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Although I'm not aware that anyone I met in Thailand has taken their own life, a good friend I worked with for many years did. We stopped for a beer after work one night and he told me he was on the verge of divorce. He was visibly shaken. I just tried to listen and say what I thought was reassuring. I still recall standing outside the bar, thinking about embracing him before we parted. But I didn't. Five days later he was found dead from self-inflicted wounds. As I look back on it I realize that I should have followed my gut instinct and hugged him. I'm not saying that if I did he wouldn't have killed himself. What I am saying is that I still ask myself why I didn't. It is--as some have said--what we don't do that can haunt us the most.

From The Thaiger An Airbus A380 aircraft landed on the runway at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International rt (DMK) for the first time ever yesterday. The Emirates flight was redirected to Bangkok’s smaller airport due to heavy rainfall disrupting the runway at Suvarnabhumi Airport. At 9.40pm, flight EK363 from Guangzhou in China descended on DMK after the runway became impassible at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand’s biggest and busiest airport. It is the first time an Airbus A380 has ever landed at DMK. The plane circled Bangkok’s skies for 50 minutes waiting for weather conditions to improve, but they didn’t. Several flights were unable to land or take off at Suvarnabhumi for several hours last night due to heavy and continuous rainfall. The aircraft landed safely on DMK’s west runway (21R) at 9.40pm before refuelling and flying over to Suvarnabhumi at 1.08am when the rain had subsided somewhat. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are expected to continue today and tomorrow throughout Thailand, according to the Meteorological Department.

From VN Express Firemen work at An Phu karaoke parlor in Binh Duong Province on September 7, 2022 where a fire break out on September 6, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung A total of 33 people have died in the fire that broke out Tuesday evening at a karaoke parlor in Binh Duong Province, authorities confirmed Wednesday night. Colonel Tran Van Chinh, Deputy Director of the Binh Duong Police Department, said that the victims comprised 17 men and 16 women. Among the deaths was that of a woman who succumbed in the hospital to injuries sustained after jumping down from an upper floor. All the bodies have been taken to the Thuan An General Hospital. The search for victims has now ended, Chinh said. Hundreds of people gathered at the scene to watch the search for bodies. At around 4 p.m., firemen had found nine more bodies in the bathroom on the third floor of the An Phu karaoke parlor on Trang Quang Dieu Street, taking the death toll to 23, with officials saying it could rise as the search continued. Ho Chi Minh City had sent 15 elite firemen to assist in finding the bodies as the structure of the building had collapsed and its pathways were blocked. The fire broke out at the karaoke parlor at around 9 p.m. Tuesday night. There were around 70 people in it at the time. The parlor staff were not able to contain the fire as it caught the soundproof foam mattresses and wooden interiors. Many people were forced to rush to the balcony. Four people were injured after jumping down a height of 7-8 meters from the second floor. Continues with video https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/karaoke-parlor-death-toll-rises-further-to-33-4508541.html ======================= Only way out is down Nguyen Trong Phuc, 18, is treated at the An Phu Hospital in Binh Duong Province with a broken leg after jumping off the second floor of a karaoke parlor to escape a fire, September 7, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van When the flames and smoke raged around him on the second floor of a karaoke parlor in Binh Duong, Nguyen Trong Phuc, 18, knew there was only one way out. On Wednesday morning, Phuc, an employee of the An Phu karaoke parlor in the southern province, was awaiting leg surgery at An Phu General Hospital after jumping 10 meters from the second floor onto the roof of a house next door. The fire at the parlor from the previous night has claimed the lives of 23 people so far. Still weary from an eventful night and with aches all over his body, Phuc thought himself a lucky man. Phuc has been working at the facility for VND7 million ($296.74) a month. At around 9 p.m. Tuesday, as he was cleaning a room on the first floor, he heard a scream: "Fire in room 303!" followed by the sounds of multiple explosions. The power went out just five minutes after, as the smoke began seeping through the doors and hallways and the heat wafted into the air, closing in from the front. In the dark, Phuc heard screams of terror, along with calls for help. "It was dark as ink. The voices screaming for help still haunt me even now," he said. Phuc felt like suffocating. He ran towards the stairs, but the smoke was too thick and too many people were running in the opposite direction. Realizing the stairs were a no-go, Phuc covered his nose with his shirt and tried to find his way within the dark toward the restroom. He climbed on top of the toilet and jumped from the window, landing on a roof next door. Phuc said he might have died if he landed on the ground instead. At the hospital with Phuc, dozens of other employees were being treated in the ICU. Ngan, 20, was one of the employees rescued by firefighters from the highest floor, where she was sleeping with dozens of other staff, waiting for their next shift. Ngan saw the smoke coming up from the stairs. It stung her nose and eyes, trapping Ngan and the others inside the room, knowing they cannot escape to lower levels. When the electric signs began to catch fire, Ngan and the others had no choice but to run toward the roof and scream for help. They used whatever they had at the time, scarfs and dresses and other clothing items, to protect their noses from the smoke. Ngan said many tried to poke their heads through metal bars and wave their hands, hoping someone could see them. Thirty minutes after the fire began, the group was rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital, only 500 meters away. Duong Ba Khuong, 27, was at the parlor's reception when he realized what was happening. He tried to run upstairs to help, but failed due to the sheer amount of smoke and heat. "Some people managed to run to lower floors but were severely burned. The soot blackened their clothes all over," he said. The parlor has around 30 rooms, including seven on the first floor and nine to 13 rooms on the next two floors. There was a kitchen on the first floor, while the highest floor served as staff quarters, he said. Continues at https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/only-way-out-is-down-karaoke-parlor-employees-escape-from-deadly-fire-4508429.html

From Channel News Asia Malaysia on Wednesday (Sep 7) scrapped its mask mandate for indoor settings, with premise owners allowed to decide whether to impose their own face mask requirements. “Face masks indoors will be optional effective immediately,” said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, adding that masks remain mandatory for COVID-19 cases, and in public transport and healthcare facilities. Healthcare facilities include hospitals, clinics and nursing homes while public transport covers e-hailing services, flights, taxis and trains. Masks are "highly encouraged" for crowded indoor settings, he added. High-risk individuals, those who are ill or symptomatic, as well as individuals who interact with vulnerable groups are also encouraged to keep their masks on. Those who test positive for COVID-19 - and are required to undergo health checks at COVID-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) - will still need to put on masks. The Health Minister said that although the wearing of masks indoors was no longer compulsory, premise owners could decide on the mask requirements for their premises, such as making them mandatory or optional.

It's clear that punters haven't lost their interest in cruising. Cruising offers something the apps can't: an in your face, three-dimensional experience. It can happen anywhere and requires no other device but your eyes. It almost always involves other solo men, so that helps refine the search. And we all know what it is we're looking for. That bit of eye contact--sometimes obvious but often furtive. On the best of occasions, the guy may physically approach us and make clear his intentions as we've read above. It's just a matter of ignoring your phone and allowing your eyes to do your talking. Nothing's guaranteed but anything is possible.

Must be. They let me ride.

All the more reason for Lao guys to head for the LOS. From The Star VIENTIANE, Sept 6 (Laotian Times): The inflation rate for August has been reported at a whopping 30 per cent with a 2.5 percent increase from July’s figure of 27.5 per cent. The numbers were confirmed by the Lao Statistics Bureau on Tuesday. The price of food and non-alcoholic beverages has surged by 30.2% year on year including that of daily essentials like rice, starch, meat, fat, vegetable oil, fruit, and vegetables. Commercial transport and delivery charges have risen by 51.7% with automobiles, and spare parts becoming even more expensive because of the low exchange rate. Fuel prices have also shot up recently adding to people’s woes. Additionally, prices for housing, electricity, water supply and cooking oil also increased by 20.5% due to the soaring prices of steel, cement, concrete, and gas.

Bangkok Post is reporting that the leader of the Thai Civilized Party is gathering signatures to turn back the recent fine increases on the grounds that they are conducive to police corruption.

Channel News Asia has posted a list of entry requirements for seven countries at this link: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-entry-requirements-tourists-travellers-asia-south-korea-japan-taiwan-malaysia-2922606

From Thai News Agency BANGKOK, Sept 6 (TNA) – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has conducted a test run of the Kiha 183 passenger train carriages donated by Japan after the work to modify and refurbish the first three carriages completed.

That the students were all on one motorbike and the shooter was driving a BMW tells me more than I need to know about this incident. From Thai PBS World Three high-school students were shot dead in the Khao Phanom District of Thailand’s southern province of Krabi last night after the motorcycle on which they were travelling was involved in a collision with a private car. Police subsequently arrested the suspect at a roadside car tire shop in Thung Yai district this morning (Tuesday). According to the Khao Phanom District police, the three high school students, all aged 18, left home to spend the night at another’s place after midnight. Their motorbike collided with a black sedan. They were all thrown from the bike by the impact, which also caused the bike to catch fire. Then, a man got out of the sedan and fired two shots from a shotgun into the three students before speeding away in the direction of Thung Yai district. Police checked footage from CCTV installed on the Khao Phanom-Thung Yai road and, as a result, about 20 policemen, including a SWAT team, laid siege to a car tire shop in Thung Yai district, where the suspected gunman was believed to have taken shelter. They found a black BMW with its front damaged and broken front windshield. The police knocked at the front door of the shop, but there was no response. One of the officers then went to fetch the parents of the shop-owner, in the hope of convincing their son to open the door and surrender. The shop-owner, later identified as “Thirasak”, tried to escape while wielding a handgun. He later surrendered to the police. During police questioning this morning, Thirasak allegedly admitted that he took two methamphetamine pills before he drove the black BMW from his wife’s home to the shop and, on the way, his car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle. He told the police that, after the accident, he grabbed a shotgun in his car and fired at the students. A shotgun was later found in Thirasak’s bedroom.

Saddened to hear that the once most popular gay-friendly hotel has fallen so far. Besides the ever-present manager, Lucas, there was one particular staff member I still recall fondly. He was one of the elevator guards who (20 years ago when I first arrived in Bangkok) was a young man. Courteous and friendly to a fault, I looked forward to his morning greeting. I believe he stayed on for a few years after new management took over. Even when I wasn't no longer staying there, I'd drop by to say hello and give him a red note for old time sake. It was always entertaining to see who showed up in the lobby for breakfast with their overnight guests.

DISCLAIMER -- As one member who needs no introduction has said on more than one occasion: some places or events would "send us screaming" while the same would leave others perfectly happy. Count me in that group of screaming runners. 🙂 But for those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing that they like. 🏳️‍🌈 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢 🏳️‍🌈 _______________________________ This event is a cruise. Dress code : Carnival Saturday 10 September 2022 Check-in at 5.00pm Boat leaves at 6.00pm Back at 11.00pm https://bangkokisland.com/events/pride-cruise-carnival-bangkok-island/

From Channel News Asia TAIPEI: Taiwan will resume visa free entry for visitors from countries including the United States and Canada from next week, the government said on Monday (Sep 5), as it continues to ease controls put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19. Taiwan had kept its entry and quarantine rules in place as large parts of the rest of Asia have relaxed or lifted them completely, though in June it cut the number of days spent in isolation for arrivals to three from seven previously. Taiwan has reported more than 5.3 million domestic cases since the beginning of the year, driven by the more infectious Omicron variant. But with more than 99 per cent of those exhibiting no or mild symptoms, the government has relaxed rather than tightened restrictions in what it calls the "new Taiwan model". Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre said the resumption of visa free entry for visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and diplomatic allies would start from next Monday. Visitors from more than 50 of these countries can stay in Taiwan for up to 90 days while those from Singapore, Malaysia and six other countries can stay for up to 30 days, according to a list published by the island's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Those in Pattaya were reminded that it's the heart of monsoon season Sunday night as shown in this Pattaya Mail photo taken on Sukhumvit road.

I remember Remington's. I seem to recall it had a back room but it's been many years since I was last there. Same for Montreal that had a host of memorable places. As for Bangkok show bars, westerners jammed Dreamboys when it was on Twilight so we have to shoulder some of the responsibility for the popularity of the shows. We tolerated the performances so we could ogle the guys. 😄

I agree. I'd prefer just a parade rotation sans the show. But I think the bar owners are more tuned in to what Asian audiences of both sexes like and that is a show. They want to be entertained for their pricey drink. It certainly seems to work for Moonlight and it was a big part of the draw at Lucky Boys. That's not to say they don't also come for--and regularly leave with--a boy. Those of us who are westerners are becoming more of a minority.

I really don't think they require any education. They seem to know how to do it quite well already.

I should have been more specific. It's actually eye contact that communicates interest. And a head turn--with or without mask--is not to be ignored. 😄 You're right. It's completely unfair but you can't compete with a straight guy's libido--unless of course you're prepared to wildly outbid the lady's best bid for his affection. But even then, you may well still end up disappointed.

Veteran tourists have come to appreciate that the belief in ghosts is not some Halloween fun to Thai people. It's an ancient part of their culture. This article reminds us that we pass over revered ground every time to enter and leave the Kingdom. From The Mirror By Steven White For many visitors flying to Thailand there is good chance they will inadvertently pass through one of the country's most haunted locations. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) just outside the capital city of Bangkok, a major tourist hotspot, opened in 2006 and has since had many ghostly sightings in it as well as fatal accidents. Right from international airport's beginnings, an oversight meant that many of its construction workers did not know it was being built on top of an ancient cemetery. Some of them reportedly refused to work and quit there on the spot once they knew - because they were too frightened to continue. While it was being built, which is estimated to have cost more than $4bn, workers said they could hear screams and wails around them. The exorcism ceremony was full of chanting and prayers and took nine weeks to complete. One dramatic moment at the end of it saw a baggage handler stumbling through the throngs of people watching the monks and claiming to be the guardian of the cemetery, Poo Ming. The holy men duly blessed the young man so that he could return back to normal. However the lingering ghost of Poo Ming, who is said to be blue in colour, refuses to leave the airport and is often seen in the guise of an old man with a walking stick. He, along with other demons, are believed to stalk the terminals. Sometime they possess people within the vicinity and allegedly cause accidents and even suicides. Airports of Thailand, which owns BKK, built glass barriers in more elevated terminals to stop people from jumping down and killing themselves. Many people have reported seeing the apparition of pale lady carrying a baby who regularly causes accidents by stepping in front of drivers and scaring them. One person alleged he could hear classical Thai music being played - although there was nowhere obvious it could have been coming from. During BKK's official opening the authorities even brought in 99 Buddhist monks to appease any untoward spirits away. It is said that the person who rented the car was killed years ago and now haunts the area - people place flowers by the vehicle as an offering to the unrestful spirit. In 2013 a plane landing at BKK lost control and veered off the runway. Luckily there were no serious injuries to anyone and it was concluded that it was the result of malfunctioning landing gear underneath the plane. However, the Thai Airways managing director blamed it on ghosts at the time and went as far as saying that a ghost flight attendant helped passengers off the plane. Another, more serious accident happened in 2018 when a landing plane again skidded off the runway and injured 14 people. Malignant spirits were accused of playing a part in the incident once more. Thailand is a country entrenched in the belief of ghosts and one effort to maintain the afterlife within BKK is through the building of spirit houses. There, many Thai-based airlines conduct group prayer sessions where people can leave offerings to the dead. One popular gift is strawberry Fanta as the drink is thought to be a favourite of ghosts due to its bright red colouring.

The distinction between gay bar and boy bar tells us a lot about the evolving demographics of patrons. Women, on the whole, are becoming wealthier as they choose to delay or forego marriage. This is particularly true in Japan, China and Korea. Their dollars may be a different shade of pink but more negotiable to the otherwise straight boys who parade on the stages of given bars in BKK and Pattaya. That doesn't mean we can't still enjoy the eye candy but I find that I can see all I want just walking around. And I get a lot more smiles that way, too. 😉 So if the ladies contribute to keeping the venues open, we should applaud their largess.

From Channel News Asia Wang Yandong (left) gave up on what was 'unattainable', while Li Xiaolin wants to do what makes him comfortable. BEIJING: Li Xiaolin leads a “tedious” life. He goes to work at his uncle’s vehicle inspection factory at 9am, six days a week. After completing his tasks — checking for mechanical faults like worn tyres or fuel leaks — he’s headed home by 5pm to eat and sleep. If his boss tells him to do something, he might say: “Can I do it tomorrow?” “Can you ask someone else to do it?” “Can I not do it?” BEIJING: Li Xiaolin leads a “tedious” life. He goes to work at his uncle’s vehicle inspection factory at 9am, six days a week. After completing his tasks — checking for mechanical faults like worn tyres or fuel leaks — he’s headed home by 5pm to eat and sleep. If his boss tells him to do something, he might say: “Can I do it tomorrow?” “Can you ask someone else to do it?” “Can I not do it?” To the Chinese youth, said battle looks like this: 10.8 million graduates are entering China’s workforce this year but the youth unemployment rate is at a record high of nearly 20 per cent. The country’s economic growth has moderated since 2010 and was recently dragged down by its COVID-19 lockdowns. Income inequality in China is also among the highest in the world. This disillusionment among the young has worried president Xi Jinping, who has his eyes set on a national rejuvenation. At the 100th anniversary of the Communist Youth League of China in May, he called on them to offer their energy and creativity to the rejuvenation cause and not be intimidated by difficulties. Social immobility is behind the bai lan phenomenon, said Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He attributes it to the “burden of the three mountains” — education, healthcare and housing. Continues with video and photos https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insider/996-bai-lan-china-youths-workers-rot-work-slacker-2917476

From AFP By Lisa Martin A crashed Ferrari, a dead policeman and a fugitive heir to a multibillion-dollar fortune -- 10 years on, Thailand is no closer to resolving one of its most notorious hit-and-run cases. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, princeling of the Red Bull energy drink family, is accused of ploughing his sports car into police officer Wichean Glanprasert's motorbike in Bangkok's wealthiest neighbourhood a decade ago on Saturday. After dodging prosecutors and finally fleeing Thailand on a private jet in 2017, Vorayuth became a symbol of what critics say is the impunity enjoyed by the super-rich in the kingdom. "The perception of different justice systems for different segments of society cripples people's trust in the Thai state's capacity to carry out its responsibility to protect human rights for all Thai people," Amnesty International Thailand told AFP. As the grandson of Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya, who died in 2012, Vorayuth is part of a clan with an estimated net worth of $26.4 billion -- making it Thailand's second-richest family, according to Forbes. "This family is not only powerful in Thailand, but they are very powerful worldwide too," Thai political analyst Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University told AFP Within hours of the crash, investigators followed a trail of brake fluid to the Yoovidhya family's Bangkok compound, where they found a badly dented vehicle with a smashed windscreen. Police initially accepted a claim that an employee was driving, but Vorayuth became the main suspect and his family later paid the victim's relatives $100,000 compensation, according to the BBC and New York Times. For five years, Vorayuth played a game of cat and mouse ducking court summonses -- claiming through lawyers he was overseas on business or ill -- while photographs documented a globetrotting lifestyle: living it up in London, attending Red Bull racing events, or going off on beach holidays and ski trips. Charges of speeding, drunk driving and failing to render assistance expired, before a Bangkok court belatedly issued an arrest warrant in 2017. By then, Vorayuth had already fled. In 2020, the Thai authorities dropped all charges against Vorayuth, triggering a huge public outcry -- including a social media campaign to #BoycottRedBull. Amid the backlash, TCP Group -- Red Bull Thailand's parent company -- distanced the firm from the case, saying the issue was a private matter. As anger mounted, and with youth-led anti-government demonstrations growing in the streets, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha's office ordered a review, which concluded the entire investigation had been "compromised". Rights campaigners contrasted the foot-dragging in the Vorayuth case with the swift action meted out to anti-government protest leaders, many of whom were hit with multiple royal defamation charges, which carry a prison term of up to 15 years. Thailand's Attorney General's Office announced fresh charges against Vorayuth and, in September 2020, Interpol issued a Red Notice for his arrest. An updated version from March last year said Vorayuth had made an attempt to access the Red Notice and was likely around France at the time. The notice also cited Austria -- where Red Bull has its headquarters -- as a possible location. Last month, a charge of using cocaine expired, Thailand's Attorney General's office said, leaving only one avenue for prosecutors to pursue against Vorayuth: reckless driving causing death, which carries a maximum 10-year prison term. The AG's office told AFP that the charge is valid until 2027. Few, however, expect Vorayuth to face the courts. "Even from the beginning, a lot of people expected how it would end," Pavin said, noting intense public anger around the case. "Rich people getting away with crime has become so normalised in Thai society. Thai people don't accept that it's OK."

From Pattaya News Fire claims 23rd victim The latest report of the death toll of the Mountain B fire in Sattahip on August 5th, rose to 23 people, adding the death of Lieutenant Panupong Wongpakpaiboon, 27, from the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip. He was identified as a seriously injured case previously with 60 percent burns. He was being treated at a hospital before he was pronounced dead yesterday (September 2nd) from infection. ======================================== All emergency exits locked in raided club The Bangkok Post is reporting that all the fire doors were locked when police raided a club in Chiang Rai early Saturday where they found 325 underage drinkers packed inside. Three emergency exit doors were locked, police said. Wholeheartedly agree but I wouldn't hold my breath. In the meantime, the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to ask ourselves this question whenever we enter a bar or club: where is the second exit? I believe it was Floridarob who said that he checked once at the notorious Soi 2 club and found it blocked. It may seem overly cautious--until of course you find yourself being crushed by the panicked mob behind you in the dirction of the way they entered the club.

From CNBC ‘Why shouldn’t it be as bad as the 1970s?’ Historian Niall Ferguson warned Friday that the world is sleepwalking into an era of political and economic upheaval akin to the 1970s — only worse. Speaking to CNBC at the Ambrosetti Forum in Italy, Ferguson said the catalyst events had already occurred to spark a repeat of the 70s, a period characterized by financial shocks, political clashes and civil unrest. Yet this time, the severity of those shocks was likely to be greater and more sustained. “The ingredients of the 1970s are already in place,” Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick. “The monetary and fiscal policy mistakes of last year, which set this inflation off, are very alike to the 60s,” he said, likening recent price hikes to the 1970′s doggedly high inflation. “And, as in 1973, you get a war,” he continued, referring to the 1973 Arab-Israeli War — also known as the Yom Kippur War — between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. As with Russia’s current war in Ukraine, the 1973 Arab-Israeli War led to international involvement from then-superpowers the Soviet Union and the U.S., sparking a wider energy crisis. Only that time, the conflict lasted just 20 days. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has now entered into its sixth month, suggesting that any repercussions for energy markets could be far worse. “This war is lasting much longer than the 1973 war, so the energy shock it is causing is actually going to be more sustained,” said Ferguson. Politicians and central bankers have been vying to mitigate the worst effects of the fallout, by raising interest rates to combat inflation and reducing reliance on Russian energy imports. But Ferguson, who has authored 16 books, including his most recent “Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe,” said there was no evidence to suggest that current crises could be avoided. “Why shouldn’t it be as bad as the 1970s?” he said. “I’m going to go out on a limb: Let’s consider the possibility that the 2020s could actually be worse than the 1970s.” Continues with video: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/1970s-inflation-historian-niall-ferguson-has-a-warning-for-investors.html