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From Thai PBS World “Royal Procession with the People” brings old tradition to life on screen Thailand and Korea share no borders and are 6 hours away by plane, yet everything Korean has become part of Thai life including music, food and TV series. The ties are further strengthened as trade and cultural exchanges grow and now the Thai public can also enjoy an art exhibition “imported” from South Korea at a Bangkok museum. Thailand’s Fine Arts Department and the National Museum of Korea are currently hosting an exhibition entitled: “A New Encounter : Immersive Gallery of Korean Art “ at the National Museum in Bangkok. The exhibition demonstrates how Thailand and Korea relate to each other, especially where the monarchy and religion are concerned. “We chose art dealing with the King and Buddhism because it can easily relate to Thailand,” said Korean curator Sumi Yang. The exhibition features two sections. The first focuses on a new encounter between Buddhist art from Korea and Thailand. Walking into the first exhibition room, visitors are “greeted” by Buddha statues in two corners – one from Korea and the other from Thailand. The Korean curator chose the 9th century Buddha statue made of granite while his Thai counterpart picked the 7th century Sirijava style Buddha statue made of sandstone for the exhibition. These two sculptures were created by different people and nations and are not from the same era, yet these two images of Avolokiteshvara Bodhisattva evoke the same sense of soothing human souls and offering hope for salvation. “Granite can be a difficult material to sculpt due to its coarse particles but it was the most common stone in ancient Korean Buddhist sculpture,” Yang said, adding that the sculpture shows bold abstract expressions whereas sandstone sculptures have softer and more delicate expressions. The 7th century Sirijava style Buddha statue made of sandstone. Thai and English details about the two Avolokiteshvara Bodhisattva are provided in text format for those who want to learn more about the two statues. For example, details on the statue’s headdress and ornaments of the “Buddha” are given. The Korean sculpture came from the National Museum of Korea while the Thai one is usually exhibited at the Bangkok museum. The Fine Arts Department handpicked the statue for the exhibition. After learning and experiencing the first section, visitors can move to a relatively more the colourful and “modern” exhibition – two immersive digital video works entitled “Journey of the Soul” and “Royal Procession with the People”. The video set reconstructs the set of “The Ten Kings of Hell” Buddhist paintings from the Joseon Dynasty (1329-1910) and selected uigwe (the royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty), which was inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World programme in 2007, from the collection of the National Museum of Korea. A New Encounter : Immersive Gallery of Korean Art “ is on show in room 401 of the Maha Surashinganat Building at the National Museum in Bangkok from now until 21 May 2023. By Veena Thoopkrajae Continues with photos https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bringing-thailand-and-south-korea-even-closer-through-art/

From Thai PBS World Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Station – touted as Southeast Asia’s most modern rail terminus – opened with little fanfare last year as COVID-19 dominated headlines. Its role as the national rail hub has also been delayed by well over a year. However, the pandemic also made Bang Sue Grand Station a household word among Thais. Hundreds of thousands flocked to the station between May 2021 and September this year to get vaccinated against the new coronavirus. Bang Sue served as the city’s main vaccination center, delivering more than 6 million shots over 16 months. Now that the infection rate has fallen and a central vaccination center is no longer necessary, Bang Sue Grand Station can go back to its original job – serving as a railway hub. Bangkok’s new central station From January next year, all commercial trains will switch from the old Bangkok station of Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue, explained Nirut Maneephan, State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor. “Some 56 such trains leave the capital daily,” he said. Commercial trains refer to Special Express, Express, and Rapid trains that have first-class and sleeper carriages. Most of these trains serve long-distance routes from Bangkok to cities such as Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla or Yala. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob had pushed hard for Bang Sue Grand Station to take over from the historic and hugely popular Hua Lamphong station since late last year, but to no avail. Now, however, major types of railway services are finally about to shift to the new national hub with Hua Lamphong catering to just short-haul or ordinary trains, that stop at all stations and have no first-class cabins. In preparation for its larger role, Bang Sue started selling tickets for long-distance trips on November 1. Bang Sue Grand Station Built between 2013 and 2019 with a budget of 34.14 billion baht, Bang Sue Grand Station is more than three times larger than Hua Lamphong at nearly 300,000 square meters. It has 24 platforms – compared with Hua Lamphong’s 14 – and capacity to serve more than 600,000 passengers daily. The station is packed with world-class facilities. Thanks to 5G technology, passengers will be greeted by SRT robots that can communicate in both Thai and English. The robots will provide passengers with travel information, recommendations on attractions, and basic assistance. For instance, the SRT automated helpers can guide passengers to the right platform if they lose their way. They can also alert their human colleagues when extra help if needed. Another example of high-tech automation at Bang Sue is the smart wheelchairs, which are available to take passengers who can’t walk anywhere in the station without human help. Security in the station is also AI-enabled, with video from the more than 120 security cameras monitored via artificial intelligence. The system also issues alerts in real-time, so human staff can rush to help passengers in cases of emergency or if they stray into dangerous zones. It will also serve as a key city transport hub as it is connected to the Red Line and Thailand’s three main airports, as well as the Airport Rail Link and the MRT Blue Line. It will serve, too, as a stop in the future rail line linking Kunming in China with Singapore. Bang Sue has strong road connections and can be accessed conveniently via Bangkok’s network of main roads and expressways. Located in the capital’s Chatuchak district, this shiny new station is expected to spur economic development, reduce the cost and time spent on travel and smoothly connect Thailand to its neighbors.

From the BBC Male pageants have become a growing trend in South Korea. But what does it take to be crowned as the most beautiful man in the country? And why are male beauty pageants more objectifying than womens? https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0dh9qfr/inside-the-world-of-south-korean-male-beauty-pageants

From Thai News Agency BANGKOK, Nov 28 (TNA) – The BA.2.75 sub-variant of COVID-19 already accounted for as much as 58% of COVID-19 cases in the country and another subtype might emerge late this year when European visitors would arrive to avoid winter in their homeland, according to the Department of Medical Sciences. Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the department, said there was a small wave of COVID-19 infections in the country and most of them, or 58%, were cases of the BA.2.75 sub-variant because more Indian visitors were arriving. Late this year many Europeans would escape cold weather in their homeland and arrive in Thailand. Therefore, COVID-19 strains in Thailand could change then and cases of the XBB sub-variant could rise due to the visits of European travelers, he said. Regarding the global situation of COVID-19, Dr Supakit said the virus was mutating and avoiding antibodies. Due to the mutation, the disease would spread faster, previously infected people could fall sick of the disease again and vaccines might not be as effective as they were in the past. He advised people to receive vaccine booster shots, saying people needed at least four jabs, not three, because the COVID-19 situation already changed. (TNA)

From The Thaiger Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput today announced interest rates will be raised on Wednesday to deal with potential inflation increases. Governor Sethaput is expected to raise interest rates by a modest quarter-point to take the benchmark rate to 1.25% underscoring ongoing worries about growth in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. United Overseas Bank economist Enrico Tanuwidjaja says he expects a relatively more modest recovery of the Thai economy and a less aggressive BOT compared to the rest of the major and regional central banks on the back of easing inflation which may result in a rather persistent weakness in the Thai baht. “Negative real interest rates will continue to favour the Thai economic recovery as it diverges away from an ultra-tight monetary policy elsewhere in the world, most notably in the US and Europe.” The US Federal Reserve increased rates by 375 basis points so far in this cycle, with 75 basis point moves at the last four meetings and another 50 due in December. The baht has been one of the top performers in emerging market currencies, depreciating only about 7% so far this year, despite the wide interest rate gap. Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group Limited economist Krystal Tan noted that the external pressure on the BOT to be more assertive with rate hikes has also eased after the recent retreat in the dollar.the tourism-dependent Thai economy.

From Pattaya News Russian tourists are now visiting Pattaya daily as direct flights have now arrived at the U-Tapao Airport for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampiches and the director of the U-Tapao International Airport Admiral Rapeepong welcomed Russian tourists at the airport yesterday morning (November 26th). Admiral Rapeepong told the Pattaya News. “There were 236 passengers on the first direct flight from the Azur Airline from Tolmachevo. They received souvenirs and warm welcoming from the airport.” Mr. Sanpetch Supabowornsatean, the President of the Thai Hotels Association – Eastern Chapter told the Pattaya News, “Russian tourists like to travel abroad in their winter season, due to the bone-chilling cold temperatures in their homeland. However, due to the ongoing Ukraine war many regular destinations in Europe are off limits for Russians due to sanctions and restrictions. Thailand, however, is neutral in this conflict and is not banning Russian tourists from travel. Their loss is Thailand’s gain as more tourists from Russia are now choosing Thailand, especially Phuket and Pattaya, to visit due to great weather and activities. This is a good sign for tourism as more tourists are coming to Pattaya and Thailand after Covid-19.”

From The Nation Most of Thailand’s long-distance, rapid and express trains will switch from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station to Bang Sue Grand Station in January next year. Fifty-two trains will switch over to the new 15-billion-baht national rail hub in mid-January, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decided on Thursday. Only eastbound trains will continue to use Hua Lamphong after that date, said a source familiar with the matter. Bang Sue Grand Station (aka Krungthep Aphiwat Central Station) opened in November last year and began serving passengers on the SRT’s two urban Red Lines. SRT had planned to move all 66 long-distance trains, apart from eastbound services, to Bang Sue but the plan was delayed due to the Covid-19 situation. Fifty-two of the 66 routes have now reopened – 14 to the North, 20 to the South, and 18 to the Northeast. The SRT will advertise the change of terminal station in December, so that passengers reserving tickets can plan their travel accordingly. Meanwhile, urban trains, ordinary trains and trains on tourism routes are still operating from Hua Lamphong station as usual. From mid-January, trains bound for the North and Northeast will use the elevated railway from Bang Sue Grand Station to Rangsit station. They will no longer stop at five stations, namely Nikhom Rotfai, Thung Song Hong, Bang Khen, Laksi, and Kan Kheha. Don Muang Station will instead serve as the stop between Bang Sue and Rangsit stations.

From Thai PBS World The Institute of Dermatology will resume providing free COVID-19 vaccinations to members of the public on December 17th, as many people have shown interest in getting booster shots during the current “new wave” of infections. Free vaccinations at the institute began early this month and ended yesterday, during which many people received their booster shots. The Department of Disease Control described the current surge in new COVID-19 infections as just a “new wave”, with most cases not serious, and said that the infection rate will gradually slow down after New Year. According to the Facebook page of CVC Bang Sue Grand Station, the public can now make advance appointments for inoculation in December, with breaks on December 3rd, 10th, 24th and 31st. Alternatively, they can just walk in and register. The free vaccinations are open to both Thais and foreigners from the age of 5. Those who want to get their third booster must make sure that their last vaccination was administered at least 120 days prior. The vaccines to be administered are Pfizer, both purple and orange cap. ========================

From The Thaiger The Hua Hin International Jazz Festival is coming up, with more than 30 artists from around the world en route to perform at the renowned tourism hotspot. Several local artists and bands will also be performing. The festival will be held from December 2-3 on Suan Son Pradit beach, in front of the Seapine Recreation Centre. Musicians will perform from 5pm to 11pm. Entry is free. Artists performing at the festival include Nathalie Schaap, Saskia Laroo, Alexander Beets, and Lucas Santana, Hua Hin Today reported. The festival’s organiser Sakpon Aoonsamran, also known as Koh Mr Saxman, said there will be three stages at the festival for fans to enjoy the great music. These are the Beach Stage, the Open Stage, and the Hua Hin Stage. Sakpon said… “Foreign artists are flying in specifically for this event, while leading Thai jazz artists and new generations of jazz artists, including jazz youths, will also be performing.” The festival is being held live for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic when it was only broadcast online. This will be the 18th Hua Hin International Jazz Festival in total.

From Thai PBS World Baggage service provider at Suvarnabhumi faces ultimatum The company contracted to handle passenger baggage at Suvarnabhumi airport will be replaced if it does not improve the baggage reclaim service, which is currently causing delays for passengers. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said yesterday (Thursday) that he has instructed the transport permanent secretary to instruct the company to solve the problem, failing that the Transport Ministry may revoke its contract. The company is reported to be blaming the problem on shortage of equipment and manpower. Saksayam claimed that Suvarnabhumi airport has already solved the problem of the infamously long queues in front of immigration checkpoints and that arriving passengers now spend an average of 15 minutes queueing for their passports to be checked, including about a minute in front of the immigration counter. After having improved the immigration service, he said that arriving passengers now take an average of 40 minutes from disembarkation to go through immigration, reclaim their baggage, pass customs and leave the airport.

Keithambrose, I don't believe that you are making these claims but when you say "a lot of messages" that is very subjective judgement. What constitutes "a lot"? Twenty, 50, 10, 2? Without citing the alleged messages, there is no way to be objective. And just what are these messages critical of? Vietnam guys were--in my experience--popular staffers in Soi Twqlight bars and Screwboys on Patpong 2. They remain so at Freshboys today. I think we need to use caution before castigating a nationality. There's enough of that going around in the world at the moment without us gays joining the trend. If the unfairness of it isn't enough to dissuade us, then the fact that gays themselves are one of the most frequent victims of discrimination worldwide.

From Pattaya News Pattaya police inspected Beach Road last night, November 22nd, and took dozens of suspected transgender sex workers to the police station for identity recording in order to prevent potential crimes during the tourism high season. The intense prostitution purge was conducted by a combined team of Pattaya police and tourist police last night at Beach Road following complaints from anonymous concerned citizens. This also comes in advance of the highly anticipated Pattaya International Fireworks Festival this weekend which is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors. According to the leader of the operation Pol. Lt. Col. Pitchaya Khiaoplueng, many individuals whom he suspected were illegal sex workers left the road and pretended to be beachgoers strolling the beach immediately after they sighted police officers. Nonetheless, 36 alleged sex workers were arrested and taken to the Pattaya police station to have their identities recorded. The reason for this measure was likely because Pattaya police were waging war on a rash of petty crimes allegedly committed by transgender suspects against tourists. All suspects were released, and Pattaya police pledged to continue their crackdown on prostitution every day. ============== From Pattaya Mail Indian recovers gold stolen by Pattaya streetwalkers An Indian tourist narrowly escaped having his pricey gold necklace stolen after a gang of four thieves fumbled the booty. Nitin Mukund Puronit, 43, reported to police Nov. 19 that he was set upon by a group of four transgender prostitutes on Pattaya Beach at Soi 13/2. One hugged him and two grabbed his hands as the fourth removed the chain, worth 285,000 baht. But during the scuffle that ensued from Puronit pushing off the offenders, one of the thieves dropped the chain and they fled. Pongdanai Kotabud, 29, noticed Puronit looking around for something and spotted the gold lying. He picked it up and brought it to the Pattaya Police Station where gold and owner were reunited

The patrons of the Colorado Springs club who confronted the shooter have left fellow gays a legacy we shouldn’t ignore. When we witness discrimination and injustice in any of its manifestations, we all have a choice. We can confront it or give it a pass. I pray I will have the courage to remember this lesson.

From the Thaiger Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget subsidiary Hong Kong Express are boosting flights to three major tourist destinations in Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Cathay’s Hong Kong – Bangkok route will be increased from twice to four times per day next month, according to Chairman of Cathay Pacific Patrick Healy. In January, the airline will resume its Hong Kong – Chiang Maiservice, said Healy. Hong Kong Express, Cathay’s budget offshoot airline, will operate 22 flights per week to Thailand to Bangkok, Phuket, and will also resume its Chiang Mai service in December. The airline hopes to return to 70% of pre-pandemic capacity before the end of 2023.

Yes, I’d very much like this to be fair. Now you’re claiming that “a lot” of mostly critical messages have appeared. If so, where is that lot of messages. Cite all the messages. Otherwise, you’re claiming the same thing Pong does without any proof. You seem all too ready to defame boys from an entire nation on what seems to be hazy recollections of having read a complaint at some unspecified time. And you’re extrapolating that into the basis of a one size fits all indictment of them all.

Are you kidding me. The age range of male massage workers in Silom Soi six, Best Massage and 9-teen alone is in the 18 to 30 range. Just how young were you expecting?

I agree it can be a bit off-putting but some guys need it to climax. I try not to take it personally They’re trying to fulfill both your and their fantasies. 😊

Yes, It never hurts to ask. These guys work in the shops for one reason: to make money, regardless of their sexuality. Be respectful and flexible. That’s the best approach to a good massage experience.

That’s a cheap shot out of nowhere. You disparage an entire nationality with “enough has been said about them” Who said it? Where did they say it? When did they say it? What did they say?

The reason the flight was undertaken was not disclosed in the article. From Thaiger A Royal Thai Air Force Airbus A340-500 completed what appears to be the longest flight ever operated by the aircraft. The record-breaking flight took place with much less fanfare than Singapore Airlines’ commercial record in 2018. The flight from Bangkok to Charlotte, North Carolina, took 18 hours and 14 minutes and covered 14,555 kilometres. The flight landed on Wednesday, November 16, after an 18-hour flight that crossed the international date line. Flight RTAF202 departed Don Mueang Airport at 6.10am Wednesday and passed between Taiwan and the Philippines before being spotted to the east of Japan. After disappearing from public radar over the North Pacific, the aircraft was spotted once again crossing the Gulf of Alaska before entering United States airspace in Washington State. The aircraft touched town at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina after a total flight time of 18 hours and 14 minutes. Due to crossing the international date line, the flight arrived on Wednesday, at 12.25pm. The distance covered, 14,555 kilometres (7,859 nautical miles). The Airbus in question is the only one operated by the air force. It was delivered to Thai Airways in 2005 and sent to storage in June 2012 before entering service with the air force in August 2016. The Airbus A340-500 is now quite rare on commercial passenger flights, with the last scheduled operator removing it from the schedule earlier this year. The previous record was set after a cruise ship full of Australian tourists became stranded off the coast of Uruguay due to a Covid-19 outbreak. The repatriation flight left Carrasco International Airport outside Montevideo and flew straight to Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, where it landed 16 hours and nine minutes later, a distance of 12,338 kilometres.

From Thai PBS World Mountain B pub renamed, reopened and raided by police Chon Buri police and local officials raided a pub last night (Saturday), which is located on the same plot of land in Sattahip district as the Mountain B pub, the scene of a deadly fire on August 5th which has, to date, claimed the lives of 26 people and left others in hospital to this day. Police said that the new pub, named “Never Land”, opened for the first time last night, offering food, drinks and live music. The Mountain B was ordered closed for five years following the deadly blaze. Pol Maj-Gen Nunthavut Suwanlaong, deputy commissioner of Second Region Provincial Police Bureau, said they will invite the proprietor of the new pub to come to Phlu Ta Luang police station to answer some questions. He said police will check the land title deeds of “Never Land” and compare them with the deeds for the Mountain B pub, adding that the new pub will have to close if the venue is found to be located on the same plot. Meanwhile, Pongsiri Panprasong, the owner of Mountain B, said in his Facebook post today that his life has been ruined following the tragic incident and that his life savings have been used up to compensate the injured and the families of the dead. He said that he needs to make a living to feed his family and begged for an opportunity to reopen his business.

Since most of the guys who work massage places aren’t gay, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across an exclusively gay massage place (in Bangkok anyway).

The news of the bribe getting out could well have been what actually scotched it.

There a banner suspended from the Surawong side of entrance, accounting the return of the market on December 5th. Don’t know how long it’s been there but the date draws near.