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7-Eleven workers don’t meet you in a small room and place their hands on your naked body so perhaps masseurs might be worthy of greater consideration.

I’d be interested how the guy providing a very personal, hands on service might judge it.

From Coconuts Bangkok Wild Boars make alms four years after cave rescue The Wild Boars soccer team made an appearance at Tham Luang in northernmost Thailand Thursday morning to pay their respects to their rescuers on the fourth anniversary of their world-renowned ordeal. Seven of the 13 boys of the Wild Boar soccer team, whose rescue after 17 days trapped in the cave drew global interest, made alms to 39 monks at the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park in anticipation of its Oct. 1 reopening. Those in attendance also paid their respects to Saman Kunan, the Navy Seal who came out of retirement to aid in the rescue and drowned while helping to prepare the operation. The park is currently closed as national park officials make the cave safer for visiting, including a 2-kilometer road link to the park’s emerald pool. Four years ago today, the 12 young footballers and their coach disappeared inside Tham Luang after practice. Before long, their bicycles and belongings were found left at the entrance, kicking off a massive effort that drew the help of amateur cave diving experts from around the world. Heavy rainfall had caused the cave to flood, trapping the team in darkness deep inside the cave complex. It took 17 days for rescue teams to get the team out safely in a perilous rescue mission that gripped the world. A film based on the incident was released in 2019.

From Thai PBS World Tourists entering Thailand from Malaysia are expected to outnumber Indian tourists after the scrapping of the “Thailand Pass” requirement from July 1st, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn yesterday (Thursday). According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 123,606 Indian tourists arrived in the country in the first five months of this year, followed by 96,323 from Britain, 78,523 from Malaysia, 77,707 from Germany and 72,482 from the United States. Total arrivals in that period were 1,336,068. He admitted that he had hoped that the removal of “Thailand Pass” requirement would attract more tourists to Thailand, estimated at about 900,000 a month, up from between 400,000-500,000 in May and about 700,000 this month. He said that the incentives that attract foreign tourists to Thailand include the weakening of the Thai baht against the US dollar, the relatively low cost of living in Thailand and reasonable hotel room rates. Regarding tourists from the Middle East, the minister said that about 15,000 arrived in May, and that is expected to increase to over 20,000 this month, as he expects total such arrivals for the whole year to be at least 300,000.

From Bangkok Post The government has lifted its face mask mandate and advised vulnerable and infected people to still use masks for the sake of personal and public health. The decision was made due to the improving Covid-19 situation and intended to let people resume virtually normal lifestyles, according to the government announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Friday. The use of face masks now voluntary, but is recommended to prevent infection by respiratory diseases including Covid-19, the announcement said. The Public Health Ministry advised people to continue to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places. Vulnerable people, mainly the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, should wear face masks while staying with others to reduce the risk of infection, because catching Covid-19 could jeopardise their life.

There’s an Ibis across the road. Stayed their once. Tiny but tidy rooms. https://ibis-sathorn.com-bangkok.com/

From Bangkok Post Kasikornbank (KBank) expects the baht to bottom out in the next two months, depending mainly on the US Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate hike. It also expects the Bank of Thailand to increase its benchmark interest rate two times this year. KBank assesses the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will increase its policy rate by a quarter-point at its meeting in August. Aggressive rate hikes by the Fed would strengthen the US dollar compared with other currencies, including the baht, said Mr Kobsidthi. In this scenario, he said the baht would continue to weaken for the next two months and it could reach a nadir of low 36 against the greenback. The Bank of Thailand will need to manage the local currency to make it move in line with regional peers, said Mr Kobsidthi. An improving tourism sector in the second half of this year will continue to support a firmer baht to the dollar, reaching 33.5 against the dollar at the end of this year, said KBank.

+1 This is not time to procrastinate.Bargains can still be found in accommodations. And although it’s more challenging to find great airfares, due diligence will pay off if you remain flexible. If you’re not originating in a carrier’s hub, you’re likely looking at two stops from US locations. Try altering departure cities. New York departures, once the most competitive, are getting more pricey.

Worth keeping in mind that it’s the carrier and not the manufacturer that specs the seats, pitch and width. Seats are add-on costs and it’s up to carrier to decide on configuration it desires.

Those sneaky sons of guns. They’re just like us, pretending not to speak Thai.

Many—if not most—shops do not remit any of the fee to the guys.

From CNBC After more than two years of lockdowns and border controls, Southeast Asia is finally experiencing some semblance of the old days of travel. Flights are steadily returning to 2019 levels in the region’s major economies, with Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia being the most popular destinations this year, according to the flight data analytics firm Cirium. In Singapore, which had the most inbound flight bookings in the region this year, bookings rose from around 30% of 2019 levels in January to 48% by mid-June. The Philippines also saw a sharp uptick in bookings, from about 20% at the start of January, to almost 40% by mid-June, according to Cirium. Tourism is a key moneymaker for Southeast Asia, a region which saw international visitors more than double from 63 million in 2009 to 139 million in 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The industry accounts for around 10% of gross domestic product in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia and between 20% and 25% of GDP in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines, according to a May 2022 report published by the Asian Development Bank. The pandemic “was probably more devastating in Southeast Asia than the rest of the world [because] governments kept the borders closed for almost two years,” said Gary Bowerman, director of the travel research firm Check-in Asia. “There were even restrictions on domestic travel.” “If you compare that to North America or Europe, for example, in both years 2020 and 2021 … they had some tourism and travel flows,” he said. Changing travel habits Most countries in Southeast Asia — including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines — have stopped requiring fully vaccinated travelers to take Covid-19 tests before traveling. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/23/travelers-return-to-southeast-asia-but-inflation-could-hurt-recovery.html After Singapore dropped its pre-travel testing requirement in April, business has been “picking up fast and furious,” said Stanley Foo, founder of the local tour operator Oriental Travel & Tours. He said travelers are booking longer trips and spending more than before too. Before the pandemic, the company received around 20 tour bookings a week, mostly for tours lasting three to four days. Now, its handling 25 bookings a week, some for trips up to 10 days long. Average expenditures on customized tours rose from around $2,000 per person before the pandemic to $4,000 to $6,000 today, said Foo. “It’s because of the revenge traveling,” Foo said. “They have saved up enough for the past two years.” Since tourists are spending more time in Singapore, Foo and his team of tour guides are taking clients to places outside the usual tourist itinerary — to the suburbs to watch residents do tai chi and to order coffee at hawker centers “the Singaporean way,” he said. Joanna Lu of Ascend by Cirium, the company’s consultancy arm, said people are spending more time planning their journeys too. They are “making sure they’re covered for unexpected changes,” she said. Not your usual tourists Tourists contacting Foo are from all over the world, especially Southeast Asian countries, he said. That’s in stark contrast to his pre-pandemic business, when Chinese nationals were among his company’s biggest client groups, said Foo. China continues to “strictly limit” non-essential travel out of the country. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/23/travelers-return-to-southeast-asia-but-inflation-could-hurt-recovery.html

Thank you for taking to share the story of the boy’s life as he related it to you. There are many things that did not surprise me but one that made me angry. That the guy’s bf thought he was entitled to manipulate him into bottoming simply to satisfy his own needs I find despicable. There are so many great moments the guys we meet can provide as long as we treat them with respect. I take the guys as they are because that how they take me. .

The beds at Tarntawan were replaced about the same time the Mahanakhon building observation deck opened. Remember this because day after going there I passed by Tarntawan and workers were hauling old mattresses down driveway. It coincided with change in name of hotel and management. Believe I posted photo on forum. If only those beds could talk.

Look on the bright side. Got your phone fixed and caught up on your reading 🙂

Correction — I said above that Green Massage was open. It is not. Walked past location again tonight. The massage chairs are all still inside so it does not appear abandoned.

I usually walk Patpong 1 nightly if for no other reason than to judge how its reopening is progressing. Last night I was impressed how many of the lady bars were open. What’s different is taxis now have free use in either direction, dropping off and picking up patrons. One of the old restaurants seems to be doing a halfway decent business, feeding the workers. I make it a point to check the Madrid for signs of life. Nothing new to report but it does not appear abandoned, just closed. I walked it from end to end this afternoon and was surprised by how many small shops had recently opened (eateries, barber, nails shop, massage and sundry others). Would not be surprised if night market returns by high season.

The massage scene continues to evolve by the day. I toured Surawong from Patpong to Soi Tarntawan this afternoon and found a few additions. Olivia massage has reopened on Surawong, roughly opposite Le Meridien. It has a mixed staff but heavy on the male side. Olivia also has shop on Silom in vicinity of. Saladeang. BTS. The upscale Urban Thai Massage has also reopened further down Surawong with a predominantly female staff. The flagship outlet of the chain is located in new facilities at the corner of Soi Thaniya and Surawong. Green Massage is located next to the driveway for the Tarntawan Hotel with mixed staff. Turning onto Soi Tarntawan, Sun Massage (Tawan bar’s daytime business) is the first shop you’ll encounter. If you continue on past The Quarter hotel, The large Prime Massage* building faces you just before the dogleg turn where the road becomes Silom soi 6. Here you’ll find 4-5 (depending on time of day) mostly or exclusively male shops, several of which have been written about on the forum. *Probably the most established (and otherwise legit) massage operation in Silom, Prime has a well-earned reputation for excellence and value. It’s professional staff is well trained. You can choose a male or female for your massage and discretion is always observed.

From the Thaiger The Airport of Thailand announced that the new passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok will be ready for use by April 2023. The Automated People Mover train, which will be the nation’s first driverless electric train used in Thai airports, will be available for passengers to travel between each terminal at the same time too. The President of the AOT, Nitinai Siriamatthakarn, informed the media that the construction of the new passenger terminal, Satellite 1 (SAT1) had finished, and it would be ready for use in April next year. He also added that the airport capacity would be increased to welcome 60 million passengers per year, up from 45 million passengers. And, with 28 aircraft stand taxiplanes, the airport will be able to support up to 68 flights per hour. The new SAT1 terminal is a 4-story building giving way to 216,ooo square metres. The B2 floor is for the APM trains, the B1 floor is for the airport office, the G floor is for a conveyor belt, the 2nd floor is for arrivals, the 3rd floor is for departures, and the 4th floor is for restaurants.

Jason, regarding your cannabis infused food experience, you’re not alone. This article appeared in Bangkok Post article today: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2331063/new-pot-scare-alert-heart-problems

The Thai News Agency is now reporting as many as 40 homes destroyed in the blaze.

From Bangkok Post A fire destroyed about 10 homes in the Bon Kai community in Bangkok's Pathum Wan district on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the fire started about 1.12pm at a two-storey house in the crowded community in Soi Pluk Chit, off Rama 4 road, and quickly spread to adjacent houses, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. About 10 fire engines and crews were dispatched to the scene. But the firefighters found it difficult to reach the spot because of the narrow road and they were obstructed by panicky residents running back and forth, moving their belongings out of their houses. By 1.38pm about 10 houses were burning fiercely. Rama 4 road in front of the Bangkok Bank's Bon Kai branch was closed off by police to help the firefighting operation. A bed-ridden patient was evacuated from one house to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Only three times do I remember calling off a massage in Thailand. Twice iit was due to repeated request for tip before, or immediately after, massage started.. I paid the shop the fee but did not tip and told manager why. The third time occurred after guy agreed to 1200 but then demanded 1500 five minutes into massage. Best advice is to follow your instincts. If it’s going down hill early, it’s unlikely to improve with time. All three instances were rare and all took place over 5-6 years ago, as I recall. Any time now a guy asks me in advance how much I pay, I assure him the best way to get a good tip is to do a good job.

From the Points Guy Thailand and North America will soon be reconnected with nonstop flights. Air Canada on Monday announced that it will launch seasonal service on Dec. 1 between its hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The service, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will operate four times weekly. The final eastbound departure from Bangkok is scheduled for April 17. The westbound flight, AC65, departs Vancouver at 11 p.m. and arrives in Bangkok at 5:55 a.m. two days later, all times local. The eastbound flight, AC66, departs Bangkok at 8:30 a.m. and arrives at 6:35 a.m. in Vancouver. That flight technically arrives before it departs, a quirk of eastbound travel over the International Date Line. The new flight will be a welcome addition for travelers, particularly those loyal to the Star Alliance, looking to get between North America and Thailand. Most itineraries between North America and Thailand currently require a stop in East Asia, generally at Incheon International Airport (ICN) near Seoul or at one of Tokyo’s two airports — Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND). The timing of this flight — a late-night departure westbound and an early-morning arrival eastbound — allows for a maximum number of same-day connecting options. Air Canada’s new flight is the first nonstop between North America and Thailand since 2012, when Thai Airways ended its nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Bangkok, according to Cirium schedule data. Thai Airways also had a nonstop between Bangkok and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that lasted between 2005 and 2008. In addition, United Airlines operated a one-stop service to Bangkok via Tokyo Narita until 2014. ========================== From the Thaiger Thai Airways is finally resuming its Bangkok – Perth flight route after a two year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will fly on the route 3 times a week starting next month. The first scheduled Bangkok – Perth flight will take off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on July 5. As of today (June 20), a one-way ticket on the route in July costs 13,000 baht – around 528 AUD – on the Thai Airways website. The flight time duration is 6 hours 45 minutes.

If he penetrated mind just as effective 🙂