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From Pattaya News Pattaya officials inspect nightlife venues Pattaya officials inspected the nightlife venues on Walking Street to ensure the operators complied with the fire prevention measures. Mr. Pornchai Sang-iad, Permanent Secretary of Banglamung district, and relevant officials screened various entertainment venues on Walking Street in South Pattaya late last night, September 2nd, to remind the operators about the fire prevention measures. The inspection focused on fire escapes and fire extinguishers, Pornchai said. However, the official found that some venues still had unready fire escapes that were blocked and difficult to access. “The venues must have a clear path leading to the fire escape,” Pornchai said before ordering the operators to clear the obstructions from the fire escape.

From VN Express “One’s true gender is unchangeable. If we, parents of LGBTQ+ people, want happiness for both us and them, we need to change our mindset.” Meet Nguyen Lang Mong, a woman living in HCMC, whose advice this is to people who face a psychological battle in accepting their LGBTQ+ children. She is the leader of PFLAG Vietnam (Parents, Families and Friends of LGBTQ+), founded in 2011. Every week, Mong, whose son is gay, receives phone calls and messages for help from three or four people with LGBTQ+ children. At first their typical reaction is to try and make their children "normal." But by sharing her story and knowledge, she shows them there is nothing wrong with their offspring and that having an LGBTQ+ child is not a shame. She says: "Many parents don't understand this community and they have deep-rooted prejudices against LGBTQ+. When they know more about their children, they will give up their prejudices and accept them the way they are more easily. It is the most important thing for our kids." Mong’s advice for the parents is drawn from her own struggle in accepting her gay son 11 years ago. At first she did not believe her son, now 29, was not straight and scolded him for imitating his gay friends. The relationship between mother and son deteriorated and tension escalated for a year. Then one day she found out her son had tried to commit suicide, which came as a wake-up call to her. "It freaked me out. I thought I couldn’t keep treating my son that way." She then began to learn about LGBTQ+ people and realized they were not as "bad and indisciplined" as she had thought. "If he is happy living the way he truly is, I am happy too." Mong and her son’s is a typical and heartwarming story of the progress made by Vietnamese society in recent times in accepting the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this month the Ministry of Health sent an announcement to provincial and municipal health departments and posted it on the government website. It said being LGBTQ+ "is entirely not an illness", and it "cannot be ‘cured’ nor needs to be ‘cured’ and cannot be changed in any way." Continues at https://e.vnexpress.net/news/trend/clash-of-views-on-lgbtq-in-vietnam-4505406.html

From The Diplomat In June, Thailand welcomed its first Pride Parade in almost 16 years. The celebratory event in the capital Bangkok not only brought together thousands of members from the country’s highly visible LGBTQ community but also underscored a host of issues: from the rights of sex workers to legal gender recognition to marriage equality. As one of only nine Asian signatories to a 2011 declaration of LGBTQ rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Thailand has often been hailed as a haven for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals. Yet, the country still lacks mechanisms for safeguarding LGBTQ rights. For too long, human rights violations against LGBTQ people have persisted while the voices of LGBTQ activists have fallen on deaf ears. Despite Thailand’s reputation for inclusion, social stigma and discrimination against gender and sexual minorities still prevail in the conservative country. But there’s hope. When nationwide youth-led protests calling for political reforms erupted in 2020, LGBTQ demands were added to the agenda, alongside the broader calls for democratic change. And now, with the return of the Pride Parade in Bangkok spurring similar events in other Thai cities, and rainbow flags flying high, LGBTQ issues are finally on the table in Thailand. A few days after Bangkok’s historic Pride Parade, Thai lawmakers passed at their first reading four different bills on same-sex unions. Three of the draft bills would confer a differing and questionable legal status on civil unions between people across all genders. The opposition Move Forward Party proposed the fourth and strongest of the batch: the draft Act for Amendment to the Civil and Commercial Code, better known as the marriage equality bill. It seeks to revise binary terms in the Code to provide the fundamental right to marriage and family for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Continues at https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/can-marriage-equality-become-a-reality-in-thailand/

From Coconuts Bangkok Cars became submarines and condos turned into island spires this morning after a large swath of Phuket became severely flooded, with parts of the island’s northern district of Thalang submerged in waist-high, murky waters. Two days of constant rain pelted the island and spawned flash floods that affected sites including Phuket International Airport, the Muang Thalang School, and residential neighborhoods. Residents reported having to flee their stranded vehicles after floodwaters rose to submerge them. As of 1pm, the Blue Country Golf Club remained inaccessible as the floodwater had reached up to chest level. Airport officials suggested people allow at least four hours to arrive due to the constant downpour. Phuket Gov. Narong Woonsiew said community centers have been set up to help affected residents including one at Wat Nai Yang. And more rain is on the way. Thunderstorms are predicted to continue lashing the Andaman Sea island today and Saturday, then continuing at a slightly lesser rate through next week.

Thai PBS World today suggests that authorities are still ironing out some of the new fare changes. The Transport Ministry is considering increasing taxi fares in Bangkok, from 35 baht for the first kilometre to 45 baht, noting that the fares have not been increased for 8 years. Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry, Sorapong Paitoonphong, said that they will consider increasing fares for taxis licensed in Bangkok, as taxi drivers have been demanding an increase in the fares in line with the economic situation. He added that fares have not risen since 2014, in direct contrast with increasing fuel prices and costs of living. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Thai Taxi Public Association said that its working committee has proposed an increase, starting at 45 baht for taxis with 1,600-1,800cc engines and 50 baht for taxis with 2,000cc engines and above for the first kilometre. If they are travelling to Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi airports, they also propose that the service charge be increased from 50 baht to 75 baht. Currently, all taxi fares start at 35 baht and increase by 5.50 baht for each kilometre travelled. Taxis pre-booked via phone or hailing apps will, however, cost another 35 baht. ======================== Higher Traffic Fines in Effect from Sept 5 From Thai News Agency BANGKOK, Sept 2 (TNA) – Traffic fines will be much higher, with the maximum rate of 4,000 baht, on Sept 5 when the newly amended Land Traffic Act will take effect, according to the police. Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat said the amendment increased punishment on the traffic rule violations that were main factors behind road accidents. They included the violation of speed limits, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, he said. The maximum fine of such offences rose from 1,000 to 4,000 baht, Pol Gen Damrongsak said. The new law also raised the maximum fine from 500 to 2,000 baht for driving in wrong direction and failure to wear a helmet or a seat belt.

The Bangkok Post reports that an 8% increase will take effect Saturday. The first flag drop will remain at 35 baht but the distance between additional drops will be reduced. The last increase was in 2014. It's still a bargain.

I was saddened to hear about your fears of memory loss. I'm in my late 70's and every time I can't grasp the word I'm looking for, that thought crosses my mind. Usually I recall it later but it still troubles me. Your writing certainly doesn't reflect any signs of it. You express yourself clearly and without repetition. The forums has become more of a sounding board for members to acknowledge fears, many associated with aging. I think that's one of the true benefits of a site like this that we can unburden ourselves of some of our fears and also describe what gives us joy. I wish you well and thank you for trusting others of us with your concerns about the disease.

As readers know by now, I can't resist passing along a great dog story. I think the Soi Dog Foundation has a lot of good ones to tell. From the Thaiger Soi Dog Foundation vaccinates over 700 stray dogs Soi Dog Foundation, a non-profit organisation, recently carried out its annual vaccination campaign at the Phuket Stray Dog Shelter in Thalang district, also known as the “government dog compound.” A team of Soi Dog veterinarians, community outreach staff, rescue officers, and a representative from the Phuket Provincial Office of the Department of Livestock Development came together to vaccinate 735 resident dogs at the government-operated facility. The dogs received vital vaccinations against six diseases including rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. International Director of Soi Dog, Dr Alicja Izydorczyk, commented on the importance of the campaign… “Annual vaccinations of shelter dogs are a must and should be standard at every dog shelter. Distemper and parvovirus are extremely contagious, and both are very common in Thailand, killing hundreds of thousands of dogs every year.” “If dogs in a shelter are not vaccinated regularly, there is a very high chance of an outbreak which can easily kill half of the shelter dog population.” The most common health issues faced by strays at the shelter are dog bite wounds, fungal and other skin diseases, diarrhea, and coughing. Any dogs suffering from more serious health problems are transferred to the Soi Dog Hospital in Mai Khao for further treatment. All this care bears a great cost. Soi Dog allocations approximately 2 million baht every year to veterinary treatments and prophylaxis for the shelter dogs. The foundation does not receive government funding but relies on the donations of kind dog lovers from all around the world.

November because the crowds are smaller and the prices are lower in just about all categories.

From the Thaiger Even though Malaysia has now beaten India for its number of tourists to Thailand overall, Indians are still the biggest tourist group in Phuket. From May 1 to August 30, the island province saw 104,350 Indian tourists arrive on its shores, according to Phuket Immigration. This was out of a total of 436,326 foreign tourists that arrived in Phuket in that time frame. The other countries sending the most tourists to Thailand, in order, have been: Australia, Singapore, the UK, Malaysia, Germany, the US, and Russia. The ongoing flow of Indian tourists has helped to pick up Phuket’s tourism economy this year, following the devastation of Covid-19 restrictions. Phuket’s ‘Old Town’ in the main city district is a particular hotspot for Indian visitors right now, according to tourism leaders. Indian visitors reportedly enjoy taking photos of the Old Town’s scenic architecture. They also enjoy outdoor adventures at beaches and forests. These activities include go-karting and zip-lining.

No. In the Spring of 2020, most Asean countries closed their borders to foreigners but permitted their own citizens to return, subjecting them to quarantine and monitoring. Later in the pandemic, when air travel was greatly curtailed, it become impossible for some citizens to leave or enter countries but some still managed to make their way across borders. Some--particularly the Burmese--did choose to remain in Thailand. You can read scattered reports about that on this board.

I think what we badly need is another pandemic that causes Thailand to close its borers again. Then we wouldn't have to concern ourselves with those scamming money boys. Instead of looking forward to planning our trips, we could discuss the good stuff. You know, like how all those sneaky Cambodians have all gone home, the scheming Thais have returned to Issan, the shifty Viets have disappeared from view and the Burmese have escaped to that hell on earth known as Myanmar. Yea, wouldn't that be great.

In case he run into boy who ask him for 10,000 for LT.

We'll have to wait and see what Japan did last month. But Dirksen sure did have a way with words 😄

From Channel News Asia TOKYO: Tourists will be able to visit Japan from next week on package tours without a guide, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday (Aug 31), as the country moves to ease strict COVID-19 controls. From Sep 7, Japan will also raise its daily cap on the number of people allowed to enter the country from 20,000 to 50,000, Kishida told reporters. Japan has kept strict border restrictions in place longer than many other major economies, and only in June began allowing tourists to visit on the condition they came in tour groups accompanied by guides. "As international exchange becomes more active worldwide, Japan will join this movement - also from the viewpoint of taking advantage of a cheap yen," said Kishida, who has himself just recovered from COVID-19. From the same date, "we'll also make it possible for tourists from all countries to enter the country on package tours without tour guides, and we will proceed with making entry procedures smoother at airports", he added. But the measures fall short of a full reopening and visitors are still required to book their trips through agents and obtain visas. Public broadcaster NHK and other local media have reported that tourists will be asked to follow isolation guidelines if they test positive for COVID-19 in Japan.

That's cutting it close.

From Time Out / Thaiger Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district is the main artery of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main center for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago to make way for the construction of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. Yaowarat Road is well known for its variety of foodstuffs, and at night turns into a large street food destination that draws tourists and locals from all over the city. Time Out said… “Lined with neon signs and bustling day or night, this cultural hub is home to temples, restaurants, markets, and legions of acupuncturists and dispensers of Chinese medicine. “It’s been a street food lovers’ favorite for generations, but lately the area has seen cool galleries and high-end restaurants move in too, keeping Yaowarat as relevant and culturally diverse as the day it was paved.” London-based Time Out magazine named Yaowarat Road the eighth coolest street in the world after polling readers about post-pandemic life in their city. Over 20,000 people took part in the poll which asked readers to base their ranking on food, fun, culture, and community. Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district is the main artery of Bangkok’s Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main center for trading by the Chinese community since they moved from their old site some 200 years ago to make way for the construction of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. The top 10 coolest streets in the world are: Rue Wellington in Montreal Gertrude Street in Melbourne Great Western Road in Glasgow Yongkang street in Taipei Værnedamsvej in Copenhagen, which I’ve likely butchered Karangahape road, Auckland, New Zealand which I’ve probably also butchered Tai Ping Shan street in Hong Kong Yaowarat Road, Bangkok Oranienstrasse in Berlin And Hayes Street in San Francisco https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-bangkok-street-food-destination-in-top-10-coolest-streets-in-the-world

From the Thaiger Alleged spies from the Burmese junta, disguised as Buddhist monks and nuns, were among 54 Burmese people arrested at a three-storey building in Tak province in northern Thailand on Monday, according to Channel3. On Monday, police, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Mae Sot District Administrative Organisation, and Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) closed in on the building in the Mae Pa subdistrict in Mae Sod district. The raid occurred after the ISOC office in Tak province received a request from monks at the Buddhism Bureau of Tak province to investigate the group. The Buddhism Bureau had received a complaint from villagers in the Mae Pa subdistrict who were concerned that the group of monks and nuns, who had been out collecting alms in the area, were not real. The villagers told the Buddhism Bureau that they were suspicious of the monastics because they lived with a big group of people in the building and regularly made a loud noise. The officials found a total of 54 Burmese people residing in the building, including 11 monks, 16 nuns, 11 men, 14 women, and two children. Matichon reports that the building used to be a detention centre for Burmese illegal immigrants but was closed down when changes were made to immigration policies in Thailand. No one in the group could provide any form of documentation so all 54 people were detained and taken to the immigration officer of Tak province. ISOC’s initial investigation reveals that some of the “monks” and “nuns” are not real monastics but are spies from the Burmese junta who snuck into Thailand to investigate anti-junta activities in Mae Sot, near the border of Myanmar. Some of the “monastics” told officials that they planned to travel to Bangkok to investigate resistance movements against the Burmese junta.

From the Thaiger Two ladyboys allegedly rob Indian tourist who rejected their ‘services’ An Indian tourist was robbed of 12,000 baht cash and other assets last night on Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street in Chon Buri province, eastern Thailand. He claims that two ladyboys robbed him after he rejected their “services.” At 12.16am today, 33 year old Vishal Vajbhaw went to Pattaya City Police Station to request the police’s help in tracking down the alleged thieves. Vishal told police that he was walking down Walking Street when “two ladyboys offered him sex services.” Vishal politely declined, but the two ladyboys looked “dissatisfied,” said Vishal. The tourist said the pair followed him, tried to hug him, and “stroked” his body. Vishal said he tried to push them off, but they wouldn’t leave. One of the ladyboys asked Vishal for money. In a bid to make them go away, Vishal reached into his pocket to give them some cash. As Vishal reached into his pocket, he realised his wallet containing 12,000 baht and a contactless debit card had already gone. When he looked up, the two ladyboys had made a break for it, he told police. Vishal chased the pickpockets down Walking Street but he couldn’t catch up with them, he said.

Actually owning a large portion of the US national has proven quite beneficial to Japan over time. Japan is the largest holder of US debt (1,236 billion USD worth) and has one of the world's lowest interest rates on it's 10-year bond (0.226%).

Just about everybody, it seems. Top Foreign Owners of US National Debt https://ticdata.treasury.gov/Publish/mfh.txt

Incidents involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Thailand are not uncommon but we only hear about the larger ones. Although both are flammable gases, LPG is not to be confused with natural gas in any of its states (gaseous, liquefied or compressed). For gas users, the most important thing about how they differ is that LPG is a heavier-than-air gas that it slower to diffuse into the environment than is natural gas that is lighter than air. Should LPG gas escape its container, it will tend to flow down towards the ground or floor where it than begins migrating horizontally. As it mixes with air, it passes into and out of a defined explosive range . Should it find an ignition source while in that range (5-17% gas to air mixture), fire will erupt immediately. You'll find LPG in wide use in Thailand. Cooked food street vendors depend on it to fuel their stoves. These portable tanks are transported in on small trucks or even on the back of motor bikes. If the vehicle becomes involved in an accident, and the tanks are damaged, gas can be released. Tanks are equipped with emergency relief valves that automatically vent gas if internal pressure rises to high, but the tank must remain upright in order for the valve to operate properly. If a tank is exposed to fire, the internal pressure can rise rapidly, resulting in a violent explosion with pieces of metal becoming shrapnel fragments. The explosion in central Pattaya has the visual indications of some type of gas explosion. Gas explosions can occur without necessarily causing fire. The damage is done by the violent explosive force that can bring down walls, roofs and ceilings. The absence is of fire is attributed to the rapid release of energy before combustible contents of the building can be heated to their ignition temperatures. Most Bangkok taxis operate on compressed natural gas (CNG).

This happened in Thailand during current monsoon.

From Thairath / Thaiger Five people were injured, three seriously, following an explosion at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant in the Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. One of the big cylinders is believed to have exploded, spreading to others, and started a blaze at the V.I.P Petroleum plant, in the Bang Sao Thong district of Samut Prakarn province. Five Burmese employees, who lived near the plant in workers’ houses in the area, were injured in the fire, them of them seriously. A rescue team and firefighters’ report revealed there were a number of flammable items in the area, such as houses, cars, motorcycles, and tyres. It made the fire bigger and more dangerous. The area is also surrounded by LPG gas which is highly flammable. Firefighters and officers spent about one hour turning all LPG’s valves off to help control the situation. A 42 year old worker, Anuchit Jaidee, made public that the gas plant has about 30 workers, both Thais, and migrants. They start work at 8am and finish at 5pm, but added no one was working inside the plant during the explosion, which happened at 12.20am. Workers living in accommodation near the gas plant heard the loud explosion, went to investigate, and consequently, five of them got hurt.

NOTE -- I recall that Thai rejected higher offers in the pass because they did not deem bid high enough. From the Thaiger Thai Airways sells five Airbus A340s stored away for 13 years Thai Airways has found a buyer for five dusty Airbus A340s which have gone unused for 13 years. Thailand’s flag carrier has sold one A340-500 and four A340-600 planes for a total of 350 million baht. The buyer – whose identity remains disclosed – has already signed the paperwork finalising the deal, according to Chief Technical Officer of Thai Airways Cherdphan Chotikhun. The transaction will go through once it is approved by Thailand’s Minister of Transport, said Cherdphan. Since Thai Airways entered its debt rehabilitation programme two years ago, the airline has sold a total of 16 decomissioned planes. Prior to the most recent sale one A340-500 and four A340-600s, THAI sold one Boeing 737-400 and ten Boeing 737-400 planes, amounting to two billion baht. Cherdphan admitted that the airline struggled to shift the decomissioned A340s and there are still four more aircraft of the same spec for sale. THAI is currently engaging in discussions with prospective buyers for the remaining four A340s, said Cherdphan. =============================== From The Thaiger Thai AirAsia X to launch two Thailand – Australia routes Budget airline Thai AirAsia X will launch two direct routes between Thailand and Australia in December. The airline will fly from Bangkok to both Melbourne and Sydney, beginning December 1 and 2 this year, respectively. The Bangkok to Sydney route will fly four times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The Bangkok to Melbourne route will fly thrice a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. An 337-seat Airbus A330 will serve both routes with 12 Business Class seats and 365 Economy Class seats. Tickets are already on sale, with one-way economy fares from Melbourne to Bangkok starting from $299 AUD (7,552 Thai baht). A one-way Business Class ticket on a premium flatbed costs $1,199 AUD (30,293 Thai baht).