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From CNN (NOTE -- The accompanying video says the price of one of the mid-size (250-square meter) units sells for over $5 million, unfinished of course. Penthouses come as large as 948 square meters.) The 3,200-square-meter (34,445 square feet) plot 98 Wireless stands on was previously home to a private house and horse stables. Sansiri acquired it for $36.4 million in 2010, and spent seven years and $270 million on constructing the 77 luxury condos, which were styled by Ralph Lauren Home furnishings. Split across 25 levels, the condos range in size from 119 to 245 square meters (1,288 to 2,642 square feet). Two penthouses of 553 square meters (5,952 square feet), and a "super penthouse" dubbed "The One" -- of 948 square meters (10,204 square feet) -- sprawl across the top floors. The penthouses were all snapped up before the official launch of 98 Wireless in March 2017, and 65% of the other units have been sold. Continues with video and pics http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/asia/98-wireless-bangkok/index.html

Always nice when you get an unexpected pleasure of any sort. I applaud your good fortune. When Northwest (now Delta) used to have a downtown office on Ratchadamri Rd., had to go there once to change my return date. I discreetly slipped a folded 1k bht note to the nice lady and politely asked if she could find be an aisle seat on the flights. After much key punching, and paying the change fee (think it was $200 in baht equivalent at the time), she gave me a print out that showed me on the upper deck of 747's on the flights to NRT and MSP. Enjoy the extra comfort while you contemplate your better offs!

How much is too much? It's all in the eyes--and pocket--of the beholder. Some have a fixed, all-in price that they won't exceed for reasons of budget or practice. Others, most perhaps, make decisions case-by-case. The latter (include me) make a rapid calculation based on whether it's affordable (not to be confused with reasonable) and the less quantifiable but more compelling factors. The latter I actually find the easiest to make. My experience varies widely. Some of my cheapest offs still remain memorable years later. Other really pricey excursions were forgettable almost immediately. And everything in between and in that sense that probably mirrors everyone's history. But there are places I've learned where you "can buy better but you can't pay more." I put Prince in this category: too many inconsistent and unsatisfactory massages. On the other hand, two massages at Senso three years ago were indeed pricey but I felt I was very well served on all counts. In my lone visit to the new My Hero, it was worth the extra baht because the facilities were impeccable and the service first rate. I always enjoy finding great experiences in the low price range. However, that's often akin to seeking a business class experience for an economy class fare.

From Travel and Leisure Thailand is famous for its stunning beaches, colorful longtail boats, and gleaming temples. And for a limited time, you can go see these incredible sights for as little as $465 round-trip. According to the Airline Spot, airlines China Southern and China Eastern are selling these low fares from both San Francisco and New York City.

From Coconuts Bangkok To help ease the congestion caused by the many people coming into, and moving through, the city to go to the cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 26, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced that certain public transport, including the BTS, BRT, and public boats, will be free from Oct. 25-27 . On Oct 26, the Sukhumvit and Silom lines of the BTS will be free, according to Thai PBS. On Oct. 25 and 27, the BTS will be free between On Nut and Samrong station on the Sukhumvit Line and from Wongwian Yai to Bang Wa station on the Silom Line. All lines and stops on the BRT, boat, and bus will be free between Oct. 25-27. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/buses-trains-boats-will-free-bangkok-oct-25-27/

From Phuket News 22 September 2017, 09:57AM At least 2,000 homes in Thalang were directly affected by the floods last Friday and Saturday (Sept 15-16), while more than 127mm of rainfall drenching Phuket Town the surrounding areas, including Kathu, within a 24-hour period. Residents in Kamala were evacuated as a precaution against them being buried by a landslide after a landslip damaged several multi-story villas under construction on a hillside there, while schools and residents were evacuated to safe zones in Srisoonthorn, in the heart of Thalang. Residents in Rassada, however, were not so lucky as a landslide there brought sodden earth crashing through the walls of 10 homes there. The two bridges on either side of Baan Bang Rong in Pa Khlok were closed as raging torrents of runoff within hours eroded the soil underneath, with emergency repairs carried out overnight to reconnect the residents who were cut off by the bridge failures. Police and disaster officials deployed flat-bottomed boats to provide assistance and deliver relief supplies to residents in flood-struck areas across the island. Families in danger were moved to temporary shelters until the waters subsided and they could return to their homes. In all, disaster officials received reports of 28 flash floods on the Friday alone, with more areas affected by Saturday. “The floods were the worst on record,” Phuket Highways Chief Papiwetwoottisak Sookkii told The Phuket News on Wednesday (Sept 20) after a meeting with Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong. “We have launched a full inspection of all major roads and supporting infrastructure, including all bridges affected by the floods that are under our authority. https://www.thephuketnews.com/officials-confirm-floods-worst-on-record-63991.php Lifeguards open some Phuket beaches PHUKET: Lifeguards have opened safe areas for tourists to swim at three beaches along Phuket’s west coast today (Sept 22), after all beaches were closed yesterday (Sept 21). Eight safe swim zones marked by red-and-yellow flags have been established – one zone at Nai Harn Beach, three zones at Kata Beach and four zones at Patong Beach – The Phuket Lifeguard Service reported this morning. “Lifeguards are keeping an eye out at every beach in case tourists are there. Red flags and ropes are still in place marking off areas where it is too dangerous to swim. Please do not swim in those areas,” one lifeguard told

NOTE -- The headline should read "55K baht" From Pattayaone A ladyboy has been arrested and charged with theft after admitting to stealing a Swiss man’s credit card after a late night romp in Walking Street. Everything seemed normal for the tourist after he had enjoyed a bit of fun with the ladyboy which he had willingly picked up from Walking Street, late at night. A short while later, however, he realised that his credit card was missing, but thought nothing of it and decided that he would deal with the problem the following day. Unfortunately for him, he could a nasty shock the following day when he realised that over 55,000 baht had been spent using his missing card. The only conclusion was that the ladyboy had stolen it and so he went straight to the police to file a report. After filing the report and giving police a very accurate description of the suspect, it didn’t take police long at all to track down and make the arrest of the culprit. The suspect, Sutthipong Lamsoong, 33, told police that Raffael Denungs, 29, had taken him to his room, but after their romp, he felt the need to steal the Swiss man’s credit card. Mr. Denum showed police a bank statement showing a total of 55,828 baht in goods had been run up on his card. This was not the first time Sutthipong had stolen from a tourist. As well as admitting this particular incident, he also asked police to add the charge to a previous incident involving an Irish man. Police charged the suspect for both incidents for theft. Amazingly, the Swiss tourist was happy to smile for the cameras with police and local chief Apichai Krobpetch, after all was said and done. http://pattayaone.news/en/ladyboy-makes-off-55000-baht/

From The Nation After almost nine months of preservation work undertaken by the Culture Ministry, the grand royal chariots, palanquins and other accessories are ready for use in the procession for the Royal Cremation Ceremony of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in late October. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha this afternoon presided over a ritual ceremony for the refurbished royal chariots, which are housed in the National Museum’s Royal Chariot Garage near Sanam Luang. The ceremony combined Buddhist and Hindu rituals and was followed by a garland presentation by the prime minister. Then a troupe of soldiers harmoniously pulled the royal chariots from the museum to the group outside. During the ceremony, the Culture Ministry’s Office of Performing Arts performed a traditional Thai dance accompanied by live pipat or traditional orchestra. Continues with photos http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30327322 ------- Grand Palace closed for visitors from Oct 1-29 Breaking News September 21, 2017 17:00 By The Nation The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple will be closed for about a month, starting October 1, to prepare for the Royal funeral of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Royal Household Bureau announced on Thursday that both venues would reopen for visitors on October 30.

....so long as you can afford them.

From Bangkok Post Thailand's private companies are set to pour up to 10 billion baht into improving and developing tourism-related businesses in Pattaya to tap benefits from the government's flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), says the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). The activity will consist of pure investment in tourism, plus public-private partnerships (PPP) in Pattaya, a city that lies within the EEC zone spanning Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao provinces, said TCC chairman Kalin Sarasin. "It will help improve the face of Pattaya, which has already become famous, as a new landmark for Thai and foreign tourists with plenty of attractive places," Mr Kalin said. He said the planned projects include shopping centres, water parks, nightlife attractions and a distribution centre for the One Tambon One Product scheme. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1327475/chamber-predicts-b10bn-pattaya-investment

From Pattaya Today The key matters concerning long-term farang in Pattaya are visa prospects and their own health care. That is according to a local survey carried out by Pattaya Today with 100 expats, mostly retired British but also involving mainland Europeans, Americans and Australians. The newspaper is not claiming this was a scientific survey but was conducted by interview and telephone over a two-week period. Almost all those contacted said their biggest concern at present was the ambiguity which they sensed about future visa policy in Thailand. At present most long-stay farang have a one year extension of stay based on retirement. A new 10-year visa for those over 50 years and their families has been introduced by the government, but the rules are complex – requiring police clearance from the home base and many financial documents – and can only be obtained in the country of origin and not in Thailand. In spite of rumours to the contrary earlier this year, the current retirement visa has been left untouched by the immigration authorities. It requires annual foreign income or cash in Thailand, or a combination of both, of at least 800,000 baht. Yet many expats are concerned lest the rules are changed, for example a doubling of the cash or income requirement or a supplementary rule demanding comprehensive medical insurance. However, a senior immigration source told Pattaya Today there are no plans to raise the financial floor limits, although he did say he had some reservations about the so-called “embassy letter” appearing to confirm an applicant’s yearly income from abroad since the procedure involved only an affidavit with little or no paperwork such as checked bank statements. He also pointed out that it was open to retirees to apply in Thailand for the mini-Elite card which offered a five year, multiple-entry visa for a one-off payment of 500,000 baht. Another source of concern to the majority of expats was their own health care. Many are now in their 60s and 70s, although most seem to have a strategy of sorts to deal with the problem. A surprising number, about 50 percent, still managed to maintain some sort of cover which was a protection against bills for substantial in-patient care in private hospitals. Others had a reserve cash fund which they said would come into play if an operation was required. The remainder thought they would probably return home in an emergency, provided they were fit to travel, or would rely on relatives back in the first country. Several maintained that they would likely seek medical treatment in a third country, such as India, where medical costs were thought to be much lower. Other concerns expressed by expats about living in Pattaya were the rising cost of living, blamed both on domestic inflation here and the devaluation of many currencies, especially the British pound. Those who found themselves with less money to spend said they had cut down on eating out and were resisting the attractions of expensive imported food items in supermarkets. Also mentioned as hazards were pollution, street crime, beach restrictions and ongoing police and army crackdowns on places of entertainment. Only 15 percent of those participating thought it was likely they would quit Thailand. The majority mentioned having Thai partners and children to support, enjoying the warm weather, having access to leisure facilities such as golf and still finding Pattaya “a city of fun” in spite of any reservations they might have. About a quarter of respondents had looked into a possible move to a neighboring country but had rejected the idea. Cambodia, in particular, had a free-and-easy visa policy and was still cheaper than Thailand but was not geared up for expat living. “I tried it for two weeks”, said one 68-year old, “but nearly all the expats were working and I couldn’t find anything to do.” http://pattayatoday.net/news/latest-edition/pattaya-expat-worries/

Excerpts from Pattaya Mail PATTAYA – Workers demolishing South Pattaya’s Boutique Hotel seem intent on demolishing neighboring homes and motorbikes as well. Under the gun to finish the job, careless contractors are smashing up the derelict hotel on Soi VC with little regard for where cement chunks, bricks, metal or anything else falls. Debris has smashed onto roofs, damaged business and broken several cars and motorbikes. When confronted by angry property owners, workers put on their best “who, me?” look. Pattaya Police Chief Pol. Col. Apichai Kroppech said no one has been injured – yet – but pedestrians have been warned to avoid the area. http://www.pattayamail.com/news/boutique-hotel-demolishers-smashing-nearby-homes-motorbikes-186112

From Bangkok Post A public rift between Thailand’s central bank and government on interest rates shows just how much of a dilemma the baht has become for the economy. The Finance Ministry is pushing the Bank of Thailand to cut interest rates to stimulate growth, in light of the strength of the currency and low inflation. That’s clashing with the bank's aim of minimising financial instability and curbing household debt levels by keeping rates steady. With days to go before the next interest-rate decision on Sept 27, economists are watching the dispute closely. The Bank of Thailand has so far pushed back against calls to cut its benchmark interest rate from a near record-low of 1.5%, where it’s been since 2015, intervening in the currency market instead and curbing the supply of short-term bonds to limit the baht’s gains. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1327155/baht-pits-bank-of-thailand-against-government-on-rate-cut ------------------ Excerpts from Reuters BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand welcomed 3.13 million tourists in August, a record for the low season month, and there’s no sign that the strong baht is hurting an industry that’s been a rare bright spot for the economy. The August arrivals were 8.66 percent above a year earlier and marked the first time visitors during that month topped three million. The visitors in August generated 163 billion baht ($4.93 billion) in revenue, up 11.7 percent from a year earlier, Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary of the tourism and sports ministry, told a news conference on Tuesday. During August, the number of visitors from East Asia increased 10 percent from a year earlier to 2.26 million, with nearly one million from China, up 10.3 percent. Numbers from the Middle East rose 19.4 percent to 103,784 in August while those from Europe were flat, at 437,739. Gundy Cahyadi, an economic and currency researcher at DBS Group Holdings Ltd in Singapore, said officials are “really running out of options now” and unlike the recent string of unanimous monetary policy decisions, there may be a few detractors from the no-change vote as early as next week. “They probably need to do more to try to dampen the expectations for the baht to strengthen further,” he said.

This I have no argument with. But lets keep in mind that providing information without preaching about conduct is the best way to do it.

Absolutely! Just tell them that you'd like to continue your education by auditing the course.

Vessey, there's a good chance that they were not the only couple having sex in the rain on a bridge in Bangkok at that very moment. After all, TIT, and that's why we keep coming back.

Thanks for your lesson in statistical analysis. But I think most readers here are pretty smart guys and can make prudent judgements based on the numbers. That's what I tried to do: present the information and allow people to decide for themselves. First, you mock the UNAIDS agency for citing Thailand's new national AIDS strategy, which provides a roadmap for ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat in Thailand by 2030. Second, you refused to believe that a study of saunas in Bangkok had ever been done. Third, when one was found, you did your best to discredit it. Fourth, when the major source of AVERT's data is found to be that same UN agency, you cherry pick numbers and use a combination of bold face and red ink to pound home what you think people must believe. Give the rest of us some credit for being able to interpret the impact of the reports. Informing folks is one thing; trying to scare them into what you want them to do is something else altogether.

It way have been wet but at least they didn't have to pay for a ST room. Extra points awarded for acrobatics. http://pattayaone.news/en/police-hunt-couple-filmed-romping-rain-motorway-bridge/

I took a second look at the AVERT link about Thailand and found that it relies on the UNAIDS website for its data. Went to the UN site and located the Thailand information: http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/thailand/ At that site you will see Thailand country report - 2015, a pdf that can be downloaded. (The 2015 report cites data collected through 2009-2014 which appears to be the most recent available). In some categories, Information for some years is partially or completely missing. In other years, the figures are unchanged across the years as is the case of the estimate of MSM (550,000) and total number of female and male sex workers (141,769). The percentage of male sex workers living with HIV in 2014 was 11.66%. Condom use among that group with their most recent client was 95.52%. Workers who knew their HIV status within the past 12 months was 54.37%. In the MSM category, condom use was reported to be 82.08%. Men living with HIV was 9.15%. In the category of young men ages 15-22 who have sex with men (YMSM), anal sex declined from 99% to 82% but receptive anal sex increased 55-74%. Condom use among the group remained stable at about 50%. This was for the period 2003-2014. Although not reflected in any table, the report contains a statement that the HIV status of MSM in Bangkok remained in the 20-30% range throughout the period. (This may be influenced by the Silom clinic experience cited elsewhere in this thread). For most of us, this isn't our first rodeo when we deplane at Swampy. The take-aways seem evident.

Excerpts from The Nation SEXUAL HARASSMENT and verbal abuse during the freshmen welcoming ceremony of the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University have been reported by incoming students. The Anti-Sotus Facebook page reported that freshmen students experienced serious abuse, including graphic sexual harassment, at the welcoming ceremony for the faculty at Silpakorn University on Saturday. Several accounts posted by freshmen who attended the ceremony described senior students giving dubious orders and committing many acts of sexual harassment and discrimination against freshmen, especially male students. The stories from anonymous students posted on the Anti-Sotus page described hazing, including forcing male freshmen to strip naked and shower together before ordering them to simulate sexual acts. Students also claimed that senior male students had rubbed their penises against freshmen’s buttocks. Another student wrote in a post that freshmen had been woken in the middle of the night and forced to take off all their clothes and lie down in positions in which the young students’ faces were aligned with each other’s buttocks. http://www.nationmul...tional/30326947

The authors said at the outset they deliberately avoided saunas that foreigners visit to keep results focused on behavior of Thais. If Babylon and Heaven had been included, mean age would probably have been in the 50's. Unless they're hooked up to a polygraph, that's always the situation in studies of this sort where participants agree to cooperate on basis on anonymity. That's why they spread their net wide (728 participants in six different locations).

Oscar's chose to raise the retail price on a bottle a beer by 30 baht (about 37%) on a cost increase of 2.66 baht (about 2.13%). In effect they increased their profit margin on the sale by about 34%, using the tax increase as the rationale. Will be interesting to see how other bars in Pattaya and Bangkok are responding.

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, published a study of behavior in six Bangkok saunas in 2012. The report can be downloaded at the link below. The saunas included Farose 2, Beach, Paradise, Torpedo, Cruising and 39 Underground. Some random findings: - The median age of the 728 participants was 31.5 years - The median per visit time was 3 hours, about 45 minutes of which were spent having sex - 56% of participants reported having sex with one partner while 28% reported having two partners per visit Breakdown of socioeconomic demographics, sexual position preference, HIV status and testing and other pertinent data are included in the report. http://arrow.latrobe.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/latrobe:35645;exact=sm_title%3A%22The+Bangkok+Sauna+Study+%3A+Findings+from+a+survey+of+gay+men+in+Thailand.%22

From The Nation New excise taxes will see “moderate” rises in the prices of alcoholic beverages, sugary drinks and cigarettes, the Director General of Excise Department Somchai Poolsavasdi, said on Saturday. He told the press conference that new taxes rates effective immediately would not increase the price of many items, and that some items would be taxed less. He said producers may absorb rising costs for products facing high market competition, but in any case consumers would not pay much more for these products. The new excise system is based on retail price, while the previous system was based on ex-factory or CIF (cost, insurance and freight) prices The details are as following: The tax per bottle of wine priced more than Bt1,000 will be Bt110 upwards, depending on the price. The tax on locally made wine will decrease by Bt25 per bottle. The tax per can of beer will be Bt0.50 higher, and for bottles of beer it will be Bt2 .66 more. For higher-priced beer, the tax will decrease by between Bt0.99 and Bt2. White spirit will be taxed more by Bt0.84-3.49 per bottle. For other kinds of locally produced spirit, the additional tax will be Bt8 per bottle for 28 per cent alcohol content and Bt30 for 40 per cent alcohol content . The tax on other imported spirits, such as Johnnie Walker Red and Blue Label Scotch whisky, will be a little less, from Bt3 to Bt26 depending on alcohol content. For cheap cigarette brands, the tax will add Bt4 to Bt15 more per pack, while higher-priced cigarettes will be taxed at Bt2-10 more per pack. Sugary drinks also be subject to higher taxes. Soft drink taxes will be Bt0.13 to Bt 0.50 per bottle, but sugar-free soft-drink will be taxed less by Bt0.28 Bt0.36 per bottle. Energy drinks will be taxed more, ranging from Bt0.32 to Bt0.90 per can or bottle. Green tea will be taxed Bt1.13 to Bt2.05 more per bottle, and the tax on coffee will be Bt1.35 more per bottle or can. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30326861

The link in post #2 deserves spending some time exploring and not just for the statistical data. It suggests that msm across the globe, many of whom are too young to have lived through the worst years of the AIDS crisis, are less likely to exercise caution that became common in the 80's and 90's. And there's evidence that older men are becoming less careful than they have been in the past. Based on what I've observed over 15 years of visits, the number of men practicing safe sex is regressing in saunas. The reasons can include reduced availability of condoms and lubricants on premises and reduced inhibition due to anonymity and drug use. I also think that the role that bars and clubs once played in educating the community by distributing condoms and information has slackened off significantly. Likewise, there's fewer men looking for sex partners in the bars as apps proliferate. This is understandably a less than pleasant topic of discussion but I believe most agree that it's one we need to have from time to time. A cursory of on-line search about sexual behavior of msm in Asia did produce one study specific to men who visited saunas in Taiwan, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2334-11-334 Other generalized msm studies of interest: China study: http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/2008/04000/Concordance_Between_Sexual_Behavior_and_Sexual.19.aspx Philippines study: http://www.academia.edu/23848894/MSM_Sexuality_and_HIV_Risks_The_Case_of_MSM_Sexual_Identities_Behavior_and_Risks_in_Iloilo_City