The Beer Bar

I had an early morning walk around Pattaya this morning. The much needed upgrade of the road surface and drains is underway. Don’t wear your best shoes when you visit especially if it’s raining.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/onboard-the-€6000-a-ticket-zero-gravity-plane/vi-BBJfJWN The cheapest way to experience zero G/ Best regards, RA1

Sam Greisman

From Coconuts Bangkok Near the top of Soi 7, which has been dubbed “Soi Public Toilet,” there’s a vacant lot behind a scary corrugated tin wall. In front of it is a bougie, white people wedding-style chalkboard sign proclaiming that, if you walk through a break in the wall, you can experience the “Vacant Lot Restaurant — Bangkok’s Most Unique Dining Experience.” Never being a news team to walk away from a challenge, we headed into the lot on Wednesday afternoon. The setting was as promised — a vacant lot dotted with rubble and a weird patchwork of tiled floors left behind by the businesses that occupied the space before being demolished two years ago, accordi…

Excerpts from Bangkok Post High-tech library, co-working space and museum rolled into one, the Bank of Thailand's new Learning Center -- recently opened to commemorate its 75th anniversary -- is shaping up to be Bangkok's latest riverside destination. Situated right by the Chao Phraya, with a picturesque view of the river, the centre is located across from the Bank of Thailand offices under the Rama VIII bridge, and sees a 50-year-old maximum-security note-printing facility transformed into a spacious and serene public library. With exposed tile-brick walls and oppressive steel bank vaults clashing with the smart, modern furnishings of the library and its open g…

From Khmer Times The section of the western railway line linking Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province to Battambang is now ready to be tested after the train stations were connected on Tuesday, with trial runs likely to happen before Khmer New Year, according to the Minister of Transport. Speaking at the nation’s first official logistics forum on Tuesday, Minister of Transport and Public Works Sun Chanthol also announced that Thai counterparts have finished work on the section of the line that runs in Thailand, from Aranya Pratet in the border to Bangkok. The western rail line is one of only two railways that exist in the kingdom. The other one, connecting Phnom Penh…

From Bloomberg News Rising prices are more of a threat to the global economy this year than joblessness, according to Bloomberg’s Misery Index, which sums inflation and unemployment outlooks for 66 economies. Venezuela marks its fourth year as the world’s most miserable economy, with a score that’s more than three times what it was in 2017. Thailand again claimed “least miserable” status, though the nation’s unique way of calculating unemployment makes No. 2 Singapore worth noting. Elsewhere, Mexico looks to make big strides this year as inflation becomes more manageable, while Romania absorbs more misery for the opposite reason. The Bloomberg Misery Index relies…

Anyone watching Celebrity Big Brother? I am a Big Brother Superfan and just started. I like the personalities in the house and can't wait to see what happens when Armarosa gets kicked out.

From Reuters BURIRAM, Thailand (Reuters) - Loud cheers erupt as two boys trade punches at a boxing ring in Thailand’s northeastern province of Buriram. After dominating five rounds, the winner is declared; 11-year-old Nanthawat Promsod, who is better known by his boxing name - “Super Big Saksandee”.He earned 3,000 baht ($94.34) for winning the fight, and earns 1,500 baht ($47.17) for each match-up that he takes part in. He is one of at least 10 boxers aged 15 or less in the district of Satuk, where nearly every village has a boxing camp. “Muay Thai”, or Thai boxing, is said to be 2,000 years old. Known as “The Art of Eight Limbs”, it makes extensive use o…

From Daily Mail (UK) It was once one of the biggest brothels in all of Bangkok - a six-storey pleasure palace where dozens of girls worked every night entertaining hundreds of clients who described it as 'pure hedonism'. Dubbed Ocean Massage, the building included a nightclub, a coffee shop, an outdoor pool, gym, sauna and more than a hundred rooms with double beds, hot tubs and baths for girls to entertain visitors. But the huge venue was abandoned last month after police raided the parlour next door in the midst of a crackdown on the sex trade in Thailand, and the owners of Ocean Massage feared they would be targeted next. They fled in such a hurry that ba…

From CAPA Center for Aviation Bangkok Don Mueang Airport: world’s largest LCC airport to surpass 40 million passengers in 2018 Passenger traffic at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport has more than doubled over the last four years, driven by rapid expansion in Thailand’s low cost airline sector. Don Mueang handled 38 million passengers in 2017, matching its annual throughput from over a decade earlier when it was Bangkok’s main and only airport. Don Mueang was gradually repositioned as an LCC airport in the years following the opening of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. The airport is now the world’s largest LCC airport, and in 2018 will likely become the first airport e…

For those of you wanting a morning treat, but are watching the calories, I discovered the decadence of sprinkling some grated parmesan cheese on your toasted bagel or toast. It elevates the carb, and with much less calories than a slice of cheese... It's Grandma's favorite new morning indulgence (unless she's had an overnight Visitor)....

From South China Morning Post Turning around the fortunes of Swire Pacific’s aviation and offshore marine services divisions will be the two biggest challenges facing incoming chairman Merlin Bingham Swire, according to analysts. Jonathan Galligan, head of Asia gaming and conglomerates at CLSA, singled out Cathay Pacific Airways, in which Swire Group owns a 45 per cent stake, and Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) as two underperforming units that will require a lot of time and effort to turn around. “Cathay Pacific continues to face structural challenges as competitive pressures increase, which the group will need to continue to address.” Cathay Pacific reported its …

When the SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifts off, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. With the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 lb)---a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel--Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy, at one-third the cost. Falcon Heavy's first stage is composed of three Falcon 9 nine-engine cores whose 27 Merlin engines together generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft. Following liftoff, the two side boosters separate f…

Did anyone catch that Baldwin versus Dave thread? I can't believe the owner of that other site allowed that thread to see the light of day and go on for so long. I think it reached five pages. That's what I call disrespect to escorts. The owner must be really under the weather. More donations, please. It seems the thread is gone now, thank god, unless some devotee captured a screenshot. A serious embarrassment. I did not recognize the OP's name, but you never know the motive of some of these asshole posters. If an owner doesn't stay on top of his shit, people can get hurt. That thread was a disgrace. One of the escorts was a bit verbose, but both showed true pro…

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — When 40 policemen found out earlier this week they were suspended from active duty, it wasn’t for insubordination or dereliction of duty. It was their haircuts. The order to remove them from their posts was issued after they failed to meet an ultimatum they cut their hair to a uniform style that calls for the sides and backs of their heads to be shorn close, a police spokesman said Tuesday. “First of all, police are civil servants who wear their uniforms properly. Their discipline is enforced by law,” Col. Krissana Pattanacharoen said. “Apart from the law, there’s also police regulations, which include wearing a neat and cor…

By Alex Green For Mailonline British expats in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya have been caught up in another police crackdown after officers raided bars across the city. But instead of looking for drugs or illegal booze, officers were searching for dartboards - which they claimed were being used illegally by venues. The raids were concentrated around Soi 6, a street known for its brothels, bars and copious neon pink signs. One bewildered bar owner on the strip reported police demanding to see a 'dartboard license'. When they were unable to produce the appropriate documentation police confiscated their dartboards, reports Thai Visa. When they enqu…

Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok On Surawong Road, behind an unassuming little shopfront, is a new bar poised to become one of Bangkok’s favorites, thanks to a luxe-meets-lowkey vibe, great music, and some of the best, strongest cocktails in town. The 88 Surawong owner and co-founder Minway Chi said that he and co-founding bartender Eric Stephenson referenced “old American classics” when creating the menu at the cozy new bar, which is the former home of The Smokin’ Pug. The space is still decked out in brick, dark wood, and black iron. The darkness of the decor adds to the cave-like feeling of the space, making it seem smaller and cozier that it may actually …

Over at the other site, a New York get together for members of Daddys Forums is being proposed. No date has been set, right now it's just a matter of jjkrkwood finding out who is interested. This is not a new idea, gatherings like this have occurred in several places. But it's the first time that jjkrkwood has shown an interest, and hosting it at that. The invite is directed to ALL NY members and those in neighboring states. As of yet, Boytoy members still await their invitations. But I have no doubt that we who qualify will also be invited. I am confident that jjkrkwood wants as many people who are interested in showing up to feel welcome. So we await details here a…

So much Hype, and..........

When I arrived for the first time in BKK, not only could you see the air pollution, you could smell and taste it. It's improved by a wide margin since but certain weather conditions can exacerbate it. However, the only thing I believe worse than breathing it is not being there to breath it. From Bangkok Post Air pollution at unhealthy levels in Bangkok The amount of fine particulate matter in the air reached unhealthy levels in many areas of Bangkok on Monday, and the readings were rising, the Pollution Control Department warned. The unhealthy levels were recorded at all four of the department's air quality monitoring stations in Bangkok - with readings …

From Coconuts Bangkok As we announced back in November, Thailand’s new smoking ban on 24 tourist beaches around the country takes full effect today. Though the law has technically been in place for 90 days, police designated that time as a grace period when those caught breaking the law would be warned but not fined. Now, those smoking in non-designated areas — including the use of vapes and e-cigarettes, which are illegal in Thailand anyway — can face harsh penalties including a fine of up to THB100,000 (about US$3,000) and/or up to a year in jail. To help people follow the law, smoking areas have been set up just behind the beaches with signs in Thai, Engl…

Top Ten hard truths of living as an expat in Thailand By Tim Newton There will be bumps along the way between your visits to the beach, bar and immigration office (sometimes the bumps will be at the beach, bar and immigration office). Expat life is what you make it here in the Land of Smiles. Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure. Here are our Top Ten Hard Truths for expats in Thailand. 1. VISAS ARE A PAIN IN THE NECK You have plenty of options but the options never quite fit into your line of work or expectations. But between the Non-B visa, Retirement visa, Education visa, Tourist visa, Elite visa and Smart visa, alo…

NOTE -- Consolidated three current news items in this thread. From Aljazeera Centuries in the making: Will Thailand build a 100km canal? If Thailand's canal is ever built, it won't be the world's longest, but it surely will claim to have had the longest gestation period. The idea of building a shipping lane from one side of the country to the other, linking the Gulf of Thailand, or Gulf of Siam as it was known at the time, with the Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean, was first proposed by King Narai in 1677. Obviously, it didn't happen at the time. Throughout the centuries, however, the idea has repeatedly been brought up by monarchs, politicians, soldiers a…