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From Thai PBS World The Grand Villa at Night//Photo Courtesy of Deva Manor Facebook Built nearly 130 years ago during the reign of King Rama IV, the Grand Villa of Deves Palace is again brimming with life. This historical residence, once private, is now a haven for art and history enthusiasts. Once the residence of Queen Sirikit’s ancestors, the Kitiyakara family, it was also a place where Kings Rama VI and Rama VII of Thailand (then Siam) enjoyed leisure time. The two-storey Grand Villa was part of Deves Palace, the royal residence gifted to Prince Chanthaburi Naruenart by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) in 1896. Today, the Aniruth-deva family owns the property. After Phraya Aniruth-deva’s passing in 1951, the Grand Villa remained closed for 56 years. Determined to preserve its grandeur and original artistry, his grandson, Col Fuangvich Aniruth-deva, embarked on a meticulous renovation project. His goal, he explains, was to honor Prince Chanthaburi Naruenart’s legacy. “Anyone who appreciates the history and architecture of this villa is welcome,” Col. Fuangvich said during a recent tour, highlighting his commitment to public access. Deva Manor, named after the family, is open daily. However, those seeking an in-depth exploration of the architecture and history are encouraged to visit on public holidays or pre-book a group tour. Led by the owner himself on occasion, these tours offer a captivating narrative of the palace’s past, using artefacts, decor, and architecture to bring history to life. The Colonial-style building reflects the era of King Rama V, when European influences permeated royal and public projects. Deva Manor is located at 4, Krung-kasem Road, Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok. Explore Deva Manor on Facebook for updates, hours of operation, cafe details, and to inquire about group visits or the special tour/lecture By Veena Thoopkrajae Continues with photos at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-journey-through-time-the-grand-villa-of-deves-palace/

Gays have been discriminated against so why should we ourselves discriminate against others based on sex.. That’s hardly an apoplectic response, Macaroni. In the case of some of Bangkok’s more successful show bars (Jupiter and Dreamboy to name a few) it’s the female baht that also buys the drinks and pays the offs to enable owners to keep the shows alive. It’s not 1996 and things have evolved whether we like it or not.

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Then try wrapping your arms around Trump.

My sources (massage boys from Soi 6) assure me that they were in evidence last night. As I enjoyed a beer at a bar in Surawong about 11p.m., two adjacent tables were full of young and attractive foreigners who had just arrived. Gays, particularly the younger ones, are not confining themselves to just the traditional gay bar haunts. They going wherever it suits them.

From Travel Weekly Jetstar will reconnect Brisbane and Thailand’s capital city from 13 December this year with three weekly flights, halving the current travel time via indirect routes.

There are many international tourists currently in town for Pride month activities that continue throughout June.

NOTE — Do we need any more reasons not to stay above second floor in Pattaya? This phenomena is bordering on ridiculous. From Thai PBS World A German national fell to his death from a hotel room in Pattaya late last night. A hotel employee told Pattaya police that he saw a man fall from the hotel into plant pots in front of a shopping mall next to the hotel. Police and EMTs rushed to the scene, but could not help the victim. Police searched the room of the 57-year-old German, in an attempt to discover the cause of the fatal fall, but did not initially find any evidence which might suggest that the victim had been assaulted prior to his fall. Forensic officers will, however, check the room and the scene more thoroughly.

From Thailand News Agency Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the live broadcast of the Euro 2024 football matches from June 14 to July 14, ensuring Thai football fans can watch. He emphasized that this is a gift of happiness to the people, with live broadcasts available on Channel 9 and Channel 11.

Sorry to hear about your disappointment. I’m in Bangkok at the moment and recommend you give the massage shops a try. I think they’ll compensate for your bar experiences.

What some of us might feel we witnessed a great show, others might think it was lackluster. Much depends on what we individually wish to see on stage. ”Good” and “bad” are too subjective. I’d be more attentive to the description of performers and types of acts in the show.

I think it’s quite possible as another way of financing the business. in shops where masseurs work long shifts—typically 10+ hours—they usually receive a cut of the room fee.

From CNBC Everyone’s life is different — yet most people still utter one of four common phrases on their deathbeds, according to Pulitzer Prize-winning author and oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee. Each of the phrases offers an important lesson for leading a fulfilling and successful life, Mukherjee said during a commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania last week. “Every person that I’ve met in this moment of transition wanted to make four offerings,” he added. The phrases are: I want to tell you that I love you. I want to tell you that I forgive you. Would you tell me that you love me? Would you give me your forgiveness? People who know they’re dying often express some variation of one of those four themes — indicating that they waited until it was late to show their appreciation for others or right their interpersonal wrongs, said Mukherjee, author of the award-winning 2011 nonfiction book “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.” Instead, they harbored grudges, lived with unresolved guilt or spent years being too afraid to be vulnerable, Mukherjee explained. The ensuing remorse, stress, poor mental health and even hormonal and immune imbalances can stunt your personal and professional growth, neurobehavioral scientist J. Kim Penberthy wrote in a 2022 University of Virginia blog post. Continues at fhttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/31/phrases-that-are-often-peoples-last-words-says-doctor-what-we-can-learn.html

Price for one hour oil in Saphan Kwai appear to range from 350 to 550 depending on shop. Generally, the shops on the opposite side of road from Big C are in the lowest tier but KK Massage on Suthisan Winitchai rd. Is offering a promotion rate of 250 today only. It is rumored that One Spa is boosting rate to 500 but have not yet confirmed this. I believe K-Man is top at 550.

From Manila Standard Cebu Pacific said Wednesday it is expanding its Cebu hub with direct flights to Masbate and Bangkok starting October 2024. The airline unit of the Gokongwei Group will operate flights between Cebu and Don Mueang-Bangkok three times weekly or every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting Oct. 2, 2024. Meanwhile, flights between Cebu and Masbate will start to operate on Oct. 25, 2024, three times weekly as well or every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The answer is a resounding yes, but on Thailand’s terms. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has championed the “new generation” of longstay visas such as the Long Term Residence, the revamped Elite, the as-yet cloudy Destination Thailand Visa and – for those working legally – income tax concessions and specialist visas such as the four-year Smart. Together with the improvements for short stay tourists (well over 90 percent of all new arrivals will shortly get 60 days visa-exempt on entry) the reforms are imaginative if sometimes confusing to the general reader. Updated information about them comes variously from the Cabinet or the Tourist Association of Thailand or the Board of Investment or the Immigration Bureau. There is no single source for updates or corrections. But many expats are outside of these initiatives as they cannot afford the fees. For example, the Long Term Residence requires retiree foreigners to have an income of US$80,000 a year, or even heavier financial investment, and the five year Elite registration is now US$25,000. As a result most expats, retirees and/or married to Thais for the most part, live here on annually renewable extensions of stay based on an original non-immigrant visa. The annually-renewables are worried about the Thai Revenue’s recent reinterpretation. Section 41 of the tax code, long ignored but now required, means that Thai tax residents (anyone spending more than 180 days in a year here) must obtain a tax identification number and fill in a tax form not later than March 2025 to cover their overseas income transmitted to Thailand in the calendar year 2024. If that income was pre-taxed in the first country which had a double taxation treaty with Thailand, and can be proved by documentation, it is unlikely the cash will be taxed again in Thailand. But the Revenue has not categorically confirmed that commonly-repeated assumption. Not to mention that the detail varies in the 61 countries which have concluded tax agreements with Thailand. What will happen to the annually-renewables if they stick their heads in the sand and hope for the best nobody knows. Maybe nothing, at first, as there are much bigger fish to fry out there. Thailand tends to be a country of strict laws and poor enforcement strategies. It has been suggested that some visa renewals could be linked to registration with the Revenue, but there is no sign of that happening any time soon. It’s worth recording that Thailand is one of around 140 countries which have agreed to share with each other international banking transactions of individuals under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development which opposes tax havens and money laundering. If you flee to Cambodia or the Philippines as a wannabe tax exile remember they are OECD members too. The notion that your banking is a private and confidential affair which is none of anybody else’s business is rapidly becoming an anachronism. The Revenue in recent days has separately publicized its intent to spread the tax net even further from 2025 by suggesting that tax residents in Thailand should be taxed on income they earn globally, whether transmitted to Thailand or not. This would apparently require a change in the law and is best left alone until further clarified. But, again, most annually renewables don’t own villas in Spain or any other country, salting away the rents in offshore accounts. The best defence remains to prove in documentary style your income wherever it is. Prime Minister Srettha said this week, “Revenue collection is very important and the finance ministry is also considering additional measures to stimulate the economy.” He is eyeing the big fish who have used loopholes in the Thai tax system for decades to avoid paying the Revenue. Annually-renewables are rarely, if ever, big fish in this context. But the problem is that they swim the same river.

Lots of photoshopping but above my pay grade. you pose the perennial question: do they promise more than they can deliver?

From Thai PBS World In Cambodia, anything Thai – from TV series and music to celebrities, consumer goods, and even the language – was once hugely popular. Despite this popularity having waned in recent years, many Cambodians still recognise the value of learning Thai. When it comes to language learning, many Cambodian students are much better at learning Thai compared to other languages, due to the inherent similarities between Thai and Khmer, as the two languages share roots in Pali and Sanskrit, with around 70% of their vocabulary having similar meanings. Sentence structures are also the same, allowing students to communicate in daily life with ease after just three to six months of study. Heng Hongry, 33, a Thai language teacher at Krung Tap Thai School in Phnom Penh, emphasises the challenge of advanced learning in Thai. “The difficult part is pronunciation. It’s crucial because, if you pronounce a word incorrectly, it causes confusion”. Each syllable in Thai carries one of five distinct tones. Even a slight shift can completely change the meaning. By learning Thai, students gain the ability to communicate effectively while also delving into the culture, society and history of Thailand. This deeper understanding can foster stronger connections between people in both countries and, potentially, beyond. At the Royal University of Phnom Penh, students in the Thai department learn about “Thainess” through various activities, including “Sunthorn Phu Day” and a Freshman Welcoming Ceremony. “Actually, we don’t have that kind of ceremony in Cambodia, but we want our students to get an idea of Thai activities”, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samphos Hem, Head of the Thai Department. He added that students have opportunities to showcase their abilities in the Thai language and their knowledge of Thai literature. There are student performances, in which they practice Thai dance and performance arts. The most important thing is that, through practice, students can learn various forms of Thai art and language. Hence, they gain a clear understanding of Thai culture. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-thai-cultural-diplomacy-works-in-cambodia/

NOTE — This state news agency press release was picked up my wire service worldwide and now the government is faced with an embarrassing situation. File under TIT. From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Like most media, Pattaya Mail jumped the gun by stating that the 30 days on arrival by air, land and sea was doubled to 60 days at the beginning of the month. We apologize for our carelessness. The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to be confirmed by various bureaucracies prior to implementation. The Ministry’s September 1 start date for the new DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) and the reduction in medical insurance required by O/A retiree visas and extensions of stay is also unconfirmed. Both subjects could be delayed further if linked to a “reconstruction” of retiree visas as suggested in the original press handout.

NOTE — I’ve been told by a member who is also an avid fare watcher that other carriers have done the same in recent past. From CNN LondonCNN — The boss of Qantas Airways has acknowledged the “anger” of thousands of customers who were sold tickets for already-canceled flights. “Everyone feels pain at the anger,” Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told CNN’s Richard Quest in an exclusive interview at an airline industry conference in Dubai Monday. “It’s not just me; (it’s) 25,000 people that work for us as well. Because not only (did) we let our customers down, we let our people down.” Last August, Australian regulators accused Qantas in a lawsuit of selling tickets for more than 8,000 flights that the airline had already canceled — affecting more than 86,000 customerQantas agreed last month to pay 120 million Australian dollars ($79 million) to settle the lawsuit. Of that, about 20 million Australian dollars ($13.3 million) will go to the affected customers. The remaining 100 million Australian dollars ($66.5 million) is a fine — the biggest ever for an Australian airline, according to Reuters. Hudson, who took the helm at Qantas in September, soon after the lawsuit was filed, told Quest the airline is focused on repairing its relationships with passengers and staff.

Agree. And kudos to LA Times for interesting and well-developed article with some good photography.

From CNN Now that we carry around personal devices with high resolution, 4K screens in our back pockets, the seatback screens on airplanes can seem more than a little disappointing. Even if you’ve opted for the priciest seats on the airplane, your inbuilt cabin screen is likely going to be poorer quality than the screen on your iPhone. That’s where airplane seat manufacturer Collins Aerospace and inflight entertainment provider Panasonic Avionics step in. The two aviation powerhouses recently joined forces to reimagine the future of airplane TV and movie-viewing, via a swanky concept called MAYA. MAYA, which stands for “Most Advanced Yet Achievable,” is an ergonomic business class seat that comes equipped with an Astrova Curve 45-inch ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition OLED display.

From LA Times By Stephanie Yang BANGKOK, Thailand — In 2019, business was booming for Owen Zhu. He was one year into his new career in real estate, showing Bangkok properties to Chinese investors. Then the pandemic halted travel and spending. Even now, Chinese buyers are slow to return. The exception has been one group that has since become Zhu’s specialty: LGBTQ+ clients looking to build a new life for themselves outside China. “Most of them are buying to live in or to retire in — not like many straight people or friends, who are prioritizing investments,” Zhu, 40, said. Before the pandemic, Zhu estimates, about one-fourth of his clients were LGBTQ+. Now they make up two-thirds of his customer base. As China has clamped down on queer representation and advocacy, Bangkok, long the “gay capital” of Asia, has offered visitors a reprieve from the conservative culture back home. Here, the thriving nightlife of gay bars and clubs draws many potential buyers to look for apartments near the city center, Zhu said. Zhu, who is also gay and from China, bought an apartment in Bangkok in 2017 for his eventual retirement. As friends started asking his advice on how to make their own purchases, he quit his job in Chinese media to help them find properties full time. As his clientele has changed, so has Zhu’s marketing on Chinese social media. In between property listings, he now shares updates on efforts to legalize same-sex marriage and surrogacy in Thailand. With demand growing, Zhu said he hopes to start a housing complex catering to gay Chinese in the next few years. Continues at https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-05-30/chinese-lgbt-emigrants-thailand

From The Thaiger he United Kingdom Foreign Office issued a travel warning to British touristsheading to Thailand ahead of the summer holidays: “Behave, or end up in jail!” The Foreign Office advised British holidaymakers flying to the Land of Smiles to be cautious of the new visa rules. “From 1 June 2024, British passport holders arriving by air or land can enter Thailand without a visa (visa exemption) for tourism and short-term businessengagements for a period not exceeding 60 days. If you intend to stay longer (for work, study, or other reasons), you need to obtain a visa before you travel. “If you stay beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined 500 Thai baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. You risk being held in detention.” You also risk being “deported at your own expense” and “banned from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years.” The Foreign Office warns that “conditions in detention centres can be harsh.” It adds that holidaymakers can find more information on visas or entry requirements by contacting the Royal Thai Embassy or the local Immigration Office. Tax duty The UK Foreign Office has explained that there are strict regulations regarding goods that can be brought into and taken out of Thailand. Holidaymakers must declare any items that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. The Foreign Office has specifically issued a warning about importing cigarettes, reported National World. “It is illegal to import more than 200 cigarettes per person into Thailand. This is enforced at customs on arrival. If you go over the limit, you could be fined 10 times the value. Furthermore, your cigarettes will likely be confiscated.” The UK Foreign Office also revealed details regarding passport validity requirements. “Your passport must remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Thailand. Entry to Thailand may be denied if your passport is damaged or has missing pages.

From Pattaya Mail A foreign tourist fell to his death at a 39-story luxury condominium on Thepprasit Road, South Pattaya on June 3. The victim, identified as Mr. Roman Vlasenko, a 38-year-old Russian national, was discovered in the parking area beside the building, wearing blue sportswear and lying face down with severe injuries to his body. Thantawan Khontaratkul, the condominium’s security guard, recounted hearing a loud noise resembling something hitting metal barriers while patrolling the area. Upon investigation, residents directed him to the spot where the incident had occurred. There, he found Mr. Vlasenko, who had jumped to his death. Security camera footage showed Mr. Vlasenko taking the elevator from the ground floor to the 29th floor, which features a common area garden with a scenic view. Subsequently, he made the fateful decision to jump from the building, resulting in instantaneous fatality upon impact with the ground. Further scrutiny of security recordings unveiled disturbing behaviour preceding the incident. Mr. Vlasenko, reportedly intoxicated and armed with a water gun, was seen harassing office staff within the condominium during the recent Songkran festival. Investigations into Vlasenko’s circumstances revealed he had been residing on the 21st floor of the condominium, where he had fallen behind on rent payments for several months. Additionally, his credit card had been restricted, potentially adding to his distress. The embarrassing incident of drunken misconduct during Songkran festivities may have exacerbated his emotional turmoil, ultimately leading to the tragic decision to end his life by jumping from the building. ======= From Pattaya News An American tourist was found dead on Tuesday morning after falling from the seventh floor of a hotel in Pattaya. Pattaya police received a report of the incident at around 6:06 AM on June 4th. Officers and rescue workers arrived at the unidentified hotel located on Soi Thappraya 15 to find the deceased victim, identified by police as Mr. Michael Jeffery Bruggink, a 43-year-old American tourist, lying face down in a narrow space behind the hotel’s parking lot. The victim was topless, and there were no signs of violence on his body nor forced entry in his hotel room. However, authorities discovered cannabis and a significant number of syringes in the room, which has subsequently been sealed off for further forensic examination. Hotel security guard Mr. Supornchai Hadkham, 34, reported that he did not witness the fall and was unsure how or when it happened. He noticed Mr. Bruggink while patrolling the area and immediately contacted authorities after finding the tourist unresponsive. he cause of the incident is currently under investigation, with police considering the possibility of both accidental fall or suicide. Forensic examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause, and the victim’s embassy will be notified.