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Yes. The kind you could never be.

If the pay raises being negotiated by major US carriers are a harbinger of future air fares, we'd best get use to it. Although there will always be times when fares go on sale ,it's not surprising that the trend is moving only in one direction as demand continues to strengthen. Delta Airlines last week offered pilots a 34% increase over for years and American Airlines today announced a 40% package over the same period. Both also offereed profit-sharing and other benefits. CNBC reports that "a captain flying narrow-body planes would make $475,000 at the top of the scale, up $135,000 from current pay, while the most senior captains of wide-body planes would make $590,000 per year, a $170,000 increase from today."

From The Thaiger THAI Airways has announced its summer schedule and expanded its services around the globe. The flagship carrier of Thailand will add 39 routes to Europe, nine to Asia, and 30 routes to China for the summer. THAI Airways European and Australian routes 1 Bangkok – London every day, 14 flights per week 2 Bangkok – Paris every day, 7 flights per week 3 Bangkok – Zurich every day, 7 flights per week 4 Bangkok – Frankfurt every day, 14 flights per week 5 Bangkok – Munich every day, 7 flights per week 6 Bangkok – Copenhagen every day, 7 flights per week 7 Bangkok-Stockholm 7 flights per week 8 Bangkok – Sydney every day, 7 flights per week 9 Bangkok – Melbourne every day, 14 flights per week THAI Airways Asian routes 1 Bangkok-Tokyo (Narita) daily, 14 flights per week (*21 flights per week) 2 Bangkok-Tokyo (Haneda) daily, 14 flights per week . 3 Bangkok – Nagoya every day, 7 flights per week 4 Bangkok-Osaka daily, 7 flights per week (*From 1 July 2023, operates 14 flights per week 5 Bangkok – Fukuoka every day, 7 flights per week 6 Bangkok – Sapporo daily, 7 flights per week (*operates until 30 April 2023) 7 Bangkok-Manila every day, 14 flights per week 8 Bangkok-Seoul every day, 21 flights per week . 9 Bangkok – Taipei daily, 7 flights per week (*From 1 July 2023 onwards, 14 flights per week) 10 Bangkok – Hong Kong daily, 14 flights per week (*From 1 July 2023, operates 21 flights per week) 11 Bangkok – Singapore 25 flights per week (*flights TG403/413/409 daily, flight TG407 departs from Bangkok every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) 12 Bangkok – Jakarta every day, 14 flights per week 13 Bangkok – Denpasar every day, 7 flights per week 14 Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur every day, 14 flights per week 15 Bangkok – Mumbai 11 flights per week (* Flight TG317 operates daily Flight TG351 operates from Bangkok every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) 16 Bangkok – New Delhi 22 flights per week (*flights TG323/315/331 daily, flight TG335 departs from Bangkok every Friday) 17 Bangkok – Bengaluru every day, 7 flights per week 18 Bangkok – Hyderabad every day, 7 flights per week 19 Bangkok – Chennai every day, 7 flights per week 20 Bangkok-Kolkata every day, 7 flights per week 21 Bangkok – Dhaka 10 flights per week (* Flight TG321 flies daily Flight TG339 flies from Bangkok every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) 22 Bangkok – Lahore 5 flights a week from Bangkok every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 23 Bangkok-Islamabad 4 flights a week from Bangkok every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 24 Bangkok – Karachi 5 flights a week from Bangkok every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 25 Bangkok – Jeddah 5 flights a week from Bangkok every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. THAI Airways China routes (started March 1) 1 Bangkok – Kunming 2 flights a week from Bangkok every Friday and Sunday. 2 Bangkok – Guangzhou 3 flights a week from Bangkok every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. 3 Bangkok – Chengdu 2 flights a week from Bangkok every Tuesday and Thursday. 4 Bangkok – Shanghai 4 flights per week from Bangkok every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. 5 Bangkok – Beijing 3 flights a week from Bangkok every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

If both guests are registered, they really can't object. Montein's reputation is about denying access to unregistered guests (joiners) of ether persuasion.

Family members, accompanied by monks and fellow mourners, release the ashes of Duangphet Phromthep in a makeshift boat along with soccer balls and some of his prized possessions into the Mekong River in Thailand on March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

I believe the interest both in the media and the public stems from the entitlement that was accorded to a powerful family that had succeeded in making it immune from responsibility for a series of incidents until it finally become too much to stomach. It reminds be in a way of the Red Bull cop-killer evaded justice in Thailand. Well before the elder Murdaugh murdered his wife and youngest son, authorities had looked the other way in three deaths: a teenage girl who died in a boat accident; the family's long-time housekeeper who died under suspicious circumstances; and again in the death of Stephen Smith described above. The crimes extended to Murdaugh's brothers who ran the law firm and at least one other attorney now accused of defrauding clients of over eight million dollars. In the death of Smith, state police were convinced that it was a homicide but the coroner ruled that he was struck by the side mirror of a passing car despite any evidence that a vehicle was involved. There's a generalized sense of public outrage that grows as more is revealed about the family's crimes over an extended period.

I've never had request for guest to show ID at an Airbnb. Since Airbnb are long-term rentals, I wouldn't book one unless it had an washing machine.

For those who haven't been following this saga, the jury may have returned a guilty verdict in the trial of the father but the investigation into the death of a gay teenager connected with Murdaugh's surviving son is shifting into high gear.

From Pattaya Mail Thai Indian Pattaya Business Association TIPBA together with The Indian Community Pattaya Association & Pattaya City will jointly celebrate Holi The Festival of Colours on March 11, 2023 at the Central Pattaya-Beach Road intersection from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates spring, love and new life. Some families hold religious ceremonies, but for many Holi is more a time for fun. It’s a colourful festival, with dancing, singing and throwing of coloured powder and water. The festival of Colours is celebrated not only by Indians but also by all nationalities in major cities around the world. The Indian community together with Pattaya City desire to make it an annual event here in our vibrant city too. This will surely boost tourism to our fair city and gives locals and tourists a chance to celebrate one of the most colourful festivals in the world. This year, with the help of generous sponsors, there will be no entrance fee. Delicious food and snacks will be distributed free of charge. Participants will also get pouches of soluble colour powder at no cost.

The Bangkok Post is reporting that both the Thailand's Move Forward Party and the Pheu Thai Party are making their pitch to the LGBTQ+ communities as the May elections near. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2521139/mfp-pheu-thai-pitch-to-lgbtq-

From The Thaiger Thailand is set to welcome three new airlines, P80 AIR, Really Cool Air, and Landarch Airline, this year. The ultra-low-cost airline from Malaysia, MYAirline, is also preparing a new route to the Land of Smiles. DailyNews reported today that the three new airlines have applied for operational licenses with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the approval process is expected to be completed by 2024. P80 AIR, and Really Cool Air will operate both domestic and international flights, while Landarch Airline will focus solely on domestic flights. Landarch Airline plans to use a small 10-seater aircraft to offer flights between each province in a specific region, starting from the south and extending to the north of Thailand. The airline will be based in provinces outside of Bangkok, which will support the former airlines that do not operate flights to secondary provinces. P80 AIR has Prayut Mahagitsiri and Chalermchai Mahagitsiri on their board of directors. Chalermchai is the CEO of the Thoresen Thai Agencies (TTA) which is worth almost five billion baht. On the other hand, Really Cool Air has the former vice chairman of Nok Air Airline on its executive board. MN

Some 100 people attended the prayer ceremony, including Duangpetch’s parents and relatives, members of the Wild Boars team and others who were involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue. The prayers were led by the temple’s abbot Phra Kru Prayut Chetiyanukarn.(From The Nation)

From National News Bureau of Thailand Passengers Urged to Arrive Early Amid Potential Delays Suvarnabhumi International Airport has started rolling out upgrades to its security screening facility at its departure terminal. The airport also warned departing passengers of potential delays as checkpoints are partially closed due to this renovation. Suvarnabhumi Airport has advised departing passengers of potential delays caused by renovation work at its security checkpoints where new equipment is being installed. The airport is in the process of adding an automated tray return system at security checkpoints, where departing passengers are required to have their carry-on bags scanned for prohibited items. The new tray system will help double the capacity at checkpoints from 3,300 passengers per hour to 6,650. Once in operation, passengers can expect a faster process and less congestion at the airport. To handle the current situation, the airport said it is deploying additional staff members to help passengers and has coordinated with immigration police to ensure a sufficient number of personnel at passport control. Nonetheless, departing passengers are advised to arrive at least 3 hours before departure time in order to avoid any unexpected situations.

Families fly kites on a beach during a kite festival in Pattaya, Thailand, on Sunday, February 26. Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

From CNN The long-anticipated ETIAS visa waiver scheme, which will require all non-EU passport holders to get pre-trip permission to enter the bloc, was supposed to launch by November this year. But it has been pushed back to 2024. It’ll be a fast online authorization for non-EU nationals from the 60 or so countries that don’t currently need a visa to the EU – such as the United States and the United Kingdom – and will work a lot like the United States’ ESTA program. It’ll cost 7 euro ($7.43 on Friday afternoon’s exchange rates) and will cover you for three years. However, compared to the ESTA – $21 for two years – that’s admittedly kind of a bargain.

From The Thaiger Great news for punters, a committee drafting a new law governing prostitution has agreed that voluntary sexual service without criminal penalties should be allowed from the age of 20. Jintana Chanbamroong, head of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, chaired the committee drafting the new law. The new law is a landmark turn in Thailand’s stance on prostitution, the proliferation of which is probably the country’s worst-kept secret. The new law, initially called the Draft Act for the Protection of Sexual Services B.E., would serve as a replacement for the current Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 enacted in 1996. Public and focus group hearings were held in five cities before a proposal was tabled to Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh. The committee’s main priority was to safeguard and legalise independent sex workers who are at least 20 years old and provide sexual services voluntarily. It would still be illegal to engage in sexual relations with prostitutes under 20 years of age. Also not legal under the new draft, and migrant workers would be barred from engaging in prostitution. Freelancers will be granted employment rights and welfare benefits, without being labelled as sex workers. They will also have access to fair compensation but are required to undergo health assessments to verify they are free from any communicable illnesses. The new draft makes clear that it applies only to voluntary services and that the government still takes a hardline stance on forced prostitution. Procurement and trafficking or coercion to force a woman into prostitution would still be a violation of the Human Trafficking Act. Operators of brothels will be mandated to operate within designated areas, specifically avoiding locations close to educational or religious institutions, and adhering to guidelines for safeguarding their workers who provide sexual services. The committee reviewed prostitution laws in various countries to identify an appropriate standard for Thailand to adopt. After careful consideration, they chose to follow the example of New Zealand’s law that decriminalized prostitution. New Zealand lawfully legalized sex work in 2003, allowing any individual aged 18 or above to purchase or provide sexual services. The committee will push forward with analysing the societal and economic effects of the draft law while keeping a careful consideration of not damaging Thailand’s reputation. The draft law is expected to be completed and tabled to the new government around August this year.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The city’s unique book exchange with soft-drinks cafeteria is more popular than ever after being advised it would likely face closure. Canterbury-born Dave Collier, who runs the enterprise with his wife Yao said, “We were told many years ago that the internet and electronic books would doom a business venture like Canterbury Tales. In reality, we have expanded dramatically with more than 60,000 second-hand books being bought, borrowed and traded on a regular basis.” He adds that the shop never closed during the recent covid pandemic and still hosts a traditional gossip shop for UK expats every Monday. The internet has actually turned out a boon rather than a threat. “We regularly use Facebook to promote the business with regular updates and reviews of new arrivals,” explains Dave, “whilst our new premises in Soi Bongkot are much bigger and quieter than the old premises in Soi Pothole.” Canterbury Tales moved last September away from a bar and club district to a brighter and more reader-friendly district a couple of kilometers away. “We get a lot more foreign ladies and couples dropping in since the move.” The bookshop stock, which also houses a small selection of classic DVDs, is around 50-50 fiction and non-fiction. Wandering around the aisles and checking the shelves is an evocative delving experience with some rare finds. There are lots of books about Thailand and Pattaya including the very first exposure of the sex industry: Jack Reynolds’ “A Woman of Bangkok” published in 1956 and described as a “brutally frank story that will shock and enthrall.” And where else in Thailand might you find classics such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, or a paperback highlighting the ten most ugly towns and cities in the UK? The books are mostly given or traded in by local expats, although Canterbury Tales now receives bulk donations and job lots from the estates of expats who have died. “We also ship orders all over Thailand as we have developed a niche market,” explains Dave. The book sections partially reflect the expat community population in Pattaya. For example, there are lots of volumes on the Vietnam war, recalling the arrival of many American expats during and after that conflict, plus an unexpected influx of medical books which may reflect the preoccupations of ageing expats more generally. The store is arranged alphabetically, though that’s more of a theory than a guarantee. The real deal is to wander and browse. On your right might be a large choice of horror fiction from Frankenstein to Stephen King and beyond, on your left science fiction and fantasy which go well together. European languages other than English are also represented, especially paperback novels. High on the shelves might be a history of football and a guide to self-improvement in golf, whilst lower down you’ll come across biographies of famous public executioners such as Albert Pierrepoint. Canterbury Tales is open daily 10 am to around 5 pm. Check Dave out on Facebook, or phone 086 575 4966.

From The Nation The ashes of 17-year-old Duangpetch “Dom” Promthep – one of 12 young members of the Wild Boars football team rescued from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai in 2018 – were given to his family at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on Saturday, after being blessed upon their return from England.

Electrical short circuits are the most commonly cited cause of fires is Thailand by police who have the authority to determine origin. From Thai PBS World The 3-storey building of the Fifth Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Bangkok’s Sathorn Road burned down early this morning, together with many criminal case documents. No one was in the 42-year old building at the time of the fire, but seven cars parked close by, including the official car of the division commander, sustained heavy damage. Several fire trucks rushed to the scene and traffic was closed off up to one kilometre from the building during the fire. Explosions were heard periodically and the roof of the building collapsed about one hour after the start of the blaze. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who visited the scene, said he was told by a police guard that he had heard an explosion, possibly caused by a short circuit on the ground floor, and then he saw flames rising from a pile of documents. CIB Commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Thiti Sangsawang said it is currently believed that the fire started in a room storing documents on the ground floor, before spreading to other areas. He admitted that he does not know if there were important case files being kept in the building, adding that a fact-finding committee will be set up to determine the cause of the fire. The building used to be the head office of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, but was taken over by the CIB division last August.

From Coconuts Bangkok The guys of GCircuit are coming back with a splash for four party-packed days of Songkran. Billed as one of the world’s hottest events on the gay circuit, the festival this year celebrates its 17th anniversary – and return from a long, dry hiatus – under a sci-fi theme of The Big Bang from April 13 to 16. “There’s a transformative stage, basically a stage that transforms! Holograms and kinetic giant LEDs! And high-budget produced shows and costumes, one of them being a tribute to the queens we love and the queens who love us!” GCircuit founder Tom Tan told Coconuts. And Tan promised a whopping six parties in those four days: four night parties and two pool parties. All four night events will take place at CentralwOrld’s Bangkok Convention Center. April 13 is themed Neon Metropolis, April 14 Superheroes vs. Supervillains, April 15 is Space Opera, and April 16 is 50 Shades of Gay. The pool parties, dubbed The Big Sun Pool for the bears and The Sun Pool for regular boys, will take place at the Royal Orchid Sheraton on April 15 and 16 respectively from 1pm to 7pm. Tickets are available from THB10,700 online.

Glad you got your inquiry answered, "Toronto2021." Do you plan to show your appreciation by sharing your experiences in Bangkok when you arrive?

From Reuters Two Labrador dogs, which have been trained by British police, are to be flown to Thailand to help crack down on the smuggling of critically endangered pangolins, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said on Tuesday. Pangolins, nocturnal creatures famed for their full armour of scales, are the most trafficked mammal in the world according to the World Wildlife Fund, and all eight species are on the red list of threatened species and at risk of extinction, the ZSL said. The two dogs, Buster and Bess, who have already undergone an eight-week training programme with London's Metropolitan Police, will be sent to Thailand to complete their training, and then use their sniffing skills to detect pangolins being smuggled through airports, ports and by road. "Not all heroes wear capes: some walk on all fours and have extremely powerful noses," said ZSL Pangolin Technical Specialist Georgina Gerard. "Intelligence has been telling us that live pangolins are being trafficked all across Thailand - mainly by road. Some vehicles even have purpose-built concealed areas to transport the critically endangered species." Despite there being a ban on global trade of pangolins since 2017, the mammal is victim to high levels of poaching and illegal trade for their meat, scales and other body parts. Continues with video and photos https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/london-dogs-head-to-thailand-to-sniff-out-pangolin-smugglers/ar-AA185vNW

From Pattaya Mail The European Olympic Committees (EOC) has officially announced the inclusion of Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, at the European Games 2023, to be held in Krakow, Poland. The EOC also remarked that Muay Thai is one the fastest growing combat sports in terms of athletes and spectators. The website of European Games 2023 has this to say about Muay Thai: “Muay Thai has its origins in Asia. Several countries claim to be the birthplace of the sport, but there is no doubt that Thailand has made the greatest contribution to the development of Muay Thai. It became the national sport and it’s the most popular there.” At each Muay Thai bout in the European Games 2023, fighters must first shake hands and perform the wai khru dance – a ritual performed by boxers before and after a fight, according to tradition. Muay Thai will be held from 23 to 27 June 2023 in Myslenice Arena. (PRD)

From what I've read, UAE only requires carrier to file a flight plan to gain overflight permission. Looking at a map, the advantage that overflying Oman is that it provides the most direct route to Bangkok and other SE Asian destinations. I'd think El Al would not be inclined to overfly Iran or Yemen.

From Reuters HANOI, March 2 (Reuters) - Vietnam's National Assembly on Thursday elected Vo Van Thuong as the country's new president, in a reshuffle of the country's top leadership amid a sweeping anti-graft campaign. In an extraordinary session, lawmakers confirmed Thuong, 52, after the ruling Communist Party nominated him on Wednesday as president, a largely ceremonial role but one of the top four political positions in the Southeast Asian nation. Thuong's election follows the sudden resignation in January of his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who the party blamed for "violations and wrongdoing" by officials under his control, in what was seen as a major escalation of the country's "blazing furnace" anti-corruption crackdown. Thuong is the youngest member of the party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body, and is considered a veteran of the party having begun his political career at university in communist youth organisations. "There will be no major changes to Vietnam's foreign policy following Thuong's election," said Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow and Vietnam expert at Singapore's ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.