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From Pattaya Mail North Americans are expected to power a resurgence of western visitors to Thailand in 2023. Thitiporn Maneenate, director of the Americas region for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that arrivals from the U.S. and Canada have risen steadily throughout the final months of this year and are expected to remain strong throughout North America’s winter. Thitiporn attributed the growth to wintery conditions, holidays and pent-up desire to travel after the coronavirus pandemic. Air Canada on Dec. 3 launched nonstop service between Vancouver and Bangkok using Boeing 787-9 aircraft that can carry 298 passengers. Other airlines also have increased fights and frequencies to Thailand, he said.

From Atlas Obscura Luang Prabang was named a UNESCO world heritage site for its well-preserved French colonial architecture, but its true charms spring from the Lao culture. The streets are filled with Saffron-robed monks, local handicrafts, Buddhist temples, and hawker stalls selling river fish and sticky rice. Visitors flock to the old town’s famous Sai Bat almsgiving—a daily tradition unbroken for hundreds of years, but those who go wandering after the ceremony might discover a new tradition a short walk away—the seasonal bamboo bridges across the Nam Khan River. The Nam Khan winds through Luang Prabang before joining the wide Mekong, and during the rainy season residents and visitors use shuttle boats or the Old French Bridge to cross the swollen river. But when the dry season comes along, quicker and more charming options arise—two narrow bamboo bridges. In 2006, a local family erected the twin bridges for the first time and they’ve kept the practice going every November since. Although the bridges are designed primarily for tourist use, the construction is very traditional. Each bridge is made entirely of bamboo and rope (except for the lights), and though they might look (and feel) wobbly, they’re actually quite strong. They rely on bamboo’s natural strength and building techniques employed by Laos for generations. The bridges span the Nam Kahn until rainy season, when they are dismantled until the next year. The larger bridge, set at the picturesque bend of the Nam Khan just as it reaches the Mekong, connects Luang Prabang with two villages noted for their artisans—the weaver’s village of Ban Xieng Lek and the paper-making village of Ban Xiang Khong. The smaller bridge is slightly upstream and connects the old city to the newer side of town, as well as to restaurants and craft shops overlooking the river. This side arguably has the best view; visitors who take the bridge to the Dyen Sabai restaurant at sunset are in for a beautiful view of the fleeting bamboo structure. The larger bridge can be found at the bottom of the path starting below the Riverpoint Cafe on Khem Khong road. The smaller bridge extends from the old steps leading down from Wat Siphoutthabath on Kingkitsarath Road. Make sure you check with a hotel or tour guide if planning a visit to include the bridges; their presence follows the whims of the river. Note that traversing the bridges is not free. Tickets are sold at small booths on the old town side of each bridge. Passage costs 10,000 Kip (about sixty cents U.S.) for a round trip ticket. It’s a pittance well-spent — the money goes to the families who build and maintain the bridges. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bamboo-bridges-of-luang-prabang

From VN Express A rising number of young people are getting STDs in HCMC, causing worried students to make a trip to the hospital to check for the disease. Minh Hieu, 19, went to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato Venereology because he suspected he had genital warts. While he was in university, he had a lover and they had anal sex. When tests revealed that he had genital warts and was infected with HIV, Hieu burst into tears. Dr. Doan Van Loi Em at the hospital said cases like Hieu's are not uncommon. Since the beginning of this year, he said, the hospital has recorded around 1,900 cases of genital warts among students. The number in 2020 was 1,700 and fewer in 2021, when there were many months of Covid-19 lockdown. "There are no official data and statistics for specific cases, but based on our observations, the number of males who have sex with males (MSM) coming to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment is rising," he said. Besides genital warts, patients also come to the hospital to check for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, HIV and other STDs. Since the beginning of this year, the number of patients with genital warts, gonorrhea and syphilis who have visited the hospital is around 35,300 cases. At the end of the year, the number of patients getting getting check ups is also on the rise, especially people testing for syphillis. Em said anyone can contract STDs, but certain groups, such as young people, prostitutes and people engaging in MSM, are more vulnerable. Young people in particular often lack sufficient sex education and so have little knowledge about STDs and how to prevent them. This is a contributing factor behind the rising number of STD cases among the youth, Em said. Continues at https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/more-and-more-young-people-are-getting-stds-4547734.html

When I visited Freshboys in October with PaulSF, the show was very well attended. We arrived about 20 minutes early and got an opportunity not only to select our preferred seats but also to view the guys before the lighting was turned down for the show. Recommended. For those who want to get a sneak peek of what the stage boys look like on any given night at Dreamboy, some can be found sitting outside the entrance in the alley between Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. I've seen them lounging about smoking during the show when they're not required on stage and also at random times before and after show.

From Pattaya News A Russian basketball prodigy raised in Pattaya, Mr. Alexey Sobolev, passed away at the young age of 19 years old after he was electrocuted by a defective lighting pole at a basketball court in the Banglamung district. Sawang Boriboon rescuers came to Mr. Sobolev’s aide at 10 PM on December 15th when they were notified that the Russian teen passed out after touching a faulty lighting pole. Mr. Sobolev, a well-respected member of Pattaya’s basketball community, was barely breathing while lying on a basketball court in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 15 in front of Pattaya Technical College in Chonburi’s Nong Pla Lai subdistrict. After administering basic life support, the rescuers rushed Mr. Sobolev to the nearest hospital, but unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his wounds and sadly passed away. One of the many eyewitnesses and friends of the deceased player, Mr. Bodin Thongsuea, 20, told rescuers that Sobolev had gone to fetch a basketball that had bounced away and landed near an iron fence and the deadly power pole. While soaking in sweat, the victim accidentally touched the pole with a power leakage and flopped to the ground, losing consciousness and tragically later passing away.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Following the investigations by Thai police commissioner-general Damrongsak Kittiprapas into Chinese mafias operating locally, Thai language schools nationwide are not able to obtain student visa extensions for any nationality at immigration bureaux until further notice. Thai authorities had expressed serious disquiet after revelations that Chinese expats had influenced adult learning centers to issue false statements of academic progress by individual enrollers. A Pattaya school principal said, “We have been told that, in the future, detailed records of language improvement must be kept on individual foreigners.” An American student said he had been asked by the immigration officer to sing the Thai national anthem as proof he was becoming fluent. School managers say there is no doubt that the Chinese crisis has led to the crackdown on education visas. The Thai “establishment” has been shocked by evidence of Chinese tycoons riding around Bangkok in expensive cars with bogus embassy insignia and protected by escorts withy fake police uniforms. A large number of alleged crimes has been discovered including narcotics dealing, money laundering, dubious business activities and wrongful issuing of visas and extensions of stay. The issuing of education visas to foreigners with no intention to study has long been an issue across nationalities, but has become a much bigger scandal of late. n a separate development, Thai immigration offices nationwide are not extending the 30 days visa on arrival now given to Chinese entrants. They are being told they cannot extend by visiting a neighboring land border, but must visit by air a Thai embassy or consulate abroad and apply for a 60 days tourist visa. However, reports from Thai embassies in Phnom Penh and Vientiane indicate that this is proving easier said than done and that Chinese applicants are being told to return to China. Chinese authorities say they are refusing to allow their nationals to board planes for overseas trips if their reason is tourism. Thai authorities appear to be increasingly concerned about creeping Chinese influence to take over sectors of the Thai economy. Separately, the Thai Board of Investment reports that China is the biggest direct investor in the country. The outstanding question now is how far Thailand’s open door immigration policy to boost foreign arrivals in the post-covid world will be sourly affected by the activities of Chinese mafias in Thai cities.

Thanks for report on 9-Teen. This is first review of the shop I recall since two members posted mixed reviews four months ago. 9-Teen is reportedly in process of retrofitting a former eatery on Silom Soi 6 and open another shop in near fiuture. That will bring to seven the number of all-male shops on that road between Silom and the Quarter Hotel. That post appears to coincide with your experience.

From The Smithsonian By Lauren Keith From the glint of Tutankhamun’s solid gold death mask, striped with bands of royal blue glass, to the famous pyramids and the weathered Great Sphinx of Giza, the magnetic lure of Egypt is eternal. Images of this ancient culture have long been both ubiquitous and instantly recognizable. But 2022, a year marked by a series of monumental Egyptian anniversaries, ushered in a revival of Egyptomania not seen since British archaeologist Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamun 100 years ago. A cradle of civilization, the lands surrounding the Nile River Delta witnessed some of the earliest developments in writing, art, religion and government. The ancient culture’s story spreads far beyond Egypt’s modern-day borders, spanning more than 3,000 years. (For context, the reign of Cleopatra, in the first century B.C.E., is closer to 2022 than the construction of the Great Pyramid around 2500 B.C.E.) It is humanity’s story, a shared narrative of societal progress. The museum's design was inspired by the pyramids. Courtesy of the Grand Egyptian Museum Egypt’s riches have drawn colonizers and foreign treasure hunters since as early as 332 B.C.E., when Alexander the Great founded his namesake city on the delta. Wars with history’s biggest empires—the Romans, the Persians, the Arabs, the Ottomans and finally the British—have filled the 22 centuries since; in 1798, Napoleon also led a comparatively short French invasion that led to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which opened Western Europe’s eyes to Egypt and started an undammable flow of ancient heritage leaving the country. As the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) prepares to open its doors in Giza in 2023, some archaeologists, Egyptologists and museumgoers are calling for Egyptian antiquities to be returned to their homeland. Arriving amid a growing push to decolonize American and European museums, these campaigns ask a crucial question: Who gets to claim these artifacts as their own? “People were asleep for years, and now they’re awake,” says Egyptologist Zahi Hawass. “I’m sure [Westerners] have nightmares of what happened: taking the history and the heritage of Africa to their countries with no right. There is no right for them to have this heritage in their country at all.” Continues with photos https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-gets-to-tell-the-story-of-ancient-egypt-180981263/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

One of the joys of riding the BTS and MRT is imagining what those masked guys look like without it. I have yet to ride the trains without finding at least a few in every car--frequently quite a few more.

Just as those of us who have recently traveled to Thailand, we're all too familiar with inflation in our home countries. Guys we meet--or become reacquainted with from earlier trips--are likewise dealing with rising costs. As Vinapu observes, they're making decisions on how they can compensate by raising their fees. And why not? Aren't we receiving salary increases for the services we provide. We always reserve the right to reject their asking price if we feel it's far out of whack. I think that's what I like about massage shops. We get a choice of service provider. If there's no minimum price in effect, we're free to negotiate in advance or tip at the end. In the majority of shops in Silom (with notable exceptions) the latter arrangement applies, particularly those on Silom Soi 6 where I had many very satisfactory experiences. For the moment, there's something for everybody in Thailand. If you want a show and a parade of guys, they're available. Host bars also exist and of course there's always the apps. Sure, there are other destinations but I don't believe they can provide choices in such abundance.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Last month’s commencement of twice-daily Azur Air charter flights from eleven Russian cities, including Siberia, to U-tapao Airport (near Pattaya) has outpaced all expectations. The provincial airport is processing nearly 5,000 Russian arrivals weekly. These flights are in addition to popular Aeroflot routes from Moscow and other urban centers to Bangkok and Phuket as well as multiple connecting flights from and to the Middle East. Just under one and a half million Russians visited Thailand in pre-pandemic 2019 and many travel experts expect to reach or beat that annual figure as early as January 2023. At least a third will be heading to Pattaya where there are lengthy daily queues at the over-busy immigration bureau to register a local address, extend a holiday stay or seek other services. The neighboring photocopying unit has recently hired more staff to cope with the extra demand. There are many signs that the latest Russian arrivals in Pattaya have different expectations from their predecessors. Mikhail Nazarenko, who runs a Walking Street bar attracting mostly Russian imbibers, said, “Some are tourists anxious for a two-weeks sunshine break from Putin’s grim regime, but others are looking to the long haul including some draft dodgers too.” He cited airline reports that the charter flights to U-tapao are always full, but the return journeys have some vacant seats. Mikhail debunked the myth that Russians here are struggling financially because their credit cards don’t work owing to international sanctions. “Travelling Russians are using credit cards issued abroad, particularly the Middle East and China, while others are arriving with mega cash, especially US dollars, in their hand luggage. There’s also the option for new arrivals in Pattaya to obtain cash from affluent Russian expats already here and repay it by using their banking app to transfer funds to the lender’s Russian account. It’s no problem.” There has also been a surge in the number of Russians seeking proof of address letters from Chonburi immigration bureau which are required to open bank accounts in Thailand. Some Thai banks or managers are very cagey about allowing some foreign nationals to start accounts, because of money-laundering fears, so the more accommodating branches often have long queues during opening hours. There is also substantial Russian interest in long-term visas, such as Elite which offers a five year, multiple-entry stay in return for an initial cash payment of 600,000 baht (about US$18,000), or annual renewals based on retirement or marriage. Applications by Russians for Thai driving licences are also rising, according to the Department of Land Transportation, whilst Russians (unlike Indians or Chinese) can take advantage of the same-day Cambodian visa run which extends their visa-free option for a further 45 days with then another 30 days on application to immigration. Russian vacationers (like UK, EU and USA) can now stay in Thailand for 150 days (45 plus 30 and repeat 45 plus 30)) on a visa-free basis. Restaurants and property agents are brushing up their Russian language marketing materials. Not only are the Russians coming, they’re here in abundance.

Peter RS raises a good question about how the uncovered entrances will compensate of accumulating rain water. I can appreciate the aesthetic desire to keep the entrances as low-profile and unobtrusive in this historical area so I have to assume they took that into consideration in the initial engineering designs. Nevertheless I'd be fascinated to learn what method they arrived upon as a solution. Apparently the underpass had a soft opening some time back based on the YouTube video below. I've also found some photos that reflect just what an attractive architectural achievement the project turned out to be.

From Time Qatar Corruption Scandal Is Rocking European Parliament A high-profile corruption case that alleges Qatar bribed European lawmakers to sway policy has rocked the European Parliament. Belgian federal prosecutors arrested and charged four people as of Tuesday with corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization on behalf of a “Gulf State,” which Belgian media and some members of the European Assembly have identified as Qatar. European authorities have not named the country. Among those charged is Greek MEP Eva Kaili, 44, who is one of 14 Vice Presidents of the E.U. body. The European Parliament on Tuesday voted 625 to 1 to strip Kaili of her role over the allegations. She has denied any involvement in the bribery scandal. The federal prosecutor’s office said “it is suspected that third parties in political and/or strategic positions within the European Parliament were paid large sums of money or offered substantial gifts to influence Parliament’s decisions,” in a statement. Between Friday and Monday, Belgian police raided at least 20 raids across homes and parliamentary offices, seizing €1.5 million ($1.6 million) in cash, as well as computers and phones. Six people had been taken in for questioning by authorities so far, with two released, the New York Times reported. Others who were detained on Friday include Kaili’s husband Francesco Giorgi, who works as an aide to Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, as well as her father, Alexandros Kailis. They also include Luca Visentini, chief of the International Trade Union Confederation and Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former member of the European parliament, per the Times. The identity of the sixth individual is not known. The E.U.’s top official, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed “utmost concern” over the allegations on Monday. “This confidence and trust in our institutions need the highest standards of independence and integrity,” von der Leyen said at a news conference. She called for the creation of an independent ethics body moving forward.

From ASEAN Now / Thaiger A huge fire has reportedly erupted on Sukhumvit Soi 3 in Bangkok, near the traffic lights. The story is developing. Smoke is engulfing the air above, in what seems to be a fire from a building. Videos below courtesy of Khun Steve and ASEANNOW. Continues with videos https://aseannow.com/topic/1280448-just-now-big-fire-on-sukhumvit-soi-3-near-the-traffic-lights/

In my experience, the best and safest place to cross Surawong is the crosswalk directly in front of Burger King on one side and Shenanigan's and the opposite side (near Patpong 1). I used this at least twice a day on my last two trips. It's well-lighted and many pedestrians use it.

From The Indian Express The Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is being restored by India because our civilisation is not limited to India, but is spread across countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said. Addressing the Kashi Tamil Sangamam on the subject ‘contribution of temples in society and nation building’ being held here, Jaishankar said, “There are temples not only in India, not only in the Indian subcontinent, but in many regions beyond.” “I had gone with the Vice President to see the biggest temple in the world — the Angkor Wat temple complex. Today, we are restoring and renovating the temples in Angkor Wat. These are contributions which we are making outside because the civilisation of India has gone beyond India,” he said. “So, today when we are restoring, rebuilding, and re-energising Indian civilisation, our task is not only in India. Our task is all over the world. But, it is not only where our civilisation went, it is also where our travellers went, our traders went, our people of faith went,” he said. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-restoring-angkor-wat-temple-in-cambodia-s-jaishankar-8320275/

From The Thaiger Brief history of the Japanese Onsen in Thailand Yunomori Onsen & Spa changing rooms! Ever heard of the term ‘Onsen’ and just brushed it off as one of those things the Japanese oldies do somewhere out in the vast Japanese countryside, whilst butt-naked!? Well, you wouldn’t be far off, but did you know a slightly more modern, more modest (less naked) version is available for anyone to try right here in Bangkok, with several venues offering Japanese-style relaxation in and around the city? Onsen, or hot springs, have been part of Japanese life since ancient times. They were believed to be a place of healing and were often visited by the upper classes as a form of relaxation. Over time, onsen became a popular form of communal relaxation and entertainment, and people from all walks of life began to visit them. The tradition of onsen has continued to this day, with many modern onsens featuring facilities such as restaurants, bars, spas, and even karaoke rooms. Today, hot springs are a popular destination for tourists to Japan, who come for a unique experience and to relax in the warm, therapeutic waters. Onsens are also a popular activity for locals, who often enjoy the experience with friends and family. Since the 90s, venues started popping up across Thailand, mostly catering to the many hundreds of Japanese overseas workers living and working in Thailand, with Bangkok seeing the largest concentration. Yunomori Onsen & Spa claims to be the first authentic Japanese onsen spa in Thailand where guests can experience the ultimate relaxation with a combination of two ancient cultures: Japanese Onsen bathing culture and traditional Thai massage. Venues like Yunomori strive to provide their guests with an unforgettable experience that combines the healing properties of water sourced directly from the thermal springs of Wat Wangkanai with skilled Thai massage techniques. From head to toe, guests are immersed in a unique blend of soothing treatments that will leave them feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Brew it and they will come....even to the beach. 😉

From Thai PBS World JAKARTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Visitors to Bali will not be put at risk by Indonesia’s newly ratified criminal code, the island’s governor said, dismissing concerns that revised laws which include articles criminalising sex outside marriage may scare away tourists from its shores. Indonesia’s parliament last week passed the controversial bill that also prohibits cohabitation between unmarried couples. Seeking to reassure visitors, Bali Governor Wayan Koster in a statement on Sunday noted the new laws, which come into affect in three years, could only be prosecuted if there was complaint by a parent, spouse or child. Those who “visit or live in Bali would not need to worry with regard to the entry into force of the Indonesian Criminal Code”, he said. The governor said provisions in the criminal code on this issue had been altered from an earlier, stricter version so “would provide a better guarantee of everyone’s privacy and comfortableness.” Bali’s government would ensure “there will be no checking on marital status upon check-in at any tourism accommodation, such as hotels, villas, apartments, guest houses, lodges and spas,” Wayan said. Wayan also denied what he said were “hoax” reports of cancellations of flights and hotel room bookings, adding that data from travel agents, tour and accommodation operators, as well as airlines, showed the number of people set to visit Bali from December 2022 to March 2023 had increased. Bali is the centre of tourism in Indonesia and the tourism association is targeting foreign arrivals on the predominately Hindu island to reach pre-pandemic levels of six million a year by 2025. Decades in the making, legislators hailed the passage of the criminal code as a much-needed overhaul of a vestige of Dutch colonial rule. Officials say it aims to uphold “Indonesian values” in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. But Maulana Yusran, deputy chief of Indonesia’s tourism industry board, said last week the new code was “totally counter-productive” at a time when the economy and tourism were starting to recover from the pandemic. The United Nations has also expressed concern over threats to civil liberties posed by the criminal code, which also includes laws that make it an offence to insult the president, the national flag and state institutions.

From National News Bureau of Thailand BANGKOK (NNT) - Bangkok authorities have announced the opening of pedestrian walkways beneath Bangkok’s Na Phra Lan Road, following discussions with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, his deputy Sanon Wangsrangboon and city clerk Khachit Chattawanit. Deputy Bangkok Governor Wisanu Subsompon said tunnel construction has been completed and all that remains is to test the electrical, drainage and ventilation systems, as well as the elevators and escalators. The first tunnel is 96 meters long and 6.6 meters underground at the intersection of the Na Phra Lan and Na Phra That roads, with entrances near the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Sanam Luang. According to Wisanu, the tunnels adjacent to Na Phra That are 37 meters in length and have been fitted with two elevators, a staircase and two escalators near three different entrances. Wisanu said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) would engage in commercial development to generate additional funds in order to cover maintenance costs, specifically the 28 million baht monthly electricity bill. He added that the BMA’s panel has proposed soliciting bids from companies to assist with tunnel administration.

For the past six weeks, the local and international media have been carrying accounts of raids on multiple locations in the Bangkok and Pattaya area where Chinese triad gangsters were operating upscale gambling and drug dens catering almost exclusively to wealthy Chinese. Here's an excerpt from an article in today's South China Morning Post (the remainder of story sits behind a paywall). Some of it reads like something out of John Burdett's Bangkok 8. "A seized private jet, supercars, drugs and palatial mansions: the spoils of crime committed by suspected Chinese gangsters based in Thailand are raising awkward questions over how foreign criminals have freely moved millions of dollars of illicit money through the kingdom. The scandal began to unfold in late October, when a nationwide anti-drugs operation by the Thai police unearthed a cavernous illegal nightlife den – called Jinling – hidden behind a car wash in Bangkok’s Sathorn commercial district. It catered to a near-exclusive Chinese clientele, serving up bags of ketamine and other party drugs in karaoke rooms that raged through the night, allowing guests to stash any unfinished drugs for their next visit." ===================== The scope of the triads' activities doesn't seem to be limited to drugs and gambling. Human trafficking has previously been reported as a lucrative ASEAN-wide endeavor. Although the major Thai news sites have covered the evolving expose, the Bangkok Post has probably focused most intently on it. Unfortunately, those articles also reside behind a paywall. The Thai Examiner's accounts are available on line: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/11/03/police-see-new-threat-from-chinese-kingpins/

Judging by its new Facebook site, I think you may be right. The most recent photos seem to be mimicking (or at least trying to mimic) the Jupiter look. https://www.facebook.com/newtwilightmanclub/

I arrived in Thailand for the first time 20 years ago on a Northwest Airlines 747, landing at Don Mueang. Could believe what I saw out the window: a golf course running between the parallel runways! I think there are few readers who haven't flown the 747 at least once in their lifetime. From National Public Radio The very last 747 jet has been made, ending a run of more than 50 years The jet transformed an industry, bringing luxurious amenities and lengthy nonstop flights to the masses — all in a design that was both enormous and elegant. But the reign of the mighty 747 has ended, and Boeing says the last plane left its assembly line this week, after 54 years of production. "For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world," Kim Smith, Boeing's vice president and general manager of the 747 and 767 programs, said as the company announced the end of production. Since production of the 747 began in 1967, Boeing says, 1,574 of the airplanes were built. It started carrying commercial passengers in January 1970, when Pan Am used a 747 for a flight from New York to London. The huge jet that shrank the world The 747 was a hit at the Paris Air Show in 1969, and more than two dozen airlines raced to put the airliner into service, luring travelers with the 747's promise of comfort and unprecedented range. People in the U.S. suddenly had an appealing option to visit Hawaii — which was then a very young state. And cities around the world became more interconnected by direct flights. The huge plane was touted as a win for middle-class travelers, under the idea that airline prices would become more affordable if carriers could fit more people onto a single flight. But that dynamic changed in later years, as the aviation industry saw a growing preference for smaller, more fuel-efficient planes and less focus on crowded, hub-to-hub flights. The 747's star has been dimming — U.S. carriers phased it out in 2017 — but it had another moment in 2020, when a British Airways 747, aided by strong winds, traveled from New York to London in 4 hours, 56 minutes, setting a new record for the fastest subsonic commercial flight across the Atlantic. Continues at https://www.npr.org/2022/12/08/1141578966/boeing-747-last-jet

From Khmer Times AirAsia, one of the leading airlines in the region, has confirmed the opening of a branch in Cambodia in early 2023, naming it AirAsia Cambodia, it’s fifth branch in the ASEAN region – and claims it will bring 3-4 million tourists to Cambodia per year. During a meeting with Chea Bora, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism on December 8, 2022, Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A (changed from AirAsia Group), said that his company was in the process of establishing a branch in Cambodia under the name AirAsia Cambodia. Mr Fernandes said that on December 9, 2022, his company will sign a memorandum of understanding with local companies in Phnom Penh to set up AirAsia Cambodia in Cambodia in January 2023. Cambodia will be the fifth country in ASEAN to have AirAsia headquarters after Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. In addition, AirAsia also has offices outside the region, such as in Japan and India. During the meeting at the Ministry of Tourism, the Director General of AirAsia also confirmed that his company plans to attract 3-4 million tourists and travelers to Cambodia per year, with the first step of the company plans to launch four Airbus A321 aircraft connecting destinations in ASEAN, Japan, India and China, as well as domestic destinations such as Phnom Penh-Siem Reap, Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville. According to the Director General of AirAsia, the priority destination for connecting direct flights to Cambodia is the ASEAN countries. In addition, AirAsia is also interested in connecting direct flights from China to Cambodia and from India to Cambodia. According to Mr Fernandes , the Airbus A321 can carry about 200 passengers, and if the number of passengers increases, the company will increase the number of aircraft. Cambodia does not yet have direct flights with India, so once a direct flight agreement is agreed and operated in the future, AirAsia will play a key role in transporting tourists by air.

From The Nation Thailand’s cruel sex traffickers have struck again. The victim, a man only identified as ‘B,’ said the three traffickers told him he would work as a massage therapist in Dubai last year. On top of a monthly 80,000 baht salary, B was promised free food and accommodation, as well as a free flight. But B was in for a horrific realisation. Once he arrived at the massage shop in Dubai in November 2021, the Chinese manager seized his passport. B was then forced to sell sex to pay off more than 70,000 baht of debt he was told he owed for his travel costs. B said that clients were charged 900 baht per session, and half of this was deducted to pay off his debt. B was able to get help from Dubai authorities after he was traded to a second massage shop. He was then able to escape back to Thailand, where he reported the situation to the police. Thailand’s Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the culprits on Tuesday. The traffickers were charged with colluding to commit human smuggling for prostitution regardless of the victim’s willingness. The alleged traffickers are 32 year old Janya Phuwong, 37 year old Panuwat Sapsomboon, and 45 year old Nanthaporn Kullangka. Police arrested Janya in Samut Prakan. Nanthaporn was arrested in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district and Panuwat in Phuket’s Kathu district. Janya confessed to the charges, according to police. Nanthaporn told police she was paid 3,000 baht to teach Thai massage to B. Panuwat said he received 10,000 baht to convince B to work in Dubai, Nation Thailand reported. The investigation found over 4 million baht circulating in Janya’s bank accounts between May and November. The commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Lieutenant-General Jiraphop Bhuridej, said that many other people might be victims of Janya. This is far from the first time a Thai has been trafficked to Dubai. In September, a 40 year old Thai woman who claimed she escaped forced prostitution in Dubai pleaded for help for her three friends, who were still imprisoned in Dubai. She said the traffickers offered them gardening work in Dubai with an attractive salary of 80,000 – 100,000 baht per month. Other Thai victims of trafficking to Dubai have been promised jobs as masseuses, as B was.