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Great report on all counts. You sensed you had the right guy to spend some quality time with. It's clear you won't soon be forgetting him or he you. Loved the hand signal routine you guys worked out. LOL.

From NY Times MARANA, Ariz. — There may be no airliner as recognizable as the Boeing 747, the world’s first jumbo jet, with its iconic hump of an upper deck. For aviation fans, the introduction of the “Queen of the Skies” was a triumph of engineering and grace: unprecedented size and speed with spiral-staircase international glamour. But the airline business has changed, and the giant plane has become more expensive to operate. A couple of weeks ago, the final 747 flight by any commercial United States airline took to the sky. Like so many others before it, the plane was heading to the Southwest to retire. Continues with pics https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/business/747-airlines-final-flight.html

I assume that you're referring to what you pay above and beyond whatever minimum tip structure applies at that particular shop. The tips I posted above represent the total tip I pay, inclusive of any minimum.

Fortunately there are enough reputable restaurants and food vendors that do just fine by not resorting to cheating foreigners. Many of them are mentioned in this forum. Thailand's largest food retailer (7-11) makes no exceptions for nationality. Cheating is wrong regardless where it occurs or what the rationale behind it is.

My massage tipping practice over the last few years, irrespective of nationality: One hour oil: 1000-1200 (1200 if he showers with me after or if he provided above-average service) 90-min. oil: 1500-1700 (based on same factors above). Can't recall an incident where it wasn't gladly accepted. Have tipped less for below average massage (600-700) for 1 hr. But that happened only twice. Regarding their expectations, it doesn't affect what I offer. They are free accept or reject. I don't take a rejection personally but I would not choose them in future.

Not long after writing (in post #41) "Having never knowingly taken a Vietnamese, I can't comment on that count," I met one and ended up spending more time with him than I did with any other guy during the trip. I found him to be honest, fun and always on time. He has a clear plan for his time in BKK and I was impressed with the self discipline he demonstrated in pursuit of it. Underscored for me that the pitfalls of prejudging individuals based on where they're from. Although we all read with interest the reviews posted here, the only ones that really count are the ones we actually have.

Bangkok firemen are the go-to guys and they removed 35,000 from around town last year. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20180119202950238/

Tell me about it! One of nature's cruelest tricks but counter balanced by that apparition when you open the door. Brought to mind John Rechy's 1967 novel, Numbers, in which no trick is repeated.

You considerate tease, you.

For the sake of clarity, let's see if I've got your status straight (sorry). Since you're bisexual, you must still be swinging from both sides of the plate, correct?

Must have been magic, married to you. You do, after all, frequently remind us that you were once married--to a woman.

Yes indeed. I very much like two guys who work at the same place. They both know it because I've told them so individually and I usually see them on an alternating basis. I'm careful, however, to pay them the same. if I didn't, then I could see a problem in the making.

From Coconuts Bangkok A viral Facebook post from a Thai woman who paid THB150 ($US4.7) for street food became the talk of town when the vendor admitted she overcharged the woman because the waiter mistook her for a Chinese tourist. On Monday, Suthaporn Lee said she had a dish of pad kaprow moo grob (stir-fried pork belly with holy basil) at a pop-up stall at Neon Market, but she was charged THB150 for a dish that typically costs THB35-50 (about US$1-1.50) on the Bangkok streets. The Neon Market is in Pratunam, an area popular among Chinese tourists. But when reporters from Amarin TV went to the market yesterday and inquired about the situation with the stall’s owner, she admitted that THB150 is a farang price, and overcharging the Thai woman was a mistake. Vendor Manee Maitree said that her waiter simply wrote down the price wrong because Suthaporn “looked Chinese.” “She told me that there’s a Thai price, and the numbers on the menu are farang prices,” Worapan Khunthongchan, a Thai customer, told the TV station. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/dual-pricing-happened-thai-charged-farang-price/

From Bangkok Post The national wage committee with the authority to approve minimum daily wage hikes agreed on Wednesday night to an increase in the minimum wage. The wage will climb from April by between 5 and 22 baht per day, depending on location, according to Permanent Secretary for Labour Jarin Jakkaphark, who chaired the committee. The revised daily range of 308 baht to 330 baht is about 2% to 7% higher than current levels. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1397454/minimum-wage-rise-of-5-to-22-baht-approved

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The announcement of the nation’s first legal marijuana cultivation facility presages changes to the nation’s drug laws that will soon allow medical use of cannabis, Thailand’s top drug enforcement agent said Tuesday. A recent rewrite of the nation’s strict narcotics laws will allow marijuana to be sold legally over-the-counter with a doctors’ prescription, Narcotics Control Board director Sirinya Sitdhichai said Tuesday. “For medical purposes, they will be able to get the marijuana, but only on a doctor’s orders. They can’t grow it on their own,” Sirinya said. “This is what we have put in the draft.” http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/01/17/medical-marijuana-dispensaries-next-thailand/

From Sun Daily BANGKOK: The Thai government will be introducing tax incentives to encourage families to have more children, as the country is becoming an ageing society, Thai News Agency reported. Nathaporn Chatusripitak, advisor to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said the cabinet approved the Finance Ministry's proposal to allow households to deduct 60,000 baht (RM7,415) from their taxable income this year for their second legitimate child. This will add to the deduction of 30,000 baht (RM3700) for the first child. The government will also allow families to deduct expenses of up to 60,000 baht on birth delivery or prenatal care from their taxable income. Nathaporn said that the tax measures are expected to help with Thailand transitioning into an ageing society in 2036, when the elderly would form 30% of its population. http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/01/17/thailand-introduces-tax-incentives-encourage-more-babies

Humorous guy's interest in your accommodations back home reminds me of a BKK guy who had similar inquiries. "You send me photos of your apartment?," he asked. I ignored the question and, like you, pretty much accurately predicted the next questions and where he was headed.

Au contraire, Boy69. Old records fall as new ones are established. But it's heartening to know you're on the word usage beat...even when you're wrong.

Point taken, Vessey. I believe this thread began moving off topic in post #9 when discussion shifted from the spiritual/theological to the automotive. I started this post and I agree with your sentiments. I'm sorry for your loss.

From Bloomberg News Thailand Just Got the Most Tourists Ever as Boom Continues - December foreign visitor arrivals reached a record 3.5 million - Holidaymakers are supporting growth and bolstering the baht Thailand received a record number of foreign tourists for a single month as a boom in arrivals continues. Arrivals jumped almost 16 percent in December from a year earlier to an unprecedented 3.5 million, the Tourism Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Pongpanu Svetarundra said in a briefing in Bangkok on Tuesday. He predicted a fresh high in January amid the traditional peak season for tourism. "We will continue to keep breaking records," Pongpanu said. Pongpanu said the government is targeting 37 million visitors in 2018 and 3 trillion baht ($94 billion) of revenue from domestic and foreign tourists combined. That would be worth more than a fifth of the economy -- and put ever greater strain on congested airports as well as Bangkok’s packed roads and metro system. The baht has strengthened more than 2 percent against the dollar this year, one of the strongest performers in Asia, prompting concern that the climb will eventually harm competitiveness in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/thailand-just-got-the-most-tourists-ever-as-boom-continues

I think the punters must checking this forum for venue suggestions. Our little hole in the wall may have to bring on more staff with the particular calling GC is becoming renowned for.

Had no idea you moonlighted with Blue Man Group.

This is where you enter the picture; you then must drive it someplace. Just saved you thousands of dollars, Stevie, because you were on the verge of junking a perfectly fine automobile. There is no need to thank me.

This is very enlightening. Had no idea my car could care one way or the other. Be assured that if your car has half a tank of fuel it remains perfectly fine. No need to consign to junkyard.

Excerpts from Bangkok Post High-tech library, co-working space and museum rolled into one, the Bank of Thailand's new Learning Center -- recently opened to commemorate its 75th anniversary -- is shaping up to be Bangkok's latest riverside destination. Situated right by the Chao Phraya, with a picturesque view of the river, the centre is located across from the Bank of Thailand offices under the Rama VIII bridge, and sees a 50-year-old maximum-security note-printing facility transformed into a spacious and serene public library. With exposed tile-brick walls and oppressive steel bank vaults clashing with the smart, modern furnishings of the library and its open glass wall, with a view of the river, the centre is an amalgamation of past and present, a modern relic of yesteryear steeped with history and technology alike. "This building is considered a significant monument when it comes to the financial history of Thailand, as the country's first money-printing facility," said Prapakorn Wannakanok, director of the BoT's 's Financial Literacy Department. The centre is also part of the Online Computer Learning Center (OCLC), a knowledge-sharing network of learning centres around the world, including the libraries of such famous universities as MIT and Stanford. This means that visitors can even access digital resources -- books, reports, etc -- shared by those OCLC members at the BoT's centre as well. Access to the library and its spaces is free, though access to certain resources may require membership. While the details of the membership programme are still being finalised, Prapakorn says that the fee for members should be no more than 1,500 baht per year, and will come with access to the OCLC resources and the co-working spaces, as well as book-loaning and museum access. The Bank of Thailand Learning Centre is open every day from 9.30am. The Library and Co-working Space areas close at 8pm, while the museum closes at 4pm. Entry to the museum is free (for the first six months of the year). There are six guided tours through the exhibits every morning at 9.30am, 10am and 10.30am, and in the afternoon at 1.30pm, 2pm and 2.30pm. Continues with pics and video https://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/1396038/the-value-of-old-money