BjornAgain

Posted in the Bangkok section, so only possible explanation is "Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit".

Good news, counter top dancing has been reintroduced at Rainbow Dragon Bar. Depending on appetite, 2 to 3 shows an evening. 1773049735641.mp4

Up Saturday & Sunday, also looking to touch base with The Flying Dutch man, aka @emiel1981 , if you fancy a bevvie?

Rainbow Dragon is my favorite watering hole in the area, not because of the local talent, as usually connected, but as the only place that sells Fever Tree tonic to go with my Bombay gin. Not even the world renowned Seven-Star International food emporium sells it. Was in there recently and got talking to Shaun, the owner, who was surprised I was only ordering Tonic as a carry-out, explained was going to Midnight, "say high to Mark for me".

All this talk of Bali, made me think of this. Known colloquially down under as 'The Bali Song', a nostalgic memory of the early 80's. Great band live.

They have suspended speakers that point onto the street, hard to say what inside was like. Their opening number involved the dancers on the street, not inside. The volume most likely to grab everyone's attention. Moved down to CockA2 where you could hold a conversation.

Jomtien, at the back of Zing Hotel. The other 10 are in Japan. Should be change of 30THB in a Bolt.

Food good, margaritas too. Also local is Mike's Mexican, which I would rate above Buenos Mexican in the Complex.

I agree, Fat Pang, or the Accidental Governor, only got the job as he lost his seat in the 1992 General election, so John Major as PM promoted him from party chairman to the last governor of Hong Kong. With no Foreign Office or Diplomatic experience, a classic case of 'jobs for the boys'.

Was quieter than a normal Friday due to the start of the annual music festival over in Pattaya. Sitting outside at the Mexican, who's 1 year birthday it was, so margarita's were BOGOF (buy one get one free), however as soon as the M2M bar show opposite started, legged it along with a few others as the volume was unbearable, and that's saying something; as having worked with Motörhead and a few others headbangers in the past, I'm slightly hard of hearing anyway.

Had a bloke sitting next to me last week at said he was ex SAS. Get all sorts in Pattaya.

Works a treat. Tested it on Thai, Laos and French. I've yet to find a native Japanese person to test @Riobard 's question. The microphone is your mobile and requires a data connection. Uses it's own App, only issue, as always, was syncing up the Blutooth. Not really designed for long speeches, so normal conversionial sentences. Depending on background noise, point mobile at your foreigner or just leave on the table, they speak, you then hear the translation in your ears. You reply in English, text is translated into Thai (etc) on the phone screen, however; you also get the Thai audio of the translation, so you can memorise it and say it back. Gives the impression you speak Thai! They also act as a standard pair of buds for listening to music. The App also does picture translation, plus can translate active phone calls, write or translate voice notes or create subtitles from an streaming or constant audio source. The marketing blurb says it's using AI, which is a load of 💩, as if it was it'll speak my reply without me saying it. Model is HTC NE40. Would recommend.

Regrettably not, back Thursday 4th May.

The Khaosod English headline had me panicking as due to pop back to The UK in April for a couple of weeks. Booked yesterday for mid April, the usual price I pay for BKK-LHR-BKK is 40k to 45kTHB, cattle class with leg room seat at the front, managed to get it for 58kTHB, so 50ish% markup. With the world's supply of crude reduced by 30 to 35%, current infrastructure is running on reserves. Read yesterday that Australia only has 34 days of reserves, somewhat less than the 90 days the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest. An independent report hilighted it was nearer 25 days! Thailand is reported to hold only 61 days. The UK does adhere to the IDA'S 90 day recommendation, however only 85% of reserves are kept within the UK, the other 15% are stored in Holand, Germany and Belgium. Doesn't take a genius to conclude as the international emergency developes further; those stocks would be requisitioned by those 3 countries. Doesn't help that the current Energy minister (the one that can't eat a bacon sandwich) is closing down the UK's oil & gas drilling wells, making the UK more dependant on imports. As @emiel1981 says "A lot can happen in 3 weeks", let's hope so, or as Private James Frazer of the Walmington-On-Sea Home Guard famously said "We're doomed! Doomed".

17USD, cheaper than a couple of boy drinks, plus there's a returns policy if they don't work.