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From The Thaiger Thailand introduced a law on Friday which requires passengers to sit down when travelling on a songthaew, a popular form of public transport. However, songthaew drivers say the law is detrimental to their livelihoods and are worried it could lead to extortion. A songthaew is a passenger vehicle converted from a pickup truck with two rows of seats. Songthaews have been used as a cheap form of transport for decades in Thailand, and are often packed out with passengers standing or hanging off the back. The new law, published in the Royal Gazette, aims to make the songthaew experience safer for everyone involved. But drivers say it’s impractical and uneconomical. Songthaew drivers spend 800-1000 baht on fuel per day so they need as many passengers as possible since most journeys cost 8 baht, or a little more depending on the province.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon For half a century, Pattaya has found itself starring in the international media for its alleged sins of the flesh. Now, in a surprising turn of events, the headlines are about to switch to politics as the province finds itself playing a leading and controversial role in the forthcoming general election, scheduled for May 7 2023 with the date now confirmed by the premier Prayut Chan-ocha. The outcome could decide whether he returns to head the next administration. The main opposition party Pheu Thai (linked to exiled ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra) is banking on a landslide win nationally which would sweep all 10 parliamentary seats in Chonburi province – which includes Pattaya and is dominated by the influential Khunplome family. But a rival faction, led by successful politician Suchart Chomklin, under the United Thai Nation party, has a similar aim but is backing the current prime minister who first came to power in a military coup of 2014. All contenders are already promoting themselves on temporary hoardings erected throughout Pattaya and Banglamung district. Although 500 seats nationally are a stake in the forthcoming election, the Chonburi situation is predicted to be one of the most competitive contests, with analysts saying that rivals will mobilise their resources and may resort to “money politics” to achieve their goal. So far public opinion polls nationally seem to favour Pheu Thai and its Move Forward Party allies, although the Bangkok electorate and sections of the rural South are more disposed to support the current prime minister and his allies. Many political observers believe that Pheu Thai and its partners must win more than half the Chonburi seats, as a weathervane set of results, to have much chance of unseating the prime minister. However, Thai politics are never that simple. The unelected 250-member Thai Senate can also vote for the incoming prime minister as well as the 400 new House of Representatives parliamentary members – plus 100 extra MPs elected under the party lists parallel voting which very few people even begin to understand. Securing a majority from 750 votes will be no easy task. The two most likely candidates for the top office are General Prayut and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year old daughter and niece of two former prime ministers who won substantial victories in former general elections but were overthrown by the army. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-finds-itself-the-center-of-political-attention-424918

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Cambodia’s favorite province, boasting the Angkor archaeological complex, is still surprisingly quiet in the immediate post-covid era. The airport is a largely empty space and the most famous gathering ground for tourists, Pub Street, is hardly bustling. Discounts for accommodation are readily available and many of the large hotels on the airport road are still shuttered. But all that is about to change. China, of course, is the central issue. In 2019, around two and a half million Chinese came to Cambodia on charter flights, about 36 percent of the total. Although flights have already begun from Chinese cities to the capital city Phnom Penh and the distant coastal casino hub Sihanoukville, the schedules don’t start for Siem Reap until March 7. Until then, the tourist market is mainly European. Wang Wentian, the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, expects at least one million fellow countrymen in 2023 with the Angkor Wat temple ruins being the star attraction. Downtown, the Cambodian authorities are already implementing pro-Sino policies such as erecting public signs in Mandarin, ensuring accommodation facilities and food are suited to Chinese tastes and encouraging payment in Chinese currency as an alternative to the US dollar. It was recently announced that Mandarin will be taught in all Cambodian schools even though English is the official language of Asean of which Cambodia is a member. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/quiet-before-the-storm-in-siem-reap-424910

Perhaps they'll find a new venue and a new date that coincides with your next trip. 🙂 Meanwhile, file the following under TIT. From Coconuts Bangkok Mall cancels Bangkok’s ‘biggest craft beer event’ because too political The inaugural Beer People Festival was looking for a new 3,000sqm space after The Street Ratchada shopping mall announced last night that it would no longer host the event because its reputation could be damaged. “The shopping center is concerned that it may cause the public to develop the misconception that the shopping center supports political parties and is not neutral, which may bring about protests or political rallies and may cause disturbance to others in the shopping center or may affect the image of the shopping center in the future,” it said in a statement. It continued to say that it canceled the event to reduce “the risk of political impact” and reserved the right not to be responsible for any of the event’s expenses. The mall did not say whether it had been asked or pressured to withdraw support. The festival was expected to both celebrate homebrewing and advocate for reforms against the laws that effectively ban it. Last year, a popular opposition bill to decriminalize brewing was narrowly defeated after Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha intervened to float a watered-down compromise measure.

You're making many readers jealous. 🙂

I don't believe considering the potential harm of a "sex review" is in any way a form of extreme political correctness. It's simply offering regard for another's dignity. Would you be OK is an individual you post about responds with a sex review of you?

Giving general recommendations about a business isn't anything different than what happens on sites like Trip Advisor. You weren't describing a particular individual. It's up to each of us to individually determine how we conduct ourselves on public forums like this. I can only describe my feelings on the matter. I just don't want to post anything that might cause harm to an individual in his future.

From Korea Herald A South Korean high court ruled on Tuesday that the spouse in a same-sex partnership is eligible for national health insurance coverage under his partner’s subscription. The landmark ruling overturns a lower court's decision in January 2022 that rejected the same-sex couple's petition to cancel the National Health Insurance Service's decision to demand back-payments from the non-earning partner. A spouse without a source of income is exempted from making a health insurance contribution if the other person is employed and is an employer-provided policyholder. As the lower court did not recognize the couple's marriage, stating that marriage is a union only between a man and woman, both spouses had been subject to paying their contributions separately. "The lower court ruling has been overturned. Contributions imposed on (a spouse) are revoked, and (the NHIS) is responsible for payment of attorney fees of both the plaintiff and the defendant," a Seoul High Court judge said briefly. "The plaintiff and his partner are both male, but they agreed to recognize each other as loving partners who take care of each other. One financially relies on the other. They declared their partnership before their families and friends. This makes their relationship no different in essence from that of a married couple," read the ruling. The court said the ruling is the first in the country that recognizes the status of a same-sex partner as a dependent eligible for national health insurance, but said that this did not mean that it recognizes the "legal status" of a same-sex marriage.

Reading this thread has caused me to rethink my own criteria for posting going forward. I don't see any reason to publicly post personal experience (positive or negative) of a named or pictured individual--with or without permission. The internet today is not the same one we first became familiar with a few decades ago. It has the power to ruin lives with a click. This board provides a great platform to exchange views and information without pushing the envelope. As some posters regularly demonstrate, it's indeed possible to post interesting--seductive and titillating even--reports without resorting to identifying playmates.

Beyond the legal implications, there's the dignity of the guy involved to be considered. I think we're agreed that they're all young men. They won't be able to remain in the game for a career and at some point will have to move on. Our postings, even if they are positive and made with a guy's permission, don't easily go away. There's no point in us doing anything that embarrasses or negatively affects their future. It's one thing to share information with someone you know in a private message. It's another altogether to share intimate details of an affair with the internet.

From what I've read, it may involve two-factor authentication.

From Coconuts Bangkok Mixed news for series addicts on a budget: Starting today, Netflix has reduced the monthly rate for its basic package by 60% but users may not share their accounts. The basic monthly package now runs THB169, down from THB279. That means enjoying the latest episodes of psycho thriller You, searing K-dramas, or any of Note Udom’s comedy specials at 720p resolution, which qualified as HD in 2010. The package limits users to only one device at a time. Those already subscribed to the basic package will automatically pay the new rate on their next billing cycle.

Although most of the new roller bags have four "spinner" wheels. they are (as Peter points out above) more vulnerable to impact damage than cases with two recessed wheels. A flight attendant makes some interesting observations--including a medical one--on the pros and cons o this website: https://www.afar.com/magazine/two-wheel-vs-four-wheel-luggage-why-roller-bags-are-better

If that were true shouldn't providers have the opportunity to reply in kind by identifying clients who cheat or treat them poorly? Maybe a "Cheap Charlie Forum."

From Reuters Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai Party's candidate for prime minister, attends a general election campaign, in Ubon Ratchathani © Thomson Reuters AMNAT CHAROEN, Thailand (Reuters) -Touting her billionaire family's legacy of populism and massive election victories, Thailand's Paetongtarn Shinawatra is emerging as the candidate to beat in upcoming polls, betting that nostalgia can win millions of working class votes. Paetongtarn, 36, is campaigning hard in the vote-rich rural strongholds of the Shinawatra family's Pheu Thai political juggernaut, hoping to reignite the kind of fervor that swept father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck to power in unprecedented landslides. Political neophyte Paetongtarn is promising Pheu Thai will complete unfinished business from three stints in office since 2001, all of which were cut short by court rulings and military coups that it says were orchestrated by Thailand's conservative establishment. "We managed to fix everything in the first year but then four years later we were ousted by a coup, so there are things that we have not achieved," Paetongtarn told Reuters in her first formal interview with foreign media ahead of the election, expected in May. "So we go on each stage to tell people how our policies can change their lives. And only through stable politics can people's lives change in a sustainable manner," she said, while campaigning in the northeast. Thaksin and Yingluck were toppled by the army in 2006 and 2014 respectively, despite overseeing big economic growth. Both live in self-imposed exile to avoid prison convictions their allies say were designed to prevent their political comebacks. The baton has passed to Paetongtarn, Thaksin's youngest daughter, who is using the same playbook in offering minimum wage hikes, utilities subsidies and long-promised high-speed rail systems and infrastructure to manage floods and droughts. Pheu Thai's slogan is "Think Big, Act Smart", taking aim at incremental reforms by the military-backed governments of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha since he seized power in 2014. "The picture has to be big and we must be able to address longstanding problems that festered. These must be completely dealt with," said Paetongtarn. Though yet to be named as Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn is far ahead in opinion polls for premier, with twice the support of Prayuth. Pheu Thai is expected to win most votes, but could struggle to lead a government given the military's influence over an appointed Senate, which together with the elected lower house chooses the prime minister.

From Pattaya News Ekkamai – Pattaya/ 06:00-21:00 hrs (131 baht) Pattaya – Ekkamai/ 04:30-21:00 hrs (131 baht) Bangna – Pattaya/ 06:30-21:30 hrs (131 baht) Mo Chit – Pattaya/ 06:00, 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 (131 baht) Pattaya – Mo Chit/ 05:00, 07:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 (131 baht) From Pattaya (Jomtien Beach Bus Station) to Suvarnabhumi Airport/ 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 (143 baht) From Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya (Jomtien Beach)/ 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 (143 baht) https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/19/pattaya-bus-operator-announces-change-of-schedule-for-several-routes-to-airport-and-hua-hin/

The only place that comes to mind is 39 Underground Sauna, a five-minute walk from the Saphan Kwai BTS stop. You can read customer comments at this site: https://www.travelgay.com/venue/39-underground/ Entrance fee: 200 bht, open daily 12-12

I've never visited Phuket and wonder if anyone has experienced the conditions described in this opinion piece from The Thaiger. Russian brotherhood stealing Phuket jobs Hotels are unwelcoming. In the massage parlours, everyone is tense. Down Walking Street, in the girly bars, excitement is high and the air is filled with fearful chatter. The girls are aquiver in anticipation. The Russian ‘brotherhood’ (bratva) stealing Phuket jobs is bringing a whole new style of beatings and rapes to Thailand’s peaceful brothels. How will the new regime of violence and exploitation compare to the old-school Thai versions? Phuket is besieged by foreign gangs. They call themselves mafias – or at least the media does – but they are certainly not. Mafia means something. These “groups” are nothing more than gangs of thugs on the resort island to help the locals with their accounts. The hospitality industry is worried. Executives are concerned that foreigners are exploiting laws to run businesses while taking up jobs meant for local people. Isn’t Phuket already an enclaved of overseas money launderers, slavers, pimps, tax dodgers and traffickers in a spectrum of legality? They’ve been there a long time. Once one of the most beautiful places in the world, Phuket today is more than a national embarrassment, it’s a matter of global shame. The last wave of occupiers – welcomed with open legs by poor politicos who now live in millionaire pool villas – destroyed more or less anything that was good on the island. The ecosystem is destroyed, the forests have been destroyed, local culture has been destroyed, and the soil has been destroyed. All the birds and animals are dead. The beaches are filthy, plastic-strewn and over-crowded. Speaking about tourism in the three Andaman provinces, Kata Group Resorts founder Pramookpisitt Achariyachai said some foreigners were breaching rules on jobs reserved for Thais. A small surprise considering that every news source in Thailand carries stories about labour shortages every day. Pramookpisitt is concerned that foreign groups may take control of the island, similar to what happened in Pattaya a couple of decades ago. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/russian-brotherhood-stealing-phuket-jobs

It's in keeping with Kimmel's style. I think he's the most popular late night host with gays so he knows his audience. Contact sports are steeped in erotic themes. Consider this introduction to The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer (Laurent Dubois, 2018): “Soccer is sensual. It is about the pleasure of watching athletes’ bodies, their faces, their motion, admiring and commenting on their hairstyles and tattoos. When we talk and write about soccer, we evoke—more often unconsciously than consciously—its sensuality. Its role as a source of pleasure……Soccer may be the most tantric of sports. Some of the greatest and most riveting of games end 0-0. Perhaps what is truly sensual about soccer is that it is about interplay, relationships, motion between people, all tied up with our deepest and most mysterious emotions.”

KIMMEL: "Now that the season's over, will you miss showering with the guys?" MAHOMES: "It is a perk of the job." ----- I'm wet all over again.

From The Thaiger Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok’s global gateway, plans to increase services to deal with the influx of arriving passengers. Thailand saw a swift surge in travellers after China’s recent decision to reopen its borders. The Airports of Thailand (AoT) announced Friday that the measures will help tackle delays in passenger servicing time, particularly during peak hours. They say they have already begun to improve service flow. The airport’s director said Suvarnabhumi received complaints about luggage claim delays from around 30 flights per day last month. It seems bad, but in December roughly 50 flights per day received delayed baggage complaints. This month continued the trend with delays reported in just 7% of daily flights, which is equivalent to approximately 15 to 20 flights per day. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob ordered the Immigration Bureau to increase its capacity to handle incoming passengers on February 8. The AoT has responded to the minister’s order by developing a range of plans to reduce delays and ease passenger congestion. These measures have been divided into short-term and long-term problem-solving solutions. For short-term problem-solving, the airport’s ground handling operators, THAI Ground (TG) and Bangkok Flight Services (BFS), are recruiting additional staff and acquiring more equipment to manage the spike in passenger numbers. In the longer term, AoT is looking to add a third ground handling operator. Any addition would have to be approved by the Cabinet first. Suvarnabhumi Airport will add more automatic passport checkpoints and pre-immigration kiosks. It will temporarily expand the period for carriers to provide self-handling services as well. The new priority zone and VOA checking area at the Satellite 1 building will also be expanded and are set to open in September. To help reduce congestion at passport-checking areas, the AoT plans to install auto passport checkpoint channels. The move to help outbound travellers with e-passports would be completed in November. The AoT has also addressed the shortage of taxi services at the airport by registering 3,909 taxis for service. The number of taxis will soon be increased to 4,500, according to Suvarnabhumi Airport’s director. The airport authorities also plan to develop the space between the passenger terminal and the Concourse D building. A reception hall for arriving passengers and those with visas on arrival (VOAs) will be constructed. They expect to provide the service for 2,000 inbound passengers and 400 people with VOAs every hour. The AoT says the second phase of the airport’s long-term solution to congestion problems is still being created. Construction is set to begin in November, though.

From Channel News Asia By Pichayada Promchertchoo BANGKOK: Myoe has no plan to go back to his homeland in Myanmar. A coup d’etat two years ago has thrown his country into turmoil and filled his future with uncertainty. The raging civil war, persecution of dissidents and economic crisis made it hard for him to keep hoping that things would get better. The return of democracy began to feel like a distant dream as the weeks and months went by. Sad and dejected, the 37-year-old quit his job in the telecommunication sector. He said goodbye to his family in Yangon and moved to Bangkok in March last year. “I'm very excited and enjoying it even though I'm stressed every day because I'm freelancing with no fixed income,” he told CNA. Life in a foreign country is challenging for Myoe, who cannot speak Thai and has no regular income or work permit. He has to constantly fret over whether he can pay his rent on time, while searching for job opportunities that would allow him to work legally in Thailand. Still, he prefers it to returning home, where his future prospects seem bleak under military rule. Many Myanmar people share his view. There are signs that the country is suffering from a brain drain as professionals relocated overseas after the military under army chief Min Aung Hliang seized power on Feb 1, 2021. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-professionals-brain-drain-thailand-property-3233031

My experience has been quite the opposite. While the majority I don't expect to see again, I find many others (in Bangkok, at least) to be agreeable young men simply trying to make a life for themselves. Most come from other ASEAN countries. They often talk of their families and "dysfunctional" is hardly a word that comes to mind.

If you click on "Read 3 replies" you'll find a full description on Richard Barrow's latest train adventure in Thailand.

One evening I arranged to meet a guy who had given me a few massages during the proceeding week. He appeared on time at the designated meeting place (outside the Raya) at midnight. Things generally went well but there were some awkward moments. He slept soundly over night but declined invitation for breakfast. When we parted I was sure that was the beginning and the end of the affair. As I reflected on the evening over breakfast, I was puzzled. We had gotten along really well in his shop, laughing easily and feeling anything but awkward. But he was on his home turf then. I concluded perhaps he had been burned before by a farang he had met. Nevertheless, I tried to put him out of my mind. It was only a few days later when I passed his shop again and he was among the guys standing outside with menus in their hand. He beamed a smile at me and we chatted for less than a minute before we went inside for our third session. Everything went well. His English was almost non-existent at the time so as I was trying unsuccessfully to ask him a question as we walked out later he gestured to a coworker to act as interpreter. "You want to meet me after work tonight" was turned into Thai and the reply was a vigorous nod of his head and huge smile. So as much as I believe Vinapu's prince charming doesn't deserve another chance, I'm reminded that had I denied it to my masseur, I would have missed out on seven of the happiest years of my life. We remain together to this day.