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NOTE -- The Thailand Tourist Police app can be downloaded at your app store site. From Khaosod English Thai police are intensifying efforts to restore confidence in the country’s tourism safety following recent incidents involving foreign tourists, including the high-profile case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was lured by a call center gang through Thailand to a neighboring country. National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kitt-rat Panpetch has established the Tourist Safety Operations Center (TSOC), with Pol. Gen. Prakhuab Wongsuk appointed as director. The center aims to coordinate security measures nationwide between local police forces and tourist police to systematically enhance visitor safety. TSOC will work closely with the Tourist Police Bureau, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuek-am, alongside the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to implement comprehensive security measures. A key initiative is the “Thailand Tourist Police” application, launched on December 12, 2024. The app allows tourists to send messages, photos, and location data for inquiries or emergency assistance. It connects to the 1155 emergency center, which provides 24-hour service in eight languages and coordinates with the 191 emergency hotline for immediate response The initiative also includes collaboration with foreign embassies in Thailand to enhance tourist safety protocols and address urgent tourism-related issues. On the same day, Pol. Gen. Tatchai Pitaneelaboot, who led the rescue operation of actor Wang Xing from Myanmar, met with Thai and Chinese officials to discuss cooperation in combating human trafficking and transnational crime. The establishment of a Thai-Chinese police coordination center will focus on tracking missing persons, investigating call center scams, and strengthening border control measures to ensure tourist safety and prevent illegal activities. This collaborative effort aims to reinforce border security and combat online scams, particularly focusing on call center gangs that force both Thai and foreign nationals into criminal activities. https://www.khaosodenglish.com/tourism/2025/01/13/thailand-bolsters-tourist-safety-with-new-operation-center/

I found it an arduous task in finding the law firm with right combination of experience, expertise and reputation to meet my requirements. I also needed a large firm that could handle succession issues. Now that it's behind me, I'm grateful I made the effort.

Agree that the haggling can sour the mood from the get-go. In the few instances where he's determined to pursue it, I just opt for massage only (and tip for soft service) rather than prolong tit-for-tat any longer. Both of us give up a desired outcome.

I can attest to the scores of issues that need to be considered when drawing up any type of trust, but particularly one involving possibly dying overseas. Although there's the chance you may be incapacitated, there's also the possibility you may go onto to enjoy a wonderful retirement in SE Asia. Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront. It may not be one of the more pleasant things we have have to plan for but if we want to avoid the dilemma Vinapu described above, it's required reading.

From VOA Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish — one of the largest and rarest freshwater fish in the world — were caught and released recently in Cambodia, reviving hopes for the survival of the species. The underwater giants can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) long and weigh up to 300 kilograms (661 pounds), or as heavy as a grand piano. They now are found only in Southeast Asia's Mekong River but in the past inhabited the length of the 4,900-kilometer (3,044-mile) river, all the way from its outlet in Vietnam to its northern reaches in China's Yunnan province. The species' population has plummeted by 80% in recent decades because of rising pressures from overfishing, dams that block the migratory path the fish follow to spawn and other disruptions. Few of the millions of people who depend on the Mekong for their livelihoods have ever seen a giant catfish. To find six of the giants, which were caught and released within five days, is unprecedented. The first two were on the Tonle Sap river, a tributary of the Mekong not far from the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. They were given identification tags and released. On Tuesday, fishermen caught four more giant catfish including two longer than 2 meters (6.5 feet) that weighed 120 kilograms and 131 kilograms (264 pounds and 288 pounds), respectively. The captured fish were apparently migrating from their floodplain habitats near Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake northward along the Mekong River, likely to spawning grounds in northern Cambodia, Laos or Thailand.

Killer mum on plot's mastermind From Bangkok Post The gunman who killed a former Cambodian opposition MP in inner Bangkok last week refused to reveal the mastermind behind the assassination out of fear for his family's safety, according to police. Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn Wongsiripreeda, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said on Sunday that Ekkalak Pheanoi was questioned until about 10pm on Saturday. He confessed to killing the Cambodian but refused to identify the mastermind. According to the police division commander, the 42-year-old former marine admitted that he was the hitman who killed Lim Kimya in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok and was captured on CCTV footage at the crime scene and along his escape route last Tuesday. “He refused to give in-depth information… and feared that such information would affect some party,” Pol Maj Gen Atthaporn said. On Saturday, Mr Ekkalak refused to meet his relatives – including his mother – who paid a visit, the Bangkok police division commander said. He told his mother by phone that he wanted to be punished in prison and then ended the call. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2938035/killer-of-ex-cambodian-mp-wont-reveal-mastermind-fears-for-safety-police

From Bangkok Post A Bangkok taxi driver reportedly used a fruit knife to slash a passenger’s face after he slammed the car door in response to the driver's refusal to serve his group. According to reports, the incident happened in Silom area early Saturday morning when a group of three men and a woman hailed the taxi and asked the driver to take them to Thong Lor area. When the driver refused to go because of traffic congestion, one of the passengers reportedly slammed the passenger door to express frustration. The angered driver then jumped out of his cab and an argument ensued. The taxi driver drew a fruit knife and slashed the face of the man who slammed the door. The attack left a wound more than 10 centimetres long on the face. The injured man told reporters that the gash required 32 stitches. Friends of the injured man attacked the taxi driver in response before police arrived at the scene. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2938077/enraged-bangkok-taxi-driver-slashes-passengers-face

Thought this was bottled water in Russia.

In Silom area, few shops have minimum tip (Senso is an exception). Minimum tips do not include fee that goes to the shop. In Saphan Kwai, most shops have minimum tips in the 800-1200 range (800 is usually for "soft" services such as happy ending). My experience is that most guys in SK will satisfied with minimum tip if they are the top. A minority may ask for more if you expect them to cum. There are no hard rules about this. You just have to work things out in the room. But it's not rocket science because it's in their interest to end with a satisfied customer. An exception is Phoenix Massage where the fixed 1200 tip includes your choice of service.

It’s still 99.999% what? WATER! (But good example of AI 🙂)

I'm very flexible.

Won't be shocked if he claims no involvement of Cambodia officials.

NOTE -- Visited Papaya Vintage (see below) on last trip. Recommended if you've got the time. From The Telegraph Talad Rod Fai is a great place to browse an evening away, with countless eateries, bars and tents selling handicrafts - MANJIK PHOTOGRAPHY Thais love shopping, and the sheer variety of items on offer can be as overwhelming as it is exhilarating. Clothes and textiles, jewellery, electronic hardware and DVDs (not all of them above board) are among the things you'll find. Chatuchak Weekend Market One of the world's largest open-air markets, so huge that an electric train (free of charge) whisks visitors about. Some 15,000 stalls sell furniture, ceramics, plants, trendy clothes, souvenirs, traditional medicine, books, animals and much more. Prices are pretty reasonable and it’s a great place for people watching, with thousands of Thais and foreigners clogging the lanes between the stalls. In recent years, young Thai designers have set up shop to sell interesting paintings, jewellery and other unique handicrafts. Plenty of small eateries and drinks stalls save marathon shoppers from exhaustion. Contact: chatuchakmarket.org Prices: £-£££ Papaya Vintage A little out of town but not far from Chatuchak Market, Papaya Vintage is a warehouse crammed with curios, vintage objects, clothes and furniture, Vespa scooters and life-size Star Wars figures. It’s delightfully chaotic and the sheer volume of artefacts from the 1960s onwards is almost overwhelming. The upper floor houses several studios where pop videos and advertising spots are shot, naturally using the sheer infinite choice of props on the three floors below. For those who like kitsch, flea markets and memorabilia, Papaya is a great shopping experience. Contact: papaya-studio.com Prices: ££-£££ The Railway Market – Talad Rod Fai Located behind a shopping mall a little way out of town, this huge night market, also known as Srinagarindra Train Night Market, specialises in antiques and antique-style items, but also offers all the stuff that can usually found at night markets (which is pretty much anything). That said, the items for sale are generally more interesting than those found at other markets, whether they are handmade curios or vintage cars. Almost a universe of its own, this expanse of multi-colored tents, along with countless eateries and bars, is a great place to browse an evening away. Address: Soi Srinagarindra 51, Khwaeng Nong Bon Contact: 00 66 818 275 885 Opening times: Thurs-Sun, 5pm-12pm Prices: ££ Paul’s Antiques Set downtown in a 1960s bungalow in a lush tropical garden, this shop-cum-furniture restoration business specialises in antiques from around Southeast Asia, with an emphasis on Burmese objects. It also produces new furniture and design items from reclaimed teak, including coffee tables made from old window shutters and an erstwhile teak boat remodelled as a book shelf. The bright showrooms hold an impressive collection of items including vintage photographs, an array of sculptures, ceramics (including Angkor period pieces) and musical instruments, but the furniture impresses most. It’s even possible to watch some of the restoration work going on. Contact: paulsantiques.com Prices: £££ Dasa Book Café Quite possibly Bangkok’s best second-hand bookshop, and surely its largest, Dasa is run by an erudite American and offers more than 18,000 well-organised fiction and non-fiction titles, from bestsellers to obscurities, and including many books on the region. It's housed over three floors in a house of narrow, creaking stairs and loaded shelves, a stone’s throw from the Emporium Shopping Centre on Sukhumvit Road. Dasa also offers cakes and fresh coffee, sells music CDs and organises occasional author events. Incredibly, all titles are listed online and prices are reasonable. Contact: dasabookcafe.com Prices: ££ Continues at https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/best-shopping-bangkok-170000096.html

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.