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Forgot to mention that I did fire up Grindr just to sample what was out there and found mix of some tourists and good cross section of locals. Noting to compare with what you’ll find in Hanoi or HCMC but nonetheless suitable potential. For the record, no one shot me in the ear whole trip.

Rumor that HM’s Midnight Bar finished 51st still unconfirmed. 🙂 From CNN 1. Bar Leone (Hong Kong) 2. Zest (Seoul) 3. Jigger & Pony (Singapore) 4. Coa (Hong Kong) 5. Bar Benfiddich (Tokyo) 6. Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore) 7. BKK Social Club (Bangkok) 8. Penrose (Kuala Lumpur) 9. Argo (Hong Kong) 10. The Aubrey (Hong Kong) 11. Virtù (Tokyo) 12. The Cocktail Club (Jakarta) 13. Vesper (Bangkok) 14. Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou) 15. Sago House (Singapore) 16. Night Hawk (Singapore) 17. Darkside (Hong Kong) 18. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar (Bangkok) 19. The Savory Project (Hong Kong) 20. Bar Cham (Seoul) 21. Bar Us (Bangkok) 22. The St. Regis Bar (Macao) 23. The SG Club (Tokyo) 24. Penicillin (Hong Kong) 25. Offtrack (Singapore) 26. Quinary (Hong Kong) 27. Pantja (Jakarta) 28. Craftroom (Osaka) 29. Smoke & Bitters (Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka) 30. Vender (Taichung, Taiwan) 31. Native (Singapore) 32. Origin Bar (Singapore) 33. The Curator (Manila) 34. The Bellwood (Tokyo) 35. Analogue Initiative (Singapore) 36. Bar Trigona (Kuala Lumpur) 37. Bar Mood (Taipei) 38. Employees Only (Singapore) 39. Barc (Kathmandu) 40. ZLB23 (Bengaluru, India) 41. Reka (Kuala Lumpur) 42. Fura (Singapore) 43. CMYK (Changsha, China) 44. The Public House (Taipei) 45. Mostly Harmless (Hong Kong) 46. Alice (Seoul) 47. The Halflington (Hanoi) 48. Le Chamber (Seoul) 49. Atlas (Singapore) 50. Pine & Co (Seoul) https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/16/travel/asia-best-bars-2024-intl-hnk/index.html

The “stipulated period” is 60 days. You can apply for additional 30:days for total of 90.

From Bangkok Post The Immigration Bureau (IB) is set to take measures to ensure immigration control at airports takes no more than 45 seconds per person. The move is part of efforts to support the government's expanded visa-free scheme for foreign visitors, which took effect on Monday. Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, the IB deputy chief, said on Tuesday that the bureau is ready to follow the government's policy. The number of immigration officials will also be increased to ease long queues in front of immigration check-in booths at airports during peak passenger hours. "We will try to ensure that each arriving passenger will take no more than 45 seconds to pass through immigration," Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2830383/immigration-bureau-implements-45-second-processing-for-expanded-visa-free-scheme

The Thailand News Service is reporting that foreigners wishing to stay in the kingdom beyond the stipulated period must apply for an extension, which can be granted for up to an additional 30 days.

From The Thaiger A Thai man filed a complaint against a male escort and his four friends after they lured him to a hotel in the northern province of Chiang Mai before physically assaulting and robbing him. The victim, 31 year old Korn, told officers at Doi Saket Police Station that he lost cash, a mobile phone valued at about 20,000 baht, and a smartwatch to a male escort, whose name he did not know, and four of his friends at a hotel in the Doi Saket district of Chiang Mai province. Korn revealed to police that he hired a man to provide a sex service and met him at the hotel. When Korn arrived, the escort excused himself to use the bathroom before their sexual activities. However, he came out of the bathroom with four other men. Two of them, sporting knuckle dusters on their hands, attacked Korn and threatened him to transfer money to their bank account. They then forced Korn to hand over his phone and smartwatch before he managed to sneak out of the room. The hotel’s security camera captured the moment when Korn ran from the hotel room to save his life. The five thieves were seen running after him before leaving the hotel. Police told Channel 3 that they managed to identify all of the suspects, who were teenagers. Two of them had been previously arrested and punished for similar crimes. A similar incident occurred with a Canadian man in Pattaya last week. The foreign victim told Pattaya police that he hired two Ugandan women to provide him with a sex service at a hotel on Pattaya-Na Kluea Road on June 10 but he woke the next day to find that 90,000 baht in cash was missing. The two Ugandan thieves were later arrested in the area. Another similar theft was reported in 2022 when a man lost 1,200 baht to two Thai sex workers in the Isaan province of Loei. He transferred a deposit for their service but they did not come to meet him and immediately blocked his contact.

Stayed in the Four Points by Sheraton. You can walk the beach or the sidewalks. Plenty of restaurants and convenience stores. I would not want to be in a downtown hotel in Da nang. It’s all commercial and little of interest to see. if I go again I’d do weekdays to avoid weekend crush at hotels. Hope that helps.

Last night’s (Monday) beach walk found that more locals had gathered than the night before and small groups of young men formed circles where they kicked footballs to each other. Fewer tourists were on hand as the weekenders were gone but they were still in evidence along the long stretch of waterfront. This is truly a “public” beach. No hotel has exclusive claim on the sand and that’s how I believe it should be. Shirtless locals beat beach loungers any day. Left hotel about 10:30 to catch next flight to HCMC. Vietjet check in took about 25 minutes (better than the 50 minutes Air Asia check in at DMK Saturday morning) but immigration and baggage checks were relatively quick. Proceeded to lower level to await bus gate departure but 15 minutes before scheduled take off still no agent and no announcement . Finally guy comes rushing down and tells everyone to go to Gate 8 upstairs. Apparently there some electric problem and escalators and elevators were not working. Finally got near gate 8 (bridge gate) but two lines were longer than queue waiting to get into Beef nightclub on Soi 4 on a Saturday. Was among last to board full cabin but luckily found space in overhead for carry on. There was a delay while they located somebody to extend the air bridge. Just as we exited the plane and walked a few minutes passengers came to abrupt halt because someone neglected to unlock door leading out to arrivals area. Once that was resolved I got so see just how busy this place could be. My VN friend guided me through the maze to car he had summoned on app and half hour later we arrived at hotel. I echo everything that bkkmfj2648 said about Da nang. If you get the opportunity, GO!

Used this method in my old condo building and it worked well.

Companies may compensate by upping the current 2,000 baht fee. Somehow I’m not inclined to take their word for it until I hear it confirmed that arrivals by air, land or sea are actually receiving 60-day stamps. When the news first broke about the change a while back, arrivals were disappointed to find that they were still getting 30 days only. Bureaucracy tends to move slowly when implementing new rules.

One Spa posted 44 pics of T&B’s in its LINE feed today. KK Massage has posted a page that appears to include a handful of new faces.

Just learned that one of the transport services that takes clients to Cambodia and back on border runs is telling subscribers on its Facebook page that it will be 60-day stamps, effective July 15th. It certainly comes as great news for many of the guys we know if it turns out to be official.

No problem so long as you accompany guest in and out of building. If you bring him to breakfast you will have to register him as the second person in reservation. Always reserve room anywhere for party of two!

Nothing will change because pols in both parties are cowards on this issue.

I believe it’s still TBD

Just noticed this while catching up on forum this morning. Hint: the cookies usually are found in pairs. 🙂

With another day to go on a four-day visit to Da nang with my LT Ha Tinh friend, can wholeheartedly endorse this location if rest and relaxation is your objective. Good hotels can be obtained at very attractive rates and the tropical climate is inviting. The breakfast buffets are served until 10:30 but we found ourselves getting up at 8 to get an early start. You’ll find tons of places offering seafood on the main boulevard that runs along the beach. However, we opted to walk 15 minutes inland to the residential area where we ate with locals at Foodland prices (would have never found these on my own). The waters are warm and clear. Favorite activity is long barefoot walks along water’s edge as the sun recedes. As for eye candy, it’s on display in abundance. Particularly noticeable are the stunningly handsome groups of South Korean young men who find Da nang an attractive playground. Many Thais also make the short hop. And of course many farang singles and families. The beach at 8 this morning.

From Thai PBS World Southeast Asia’s many unique ways of greeting people fascinate visitors to the region, not least because they are a cultural trait that reflects respect and a sense of spirituality. Sadly though, while some are still popular, a few are almost no longer in use today. “The Asian continent, especially the Southeast Asian region, is laden with interesting gestures. From the way we eat – with chopsticks or with bare hands – to the way we socialize and interact with other people, these gestures set us apart from the rest of the world while also bringing us closer together,” says Janice Ho, an expert on Asian Studies. Respect and reverence “In Japan, bowing is the most recognized traditional greeting. It involves the bending of the body and lowering of the head to convey reverence. The degree to which you bend communicates your message. To say hello, the torso is bent from the hips 15 degrees; to honour someone superior or to greet a client, 30 degrees; to show deepest sorrow, respect or apologies, 45 degrees,” she explains. “In india and Nepal, the “Namaste” is used as a sign or symbol of respect. It is similar to the praying gesture of folding hands together before an image of a deity. These forms of greeting date back several thousands of years, and have always been considered a sign of respect, humility, and reverence.” In predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian countries, like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, the hand-over-heart greeting is popular. “It is a very meaningful gesture, symbolizing an outright profession of one’s acceptance of a person. The right hand is used in making this gesture as the left hand is associated with personal hygiene,” says Bai, a university professor. This greeting is known in Malaysia as Salam Malaysia. “Flight attendants of Malaysia’s national carrier Malaysia Airlines do it to welcome passengers,” Bai notes, adding that it is also commonly used in the hospitality industry. “Among Malay populations in Singapore, this is also quite a common greeting tradition.” Ways of the wai The Thai “wai” is considered by many as one of the most graceful gestures of greeting. It involves putting the palms together, holding them up to the middle of the chest, and slightly bending the head with the fingertips just touching the chin. “The wai is usually offered to those in higher social standing and not to someone younger except when returning a wai,” explains Rati, an advertising executive. “In order to convey a higher level of respect, the wai uses a deeper bowing of the head while placing the pressed hands at different levels: at chest level for a standard greeting; face level for a colleague, elder, or a superior; and hairline level for a monk.” “For the King of Thailand, the citizens bow deeply and place their hands high, with the thumbs touching the top of their heads,” he further explained. The wai is also common to Cambodia and Laos where it is called sampeah and nop respectively. It is also used in Myanmar although the hand is positioned differently and placed near the stomach instead of the chest. “During the COVID pandemic, a World Health Organization (WHO) official suggested the adoption of the Thai wai as a form of greeting in the new normal,” Rati notes. “Just recently, the Thai Cabinet has approved the wai gesture as part of the Thai national identity for greetings and expressions of respect.” Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/why-the-wai-is-still-in-style/

From The Nation Signing on a waiver extension that allows citizens of 93 nations to enter Thailand without a visa or obtain a visa on arrival and stay for up to 60 days will be conducted on Monday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Sunday. He said he expects immigration and security agencies’ measures to screen foreign arrivals will go smoothly in the long term. “Actually, we implemented measures last year as preparation of visa waivers for travellers from China, India and Kazakhstan,” he said. In a move to boost tourism and bring tourist dollars into the country, the Cabinet agreed on May 28 to waive visa measures for a total of 93 nations. The 57 nations or regions that were already enjoying a visa waiver and can now get a 60-day stamp on arrival are: Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Peru, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bahrain, Brazil and Brunei. The 13 nations whose citizens were already getting a 30-day stamp upon arrival and will now be getting a 60-day stamp: India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Fiji and Georgia. The six new nations or regions whose citizens now enjoy a visa waiver and a 60-day stay are: China, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia and Cambodia. The 17 new nations that are now eligible for visas on arrival and will get a 60-day stamp are: Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, Kosovo, Morocco, Panama, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Uruguay, Albania, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador.

Trump was shot in ear bit nothing can remove the horseshoe up his rear.

What made you think I was Vietnamese?

A tip of the cap to two professionals who took the time to describe the nuances and history of how the concept of law actually evolved in different nations. I trust that Issan Lawyers will take it all in stride. 🙂

+1

From Pattaya Times Today on behalf of our friends at Issan Lawyers we take a look at five major differences between the Thai legal system and most Western legal systems. These are significant in many cases especially for expat readers who may not be aware. 1. **Legal Tradition**: – **Thailand**: The Thai legal system is primarily based on civil law, which means it relies heavily on written statutes and codes. – **Western Countries**: Most Western legal systems, such as those in the United States, the United Kingdom, and many European countries, follow the common law tradition. Common law relies on judicial decisions (case law) as well as statutes. 2. **Jury System**: – **Thailand**: Unlike Western countries, Thailand does not have a jury system. Legal disputes are decided by judges or panels of judges. – **Western Countries**: In Western legal systems, juries play a crucial role in both criminal and civil cases. Jurors evaluate evidence, listen to witnesses, and deliver verdicts. 3. **Defamation Laws**: – **Thailand**: Defamation is treated as a **criminal offense** in Thailand. Depending on the severity, it can lead to imprisonment, fines, or both. – **Western Countries**: In the West, defamation is typically a civil matter, where individuals can sue for damages. Criminal charges for defamation are rare and truth is often a valid defence against defamation. Defamation in Thailand does not always necessarily rely on if something is true or not, but if it was released in front of an unrelated third party (Yes, this includes posting online) in an attempt to “name and shame” or bringing “hate” to a person or business. This is a significant difference from the west and has got many westerners unaware of the difference in trouble. 4. **Influence of Supreme Court Decisions**: – **Thailand**: The Thai legal system considers Supreme Court decisions as persuasive authority in lower court cases. These decisions guide judges but are not legally binding. – **Western Countries**: Western common law systems place significant importance on precedent set by higher courts. Lower courts are generally bound by decisions of higher courts. 5. **Sources of Law**: – **Thailand**: Sources of Thai law include the Constitution, codified laws, administrative regulations, international treaties, and judicial decisions. – **Western Countries**: Western legal systems rely on statutes, case law, and constitutional provisions. Precedent from higher courts significantly shapes legal interpretation. Consider reaching out to Issan Lawyers, contact information below, for assistance with any problems you may have had or questions regarding legal matters, including criminal case related problems or other legal problems.

From Pattaya Times A dramatic rescue unfolded in the waters between Koh Larn and the coast of Pattaya City when the passenger boat “Tara Jade” suffered a sewage pump failure. The boat began taking on water, threatening the safety of its 12 Thai passengers—5 men and 7 women. Speedboat operators sprang into action, racing to the scene to assist the distressed passengers. Mr. Ed Chankrajai, the driver of the speedboat “Yodtong,” led the rescue effort. As seawater gushed into the Tara Jade’s stern, he shouted for everyone to don life jackets. The tourists were swiftly transferred to the waiting speedboat, which transported them back to shore at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya. All 12 passengers survived the ordeal without injuries. Their joy was palpable as they embraced each other upon reaching safety. Meanwhile, the Tara Jade, a wooden boat captained by Mr. Chamroon Thanapreecha, was also towed back to shore, having taken on heavy water and nearly sunk.