reader

Maybe but suspending from floor was not well received.

Dragon and Koi is unique: no other bar offers the same combination of entertainment and host opportunities. The dancers are all very friendly and willing to get up close in personal while sitting with customers in booths. But that comes with expected cost. It’s still possible, however, to sit at bar, order a beer or soft drink, and enjoy the same show at very reasonable cost. You’ll be approached by dancers between sets and offered company but no need to accept. Since dancers are central to the bar’s special concept, it’s reasonable that management can’t allow performers to be offed. Whether this practice stands the test of time remains to be seen. To date, one dancer I’m aware of moved over to Freshboy for offing opportunities and appears to be doing quite well in that environment.

Be the first one to report on new place. Very easy to find.

+1. Since English is widely spoken among Filipinos, many find work in health care and other professions.

As we get older our vision often fails is. Keep trying!

My reply was meant in jest.😄 I would agree, however, that the sex trade is the primary reason readers come to this site.

The “sex trade” is among the topics that keep readers returning to this forum. Please tread lightly on the meat and potatoes of this site.

From The Nation The Public Health Ministry launches the 'Thai Massage College,' aiming to train 20,000 specialized therapists in seven conditions, boosting Thailand’s economy by 144 billion baht. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, stated while presiding over the opening ceremony of the "Thai Massage College of Thailand" on Thursday (March 20, 2025) at the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine that elevating Thai wisdom, particularly Thai massage, is part of the Public Health Ministry's policy to enhance the health economy’s potential and establish Thailand as a Medical and Wellness Hub. The Thai Massage College will serve as a centre for training and developing skilled Thai massage therapists with specialized expertise in seven conditions: myofascial pain syndrome, frozen shoulder, trigger finger, piriformis syndrome, herniated disc, cerebrovascular accident, and knee pain. "Upon passing the assessment and being certified as specialists, practitioners will have the opportunity to receive higher payment, elevating the profession, quality standards, and image of Thai massage," said Somsak. "This will enhance confidence in Thai massage as a recognized health care practice both domestically and internationally, while also contributing over 144 billion baht to the country's health economy." Dr Sakda Alphach, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, stated that the Thai Massage College will operate as a department-level institution responsible for training and certifying Thai massage standards. It will serve as a global hub for academic exchange and collaboration in Thai massage while ensuring public confidence in Thai massage as a health care practice. The college will enhance the skills of individuals who have completed the 150-hour Thai health massage course registered with the Department of Health Service Support. It aims to train 20,000 Thai traditional medicine assistants in specialized Thai massage techniques for seven specific conditions and prepare 1,000 master trainers in Thai massage, who will receive official instructor certification. " Training will be conducted across 18 Thai traditional medicine training centres and 38 universities nationwide that offer programs in Thai traditional and applied traditional medicine. Additionally, the college will oversee standard assessments and certification for Thai massage quality," Dr Sakda said. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/health-wellness/40047654

From Khaosod English PHUKET — Officials have announced the results of their investigation into what was described as “Phuket’s largest foreign slum” following a video report by YouTube channel “Ride with Gabi” titled “THE OTHER SIDE OF PHUKET 🇹🇭 THAILAND” released last week. The video showed a large slum in central Phuket reportedly inhabited entirely by Myanmar migrant workers, where over 300 children receive education and meals from a foundation funded by donations and foreign volunteers. Colonel Adul Choothong, Deputy Governor of Phuket, held a press conference to present the investigation findings, joined by Teerapong Chuaychu, Phuket Provincial Clerk; Pairoj Srilamul, Phuket City District Chief; and representatives from employment, social development and human security agencies, among others. The briefing took place at the Muk Anda Conference Room on the 4th floor of the Phuket Provincial Hall. The investigation revealed that there are three foreign volunteers: one American, one Irish, and one Chinese national (from Hong Kong). All are unpaid volunteers receiving no financial compensation. According to the Office of the Council of State, volunteers in public charitable organizations are not considered to be working and therefore do not require work permits. Additionally, there are ten foreigners with valid work permits, including one German national, one person without registered status, and eight Myanmar nationals. Immigration officers and the Provincial Employment Office have requested documentation from the parents of the more than 300 children studying at the foundation to verify their immigration status and work rights. The Ban Sri Chumphabal Foundation’s Phuket branch will suspend its educational activities but will remain open for children and youth to participate in other activities. Phuket Province has assigned the Provincial Education Office to investigate further, noting that operating an educational institution without authorization could result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht. Regarding education for foreign children in Thailand, while laws stipulate that all children under 18 years of age within Thai jurisdiction must receive equal protection without discrimination and are entitled to at least 12 years of free, quality education provided by the state, the reality remains challenging. Migrant worker parents often face difficulties enrolling their children in the formal education system. Therefore, schools operated by foundations in areas close to worker accommodations offer a more accessible alternative for these children to receive. Continues with photos and video https://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2025/03/18/probe-reveals-status-of-controversial-phukets-largest-foreign-slum/

From The Thaiger A Chinese man assaulted a university staff member at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom, prompting calls for his visa to be revoked. The incident occurred when the man, upset his girlfriend’s performance was not filmed, attacked a staff member with a chair and slammed the staff member’s head against a wall, resulting in the staff member being hospitalised in the intensive care unit. The event unfolded on March 18 at around 1.30pm at MACM Hall, College of Music, Mahidol University. According to Vin, a student from the faculty, the incident took place during a concert where a Chinese master’s degree student was scheduled to perform. Her boyfriend, not a student at the university, became aggressive when the staff forgot to record her performance. Vin recounted that upon arriving at the venue, the Chinese man began banging on the staff room door and shouting. The situation escalated as staff member A was attacked with a chair, had their head slammed against a wall, and sustained a broken finger. The victim was rendered unconscious and was unable to provide a statement to the police due to being hospitalised. On the same day, witnesses and the perpetrator were taken to Phutthamonthon Police Station. The police recorded the incident but it remains unclear whether further legal action will be pursued against the perpetrator. The Chinese student’s girlfriend has not commented on the matter. Vin noted that the Chinese man had previously caused a disturbance by parking in a restricted area and using offensive language when confronted by security. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/chinese-man-assaults-staff-at-mahidol-university-visa-revocation-urged

You’re not overreacting; you’re being sensible. But I would definitely opt to seek care n Bangkok.

From Pattaya News On August 5th, 2022, a devastating fire broke out at the Mountain B Pub, a nightclub located on Sukhumvit Road in the Sattahip district of Chonburi Province. The blaze started around 12:45 AM during a live music performance, originating on the ceiling above the stage which we covered in depth here. The owner of the Mountain B Pub, identified as Pongsiri Panprasong, also known as “Sia B,” faced legal consequences for his role in the disaster. On March 18, 2025, the Pattaya Provincial Court sentenced him to five years and four months in prison after he was found guilty of recklessness causing death. Initially facing a potential 10-year sentence, his term was reduced due to a guilty confession. Alongside him, three others were convicted: His wife and father each received 10-year sentences, and an electrician involved in the pub’s setup was sentenced to five years and one month. The court also imposed fines, with Sia B ordered to pay 133,000 baht. Compensation for the victims’ families was set to vary between 2 to 5 million baht per victim. His wife and father received longer sentences and 266,000 Baht fines due to not confessing but later being found guilty for their part in the shocking incident, although they are able to appeal. The fire exposed significant safety violations at the venue. The Mountain B Pub was operating illegally, licensed only as a restaurant with a midnight closing time, yet it functioned as a nightclub past legal hours in an area where such establishments were prohibited. The lack of proper permits, inadequate fire safety measures—like the limited exits and the use of highly flammable materials—and alleged negligence by officials who failed to enforce regulations contributed to the catastrophe. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/19/mountain-b-pub-owner-sentenced-to-five-years-in-jail-for-fatal-2022-fire-that-killed-26-people-in-sattahip/

Demolition is under way on section of original building facing Silom rd

Walked by G-Zone this afternoon to find renovations under way. Manager said they will take five days.

And don’t for a moment think this isn’t exactly what the minority hi-so population wishes to see sustained in order to secure its grip on political and economic power.

I suspect the numbers are generated by inbound bank transfers and the legality of their status subjective at best. Since the Thai government has no cause to look gift horse in the face, they chose to concern themselves with other pressing matters like whether they should short circuit its tourism recovery by reverting to 30-day visa on arrival. This is, after all, still Thailand.

From The Thaiger The Thai owner of a handcrafted home goods store on Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani refused to compromise with two German male models who stole products from her store twice on the same day yesterday, March 18. The owner of the Sprout store, Ploy, took to Facebook and Instagram to expose the two German thieves after they stole from her shop. Ploy shared CCTV footage of the foreign thieves and revealed the story to netizens in both Thai and English. Ploy managed to obtain the German tourists’ Instagram accounts and tagged them in her post as well. Judging from their Instagram profiles, they may work as models in their home country. Considering their careers and the designer brand items they used, Ploy said they could afford her products without resorting to theft. According to Ploy’s post, the two men entered her store for the first time at around 1.30pm and stole a bottle of body oil worth 550 baht. Emboldened by their successful theft, they returned to the store at approximately 4.30pm to steal a bottle of roll-on deodorant valued at 650 baht. One of the men contacted Ploy after discovering that their pictures and videos were shared by Thai netizens. The pair reportedly denied the accusation and feigned innocence. Ploy stated that she presented the evidence to them, prompting them to admit their wrongdoing. Unfortunately, they did not display any sense of guilt or remorse. Ploy reported the incident to officers at Koh Pha Ngan Police Station. The police encouraged the two men to pay for the stolen items and advised Ploy to drop the legal proceedings. However, Ploy refused to comply with the police’s suggestion, as the pair reportedly showed no remorse. She decided to pursue legal action to the fullest extent to set an example for other foreign tourists.Ploy insisted that the two must appear in court for their dishonourable behaviour. Should they fail to attend the court as scheduled and flee Thailand, they would be blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country. Continues with photos and video https://thethaiger.com/news/national/2-german-models-steal-from-koh-pha-ngan-shop-twice-in-one-day

From The Thaiger Thailand’s workforce abroad is pumping an astonishing 400 billion baht into the economy each year—much of it from illegal workers, according to Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Despite government crackdowns, the number of undocumented Thai workers overseas remains high, with 382,699 working illegally last year alone. While Thailand sent 92,392 legal workers abroad in 2024, a drop of 11% from 2023 due to conflicts in Israel, remittances surged by 9%, reaching 267.8 billion baht, up from 245.7 billion baht in 2023.The rise is credited to the strong global demand for skilled Thai labour, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. The top 10 destinations for Thai workers include Israel, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, and Switzerland. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/illegal-thai-workers-send-billions-home-despite-crackdowns

From Pattaya News Pattaya City is set to host the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025, bringing a vibrant day-and-night atmosphere to the Jomtien Beach Arena. The tournament, featuring a capacity of 1,800 seats and free admission, welcomes fans to grab tickets and catch the action live at the stadium. The competition field is located at Jomtien Beach (https://maps.app.goo.gl/e5HFZJWRPCfMwNud8), with the opening matches scheduled for March 20, 2025. The lineup includes Japan vs. Iraq at 3:30 p.m., Kuwait vs. Lebanon at 5:00 p.m., China vs. Saudi Arabia at 6:30 p.m., and hosts Thailand vs. India at 8:30 p.m. Fans can also tune in via live broadcasts on Facebook and YouTube through Changsuek and Futsal Thailand channels, as well as on Tsports Channel 7. Don’t miss this exciting beach soccer showdown! https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/19/afc-beach-soccer-asian-cup-kicks-off-at-jomtien-beach-arena-from-thursday-free-admission/

NOTE —- With scammers, corruption and bad behavior making the news all too often, here’s a welcom relief from the norm. Although the reward he received was small, his character towers above the rest. From Pattaya Mail Scrap collector finds and returns 100,000 baht UDON THANI, Thailand – Capt. Methee Thapsuri, Deputy Investigation Officer of the Klang Yai Police Station in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani, was at the station when a 28-year-old man, Boonkong Munmueangpak, or Namfon, came in to report that he had found a large sum of money on March 13. Namfon, who lives in the rural village of Nong Waeng, Nam Som District, works by collecting recyclables and selling them to support his grandmother. While cycling with a cart filled with old goods, he had found a stack of 1,000-baht banknotes worth 100,000 baht on the side of the road near the Thai Capital Company’s branch in Ban Phue District. The police carefully counted the money, confirmed it amounted to 100,000 baht, and registered the report. They then accompanied Namfon to the location where he had found the money, taking photographs as evidence and reviewing nearby CCTV footage to trace the rightful owner. While investigating, a 41-year-old woman, Ms. Piyanuch Srithong, arrived at the scene with her family. She explained that she had lost the money while conducting business in the area. The police invited her in for questioning, and after confirming the details, it was determined that the money belonged to Ms. Piyanuch. She was immensely relieved and grateful when the police returned the full sum to her. In gratitude, Ms. Piyanuch praised Namfon for his honesty and good deed. She offered him a reward of 3,000 baht and even arranged for him to be driven home with his bicycle and cart. She was deeply moved by his honesty and his circumstances. During their conversation, Ms. Piyanuch shared that she had been buying rubber from local farmers and had borrowed 450,000 baht by pawning 11 gold necklaces. After reviewing the cash at her buying station, she discovered 100,000 baht was missing, which prompted her to search for it. Continues with photos https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/scrap-collector-reports-found-100000-baht-to-police-says-i-didnt-even-consider-keeping-the-money-its-not-mine-493999

G-Zone Massage reopened last night under new management and now in the process of staffing up. I understand that all three new investors have experience in managing shops and providing massage service.

NOTE — file under TIT. From Pattaya News In a shift in immigration policy, Thailand is reportedly planning to reduce its visa-free stay period for tourists from 60 days back to 30 days, which The Pattaya News previously noted was lobbied for by the hospitality and tourism industry at a recent conference. This proposal, which has gained traction among Thai authorities, aims to address concerns over illegal employment, illegal condo and villa rentals, a rising number of criminal incidents involving foreigners, and the exploitation of the visa exemption scheme by foreign nationals. The change, if implemented, would mark a reversal of a tourism-friendly measure introduced in July 2024, reflecting the government’s efforts to balance economic benefits with stricter oversight. Thailand’s visa-free entry program has been a major part of its tourism-driven economy. In July 2024, the country expanded this scheme, increasing the visa-exempt stay period from 30 days to 60 days for citizens of 93 countries, including major tourism markets like the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and India. However, the policy has not yet been officially enacted, leaving room for further deliberation or adjustments. Stakeholders, including tourism associations and foreign embassies, may weigh in before a final decision is made. Travelers planning trips to Thailand in the coming months should monitor updates from the Thai Immigration Bureau or consult their local Thai embassy for confirmation. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/03/18/thai-government-agrees-in-principle-on-reverting-visa-free-stay-from-60-days-to-30-days/

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