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Excerpts from The Beijinger Beijing officials have initiated a city-wide investigation after a scandal has implicated a number of local five-star hotels for lax hygiene standards. The Beijing Health and Family Planning Commission announced Tuesday that they will investigate all five-star hotels in the city a day after an undercover report revealed local luxury hotels didn't clean their guest room, reusing bed linen and not cleaning their toilets. Chinese public hygiene regulations demand hotel operators adhere to a "one customer, one-time use" policy in which facilities are freshly cleaned for every new client. Additionally, Chinese hospitality regulations say bed linen and pillows must be changed for each customer. Serendipitously, the Beijing Health and Family Planning Commission released its summer inspection report on the city's 691 hotels just one day after the scandal broke. Forty-six Beijing hotels failed to meet city standards, 35 of which were punished. https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/09/07/city-wide-investigation-launched-beijing-5-star-hotels-exposed-reusing-dirty-linen

From Pattaya Mail An artist’s rendering of what the new rail line might look like. The State Railway of Thailand next month will request 28 billion baht to construct a high-speed train line linking Pattaya with the region’s three main airports. PATTAYA – The State Railway of Thailand next month will request 28 billion baht to construct a high-speed train line linking Pattaya with the region’s three main airports. Chonburi Deputy Gov. Phawat Lertmukhda chaired an Aug. 30 public hearing at the Asia Hotel about the project connecting U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya Airport with Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. SRT development director Julthep Jithasombat said the agency will set forth its formal plan at a meeting next month and make the budget request under the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor project. If approved, construction would begin in 2018 with the line opening in 2022. The planned route calls for a standard-gauge set of tracks to run from Don Mueang to the terminus of the existing Airport Rail Link in Makkhasan, Bangkok, to Suvarnabhumi and through Chachoengsao and Chonburi to Pattaya, U-Tapao and Rayong. Continues with map http://www.pattayamail.com/news/srt-request-funds-pattaya-bangkok-high-speed-rail-line-oct-185487

From The Nation New HIV infections in Thailand have dropped 50 per cent in six years – the biggest decline in Asia and the Pacific, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). And UNAIDS has applauded Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health for its bold new national AIDS strategy, which provides a roadmap for ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat in Thailand by 2030. Admiral Narong Pipatanasai, Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the National AIDS Committee, launched the 2017-2030 National AIDS Strategy at the Government Complex in Bangkok on Wednesday. The 13-year plan would ensure an effective, cost-efficient and high-impact HIV response, he said. A recent UNAIDS report has found that annual new HIV infections have dropped 50 per cent in Thailand between 2010-2016, the steepest decline for any country in Asia and the Pacific. “Thailand stands out in the Asia-Pacific region for its achievements in overcoming AIDS,” said Patchara Benjarattanaporn, UNAIDS country director for Thailand. “In just one generation the country has gone from having the fastest growing epidemic in Asia to the slowest. The country’s epidemic is concentrated among key populations, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs and sex workers. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30326588

The current issue of Aviation Week magazine has several articles (none available on line) about Asian and Gulf carriers that some may find of interest. AIR ASIA -- Plans to resume flights to Europe have been put on hold. However, it has 10 Airbus A350's on order that would enable non-stop European service upon delivery expected in 2020. Late next year the LLC expects to take delivery of the first two A330-neos with five more due the following year. Meanwhile, Air Asia may lease some older A330 models to ramp up service to Australia, China, Japan and S. Korea. NARROW BODY BOOM -- LLC's are placing huge orders for new narrow body (single aisle) equipment with IndiGo (409), Lion Air (408) and Air Asia (395) leading the pack. MALAYSIA AIRLINES -- This carrier is embarkd on one of the industry's most ambitious turn-around projects and hopes to become profitable in 2018. MAB has phased out its Boeing 777-200ER fleet as it cut nany European routes in favor of building up its Asia-Pacific network, particularly to China. It may lease used A330's to meet the goal. MAB is considering offering lie-flat beds in premium class and Wi-fi for service on China, Hong Kong and India routes. The carrier has six A350's on order to replace the A380 service to London. The 380's will be transferred to a new charter unit being established for religious pilgrimage flights. For its narrow body needs, it has 25 new Boeing 737MAX-8 and 10's on order, but delivery isn't expected until 2021 (the 10's will be used on secondary Chia destinations). ETIHAD AIRWAYS -- In the competitive Gulf market, Etihad finds itself caught in a bind of its own making. Eithad is the largest shareholder of now bankrupt Air Berlin. The effect could have a very negative effect on its global plans. The trouble began when Etihad brought into numerous secondary or seriously troubled carriers to grow quicker than it could organically. This included Alitalia, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Darwin Airlines, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways and Virgin Atlantic. With Etihad's exit from the investor scene, the European airline landscape could see drastic changes in the near term.

There's an old expression "you can't tell the players without a program ('scorecard' often substituted)". Never is it more applicable than in LOS.

Excerpts from Reuters article BANGKOK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Thailand’s military government has suspended international flights by Thai airlines that have not received new operator certificates from the country’s aviation body, a spokesman said. The measure will affect 12 airlines which together have a market share of only 2 percent and so will have little impact on the country’s tourism-dependent economy, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Tuesday. Thailand’s aviation industry has been under scrutiny after the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)downgraded the country in June 2015, giving it a red flag for missing a deadline to resolve significant safety concerns. Chula Sukmanop, director general of CAAT, told Reuters the suspension will affect 12 airlines, including Orient Thai Airlines and Thai Vietjet Air. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rohingya/myanmar-faces-mounting-pressure-over-rohingya-refugee-exodus-idUSKCN1BN0AQ

Well, you certainly wouldn't be the first person to label a news report they disagreed with as "fake news."

I try to be judicious in how much of an article I copy so not to take up too much space. But I always post link to original article for those who wish to pursue it in greater detail. But your posting this 42 days after the OP and 11 days after nynakedtop's post suggests there's another issue at hand.

I suppose SA is whatever you want it to be. It's a go-go on first floor where boys who happen to be there at the moment will do a little dance and try to entice you to buy them drinks. If you don't want to drink you can just choose a guy and off him or take him upstairs for massage (500 either way). But primarily it bills itself as a go-go. The sofas are now downstairs and second floor has been divided into rooms with a central shower. If you were there before, you've got the idea.

NOTE -- I don't recall seeing this particular description of the cremation process before and cannot verify details elsewhere. Excerpt from Nikkei Asian Review On Oct. 26, a coffin carrying Bhumibol's body, which still lies in the Royal Palace, will be brought here and elevated to the top platform of the crematorium to be incinerated in an electric oven. https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/All-of-Thailand-readies-for-late-king-s-funeral-in-October

When I was there last, I didn't have a drink and just made my selection for massage from those downstairs. Believe I was charged bht 500 for room and then paid tip directly to masseur after. There was no other fee involved. It was like any massage shop in that respect. Since you didn't take him off premises there should be no off fee. Glad to hear you liked the place. Sleaze is much underrated.

You might try Googling "Toshiba laptop (model #) fuse replacement". This method has worked for me with other electronics issues. Good luck!

Sorry, but I missed this. Now I'm beginning to better appreciate your predicament: you've been looking for free sex in Pattaya. My best tip is to become a customer. That way your feelings come more into play.

Nasherich, I very much enjoy and appreciate your posts but I think you'd do well to heed Vinapu's advice and don't waste precious time. You may well fare better relying less on GR and other sites and do your shopping in person, especially since in your in Pattaya, one of the world's premier locations for hands-on, brick-and-mortar capitalism. Wishing you the best of luck as you resume your pursuit.

Forky is correct that they've seen "fatter, uglier, smellier or just plain unpleasant bodies..." Of those conditions, however, the thing that the boys find more difficult to overlook is poor hygiene (body and oral). Thais are generally fastidious about both. A pre-massage shower can refresh the body but you should consider attending to breath beforehand.

Agree. It would be very risque to pinch your gogo boy in either place.

Checklist 1. Can you communicate with your prospective travel mate in a common language. If "no" go no further. 2. Are both of you crystal clear in your expectations and total remuneration? 3. Are you going to location(s) where you'll both feel relatively comfortable together? 4. If it's a trip over 3-4 days, do you have a plan if things go insufferably south?

From The Nation AirAsia is responding to passenger demand for premium services with the launch of the new “AirAsia Red Carpet” option. The service offers travellers an exclusive check-in counter, pre-flight food and beverages in a special lounge and priority boarding and baggage claim, with prices starting at Bt800 for domestic flights and Bt1,000 for international and Fly Thru flights. Santisuk Klongchaiya, director of Commercial for Thai AirAsia, notes that AirAsia’s customer base has expanded steadily to encompass a range of lifestyles that include travellers who enjoy its low fares but also want the convenience and exclusivity of more premium services, hence the creation of “AirAsia Red Carpet”. Customers who choose this option will be treated to an exclusive check-in counter that bypasses any long lines, up to two-and-a half-hours access to a relaxing lounge complete with food and beverage as well as priority boarding and baggage claim. The service can be selected through the Manage My Booking feature on AirAsia website. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/thailand/30326237 -------------------------- From Straits Times SINGAPORE - Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 will open on Oct 31 – a critical milestone for the airport as it goes live with new technology, systems and procedures that could shape the future of air travel in Singapore. Nine airlines – the AirAsia Group (which comprises four airlines), Cathay Pacific Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Korean Air, Spring Airlines and Vietnam Airlines – will operate from the new terminal. http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/changi-airport-to-open-terminal-4-on-october-31-after-more-than-100-trials

That's true. At home, unfortunately, my sheets don't get the same workout they do on vacation! That's also true. When the hotel offers me the choice with the card system, I usually opt not to change them. But I appreciate being the one who decides. A few years ago a boy, who had a fairly fresh tattoo on his butt, left a multi-colored impression of sorts on the bottom sheet. I approached the maid the next morning in hallway and invited her into room to view my embarrassing predicament. She just waived me away with "my pen rai." I left her particularly generous tip.

From The Week (UK) Innovation is on the menu at Som Saa, Smoking Goat, Kiln and Farang London makes a lot of noise about being the world food capital thanks to its culinary diversity, offering everything from Peruvian and Indian to Italian and Spanish. There are other contenders to the title, including New York, Hong Kong and Melbourne - but when it comes Thai cuisine, London is arguably a clear winner. The Thai street food produced at four of the English capital's restaurants – Som Saa, Smoking Goat, Kiln and Farang – is among the most innovative and impressive served anywhere outside Thailand itself. What makes this even more remarkable is that the head chefs at these restaurants are all British, and only one of them has lived in Thailand. Continues at http://www.theweek.co.uk/88294/siamese-dreams-why-london-offers-the-best-thai-food-outside-thailand

Impressive photo essay of the preparations in progress. From Bloomberg News http://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2017-09-08/thailand-s-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-cremation-prep-underway

There are some days when my only food intake (outside of a hotel breakfast) comes from 7-Eleven. Love those <40 baht meals they'll heat up in microwave. That and a beer will do...and maybe an icecream sandwich.

Can't agree. We're talking about major hotels with international branding. Don't recall visiting a hotel of that caliber that didn't routinely change bed linens daily. Exception is if a different policy is posted (and that's usually limited to serviced apartments) or when you are requested to place a card on your bed to indicate that you want (or don't want) linens changed.

The Bolshoi couldn't have choreographed a better climax!

There's another service commercial laundries confidentially offer hoteliers. Instead of the full cleaning service (wash, rinse and press) they'll offer a discount of about 30% where sheets are only sent through rinse cycle and pressed. They look fine. However, sheets regularly not exposed to soap and bleach eventually (especially in a hot, humid climate) take on a faint to no-so-faint "body" odor about them. When checking into any hotel room, I usually take a few minutes to check the bed by pulling back cover sheet and check for body hairs, stains or odors before lifting bottom sheet off mattress and check for evidence of bedbugs. I sniff pillows for freshness. I then check bathroom and give shower curtain the sniff test (if it has a bad odor, I request housekeeping to change it). Last thing I do is use hand sanitizer to clean remote, usually the germiest thing in the room. It's not uncommon for guest, when making reservation, to request a particular room he has a preference for. In this case, the person who first checked in would only need to notify follow-up team member of room number. The other method would be for first person to make reservation (and pay for) for two night and explain upon registering that he would be staying just one night and that a colleague would be occupying the room on the next night.