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I believe Olddaddy had already answered that question in previous posts. 🙂

Unusual pattern. Air should be cooling. Humidity is relatively low. Being blamed on burning of agricultural vegetation and atmospheric inversion over area.wind not blowing it away.

Yes, bad as I’ve seen in many years. Temp also spiking this week towards 35.

Agree that attendees got what they paid for. That I’m not attracted to hunks doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate that others are.. That’s the beauty of Bangkok: there’s something for everyone.

The lady cocktail bar that closed mid-November has reopened with some cosmetic alterations. The only operational differences is that a male bartender replaced the female but the hosts remain female. If up to me, I’d staff it with a few of the Freshboy waiters.

Lawson’s has opened Lawson 108 store on Silom, roughly opposite Soi 6. It’s similar to a 7-Eleven but differs in several ways. It’s much more oriented to prepared meals and snacks. It also has much expanded liquor and wine offerings along with beer and soft drinks. There a dozen seats available at eat-in bar.

It was located in Lat Phrao when you were here. Just managed to drag you to Saphan Kwai. 🤗

From The Nation Upholding human rights is key to ending the AIDS pandemic Ahead of World AIDS Day (1 December), UNAIDS urges leaders to protect the human rights of everyone living with, and at risk of, HIV. Only then can the world meet the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. A new report, “Take the rights path to end AIDS”, notes that despite huge progress made in the HIV response, human rights violations are leading to the denial or limitation of access to HIV services. “When there is impunity for gender-based violence, when people can be arrested for who they are, when a visit to health services is dangerous for people because of the community they are from—the result is that people are blocked from HIV services that are essential to save their lives and to end the AIDS pandemic,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s rights.” Globally, every minute a person dies due to AIDS. Almost quarter of the estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV are still not accessing life-saving treatment. And in at least 28 countries, new HIV infections are on the rise. It is imperative that HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes can be reached without fear by all who need them. The criminalisation and stigmatisation of marginalised communities continue to block access to life-saving HIV services. In the 2021 Political Declaration on Ending HIV and AIDS, countries committed to ensure that by 2025 less than ten per cent of countries have punitive laws and policies and less than ten per cent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations experience stigma and discrimination. (The key populations are communities at higher risk for HIV, including men who have sex with men, people in prisons and other closed settings, people who use drugs, sex workers and transgender people.) The Asia Pacific situation In Asia and the Pacific, there are 17 AIDS-related deaths every hour and a new HIV infection every two minutes. From 2010 to 2023, new infections increased in Bangladesh (20%), Lao PDR (23%), Papua New Guinea (104%), Afghanistan (175%), Fiji (241%) and the Philippines (543%). Four of the six countries worldwide where infections have surged by more than 100% since 2010 are in this region. “Instead of punishing marginalised communities, governments need to uphold their human rights and ensure they have the specific information and care they require,” said Eamonn Murphy, Regional Director of UNAIDS Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe Central Asia. “The HIV response is at a crossroads. What governments do now will set the trajectory for whether we end AIDS as a public health threat and achieve a sustainable AIDS response, or whether we fail to achieve this and pay a much higher price in terms of human life and financial costs in the future.” There are legal barriers to the HIV response across Asia Pacific. Twenty countries criminalize HIV transmission, exposure or non-disclosure while 14 restrict the entry, stay or residence of people living with HIV. All but one country, New Zealand, criminalise some aspect of sex work. Seventeen criminalise same-sex relations and 28 criminalise drug possession. The report features an essay by Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President of Monash University in Malaysia, and former President of the International AIDS Society. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/health-wellness/40043762

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

From Bangkok Post PrEP medication options for HIV prevention should be diversified to ensure people have more choices to meet their requirements, a recent forum as told. Nittaya Phanuphak, executive director of the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI), said PrEP takers need to have more choices in protecting themselves from contracting HIV/ Aids. While oral PrEP has proved to be effective in HIV prevention, there are certain limitations, as ingesting it orally on a daily basis may prove inconvenient during work hours or if people have a demanding lifestyle. Furthermore, when prescribing PrEP, a medical checkup -- such as having a blood status check or following up on HIV infections with a doctor -- is required and many people do not have time to visit hospital, she said. As a result, many people take their medicine inconsistently, which leads to a higher risk of HIV/ Aids infection. With inconsistent blood checkups, these people also do not have the chance to know their blood status, she said. "The options in HIV prevention we have today are limited. Thailand should provide more diversified PrEP options to meet people's lifestyles and their needs, such as investing in injectable PrEPs or exploring other HIV prevention options like intravaginal rings for women. "Such diversification requires policymakers, funders and the state to help make it happen. They need to consider that such choices must be available and accessible inclusively, and affordable for all,'' she said. Dr Nittaya spoke to participants during a forum entitled the "Community Forum: From Options to Choice". Held by her office, it was aimed at discussing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP options to ensure more inclusive HIV/Aids prevention and protection for all people in the country. Targets for getting people to take PrEP pills have fallen short, and other options are not as readily available. PrEP is a medicine that people who do not have HIV can take to prevent themselves from contracting HIV/Aids when they may be at risk of being in contact with the virus. Thailand has had a national PrEP rollout since 2015, and this medicine is included in the social welfare system, which Thais can access for free. As of now, only the daily oral intake PrEP available is in Thailand; long-acting injectable PrEP like Cabotegravir and Lenacapavir have proven to be more effective and convenient in HIV prevention, but are not available under the healthcare system. Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) director of supplies and products, Rachaneekorn Jevprasesphant, said various processes are needed to make a new medicine, including licensing and pricing. She said that when it comes to the local production of medicines, sourcing ingredients and formula development should be taken into account. Then the GPO has to conduct research, which can take around two years, followed by drugs registration which can take around a year. So, making a drug locally can take three years altogether. IHRI project manager Rina Chan-amnuaysuk said having various options on offer helps to guarantee people's safety while having sex. She said Thailand had set the goal of 144,054 PrEP takers by 2022; however, at that time, there were only 31,790 people who had taken PrEP.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2912520/hiv-forum-urges-more-prep-options

From Pattaya News Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) has escalated its travel advisory for Thailand, urging Israeli citizens residing or traveling in the Southeast Asian nation to exercise heightened caution due to an elevated risk of attacks. This warning comes on the heels of recent intelligence suggesting that those responsible for the murder of a Chabad emissary in Dubai are now planning attacks targeting Israelis in Thailand. The NSC has explicitly advised Israelis to avoid places associated with Jewish or Israeli identity, including Jewish centers, synagogues, and known gathering spots for Israelis. They recommend not displaying any symbols that might identify one as Israeli or Jewish, and to abstain from sharing travel plans or current locations on social media platforms. The context for this warning includes a series of violent acts and threats against Israeli nationals worldwide, particularly following a pattern of retaliatory actions linked to geopolitical tensions. Notably, the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE, attributed to operatives possibly connected to those now targeting Thailand, has raised concerns about a broader campaign against Israeli interests abroad. The NSC’s advisory was issued after Thai police had previously warned of a terror plot aimed at Israelis during events like the Full Moon party on Koh Phangan, highlighting the ongoing and persistent threat landscape. Thailand has been a favored destination for Israeli tourists, particularly young travelers and veterans of the IDF looking for a post-service escape. However, it’s also a location where past attacks have occurred, such as 2012 bomb attacks linked to Iranian operatives targeting Israeli diplomats, which underscores the historical vulnerability of this region to such threats. https://thepattayanews.com/2024/12/02/israel-warns-nationals-of-potential-attacks-in-southeast-asia-including-thailand/

From Pattaya Mail The weekend’s fireworks bonanza was another banging success for Pattaya marketing. But the silent chaos on the roads as queuing traffic took over an hour to traverse the city at peak times illustrates the downside of overtourism. Pattaya’s ancient highways were not designed for 100,000 vehicles all competing for space at the same time. Thailand’s success in recovering from the covid ghost image has been staggering. From March 2020 to June 2021, there were no tourists in Thailand by law. Then came the “Sandbox” notion which limited foreign vacationers to 15,000 a month. But from July 2022, all barriers were dropped except for a vaccination certificate, a requirement waived from October of that year. International arrivals zoomed like never before and the calendar year 2024 looks like being similar to pre-pandemic 2019: almost 40 million for Thailand as a whole. Around one third of that total use Pattaya as a base. Several factors mean that the traffic chaos in Pattaya has become worse. In an attempt to raise local revenue, public holidays have been increased to enable more long weekends. In Pattaya, this has stimulated domestic tourists, especially car drivers from Bangkok, to enjoy the cultural festivals which have been aggressively promoted. More and more huge hotels are being constructed in the city, but often without adequate parking for the coaches which service the guests. Thus the big buses frequently park on the roads nearby making free-flow traffic impossible. The numbers situation is likely to get worse. Although Chinese numbers have declined somewhat, Indian arrivals are likely to boom once U-tapao airport, near Pattaya, starts receiving flights from Indian cities across the country. Direct flights from the USA to Bangkok are scheduled to begin in February 2025, one of many expanding intercontinental air schedules. Meanwhile the liberalization of property laws, which the government says may be particularly advantageous to Thai tourist-orientated cities, is now firmly on the political agenda. Pattaya City Hall does its best with increased use of one-way streets, painted red lines and readjustment of traffic light green signals. On particular weekends, major roads are closed or traffic rerouted although the buildup on neighboring streets is often horrendous. Traffic police these days are rarely visible in the city and most control booths in or near the city center are unmanned. No parking restrictions are increasingly ignored especially where they serve no apparent purpose. Why does Pattaya have painted Bus Stop signs when the experiment was abandoned years ago? Some observers believe the answer lies in punishing thousands of traffic offenders by spot fines issued without receipts. That’s unlikely to happen. Apart from the inevitable heated arguments and fists – hundreds daily – leading to bad international publicity, the reality in any case is that Pattaya’s roads are woefully inadequate for the volume of traffic trying to use them. Other critics would like to see congestion charges to come into the city, the practicalities of which have not even begun to be addressed. As regards 2025, the only answer is to grit your teeth and carry on.

Not sure if I had child under 16 I would want them on social media today, either.

Made my fourth visit to Phoenix Massage yesterday. It is one shop—perhaps only one—offering assured good experience because both managers and guys are on the same page every time with policy that hard to beat: no haggling, no upselling, no bargaining. You pay the shop fee you select and agree on the tip (1200 for 60 min.) and you’re on your way to satisfying session. You can select masseur in advance or choose from lineup on arrival.

What about those axe murderers? 🤭

I’m sure this guest got what he paid for. But it’s possible to find what others consider great bodies in massage shops across Bangkok on any given day. Not every shop or every guy, but I find them regularly. And you can experience them with more than your hand. I’m not criticizing this event, just pointing out other options available if you’re willing to look.

So would most of us, I’d imagine. 🙂

Dragon and Koi is showing signs of resilience with steadily increasing customer flow. Made my fourth visit last night and counted six hosts (who also double as dancers) on hand. They’re all attractive, friendly and eager to keep you company. All but one speaks English. The customer drinks are reasonably priced and boy drinks about half of what show bars charge. Although they can’t be offed, they seem open to meeting customers after shop closes at 2.

From Bangkok Post Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has ordered work on a city motorway to be suspended for two weeks after Friday's crane collapse on Rama II Road which resulted in six deaths and nine injuries. The incident took place on the outbound traffic lanes of the elevated Ekkachai-Ban Phaeo Intercity Motorway 82 (M82) site in Khok Krabue sub-district of Muang district of Samut Sakhon at 4.13am. A launching gantry crane collapsed and precast concrete segments caved in, according to initial findings. At the time of the collapse, 39 staff were working at the site with a foreman reporting that many workers fell along with the concrete segments. Of the six who died, four were from Myanmar, and two were Thai nationals. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collapse. Of the six who died, four were from Myanmar, and two were Thai nationals. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the collapse. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2911856/rama-ii-motorway-construction-put-on-hold-after-fatal-crane-collapse

From Pattaya Mail Thailand is poised to regain its Category 1 status from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by February 2025, following extensive safety improvements and regulatory adjustments. This upgrade will enable Thai airlines to resume direct flights to the United States after a nine-year hiatus. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) had successfully addressed the safety concerns that led to the downgrade of Thailand’s aviation status from Category 1 to Category 2 in 2015. The FAA conducted a thorough inspection of Thailand’s aviation safety standards from November 11-15, 2024, with its experts confirming that most of the required improvements had been made. Only minor issues remain, which are expected to be resolved before the final assessment in early 2025. The reclassification will mark a significant milestone for the Thai aviation industry, allowing Thai airlines to resume direct services to the U.S., thereby boosting international air transport and further enhancing Thailand’s connectivity. ============= I think the only way that this will prove profitable is if Thai acquires ultra long range equipment so make non-stop service from East and west coasts.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Unofficial government adviser Thaksin Shinawatra this week reaffirmed his desire to see a new comfort zone for foreign property buyers and long lease holders. He thus joins real estate dealers and potential investors in urging the necessary legal reforms to permit up to 75 percent of condominium units to be foreign owned and to extend maximum leases on various types of property from 30 (normally) to 90 years. At the moment, not more than 49 percent of condo units can be in foreign ownership to ensure Thais retain majority control, whilst most land leases (eg on villas) are a maximum of 30 years to avoid any suggestion the country is too indulgent to more than one generation of foreigners. Given that the Thai economy overall is still stuck with low growth rates, the potential reforms are intended to create much-needed extra revenue and to motivate the property market as a whole. The main sticking point is the fear in traditionalist quarters that the Pheu Thai administration is selling rather than saving the country. Thus, it is argued that expanding the foreign quota for condominium ownership risks “outsiders” taking over control of committees or conspiring with others to dominate whole sections of some cities. Condo prices may irrationally skyrocket as happened recently in Canada when there was a rapid influx of foreign purchases. According to the Housing Business Association (HBA), actual reforms are likely to be complex. For example, the extension of the foreign quota in condominiums could depend on a minimum sale price of, say, 10 million baht, and be restricted to cities which are already popular with foreigners. Moreover, taxes on foreign-owned units could be raised and the right to sit on juristic committees could be restricted to ensure Thai voting members remain the majority. As regards land leases, HBA suggests a new framework is required too. The illegality of nominee shareholders needs to be prohibited in new legislation and bold frameworks should be established to regulate land use according to urban planning regulations and zoning requirements. There might be a maximum size of 4 rai to prevent foreign-dominated companies buying up rural land wholesale for industrial development or profitable investment. Reforming Thailand’s property laws is not new. The military-backed government following the 2014 coup approved a regulation for foreigners investing at least 40 million baht might purchase a rai of land, but withdrew consent after a storm of protest. The resistance to the junta was sparked by several groups, including the then opposition Pheu Thai party which is now in the driving seat. Whatever proposals are adopted by Thailand’s parliament in 2025, if any, one feature is already very obvious. The devil will lurk in the detail.

From The Thaiger Thailand’s notorious “rental wife” trend is turning heads and sparking heated debates. Dubbed the “black pearl” phenomenon, this controversial practice is thriving in Pattaya’s red-light districts, offering foreign tourists a temporary taste of companionship for a fee. The practice, often called “temporary marriage,” sees women from impoverished rural areas become companions to tourists, offering services ranging from casual companionship to acting as tour guides. Contracts last anywhere from a few days to several months, with fees varying based on the woman’s looks, age, and education—ranging from US$1,600 to an eye-watering US$116,000. Lavert A. Emmanuel’s new book, Thai Taboo: The Rise of Wife Rental in Modern Society, dives into this shadowy world, describing how the practice, once hidden, has now become a significant income source for young people struggling to make ends meet. “This isn’t just a transactional arrangement. Some women end up marrying their clients, while others maintain long-term paid relationships.”

From Pattaya News On November 28th at Pattaya Police Station, Pol. Lt. Gen. Yingyos Thepchamnong, acting Regional Police Commissioner for Provincial Police Region 2, presided over a press conference to announce the results of the operation titled “Operation Pattaya No Parasites” The operation aimed to sweep away crimes, especially transnational in Chonburi and Pattaya, to build tourist confidence. Pol. Lt. Gen. Yingyos said Chonburi is the home to an internationally famous tourist city like Pattaya, so it attracts large numbers of tourists from around the world every year. However, issues such as crimes, illegal activities by foreign workers, and transnational crime have increasingly become concerning in the province. Illegal foreign workers and call center scams: Officers arrested 17 Chinese nationals involved in an illegal transnational money lending scheme, with an estimated cash flow of 392.15 million baht. Unauthorized production and sale of herbal products: Officers raided three shops, arresting 11 individuals (7 foreign workers) and confiscating 27 illegal herbal products falsely advertised with exaggerated claims. Illegal foreign workers: Officers detained 109 foreign nationals working without permits or performing jobs that are not allowed for foreigners. Illegal country entry: Officers arrested 469 foreign nationals for illegally entering Thailand. Overstaying visas: Officers apprehended 33 individuals for overstaying their visas. Failure to report foreign resident accommodations: Officers found 249 violations under Section 38 of the Immigration Act. Firearms offenses: Officers arrested 42 people for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, seizing 23 firearms. Drug offenses: Officers arrested nine suspects, seizing 300,037 methamphetamine pills and 4.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Street racing: Officers seized 33 motorcycles involved in reckless driving and arrested two Kuwaiti nationals for dangerous driving. All offenders were already prosecuted. Homeless individuals and beggars: Officers relocated 14 homeless individuals, 7 of whom tested positive for drugs. Additionally, 33 foreign beggars and 2 street vendors were apprehended.

From Pattaya Mail The view from above for Friday night’s fireworks over Pattaya Beach. The show continues tonight. November 30 7:30 PM: Opening Highlight Performance 7:45 PM: Fireworks Display by Hong Kong SAR 8:05 PM: Fireworks Display by Serbia 8:25 PM: Live Music Performance by Bossanovy 9:25 PM: Fireworks Display by Germany 9:45 PM: Fireworks Display by the United Kingdom 10:05 PM: Fireworks Display by the Philippines 10:25 PM: Concert by Slapkiss 11:30 PM: End of Festival