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Or to borrow Harry Truman’s favorite rejoinder: “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.”

From CNN Seoul, South KoreaCNN — More than 51 million people in South Korea awoke on Wednesday to find themselves a year or two younger – at least, according to the law. Under legislation that came into effect Wednesday, “all judicial and administrative areas” across the East Asian country will adopt the “international age” system used by most of the world, ending years of debate about the problems caused by the formerly common use of “Korean age” and “calendar age.” Standardizing ages will “reduce various social confusions and disputes,” said Lee Wan-kyu, the Minister of Government Legislation, at a news briefing on Monday. The law, passed by South Korea’s Parliament last December, is also expected to “greatly reduce social costs that have been unnecessary due to the mixed use of age standards,” Lee said, adding this had been a major pledge by President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office last May. Three systems In South Korea, “international age” refers to the number of years since a person was born, and starts at zero – the same system used in most other countries. But when asked their age in informal settings, most South Koreans will answer with their “Korean age,” which could be one or even two years older than their international age. Under this system, which has its roots in China, babies are considered a year old on the day they’re born, with a year added every January 1. In some circumstances, South Koreans also use their “calendar age” – a mash-up of international age and Korean age – which consider babies as zero years old on the day they’re born and adds a year to their age every January 1. Take “Gangnam Style” singer Psy, for example. Born on December 31, 1977, he is considered 45 by international age; 46 by calendar year age; and 47 by Korean age. If this sounds confusing, it is, with daily life in the country often switching between the hodgepodge of different systems. New standard Even with the new standardization, the old systems will still be used in some circumstances, the government said on Wednesday. For instance, children typically enter elementary school in March of the year after they turn 6 years old (in international age), regardless of which month their birthday falls – which will continue. Laws on age-restricted products like alcohol or tobacco will also be based on the year someone is born, regardless of month. This means two people born in January and December 1990 are judged to be the same age. Under this law, people are allowed to buy alcohol starting in the year they turn 19 (in international age). The same method will continue to be used for South Korea’s mandatory military service – meaning people are eligible based on the year they were born, rather than their specific age or birth date.

From VN Express Many foreigners are happy and preparing plans to return to Vietnam after Vietnamese legislators finally agreed to extend the validity of tourist e-visas to 90 days and allow multiple entries. "[The extension] is indeed very good news," said American Michael Burger. He said allowing visitors to make multiple entries was "the most valuable" as he could travel to other ASEAN nations from Hanoi and HCMC, without having to apply for a new visa each time he returns to Vietnam. "It's so great and I am planning to return to Vietnam this August," Burger added. After months of eagerly waiting, the National Assembly approved on Saturday a government proposal to extend the validity of tourist e-visas from 30 to 90 days and allow visitors multiple entries, effective from August 15. Pawel Dejmek from Poland plans to return to Vietnam in September or October and stay there for a long time after hearing that Vietnam had resumed its three-month e-visa policy. “Before the pandemic, the e-visa was valid for 90 days already and it could be extended three times. So, I did 'visa run' once a year, not every month," he said. Since Vietnam reopened its borders to foreign tourists in March 2022 and only allowed 30-day e-visa, many of his friends moved to Thailand because of being tired of border runs every month that cost them much time and money. During his upcoming trip to Vietnam, Dejmek plans to stay in Mui Ne, famous for beach adventure activities along the central coast. He said he will look for a place for rent as he wants to open a bar and conduct other business activities.

ASEAN citizens without work permits (and they comprise the majority) are reporting that the duration of border run trips is increasing due to greater number of people going this route. Two companies run the van/bus service to two different Cambodia border crossing points. Even some non-Asian tourists are extending their stays this way. ========= Ma Ha Massage on Silom Soi 6 has just opened another location near Sukhumvit Soi 71.

Keep in mind Silom Complex location closes at 9:30 but Sukhumvit alley 11 location at closes at 11:30.

For those who’ll be in Bangkok on or about July 4, you may or may not live in interesting times. A key man in the outgoing ruling party is denying rumors he met in London to broker a deal with former pm Thaksin Shinawarts. Leaders of the runner-up Pheu Thai party are insisting on the House speakership while Move Forward Party’s Kuhn Pita bides his time while the current PM contends he could yet another term.

You can get a glass of acceptable red at Wine Connection for 120 bht and bottle for 550. Have suggested promotions in the past but owners deaf to ideas like no off fee if you buy boy drink on slow nights, 2-for-1 drinks, etc.

Coach now appears to be smallest one in the group. I’d think that someone will write a follow up account of their lives because IMO it remains the greatest rescue story in modern history.

From Pattaya News A group of Thai youths on Monday, June 26th, proposed 9 proposals to the Pheu Thai Party in a bid to combat drug problems across the country. A group of young Thai people visited the Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters on Monday to submit their petition regarding the country’s raging drug issues. Accepting the petition on behalf of the Pheu Thai Party were Mr. Julapan Amornwiwat, an MP for Chiang Mai province, and Ms. Linthiporn Warinwatchararoj, a party-list MP and deputy secretary-general of the party. The petitioners said they want to see Pheu Thai urgently follow their 9 proposals which roughly include: Change the laws to allow the use of seized assets from drug trafficking to build educational spaces for combating drug addiction. Reform the education system and curriculum both inside and outside classrooms to provide youth with up-to-date knowledge against drugs. The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, under the Ministry of Justice, should serve as a listening unit, collecting public opinions and feedback, while also being a central hub for gathering knowledge to address drug addiction issues. Consider the reclassification of marijuana as a controlled narcotic substance with necessary measures to prevent its misuse, which would essentially recriminalize the plant. In response to the petition, Mr. Julapan said drug problems had started to worsen after the the 2014 coup where the Pheu Thai government was overthrown by the now caretaker PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha. He added, “Things were even worse after Prayut’s government decided to decriminalize marijuana without having necessary preventive measures.” The Pheu Thai Party as the second largest coalition partner are committed to eradicating illicit drugs, and believed that marijuana should be reclassified as a controlled substance, which should be used for medical purposes only, he said. “As part of the collaboration between the Move Forward Party and the Pheu Thai Party, we have proposed the establishment of a task force specifically focused on drug prevention. Today’s proposals will be presented to the task force for further consideration,” Julapan promised.

At least you didn’t have to but him a drink first.

Double A?

Thanks for the great reporting, shared meals and friendship. And for not picking same guy I wanted at Banana bar. 🙂

Congratulations on your first venue report. You provided helpful details of experience while respecting identities of masseurs whose company you enjoyed. Hope rest of your trip goes well!

Some stands have western sizes. Just ask.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Thai labour authorities have amended the MOU (memoranda of understanding) with the Myanmar and Cambodian governments to reduce the shortage of workers in various Thai industries. The economic migrants, mostly on two or four year contracts, are found principally in the tourist trade as hotel staff, labourers on building sites or highways, the fishing industry manning trawlers and factory food processing. Because of Covid, which saw many workers return to their country during the pandemic, their work permits expired or about to expire. Under the former regulations, there was a compulsory waiting period of 30 days before they were allowed to reapply. Another issue is that the transitional government of general Prayut Chan-o-cha made a hurried Cabinet decision to extend the expired permits to July 31 2023, with the proviso that the new incoming administration would have to sort out the issues. However, the latest agreements permit quick online registration for workers who are currently in Thailand and those who wish to return to work from Myanmar or Cambodia. If migrants work illegally, they risk deportation as well as loss of benefits such as automatic enrolment in the Thai health system. The Cambodian and Myanmar authorities have separately asked the Thai Department of Labour to reduce the visa fee from 2,000 baht to 500 baht, but that will require Cabinet approval once one is formed. Chonburi province in particular has hundreds of vacancies for workers from neighboring countries, especially hotel and restaurant staff (Pattaya), factory workers (Chonburi city) and trawler assistants (Sattahip and beyond). The problem is common to many countries with falling birth rates. The German coalition government is introducing a points system for foreign skilled, literate workers to make it easier for companies to recruit abroad. South Korea, which has the lowest birth rate in the world, regularly recruits Thai factory workers including those entering on a tourist visa which is technically out of order.

From The Nation The armed forces and the Royal Thai Police are discussing security measures to implement if turmoil and violence erupts should Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat fail to be elected prime minister in the middle of next month, military and police sources said. They said the armed forces and police fear that supporters of Move Forward and its major coalition party, Pheu Thai, may stage violent protests if the Move Forward-led coalition of 313 MPs fails to win support from 63 senators or MPs from other parties to elect Pita as the next prime minister of Thailand. The coalition needs 63 more votes from either senators or MPs, or a combination of both, when the House and Senate convene for a joint session to elect Thailand’s 30th prime minister. Pita will need a majority of the votes from 750 MPs and senators to be elected prime minister. The joint session will likely convene July 13, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. told a June 20 meeting of the caretaker Cabinet. The 500 newly-elected MPs will be sworn in at a state ceremony on July 3, according to a royal decree. The 500 newly-elected MPs will be sworn in at a state ceremony on July 3, according to a royal decree. House of Representatives secretary-general Pornpit Phetcharoen said on Saturday that after the July 3 ceremony was held on July 3, the House may convene its first meeting on July 4 so that MPs can elect the House speaker and two deputy speakers. Pornpit said most political parties had agreed to convene the House meeting at 9.30am on July 4 to elect the House speaker, but two or three political parties had yet to confirm the time and date. After the House speaker is elected, a joint session of the two chambers must be held within 10 days to elect the prime minister. Pita’s supporters are still keeping their fingers crossed for support from senators. Several senators have vowed not to vote for Pita as the next prime minister, saying his party is opposed to Article 112 (the lese majeste law).

In all my visits, bartender was a guy from Myanmar. I’d occasionally see a woman checking the stock and reviewing register transactions but she was manager of Freshboy that was leasing the space. Freshboy is now leasing the space immediately to right of the stairway that I believe goes by handle of Red Dragon. It’s the bar with pool table that attracts mixed clientele.

From the BBC By Jonathan Head Phyo Wai Hlaing, a 21-year-old wi-fi technician, had been missing for a week in July 2021 when his father received an anonymous phone call telling him to go to a bridge far from his neighbourhood in Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. There the street food vendor was told that his son had been arrested. A few days later he read about it in the state-run newspaper. Phyo Wai Hlain was among a group of 29 who were arrested and accused of storing explosives for use in terrorist attacks and for supporting People's Defence Force insurgents who are fighting Myanmar's military government. Also in that group was Si Thu Aung, a 19-year-old, first-year engineering student. Witnesses told his mother they saw him being taken away by police the day after Phyo Wai Hlaing went missing. Both young men had disappeared into Myanmar's gulag, a network of prisons and interrogation centres used for decades to detain and torture dissidents. At its heart is Insein prison, a name that has come to symbolise the repression imposed by successive military regimes. That is where Phyo Wai Hlain and Si Thu Aung first went after being sentenced to seven years in prison. The BBC has been speaking to some of the detainees' families, and to Maung Pho, an artist, who used his six-month incarceration to make detailed drawings of life inside Insein, which he has now been showing at exhibitions in Thailand. Stamped into the map of northern Yangon like a giant wheel, Insein prison is one of the more sinister legacies of British colonial rule in Myanmar. It was built in 1877 in the form of a panopticon, giving a central guardhouse a clear view to all corners of the "wheel". It is Myanmar's largest prison. Most political prisoners serve at least part of their sentences there, usually the many months in detention before their trials. Some do not survive the experience. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65959508

From The Nation A ceremony was held in front of the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province on Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the global mission to save young footballers and their coach who were stranded in a flooded cave. Photos of ex-Thai Navy Seal diver Saman Kunan, who died during the mission, ex-Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osatanakorn, who died on Wednesday, and Wild Boars football team member Duangphet Promthep, who died earlier this year in England, were set up in the area to commemorate their passing. The ceremony was presided over by Mae Sai district chief Narongpol Kid-arn and included the offering of alms to 39 monks and a religious ceremony to pay respects to sacred things in the cave and pray for the prosperity of all those who were involved in the brave rescue mission. The members of the Wild Boars football team, as well as relatives, were present at the ceremony. Ceremony at Tham Luang marks 5th anniversary Ceremony at Tham Luang marks 5th anniversary

Most of the masseurs I’ve met are very nice guys. When I recall their faces months or even years later it’s the times when they stopped being performers and we were able to share intimate moments. I think all of us, including our paid partners, have a basic need to be ourselves, even if briefly.

Had occasion to fly Delta twice in past year on short-haul routes. Doors closed and opened on time and economy seats quite comfortable. ================== From CNN A flurry of new international flight routes from the US One of the strongest indicators of how the tourism industry continues to court American travelers: newly launched airline routes and expanded service to the States. Although air travel demand has been growing globally since most pandemic restrictions have been lifted, tapping into the lucrative US market remains a top priority for many airlines, including both major carriers and budget operators. “Opening new routes is immediately an opportunity for DMCs to target those audiences,” Chaulet says. This June, British Airways started a new route from Cincinnati to London – an immensely popular destination for American travelers, especially royals watchers, over the last year – operating with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on five weekly flights during the summer (and four in the winter). American travelers keen to experience New Zealand can take advantage of Qantas’s just-launched service from New York’s JFK to Auckland with three weekly flights, also on the Dreamliner. In addition, according to Allison, of Tourism Australia, airline seat capacity between the US and Australia is projected to reach 88% of pre-pandemic levels with 123 flights per week by the end of 2023. Turkish Airlines and Emirates also continue to expand their US routes. Turkish’s four-times-weekly service from Seattle to Istanbul launched in 2022, with Detroit and Denver slated to start in Q4 of 2023. And this April, Emirates launched the first-ever service from Newark to Dubai, a 14-hour journey. Meanwhile, the budget carrier segment is booming with new airlines and routes that service the States popping up with increasing regularity. One of the original players, French bee, launched in 2016 with nonstop flights from the US to Paris and Tahiti and has since expanded its US network significantly, with three additional routes from New York, Los Angeles, and Miami to Paris launched in 2021 and 2022.

When I passed by there about 9 last night, the bar had four male visitors being attend to by three young women. Location, location, location I guess.

Not to worry. Most plumbers over 18.

In the space occupied pre-covid by the original Red Dragon bar (just to left of. Freshboy stairs), a new lady cocktail bar had opened. I’d been a regular at Red Dragon because the beer was cheap and the Burmese bartender and Vietnam waiters from Freshboy were hot. I welcome any place that brings added life to Patpong but it reminds me so much of how I miss its predecessor.

Thanks a dozen times.