The Beer Bar

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Although Thailand has suffered a military coup about every seven years since 1932, experts say the conditions are not right for a putsch right now. Coup historian Barbara Tuchman said, “To put the garment of legitimacy is the first aim of every coup,” but the circumstances are very different from those in 2014 when general Prayut Chan-o-cha cancelled the constitution with considerable public support. For example, the Ministry of Defence regulations have now been amended to allow the prime minister to suspend generals suspected of planning a coup as well as abolishing the military courts against which there was no appeal. Mo…

From The Telegraph Jake Coyner runs a specialist kratom café in Bangkok that sells kratom sodas, tea bags and capsules. His clientele are wealthier international consumers - Krerkburin Kerngburi ‘Well, this is trippy,’ says Jake Coyner, as the makeshift polystyrene raft we’re sitting on floats along shallow waterways. He can’t help but laugh: just beyond the walls of a nearby surreal, UFO-shaped Buddhist temple, a legal, non-prescription opioid is flourishing. At Sherb’s farm, a smallholding on the outskirts of Bangkok, close to 1,500 ‘top-quality’ kratom trees are growing between the irrigation channels. Native to south-east Asia, the plant’s psychoa…

Richard Barrow's Train Guide is a good tarting point if you're new to buying tickets or have questions about the process. Options for buying train tickets online in Thailand: D-Ticket (Official site) SRT D-Ticket App: App Store or Google Play 12Go Thailand (travel agency) Baolau (travel agency) PLEASE NOTE: Long distance trains on the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern lines now leave from the new terminal station in Bangkok. When buying your tickets to leave from Bangkok, you need to enter “Krung Thep Aphiwat”. For local and commuter trains, including tourist trains and trains on the Eastern Line, these will still go from Bangkok S…

From The Thaiger The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its business arm, Krungthep Thanakom (KT), are urgently reviewing a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruling before they settle a colossal 11.75 billion baht debt owed to the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC). This follows a Supreme Administrative Court order on July 26, which gave BMA and KT just 180 days to pay up. The debt, linked to the operating and maintenance (O&M) costs of the Saphan Taksin-Bang Wa and On Nut-Kheha Green Line extensions, is now under intense scrutiny due to a potentially game-changing NACC ruling. The NACC previously determined that the BMA’s decision t…

This made me laugh 😂😂😂 ( sorry if it's a re-post) https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-793YgvZmh/?igsh=eGVlbzF0bWN4ZXRv

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The free visa policy for 53 countries/territories has led to a continuous increase in the number of tourists entering Thailand, with Chinese tourists ranking first. However, there are growing concerns that money is not flowing into Thailand as it should because Chinese zero-dollar tours have returned. According to Tourism and Sports Economic Division, from January 1 to August 18, 2024, Thailand received a total of 22,474,172 foreign tourists who generated revenue of 1.05 trillion baht through their spending. The five countries with the highest number of tourists are China (4,555,262), Malaysia (3,104,092), India (1,294,076), South…

From Thai PBS World Koh Samui – The murder trial of a famous Spanish actor’s son opened Tuesday on a popular Thai tourist island, where he will face charges of killing another foreigner. Chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, pleaded not guilty at a hearing in November to the murder of 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga on the nearby Koh Pha Ngan island. The trial opened Tuesday on the honeymoon isle of Koh Samui, with scores of Spanish reporters flying in — despite being barred from the tiny courtroom. Sancho’s father, well-known Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, arrived at court shortly after 8:30 am (0130 GMT). “He is fine…

From The Thaiger Police arrested a Thai transwoman in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan for the murder of a university student at a dormitory in Nonthaburi province, Bangkok. The suspect claimed that financial issues motivated her crime. The 22 year old university student, Wissawa “Sun” Tamprasit, was found dead in his room on the sixth floor of a dormitory in Nonthaburi province on Wednesday, August 7. He was stabbed in the chest and was cut on his chin and right eyebrow before being burned in the room. Officers from Rattanathibet Police Station reviewed security camera footage and spotted a suspicious individual entering the dormitory room with Sun. T…

I vaguely recall reading something about battery powered Baht Busses but last night got to ride in one from Jomtien to Pattaya. They look similar to the standard pickup truck bus although a lighter blue however the interior is much more comfortable and attractive. Seating is limited to about 10 people with no provisions for anyone to stand on the rear deck. And the sound of the "I want to get off" call button is a very pleasant "ding-dong". The ride was quiet, fume free and well dampened and brisk. Cost was 10 Baht, as usual. Anyone else have this experience?

https://www.aol.com/news/sexually-frustrated-dolphin-blamed-18-134443342.html "... Japan’s problematic mammal is believed to be a solitary male bottlenose dolphin, who may also be responsible for injuring swimmers in 2022 and 2023, and trying to press his genitals against them. Putu Mustika, a lecturer and marine researcher at James Cook University in Australia, told The New York Times that dolphins can inadvertently harm humans by dint of their sheer strength when acting out mating behaviors. “Dolphins, when they are mating, can be very wild,” she said, adding that the act of lunging on top of a human could be seen as a sexual act and a sign that the dolphin was “ho…

From The Nation The former commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung, and former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk as well as six others will be indicted in the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on August 29, the Office of the Attorney-General said. In a letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the prosecutors have informed the NACC to bring the eight suspects before the court on August 29. The action against the eight stems from their controversial decision not to prosecute Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, who was allegedly involved in a fatal car accident that killed a police offic…

From The Nation The amendment of the contract for the high-speed rail project linking three airports has been put on hold pending the appointment of a new chairman of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, which will require approval from the new Cabinet that has yet to be formed, the EEC Office said on Friday. The 276.5-billion-baht rail project will link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao international airports and form a high-speed connection between Bangkok and EEC areas. The office secretary-general, Chula Sukmanop, said the EECO believed the new board chairman will be appointed within this year, and the constructi…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon If foreigners are wondering about the detail of DTV applications, embassies of Thailand worldwide will likely understand. Several of those already showing DTV registration fees, such as Laos and Sri Lanka, have yet to publish any information. The more prominent, such as Washington DC and London, have published the guidelines of the original Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT), but add discreetly that further information could be required. Others, such as the Thai embassy in Cambodia, are waiting for the latest online technology before they can even begin processing DTV. The most detailed checklist of requirements for the DT…

From The Thaiger The Palang Pracharath Party’s (PPP) embattled secretary-general is set to drop a political bombshell in a press conference this afternoon. The caretaker agriculture minister is widely expected to renounce his loyalty to the party leader, General Prawit Wongsuwan, in a dramatic turn of events that could shake the party to its core. Thamanat Prompow announced the press conference, scheduled for 2pm at the Agriculture Ministry, a location that has left many political observers speculating about his intentions. His choice of venue, rather than the PPP head office, fuelled speculation that this is not just another routine briefing but a deliber…

In a rather strange and sudden development, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport has apparently removed the arrivals fast track for First- and Business-Class travelers that has been available forever

From The Nation Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader and prime minister candidate of the now-defunct Move Forward Party, posted a message on Medium website on August 20 that he had taken up a visiting role at Harvard University. The party-list MP was disqualified from running for office for 10 years following the dissolution of his party by the Constitutional Court for undermining the constitutional monarchy system of government. Pita said that his next chapter will begin at Harvard University this semester as a Visiting Democracy Fellow. He expressed his excitement about this opportunity to further his commitment to promoting …

From The Thaiger Russian airline Aeroflot resumes direct flights to popular holiday destinations in Thailand, India, and Seychelles. This news will thrill jet-setters and sun-seekers looking to escape the chill. Starting September 13, Aeroflot will kick off its twice-weekly flights from Yekaterinburg’s Koltsovo Airport to Phuket. These flights, operating every Monday and Friday, will be followed by a new route from Yekaterinburg to Bangkok, set to launch on September 15. Passengers can expect a comfortable journey aboard Airbus A330 aircraft, which features a two-class cabin layout, including 28 business class seats and 268 economy seats. The Bangkok route …

I was listening to the radio news channel on my way to the grocery store the other day. They played a brief blurb from someone whom they described as a "public health expert" (not a public health official, but rather a faculty member of the University of Southern California School of Public Health) who said "The current Covid variant presents a challenge because most infections are asymptomatic." This sounds to me more like the press trying to fan flames hysteria when in reality the news that infections have markedly dropped in severity should be a cause for celebration. Aren't there more important diseases to try to control at this point? This reminds me of a conversatio…

From The Star / The Nation BANGKOK: Two people were killed and two injured when a jet ski collided with a long-tail boat on Saturday (Aug 17) night in the Chao Phraya River. The accident occurred between Rama III and the Phra Pradaeng shore, near the Bang Kra Jao Pier. Rescuers found a damaged jet ski, and two injured women, identified as a 17-year-old girl and a 41-year-old woman, who were taken to Bangpakok Samut Prakan Hospital with bruises and pain. The bodies of a 44-year-old woman, who was a passenger on the long-tail boat, and the 64-year-old boat driver were retrieved later by divers. The jet ski was driven by actor Chindanai Sae-Lim, know…

From Thailand News Agency Youngest child of ex-PM Thaksin carries torch of family’s political dynasty after Srettha Thavisin removed as PM on Wednesday. Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected as the 31st prime minister of Thailand during a special session of the House of Representatives on Friday. Paetongtarn received 319 votes for, 145 votes against with 27 abstentions. Six MPs from the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party voted in support of Paetongtarn. Notably absent from the vote were Palang Pracharat leader Prawit Wongsuwan and Pheu Thai list MP Chalerm Yoobamrun…

From Business Insider John Walker's studio apartment in Chiang Mai, Thailand isn't much bigger than a hotel room, but it has everything he needs: air conditioning, basic kitchen appliances, and proximity to his favorite Mexican restaurant — all for less than $200 a month in rent. The 73-year-old moved to Thailand from Western Australia in 2019. A lifelong traveler, Walker liked the idea of living somewhere new, and was drawn to Chiang Mai's beautiful temples and mild climate when he first traveled there in the early 2010s. Walker now lives off his roughly $18,000 annual pension (AU$28,000), according to bank statements reviewed by Business Insider. And, bec…

Last week, we attended an LA Opera production of La Traviata, and I noticed in the program a title I've never seen before, "Intimacy Director." Have I just never noticed this before, or is this some kind of new position? I'm not sure what these people are supposed to do. Help only with the kissing scenes? The kissing did seem fine with that performance, but is this really something that the regular directors aren't trained to direct when they go to directing school or whatever? Or is this just wasteful featherbedding? In any case, aren't opera singers usually judged on their singing skills, and maybe acting--but kissing? I've never seen an opera review in which the critic…

From Pattaya News By Kittisak Phalaharn On August 17th, 2024, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, the Director-General of the Department of Employment, announced the “Locate, Arrest, Fine, and Deport” operation targeting illegal migrant workers. This nationwide effort involves collaboration between all relevant agencies. The operation, which includes the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police, Anti-Human Trafficking Division, and the Internal Security Operations Command from all provinces, aims to inspect, arrest, and prosecute employers and businesses that hire illegal foreign workers, according to Somchai. It also seeks to educate employers a…

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/fda-gives-green-light-to-first-at-home-syphilis-test-as-cases-rise/ar-AA1oYVkG?ocid=BingNewsSerp Wonder if it will be part of out travel checklist soon as unfortunately syphilis is quite prevalent in Thailand.

https://loriamedical.com/ I spent some minutes checking out the details of the procedures. There are pictures of results too. For example, the penile elongation procedure is designed to give you a flaccid length of about 6 inches... and an erect length of 6 inches (plus a wee bit more). The flaccid dick is going to look weird. As for the girth enhancements, oh gosh! Doesn't look any better than the poor Thai boys who have had it done. However, I can understand that for the small minority born with a deformity, this is a better than nothing.