The Beer Bar

Cross currency rates this morning: USD 33.34 EUR 36.44 GBP 43.52 CND 24.20 From Reuters The Bank of Thailand (BOT) will leave its key interest rate unchanged at 2.50% next week and for the rest of the year, according to a Reuters poll of economists who brought forward their first rate cut expectations by a quarter. Inflation quickened in September to 0.61% from 0.35% in August but remained below the BOT's target range of 1-3%. However, median forecasts in the poll showed inflation will return to within the range this quarter. Growth in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy has lagged its regional peers due to high…

From Bangkok Post The lawyer who successfully sought the disbandment of the Move Forward Party has asked the Constitutional Court to stop former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from threatening the constitutional monarchy by influencing the coalition-core Pheu Thai Party. In a 5,080-page petition filed at the court on Thursday, Therayut Suwankesorn targets both Thaksin and the party now led by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Among the many allegations the petition makes is that Thaksin used the Ministry of Justice under the Pheu Thai-led government to secure his extended stay at Police General Hospital when he should have been in jail…

In a different thread (This time bit different), we touched on how the Saphan Khwai massage shops tag their advertised boys as "Top", "Straight" or "T&B". @vinapu has previously commented on what "straight" means when these boys have no difficulty performing in the room. I came across this YouGov survey from 2019 that asked respondents in the UK aged 18 and older to place themselves on the Kinsey scale. Here's a bar chart showing the results, and comparing it to 2015. The percentage at the "6" end of the scale remains quite constant at 4%. This is the percentage who say they are "completely homosexual". The percentages at the adjacent "4" and "5" categories on …

Most readers are familiar with Bangkok's Khlong Toei slum. This video from NHK World explores the lives of some residents who have found refuge in the violin. If we find ourselves becoming a bit jaded by the Big Mango, this may just provide the antidote. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2022424/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The Thai government has at long last begun the issuing of official identification cards to Myanmar economic migrants even if they entered illegally. In the past, hundreds of thousands of such workers and their families have been deported and dumped en masse to the Myanmar border where they were subject to reprisals from the ruling junta and often forced into the army to fight the raging insurgency. Spokesman for the migrants, U Moe Kyaw, confirmed that the u-turn policy was now in force. Illegal immigrants were now able to apply to the Thai Department of Employment for a pink card, initially for one year and able to be rene…

NOTE -- You can no longer apply for a visa to Vietnam in person at the Vietnam Consulate in Bangkok. From The Thaiger Getting a Thai visa in Southeast Asia is about to become a high-tech affair. Starting next week, several Thai consulates across the region will be switching entirely to online e-visa applications, leaving traditional walk-ins a thing of the past. In a surprise move, consulates in Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Bharu), and Cambodia (Phnom Penh) will close their doors to in-person visa applications. Some of these have already shut their consular services in anticipation of the e-visa launch, schedul…

https://www.aol.com/airline-apologizes-sexually-explicit-movie-105954587.html "...Technical problems meant individual movie selection was not available on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Haneda, leaving the crew to pick one film to be broadcast to the whole cabin. Their selection of Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn's racy drama "Daddio" was a surprise to many, and to the airline, which apologized Tuesday. According to one review, the movie features "references to oral sex, masturbation" as well as a "brief but clear photo of erect penis on phone screen. Photos of a woman's naked breasts. Explicit sex-related dialogue and texting."... "It was impossible to pause, dim, or t…

From The Nation The Transport Ministry has unveiled the schedule of tourism trains from October to February, aiming to boost domestic tourism and generate income for local communities. Three types of train will embark on sight-seeing routes over the next five months, said minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Monday. These are the Royal Blossom, Kiha 183, and Second World War-era steam locomotives. The Royal Blossom and Kiha 183 were donated to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) by Japan and have been refurbished as cosy and stylish tourism trains with full facilities. Tourists booking the special trains can opt for daytri…

From Pattaya News Bangkok has been ranked as the fourth-friendliest city in the world in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, an annual survey by CN Traveler. The Thai capital is acknowledged for its unique blend of vibrant street life, rich cultural heritage, and welcoming atmosphere, making it a standout destination among travelers. The survey considered several cities globally, with Bangkok scoring 92.00 points in the rankings. Thailand's recognition as one of the friendliest countries in the world is evidenced by the reception tourists receive in its bustling capital. Although the city’s busy streets and lively markets can be overwhelming at first, visitors …

From Pattaya News A 66-year-old British man, who had just returned to Thailand for one day, tragically died after crashing his motorcycle into a U-turn sign in Sattahip. The tragic accident was reported to Sattahip police at 8:40 PM on October 5th, 2024. Police and rescue workers rushed to the scene at a U-turn sign on the inbound side of Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip district, Chonburi province, to find the foreigner with critical injuries. The victim, identified by police as 66-year-old British national Mr. Garrad Nigel Melvin, had suffered a fractured skull and a large laceration at the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Ga…

Most of us are agreeable to help another visitor who appears to be confused. That's what thieves are counting on. They may stop you with an innocent question but conversation will quickly turn to currencies or how to exchange them. I was approached not that long ago on Surawong at the entrance to Soi Thaniya by a man inquiring at first about the location of a hospital. As soon as he started talking about exchanging money, I sensed where it was going and walked away. This article describes events that took place in front of entrance to Ibis Hotel on Silom and on Sukhumvit Soi 20.. From Khaosod English On September 22, police officers from Thung Mahamek Poli…

Came across an article in Thaiger, predicting a cashless economy in four years. Sounds like a banker's wet dream. While there are some stores that don't accept cash, they're far and few between. Don't see myself--or many others--opting to pay bin tab or massage tip with plastic. https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thailand-predicted-to-go-cashless-by-2028-leads-asean-in-rtp-usage ======== Today's Pattaya News carries a piece, describing new tourism strategies to attack tourists. They don't seem to realize that they already have successful strategists that have worked for decades: offer what people have already proven they want and make it easy to travel to…

From The Nation A new regulation that allows consumers to inspect products before making payments for cash-on-delivery (COD) shipping services takes effect from Thursday (October 3). Under the new regulation of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, customers can now check their items before payment and if the goods are damaged or not as advertised, they can reject the package and seek a full refund. The office has declared COD shipping services as regulated under the 2024 Receipts Regulation Act or the "Dee – Delivery" measure. The regulation aims to prevent exploitation of customers when purchasing goods via COD services. Jiraporn Sindhup…

From Bangkok Post A catamaran had an engine breakdown, caught fire and sank after taking 22 tourists to an island near Phuket on Thursday morning. The 16.68-gross-tonnage Flamingo Lady 2 left the Ao Po pier at 10am to take its passengers to Naka Yai island. While the boat was returning empty to Phuket, its right engine broke down and caught fire between Naka Yai and Raet islands at 10.35am. Continues with video https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2877007/phuket-catamaran-sinks-after-catching-fire

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon DTV has got off to a splendid start according to the Thai foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa. Whilst there are no official statistics, social media bloggers suggest that between 1,500 and 2,500 have been issued in the 10 weeks since the launching. The question on the horizon is what happens to DTV holders when their initial six months are exhausted, that is assuming they want to stay in Thailand. Tod Daniels, top contributor to the popular Facebook group destinationthailandvisa, sums up the problem. “How about we wait until December or January when the first people who got a DTV start reporting on how it will actually wor…

From The Nation Officials have confirmed the tragic loss of 25 lives in a school bus fire in Pathum Thani; the bus was among three chartered by Uthai Thani school for trip to Ayutthaya Rescue officials have confirmed the loss of 25 lives in the tragic school bus fire that occurred in Pathum Thani on Tuesday. The bus was among three that had been chartered by Wat Khao Phaya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani to take young primary students and teachers on a sightseeing trip to Ayutthaya. Police and rescue officials said they had recovered 22 bodies of students and three bodies of teachers from the wreckage. Nineteen …

From Bangkok Post The Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) are looking to withdraw military forces from the southernmost provinces by 2027, with plans to strengthen volunteer forces in the area. The ministry and Isoc recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide joint training to volunteer forces. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and army chief Gen Charoenchai Hintao oversaw the ceremony. Mr Anutin said the MoU underscores a collaboration between the Ministry of Interior and Isoc to provide training to volunteer forces, aiming to ease the military workload while ensuring public safety, starting in 20…

From The Nation One of the rarest and strangest-looking plants in Thailand is about to poke its head above the soil for its annual appearance in a remote forest on the eastern border with Myanmar. The Thismia thaithongiana was discovered growing on the slopes of Doi Hua Mot, Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Tak Province in 2018. Tourists and botanists are now scouring the sanctuary’s forest floor to catch sight of this bizarre owl-shaped plant, which glows green and goes by the Thai name of Phisawong Thaithong or Phisawong Owl’s Eye. Continues with photos https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/travel/40041991

I'm in Tokyo at the moment. I visited a newly-opened shopping centre in Harajuku and came across (pun intended) Tenga's latest and greatest store. (Tenga is a wanking toy.) That poor guy can't be getting much sex from his girlfriend. She was helping him choose! And imagine wearing that t-shirt, advertising to the world that you're a wanker! Only in Japan.

From Pattaya Mail The anticipated surge in Chinese tourists during the upcoming Chinese National Day holiday, from October 1 to 7, is being significantly hampered by unpredictable weather conditions and escalating flight costs. Sanphet Suphabhawornsathien, advisor to the Thai Hotels Association (Eastern Chapter), stated, “Local operators had expressed optimism about welcoming a wave of Chinese travellers during this peak travel period. However, many Chinese tour companies have recently announced substantial adjustments and cancellations of travel plans due to adverse weather patterns, which have led to uncertainty in travel schedules.” He added, “This shift, cou…

Just looking at a news article in the UK ,a man (with a moustache) was asked to leave a female toilet in a Nightclub .♀️♀️ He told the security he identify as a female? Obviously if he has evidence in the form of living like a female he could possibly sue ⚖️⚖️ Now in my part time job I work in a customer service environment where the public can use our toilets. Occassionly a female customer will complain of males in the 🪠 toilet 🚽🚽your thoughts please on this matter ?

From Bangkok Ppst National park authorities will reopen the famous Maya Bay in the southern Thai province of Krabi to welcome visitors on Tuesday after two months of closure for rehabilitation. Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said that the reopening would take effect for Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and Lor Kor Bay of the Phi Phi islands after they were closed from Aug 1 to Sept 30. Over the past two months, staff from Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park maintained buoys to protect coral and guarantee visitors’ safety for the high season, he said. …

NOTE -- If you're planning a trip and trying to figure out what the exchange rate will be when you arrive, I wouldn't waste a lot of time or effort. Rates fluctuate by the minute. You can get a clue on what direction they may be moving bythe action of your home country's central bank on interest rates. If they are raising rates, your currency will likely appreciate against the baht. If they are lowering rates, it will likely depreciate. Cross currency rates at 0700 today: Dollar 34.35 Euro 38.28 Pound 45.07 CAN dollar 25.29 From The Thaiger The baht is poised to strengthen further, potentia…

From Bangkok Post SAMUT SONGKRAM: A coffee shop owner at Talad Rom Hub train market, a popular tourist attraction in Mae Klong district, has been ordered to close his shop for 30 days following his vulgar gesture to a Spanish tourist. The vendor was captured on Thursday pushing and yelling at the tourist in a clip that was widely circulated on social media, sparking a public outcry. The Maeklong railway station office said the shop was located on property owned by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), and it had issued a formal letter to the vendor. The warning includes a 30-day suspension from operating the shop and a warning that if the misconduct occurs a…