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"Bargain," albeit, is a subjective term. Not knowing what dates you're looking at, I spot checked Agoda and Hotels.com for Silom area on Feb. 24-25. The following prices appeared attractive: Mid-rage options: Raya, $58; Bandera Suites, $52; Ban Silom, $36; Fumara, $49; Silom Serene, $46; Trinity Silom, $42. Coming in above the $60 range were Tarntawan Surawong and Holiday Inn Express, both at $61. Economy options: Red Planet, $29; Glitz, $33; Nantra, $19.

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If you're a contrarian investor with your time and money, the first quarter of 2020 may indeed prove to be a good opportunity to visit the LOS. Consider what's happened in the past week in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak: 1. Tourism authorities predict hotels and other travel-related businesses will take a big hit 2. The baht has lost ground to the dollar, pound and Euro 3. China has canceled packaged tours and many outbound flights All this will likely be reversed as quickly as it has come about when the threat is contained. In meantime, however, you stand to become a more hansum man.

From Khaosod English Tourists Still Don’t Know About These Decades-Old Street Food in Bangkok Just south of Sathorn Road are clusters of back-to-back street food shops who’ve been serving hungry locals and honing their craft for decades. By paying as little as 40 baht, you could get a dish of noodles and fish balls that someone has spent 40 years perfecting in this neighborhood along the streets of Chan, Saint Louis, and Sathu Pradit. Plus, they’re largely free of tourists, so you’ll actually be eating what locals eat, not what Instagram influencers/backpackers are snacking on. Ride up and down Chan Road on the following red hop-on-hop-off song taew buses: 1256, 1271, 1279. Taxi drivers, Grab Bike riders, and bros daring each other to finish multiple huge bowls are just some of the regulars that come to an unnamed shop serving huge bowls of egg noodles since the 1970s. “One big bowl used to be just 50 satang. My mom wanted to give huge portions to working people who need lots of energy,” said Weera Nopparatcharoeksuk, who took over from his parents about 10 years ago, as he swirls noodles with a stick in hot water. “We can charge cheaply because we make the noodles ourselves.” The shop’s specialty is Bamee jub gung, literally “coolie egg noodles,” a dish popularized by Chinese laborers in the past, who needed cheap, high-energy dishes. There are three sizes to choose from: 30 baht, 40 baht, and 45 baht: or in layman’s terms, large, larger, and largest. The noodles have no added color – the light yellow is all from the eggs. We couldn’t even make a dent in the 45 baht noodles (and we asked for extra, free pork rib broth as well), a pile of eggy goodness with thick chunks of grilled pork and homemade pork wontons. “Most of my customers are men, but I’ve had some ladies come in and finish a 40 baht bowl while a guy couldn’t finish a 30 baht one,” Weera said. Fun fact: Although the shop doesn’t have an official name. Locals have christened it “Bamee Jub Gung Pa Pranee” or Aunt Pranee’s Coolie Noodles, after Weera’s mom. Open 9am to 2pm Mondays through Saturdays at Soi Chan 43, Yaek 11. Continues with more listings, photos, video and map link http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2020/01/25/tourists-still-dont-know-about-these-decades-old-street-food-in-bangkok/

I think the status of the Thai and Chinese economies will be the overriding factor, particularly the value of Silom real estate. Twilight was the mainstay of gay Bangkok for a long spell until the land below and sky above beckoned developers. Now that Patpong has quickly absorbed that role, it's success over the next decade will be partly ruled by the same forces. The Silom venues (including Moonlight and Jupiter) need a stable influx of Chinese customers to make the numbers work. The proliferation of massage shops scattered around the area (especially along Surawong) likewise would have a tough time without them. Not a gay venue (although many of its customers are), Prime is one of the few that could survive. Because of its large local following, Soi 4 is somewhat immune. Nevertheless there could be a pruning of venues in a serious economic downturn like the financial crisis of 1997. At the moment, the economy of Thailand is fairly stable but it faces increased headwinds, the most immediate of which is the strong baht. Beyond that it's political future is one of those "black swan" events that economists worry about. The booming economy of China is expected to slow during the decade but continue to dominate the region and--to a lesser degree--the rest of the world. A prosperous China means a continued flow of customers--male and female--that fuel gay Bangkok. ASEAN neighbors can be expected to slowly increase while western clientele numbers will be lucky to remain stable. As for individual venues, there has always been an on-going evolution of clubs. That will continue as a few go by the wayside while others consolidate or go out of business. Nothing new there. That said, gays--regardless of where they're from---know that Bangkok is one of the best destinations where they can feel unencumbered by their preference.

NOTE -- It's clear to me that all posters who contributed to this thread have strong views about the environment and how it affects those who live in an visit our favorite city. We may come at the issue from different angles but all make valid points. I think the following article illustrates the need to arrive at workable solutions to air pollution. From Bangkok Post PM2.5 clogs Bangkok marathon decision Air pollution in Bangkok has stymied Thailand's dream of becoming the marathon capital of Asia, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) determining this weekend if the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2020 (ATMBKK) has to be cancelled. The 3rd edition of the marathon, sponsored by the government, is set for Feb 2. Of the 28,000 people registered for this race, 20% are foreign participants, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. "If the air pollution is at an unhealthy level and harmful to runners, we don't have a choice -- we must cancel this event. Hopefully, we can still keep going like last time," said Mr Phiphat, referring to the 2019 edition of the race, also haunted by poor air quality. As a co-host, the agency is monitoring the pollution level on a daily basis and will follow the Public Health Ministry's instruction on whether to withdraw this year's event, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn. However, if the event continues with the same schedule, all necessary preparations are already in place. The agency is seeking cooperation from stakeholders such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to ask construction sites along the running route to stop working three days before the race. The road will be cleaned thoroughly to wash away the dust. More water stops will be available to runners, as well as increased misting fans to clear the toxic miasma. Mr Yuthasak said the decision must be made this weekend as 6,000-7,000 foreigners have to plan their trips in advance. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1842349/pm2-5-clogs-bangkok-marathon-decision#cxrecs_s

From Khaosod English Scholar Fears Massive Renovation of Iconic Avenue May Erase History BANGKOK — Works are underway to tear down buildings along a 1,200-meter stretch of the iconic Ratchadamnoen Avenue and rebuild them under a new architectural style per orders from the Crown Property Bureau, who owns the land. According to its website, the bureau – which manages assets and properties on behalf of His Majesty the King – pledged to renovate 10 buildings on the avenue in a “neoclassical” style, ditching the art deco look originally implemented in the spirit of a 1932 revolution that overthrew the absolute monarchy. The announcement, which promises to be the biggest alteration to the Ratchadamnoen Avenue since 1940, drew praises from some who believe the redo would attract more businesses and tourists, while a historian expressed unease at that memories attached to the democratic revolution would be erased along with the avenue’s old look. Ratchadamnoen Avenue is perhaps the most politically charged landmark in the capital; its history symbolizing the ebb and flow of the ideological struggles that define the last century of Thai politics. Construction first began in 1899, ordered by King Rama V who wished to imitate the modern, grand avenues that he witnessed during his European tour. Historians said the avenue also doubles as a projection of power by the the king’s absolute monarchy regime. Though each end of the avenue stood two spectacular palaces, much of the road was home to empty lots and trees, until a revolution in 1932 overthrew the king’s direct rule and replaced it with a parliamentary democracy. The revolutionaries, who called themselves the People’s Party, soon set out to fill Ratchadamnoen Avenue with buildings designed under art deco style, said architectural historian Chatri Prakitnonthakan. He said art deco was chosen by the revolutionaries to signify a break with the feudal past. Their project was formally inaugurated in 1940, including the Democracy Monument that was placed right in the middle of the avenue. But despite their historical and cultural significance, they are not considered “protected buildings” under the law, and therefore subject to any plan of demolition or renovation – such as the one happening right now. Continues with historical and contemporary photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2020/01/23/scholar-fears-massive-renovation-of-iconic-avenue-may-erase-history/

Of course she does: "What caused the high levels of air pollution in Bangkok last winter? The major sources of PM2.5 particles are exhaust from car engines, power plants, and agricultural waste burning, which lead to a number of theories - stagnant air flow, old diesel cars, coal power plants, and agricultural burning from neighboring provinces." The again, I could be talking about "cars" and you could be talking about, well..... "cars". It's the crap that you can't see--like colorless, odorless and tasteless carbon monoxide--that is among the more dangerous emissions.

From NY Times How Gay Art Survives in Beijing, as Censors Tighten Grip The artist Gao Jianxiang at his Beijing studio, foreground, with his gallerist, Pierre Alivon, whose gallery ART.Des in the Chinese capital shows gay-themed work.Credit...Pierre Alivon From the outside, the facade of Destination (a prominent Beijing venue that expressly welcomes gay people) is downright drab. But inside this four-story cultural center on the east side of the city, the works in the nonprofit art gallery can push boundaries. This is no easy feat as censorship restrictions have been tightening in China under President Xi Jinping. And, although same-sex relations were decriminalized in 1997, gay Beijingers say they continue to face discrimination. They look longingly to Taiwan, where a recent decision to legalize same-sex marriage on the self-ruled island of 24 million is being celebrated throughout the world. Taiwan has long been the heart of gay Asia. In mainland China, acceptance of same-sex couples has progressed at a glacial rate. Many gay Chinese will never come out to their family, and there are still gay conversion centers around the country. However, there is a quietly present gay community in Beijing. Destination, which opened 15 years ago as a nightclub and has since expanded to become a cultural center, is one of the few places where gay men can be open about their sexual orientation, according to observers. Since the center’s opening, its clientele has remained mostly gay men, but it’s more than just a place to find a date. The center provides anonymous H.I.V. testing, practice rooms for a men’s choir, yoga and dance classes. And on the third floor, the art gallery, ART. Des, provides a window into the current state of gay art in Beijing. Continues at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/17/travel/gay-art-beijing-china.html

The following is a quote from Part 1 of the link cited above: "What caused the high levels of air pollution in Bangkok last winter? The major sources of PM2.5 particles are exhaust from car engines, power plants, and agricultural waste burning, which lead to a number of theories - stagnant air flow, old diesel cars, coal power plants, and agricultural burning from neighboring provinces." Part 1 of the reports offers some advice for tourists: "On average tourists should avoid Bangkok between late October and early April. You may be thinking, “But that’s when I have my holiday! Where else I can go?” May I suggest Phuket or Samui Island? The south of Thailand has low AQI all year long, as you can see in the map below." That's about half the year so not very helpful for ex-pats and those tourists coming specifically to Bangkok. Part 2 of the author's report provides strong evidence that the burning of agricultural products around Southeast Asia contribute mightily to the seasonal problem. There's also an informative discussion of the effects weather inversions, wind and humidity exert on conditions. However, vehicle missions (as Anddy describes first hand from his motorbike) do indeed acerbate the problem. It's among the reasons that London penalizes drivers who enter the city center.

The idea is to keep the children out of the transportation network where they are less likely to be exposed to pollution. Bangkok has steadily expanded its BTS and MRT networks to the point you can get to many destinations around the city. It was done, I understand, with German engineering and technology. The stations and equipment are among the cleanest and best maintained I've seen. There's buses if you take some time to become familiar with the route system. And there's the river and canal boat systems well used by locals and tourists alike. I have no trouble getting around the city.

If you were just about to climb the stairs to Freshboys, the bar is immediately to your left. It's open on two sides (Patpong 2 and the portico side ) just in front of Screwboys. It has small tables, a sofa and small bar. The Freshboys waiters (all will be wearing numbers and acting as hawkers before show) are offable. Don't be surprised if they find you before you find them.

From Coconuts Bangkok The wai and its spoken counterpart sawasdee, a beautiful and gracious tradition widely associated with Thailand, is being celebrated today by tech giant Google for being “adopted” this day in 1943. “Known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Smiles,’ Thailand is world-renowned for its friendly people and gracious hospitality,” Google’s announcement reads. “Today, sawaddee can be heard across the country—from the idyllic beaches of the south, to the temples of the mountainous north, and everywhere in between—epitomizing the welcoming spirit of Thailand.” By “adopted,” Google of course means unilaterally imposed by fiat on the populace by then-dictator Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who wielded absolute power to drag Thailand, if not kicking and screaming, then wai-ing and sitting, into the modern era. s part of his Thai Cultural Revolution, he changed the nation’s name from Siam to Thailand and famously passed laws requiring Thais sit in chairs, men wear pants, and women kiss their husbands goodbye. Before that, Thais greeted each other however they wanted. That included “How are you?” “Have you eaten?” and “Where did you go?” Plaek is a complicated figure – he was a leader in the revolt that overthrew absolute monarchy in 1932 before going on to embrace fascism, Mussolini and Imperial Japanese occupation. On Jan. 22, 1943 he issued the following decree: “The Prime Minister has considered the matter and believes that in order to enhance the honor of our people and the nation, and for the Thais be praised as a civilized people, and as speech reflects the one’s mentality; therefore, the order has been given to strongly urge all public servants to say ‘sawasdee’ to one another when meeting the first time every day. Doing so will foster friendship and instill the habit of speaking only auspicious words. In addition, public servants must advise those in their households to also use the phrase sawasdee.” He was ousted a year after mandating the Sawadee greeting as Japan crumbled and the Thai underground resistance movement grew in power. Following the final routing of the Axis powers he adored in World War II, Plaek returned to power with a newfound enthusiasm for democracy and ruled another nine years. The word “sawaddee,” derived from svasti (“well-being” in Sanskrit) was invented in the mid-1930s by Chulalongkorn University professor Nim Kanjanajiva, aka Phraya Upakit Silapasan. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/google-celebrates-greeting-imposed-by-thai-dictator/

From the BBC How a boy from Vietnam became a slave on a UK cannabis farm It was a horrifying death for the 39 Vietnamese nationals found in the back of a trailer in an industrial park in Essex, in October last year. The story shone a light on the subterranean world of people smuggling and human trafficking, reports Cat McShane, specifically the thriving route between Vietnam and the UK. Ba is slight for 18. His body shrinks into a neat package as he recalls his experiences. We're sitting in a brightly lit kitchen, a Jack Russell dog darting between us under the table. Ba's foster mum fusses in the background, making lunch and occasionally interjecting to clarify or add some detail to his account of his journey here from Vietnam. She wants to make sure his story is understood. Ba's lived here for nearly a year. He was placed with his foster parents after being found wandering, confused and scared, around a train station in the North of England, with just the clothes he was wearing. "You feel safe now though, don't you?" his foster mum asks, needing affirmation that the mental and physical scars Ba wears will heal with enough care. His story is one both extraordinary, and typical of the growing number of Vietnamese men and women recognised as being potential victims of trafficking in the UK. For several years, Vietnamese have been one of the top three nationalities featured in modern slavery cases referred to the National Crime Agency, with 702 cases in 2018. The Salvation Army, which supports all adult victims of modern slavery in the UK, says the number of Vietnamese nationals referred to them over the last five years has more than doubled. It's estimated 18,000 people make the journey from Vietnam to Europe each year. Ba believes it was a Chinese gang that trafficked him to the UK. He was kidnapped off the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, where he was a street child, an orphan who slept in the bend of a sewage pipe. He sold lottery tickets for money, although older men sometimes beat him and grabbed his takings. A 2017 Unicef report described Ho Chi Minh City as "a source location, place of transition and destination of child trafficking". And a 2018 report by anti-trafficking charities said numerous trafficked Vietnamese children had reported being abducted while living on the streets. That's what happened to Ba. "An older man told me that if I came with him, he could help me earn a lot of money. But when I said no, he put a bag over my head. I couldn't believe what was happening," he says. He was then bundled into a small van, bound as well as blindfolded, his shouts stifled. Somewhere along the way, Ba's captors changed, and now he couldn't understand the language they spoke. When they finally came to a standstill and the bag was removed, Ba found himself in a large, empty, windowless warehouse in China, and was told to wait. "I knew they were preparing to send me somewhere to work," he says. During the months that Ba was held there, a guard regularly beat him. "I don't know why," Ba says with a shrug, "there was no reason." When he was caught trying to escape, his punishment was far worse than kicks and punches - the guard poured scalding water over his chest and arms. "It was agony. I was shouting at him to stop but he didn't listen," he says. Ba became unconscious with the pain. "I just lay still for days. I couldn't walk. It was painful for a very long time." His foster mum adds that his scarred skin is tight all over his body, and a permanent reminder of what happened to him. Ba was then moved to the UK in a succession of trucks. He remembers the silence of the final container, where the human cargo hid among boxes. The quiet was broken only by the rustling of cardboard being ripped up, to be used as insulation from the gnawing cold. His long-sleeved top offered little protection. "I was always scared on the journey, and very tired. I couldn't sleep because I was so worried. I didn't know what was happening to me. I wasn't told anything about where I was going." In fact, Ba was destined to work as a "gardener" in the UK's illegal cannabis trade - which is valued at around £2.6bn a year. In an abandoned two-storey house surrounded by woodland, he was locked-up and told to look after the plants that grew on every available surface. It was a mundane vigil of switching lights on and off over the plants at set times and watering them every few hours. But it was also punctuated by violence. When a plant failed, Ba was starved and kicked by a Chinese boss, who would aim for the burns on his chest. Ba never received any payment for his work, and wasn't told he was earning to pay off his fare to the UK. He was a slave. "How did I keep going? I kept telling myself to keep eating, keep working and to wait for the opportunity to run away," he says. He finally escaped by smashing an upstairs window, and jumping to the ground. Then he ran for as long as he could. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51176958

From Bangkok Post City Hall has ordered about 20,000 personnel to start work at 10am instead of 8am and suspended classes at its 437 schools on Wednesday in its fight against unhealthy smog levels. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) came up with four urgent measures to deal with the hazardous ultra-fine dust levels in the air in the capital, said spokesman Pongsakorn Kwanmuang. The measures are the introduction of staggered working hours of 20,000 BMA personnel at City Hall in Sao Chingcha area and the BMA City Hall Tower 2 in Din Daeng, suspension of classes at all 437 BMA-run schools, distribution of face masks and campaigns to promote their use, said Pol Capt Pongsakorn. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1840579/city-hall-orders-staggered-hours-in-fight-against-smog

NOTE -- Although Coconuts Bangkok has since posted an article, citing a government official who claims that the British man does not have the virus associated with the Wuhan variant, it also seems directed at downplaying the issue . The spokesman says the public shouldn't be alarmed because there's no indication that the man traveled to Wuhan. That suggests that that the virus can only be acquired within that city. The second article below from the South China Morning Post presents a more dire scenario. From Coconuts Bangkok As Wuhan virus fever takes hold of the public’s imagination, Thai health officials said Tuesday afternoon that a 32-year-old British tourist who fell ill on the resort island of Phi Phi does not have the potentially fatal disease. Ash Shorley, who reportedly fell ill after arriving in Thailand in late December, has been the subject of breathless reports indicating he might have been infected with the virus that has killed at least four people since it emerged in Wuhan, China last month. Phuket’s top public health official, Thanit Sermkaew, told the Phuket News today that Shorley did not have the disease. Disease Control Department Director Sophon Iamsirithavorn today said no record could be found indicating Shorley had traveled to Wuhan. He said the public shouldn’t be alarmed. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/british-tourist-recovering-in-bangkok/ ============================================================== From South China Morning Post Wuhan coronavirus: 20 other cities in China affected by outbreak, Hong Kong academics say The model developed by Hong Kong University suggests coronavirus outbreak worse than officially reported Model, which used travel and other data to map out the likely spread of the virus, estimated 1,343 people had been infected in Wuhan The Wuhan coronavirus has already spread to 20 other cities in China, according to a study from the University of Hong Kong that suggests the outbreak is worse than officially reported. A model developed by HKU’s infectious disease experts found the virus would have taken hold across swathes of mainland China between January 1 and 17. The analysis by the university’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control was unveiled on Tuesday, when health authorities reported 21 cases in six mainland cities other than Wuhan, the source of the outbreak. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3047022/wuhan-coronavirus-20-other-cities-china-affected

From MSN A British backpacker is fighting for his life in a Thailand hospital after it is feared he contracted the deadly Chinese flu virus which has already infected more than 100 people. Ashley Shorley had to be taken to hospital by a specialised seaplane because the high altitude was too much for his lungs while he was visiting Koh Phi Phi island. The 32-year-old's symptoms appear to be consistent with the Chinese coronvirus which has officially been contracted by at least 139 people while three deaths have been reported, sparking fears of a pandemic. But with Ashley's parents by his bedside while he relies on a ventilator to breathe, there are concerns the Chinese authorities are keeping the true scale of the issue under wraps, reports the Sun . He is understood to be the first Brit to have contracted the virus. China's National Health Commission said in a statement on January 19 the source of the virus hasn't been found and that its transmission path has not been fully mapped. Phuket doctors drained 2kg of liquid from Ashley's lungs and his dad Chris said his son was "two days from death", adding: "If he wasn’t so fit, he wouldn’t be with us now. “We are now waiting on tests. It is very serious.” https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fears-brit-backpacker-struck-down-with-deadly-flu-like-chinese-virus-in-thailand/ar-BBZ8qHY?li=BBoPWjQ

From Bangkok Post Chao Phraya dam water critically low CHAI NAT: The water in the Chao Phraya dam reservoir in Sapphaya district is at a critically low level due to the unrelenting and spreading drought, and the rate of discharge is again being reduced. As of Monday morning, the water level on the northern side of the dam was at only 13.45 metres, below the standard retention level of 16.50m. This indicates this year's drought is more serious than last year's, when the water level on Jan 20 was 15.60m. If there is no fresh inflow from the North, the amount of water would fall below the operating level in four months, local reports said. The Chao Phraya dam is currently discharging water at the limited rate of 75 million cubic metres per second - only enough to maintain the ecological system and push back the salty water in the Chao Phraya river. Officials said water must be kept at an operating level for as long as possible as the dry season is unlikely to end soon. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1839744/chao-phraya-dam-water-critically-low

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A well-designed chair, public transport station, and green spaces are the keys to better living in Thailand – at least, that’s the message of the upcoming art festival. Bangkok Design Week 2020, under the theme of “Resilience: New Potential for Living,” will be held Feb. 1 to 9 this year, showcasing dozens of events ranging from exhibitions, design, workshops, markets, and more in events mostly in the Charoen Krung area as well as citywide. See what a “safe zone” from PM 2.5 looks (and smells) like at one of their exhibitions running all week at the Grand Postal Building. A workshop about designing your own boat stations will be held by popular public transpo advocacy page Mayday to highlight the need for wheelchair access in Bangkok’s mass transit system. Get to know the people of the area better through photo exhibitions of Charoenkrung family portraits. Watch indie films outdoors about Bangkokian’s lives in yesteryear at the Kenkoon Thong Lor Showroom. Most Bangkok Design Week 2020 events are concentrated in Charoen Krung Area, but the dozens of events are held all throughout the city – check their website for full details of the venues and schedule. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/2020/01/17/eco-design-art-workshops-collide-at-bangkok-design-week-2020/ Map of venues https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/en/guide/venues

From Bangkok Post Bangkok and nearby provinces remained blanketed in smog, with PM2.5 dust exceeding safe levels at 37 air-quality monitoring stations on Saturday morning. The Pollution Control Department (PCD) said hazardous particle levels in the air in Greater Bangkok ranged between 39 and 79 microgrammes per cubic metre in the morning, with the results in 37 areas exceeding the safety standard of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre. The unhealthy smog on Saturday worsened in most areas of the capital from Friday, when the levels were 28-55mcg/cm, with fine dust exceeding safe levels at 10 monitoring stations. The affected areas in Bangkok on Saturday include parts of Hiranrujee in Thon Buri district, Kanchanaphisek Road in Bang Khun Thian district, Bang Na district, Din Daeng area of Din Daeng district, Rama IV Road in Pathumwan district, Intharapitak Road in Thon Buri, Lat Phrao Road in Wang Thong Lang district, Din Daeng Road in Din Daeng district and the Phlab Phla area in Wang Thong Lang district. Among the affected areas in surrounding provinces were parts of Bang Kruai district and tambon Bang Phud in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi, tambon Khlong Nueng in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani, tambon Song Khanong in Phra Pradaeng district and tambon Pak Nam in Muang district of Samut Prakan, and tambon Om Noi in Krathum Baen district of Samut Sakhon. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1838564/dust-exceeds-safe-levels-in-37-greater-bangkok-areas#cxrecs_s

From BBC Dating app Grindr and a Twitter-owned advertising-tech firm have been accused of unlawfully sharing users' data. It is part of a wider investigation by the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) into the "out of control" advertising industry and profiling of customers. Along with four other ad-tech companies, they face huge fines if found to be in breach of EU data laws. Grindr said it was changing its consent platform while Twitter has temporarily disabled the relevant account. "We are currently investigating this issue to understand the sufficiency of Grindr's consent mechanism. In the meantime, we have disabled Grindr's MoPub account," Twitter told BBC News. Grindr and its advertising partners are accused of sharing details such as location, age, gender and sexuality, in breach of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51106357

From Pattaya One Vietjet launches direct route from Ho Chi Minh City to Pattaya / U-tapao VIETNAM (VOV)- The low-cost carrier Vietjet Air have recently opened a direct air route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Pattaya in Thailand, with four return flights per week. The Ho Chi Minh City – Pattaya air route came into operation from December 23, with flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.The duration of each flight is one hour and 30 minutes, with departures from Ho Chi Minh City taking place at 13:25 before arrival at U-tapao International Airport in Pattaya at 14:40. Return flights will see departures from U-tapao International Airport at 11:25 before arriving back in Ho Chi Minh City at 12:55. https://thepattayanews.com/2020/01/15/vietjet-air-launches-direct-route-from-ho-chi-minh-city-to-pattaya/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Fully legal brothels should be introduced to combat sex crimes, a government coalition lawmaker said Wednesday. Thai Civilized Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, who also chairs the House Committee on sexual violence, said brothels and sex shops would help potential offenders “release their manhood. But the director of an organization that asists rape victims criticized Mongkolkit’s remark as ignorant and misleading. “We must understand that humans are born to procreate. The laws and prohibitions came after. Morality came after,” Mongkolkit said. “Most rape cases occurred because men have no venue for release of manhood.” Apart from his proposal to legalize brothels and sex shops, the 38-year-old politician said male bed-ridden patients should be given sexual services that would release their libido. He also said decriminalizing brothels would help eliminate the culture of bribery within the law enforcement. Mongkolkit backed his argument by citing Switzerland’s liberal policies on prostitution as a successful model to reduce sexual crimes. His proposal came after years of campaigning by several NGOs, including a sex worker advocate group, to decriminalize and regulate Thailand’s notorious sex industry, which remains illegal despite its global reputation. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/01/16/mp-calls-for-legalizing-brothels-to-reduce-rape/

From Reuters Thailand's 2020 rice exports forecast to fall to lowest in seven years BANGKOK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Thailand's rice exports in 2020 are forecast to drop to their lowest in seven year, the country's rice exporters group said on Thursday, as the strong baht reduces the competitiveness against other shippers. Exports from Thailand, the world's second-biggest exporter of the commodity after India, are expected to drop to 7.5 million tonnes this year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said. That would be the lowest volume since Thailand exported 6.6 million tonnes of rice in 2013. The grim forecast came after Thailand fell short of its initial 2019 target by exporting 7.8 million tonnes of rice last year. Thai rice export volumes have declined for two consecutive years since hitting a record 11.60 million tonnes in 2017. "We're being optimistic when we give the 7.5 million tonnes forecast," Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the exporters association, told Reuters. "This year looks worse than the last, because of even more apparent price differences." Thai benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 prices have remained high well into 2020, after trading significantly higher than the Vietnamese variety throughout 2019 mainly because the baht rose in value relative to other currencies. Thai prices were about $75 a tonne higher than Vietnamese cargoes last week. Drought - which has been declared in 18 provinces in the central, northern and northeastern farming regions - also threatens to reduce supply in 2020, driving up local rice prices. Thailand's dry season started in November and usually lasts through April, although authorities said it could go on through June this year. https://in.investing.com/news/thailands-2020-rice-exports-forecast-to-fall-to-lowest-in-seven-years-2101505

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Skytrain officials on Wednesday hinted that the long-delayed plan to expand a popular station close to Taksin Bridge may be implemented within the “beginning of this year.” After years of lengthy discussions and uncertainty concerning the fate of BTS Saphan Taksin station, the rail operator said the station will be closed for expansion works for 40 months and construction will likely begin later this year, though they gave no precise time frame. “We’re currently discussing the plan with relevant agencies,” BTS public relations officer Patchaneeya Sukcharoen said. “No dates have been set, but the plan should begin within the beginning of this year.” The station, located on the east end of Taksin Bridge, has long been a bottleneck of the system due to its single track layout where only one train can stop at the station at a time. Congestion at BTS Taksin Bridge worsened in recent years as more commuters and tourists relied on the station as a link to the nearby river boats and ferries. The new plan will add a second set of tracks and platform at the station to ease congestion, according to the operator. “The service will operate as usual, but trains will not stop at Saphan Taksin,” BTS CEO Surapong Laoha-Unya said. “We will provide shuttle buses from Surasak and Krung Thon Buri stations for passengers during that period.” He added, “When it’s done, trains will arrive every two minutes, shorter than the current wait time of three minutes.” The CEO said the company will invest in the 1.1 billion baht project, which also includes the addition of traffic lanes on Taksin Bridge. Surapong expected the works to be completed within the end of 2022. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2020/01/15/bts-again-floats-plan-to-close-rebuild-saphan-taksin-station/