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Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok On Surawong Road, behind an unassuming little shopfront, is a new bar poised to become one of Bangkok’s favorites, thanks to a luxe-meets-lowkey vibe, great music, and some of the best, strongest cocktails in town. The 88 Surawong owner and co-founder Minway Chi said that he and co-founding bartender Eric Stephenson referenced “old American classics” when creating the menu at the cozy new bar, which is the former home of The Smokin’ Pug. The space is still decked out in brick, dark wood, and black iron. The darkness of the decor adds to the cave-like feeling of the space, making it seem smaller and cozier that it may actually be. It’s a place perfect for striking up a deep conversation with a stranger. The drinks, served alongside Americana-referencing dishes like high welfare pork chops (rotating organic pork, apple slaw, and gin bbq THB320), buffalo chicken kara-age (buttermilk garlic marinade, Frank’s hot sauce, blue cheese THB280), and sawmill gravy & buttermilk biscuit(Sloane’s maple bacon sausage gravy THB240) complement a comfort soundtrack of New Order, The Cure, The Human League, and Joy Division. 88 Surawong Road (opposite Patpong 2) Open Mon.-Sat. From 5pm-1am https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/damn-fine-cocktails-could-the-88-surawong-be-bangkoks-best-new-bar/

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — An air-conditioned passenger train will begin operating from the capital to Pattaya next month, state railway authorities said Monday. Depending on popularity, the new rail service may be made permanent – or canceled altogether. “We want there to be more of a tourism feel when people are on their way to Pattaya,” Oratai Suwannatas, tourism marketing executive at the State Railway of Thailand said. “We expect Thai tourists and also a large number of Chinese tourists to use the train.” The train will start trial runs on a yet unannounced date in March. It will depart Bangkok at 6:30am and reach Pattaya at 9am. For the return trip, the train will depart Pattaya at 3:50pm and reach the capital at 6:50pm. That makes for a journey a little slower than the average drive, but without the driving or hunting for a bus. The train will have six stops: Si Racha town, North Pattaya, Pattaya Floating Market, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Wat Yan Sang Wararam and finally terminate at Ban Phlu Ta Luang in Sattahip district. Oratai said that the diesel-run train is still in its planning stage and will have a trial period of six months. It will run only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Ticket prices for the of the air-conditioned trains have not been decided yet, but Oratai said that “the investment cost for trains is high. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2018/02/05/pattaya-bangkok-weekend-air-conditioned-train-run-march/

The Sun, one of the UK's many tabloids, seems to take much pleasure in displaying the booze-fueled behavior of its own citizenry vacationing in the LOS. So what? They're on holiday, they're young and they're horny. And I don't think Thais are tiring of the pounds they bring to exchange for baht. Just wish I was that young again. Continues with photos...many, many photos https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/5486982/will-thailand-be-the-next-country-to-tire-of-boozy-brits-pictures-show-drunk-tourists-behaving-badly-in-countrys-top-holiday-spots/ ------------ And if you think Brits party hardy, you should have been downtown Philadelphia after the Eagles, huge underdogs going into the game, shocked the New England Patriots, 41-33, Sunday night in the highest-scoring Superbowl ever. Philly fans celebrated accordingly. From CNN

When I arrived for the first time in BKK, not only could you see the air pollution, you could smell and taste it. It's improved by a wide margin since but certain weather conditions can exacerbate it. However, the only thing I believe worse than breathing it is not being there to breath it. From Bangkok Post Air pollution at unhealthy levels in Bangkok The amount of fine particulate matter in the air reached unhealthy levels in many areas of Bangkok on Monday, and the readings were rising, the Pollution Control Department warned. The unhealthy levels were recorded at all four of the department's air quality monitoring stations in Bangkok - with readings of 68 microgrammes in Wang Thonglang district, 82 microgrammes on Intarapitak Road and 63 microgrammes on Rama IV Road and on Lat Phrao Road. The problem was caused by the cold weather and lack of wind, which trapped exhaust emissions in the city environs. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1407890/air-pollution-at-unhealthy-levels-in-bangkok ----------------- 300,000 Chinese tourists during Lunar New Year The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 300,000 visitors from China during the Lunar New Year holidays, a nearly 18% rise from a year ago. During the same holidays in 2017, the number of visitors from China was hit by a government crackdown on budget tourism and the mourning period for the late king. Tourism accounts for about 12% of gross domestic product, making it one of the most important drivers of growth. The biggest number of foreign visitors come from China. Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year period, which this year begins on Feb 15 and lasts until Feb 21, will "generate about 8 billion baht in revenue", Santi Chudintra, a deputy governor at the (TAT) told reporters on Monday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1407906/tat-expects-300-000-chinese-tourists-during-lunar-new-year -------------- Panel wants end to licensing nightmare At the moment there are about 700,000 different kinds of licensing forms circulating nationwide and the panel wants to reduce this number to 1,000 to cut down on local authority budgets and standardise processes. PM's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakul, who also chairs a subcommittee looking into the laws governing business operations, said the cabinet will be asked to vastly reduce the paperwork and related procedures involved in setting up a new company. According to the minister, certain procedures need to be merged and handled by one agency so people who will no longer need to seek approval to run their businesses from many state agencies. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1407438/panel-wants-end-to-licensing-nightmare

The soi 6 neighborhood has a several things going for it. One, it already hosts various entertainment venues. Two, it's off the beaten path so less likely to "offend" the hi-so. Three, rent should be lower. Like the idea. Understand that Vietnam has acquired a frigate from the Laos Navy and is steaming toward Tuvalu as I write.

Stevie, you're the consummate troll. You try to drive members off the board with your self-centered drivel and gibberish posts. I really don't care that you were once married, fathered a child and then decided that you prefer young males instead, although I sure it came as a relief to your ex. Nor do I care that your primary criteria in judging men is whether their hips are of sufficient girth to support childbirth. Likewise, i don't give a crap to hear about your obsession with your healthy and perfect body or your compulsion to instruct others in how they might attain one, also. You contribute nothing of value and seek only to disrupt for your own perverse entertainment.. Here's how you persisted in persuading Namaz--one of the most entertaining and well-followed members--that it wasn't worth posting here any longer: Posted 03 June 2017 - 05:57 AM Numazu, reading your songkran report I had a mixture of nostalgia and satisfaction. Nostalgia for last year's songkran which I enjoyed very much with a fraction of your activities, and satisfaction for being content at home just reading about your doings. My head got a little winded reading all your coming and going, place hooping, foods and friends gluttony, endless water battles. I have the endurance for all that, but I would be a 50, 30, 20. 50% of the time enjoyable, 30% of it with a neutral feeling of having an experience, and 20% with desires for all that to end soon. Given the choice, I prefer to be a little under-entertained or under-celebrated than over-entertained, over-celebrated. Hopefully on return you could explain to your BF the disfavor of leaving a relationship issue in suspense... "will leave it for when you come back"... Perhaps he should either not have mentioned it at all, or have discussed it right there to completion. After all, in today's world you can have video talks for hours, and this time lost to sleep but with the issue resolved would have let you sleep much better thereafter. --------------- Posted 07 June 2017 - 03:49 AM About Numazu, I am not a moralist and in no way I condemn him. He is promiscuous like most we are here in different degrees. It must be in our genes. I don't judge him but I DESCRIBE him. There is an element of excess that stands out, although "pathological" may be a little strong. He says he is 36 y.o. but his obsession with sex fits more a teenager, not an adult at an age where one is normally focused on work and career and eventually family and children (even gays we can have family and children, haha.) If now he is so desperate to run around the globe in search of sex workers to pay, what... what will he have left for the time he is twice his age like me? I think there is time for everything, and to become a sex tourist is best for people who have done their duty, are retired with little or no responsibilities, with plenty of time and money to enjoy... like me! --------------- Posted 07 June 2017 - 10:26 AM At that age I traveled the world as much or more than Numazu, not as a sex tourist but working for a multinational company in the oil industry. I had my sexcapades but I was not obsessed with them like I wasn't obsessed with food or booze. My fascination with the guy is the time and effort he dedicates to his sexcapades and the writing about them. Doesn't he have a life... besides sex? There is a long way between that and "rationing".

You've always been a troll, Stevie, but now I see that you're a dumb troll to boot. Tuvalu's only 10 square miles.

You really hold a grudge. Last elections there were in 2015.

From Coconuts Bangkok University Student Pakkarapong “Toy” Khuaikhoen, won Mr. Gay World Thailand on Saturday, a contest for gay Thai men that considers more than just beauty. The 26-year-old won for speaking out against cyberbullying, which he said occurs regularly in the gay online community in Thailand. Toy is committed to rolling out campaigns to encourage online respect. “I want the LGBT community to be accepted, and it has to start from the inside. We must stop bullying each other. This is why I decided to compete. I want to be a spokesman for gender equality,” Toy told Dodeden. Toy, who is studying Arts & Communications at Nation University, will represent Thailand in the international Mr. Gay World contest, which will be held in South Africa in May. Other than promoting gender equality, Toy said he likes making Thai desserts and being in front of a camera. Mr. Gay World is an annual contest for gay men. It seeks to establish global ambassadors for LGBT and human rights. Continues with pics https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/student-crowned-mr-gay-world-thailand/

Agree. Bashing America--or any nation--serves no purpose. If we wish we can find policies about any country that we disagree with.

He may be opting to remain below the radar for the time being. The political climate is continually in a state of flux. I'm reminded of the 2002 raid on Babylon during the height of the social order campaign of the Thaksin administration. From Fridae website The well-known Babylon Sauna-Barracks, listed on nearly every Bangkok gay city guide, was raided by police last Friday night following a tip-off. Bangkok police, led by the recently appointed Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Well-known Babylon Sauna-Barracks which is listed on nearly every Bangkok gay city guideAll 207 guests in the South Sathorn road sauna underwent a urine tests of which 20 tourists tested positive for drugs. According to the paper, the raid followed a tip-off that Babylon Sauna, provided sex services for gay men.The 6-storey establishment, well-known to be a gay sauna among local and foreign gay men for years, operates a sauna on the first 2 levels and a hotel on the next four storeys as well as a restaurant, gym and a swimming pool. The operators were charged with operating a hotel without a licence. To date this year, the police have shut down 68 nightspots - compared to 75 last year - for not complying with regulations. http://www.fridae.asia/gay-news/2002/12/30/482.bangkok-police-raid-famous-gay-sauna

"I was misinformed," Rick Blaine, Casablanca.

I know many people who don't get food poisoning from eating street food. I think MSG gets a bad rap. It's a natural flavor enhancer and is widely used throughout Asia. Excerpted from Wikipedia: Monosodium glutamate (MSG, also known as sodium glutamate) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essentialamino acids. Monosodium glutamate is found naturally in tomatoes, cheese and other foods. MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups. It was first prepared in 1908 by Japanese biochemist Kikunae Ikeda, who was trying to isolate and duplicate the savory taste of kombu, an edible seaweed used as a base for many Japanese soups. MSG as a flavor enhancer balances, blends, and rounds the perception of other tastes. A popular belief is that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, known as "Chinese restaurant syndrome," but double-blind tests fail to find evidence of such a reaction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

No, but the spike in interest rates should boost the dollar. The 10-treasury bond hit a 4-year high yesterday, closing at 2.84%.

From Bangkok Post The Bank of Thailand has further eased rules to encourage more capital outflows by allowing a greater number of retail investors to directly put money into overseas securities. The move is part of efforts to reign in the stronger baht. The latest relaxation of capital outflows came shortly after the central bank announced a further easing of related regulations by increasing the cap for agents to send money overseas to 800,000 baht a day per customer, up from 200,000, retroactively coming into effect from Jan 12, 2018. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/finance/1406142/bot-eases-capital-outflow-rules-to-cool-down-baht

With the Thai unemployment rate hovering around 1%, it's clear the country needs workers from neighboring ones. The government collects entry fees on each border run so it's not as if it wasn't benefiting, along with the baht these workers spend for rent, food and other essentials that boosts the overall economy. Many work in the construction and hospitality sectors, jobs not particularly popular with Thais. More important to readers here, they're among the reasons we travel long distances to see them. That makes us high-value, repeat visitors, the very kind the tourism industry claims it's seeking.

From Coconuts Bangkok As we announced back in November, Thailand’s new smoking ban on 24 tourist beaches around the country takes full effect today. Though the law has technically been in place for 90 days, police designated that time as a grace period when those caught breaking the law would be warned but not fined. Now, those smoking in non-designated areas — including the use of vapes and e-cigarettes, which are illegal in Thailand anyway — can face harsh penalties including a fine of up to THB100,000 (about US$3,000) and/or up to a year in jail. To help people follow the law, smoking areas have been set up just behind the beaches with signs in Thai, English, and Chinese. There was also talk of using GPS signals to send text messages to people with tourist SIMS near beaches about the law. So far, the beach smoking ban has not been popular with Pattaya tourists, who have simply ignored the ban and smoked in the sand. The only beach in Pattaya that is part of the ban is Dongtan Beach, on the Jomtien side of the city. The pilot program bans smoking on 24 popular tourist beaches around the country after officials in Phuket realized how much smoking debris and cigarette butts were left on the beaches. In addition to Dongtan, other beaches taking part in the pilot program are: Patong (Phuket); Saeng Chan (Rayong); Laem Sadet (Chanthaburi); Bang Saen, Tham Phung, Sai Kaew, Dong Tan (Chonburi); Cha-am (Phetburi); Hua Hin and Khao Takiab (Prachuap Khiri Khan), Bo Phut (Koh Samui); Sai Ri (Chumphon), Khao Lak (Phang Nga); Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai (off the coast of Phang Nga); Chalok Baan Kao (Koh Tao); Klong Dao, Kor Kwang, and Phra Ae (Koh Lanta); Ban Chuen (Trat); Chala That (Songkhla); Samran (Trang); Plai Sai (Nakhon Sri Thammarat); and Wasukri (Pattani). https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/no-butts-todays-day-fines-beach-smoking-take-effect/

NOTE -- Consolidated three current news items in this thread. From Aljazeera Centuries in the making: Will Thailand build a 100km canal? If Thailand's canal is ever built, it won't be the world's longest, but it surely will claim to have had the longest gestation period. The idea of building a shipping lane from one side of the country to the other, linking the Gulf of Thailand, or Gulf of Siam as it was known at the time, with the Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean, was first proposed by King Narai in 1677. Obviously, it didn't happen at the time. Throughout the centuries, however, the idea has repeatedly been brought up by monarchs, politicians, soldiers and businessmen, and, each time, the plans have been shelved because they've been deemed impractical, too expensive or detrimental to the nation's security. Now, in 2018, the proposal is back, thanks to a group of businessmen, former politicians and retired military generals who believe the time is right for the Thai government to commit to building the 100km canal. Continues with video http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2018/01/centuries-making-thailand-build-100km-canal-180129140722240.html ------------------- From Khaosod English Thailand’s Amazing Tourism an Amazing Mess: New Minister BANGKOK — Thailand’s tourism boom is causing serious problems and the bureaucracy is ill-equipped to fix them. That no-punches spared assessment comes from none other than its new tourism minister, Weerasak Kowsurat. “The problems have been swept under the rug for 30 years now. At this time, it’s being lifted up a little,” the 52-year-old Harvard law school graduate said in an interview. “I don’t have enough time to change the rug. What I will do is pull the corners. You can show what’s under the rug if you grab the right corner.” Unlike the predecessor he replaced in November, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, a media-savvy figure known for her always-rosy take on Thai tourism – Weerasak is a policy pedant with a gloomier take on it’s mismanagement. During the course of an hour-long interview, the former Tourism Authority of Thailand board member kept circling back to the same threats confronting this critical engine of the national economy: Ever-growing hordes of tourists trampling sensitive beaches, cities and towns that never get their share and a bureaucracy that doesn’t know how to fix such problems. Continues with photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2018/01/31/thailands-amazing-tourism-amazing-mess-new-minister/ ---------------------- From Bangkok Post Thailand No.1 as world's cryptocurrency malware mining hotspot Thailand has become the world's leading hotspot for cryptocurrency mining malware, according to Palo Alto Networks, a network and enterprise security firm. Cryptocurrency-focused threats should be a focus of intelligence and preventive efforts for all defenders in 2018, as attackers have already introduced more large-scale attacks globally, Christopher Budd wrote on the Palo Alto Networks blog. The company found that XRMig, software that is used to mine the monero cryptocurrency, is being used to attack systems without the knowledge or consent of the victims. While XRMig itself is not specifically malware, it is being delivered using malware delivery techniques. The attackers are doing this by using URL shorteners to make XMRig look like other, legitimate and expected programs. Among the top 10 countries globally attacked, Thailand saw the most downloads of the new malware at 3,545,437, followed by Vietnam (1,830,065), Egypt (1,132,863), Indonesia (988,163), Turkey (665,058), Peru (646,985), Algeria (614,870), Brazil (550,053), the Philippines (406,294) and Venezuela (400,661). https://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/local-news/1405198/thailand-no-1-as-worlds-malware-mining-hotspot

Seems a bit complicated but I'm sure you've found a way to work around it or you wouldn't keep returning.

From Wikipedia .... the mission relocated to a new site on the corner of Phloen Chit and Roads in 1922. Originally a rural location on the outskirts of the city, the area soon developed into one of the city centre's prime locations. The compound remained a leafy oasis amidst its densely developed surroundings throughout the 20th century, but was sold to Central Group at record-setting prices, first partially in 2007, then completely in 2017. In 2006, as part of its plan to downgrade several embassies and consulates to divert funds to other activities, the British Foreign Office sold about 9 rai (1.4 ha; 3.6 acres) or about a third of the embassy's estate—the portion fronting Phloen Chit Road—to Tiang Chirathivat Real Estate Company, whose owners also operated Central Group. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/11580-uk-to-sell-bangkok-embassy/

Here's a post from last year by Vessey that's worth a look if you find that this topic interests you. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10729-face-book-groups

From The Guardian (UK) The scale of financial pressure on the British diplomatic service has been underlined by a Foreign Office announcement that it is raising £420m by selling its embassy in Bangkok. The sale is the largest land deal in Thai history and the Foreign Office’s biggest ever sale. The department said the proceeds would be reinvested elsewhere in the overseas estate and would fund 30-40 modernisation projects around the world, including in Washington DC. The Foreign Office has long complained that its budget is being cut to the bone at a time when the parallel budget of the Department for International Development is booming. The UK foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has been looking to see how he can capture parts of the DfID budget without breaching international rules on the definition of aid. A series of pooled budgets have been established, including the conflict security and stability fund. The transparency of the spending in these budgets has been repeatedly challenged. The Bangkok embassy is being sold to a joint-venture consortium of Hongkong Land, a member of the Jardine Matheson Group, and Central Group. The new Bangkok embassy building will be based in the AIA Sathorn Tower in the central business district. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/31/cash-strapped-foreign-office-puts-bangkok-embassy-up-for-sale

Who you kidding, Prom? If the headline had read "Cop uses sex to lure Canadian" you still would have read it. "Sex" was the word that got your attention; it gets us all. Read Grindr, Hornet, Romeo, Blued? It's all clickbait, or more accurately, dickbait, but you still gobble it up. You claim that BIB usually refers to boyS in brown. Well this time it didn't. Hope it didn't ruin your day. But it's nice to know you're on acronym patrol.

You're the only troll on this forum, Stevie, so it's gotta be you. Surely you recognize the image. Consult mirror for confirmation.