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Rebottling cheap wine and spirits has been a time-honored scam world wide for years. It’s most profitable customers are the wealthy who can’t pass up a potential bargain. Even when they realize they were taken in by their own greed, they’re too proud and embarrassed to acknowledge it.

From Foreign Policy Even to those closely following Thai politics, Pita Limjaroenrat has never come off as an obvious threat to that country’s military-backed government. In fact, he doesn’t really sound like a politician from Southeast Asia at all. When the Thai parliamentarian first spoke to Foreign Policy at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore last summer, it was just weeks after Thai opposition parties—including Limjaroenrat’s Move Forward Party—had surprised analysts by winning big in Bangkok local elections. Off the back of those victories, Limjaroenrat had just wrapped up a meeting with one of the top officials in the U.S. State Department. Reflecting on recent gains by Move Forward—a party that is pro-marijuana, pro-same-sex marriage, and pro-reform, which are three rarities in Thai politics—Limjaroenrat, who has served in Thailand’s parliament since 2019, sounded a lot like former U.S. President Barack Obama. “In short, hope returns,” he said, echoing Obama’s catchphrase. “Hope returns to Thai politics. The politics of possibility is back once again. People are starting to believe in democracy once again.” Talking like the United States’ 44th president is no accident. Limjaroenrat admits he has borrowed from Obama’s playbook, employing a grassroots-fueled strategy across elections that he learned while shadowing campaign volunteers as a student at Harvard nearly two decades ago. In May’s national elections, this tactic helped Limjaroenrat’s progressive party win the most parliament seats of the 18 parties in the running. Limjaroenrat immediately declared himself Thailand’s new prime minister—a stunning result that sent shockwaves through the region and also raised questions. Most important, whether the Thai military would really allow a reformer to take power? Viewed in a certain light, Limjaroenrat is a typically pragmatic, suit-wearing politician. When students staged mass sit-ins in 2020 demanding major reform, for instance, he courted them without fully backing them. Nor did he share their wish to ditch the monarchy. (While Thailand’s politics for the past several decades have been characterized by a series of military governments, the generals still have to kiss the ring: The monarchy has proven the kingmaker in restoring civilian rule on multiple occasions.) “He clearly wants to be seen as a unifying figure, a moderate,” Aaron Connelly, who leads research on Southeast Asian political change and foreign policy at the Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS), said of Limjaroenrat, whose toughest hurdle is yet to come. Limjaroenrat has formed an ad hoc coalition to govern Thailand, but it is still short of a majority in parliament. He can only ascend to the office of prime minister if he garners enough support in the House of Representatives—and the military-appointed Senate—in a vote scheduled for August. Then there’s also the into whether he was allowed to run for office while holding shares in media companies. Even if in the end he can’t break through, though, Limjaroenrat has mobilized a younger generation that is hungry for change. Continues at https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/01/thailands-obama-moment/

From The Nation A new government must be formed quickly to prevent protests triggered by political disputes from damaging the fragile recovery of the tourism industry, the Tourism Council of Thailand said on Saturday. The tourism industry has only recently recovered from the pandemic and is not yet strong, the council’s president, Chamnan Srisawat, said. Political turmoil and protests will damage the tourism industry – the country’s main economic engine, Chamnan added. He made the statement before meeting Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, the candidate for prime minister of an eight-party alliance. Some pundits have warned that massive demonstrations are possible if Pita fails in his bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister. His party won the most seats in the House of Representative in the May 14 election, and swept 32 of Bangkok’s 33 constituencies, but it faces hostility in the coup-appointed Senate. Chamnan said his council is ready to work with any new government. However, it had extended an invitation to Pita to be Thailand’s global tourism ambassador and Pita accepted the invitation on Saturday at an event that drew national media attention. Chamnan urged the next government to implement tourism policies to assist small business owners, noting that previous initiatives, like the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) project, have expired. He also called for a simplified visa system to make it easier for foreign tourists to enter Thailand. In particular, he called for an easier visa process for Chinese nationals, saying they could significantly boost tourism revenues in the third quarter. ============== Prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat on Saturday accepted an invitation from the Tourism Council of Thailand to become its brand ambassador, saying that after assuming office, he will travel overseas to meet leaders of foreign governments and promote Thailand as a destination. Pita met with the council’s president, Chamnan Srisawat, and other executives at the Rama Gardens Hotel to discuss ways to increase the number of foreign tourists to Thailand, particularly those from China. He noted that the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand remains 30-40% lower than the pre-pandemic level, and that the drop in Chinese tourists was particularly steep. Before the pandemic, they accounted for 20% of all foreign visitors, but now they represent just 2%, he said.

From Pattaya News The Thai Marine Department is set to propose to the Cabinet to establish the country’s first large-scale international yacht/cruise ship port in Pattaya, worth over 7.4 billion baht. The mega-project, which will be located near the Bali Hai pier if approved, aims to benefit from the growing popularity of yacht tourism, with over 31.5 million tourists travelling by yachts and cruise ships globally this year and is expected to reach 36 million by 2024, according to Mr. Wannachai Butthongdee, Director of Engineering Division of the Marine Department. The construction will expectedly begin in 2026 and finish in 2029 if approved by the Cabinet. Mr. Wannachai added that Thailand is ranked third as the most popular destination in Asia in terms of the number of visits by large luxury yachts. The new port in Pattaya will be located approximately 1 kilometer away from the coastline and will have the capacity to accommodate two luxury cruise ships simultaneously. “Thailand has been welcoming an average of 500 luxury yacht trips per year. The majority of these yachts are can accommodate approximately 1,000 passengers,” Mr. Wannachai said. “As for large luxury cruise ships, they require temporary anchoring methods and smaller boats to transport passengers to the shore, which is not convenient for travel.” In light of this, the Marine Department is planning to develop cruise ports in other areas as well including Koh Samui in Surat Thani province, and Krabi province. The new port will be able to handle up to 1,500 cruise passengers per hour when it is used as a home port, or between 3,500 and 4,000 passengers per hour when it serves as a port of call, Mr. Wannachai stated.

Media news follow-up accounts of this incident provide more insight into the possible mechanism of injury. The Bangkok Post reports that the roller bag wheels appear to have become entangled in the “comb” at the end of walkway, causing it to break. This may have been how the user’s leg was drawn into the enlarged space. Meanwhile, Thai PBS World Carrie’s the following account: The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator, causing a gap in the floor panel that trapped the leg of a passenger before it stopped automatically 20 seconds later, said Boonpong Kitwattanachai, an advisor to the mechanical engineering committee of the Thai Engineering Institute of Thailand. He said that a floor panel was found to have fallen under the escalator, indicating that the bolt which attaches the floor to the escalating rail had failed. ============ The accident, in which a female passenger lost part of her left leg when she fell on an escalator at Don Mueang International Airport on June 29th, was not the first time that a passenger or their property has been pulled into an escalator mechanism at the airport. On July 30th, 2019, an accident caused by an escalator in Don Mueang International Airport was shared on a passenger’s Facebook page, after one of his shoes was damaged by being pulled into the mechanism while he was on the escalator. According to the post, he was on the way back with his family after a night flight from Osaka to Don Mueang International Airport. He was on the moving walkway and, as he was about to step off, he felt something pulling his left shoe into the mechanism. He could not release it, because the force was too strong. He quickly pulled his foot out of the trapped shoe and, in less than a second, his shoe was drawn into the mechanism. ========== The accident on an escalator at Don Mueang airport yesterday (Thursday) might have been caused by a small object falling into the end of the escalator, causing a gap in the floor panel that trapped the leg of a passenger before it stopped automatically 20 seconds later, said Boonpong Kitwattanachai, an advisor to the mechanical engineering committee of the Thai Engineering Institute of Thailand. He said that a floor panel was found to have fallen under the escalator, indicating that the bolt which attaches the floor to the escalating rail had failed. For the sake of safety while riding on the escalator, Boonpong suggested passengers to keep one hand on the handrail and avoid using their cell phone.

I feel confident some lucky lawyer will get to the bottom of this.

From CNN By Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN — “Goodbye, Kai Tak, and thank you.” It’s been 25 years since Richard Siegel, Hong Kong’s then-director of civil aviation, bid farewell and turned off the lights at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport. On July 6, 1998, the city’s main air hub closed its doors, moving services to the bigger and swankier new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. The retired facility was rechristened as Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in town, in 2013. The 25-year-old “new” airport has pulled off numerous achievements – it’s frequently named one of the top five airports in the world. It’s a repeat winner of Skytrax’s World’s Best Airport Dining award. It’s been the world’s largest cargo airport every year since 2010, except for 2020. Yet fond memories remain for those who had a chance to fly through the old Kai Tak, or simply witness the remarkable airplane landings that made it famous. Before its closure in 1998, Kai Tak (the first recorded flight from the site took place in 1925) was regarded as one of the most difficult airports in the world for pilots to fly in and out of. As it sat in the middle of Kowloon City, with a runway protruding into the sea, landing in Kai Tak was a hair-raising event even for experienced pilots. Former Cathay Pacific Airways’ general manager of operations andnow-pilot instructor Russell Davie has more than 30 years of flying experience. “As a pilot, it was totally unique. It was the only major airport in the world that required a 45-degree turn below 500 feet to line up with the runway, literally flying between the high-rise buildings, passing close to the famous orange and white Checkerboard Hill (also known as Kowloon Tsai Hill) as you made that final turn toward the runway,” he told CNN Travel. Daryl Chapman, a teacher and aviation photographer from Britain who has lived in Hong Kong since 1987, spent countless hours photographing the amazing scenes of large aircraft swooping in over the Hong Kong skyline. (See a gallery of his work above.) “Kai Tak was very different to most international airports because it was right in the city,” recalls Chapman. “Lion Rock (a prominent hill in Hong Kong) blocks the standard straight-in approach; thus planes had to make that special turn over Kowloon City while landing on runway 13.” “This was quite a challenge, especially in strong wind conditions,” Davie says. “As Cathay pilots, we had plenty of practice and became very adept at flying the approach. “The approach was quite a challenge for pilots from other airlines, especially in more demanding flying conditions, as they might only come to Kai Tak once a year.” Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-kai-tak-airport/index.html

From Archaeology.org Khmer-Period Carvings Unearthed at Buddhist Shrine in Thailand Share Thursday, June 29, 2023 (Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Organization) Organization) NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND—The Bangkok Post reports that a decorative lintel and a stone gate have been earthed in northeastern Thailand at the site of Prasat Ban Bu Yai, a shrine built by King Jayavarman VII some 1,000 years ago on the road connecting Angkor and Phimai. Rakchart Kiriwattanasak of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Organization Council said that the carvings on the lintel depict the god Indra riding on the back of the elephant Airavata. Previous excavations at the site have uncovered three other lintels; a well-preserved Shiva linga; a tympanum, or triangular wall surface decorated with carvings of a hermit; and stone pillars carved with floral patterns and mythical golden lions holding garlands. To read about fire shrines that Jayavarman VII built along road networks throughokut the Angkor Empire, go to "The Pursuit of Wellness: Rest."

For those who remember the days when Vietnam performers were well represented on stage at Screw Boy, word has it that four can currently be found across the way at Dream Boy.

From The Nation The chief of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office on Thursday said that the construction of a high-speed railway linking three airports will be a year behind schedule. EEC chief Jula Sukmanop said Asia Era One Co Ltd, the concessionaire of the Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao high-speed railway, could not begin construction this year as it was still awaiting an approval of investment privileges from the Board of Investment. Jula said the construction would take four years and if it started next year, the high-speed railway would begin operations in 2028, a year behind schedule. Jula said Asia Era One blamed the delay on government agencies for failing to facilitate construction. The company has called on the government to amend the 50-year public-private partnership contract to minimise delays. The proposal has met strong opposition from the Pheu Thai, which says such a contract amendment must wait to be approved by the next elected government.

From The Thaiger A Thai woman tragically lost her leg after collapsing on an escalator at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. The Director of the Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Karun Thanakunjeeraphat, revealed the accident took place around 8.30am on June 29. He reported that the accident happened at an escalator in the South Corridor between Pier 4 and Pier 5 of the domestic passenger terminal 2. According to the picture shared by the airport, the accident occurred at the end of the moving walkway. According to the report, the victim was en route to travel to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. While she was on the walkway, she collapsed, and then her leg was drawn into the machine, up to the kneecap. “From the CCTV footage, it appears that the passenger’s left leg was struck by a suitcase while she was on the escalator. She subsequently fell, and her leg was pulled down.” Airport staff reacted promptly, providing immediate assistance and hurriedly rushing the victim to the Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital. However, the severity of her injuries led to the unfortunate amputation of her leg. All of the involved escalators were temporarily discontinued while the engineering team investigated the cause of the accident.

From Thai PBS World Pheu Thai concedes House speakership, promises to stick with Move Forward The Pheu Thai party has reportedly conceded the House speakership to Move Forward, which will stay in the coalition, even if Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward prime ministerial candidate, does not receive enough parliamentary votes to become the prime minister. Sources told Thai PBS that, if Pita fails to take the premiership, Pheu Thai will lead the government, with Move Forward promising to stay in the coalition to form the administration. With members of both parties exchanging heated opinions on the House speakership for days, Pheu Thai and Move Forward have agreed that their members should no longer voice their opinions on the matter publicly since it might affect the talks among 8 coalition partners, scheduled to take place this Sunday, July 2nd.

From CNN KathmanduCNN — As Nepal’s first openly gay parliamentarian, Sunil Babu Pant educated his colleagues on LGBTQ topics. More than a decade later, the former lawmaker and activist is sharing similar knowledge with locals and tourists on the capital’s streets. On Saturdays, Pant hosts a heritage walk through the heart of Kathmandu, which is dotted with ancient temples, stupas and decrepit old houses that have withstood haphazard urbanization. The three-hour tour introduces the city’s matriarchal religious sites while exploring elements of gender and sexuality. These sites, some in Hindu temples, feature paintings and wooden carvings with deities engaging in sexual acts, along with homoerotic illustrations and hermaphroditic figures. “You’ll see a lot of nudity, it’s very normal … living in Kathmandu, it should be taken as pride, not shame,” says Pant. As he navigates the dusty streets, the aroma of incense, along with freshly brewed chiya, or milk tea, and traditional morning breakfast items – gwara mari, or fried dough balls, and the sweet fluffy malpuwa – in nearby shops fills the morning air. Pant’s heritage tour, which he pioneered in 2010, is a personal endeavor, partly aimed at promoting LGBTQ tourism in the South Asian country. Now, the Nepal government is showing interest in investing in LGBTQ-specific services to tap into the multi-billion dollar “pink economy” and promote LGBTQ inclusion in the country’s tourism industry. As an initial step, the Nepal Tourism Board – a quasi-government organization – partnered with the government-run Nepal Mountaineering Academy to launch the country’s first trekking guide training program for LGBTQ individuals in April. With Nepal banning solo trekkers this year, organizers say the new graduates will help meet demand from tourists specifically looking to hire LGBTQ guides. Two male figures engage in a sexual act in this carving at a Kathmandu temple Bibek Bhandari Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest mountains, is considered to be an ideal trekking destination. Though there is no official data, anecdotal evidence suggests many LGBTQ travelers visit the country, making it “important to train people who are comfortable with them and understand them better,” says Himal Pandit, coordinator of the training program. The 25 trainees gathered for their final lesson at a Kathmandu wall-climbing center on a hot June morning hope to bridge that gap. Four trainees told CNN they participated after recognizing a lack of government-licensed LGBTQ trekking guides and wished to work in the field while catering to the LGBTQ community. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/travel/nepal-lgbt-tourism-intl-hnk-cmd/index.html

Recently tried a Bangkok restaurant known for combining Thai and Italian cuisines. The result was dishes that looked Italian but tasted like Thai. And the portions may have been small but you couldn’t say that about the check. I love both cushiness but trying to get one to impersonate the other I do not.

from Pattaya News Pattaya City officials sent out a letter to Walking Street business owners earlier this week informing them of an upcoming change to current policies and procedures. As of Monday, June 3rd, street vendors and stalls not part of a licensed building business will need to be entirely removed from Walking Street, according to the below notice from Pattaya City officials. An exact reason for the change was not given by Pattaya City although some speculation on social media was that it was aimed at unauthorized cannabis and alcohol vendors selling throughout the street. However, this was merely speculation. It is unclear if food and clothing vendors would be allowed to operate on side sois or if it would be applied to all of the Walking Street area. This is not the first time Pattaya City has attempted to ban street vendors and food carts from Walking Street over the years and it is unclear how permanent a change this will be.

Just as long as the watches are still genuine article.

After getting massage in Saphan Kwai, I like to stop by Beer Park eatery for their version:

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.