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From BBC Skirting the edge of Bangkok’s restless Chinatown district, barely noticeable among the sagging electrical wires that drape over the city like bunting and the flurry of street hawkers offering colourful fabrics and sparkling baubles, the Nightingale Olympic department store has been both a retail and a psychological anchor of the neighbourhood for almost nine decades. All but forgotten, the multi-level cabinet of curiosities stands as a monument both to its own history and to that of the woman who has kept it alive. Now 96 years old, Aroon Niyomvanich started her career at Nightingale Olympic, the city’s first major department store, when she was just 10 years old. “I was born into the store,” she told me from behind her desk in a corner of the main selling floor. Inside, the Nightingale Olympic feels more like a living museum diorama than a department store – a Wes Anderson movie come to life. Shelves full of 1950s hosiery in original boxes sit across from stiff-stringed tennis racquets from the ‘70s. In the lingerie section, large, lacy bras hang precariously on rusty tenterhooks, seemingly kept upright by the makeshift counterweight of a 1960s Nightingale promotional bag. Display cases jaundiced with age hold bottles of rare, evaporating Schiaparelli and Christian Dior perfumes. There are deep, progressing fissures in the necks of the store mannequins, and much of the stock looks as if it might turn to dust if handled. A glass case behind Niyomvanich’s desk holds a mélange of disparate items, ranging from family photos to sports trophies to a small collection of action figures. A calendar open to a page of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, one of many images of the Thai royals around the store, hangs prominently on the wall. “Everything here has meaning,” she said. Given that this neighbourhood is showing the telltale signs of redevelopment (a hipster barbershop has just opened across the street), I asked her if anyone has ever offered to buy the Nightingale Olympic, a question that prompted a wry smile. “No-one would dare ask,” she said. Continues with photos http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180524-bangkoks-forgotten-shopping-centre

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The decision to build new airports at two top tourist destinations was welcomed by the head of the tourism department Friday as a means to support ever-growing tourist arrivals. Two days after the national airport operator announced it would build two new airports to service Chiang Mai and Phuket, Yuthasak Supasorn, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said it was a good sign for the industry, which is a significant source of income to the country. “It would help ease the congestion in both places,” he said. “Especially for Chiang Mai’s airport, which doesn’t operate at all hours, the expansion will be of great help.” Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand, or AOT, said Tuesday it approved 120 billion baht to build the new airports over the next five years and expects them to be operating by 2025. He said both would have capacity for 10 million passengers and international flights annually. Last year, 9.9 million passengers passed through Chiang Mai’s airport (CNX), while that of Phuket (HKT) welcomed 16.2 million passengers, according to AOT. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/05/25/chiang-mai-phuket-second-airports-will-be-great-help/

Sometimes just a smile will suffice to break the ice.

From Coconuts Bangkok Ever mixed coffee and Coca Cola? Yeah, neither have we, and yet we’re about to get the chance to find out what it tastes like when limited-edition “Coke Plus Coffee,” a coffee-cola hybrid launched in Japan and Australia late last year, hits Thailand in just over a week. The Thai version, which will enter the market on June 1, features Robusta coffee, the type of bean popularly grown in southern Thailand, and get this … it’s being marketed as “health drink,” because it has 50 percent less sugar than a regular cola. Yep, you read that right. The product is being aimed at students and workers who need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon... https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/robusta-cola-coke-to-launch-coffee-cola-hybrid-in-thailand/

For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing that they like.

NOTE -- Must have walked by this place under construction a hundred times on my last trip but little did I suspect what would emerge. The spot was once an Irish pub that did a respectable business, even though it was located at the corner of Silom and Thaniya, the soi where Japanese men go to shop for golf paraphernalia by day and nookie by night. But now it's ......how do I say this on a gay forum......it's--forgive me--a Hooters. With just about all of us lamenting the impending shutdown of Soi Twlight at the other end of Thaniya, now Bangkok's third branch of the bouncing boobs is open for business. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I don't feel threatened when I walk down Patpong and see more in-your-face stuff but somehow Hooters rubs me the wrong way. And I think I know what it is. It's an attempt to make sex wholesome. If I wanted wholesome sex I'd stay home. Or get married--to a woman. But, damn it, would not go to Bangkok. Enough of my raving. See it for yourself, thanks to the magic of You Tube.

From Wall Street Journal PANG-ASOK, Thailand— Li Guanghe has built some of the most technically complex railroads in China. Now he faces his toughest challenge yet: working abroad to deliver a flagship rail project in Thailand that could make or break China’s hopes of selling high-speed trains abroad. Exporting high-speed rail is one of the ambitious elements of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to upgrade trade and transport networks from Africa to the Pacific. But despite throwing its diplomatic weight behind high-speed rail, China has struggled to convince would-be partners to commit to the costly technology. After years of stalling, Thailand in November started work on the $5.5 billion first phase of a high-speed railway that Beijing hopes will eventually form part of a China-to-Singapore route—a potentially lucrative prize for Chinese rail contractors. Now the heat is on Mr. Li to complete the initial 157-mile stretch connecting Bangkok with the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. “There’s a lot of pressure,” said Mr. Li, a chief engineer with state-run China Railway Design Corp. , and the man in charge of the project. Construction vehicles rumbled over the soil of this freshly turned site in Pang-Asok, a small rural town in northeast Thailand surrounded by cornfields and foothills. The proposed 2,200-mile Pan-Asia Railway would run south from China to Singapore, via Laos, Thailand—its 1,000-mile central section—and Malaysia. The system would be completely new; there is no high-speed rail in Southeast Asia today. Continues at https://www.wsj.com/articles/railroaded-the-chinese-high-speed-train-network-no-one-else-really-wants-1526644804

Thanks you, Peter, for clarifying that. Heading should have read "Air Asia nixes starting new airline in Myanmar." Here's some additional content from the same article that may be of interest: Shares in AirAsia Group fell as much as 10 percent on Monday in the first trading session since Fernandes apologized for endorsing former Malaysian leader Najib Razak days before he lost a general election last week to veteran politician Mahathir Mohamad, 92. Fernandes apologized and said he was under intense pressure to support the Najib government. The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) on Tuesday refuted accusations by Fernandes that it had told the budget airline to cancel all additional flights intended to help voters return home before polling day. The regulator said it had filed a police report against Fernandes. Fernandes told Reuters in Bangkok he would not comment on the police report and referred Reuters to statement by AirAsia on Tuesday saying it "strongly refutes" the report lodged by Mavcom.

This is an excerpt taken directly from the Film Fest website listed above: "The LGBT+ Film Festival will explore the diverse facets of the community through films, special events, talks, and live performances and a special art exhibition. It is going to be a safe place for discussions about important issues, such as marriage equality and equal opportunity. We are aiming to bring the LGBT+ community and the world together to celebrate diversity, creativity and strength." The event is not billed as an all-Asian film fest. It does, however, includes a movie about a Filipino mechanic and a Taiwanese aborigine student, and another film set in the Philippines.

I'm confident ChristianPFC will not forget us and we'll soon be reading about the delights of Taiwan. We remain your loyal followers, Christian!

From Coconuts Bangkok Photographer Dax Ward has been shooting abandoned places throughout Thailand, South Africa, and his home country, the United States, since 2016. Coconuts previously featured his photos of abandoned trains in Thailand, and ahead of his first solo show in Asia — opening this Friday at Sathorn’s JAM Cafe — we followed Ward to one of his recent shooting locations to talk about his work and upcoming exhibit, “Abandonia”. A few of his photo series, such as those of Chonburi’s abandoned Batman nightclub and Thailand’s airplane graveyard, have been published by The Guardian, The Daily Mail, CNN Style, The Sun, (and interestingly) The Weather Channel. Yesterday, we followed Ward around a block of abandoned apartments in Samut Prakarn, one of the locations featured in “Abandonia”. The construction project clearly came to a sudden halt — there’s one tower that ends just halfway through. Ward says that he tries to get permission from the owners to visit the abandoned places he shoots, but he’s also not opposed to climbing a wall or bribing a security guard to gain access. He doesn’t feel bad about doing that because: “When I go to a place, I never intend to do any damage. I never break a lock. I just walk in and document the history and state of the place before it disappears.” He also notes that Thai trespassing laws are based more on the intent of the person than their actual presence in a forbidden place. So, if they found glass bottles or spray paint on you, you might be in more trouble than if you were walking around with a camera. The owners of some places that appear in “Abandonia”, such as a movie theater that he shot outside of Sukhothai, were actually thrilled to show him around. They were glad to have someone interested in hearing their family’s story — of how hard they tried to keep the place running, but ultimately had to close it down due to competition from nearby mall theaters. Exhibit location JAM Cafe 41 Soi Rong Nam Kang BTS Surasak Continues with photos and map https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/abandonia-exploring-abandoned-sites-photographer-dax-ward-ahead-solo-show-jam/

Tale of the Lost Boys From Khaosod English BANGKOK — From road-tripping drag queens in a 1994 dramedy to Parisian AIDS activists protesting their government, eight movies will screen in July at the LGBT+ Film Festival. To celebrate gender diversity, an alternative cinema in Bangkok’s Sathorn area will host the LGBT+ Film Festival featuring not only eight films with LGBT individuals, but talks, live performances and an art exhibit. Feast on beefcake and male authority when the six-day festival shows French biopic “Tom of Finland,” about postwar homoerotic artist Touko Laaksonen, as well as “The Queen of Ireland,” a documentary about Irish drag queen and gay rights activist Panti Bliss. Tickets will be available online from June 1. The event will run July 3 to July 8 at the Bangkok Screening Room in Soi Sala Daeng 1. It can be reached by foot from BTS Sala Daeng exit No. 4 or MRT Lumphini exit No. 2. Link to event site with map (located near So Sofitel https://bkksr.com/lgbtff2018 http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2018/05/15/feel-the-pride-at-june-lgbt-film-fest/

NOTE -- Getting up close and personal with arriving big jets has been long a traditional draw for many visitors to the island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean but Phuket is now attracting the same thrill-seeking tourists. From The Nation A meeting was held yesterday, led by the Phuket International Airport General Manager Petch Chancharoen, to discuss a YouTube post showing photos from the airport’s neighbouring beach. YouTuber “Donprozento” posted a video on March 10 showing tourists taking photos of an aircraft landing at Phuket. The meeting addressed how to prevent potential danger to tourists taking photos and problems that could be caused by a drone. CCTV cameras have been installed near the area as well as three-metre fences and warning signs. Security staff member are patrolling the area every hour. “The law will be strictly enforced for any offence. Both Thai and foreign tourists must not take pictures in this restricted area. Continues with pics and video http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30345724

From Reuters Talks between AirAsia Group Bhd (AIRA.KL) and a partner to open an airline in Myanmar have stopped, the group's chief executive told reporters on Tuesday. Chief Executive Tony Fernandes told Reuters in March his budget carrier was in talks with a potential partner to open an airline serving Myanmar, which would help the low-cost carrier to cover up to 95 per cent of the Southeast Asian travel market. But Fernandes told reporters at an AirAsia event in Bangkok,"the negotiations have stopped. We are not moving ahead with Myanmar at the moment... We might revisit that but we've decided not to go into Myanmar just yet." https://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKCN1IG1D1

Used to be a loyal Dela customer until they pulled out of BKK and began partnering with some mainland China carriers. I, too, now shop by price and favorable arrival and departure times on the more dependable carriers. For a while the three major mid-east carriers were offering great business fares but all three have since jacked up prices. Qatar has now adopted first-class pricing for its biz class product and is highest in the industry into BKK from most US locations. On next trip I'll be using ANA for second time. I think the Japanese handle transit passengers very efficiently at Naraita and Haneda. I avoid British Air, AIr France and Lufthansa because of frequent job actions that could disrupt a trip. Although I have not flown Cathay Pacific, they have some great short duration flights out of many US and Canada locations that all connect in Hong Kong.

From CNBC Ready to cash in some of your frequent-flyer miles? You're in luck. The chance of getting an award seat has improved from several years ago. Availability is now about 74 percent, according to the CarTrawler Reward Seat Availability Survey, which was released Wednesday. Eight years ago, award tickets were available 66 percent of the time, and 71 percent by 2013. "Five years ago it was a pretty ugly sight," said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorks Company, which conducted the study for CarTrawler. Airlines want loyal customers so it is in their interest to make award seats more available, Sorensen said. Airlines also generate revenue from selling frequent-flyer miles to banks when customers with co-branded or rewards credit cards use those cards, another reason for keeping those travelers happy, spending and returning to the airline. Major airlines have made it more difficult for many travelers to earn miles by flying. Instead of the old model of rewarding travelers for how far they fly, they now reward them based on how much they pay for their tickets. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/want-a-free-flight-these-airlines-give-frequent-flyers-the-best-shot.html

NOTE -- The dollar has been strengthening vs the baht since early April and was trading at $32.12 at time of this posting. You can check current exchange rates for all currencies at the following link. https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/ From Bloomberg News Thailand’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged near a record low, and said it doesn’t feel pressure to join a global wave of tightening that’s swept along some peers in Southeast Asia. Monetary policy committee members voted unanimously to hold the one-day bond repurchase rate at 1.5 percent, where it’s been since 2015, according to a Bank of Thailand statement on its website on Wednesday. All 23 economists surveyed by Bloomberg predicted the decision. One committee member was unable to attend the meeting, the central bank said. The cushion of high foreign-exchange reserves makes it possible for the Thai central bank to independently focus its policy on the local economy, Assistant Governor Jaturong Jantarangs said in a briefing in Bangkok. Four years after the military seized power, the economy remains dependent on exports and tourism and companies are reluctant to invest at home. Strong foreign-reserve buffers and a current-account surplus are helping to shield the nation from emerging-market volatility, giving the central bank scope to skirt a wave of policy tightening as the U.S. raises rates. Continues with Bloomberg analysis https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/2018/05/16/thailand-holds-rate-to-boost-growth-as-private-investment-drops#gs.TrzUc_I

NOTE -- For old movie theater buffs and Issan travelers. Hope you enjoy. (photo credit SE Asia Movie Theater Project) From The Issan Record A wave of chain movie theaters hosted in shopping malls has swept away most of the independent movie parlors once found in almost every city of Thailand's northeast. But in the region’s smaller towns, stand-alone cinemas like the Det Udom Theater in Ubon Ratchathani Province continue to draw a loyal audience. Located in the town of Det Udom, about 30 kilometers southeast of Ubon Ratchathani City, the family-run theater has been operating for almost 60 years. Its original wooden theater hall was built in 1959, even before Thailand’s movie theater construction boom took off in the mid-1960s. The Isaan Record talked to Kittiphong Thiamsuvan, the owner of the Det Udom Theater and a former member of parliament, about the theater’s history and how it survived the competition from large cinema chains. "The movie theater opened its doors in 1959. It was originally named Det Udom Movie Theater. In 1987, I took over the management from my father and changed the name to Det Udom Mini Theater. As we adopted digital movie screening in 2013, we took on a new name again: the Det Udom Theater. "The original movie theater was a wooden structure with corrugated steel walls. The screening halls hosted 800 seats on two floors. There was also a stage for music performances. Back then in 1959, tickets sold for one baht. "In 1997, we demolished the old theater and build a new concrete one with two screening halls. Each hall has 170 seats and tickets used to sell for 30 to 40 baht. When we moved to digital screenings in 2013, the ticket prices went up to 50 to 80 baht. Back when admission was still one baht, we had about 100 to 500 viewers per screening. Around 1987, the average numbers were even higher but today we don’t get more than 100 people for each screening." Continues with photos https://globalvoices.org/2018/05/15/family-run-movie-theater-in-northeast-thailand-survives-decades-of-changes/ From SE Asia Movie Theater Project blogspot with photos https://seatheater.blogspot.com/2010/03/det-udom-mini-theater-det-udom-ubon.html

Many forum readers are regulars at Took Lae Dee, the popular 24-hour diner in Foodland's supermarket on Patpong 2. Now the chain, known for cheap and tasty food, is opening in Singapore. Took Lae Dee, a familiar sight to readers on Patpong 2 From Coconuts Singapore Took Lae Dee is one of the more famous 24-hour chain restaurants in Bangkok, and also the oldest of its kind in the city. Even those who don’t identify with the nocturnal types fueling up on Bangkok’s post-party food scene may already know of the eatery: It’s popped up in several Thai flicks, as well as CNN Travel‘s recently republished story on “50 Reasons why Bangkok is No.1”. This month, the diner debuts its first overseas outpost in Singapore, set up by Hersing Culinary, the same people who brought Michelin-starred dim sum joint Tim Ho Wan and ramen shop Tsuta (also Michelin-starred) on our island. Continues with pics https://coconuts.co/singapore/food-drink/bangkoks-24-hour-chain-took-lae-dee-debuts-cheap-good-food-singapore/

From Bangkok Post Thailand could see 10% more rainfall than usual during this year's rainy season with Andaman coastal provinces and eastern areas being warned of particularly heavy downpours, says the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Thailand officially enters the rainy season this week due to the influence of southwesterly winds. The country will likely see above-average rainfall overall this year and he warned people across the country to expect torrential rain this month and in September and October. However, the rain will be lighter or it may even be relatively dry from June to August. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1464654/rainy-season-set-to-be-wetter-this-year

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Lipstick, high heels, Barbie dolls, cabaret costumes and a letter approving a transgender man to wear pants to an exam are among the Thai LGBT artifacts to be show at a museum. Gender Illumination goes beyond binary gender to question definitions of male and female by featuring photographs, drawings, paintings, talks and installations along the LGBT spectrum. Personal belongings of more than 100 LGBT community members will be labeled with the story behind them. They include those from cross-dressing icon Toffie Tood Zom Com (Toffie is IT Support), “Insects in the Backyard” director Tanwarin Sukkaphisit and actor Rusameekae Fagerlund. A pop-up closet will offer a wide range of clothes and props – from dresses and pants to fake boobs – visitors can try on. Stories of Siam-era LGBT people will be revealed at the event. There will also be gay magazines displayed on shelves. Part of the experience will include a tour to temples with murals depicting gay and lesbian couples. The tour date will be announced soon. “We did this exhibition because we believe in human diversity,” Museum Siam organizers said in a statement. Each installation will be accompanied by descriptions in Thai and English. Admission is free. The exhibition runs May 17 through Sept. 30 at Museum Siam. The museum is open 10am to 6pm, Tuesday through Sunday. It is located on Sanam Chai Road in the Phra Nakhon area. It can be reached from the Yodpiman River Walk or Tha Tien piers. Motorists can park at the Royal Thai Navy Club House or Yodpiman River Walk then get there by foot or taxi. Continues with map and photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2018/05/09/gender-illumination-lights-thai-lgbt-diversity/

From South China Morning Post The first phase of clinical tests for an affordable Hepatitis C treatment has yielded a high cure rate, according to Thailand’s Department of Disease Control. Started in 2016, the clinical trial testing the combined set of Sofosbuvir+Ravidasvir with 81 patients showed 97 per cent of them reacted positively to the treatment, Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, chief of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) says. “It’s a good sign telling us that patients with Hepatitis C will have the opportunity to access medicine at an affordable price. It is also a significant step for our hopes of eliminating the disease in the future,” said Mr Suwanchai. Currently, the country’s Hepatitis C patients pay 40,000 baht (US$1,254) to use commercially registered drugs throughout the course of treatment. The combined set of Sofosbuvir+Ravidasvir will cost patients 10,000 baht (US$315). The lower price stems from Ravidasvir, which is set to be registered and sold at a low price. Currently, Ravidasvir is not registered in Thailand. The trial project received the Ravidasvir from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), an international non-profit organisation that provides affordable medication to poor patients. The trial was conducted in cooperation with the DDC, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the DNDi. Ravidasvir is the product of a US-based firm, Presidio Pharmaceuticals, which granted the DNDi the rights to provide the drug at reasonable prices in low- and middle-income countries. http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2145192/low-cost-hepatitis-c-cure-showing-good-results-thailand

With a 16-year history of visits under my belt, I've come to accept the Bangkok of 2002 is not the Bangkok of 2018. But that doesn't keep me from coming back because there's no place on earth that makes me to feel more alive. I have great memories of many cities where the scene has evolved over the years a lot more drastically. And Although I still visit them from time to time, my arrival into Suvarnabhumi remains unrivaled. The anticipation I experience, standing in the aisle and waiting for the door to open, is still strong. I have no checked baggage and my goal is to get to the hotel, shower and begin all over again. Hope to find some familiar faces and some new ones. I don't plan too much, just let the days unfold. If there a way any city can rediscover its M4M scene, I believe it's going to be here and I don't want to miss it.

From CNN (CNN)As we drive down the eerily deserted Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the murky waters of the Pearl River Delta stretch as far as the eye can see. There is no land in sight. Spanning 34 miles (55 kilometers), this is the longest sea-crossing bridge ever built. Guo Xinglin, assistant director and senior engineer at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority, meets us half way along. As we are buffeted by a strong wind, the tough conditions his construction crew experienced, as they perched on precarious platforms, working miles from land and high over the water, are evident. Xinglin is visibly proud of his country's monumental achievement. Due to open to the public this summer, this long snake of bitumen will connect a relatively small city on the Chinese mainland with the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. But since the bridge was first suggested in 2003, it has stirred controversy. This massive span of concrete and steel is not just proof of China's ability to build record-setting megastructures -- it's also a potent symbol of the country's growing geopolitical ambitions. As tensions simmer between the mainland and Hong Kong and Taiwan, and China continues to claim territory in the South China Sea, the bridge can be seen as a physical manifestation of the Chinese leadership's determination to exert its regional influence. Critics have also questioned the environmental and human toll and the immense financial cost of the project. Continues with video https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/04/asia/hong-kong-zhuhai-macau-bridge/index.html

Dick's Cafe is among the longest-running establishments on the soi and its proprietor, Lucas, is one of Bangkok's gay community oldest hands. After decades managing Tarntawan Place, he continues to run the nearby Tarntawan Apartments and he knows the local commercial real estate situation well. But relocating the Cafe will prove a challenge. Patrons were drawn to the Twlight location because it's a great perch to observe the comings and goings, particularly of Dream Boy. But as overall foot traffic declined, so did Dick's business which largely depended on older farangs and their guests. Maxi's was quick to pick up the slack and is the go-to place for food, drink and observation point. Soi 4 has no vacancies I'm aware of and already offers ample places to eat. If a few more gay venues appear on Patpong 2, Dick's would fit in so long as it had outdoor seating with a view of the action. Meanwhile, Lucas continues to operate the Jomtien location that has also enjoyed a long run.