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Myanmar opposition hopes for change of government in Thailand From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Opponents of junta rule in Myanmar are putting their faith in the upcoming Thai general election to bring an end to military-backed rule of prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Critics of Myanmar coup leader, senior general Min Aung Hlaing, hope that a new Thai administration led by the Pheu Thai party will be more critical of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s armed forces). The current Thai administration, through its powerful military, has maintained close contacts with the Myanmar junta since the coup there in February 2021. Senior army personnel frequently hold meetings with their counterparts and Thai TV Channel 7, army-controlled, has carried programs encouraging tourism in Myanmar. There is mutual and ongoing cooperation on natural gas operations in the Andaman Sea. Ma Khine Thet, an exiled Myanmar researcher, said a Pheu Thai-led government in Bangkok might be more inclined to support the critical American line on Myanmar rather than following the Chinese lead in supporting the Tatmadaw. Zach Abu Abuza, a professor at the US National War College, stressed that Thailand is currently caught between the US and Chinese superpower rivalry. Meanwhile, the Myanmar Office of Immigration and Population has slightly modified the health requirements for incoming tourist permits. Fully vaccinated foreigners no longer need a pre-entry PCR virus test and medical insurance, though compulsory, no longer must be bought from the Myanmar junta’s monopoly insurance provider. Some tourist attractions, such as the floating water festival at Inle lake in Shan state, have reopened after three years under closure. However, there is no sign that the junta’s aim of attracting 1 million foreign tourists in 2023 will be achieved any time soon. Critics say that it will be difficult for an incoming Thai administration substantially to reduce ties with China. She provides more foreign tourists to Thailand than any other country on an annual basis, is Bangkok’s biggest trading partner and has invested billions of dollars in Thai business initiatives such as the Eastern Economic Corridor.

From the Nation Greenpeace urges Thai government to declare emergency over toxic air The government should declare air pollution an emergency so that its agencies can collaborate effectively to deal with the PM2.5 crisis, Greenpeace Thailand's air-pollution campaigner Alliya Moun-ob said on Thursday. Alliya also warned that the fire that has engulfed Khao Laem forested mountain could spread to nearby communities in Nakhon Nayok province, make people sick, and destroy property. Firefighters were still battling the blaze in the province in central Thailand on Thursday. In the North, air-pollution levels were among the worst in the world on Thursday. Chiang Mai’s air-quality index surged to 237 on Thursday, making its air the most polluted of any city in the world, according to the website IQAir. Delhi was second, with an index of 194. Alliya said that what is happening in upper Thailand is not new. It happened five years ago when the El Niño weather phenomenon exasperated the dry season, but there were few machines to detect PM2.5 then so people were not as aware of the crisis as they are now, she explained. PM2.5 is fine dust less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. It can be fatal. Long-term exposure damages respiratory systems and blood vessels, Alliya said.

Moses, I admire you for your efforts in maintaining one of the three popular forums left serving those in the gay community who travel to SE Asia. And you've also founded a successful and well-regarded travel guide business. But it pains me to see what you feel compelled to say in order to keep your enterprises alive in a country bent on destroying not only its neighbors but its own citizens. I hope that there comes a time in the not so distant future when some semblance of calm returns to Russia and its people. God knows they deserve it.

Think you have it backwards. Those in Washington incident had their opportunity to vote for party of their choice but decided to try to overthrow the government simply because they didn't like the results of election. Those in Myanmar were demonstrating for their right to vote for party of their choice but were denied the opportunity. What do you suppose would happen in Moscow if demonstrators had invaded the Kremlin because they didn't like the fact that Putin had "won" 90+ percent of vote? I suspect Putin would take a page from Stalin's playbook.

From Forbes Laos may be a landlocked country without a tropical coastline, but it makes up for it with stunning mountain scenery, lush rice paddies and the mighty Mekong River which runs through its territory. Still wild and largely untouched, it offers a fascinating array of cultural attractions, outdoor experiences and timeless charm. With its mix of Buddhist temples, colonial architecture and jungle fauna, Luang Prabang is one of the overlooked jewels of southeast Asia. First inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, its heritage has been preserved in time and its traditions remain an enduring attraction. It’s still common to see locals give alms to monks each morning around 6am: sticky rice, crackers or cookies given as an act of charity to monks who rely on these expressions of good will. Orange Robe Tours, one of many social enterprises in town, hires former Novices and Monks to lead tours around Luang Prabang. These culturally-immersive experiences provide unique insight into the life of a Buddhist monk, and help ease the transition from temple life to layperson life. The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) is another entity helping to preserve and share Laotian traditions with the public. Through its museum exhibits, education activities and livelihoods development programme, the TAEC educates visitors on the main ethnic groups of Laos, and empowers local communities to actively manage their own cultural heritage. Continues with photos https://www.forbes.com/sites/liviahengel/2023/03/30/laos-travel-guide-one-week-in-southeast-asias-most-charming-country

From Thai PBS World On March 31st, the world-renowned “Van Gogh Alive” exhibition will open its doors at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, offering visitors the most immersive and highly attended art experience in the world. “Van Gogh Alive” is a multimedia art exhibition that brings the works of Vincent van Gogh to life through digital technology. It was created by the Australian company Grande Exhibitions and has since travelled to over 80 cities around the world, captivating millions of visitors. The exhibition is a unique and immersive experience which combines high-resolution digital projections of van Gogh’s paintings with music and an interactive display. Visitors can explore the artist’s masterpieces in a new and dynamic way, getting up close and personal with his works’ vivid colours, bold brushstrokes and emotional intensity. One of the highlights is the “Sensory4” technology, which uses a multi-channel surround sound system and a synchronised scent diffusion system to enhance the visitor’s sensory experience. The combination of visuals, sound and scent creates a fully immersive and unforgettable experience. The show dates of “Van Gogh Alive” in Icon Siam Bangkok will be from 31st March until 31st July. Doors open at 10.30am and close at 9.00pm. The ticket price range from 480 baht to 1,490 baht. ========================= From The Nation Bangkok kite fest launches at Iconsiam with aerial duels and dazzling displays Tourists and kite enthusiasts swooped on the riverside at Iconsiam mall on Wednesday as preparations for Bangkok’s annual kite festival got underway. The ICONSIAM Summer Kite Playground 2023 will launch on Friday, transforming skies over the Chao Phraya River with weird and wonderful creations from around the country and abroad. The third edition unreels until April 10 at River Park and is organised by Iconsiam, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, City Hall, and private partners. From 5pm daily, kites equipped with LED lights will light up the sky with dazzling displays.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you're defending the status quo in Myanmar. Say it isn't so, Moses, say it isn't so.

The humanitarian tragedy in Myanmar continues to unfold. From Thai PBS World A total of 40 political parties in Myanmar have been dissolved for failing to re-register, which includes the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD), according to state-owned media. Myawaddy News announced on Tuesday night, during their regular news program, that the Union Election Commission had set Tuesday as the deadline and, as such, parties which failed to register will no longer be recognised. The National Unity Government (NUG), a parallel government that was formed during the fallout from the 2021 coup, had denounced the would-be election and so had the NLD. Not only is the legitimacy of the election questioned, but so were the strict new laws that were implemented in January 2023. The new rules will prevent parties and/or candidates, deemed to have links to individuals or organisations “designated as committing terror acts” or seen as “unlawful”, from running. The parties that also want to contest the national election, scheduled to be held in August this year, will also need to have at least 100,000 members within three months of registration. They will also need at least 100 million Myanmar kyat deposited in the state-owned Myanmar Economic Bank. The amount is 100 times more than what was required under the old law, enacted during 2010. The parties must also have representative branches in at least half of all 330 townships across Myanmar within 6 months, while also having representatives to contest at least half of all constituencies. Opposition to the military-run administration still rages, especially in rural areas and regions with a strong presence of the NUG’s PDF groups and ethnic armed forces. Military chief Min Aung Hlaing announced that “decisive actions” will be taken against those “unlawful groups” at the recently held military parade that marks Myanmar’s armed forces day.

From The Nation The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Thailand on Wednesday voted unanimously to raise the policy rate by another 25 basis points, from 1.50% to 1.75% per annum, with immediate effect. MPC secretary Piti Disyatat said the committee came to the conclusion that a policy rate hike was needed to tame inflation and bring it within the target range of the central bank. Piti said the MPC saw the rate hike as necessary, taking into account range the continual expansion of the Thai economy, driven by the tourism sector and consumption by the private sector, and signs of the export sector rebounding. The MPC expected headline inflation to be within the target range by the middle of this year, as core inflation was still high due to high manufacturing costs and the high prices of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. The MPC sees headline inflation returning to the target of 2.9% from the middle of this year and slide further to 2.4% next year in line with the easing oil and electricity prices. The MPC also expected core inflation to slide to 2.4% this year and to 2% next year. ============================ Cross rates to the baht this morning: USD 34.16 EUR 37.13 GBP 44.22

From The Thaiger Global aviation has taken off to a promising start this year, with the Pacific Asia Travel Association predicting a 71% growth rate for the region. The downside is that the recovering industry can’t get enough labour to keep up and the massive swell in demand has brought with it a massive swell in flight prices. Travel restrictions have been lifted worldwide, allowing for easier and more convenient air travel. Even ultra-locked-down China has allowed travel to resume post-pandemic. But their delay in reopening left Asia lagging in recovery, as the World Tourism Organisation believes Europe and the Middle East will reach 80-95% of its pre-pandemic numbers this year. There is massive pent-up demand from eager travellers, but the Covid-19 pandemic battered airlines to the ground, and getting back up has been challenging. Many went bankrupt, and layoffs were unavoidable across the whole industry. Some returned leased planes and now have to order new ones to replenish their fleet. Two-thirds of all passenger planes were grounded and, by the middle of last year, 5,161 out of 28,674 planes in the world are still dormant, with Asia hosting the brunt of them. Estimates put 23% of all flights in Asia out of service due directly to China’s closure. But things have steadily improved, and by the end of last year, global air traffic was up from 41.7% of pre-pandemic numbers in 2021 to 68.5% in 2022. Though, looking at December 2022, while flight capacity was at 77.9% of 2019 levels worldwide, they were only at 59.8% in Asia, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) While there is massive demand to travel, a significant backlash has formed as flight prices have climbed to what many consider an unreasonable level. The overwhelming jump in demand was similar to that of cargo services during Covid when people were locked down, and prices soared. Add to that the huge spike in jet fuel prices, which rose by nearly 80% in 2022, and the costs of getting flight services reestablished, and you have a recipe for painfully high ticket prices. Experts believe prices will stay high until more planes can get up and running and the demand is no longer outpacing the available flights and seats. The additional cost of staffing to fill the shortage and fluctuating jet fuel prices may further hinder price easing. Some in the industry are predicting the price surge to last for two or even three years coming out of the pandemic. The only good news is that domestic flights have recovered more quickly and prices for flights within Thailand have recovered significantly. Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia says their international flight rates will be up 20% and average flight prices to China are up 50% all around. Flights from Europe are expected to remain above 40,000 baht, and flights from Japan are between 26,000 and 35,000.

From Pattaya MAil By Barry Kenyon Although the immigration bureau is perceived as the main agency for catching foreigners snatching Thai jobs, the Department of Employment (DoE) has its own teams of investigators. Their October 2022-March 2023 report says 685 employment venues were prosecuted and a total of 1,550 people prosecuted, the majority being economic migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who had entered Thailand without registration. Indians and Vietnamese also figured prominently in the cases. The number of Europeans, Americans and Australians arrested during this period by DoE officers was very small and around 20 individuals. This may have been because the inspection appears to have been principally aimed at illegal working in selling goods, hairdressing, driving vehicles and massage. These are activities popular with Asian economic migrants. However, the report does not include arrests by immigration police during the six months period. Immigration command does not routinely produce statistics on its arrests. Phairoj Chotikasatien, director general of DoE, said foreign workers were subject to changes in the regulations in 2017 which listed the 40 employment skills strictly reserved to Thais and mandated fines and deportation for foreign defaulters. Fines for businesses which offer employment without authorized permits vary from 10,000 baht to 200,000 baht per worker. The director general pointed out that the inspections were nationwide and included Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. Work permit regulations were relaxed somewhat in 2017 by royal decree. Businessmen no longer need a permit to attend meetings, to participate in sports or to arrange exhibitions as long as they are not “regular”. High tech specialists qualify for the 4-year Smart visa which does not require a separate work permit. In October 2022, the Board of Investment introduced a 10-year visa which includes a digital work permit as part of the deal. A Chonburi immigration spokesperson said most Europeans working without authorization were involved in teaching class or running bars, restaurants and sports venues. Other areas of concern at seaside resorts were foreign taxi drivers and tour guides. She said that immigration staff worked with other agencies, including the Ministry of Labour, but conducted independent investigations as well. The immigration bureau is also responsible for tracking overstay foreigners, those who do not report their local address and alien groups involved in illegal activities such as “boiler rooms” or call centers designed to cheat savers of their bank account cash.

Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you actually patronized these shops? Or even been in Bangkok? I've have many times and found the age, photos and other particulars accurate.

From The Nation Three Mongolian men have been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly stealing money from passengers’ bags several times, the airport announced on Monday. Police arrested Damdin Jargalsaikhan, 37, Batbold Sambuu, 51, and Batmyagmar Urtnasan, 37, on Floor B of the passenger terminal on Friday (March 24), said airport director Kittiphong Kittikhajorn. Officials identified the suspects from CCTV footage after two Japanese men, a Thai woman and a Canadian man separately complained to tourist police that they had lost their wallets and cash in several currencies between last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The missing money reportedly amounted to over 260,000 baht. The footage appears to show the three suspects working with two women, who are still at large, by surrounding the victims, while the women use their coats to block the view of their luggage and then steal cash from their bags. The gang was filmed acting in this way near a currency exchange booth after the alleged victims had just exchanged money, and in an elevator leading to a parking lot. Kittiphong said the airport has ordered security staff to increase surveillance to ensure safety for passengers, especially during peak hours. He also urged all passengers to be mindful of their belonging at all times. To report missing money or property, passengers can contact an airport information booth or call the 1155 hotline.

From The Nation A festival atmosphere has engulfed Phadung Krung Kasem Canal in central Bangkok, which is hosting vendors, live music, art, and open-air cinema until April 5. The “@ Phadung Krung Kasem” festival was launched on Monday by Dr Suksan Kittisupakorn, deputy permanent-secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The canalside event spans 800 metres from Nopphawong Bridge to Charoen Sawat Bridge (Rama IV Road) behind Hua Lamphong Railway station. The festival runs from 2pm to 10pm every day from March 27 until April 5. Visitors can enjoy arts exhibitions, music and stage performances, booths selling OTOP and Bangkok Brand products made by local communities, a-million-baht selfie spot, open-air movie screening, and food from over 100 vendors.

KK Massage: LINE ร้าน KK Massage 23 This may be a good starting point. When I first began visiting the shop last year it had a stable that included Myanmar guys. There are numerous shops in the Saphan Kwai area but masseurs constantly move around because they are all free agents and not necessarily regular staff like you'll encounter in the Silom shops. What I enjoyed most about patronizing these shops was their ASEAN-wide representation, with a strong representation of Lao guys who rarely disappoint.

From Coconuts Bangkok Dear Songkran revelers, if you like to drink and/or show your body off, there will be no place for you at city-sanctioned events this year, according to City Hall. Bangkok Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt said yesterday that people (read: women) won’t be allowed to wear revealing clothes during the upcoming festivities which fall April 13-15. Among other rules are no booze sales, no use of high-pressure water guns, and no smearing of powders on faces or other body parts. Every Songkran in recent years has been accompanied by a drumbeat of browbeating and fretting over its tendency to turn lewd and drunk as people let loose and shed essential clothing along with their inhibitions. Few things wind up the City Fathers like unabashed women in control of their bodies. Despite repeated threats that the wet days of Songkran will be dry of alcohol, that has only been the case at official city events. Although Chadchart was vague, it’s highly unlikely a general booze ban will be declared anywhere in Bangkok during Songkran. The city will organize events April 12 through April 14 in the old quarter’s Lan Khon Muang square, located between City Hall and the Giant Swing. Officials also promised to release a map showing designated areas in Bangkok’s 50 districts where water fights are allowed, almost as if anyone will heed it. The online map will rate different areas by the intensity of water splashing and overall wetness. This year’s Songkran festivities will mark the first free of any COVID-19 restrictions in four years.

From Wikipedia The Chao Mae Tuptim shrine (Thai: ศาลเจ้าแม่ทับทิม, RTGS: Thapthim, also known as Penis Shrine[1) is a phallic shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, located behind the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok near the bank of the Khlong Saen Saep. The shrine was created in the first quarter of the 20th century by Thai businessman Nai Lert (1872-1945), who found a spirit house floating in the klong and placed it on the bank of his property. In Thailand, the phallus is considered to be a symbol of good luck and also a representative of fertility. The shrine is one of the best examples of intentional phallic architecture in the world. The site, which measures roughly 60 by 70 feet (18 m × 21 m), is now "crammed with carved" wooden penis statues, which are said to possess special cosmic powers and endow good fortune and fertility on anybody coming into contact with them. The size of the penis statues, which number well over 100, is said to range "[from] the size of a cream doughnut to the size of a canoe"; some are huge, some are humorous and painted pink to closely resemble a human phallus.

From Thai PBS World by Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World Koh Larn, an island lying in the Gulf off Pattaya, has been attracting thousands of local and foreign tourists for decades, but this has undeniably led to a mountain of garbage, resulting in an enormous landfill on the small island. “In the past, about 10 tonnes of garbage were generated each day on Koh Larn but, because the number of tourists has been increasing, the amount of garbage has doubled,” said Manoch Nongyai, deputy governor of Pattaya City. As much as 25 tonnes of waste is dumped into this landfill every day. The site now contains an estimated 70,000 tonnes, with about 20,000 above ground and the remainder buried beneath it. “Most of the garbage here is plastic waste which cannot be recycled,” Manoch said. “There are also wood and other construction materials that we place at the back of the landfill, because this type of garbage cannot be disposed of through burning.” In the past, most of the trash from Koh Larn was shipped to Pattaya for disposal, until the Interior Ministry imposed new regulations on waste management in 2015. This eventually led to garbage piling up on the island. “The new ministerial regulation states that wherever the waste is generated, we have to dispose of it there. So, we cannot nolonger ship the waste over to Pattaya,” said Manoch. The mountain of garbage there has been a long-standing problem for people in the community. There does now, however, seem to be a way out. The local government plans to complete the installation of two incinerators this year, with the capacity to burn at least 50 tonnes per day of the waste at the landfill, including newly-generated waste. The deputy mayor predicts, however, that it will take at least 7 years to burn all of the accumulated waste in the landfill. Burning waste also raises concerns over the negative environmental impacts. The deputy mayor offered a reassurance that the use of incinerators has been carefully considered, to reduce the impact on the environment and the residents. “At first, we were quite concerned [about the negative impacts],” he said, “but then we looked into which type of incinerator would be most suitable for the island. So, we decided on an incinerator that uses extreme heat and doesn’t emit smoke. We do not believe that it will ruin the island’s image or the environment, because [the landfill] is in the middle of the island. So, we have to take care of the island’s environment.”

On the contrary. Many of the Saphan Kwai shops post penis size along with photo. I've found them to be consistent with what you encounter in the flesh.

Don't know how the Florida lady would come down on this phallus display but Thais don't seem to have any problem with it. PHOTO: Khaosod Online From The Pattaya News This particular tree scientifically known as a hairy keruing was swarmed by hundreds of locals in a small town of the Khon Buri district of Nakhon Ratchasima after a merchant in the area claimed that he had won a six-million-baht lottery prize after begging for good luck from this tree. All types of typical Thai offerings, such as sweet food, red Fanta, flowers, incense, and three-colored fabric, were laid and tied around the trunk of the tree by those hoping to receive good luck and fortune.

Barry Kenyon chimed in today on the outlook for an extension of the 45-day Visa on Arrival scheme which expires March 31. Here's some excerpts from his column in the Pattaya Mail: "The argument in favour of extending the visa exempt and visa on arrival schemes to the end of 2023 is to boost the number of international tourists to Thailand in the post-covid environment. Conversely, it can be argued that the Thai tourist revival is proving so popular that additional visa privileges are hardly necessary. Moreover, adverse publicity about foreigners (mostly but not entirely Chinese) paying cash to receive corruptly long stay visas has prompted proposals that more power should be placed in the hands of Thai embassies abroad to award tourist and longstay visas rather than encouraging a free-for-all. Other potential ambiguities include the number of same day visa runs which would be permissible and documentary requirements by Thai embassies abroad when awarding visas within their particular remit. It is also possible that any announcement could be delayed till after March 31 as, during the pandemic, immigration news was not uncommonly delayed post-deadline. A final issue is that the current caretaker government, awaiting the May 14 general election, is unlikely to approve new groundbreaking immigration rules. After all, This Is Thailand."

Not to mention Thai Hot Guys.

Since I don't think of any of the massage shops as being il-legitimate, you can get the same results in most any of the ones in Silom area. I'm not quite sure if a handjob is considered "no sex" but good luck with your pursuit.

All good suggestions. You may also want to check out massage locations that feature guys from Myanmar such as some of those shops on Sutthisan Winichai Rd. in Saphan Kwai area.

From Thailand News Agency BANGKOK, March 27 – The Royal Thai Police has developed a mobile application called “Tourist Police i lert u” for foreign visitors to Thailand to be able to seek help from the police in cases of emergency. application is operated with the Global positioning System (GPS), and can be downloaded free of charge from both iOS and android systems, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek. Once downloaded, tourists may click “Request” to seek help, and send information and photos at the scene of accident to the War Room (1155 tourist police Hotline), which has officers on stand-by around the clock. The information will, then, be forwarded to local police nearby to provide immediate help. In the meantime, the police will call back to the registered phone number to provide initial help and advice. Languages available for communication with the tourist police are: English, Chinese, Russian, Korean, French, German, ASEAN and Arabic. (TNA) ==================