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Excerpted from Bloomberg Financial The Thai baht was the lone developing-nation currency that managed to stay in the green against the dollar in August, reflecting its insulation from China and its trade drama, according to Wells Fargo’s McKenna. Complete article can be viewed at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-30/emerging-markets-are-often-bad-in-august-but-rarely-this-bad

From The Nation Central Village is open for business Central Pattana is on Saturday (August 31) formally adding Central Village to its roster of shopping malls that includes Central Plaza, Central Festival and Central World. CPN president and chief executive Preecha Ekkunagul and directors Suthikiatis Chirathivat and Sudhitham Chirathivat presided at the opening ceremony starting at 10.39am. Central Village represents an investment of more than Bt5 billion investment and was five years in the planning. Located near Suvarnabhumi Airport, it houses 150 retail stores carrying domestic and foreign being sold at discounts of 35 to 70 per cent year-round. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375656

Thai health officials hope to give smokers--and would-be smokers--a moment of pause. From Coconuts Bangkok Starting next month, colorful cigarette packaging will be replaced by logo-free, drab brown boxes as Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to implement standardized packaging to discourage smoking. In addition to graphic health warnings covering 85 percent of the front and back of the box, the new “plain packaging ” requirements mean brand names must be printed in a standardized typeface, size, color and location. No other colors or logos will be allowed. The new regulations were adopted two years ago in the revised Tobacco Control Act but won’t come into effect until Sept. 10, with a 90-day grace period for old stock to phase out. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/all-cigarettes-in-thailand-to-be-sold-in-identical-dull-packaging/

From Khaosod English Terracotta Warriors To March into Bangkok This Sept. BANGKOK — Envoys of the first Emperor of China’s ghost army will march into Bangkok next month. The Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday that the Bangkok National Museum will hold an exhibition “Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China and the Terracotta Warriors” for three months beginning this Sept. 15. The exhibition will feature four life-sized warrior figures and a bronze chariot set, among other artifacts excavated from the tomb in Xi’an. Anan Chuchotti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, said the exhibition is the culmination of three years of negotiations with Chinese counterparts. The collection of 133 relics will span the period before the unification of China in 221 BC, the Qin dynasty, and the Han dynasty. Archeologists believe the terracotta army was part of a mausoleum for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to guide and protect him in the afterlife. Work on the mausoleum, which contained thousands of life-sized sculptures, is thought to have begun late into 300 BC. The sculptures were buried until they were accidentally discovered in 1974. However, it’s not the first time the famed terracotta warriors have stepped foot on Thai soil. Several warrior figures excavated in Xi’an are current housed in a Thai-Chinese temple in Chonburi province. The Chinese government donated the figures, on display at Viharnra Sien Temple, to promote bilateral relations. “Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China and the Terracotta Warriors” will be held at the Bangkok National Museum on Na Phra That Road. The exhibition is open from 9am to 4pm Wednesday-Friday (except public holidays) from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15. The venue is reachable by a 15-minute walk from either the Tha Chang or Phra Arthit stops along the Chao Phraya Express boat services. Tickets are available at the ticket office for 30 baht for Thai nationals and 200 baht for foreigners. Explanatory texts are in Thai and English. Continues with photos and map http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2019/08/30/terracotta-warriors-to-march-into-bangkok-this-sept/

From the Scientific American Massive Study Finds No Single Genetic Cause of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior Few aspects of human biology are as complex—or politically fraught—as sexual orientation. A clear genetic link would suggest that gay people are “born this way,” as opposed to having made a lifestyle choice. Yet some fear that such a finding could be misused “cure” homosexuality, and most research teams have shied away from tackling the topic. Now, a new study claims to dispel the notion that a single gene or handful of genes make a person prone to same-sex behavior. The analysis, which examined the genomes of nearly half a million men and women, found that although genetics are certainly involved in who people choose to have sex with, there are no specific genetic predictors. Yet some researchers question whether the analysis, which looked at genes associated with sexual activity rather than attraction, can draw any real conclusions about sexual orientation. “The message should remain the same that this is a complex behavior that genetics definitely plays a part in,” said study co-author Fah Sathirapongsasuti, a computational biologist at genetic testing company 23andMe in Mountain View, Calif., during a press conference. The handful of genetic studies conducted in the past few decades have looked at only a few hundred individuals at most—and almost exclusively men. Other studies have linked sexual orientation with environmental factors such as hormone exposure before birth and having older brothers. In the new study, a team led by Brendan Zietsch of the University of Queensland, Australia, mined several massive genome data banks, including that of 23andMe and the UK Biobank (23andMe did not fund the research). They asked more than 477,000 participants whether they had ever had sex with someone of the same sex, and also questions about sexual fantasies and the degree to which they identified as gay or straight. The researchers found five single points in the genome that seemed to be common among people who had had at least one same-sex experience. Two of these genetic markers sit close to genes linked to sex hormones and to smell—both factors that may play a role in sexual attraction. But taken together, these five markers explained less than 1 percent of the differences in sexual activity among people in the study. When the researchers looked at the overall genetic similarity of individuals who had had a same-sex experience, genetics seemed to account for between 8 and 25 percent of the behavior. The rest was presumably a result of environmental or other biological influences. The findings were published Thursday in Science. Despite the associations, the authors say that the genetic similarities still cannot show whether a given individual is gay. “It’s the end of the ’gay gene,’” says Eric Vilain, a geneticist at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C., who was not involved in the study. The research has limitations: almost all of the participants were from the U.S. or Europe, and the individuals also tended to be older—51 years old on average in the 23andMe sample and at least 40 in the UK Biobank sample. Still, researchers welcome the data. “A lot of people want to understand the biology of homosexuality, and science has lagged behind that human interest,” says William Rice, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who also was not involved in the work. “It’s been a taboo topic, and now that we’re getting information I think it’s going to blossom.” The study will not be the last word on the vexing question of what causes homosexuality, however. In 1993 geneticist Dean Hamer of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and his colleagues published a paper suggesting that an area on the X chromosome called Xq28 could contain a “gay gene.” But other studies, including the new paper, found no such link, and Sathirapongsasuti says that the new study is the final nail in the coffin for Xq28 as a cause of same-sex attraction. But Hamer, now retired, disagrees. His study, which analysed the genomes of 40 pairs of gay brothers, looked exclusively at people who identified as homosexual. He sees the new paper as an analysis of risky behavior or openness to experience, noting that participants who engaged in at least one same-sex experience were also more likely to report having smoked marijuana and having more sexual partners overall. Hamer says that the findings do not reveal any biological pathways for sexual orientation. “I’m glad they did it and did a big study, but it doesn’t point us where to look.” The authors say that they did see links between sexual orientation and sexual activity, but concede that the genetic links do not predict orientation. “I think it’s true we’re capturing part of that risk-taking behavior,” Sathirapongsasuti says, but the genetic links still suggested that same-sex behavior is related to attraction. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/massive-study-finds-no-single-genetic-cause-of-same-sex-sexual-behavior/

From Khaosod English Koh Tao Murder Convicts Sentenced to Die by Supreme Court BANGKOK — The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence for two Burmese men convicted of murdering two British tourists on a popular island in 2014. After a lengthy reading of its 60-page verdict, the court affirmed rulings by two lower courts that found Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo guilty of killing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao in September 2014. The two men were also convicted of raping Witheridge. The verdict was read at a court in Nonthaburi province, where Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are incarcerated. Defense attorney Nakhon Chomphuchart said he will file a clemency appeal to His Majesty the King and ask him to suspend the death sentence. Under Thai laws, such appeals must be made to the monarch within 60 days of a verdict. Today’s ruling marked the end of a legal battle that pitted police authorities against mostly online skeptics who accuse the investigators of using sketchy evidence and framing the two suspects as “scapegoats.” In the original verdict delivered in 2015, the court convicted Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 26, largely on the basis of DNA traces police said were recovered from the crime scene and Witheridge’s body. Although no other physical evidence or testimony directly linked the pair to the crime, the court noted the two men came into possession of a mobile phone that belonged to one of the victims. Miller was 24 at the time of his death; Witheridge was 23. Under the Thai legal system, an appeal to a higher court does not constitute a new trial, but rather re-examination and re-interpretation of evidence and testimonies submitted to the lower court. In a statement released on Wednesday night, the defense team said techniques used by police to collect DNA and other forensic evidence did not meet international standards. “DNA & forensics evidence relied on to convict Zaw Law [sic] and Wai Phyo, and sentence them to death in Koh Tao murder case fundamentally flawed & unreliable in terms of international standards,” attorney Nakhon said in the online statement. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2019/08/29/koh-tao-murder-convicts-sentenced-to-die-by-supreme-court/

From Bangkok Post AoT's new Suvarnabhumi terminal 'won't benefit users' The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA) has voiced its opposition to the 42-billion-baht plan to build a second terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport, saying it will not benefit passengers or ease overcrowding. ASA president, Ajaphol Dusitnanond, said that the association is concerned by the plan's deviation from the airport's original master plan. The project was put on hold by then-transport minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith in July, after a review by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) concluded that the Airports of Thailand's (AoT) plan for the development of the second terminal was "incompatible" with other development schemes that were planned for the area. "However, the current Transport Minister, Saksayam Chidchob, chose to ignore the NESDC report and decided to press ahead with the project," said Mr Ajaphol. He said that the plan has deviated extensively from the original master plan, which will inevitably cause delays to the development of the rest of the airport and raise the risk of cost overruns. "This will only exacerbate the overcrowding as the number of passengers continues to increase," he said. Furthermore, Mr Ajaphol said that the AoT envisages the second terminal as a large building with a focus on commercial space, which ultimately will not benefit passengers. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1737211/aots-new-suvarnabhumi-terminal-wont-benefit-users#cxrecs_s

From Bangkok Post Qatar Airways eyes bigger stake in Cathay Pacific UALA LUMPUR: Qatar Airways has full confidence in Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and will increase its 10% stake in the Hong Kong carrier if it has any opportunity to do so, the Qatari airline's chief executive said on Tuesday. "Cathay Pacific is there to stay, and to expand and to serve the people of both Hong Kong and China, as Hong Kong is an integral part of mainland China," Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said. "We have no concern about the brand, we have no concern on the viability of the airline." He was speaking at a function to announce the launch of flights from Doha to the Malaysian island of Langkawi from October. The Hong Kong airline's other major shareholders are Swire Pacific Ltd, which has a 45% stake and management rights, and Air China Ltd, with 30%. Qatar bought its stake in 2017 and has previously expressed interest in increasing it, although it has said the tight share register makes that difficult. Analysts have said Air China could look to increase its stake in Cathay in the future as China tightens its grip over the former British colony. Al-Baker, however, said his airline is not interested in buying Malaysia Airlines, at a time when sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd is considering offers for the national carrier. Qatar Airways is also not interested in buying Air India in an upcoming government sales process, he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1737751/qatar-airways-eyes-bigger-stake-in-cathay-pacific

This topic comes up on all the boards from time to time. Although this article contains nothing particularly new, it does illustrate some of the drawbacks (and potential remedies) related to long-haul travel. I really liked the advice in the closing paragraph. Excerpted from South China Morning Post Frequent fliers at higher risk of diseases that lead to ageing – what they can do to lower the risk Frequent fliers may like to brag about having so many air miles they do not know what to do with them, but all that time in the air comes at a cost to their health. While many are business travellers and have the luxury of being up at the front of the plane, that does not negate the health impacts of regularly zipping between time zones. Shipping executive Tim Huxley flies from Hong Kong to Europe on business at least one a month. “As you get older you feel more tired for longer. It takes about five days for me to recover from jet lag now,” says Huxley, 58. Research has shown that jet lag can switch off genes linked to the immune system, thus raising the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. And long-term chronic jet lag among airline cabin crew has been associated with cognitive deficits including memory impairment. While there have been no studies looking specifically at whether frequent fliers age faster, Dr Nichola Salmond, a general practitioner and owner of Optimal Family Health in Hong Kong, says that frequent fliers face jet lag and chronic sleep loss, which increase the risks for diseases that lead to ageing. “One of the big effects is sleep disruption on a regular basis, which is linked to a lot of health problems. It definitely affects metabolism and there is an increases risk of diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure issues,” says Salmond. Sleep issues aside, there are other risks of zipping about in a sealed metal tube. Researchers at the City University of New York say travellers who fly 85,000 miles a year or more should be classified as radiation workers. They show that flying that number of miles a year goes beyond the regulatory limit for public exposure to radiation facilities, and show that radiation exposure among commercial aircrew even exceeds that of nuclear power workers. He may not be able to mitigate his exposure to radiation, but there are some things he can do to limit the health risks associated with frequent flying. Airline meals are packed with salt and sugar. This is because the combination of dry air and low pressure in the cabin reduces the sensitivity of your taste buds to sweet and salty foods by about 30 per cent. All that additional salt and sugar in your diet will be bad for your body over the long term. Eating a meal just before you get on the plane and skipping the cabin meals will address that issue. “I always go for a long walk when I land,” says Huxley. “If I’m in Central London I walk around Hyde Park and if I’m in the city I’ll walk over Tower Bridge.” Other strategies he has incorporated to better manage long-haul travel include keeping trips short – flying in for a meeting, staying overnight and returning the following day. The jet lag impact is far less than that of five-day trips. He also tries to get a morning flight to the UK that arrives midafternoon, allowing time for a stroll and dinner before bed. And he chooses his plane wisely. “The newer planes are better for reducing jet lag. The Airbus A350s have bigger windows than the old 777s and the air system is better,” says Huxley. Before we get carried away with the possible horrors of too much time in the sky, let’s not forget that travel can be liberating. Long-haul travel, when done in moderation and with fun in mind, can serve to keep us youthful rather than prematurely age us. Salmond says: “Anything that makes you happy is good. I recently saw a study of ageing which showed that happier people live longer. Keeping your brain active helps prevent Alzheimer’s and going to new places is always going to be better than sitting at home watching TV.” Continues with other suggestions https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3024097/frequent-fliers-higher-risk-diseases-lead-ageing-what-they

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A decade ago, when Kindle was on the rise, Kaweewut Wuttiwibhu thought e-reading would spell the end of physical bookshops like his own. But Dasa Book Café still thrives as an established hub of Bangkok book lovers, especially those seeking English reading. “Thais, particularly the younger generations, are reading more English-language books,” co-owner Kaweewut, 45, said Tuesday. “It may be a trend for things analogue.” The charm of Dasa, meaning slave or servant in Sanskrit, is that you can resell the books that you buy. Customers are spoilt for choice by a selection of some 15,000 volumes. Kaweewut believes the demand for English-language books in Bangkok is growing as more Thais learn English from social media. Whatever’s behind the trend, Kaweewut and his business partner, Donald Gilliland, welcome it – it’s good for the shop, which has been open since 2004. Buyers can sell back purchased books at 50 percent of the paid price if they use the money to buy more books at the shop, or at 40 percent of the paid price if they want to keep the cash. Guidebooks can’t be resold. Books can only be resold within six months after the date of purchase, a period that was shortened from a previous rule of one year. Kaweewut explained that some customers handled books mercilessly, and he had to refuse beaten books and books that had clearly been plunged into the sea or a swimming pool. Dasa also carries some titles in French, German, Scandinavian, and Finnish. Prices range from 50 to 3,000 baht, although most books are priced around 200 baht. Used books are usually priced at half the price of new books, Kaweewut explained. Dasa Book Café is open everyday from 10am to 8pm. It is located between Sukhumvit Soi 26 and 28 Continues with photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/2019/08/21/dasa-book-cafe-serving-bangkoks-english-language-bookworms/

May everyone's delivery be happy ones

I think the gogo boy was much wiser to do his shopping with a friend at the brick and mortar outlet than the Jupiter boy who relied solely on the internet.

From The Hanoi Times Runways of Vietnam's two busiest airports degraded, risk closure due to overload The runways of Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the two largest airports in Vietnam, are facing risk of closure due to cracks on their surface and signs of deterioration caused by excessive operations of aircraft, Tuoi Tre News reported. According to ACV Chairman Lai Xuan Thanh, the deteriorated runways of the two airports need recarpetting to ensure the safety of the airplanes, however, due to some entanglements regarding current regulations stipulating the infrastructures are the state properties and the corporation has no competence to conduct the repair. http://www.hanoitimes.vn/investment/2019/08/81E0DAFF/runways-of-vietnam-s-two-busiest-airports-degraded-risk-closure-due-to-overload/

Not to worry. Staffed by farang volunteers, a special window dedicated to undeliverable mail is now available at the Bangkok central post. In the event you are unaware of your actual street address (as is so often the case), the volunteers will ask you for the name of the nearest massage shop and then conduct a Google Earth search. Tips are not accepted but names of particularly good masseurs are appreciated. Please note that this service is only available to foreigners. Locals have already figured this out for themselves.

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Agree. You would be doing the people of Thailand a great service if you send your suggestion to the office of the Bangkok City Administration (sorry I don't have the address). Changes in procedures to make the country run more efficiently are welcomed warmly and acted upon quickly, especially if they originate with a farang.

I am not trying to be argumentative. However, the boys that we--me, anyway--meet are aware of the physical location of where they live but they don't acquire possessions on line. I've accompanied my regular guy to two locations when he's shopping for things to send home. The most popular place is, hands down, the Big C. It is extremely popular with Chinese and Vietnamese patrons who stock up on a wide range of products that are (1) cheaper and (2) better quality than they can purchase in their home countries. If they're looking for tools or hardware, it's Home Pro. Guys who live in Thailand (unless your talking middle class or hi-so) probably do the same.

Excerpted from Bloomberg Financial Asia’s 20 Richest Families Control $450 Billion The region’s 20 wealthiest clans are now worth more than $450 billion combined, underscoring how the world’s economic growth engine is minting fortunes on an unprecedented scale. Not surprisingly, some of the places spawning these riches are facing widening inequality. Hong Kong, which gave rise to six of the biggest family fortunes, has one of the widest wealth gaps. The street protests that have engulfed the city for months were sparked by fears of eroding freedoms under China but fueled by the divide between the rich and those who struggle to afford housing. Bloomberg’s categorization of family wealth excludes first-generation fortunes such as that of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Jack Ma, as well as those in the hands of a single heir. That means no families from mainland China make the list, reflecting the country’s relatively recent surge in affluence. President Xi Jinping’s campaign against extravagance has brought down some of the super-rich who were rising a few years ago. Still, many of Asia’s wealthiest clans have Chinese roots, from the Chearavanonts of Thailand to the Hartonos of Indonesia. Asia’s wealthiest also embody the proverb “Rich is the man with no debts.” For the most part, they avoided the credit squeezes of the past few years that ensnared some of their peers, especially in India and China, where tycoons liberally pledge shares in exchange for loans. Bloomberg’s family ranking accounts for such liabilities. Hong Kong, India and Singapore—the setting for the unapologetic blockbuster “Crazy Rich Asians”—have all abolished taxes on wealth or inheritance in recent years. “Asia’s lack of a debate on taxing wealth is as strange as it is harmful,” said Donald Low, a professor at Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, one of the region’s rare wealth-tax advocates. Of course, the mood could change if the budding backlash against Hong Kong’s tycoon-dominated economy intensifies. But for now, Asia’s richest families are riding high. Continues with the list and photos https://www.bloomberg.com/features/richest-families-in-asia

From Bangkok Post Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has renewed a long-standing dispute with Central Pattana Plc (CPN) over its new luxury shopping complex by demanding a halt to construction just days before its scheduled launch on Aug 31. AoT president Nitinai Sirismatthakan said on Friday that the agency had ordered work at the Central Village site near Suvarnabhumi airport to stop as the project could pose problems for the airport. The airport operator claimed the 184-rai project could cause traffic congestion on roads to Suvarnabhumi, and lighting in the area could confuse pilots guiding planes to land at the airport. Central Village has been built on a plot rented from the Treasury Department. AoT said it was acting on behalf of the department as an authorised supervisor of the land. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1735627/aot-challenges-central-village-project-again

From Nationmultimedia US market a boon for Thai exporters as trade war bites Thailand’s exports to the US rose by double digits in the first seven months of the year, partly due to the ongoing US-China trade war, which is making importers turn to Thailand. Exports to the US accounted for 12.8 per cent of Thailand’s total exports, followed by 11.3 per cent to China from January to July this year, the Commerce Ministry said. Last year, exports to the US accounted for 11.1 per cent of total exports, compared to 12 per cent to China. “The growth of Thai exports to the US in the first seven months is high, partly due to the ongoing trade war and also because Thailand offers diversified products that can meet market demands there,” Pimchanok Vonkorpon, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said. Thailand exports many different kinds of products to the US, such as rubber products, autos and auto parts, steel products, electrical home appliances, frozen food and home decorations, she said, adding that the prospect of the US market looks good overall. The National Economic and Social Development Council also said on August 19 that some foreign investors have started relocating factories from China to Thailand in order to avoid high US tariffs. https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30375162

From Channel News Asia ...from Elvin Ng, Romeo Tan, Desmond Tan and Zoe Tay Elvin Ng and Romeo Tan each spent about four months filming in Taiwan for the drama All Is Well. (Photo: Instagram/Romeotan) What do you do when you’re stationed in Taipei for a couple of months? You eat your way through it, of course. That’s exactly what Singapore actors including Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan and Elvin Ng did when they were filming for the Taiwan-Singapore co-production All Is Well, a new Mandarin drama premiering on Monday (Aug 26). They were there for up to four months at a time, working and, of course, working out their appetites. “I can give you all my bookmarked lists – there are lots!” enthused Romeo, who had the perfect excuse to eat like there was no tomorrow – he was told to put on 10kg for the role. “If I have friends going to Taiwan, I’ll tell them, ‘You need to go to this place for breakfast, then move on for this place for brunch, then go for high tea over here, then go for steamboat at night. If you want more, you can go to the night market late at night. And if you want even more, there’s steamboat until 4am or 5am.’ So, basically, you can eat from morning all the way to the middle of the night.” Sounds like it's time to plan our own trip there, too. Now that these actors know Taipei like the back of their hands, what exactly are all of their must-eat foods in the city? Here are their insider’s recommendations. Continues with recommendations and photos https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/travel/best-food-taipei-celebrity-recommendations-11824282

From the Bangkok Post A tale of two cities Old Customs House There is no room for nostalgia in modern Thailand. At least, that's what the prevailing attitude in the capital appears to have been in recent decades, as its rapid development has continued apace. Grand old buildings, temples, villages and other heritage structures have been knocked down to make way for roads, urban rail, high-rises, condominiums and glitzy shopping malls. This has spread far beyond the capital, with towns and cities up and down the country embracing the trappings of modernity. Dazzled by all these new projects, many have forgotten how to appreciate the beauty of traditional forms of architecture. In an attempt to recapture the magic of old Bangkok and to raise awareness of the rich heritage of its old buildings and structures, British photographer and writer Ben Davies is releasing a book titled Vanishing Bangkok: The Changing Face Of The City. Vanishing Bangkok is a collection of black and white photographs shot over the past five years in a large format Linhof film camera. The book's publication will be followed by a photo exhibition, scheduled to take place at River City Bangkok Gallery during March and April of next year. "It's a fairly natural progression on what I've done before, which was looking at the old, changing traditions and ways of life. And it was really brought on by the speed at which Bangkok is changing," said Davies, who has lived in Thailand for almost 20 years. "We're just seeing this incredible transformation with shopping malls and condominiums. [But] rather than photograph that side, I went out and strolled the city looking for the old bits of Bangkok, the 236-year-old building in the city that people think has no history. I wanted to document what was left of this old side of the city." Vanishing Bangkok reveals the classic beauty and rich history of the city. From the photographs of old buildings along the banks of the Chao Phraya River to the teeming alleyways of Chinatown, narrow side streets of Talat Noi, sleepy canals and dilapidated buildings shrouded in antiquity, the book reveals the hidden charm, extraordinary history and diversity of this great city. Inspired by the stunning old architecture in cities like Hanoi, Yangon or Luang Prabang, Davies was driven to see what he could find in Bangkok. He explored the city on foot and by motorbike looking for curiosities in every corner. What he discovered is that, thankfully, there is still an extraordinary amount of the old city left, although much of it is hidden away in small pockets rather than in big areas. Davies believes it is well worth preserving. Bangkok continues to change rapidly. A decade from now, much of the city will be virtually unrecognisable. Many of the old buildings and neighbourhoods featured in the book may, sadly, be consigned to history. Indeed, Davies said that maybe 10 to 15% of the sites he documented have already gone. The Old Customs House, located along the Chao Phraya River between the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel, will soon share the same fate. Built in the 1880s, it's one of the city's oldest properties. Continues with many photos https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1734079/a-tale-of-two-cities

From Coconuts Bangkok A proposal to extend closing time from midnight to 4am in some areas must be studied before it can go any further, the prime minister said today. Word that the tourism ministry had proposed pushing hours back to early morning to generate revenue created a buzz today, but Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha quickly put the brakes on things. Prayuth said the idea needs to be examined and relevant agencies such as the police or Interior Ministry consulted. He said he was concerned about the safety and well-being of party-goers. Tourist Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said the idea was to stimulate the sputtering economy. He believes at least 25% more could be earned by keeping clubs and bars open another four more hours. Pipat’s proposal would it would only apply in certain zoned areas. Patpong, RCA and a portion of Ratchada are the only three parts of Bangkok officially zoned as nightlife districts. He also mentioned Patong Beach on Phuket and Ao Nang in Krabi. Pipat said he had not discussed the proposal directly with the prime minister. Closing times were moved up to the current midnight and 1am, depending on the type of establishment, during the administration of Thaksin Shinawatra to please social conservatives in his governing coalition. Continues at https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/clubs-and-bars-open-till-4am-proposal-must-be-studied-pm-says/

From the NY Times Inequality in Life, and Death When things go wrong, those in power often promise to make it right. But do they? In this series, The Times investigates to see if those promises were kept. BANGKOK — The Thai woman was riding on a motorcycle on her way to work when a pickup truck sideswiped her on a rural stretch of asphalt in northeastern Thailand. The truck’s driver was an off-duty police officer. He was drunk. Orathai Chanhom, the motorcyclist, was catapulted off her bike and killed almost instantly in the crash. The officer who struck her still has his police job. His driver’s license was not taken away. A court declined to sentence him to prison. In Thailand, one of the world’s most unequal societies, even roads have a rigid hierarchy, with the poor far more likely to be killed in accidents than the well-off and well-connected. And there are many deaths: Thailand had the world’s second-highest rate of road fatalities per capita, surpassed only by war-afflicted, lawless Libya, according to a 2015 report from the World Health Organization. When it comes to per-capita motorcycle deaths, the country is No. 1. “I never thought about road deaths until this happened to my mother,” said Chularat Chanhom, Ms. Orathai’s adult daughter. “I had no idea it was such a big problem in Thailand.” The government vowed at a United Nations forum in 2015 to halve the number of road traffic deaths by 2020. With less than one year to go before the deadline, however, Thailand is a long way from fulfilling that promise, its roads still ranking among the world’s 10 most dangerous, with more than 20,000 preventable fatalities a year. The country has seen a small dip in road deaths since 2015, and Thailand has in place many of the necessary laws to make its roads safer. But what the government has not addressed is the country’s vast gap in wealth, which is the core issue that not only makes its roads so deadly, but has also split the country into two bitterly divided political camps: Thailand’s haves and have-nots. Thailand, named the most unequal country of the 40 major economies surveyed last year by Credit Suisse, has what might be the world’s most toxic combination for traffic safety. Unlike poorer countries, its roads are well paved and made for speed, and the cars driven by the rich and its growing middle class tend to be new and fast. But many Thai families can afford only a single scooter or motorcycle, and high-quality helmets are a luxury for many, whatever the law says about their being mandatory to wear. In accidents on the country’s crowded roads, it’s a devastating mismatch when an air-conditioned SUV collides with a two-wheeler, scattering the detritus of death across the asphalt. And the aftermath of such accidents are a common, macabre sight on Thai thoroughfares: a shredded tire, a mangled frame of steel, a bloody plastic flip-flop. Continues with photos https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/19/world/asia/thailand-inequality-road-fatalities.html

Yes, Splinter, very sad. Here's a quote from article that appeared in Khaosod English news site: The crash came amid backlashes against transport minister Saksayam Chidchob, who recently dropped a plan to switch from public vans to more durable minibuses. The proposal was floated by the previous government in 2017 as a bid to reduce deaths and injuries related to vans. Saksayam also extended the services of public vans from 10 to 12 years, raising concerns that outdated vehicles would be used on the roads. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2019/08/19/11-killed-after-truck-crashes-van-carrying-migrant-workers/