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How could anything possibly go wrong.... ====================== From Cointelegraph.com Thailand to pilot cryptocurrency payments in Phuket Thailand is set to launch a pilot program in Phuket in 2025, enabling tourists to use Bitcoin for transactions and streamlining digital payments. Thailand plans to trial cryptocurrency payments in Phuket, one of its most popular tourist destinations, as part of a pilot program offering foreign visitors an alternative payment option. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira reportedly announced the new initiative on Jan. 8 at a seminar organized by the Marketing Association of Thailand, according to Nation Thailand. Pichai said the pilot will be conducted within existing legal frameworks with no amendments to current laws required to implement the trial. Continues at https://cointelegraph.com/news/thailand-pilot-cryptocurrency-payments-phuket

+1 Wholeheartedly endorse this practice. Would add Avarin Massage on same Surawong strip. Very satisfied customer.

From Bangkok Post Hitman confesses to killing former Cambodian MP Authorities in Cambodia on Saturday handed over a Thai ex-marine accused of shooting a former Cambodian opposition MP to death in Bangkok earlier this week. Ekkalak Phaenoi, also known as “Sergeant Em”, was taken from a detention facility in Phnom Penh at about 11am to the Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province, where Cambodian officials handed him over to their Thai counterparts. Ekkalak, 41, fled across the border after shooting Lim Kimya on Tuesday evening. He was arrested in Battambang, Cambodia, on Wednesday evening. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2937622/killer-of-former-cambodian-mp-handed-over-to-thai-authorities

Yes, but would rather watch him do them.😎

Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for SMS Scam From Pattaya News On January 9th, 2025, Thailand’s Cyber Crime Suppression Division raided a rental room in Bueng Kum, Bangkok, uncovering a sophisticated SMS scam operation involving a False Base Station device. Bangkok authorities arrested two Chinese nationals, Mr. Li Chuyuan, 49, and Mr. Zhu Xiangwu, 47, along with equipment, including the False Base Station, 11 mobile phones, over 30 SIM cards, and multiple bank account books and ATM cards. The suspects allegedly sent fake SMS messages with malicious links to siphon money, targeting crowded areas such as Icon Siam, Asiatique, and CentralWorld. Their mobile operation vehicle transmitted signals over a 1-3 kilometers radius, disrupting local mobile networks and affecting over 30,000 phone numbers. The scam created openings for call center fraudsters to lure victims into clicking fraudulent links. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/01/10/two-chinese-nationals-arrested-for-sms-scam-using-false-base-station-in-bangkok/

The boys dance for total of 30 minutes per hour. Boys get tipped while dancing and during the other 30 minutes are free to sit with customers and earn drink commissions and tips.

There was one night where I spent 4k baht on tips and drinks--as did two other members--and another few nights where 2k was left behind. And I came away each time persuaded that I received fair value in return.😊

From The Independent by Amelie Maurice-Jones Cracking open bottles of ice-cold Beer Lao, we gaze across the Mekong River, eyes peeled for elusive elephants amidst the oil-green cliffs and stormy jungle before the sky, heavy with rain, turns inky black. I’m with a crew of backpackers, stopping overnight in the small town of Pakbeng on a two-day boat trip from Thailand into central Laos. While the elephants evade us, multiple sightings of water buffalo that we mistake for the world’s largest land mammal, prove thrilling enough after several drinks. A few decades ago, this journey wouldn’t have been possible. Caught up in America’s war on Vietnam (Laos is the most bombed country in the world), the communist government shut its borders until 1989. While its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam have flourished as tourism hotspots, landlocked Laos slipped under the radar. But tourism is climbing: in the first eight months of 2024, Laos welcomed 2.6m foreign tourists, a 19 per cent hike from the same period in 2023. Crossing from Thailand into Laos is popular on the backpacker “banana pancake route”. Flights from Chiang Mai cost a reasonable $100 (£80) if booked months in advance. But for disorganised travellers like me, who tend to leave planning until the last minute, fares can stretch to $400 (£318). Instead, I opt to take a slow boat, which travels from the Laotion border town of Huay Xai to the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, after crossing the border by bus. While it’s quicker to do the whole journey by bus, I’m put off by stories of Laos’ sketchy roads. A slow boat means a more leisurely pace after months on the road – as well as saving precious pennies. Continues with photos https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/outdoor-activities/why-you-need-to-take-the-slow-boat-from-thailand-to-laos/ar-AA1x6eVV

From Pattaya Mail Reporters visited Wong Amat Beach, located at Naklua Soi 18 in Banglamung, Chonburi, famously known as Pattaya’s “hidden beach.” The serene destination has become a hotspot for Thai and international tourists seeking relaxation and stunning sunset views. Known for its peaceful atmosphere, the area is perfect for unwinding, dining, or enjoying drinks. By day, visitors can explore the local seafood market operated by community fishermen, offering fresh catches. In the evening, the breathtaking sunset creates a magical scene that has captivated visitors, turning this “hidden” beach into a must-see destination.

From Bangkok Post A clip of a suspected Thai national plummeting to his death from an 18-storey building in the Cambodian border town of Poipet due to the stress of working for a call centre gang has outraged netizens who are demanding more action be taken on the issue. The CCTV camera footage was shared yesterday by the Drama-addict and "Kor Kae Khon Thammada" Facebook pages. It showed a man falling from the building at around 11pm on Wednesday. The man is believed to have been making his escape before he fell from the 14th floor. His body landed on a car parked in front of the building. He died instantly. An unnamed source claims there were at least two corpses near the car, according to the two Facebook pages, The man was found to be a 31-year-old Kanchanaburi native who was tricked into working with a scam call centre operation in Cambodia, the source said. His death was presumed to either be stress-related, as he was unable to meet the gang's work target, or a failed escape bid. Chaichana Detdecho, chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, said the property is located near a 27-storey building that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has alleged is the headquarters of a gang of call centre scammers. The heavily guarded building cited by Thaksin is suspected to be run by a Chinese criminal boss known only as Xiao Ma. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2936506/thai-mans-demise-in-cambodia-linked-to-scammers

Based on regular visits to Dragon and Koi on last trip, I came away with more encouraging outlook for bar's future. It gives customer option of just sitting at bar and watching the show (which is every half-hour) and not buying drinks for boys. Or you can sit with boy and enjoy his company. Up to you. What I particularly like about the place is that all they guys who work there are good, energetic dancers and quite easy on the eyes. And they smile easily. It's limited size makes it even more intimate. I give it a thumbs up and will be returning.

Consider yourself lucky. It saved you many hours that can be better spent on more promising pursuits.

He can't expect too much on first date. 😋

If there's a word of comfort that effectively substitutes for money, please let me know.

As you're now exploring those options, maybe you'll soon discover your answer. Good luck, my friend.

That flight could suffer same fate as MH370.

You understand completely 🙂

Line @phoenix25

From Bangkok Post Thai police were launching a fact-finding investigation into the disappearance of two more Chinese nationals – a male model and a woman -after their relatives sought help. Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, inspector-general with the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO), said foreign media had reported the disappearance of Chinese model Yang Zeqi, who went missing near the Thai-Myanmar border. The incident was similar to that of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who went missing last week in the same area and was trafficked to a scam centre in Myawaddy. Wang, 31, also known by his stage name Xing Xing, safely returned to Thailand. Pol Gen Thatchai said Yang's relatives posted about his disappearance on social media and sought help. Police were launching an investigation, he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2936440/2-chinese-nationals-reported-missing-near-thai-myanmar-border

From Wikipedia Bitcoin uses a proof-of-work system or a proof-or-transaction to form a distributed timestamp server as a peer-to-peer network.[3] This work is often called bitcoin mining. During mining, practically all of the computing power of the bitcoin network is used to solve cryptographic tasks, which is proof of work. Their purpose is to ensure that the generation of valid blocks involves a certain amount of effort so that subsequent modification of the blockchain, such as in the 51% attack scenario, can be practically ruled out. Because of the difficulty, miners form "mining pools" to get payouts despite these high power requirements, costly hardware deployments, and hardware under control. As a result of the Chinese ban on bitcoin mining in 2021, the United States currently holds the largest share of bitcoin mining pools

I'd say--based on six visits--it's up to you. If you want massage, it's there for asking, but many customers choose to pass on option.

From VN Express Rescued actor describes life in scam call center According to a report by Xinjing Bao on Wednesday, Wang shared his ordeal after Thai police rescued him and returned him to Bangkok. He explained that a job advertisement he saw late last year prompted him to travel to Thailand to explore a new opportunity. He arrived in the country on Jan. 3, with a visa valid through March 3, and stayed at a hotel on Phuket Island. From Phuket, a job brokerage company transported him to Chai Nat, a central Thai province, and subsequently to Mae Sot, a district in the northern province of Tak, located along the Thai-Myanmar border. Soon after, Wang lost contact with his relatives and girlfriend. He recounted that after being forcibly taken across a river, he found himself in Myanmar, where armed individuals ushered him into a vehicle and then into a house occupied by at least 50 other Chinese nationals, as well as people from various countries. Wang described a disturbing initiation process where everyone was forced to shave their heads and undergo scamming training through text messaging over three days, though they had not yet started training him for phone scams. "It was a horrifying experience," he expressed. "I was extremely terrified and worried that I might never escape." Wang believes he fell victim to a scam that exploited the reputation of a major entertainment company. Hongxing News reported that Thai police have determined Wang was a victim of human trafficking, and he may return to China within the next couple of days. His lawyer stated: "He is safe and preparing to go home. We cannot discuss further details at this time." Meanwhile, Wang’s girlfriend Jia Jia announced on social media today that she has reunited with him. She is being commended for her bravery and astute response in handling the situation, having successfully located the right address to secure help, ensuring Wang’s safe return. Sinchew reported that the owner of the labor brokerage company involved was arrested on charges related to orchestrating Wang’s kidnapping. The Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Association is now urging actors and management companies to exercise caution with overseas job offers and thoroughly vet the nature of the work and the inviting entity. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/life/celebrities/ip-man-actor-wang-xing-says-criminals-instructed-him-in-scamming-techniques-during-myanmar-kidnapping-4837472.html

From Pattaya News Authorities seized 996 Bitcoin mining machines in Chonburi for allegedly stealing massive amounts of electricity, causing damages worth hundreds of millions of baht. Police and electricity officials seized the mining machines from a company, publicly identified by police as JIT Co., Ltd, located in Phanat Nikhom district, Chonburi, after discovering the company was illegally using a massive amount of electricity to operate a large-scale Bitcoin mining farm. The raid took place in Na Wang Hin subdistrict on Wednesday, January 8th. Pol Maj Gen Montri Thetkhan, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, revealed that JIT Co., Ltd. was registered as a digital asset trading business but had allegedly tampered with electricity meters to steal electricity for its mining operations. Mining Bitcoin requires substantial electricity and is highly expensive, Pol Maj Gen Montri said. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/01/09/996-bitcoin-mining-machines-seized-for-power-theft-in-chonburi/ ========================= From Khaosod English 13M Baht Lost in Two Chinese Crypto Scams Two separate cryptocurrency exchange meetings involving Chinese nationals in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district ended in losses totaling 13 million baht on January 9. Police are investigating both cases, which occurred within hours of each other. At approximately 3:55 p.m., three suspects fled with 5 million baht ($144K) in a white Toyota Alphard after a failed crypto exchange at a parcel shop in Pracharatbamphen Soi 12. The victim, who brought cash in a black bag, reported that the suspects claimed to have transferred cryptocurrency but no funds were received. Police later tracked a mobile phone left in the stolen bag to Suan Sukkhaphap Taechiu in Yan Nawa district. In a separate incident at G Tower on Rama 9 Road, four Chinese suspects absconded with 8 million baht ($230K) during another cryptocurrency exchange attempt. Two victims reported that the suspects, working through a Chinese middleman who arranged the meeting, claimed to have transferred cryptocurrency before fleeing with the cash. Police Colonel Prasopchok Iampinitj, Superintendent of Huai Khwang Police Station, stated that while the two cases don’t appear to be connected, investigators are working to identify the suspects and prevent them from leaving the country. In the second case, police have identified the middleman who arranged the meeting as a key suspect and are determining whether they reside in Thailand. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/01/09/bangkok-police-13m-baht-lost-in-two-chinese-crypto-scams/

From Bangkok Post Bangkok is expected to experience its coolest weather in almost 40 years on Sunday and Monday, with low temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius, while lows in the North and the Northeast will be 12°C, forecasters said on Thursday. "Anyone wanting to experience the coolest temperatures this year (with strong winds) should prepare your body and mind for Jan 12 and 13," Seree Supharathit, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster at Rangsit University, wrote on his Facebook page..