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In anticipation of the World Cup, currently reading The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer (Laurent Dubois). Can't disagree with author's introductory remarks: “Soccer is sensual. It is about the pleasure of watching athletes’ bodies, their faces, their motion, admiring and commenting on their hairstyles and tattoos. When we talk and write about soccer, we evoke—more often unconsciously than consciously—its sensuality. Its role as a source of pleasure……Soccer may be the most tantric of sports. Some of the greatest and most riveting of games end 0-0. Perhaps what is truly sensual about soccer is that it is about interplay, relationships, motion between people, all tied up with our deepest and most mysterious emotions.”

Excerpts from Khaosod English Glory Days of Absolute Monarchy Revived at National Gallery King Rama V meets Prince Otto von Bismarck in Hamburg, 1897. It was the height – and twilight – of absolute monarchy, a period that lasted from the late 19th century until a democratic revolt in 1932. Its pomp and pageantry has been brought back to life once again in a photo exhibition running through July at the National Gallery. Their story is told through 150 reprints of glass plate negatives taken by palace and foreign artists. The originals are stored at the National Archive, along with 35,000 other photographs preserved from that bygone era. The collection was designated as an invaluable “world memory” by the UNESCO back in October, an occasion this photo exhibition celebrates. The exhibition, co-organized by the National Archive and the Ministry of Culture, is separated into eight sections: a history of photography in Siam; national symbols and landmarks; major royal ceremonies; traditional arts and culture; the modernization of Siam; new roads and architecture; portraits of prominent figures, and relations between Siam and the world. Phra Ong Chao Thongtaem Thaval Yavongse holds an unidentified boy next to a Western sculpture. But behind these displays of grandeur, away from the cameras, a crisis was brewing. The economy was failing. Dissent against the opulence and incompetence of the royal government was spreading, at first quietly, then loudly through newspapers, eventually becoming a cry for reform and democracy. Their voices went unheard. By 1932, Europe was far from the same continent King Rama V visited in the exhibition’s pictures. Monarchies no longer held the same prominence they did; some dynasties disappeared altogether. His country, too, became a different nation. A revolt forced his son, Rama VII, to give up his power and abide by a constitution, ending absolute monarchy. “Celebrating the National Glass Plate Negatives” exhibition runs at the National Gallery through July 28. It opens 8am to 7pm from Wednesday to Sunday. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/06/11/glory-days-of-absolute-monarchy-revived-at-national-gallery-photos/

Prices are on high side but they may being testing what market will bear. Just heartened to hear that another contender has entered the market on Patpong 2. I'd like to believe that the Surawong end of the soi will become the successor to Twilight. The location IMO has much going for it, especially ease of access and 24/7 foot traffic. Soi 4 is a 5-minute walk and there are plenty of massage shops in neighborhood. Not ready to give up on brick-and-mortar yet.

I've toyed with the idea myself a few times but have decided against it in favor of more frequent visits. The primary reasons concern future health care considerations and the fact that I really enjoy where I am now living. But I don't want to be away from Thailand for more than 3-4 months at a stretch and that seems to be working for me. Everybody's situation is different and contributors have presented the pros and cons well. While scanning the Thai news this morning, came across an article in the Post that indirectly relates to the discussion. It described the plight of Bangkok's aging population and how the administration hopes to cope with it. I guess where I'm going with this is the need to think about growing older in Thailand without some of the safety nets we grew accustomed to at home. The consequences of an aging population has come up before. The number of new births in Bangkok has been steadily declining, dropping from 800,000 in 2012 to 704,000 in 2016. You don't have to be a statistician to understand the implications going forward. If not for the influx of the young from neighboring, less industrialized countries, the picture would be quite bleak indeed (a situation the US and other western nations share). Despite the obstacles, many expats have successfully made the leap. But it's definitely more of a challenge now than 10-15 years ago. From today's Bangkok Post: Seeing grey: Bracing for an elderly population explosion https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1481761/seeing-grey-bracing-for-an-elderly-population-explosion

From NHK Newsline Japan's main international hub, Narita Airport, will start using facial recognition technology at immigration gates to shorten screening time and improve security. The Immigration Bureau demonstrated the technology to the media on Friday ahead of its debut next Monday. The gates compare a traveler's passport photo with an image taken on the spot. When the 2 images match, the gates open automatically. Until now, one official has been assigned per gate. The bureau says a single official will now be able to handle 6 gates. The bureau initially plans to use the gates for Japanese nationals returning home and to assign more staff to screen the growing number of overseas visitors. Facial recognition gates are to be introduced at 4 other airports across Japan later this year. A record 28.7 million foreign tourists visited Japan last year. The figure is up nearly 20 percent from a year ago. Immigration authorities hope that the gates will help reduce the waiting time for visitors. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180608_31/

+1. Bourdain's life story, sadly ended, will continue to resonate well beyond the food industry. His affection for unadorned dining and the ordinary man endeared him to viewers. I think we saw some of ourselves in him, or at least in his choices. We eat the street food of Asia and spend our time with ordinary--well, often extraordinary--guys of humble backgrounds. And we are wholly comfortable and at ease as Anthony seems to be as he sits across the table from Obama. That's how I want to remember him.

From BBC Emirates Airline has unveiled a new First Class Suite on board its latest aircraft that features virtual windows. Instead of being able to see directly outside, passengers view images projected in from outside the aircraft using fibre-optic cameras. The airline says it paves the way for removing all windows from future planes, making them lighter and faster. Airline president Sir Tim Clark said: "The quality of the imagery is so good, it's better than with the natural eye." The virtual windows can be seen in the first class cabin of Emirates' newest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Sir Tim told the BBC that the ultimate aim was to have planes with no windows at all. "Imagine now a fuselage as you're boarding with no windows, but when you get inside, there are windows," he said. "Now you have one fuselage which has no structural weaknesses because of windows. "The aircraft are lighter, the aircraft could fly faster, they'll burn far less fuel and fly higher." Safety concerns It may not be easy to get the technology signed off by regulators, aviation safety expert Professor Graham Braithwaite of Cranfield University told the BBC. "Being able to see outside the aircraft in an emergency is important, especially if an emergency evacuation has to take place," he said. "Flight attendants would need to check outside the aircraft in an emergency, for example for fire, before opening a door and commencing an evacuation - and anything that needed power to do this may not be easy to get certified by an aviation safety regulator," he added. Continues with video https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44383220

Had similar experience last year. After saying Rama 4 to Surawong without success. Then tried Thaniya, and he replied "boom-boom" with a laugh, and that's where he dropped me. Gave him the 500 I had agreed to, grabbed by bags from back seat, and realized I was "home" again as I glanced up the soi and saw hundreds of ladies assembled as if for reveille.

From Bangkok Post Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) is set to inject 2.5 billion baht to replace all 700,000 square metres of asphalt with concrete on all the runways at Suvarnabhumi airport to permanently solve the threat of "soft spots" that have been reported there. he announcement comes after the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), which represents over 100,000 pilots and flight engineers in almost 100 countries, issued an alert last month specifying the risks of operating at Thailand's largest international airport. The main risk was the discovery of several "soft spots" on taxiways, taxi lanes and aircraft stands at Suvarnabhumi. Flight crews and ground service providers have reportedly encountered these structurally unsound spots since 2008. It was constructed over a large swamp known as Nong Ngu Hao, or "cobra swamp", since it was reportedly a habitat for snakes before it was built. This has resulted in a high water table below the airport. The airport's 62.5-billion-baht revamp project will involve the construction of a smaller concourse, an aircraft parking lot and an underground tunnel linking the main passenger terminal to the concourse using an automated people mover electric train network. Mr Nitinai said that construction is set to be completed by November 2019. The new concourse, however, should be open by the middle of 2020, as system testing will take around six months to carry out, he added. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1479417/airport-soft-spots-to-get-concrete-fix

NOTE -- To view selection of photos from collection, open link below and then click on link to museum. You'll see a series of rectangular links in Thai script. Click on these and you can view images that have English description. From Khaosod English An image of Khun Sanphakit Vijarna, winner of the 1920 Siam Motorcycle Racing 1920, riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle, Twin Cylinder 1920 Model. Photo: The National Gallery / Courtesy BANGKOK — Get a rare chance to see 19th century Siam through a series of images made by wet-plate collodion photography. A total of 150 photos taken between 1855 through 1935 in Thailand are showcased at Celebrating the National Glass Plate Negative Recognized as UNESCO Memory of the World. They were selected from over 30,000 glass plate negatives preserved at the National Archives of Thailand. Parts of the photographs were recognized by UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in 2017. The exhibition is divided into eight themes and cover photos of royal ceremonies, arts and culture, historical sites, the kingdom’s modernizations and portraits of important figures during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V. Admission is free. The exhibition runs through July 28 at the National Gallery. The museum – housed in a building that was once the Royal Mint – is located on Chao Fa Road near Sanam Luang. It opens 9am until 7pm from Wednesday through Sunday. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2018/06/04/scenes-of-19th-century-siam-revived-at-national-gallery/

LOL. You reminded me of just how many football matches I've watched during LT offs last two trips. FIFA should promote LT as a way of attracting news fans to the sport.

If I'd eliminated guys over 25 from my massage options over the years, I would have missed out on some memorable experiences.

From Coconuts Bangkok Bang Sue Grand Station, an upcoming transportation hub in Bangkok’s suburbs, will replace Kuala Lumpur’s Grand Sentral as the region’s largest railway station when it opens in 2020. The Bang Sue Grand Station will sprawl over 300,000 sqm. It will serve as a connecting point for the Airport Rail Link, three MRT lines, and high-speed rails that travel outside of the capital, according to recent updates reported in the Thai edition of China’s Xinhua News. Those high-speed rails will connect to the north (to Chiang Mai), as well as incorporate the Bangkok-Hua Hin line. The site, currently under construction, will replace the old-school Hua Lamphong station, which has been Bangkok’s main transportation point since its opening in 1916. Will the real thing look as good as its rendering? We’ll have to wait until the third quarter of 2020 to find out. Continues with photos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/bang-sue-grand-station-bangkok-get-largest-train-station-southeast-asia/

From CNN Singapore (CNN) — A 250-meter-long bouncing net three stories above ground. A 50-meter-long suspended bridge with glass-panel flooring. Walking trails amongst a lush jungle of animal-shaped topiaries in a five-story terraced garden. A 40-meter-tall waterfall cascading from an opening in a vaulted glass roof canopy. An art sculpture made up of four giant, integrated slides. And that's just scratching the surface. The thrilling attractions at Singapore's SGD$1.7 billion (US$1.27 billion) Jewel Changi Airport, an addition to Changi Airport due to open in 2019, will boost the already impressive offerings of a facility that's been voted best in the world for six years in a row. With its "delicate" latticework of glass panels framed in steel, the distinctive donut-shaped Jewel is first and foremost a central hub, connecting three of Changi Airport's current four terminals. But it's also potentially a destination in its own right, featuring a large mall to entice locals and visitors alike. Conceived by Moshe Safdie as a new "magical garden," hopes are high that the award-winning architect's impactful building will become as celebrated as his Sky Pool at Marina Bay Sands. Continues with video https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/jewel-changi-airport-singapore/index.html

Can recommend The Sympathizer (Viet Thanh Nguyen), winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Set in Saigon, Los Angeles, Thailand and reunified Vietnam, it touches on topics readers here have discussed from time to time: loyalty to boyhood friends, corruption, the war, Viet culture and discrimination experienced by those of mixed heritages. It's a thriller that's difficult to put down and would be, I think, ideal for a long international flight. Available in paperback.

Think it's likely that girlfriend or wife are also demanding their company. But when twinks are offered an evening in AC room with comfortable bed, it's a much easier choice. To paraphrase Ceasar, We came, we saw, we took what was on offer.

I suspect these tag-alongs aren't really interested in having sex but rather collecting stories to tell their peers. Certainly warn them about not going any place on second floor in Patpong. Tell them to be sure to have 100 bht notes to tip ladies in the ground floor bars. That should satisfy them. Taken them to the S and M bar on Patpong 2; that would make for a fantastic story back home. There's no shortage of massage shops along Suriwong, catering to visitors. Encourage them to get a private oil massage. You can't accompany them to the room and they're free to make up any account they wish of the event. It's an economical take in and all they'll probably want to do after is have a drink and talk among themselves about how great it was.

Good question. Couldn't find anything specific about the new service but going back four years ago when Singapore was flying an Airbus 340-500 non-stop on the same route in a 100-seat, all-business class configuration, think I found the answer. Flight Aware shows SQ21 departing Newark and flying a polar route over Canada, the ice cap and down over Russia, China and SE Asia into Singapore, in a flight time of 18 hours and 4 minutes. Flight Aware shows SQ22 departing Singapore and flying an easterly route over the Aleutians, Alaska, Canada and down into Newark, in a flight time of 18 hours and 47 minutes. If the airline flies the same route on the EWR-SIN leg, think I might be a bit uncomfortable in a twin-engine aircraft flying so far from an airport while over northern Canada and the ice cap. Wouldn't have any qualms on the return flight as it mimics the route I've flown many times (with stops in Tokyo) on other carriers in 777's. Here are links to those flights that show routing. https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SIA21 https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SIA22

There's another innovation in the works that may well have a greater impact than the Airbus 350-900ULR. Boeing has announce a new generation of its workhorse wide body 777 that will be larger but featuring folding wingtips that will allow it to fit into existing wide-body gates. From UPI The Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on proposed designs for the newest version of Boeing's 777, which will feature retractable wings. Boeing said the 777X design will expand the wingspan to 235 feet. That's too wide for most airports, so the tips of the wings can retract and reduce the span to 212 feet -- small enough to continue using terminals designed for older 777s. The wings won't fold while in flight, only while the plane is on the ground. Engineers have developed primary and secondary latch systems that will keep the wings fully extended during flight. The standard wingspan is just under 200 feet. By contrast, wings on Boeing's 787 measure 197 feet and 117 feet on its 737. A wider wingspan boosts fuel-efficiency by lowering drag. The 777X will carry as many as 425 people. Continues with video https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/05/25/Boeing-777X-to-have-retractable-wings-a-first-for-passenger-travel/7521527255838/?spt=rrs&or=3

From NYTimes Got 18 hours and 45 minutes? That’s the length of a new flight between Singapore and Liberty International Airport in Newark. Service on what Singapore Airlines says will be the longest commercial flight in the world begins on Oct. 11. The flights will become daily beginning on Oct. 18. Singapore Airlines will be the first airline to use Airbus’s A350-900 U.L.R. (for ultra long range) planes, which have extra fuel capacity, are made of a carbon fiber that is lighter than the aluminum of traditional jets and burn less fuel because they have only two engines, compared with the four on many other long-haul jets. The flights will have 161 seats — 67 in lie-flat business class and 94 in premium economy, which uses bigger seats that have more legroom than traditional coach seats but do not have the ability to become a bed. “The nonstop flight length is at least about two to three hours shorter than the one stopper, maybe even four hours,” in terms of door-to-door travel time for most customers, said Mak Swee Wah, the airline’s executive vice president, commercial. The company has not yet released pricing information. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/business/newark-singapore-longest-flight.html

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A military unit overseeing motorcycle taxi services will encourage riders to register with private ride-hailing applications to ease conflict while new rules are being written. Responding to growing anger which led to a recent mass protest of win motosai at the headquarters of Grab, the largest such service, Maj. Gen. Piyapong Klinpan said the 11th Army Military Circle will meet Thursday with motorcycle taxi representatives, application service providers and other related officials to find a solution. “The problem is people are sick of motorcycle taxis and turn to the GrabBike application for an alternative,” he said. “Riders from the application coming to the win’s area upsets them and leads to fighting.” He said the unit supports the idea of win registering with any ride hailing service, whether Grab, GoBike or Banana Bike, provided they cooperate with transportation regulations. Piyapong added that lawful solutions are needed “to provide the most convenient variety of service options to the people.” Earlier this month, the special military unit responsible for national security matters stepped in to mediate the war for customers between traditional providers and Grab as complaints about street brawls poured in. It said the company agreed to pull unlicensed vehicles while the transport department drafts new rules that support application-based services. Win currently cannot pick up customers outside their registered areas, while GrabBike riders go anywhere for fares. Hundreds of win riders held a rally to Grab main office on May 17 in hope of pressuring the company to shut down unregistered taxis. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/05/30/military-urges-motosai-to-register-with-app-any-app/

I've often agreed with a fellow board member that the guys in jeans we were observing on soi Twilight outside their bars were sexier than some inside just wearing briefs. It allows the imagination--and lust--to flourish. Same same when viewing those assembled outside massage shops. As you aptly put it, there's something for everyone. It's just a matter of going with an open mind....and wallet.

From Coconuts Bangkok Starbucks’ new, much-heralded policy of allowing people to chill in their stores whether they’re customers or not isn’t the only big news out of the US-based coffee giant this week. They’ve also opened what’s being called their “second-largest” store in the world yesterday, and it’s right here in Bangkok. The brand new store — dubbed the second-largest by the mall’s PR team — is located on the first floor of CentralWorld and features a co-working space and two meeting rooms. It looks nearly as neat as the world’s largest Starbucks, in Shanghai, which stretches over some 2,694 square meters. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/bangkok-gets-second-largest-starbucks-world-photos/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Two Japanese movies – a romantic-fantasy and a manga-inspired jazz-theme drama – showing on the last day of a soon-to-vanish standalone cinema have been booked out by fans. There are no more seats for the May 31 nighttime screenings of Japanese films “Kids on the Slope” and “Tonight at Romance Theatre” – the venue’s final day. Theater owner Apex Lido posted online that the 6:45pm “Tonight at Romance Theatre” and 8:45pm “Kids on the Slope” are thoroughly booked. Because after that, it’s curtains for the 49-year-old, centrally located movie house. But don’t despair: High demand led the theatre to add 27 seats for both showtimes. Tickets will be sold first-come, first-served at the box office starting at 10am Saturday. Apart from the Japanese films, the movies that will close out the theatre (for which seats remain available) are Star Wars spin-off “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” French post-World War I drama “See You Up There,” gay romance “God’s Own Country,” noir thriller “Terminal” and superhero sequel “Deadpool 2.” The theatre’s long run will also finalized by the Silent Film Festival organized by the Thai Film Archive. Silent films showing Thursday are Erich von Stroheim’s “Foolish Wives,” two-reel silent short film “45 Minutes to Hollywood” and Buster Keaton-starring comedy “Sherlock Jr.” Since property owner Chulalongkorn University’s New Year’s Eve announcement that the cinema would ends its five-decade run following its contract expiration, movie fans have been trickling in to bid Lido farewell. A whiteboard was installed for people to leave their goodbyes. “Thank you. Watching movies becomes my hobby because of you. You make who I am today,” a fan noted. Lido opened June 27, 1968, with 1,000 seats and French action-adventure film “Guns for San Sebastian” on its single large screen. It’s been part of the Apex theater chain which originally consisted of Sala Chalerm Thai, Siam, Lido and Scala cinemas. It remains to be seen whether Lido will be demolished too or remade into another department store. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/05/25/last-call-lido-cinema-adds-seats-for-final-sold-out-shows/