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Bangkok can be small world, as will soon become apparent. After meeting at HM beer bar, I accompanied esteemed visitor to Banana bar on Soi 4. It was still early on a Tuesday evening but there were about 10 on stage and we were lone customers. Separate guys quickly recognized us (the Lao guy me and the Cambodian guy my friend) and both were called down to renew acquaintances. After following appropriate protocol for such venues, I took my leave for Screw Boy visit while colleague remained to explore international affairs. Veteran mamasan greeted me and brought me up to date on reopening progress. Her stable comprised of mostly Lao, Cambodia and Thai performers. There’s a pronounced basketball theme to their attire and I liked it. All wearing white bb shorts and singlet tops bearing names of various NBA teams. Some guys were shirtless. There was someone for every taste and most made eye contact. After some indecision, I sent red note up to guy with great legs. He gladly acknowledged gesture and was called down. “You remember me?”, we’re his first words. When I was still considering response, he offered, “you off me two times from Freshboys.” After senior moment passed, details came flooding back. He was from Cambodia and very talented. Although three years go, he still remembered where I stayed. Sat with me until show started before rapidly growing crowd. As I would soon be meeting my regular guy, there was no off. There were at least a few dozen performers on hand when I left. Temperature was comfortable and sound level ok. Drinks 350 in both bars.

Walked by there last night about 11:15. All the usual suspects sitting outside, trolling for customers.

From CNBC Bans, betrayals and stalemates: How Thailand’s old guard could respond to election results Thailand’s preliminary election results was a triumph for the progressive Move Forward party but its reforms are set to threaten conservative forces that may move to prevent the pro-democracy party from governing. Move Forward’s leader and chosen prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat has announced a six-party coalition that includes Pheu Thai, a populist, pro-democracy party that came second in the election. This gives the coalition 310 seats in parliament’s 500-seat lower house. Whoever the coalition appoints as prime minister must win 376 parliamentary votes — a combined number from the 250-seat, military-appointed Senate and the lower house. The vote for PM is expected in August after the Election Commission certifies election results. Analysts say Move Forward faces a daunting task to shore up the remaining 66 vote due to its controversial proposed policies — a new constitution, ending military dominance in politics, abolishing mandatory military conscription, abolishing business monopolies and revising the lese-majeste law that punishes insults to the king with jail time. The Move Forward party recently said potential coalition partners don’t need to support its stance on lese-majeste as it plans to table it in parliament independently — its refusal to compromise could also isolate prospective allies and most of the junta-led Senate. Ahead of the prime ministerial vote, political watchers anticipate a variety of outcomes, including the possibility of forced intervention by the country’s powerful military-monarchy alliance. “Move Forward’s agenda is an affront and a frontal challenge to the established centers of power,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science and a senior fellow at its Institute of Security and International Studies. “It is likely a matter of when and how — not whether — they will strike back.” Given Move Forward’s dogmatic stance, experts expect some kind of power play that would tailor outcomes to establishment preferences. Arch-royalists could go as far as to ban Move Forward, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) warned in a report. It’s a plausible scenario since royalist-conservative elites have sway over official bodies like the Constitutional Court, National Anti-Corruption Commission and Electoral Commission. Opposition party Future Forward, for instance, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2020 for violating election laws in the 2019 election — a charge that Human Rights Watch called“politically motivated.” “The courts could find ways to nullify enough Move Forward and Pheu Thai victories to alter the balance of power,” echoed analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in a separate report. There’s also a chance Pita himself could be targeted. He was recently charged with a constitutional violation for being a small shareholder of a now-defunct media company while serving as an member of parliament, which he denies. This could be potential grounds for his disqualification and enable the less-radical Pheu Thai to lead the coalition, according to Pongsudhirak. There is a precedent for Pita’s case to be cleared, noted Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political scientist at Naresuan University. In 2001, the Constitutional Court acquitted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra of concealing assets even after he was indicted for corruption charges, she said. “If the elites choose to respect the votes of Thai people, they can certainly do the same this time as they did towards Thaksin in 2001.” There are other ways for the Senate to block Move Forward. Senators could abstain from voting and refuse to confirm Pita, leading to a stalemate, according to CSIS. T he Senate could also countermand lower house MPs’ choice of prime minister, unless the hard-to-reach super majority of 376 votes is secured, Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, said in a report. She pointed to statements from senators who hinted they won’t automatically endorse the winning party’s nominee. “Conservative forces have all the necessary tools at their disposal to prevent Move Forward from taking government,” Patton concluded. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/23/how-thailands-military-old-guard-could-respond-to-election-results.html

From the Thaiger Bangkok is set to host a Pride parade on June 4, with the theme “Door to Equal Asia,” as the city prepares to bid for World Pride 2028. Waaddao Chumaporn, the founder of Bangkok Pride, informed the Bangkok Post that this year’s event will be larger than the previous year, highlighting Thailand’s preparedness to host the global celebration in 2028. The upcoming parade is a collaborative effort between Naruemit Pride, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), over 40 civil society organisations, and members of the private and public sectors. Featuring six marching groups, each representing a colour of the pride flag, the parade will focus on the importance of health and well-being within the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, it will promote social justice messages for those living with disabilities and ethnic minorities, reports Bangkok Post. The parade will commence at 2pm on June 4, starting at the Pathumwan intersection in front of the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Center and concluding at the Ratchaprasong intersection. Waaddao stated, “Last year, about 20,000 people attended the march at Silom Road. For this year, we aim for 20,000 marchers and 100,000 spectators.” Around 2,000 volunteers will assist with the event, under the supervision of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the BMA. A total of 38 organisations will participate in the parade to show their support for LGBTQ+ rights, including representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, the Justice Ministry, UN agencies, and various embassies.

Comings The night market has now fully explanded from Surawong to Silom with the final third nearest Silom given over to mostly food stalls and outdoor restaurant seating. And the routine of erecting and disassembling occurs daily. Goings The Paddy Field, a long time sports bar adjacent to Foodland, has closed its doors. It had a strong following among UK and Aussie football and rugby fans but most have migrated to the larger Shenanigans on Surawong. I liked it because it offered a great perch to observe the entrance to Dream Boy whose performers could be found lounging outside during breaks. Also gone is the BarBar on Patpong 2 whose barker was famous for slapping a stick and proclaiming “S and M.” And it seems the adjacent lady bar may have also closed. Would not be surprised if there are already plans in works for the space. Also making an exit—if forecasters are to believed—will be the excessive heat with decreasing temperatures and welcome rain predicted to kick off monsoon season.

From the Thaiger Thai authorities apprehended a 17 year old male suspected of being involved in a child prostitution ring in the heart of Bangkok. The suspect allegedly lured male and female minors to sell sexual services in a “swinging” fashion. A background check revealed the suspect had been caught in a human trafficking case previously. Police Colonel Theerasak Janthraphiphat, head of the Bangkok Civil Division, together with Deputy Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyarat Wessakoson, directed Police Lieutenant Colonel Jakree Nareepon, head investigator of the Civil Division, to lead a team to arrest the suspect. They managed to capture him at a hotel on Ban Phan Thom Street in the Phranakorn district of Bangkok, along with three other male individuals. The Civil Division in Bangkok received a tip from an undercover informant that the suspect was secretly offering child prostitution services involving minors under 18 years old at the mentioned hotel. The authorities devised an entrapment plan, pretending to purchase sexual services via Facebook. They reached an agreement for 700 baht per person, as well as an additional 1,500 baht for arranging the service providers. Upon reaching the predetermined meeting time, the undercover informant went to the hotel accompanied by police officers who discreetly monitored the area. They discovered four service providers between the ages of 14 and 19 engaging in “swinging” or group sex activities with the suspect. The officers subsequently identified themselves and detained all involved individuals for further questioning.

From Pattaya. Mail Following the near-completion of a brand new airport 50 km east of Siem Reap, the current flight base close to the Angor Wat temple complex will close in October 2023. The Cambodian civil aviation authorities have confirmed that the old airport will no longer be used for public flights. Government spokesman Chanserey Vutha said the new airport, though much further away, was necessary to boost the number of international flights and to end the environmental damage to the Siem Reap ancient ruins caused by aircraft vibrations and pollution. The spokesman added that current tourist numbers are only about 40 percent of the boom year of 2019 during which over 6 million foreigners entered the kingdom. Once the new airport is operational in October, he expected at least 300 flights a week to and from a variety of Chinese cities. The US$1 billion dollar structure has been built largely with Chinese loans and grants, channeled through the Yunnan Investment Group. Separately, Phnom Penh is also to have a new airport Techo Takhmao International which is scheduled to open in 2024. Situated in Kandal province and about 35 km from the city, it will be the ninth largest in the world and will contain the latest hi-tech features for communication and safety. Currently, the main limiting factor for international Cambodian tourism is the lack of direct flights from the USA, Europe, Russia and India with most passengers transiting in Bangkok. That brake will soon be lifted.

From Pattaya News Pattaya City, in collaboration with Central Pattaya Department Store, is set to host the Pattaya International Pride Festival 2023 on June 23-25. Thitiphan Petchtrakul, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya, presided over a meeting at City Hall to discuss the preparations for the upcoming Pattaya International Pride Festival 2023. Present at the May 18 meeting were Rattanachai Sutidechanai, Pattaya Tourism Expert and Advisor, Surat Thepchaito, Director of the Tourism and Sports Office, as well as representatives from various associations, clubs, and networks. The Pattaya International Pride Festival 2023 promises to be an international Pride event with a network of over 100 organizations from across Thailand participating in the spectacular Pride Parade. The event will also feature various influencers, including beauty queens, handsome men, celebrities, and models, with a total attendance of over 1,000 individuals, making it the highlight of the festival.

If interested, I’d email at address in OP.

After being introduced to the owners by ggobkk at a chance meeting in Patpong, I had an opportunity to visit Coffee Grinder Silom with a friend late this morning. I had a mango cooler and he went for iced chocolate which were both good matches for this seemingly endless heat wave. Although the shop has been open less than a few weeks, it was well-attended and running smoothly, able aided by ggobkk’s favorite barista and friendly waiter. Before leaving, we got a tour of the rental rooms above the shop. Nicely appointed with en-suite shower and comfy bed, they rent for about 2.000 bht per night. ST rentals would be considered on an availability basis. This is a second-floor lounge available to customers.

From The Nation As the fifth anniversary of the successful rescue of the Wild Boars footballers and their coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai approaches, officials in the northern province are preparing a memorial event and planning to allow tourists to venture deeper into the cave. The young footballers and their coach were trapped inside the heavily flooded cave between June 23 and July 10, 2018. Their daring, improbable, and carefully planned rescue by a team of Thai and international divers received global attention. Many believed the rescue mission would fail. The memorial event will be held on July 10 to coincide with the successful rescue of the 12 youths and their coach. Alms will be offered to monks to make merit for former Thai SEAL diver Saman Kunan, who lost his life during the rescue operation. Alms will also be offered to make merit for Duangphet “Dom” Phromthep, one of the rescued footballers who died at the age of 17 while attending a football academy in England in February. Dom, the team captain, had received a scholarship to attend the football academy and said his goal was to return to Thailand to play for the national team. Other events will be held between July 10 and 15 to commemorate the rescue, pay homage to Sergeant Sam and Dom, and express gratitude to the volunteers who saved 13 lives. This will include a panel discussion and exhibition on changes to the cave. cave

You need try any of the male shops on Sutthisan Winitchai Rd. Tell the manager what you’re looking for (hint: the tats are the clue).

Yes, I’m sure they adhere to same restrictions as other retailers.

Don’t hesitate to state your specific requests to manager by phone or Line. There are ample shops around Silom and certainly Saphan Kwai where there are many Myanmar masseurs on call.

From Thai PBS World Two more parties join Move Forward-led coalition Two more parties have agreed to join the coalition, led by the Move Forward party, bringing the number of partners to ten, with a combined 316 votes in the House of Representatives. Phicharn Chaowapatanawong, deputy leader of the Move Forward party, said today (Friday) that the Chart Pattana Kla party has agreed to join the coalition. The party won one constituency MP seat and one party-list seat. Earlier today, the Mai (New) party, which has one party-list MP, also agreed to join the coalition. Phicharn said that they will send the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU), to be signed by all coalition partners, to the two newcomers for review and to propose amendments, if they have any. A formal press conference and the signing of the MOU among the ten coalition partners is scheduled for Monday, May 22nd, which is the ninth anniversary of the coup that toppled the government of then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The other eight parties are Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Prachachart, Thai Sang Thai, Thai Liberal, Fair, Palang Sangkhom Mai and Pheu Thai Ruam Palang.

The Japanese discounter Don Don Donki has opened a large outlet on Silom Road at the mouth of Soi Thaniya. Two floors are crammed with almost anything you might need and it’s open 24/7. I took a quick walk through and was amazed at the variety. Food, beer, liquor, a ramen bar, housewares, socks, a noodle bar. It can all be found in the jammed narrow aisles occupying two floors.

Maybe if you post photos of the road and manhole in question the mystery could be resolved

On subject of gay videos, I found that Cathay Pacific entertainment package currently includes about half-dozen gay themed movies. One was classic “call me by your name”. Other one I like featured blind student who finds first love, set in Brazil. I think title was “the way he looks.” A third (whose title I forget) was about budding relationship between two rugby players.

Someplace I read 180 days within any 365 day period is limit. But not sure if this is accurate.

From CNN One country, two major airlines operating world-class long-haul fleets out of different major aviation hubs located close to one another. On paper, the United Arab Emirates’ ownership of two powerhouse global longhaul carriers with largely overlapping international air networks that converge so closely might seem an extravagance too far. Isn’t one enough? And so, the announcement by Emirates and Etihad of a new deal to work more closely will inevitably revive rumors of a potential merger between the two: something long discussed at a kind of academic level in aviation circles, particularly during tough economic times, but one potentially stymied by local politics – and the fact that their status symbol hub airports are an hour apart on the ground. Earlier this month, the two airlines, both still coming back from the disruption caused by the pandemic, agreed on a so-called “interline” partnership. The move raises questions about what that means for passengers, and whether a new regional super airline is finally on its way. Emirates and Etihad are both flag carriers of the UAE, the small Gulf country made up of seven emirates. Emirates, established in 1985, is based in Dubai and is one of the world’s largest airlines by most metrics. Etihad is newer, established in 2003 and based in Abu Dhabi. Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport are fewer than 150 kilometers (100 miles) apart and the drive between them takes around 75-90 minutes depending on traffic. By and large, the Emirati capital city Abu Dhabi is known for being smaller and quieter than its glitzy, livelier northeastern neighbor Dubai, but both certainly have their draws for travelers in addition to being regional economic centers. One of the big questions that pops up every time Emirates and Etihad are mentioned in the same announcement is whether it means a closer partnership – reciprocal agreements for frequent flyer benefits, codeshare flights and even a prospective merger. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/emirates-etihad-interline-partnership/index.html

From The Nation Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat has announced he is ready to be the country’s next prime minister as his party scored a shock victory in the May 14 general election. “Dear fellow citizens, today I, Pita Limjaroenrat, am 'clear' and ‘ready' to be the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand,” the Harvard-educated Pita, 42, announced on Twitter at 2am on Monday. “We share the same dreams and hopes, and we believe that the Thailand we love can be better. Change is possible if we start doing it from today... Our dreams and hopes are ‘simple and straightforward’. “And whether you agree or disagree with me, I will be your prime minister. Whether you voted for me or not, I will serve you.” The unofficial vote count as of 10am on Monday (99% completed) showed that Move Forward had won 112 out of 400 constituency MP seats and 14.1 million votes for party-list MPs, narrowly beating Pheu Thai which also had 112 constituency seats but only 10.8 million party-list votes. Bhumjaithai Party was in third place with 68 constituency MPs and Palang Pracharath was fourth with 39 constituency MPs. Third place in party-list contest was PM Prayut’s United Thai Nation Party with 4.67 million votes, followed by the Bhumjaithai Party with 1.12 million votes. Pita said Move Forward will hold an official press conference at noon today, adding that he would head to Democracy Monument in Bangkok to thank voters for their support at 5.30pm.

From Bangkok Post

I believe you were discussing government based on rule by elders. Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko surrounded by senior Russian military officers during last week's Victory Day parade in Moscow. (photo credit: Reuters)

You'll definitely be hitting the airport train at rush hour but taxi would be worse option at that hour IMO. Luggage no problem but at crowded times it gets really tight. But you have the advantage of getting on train at beginning of line so should get seat OK. Easiest to pay with Thai coins or 100 baht bills for airport train and BTS / MRT. Get train on lowest level of terminal.

Lol. Never mind. 🙂 (Have had only one cup of coffee this morning)