The Beer Bar

From VN Express The Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-story building abandoned for decades in Thailand's Bangkok, recently went viral on social media after miraculously surviving a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar that shook Southeast Asia. However, the Sathorn Unique Tower, located in Bangkok's Sathon District and abandoned for more than 30 years, remained standing, surprising many. On social media, numerous users shared images of the building, questioning how such an abandoned structure could withstand the powerful earthquake. Originally conceived in the 1990s as a luxury residential and office complex, the tower was designed to be a 49-story high-…

From Khaosod English KANCHANABURI — CCTV footage captured the moment a sedan struck a French tourist while he was using a pedestrian crossing, sending him flying and resulting in his death. Local residents point out that accidents occur frequently in the area due to excessive speeding. Officials investigating the incident in downtown Kanchanaburi reviewed video footage from security cameras near JJ Market, which showed that at 10:50 p.m. on April 2, the tourist was crossing the road at a zebra crossing when he was violently hit. The footage shows the man initially stopping at the median strip while looking at passing vehicles. As he stepped onto the r…

From CNBC United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S. carrier that already has the most Asia service. In the expansion, United is using a tactic that’s unusual in its network: Its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations. The Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, service is set to begin on Oct. 26. On Oct. 25, United plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate t…

From The Thaiger The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to introduce 20 second-hand Japanese KiHa diesel trains for suburban passenger services. A systems test is set for June, before the refurbishment of the KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 trains, with six trains expected to be operational by the end of the year. SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala mentioned that these diesel trains were donated by JR EAST from Japan. While JR West and JR Hokkaido have previously donated train carriages to Thailand on five occasions since 1997, this marks the first donation from JR EAST. Modifications will be made to the trains’ undercarriages to fit Thailand’s 1-metre standard gauge…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The Cabinet has agreed changers to some categories of the Long Term Residence (LTR) visa which offers indefinite stays and multiple entries for 10 (actually 5×2) years. The Board of Investment, which hosts the LTR introduced in 2022, had recommended reducing some of the enrolment requirements for rich individuals in order to make the program more popular. Wealthy global citizens no longer need to prove an annual income of at least US$80,000 a year, though they must demonstrate worldwide assets of at least US$1 million and must invest in Thailand at least US$500,000. Separately, the companies sponsoring remote workers now re…

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From The Thaiger An Austrian man died in a canal in the northern province of Phitsanulok under mysterious circumstances after disappearing from his home for 11 days. Police suspect murder. Officers from Wang Thong Police Station were called to investigate a foreign man’s body in a canal in the middle of a rice field in the Wang Thong district of Phitsanulok at 2pm yesterday, March 31. The canal was reportedly almost dry, with water only about 4 metres deep. Among the trees and grass covering the canal, locals discovered the man’s body. He was lying face up and was believed to have been dead for several days. He was wearing black shorts and a long black sock…

From Pattaya Mail Thailand is poised to become Asia’s leading destination for senior tourism and long-term retirement living as the country adapts to the challenges of an ageing population. With 20% of its 66 million people—some 13 million individuals—already aged over 60, and a further 16 million set to join them within the next two decades, demand for senior-friendly travel and accommodation is surging. Recognising the vast potential of the “Silver Economy,” leading hospitality, healthcare, and real estate firms are investing in tailored travel experiences, wellness tourism, and residential care communities to meet the needs of senior travellers and retirees. …

Trump has renamed Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. Now Fox news has reverted to calling Myanmar by its old name, Burma. Massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocks Burma

NOTE -- The Thailand Hotel Association (THA) is always quick to predict gloom and doom whenever an occasion arises in hopes of winning political support. IMO, tourists aren't as fearful as the THA would have us believe. Buy if they are, hotels always have the option of cutting rates to attract more bookings. ============ From The Nation The earthquake last week is expected to cause Thailand’s tourism sector revenue to fall by 10-15% over the next two weeks, the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said on Monday. THA president Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun said that requests from tourists for early hotel checkouts surged by 8-10% nationwide after…

From Bangkok Post The board of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has approved a revised contract for the high-speed rail project linking three airports -- Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao -- which is scheduled for signing by June. This amendment marks a critical step in the long-delayed project. The final signing is expected in June, after which the SRT will issue a notice to proceed (NTP) for construction. The project is scheduled for completion within five years, with operations expected to begin by 2029. To prevent further delays, the SRT has prioritised construction at U-Tapao airport's overlapping sections with the Sino-Thai high-speed rail …

He was a writer, a playwright, an aesthete, bon vivant, dandy and absolute master of the pithy epigram. The title of this article is one. Even better known perhaps is, "I can resist everything except temptation!" He was also gay - although not initially so. For a time, he was the toast of London and its high society matrons and their rich husbands. Eventually leaders of that society were to turn on him with a viciousness more suited to a violent criminal. He was disgraced, tried in a court of law, found guilty, imprisoned and died in exile in Paris. But his story is a great deal more complicated than these simple facts. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde came into …

My hubbie and I recently watched the Canadian movie Bones of Crows, which portrayed the story of a Cree girl who was forcibly taken from her parents and involuntarily placed in the Canadian Indian residential school system. (Full disclosure, I chose this movie because I have the hots for one of its stars, actor Johnathan Whitesell) The students at these schools faced rape, starvation, malnutrition, physical abuse, and even murder. In the movie (based on true events), the girl suffers, among other things, being raped by JW's character, then a deacon (later a priest and eventually cardinal), and a nun who intentionally crushes hand of the girl, who was a child pr…

In all my years of flying, I have encountered a number of emergencies. But never have I been on an aircraft that has had to turn back. The 270 souls on board Flight UA198 had to endure that last Saturday afternoon. Flying from Los Angeles to Shanghai on a 787, the flight surprisingly turned around after 90 minutes and landed at San Francisco. Engine trouble? No! Air conditioning problem? No! Other mechanical problem? No! The pilot had forgotten to take his passport! Gulp! A new crew flew the aircraft to Shanghai.

From Khaosod English KOH SAMUI — A 30-year-old British man died while still wearing Muay Thai shorts on Koh Samui island in Surat Thani province. Police officers from Bo Phut Police Station investigated the incident at Thai International Hospital shortly after midnight on March 29. The deceased was identified as Mr. Joseph, according to Nantawat Chukaew, the boxing trainer who provided additional details. On March 28, around 9:30 PM, Joseph participated in his first-ever boxing match at the Inter Samui boxing stadium. During the third round, he was kicked in the right side of his rib cage, prompting the referee to stop the fight. After the match ended,…

From Pattaya Mail Passengers, both Thai and foreign, were still stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan at 00:20 on March 29, following the afternoon earthquake. Long lines were seen at the taxi queue ticketing area, as there were not enough taxis available to accommodate the large number of travelers. Airport officials provided bottled water to passengers waiting for extended periods. Additionally, the Grab ride-hailing area was also overcrowded, with many passengers opting to find nearby accommodations due to the lack of transportation options. The earthquake had caused significant disruptions to transportation in Bangkok, with BTS and MRT services te…

This time an icon who fortunately remains with us even though now well into his 80s. On a visit to Scotland during my student years, I was exceedingly fortunate to catch a couple of plays being performed at the celebrated Edinburgh International Festival, Shakespeare's “Richard II” and Marlowe's “Edward II”. Playing the title role of each king was a young English actor about whom there was a considerable buzz in theatrical circles. The friend who accompanied me was then at drama school and madly in love with him. Unfortunately, he told me, the actor already had a steady boyfriend. That was the first time I knew Ian McKellen was gay. The young McKellen as Shakes…

From The Thaiger In a groundbreaking move for children’s rights, Thailand has officially outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, including both physical and psychological discipline. The amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, announced in the Royal Gazette on Monday, March 24, marks a historic moment for the nation, making Thailand the 68th country worldwide to ban violent discipline in homes, schools, care facilities, juvenile centres, and daycare centres. UNICEF Thailand praised the new law, calling it a major milestone in the protection of children’s rights and the promotion of positive parenting. The amendment aligns with the Con…

From Khaosod English Officers arrest male waiters, known as "bar hosts," who served and entertained female customers at Home Karaoke, described as a women-only hostess lounge in Bangkok on March 26, 2025 BANGKOK — Immigration authorities arrested 57 foreign nationals, both women and men, working illegally and a Thai employer during coordinated raids on 10 karaoke establishments across Bangkok late Tuesday night. The operation, led by Immigration Bureau 1 Commander Police Major General Prasart Khemaprasit, targeted venues in three main areas known for inexpensive karaoke bars: Klongtoei, Romklao, and Thonburi. According to officials, the raids are…

"Good authors too who once knew better words Now only use four-letter words Writing prose. Anything goes." These lyrics from the opening of Cole Porter's gorgeous 1934 musical "Anything Goes" could well have been written with the writer and novelist Christopher Isherwood in mind. Although Porter and Isherwood may never have met, both were gay. While Porter married in part to mask his sexuality (the fact that his wife was rich no doubt also helped!) the English-born Isherwood was one of the 20th century's most openly gay men. 1950s photo of Christopher by William Caskey with whom he had a tempestuous 5-year affair Deprived of his…

I have made so many in my life I am sometimes surprised i am able to finance my retirement. Back in the late 1990s, I invested a little here and there. One stock that interested me was Starbucks Asia, then far less visible in Asia than now. I resisted. Then 10 years later another stock caught my eye. I noticed that Warren Buffet had invested in the Chinese battery maker BYD taking a 10% stake in the company and a seat on the Board. I had thought about putting $1,000 into the company. Again I resisted. BYD has since become one of the fastest selling battery powered vehicles, now outselling Tesla due to Chinese government investment and lower prices. In fact it is the …

From The Thaiger A 64 year old American dental professor from a renowned university tragically died after falling from a high-rise condominium in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, yesterday, March 24. Police suspect personal issues as a possible cause and are investigating further details. Police Sub-inspector Montri Khamkhao of Pathumwan Police Station received notification of the incident, which led him to the scene with Police Colonel Sirichat Janprom, Deputy Superintendent Phongwut Radasert, forensic officers, medical examiners from the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers. The incident occurred at …

From The Thaiger The British tourist who died in Bangkok following a violent altercation with two karaoke bar workers last Sunday, March 23, has been identified. The British man, 28 year old Nick Weir from Salisbury, Wiltshire, South West England, was found lying on a footpath near Soi Pracharat Sai 1, in the Bang Sue district of Bangkok. His body, wearing black shorts and a yellow polo shirt, was discovered with blood flowing from his nose. Police were called to the scene shortly after the altercation, but the man, who had no personal documents on him, was already unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead. According to reports, Weir had been ac…

From Pattaya Mail / NNT The government has issued a health alert following a surge in acute diarrhea cases linked to the country’s ongoing hot season. The warning, announced by Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Polpornklang, urges the public to take extra care with food and water hygiene as high temperatures increase the risk of contamination. Authorities are urging strict adherence to the “Cooked, Hot, Clean” principle to help reduce illness. Between January 1 and March 13, more than 129,000 cases of acute diarrhea have been reported, with two related deaths. The highest rates were recorded among children aged 0–4. Food poisoning cases have also climbed to n…

I read that Thailand is once again preparing a feasibillity study on hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix street race. As one who enjoys F1, I realise it could do wonders for the image of the city worldwide. This from Newsweek of March 19 - "Although Thailand has an FIA-approved Grand Prix circuit in Buriram, the country is gearing up to host a Formula One street race in Bangkok. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently met with F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss the ambitious plan. As a first step toward bringing F1 to the capital by 2028, Thailand will now move forward with a feasibility study." But it will never happen! It's madness! Back in …