicles are quite small but are equipped with massage table. Shower is down the hall but beware of very slippery floor. one hour oil 590. I found selection of masseurs expands on weekend evenings.

My 2008 visit was delayed four days but I was rebooked OK on the first Northwest flight out of Narita when demonstrators ended boycott. It was businesses as usual on arrival as if nothing out of ordinary had just occurred. TIT From The Thaiger Thai tourism unaffected by political unrest unless airports shut In times of political upheaval, Thailand’s foreign tourists would not be significantly impacted, unless there was an incident akin to 2008’s airport disruption, according to former tourism and sports minister, Weerasak Kowsurat. Back in 2008, protesters had shut down Bangkok’s airports leading to a drop in tourist visits, impacting Thai tourism. Weerasak, now serving as a senator, insists that tourists are diligent in keeping up with their travel commitments, provided that the political demonstrations do not intervene with their plans. The democratic process, and any ensuing peaceful protests that come with it, are, by and large, viewed as domestic issues by tourists that can impact Thai tourism. During his time as tourism minister, Weerasak witnessed tourists unperturbed by nearby street protests while still on their holidays in Ratchadamnoen Avenue, where the ministry’s headquarters is located. Nonetheless, he stressed that an extensive disruption such as an airport seizure could lead to a drastic downturn in the inflow of tourists, just as it had in 2008. He pointed out the hefty setbacks to the country’s economy and Thai tourism sector caused by the 10-day closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in 2008. The financial damage was estimated to be 200 billion baht. Three years later, a group of protesters were ordered by the Civil Court to pay 522 million baht as compensation for the losses incurred during this period, reported Bangkok Post. Weerasak urged the incoming tourism minister to have an open mind, listen to varying viewpoints, and establish a strong rapport with big corporations, local communities, and SMEs alike. He emphasised that the Thai tourism industry must equally address all these sectors.

That den of spies (a CIA safe house) was located just above the original location of the Madrid Bar. For those veteran members who were lucky enough to visit before it shut its doors during Covid, you could see photographs on the walls behind those comfy leather booths that depicted some of those operatives drinking together. if you look carefully as you walk along Patpong 1 nearer the Silom end, you still still find the old—and shuttered—Madrid. What became of that memorabilia I don’t know. Maybe the Patpong Museum (Patpong 2, opposite Foodland) may have managed to get its hands on some. In any case, the museum does document that particular history among its displays and is worth a visit if you’re a history buff. Btw, the pizza at Madrid was among the best in town. Vinapu has posted that the cook has purchased the right to the name and opened a shop on Soi Charoen Krung 49 where he maintains the same high standard. https://restaurantguru.com/Madrid-Bangkok For you history buffs out there, here’s a vintage snapshot showing some of those spies drinking at the Madrid. Anthony Poshepny (aka, Tony Poe) is second from right. He is recognized as the inspiration for Col. Kurtz (played by Marlon Brando) in “Apocalypse Now.”

Prachachart Party leader Wan Mohamad Noor Matha will be the Move Forward-led coalition's House speaker candidate, PM hopeful Pita Limjaroenrat said on Monday. He was speaking at a press conference at ‎Lancaster Bangkok Hotel after ending the stand-off between Move Forward and Pheu Thai – the two biggest partners of the next coalition government. Pita said there will be two deputy House speakers -- a Move Forward and a Pheu Thai candidate. He said the eight-party coalition comprising Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Prachachart, Fair, Plung Sungkom Mai, and Peu Thai Ruamphalang parties have all agreed to support the candidates. Pita also pledged that Pheu Thai and Move Forward were ready to approve laws in the people's interest, including pardon for political prisoners and military reform. He said that this move would help boost the coalition's efficiency in forming the government based on transparency and the people's interest.

Tbh, I would have reacted same way if someone had passed same comment about my LT guy. Sorry, Lucky, but I totally missed your withdrawal post.

You just summed up my sex life: plain vanilla. 🙂

Find the other flavors tempting but always default to strawberry

This single cup drip maker from Vietnam has served me well.

Agree about irregularities with label, but those interviewed in 60 Minutes segment said that even expert tasting could no longer be basis for authentication because it’s subjective judgement. In the end, it’s a case where you either trust your supplier or you don’t. Not like buying Rolex in Patpong where you’re assured of provenance. 🙂

Oz, please note that I said “even if he was…” I did not infer that he did.