The Beer Bar

From Thai PBS World International airlines have returned as many as 80% of their airport slots at Thailand’s six international airports between October 31st and March 26th next year, indicating their uncertainty over a recovery in the aviation sector, according to Nitinai Sirisamatthakarn, the managing director of Airports of Thailand (AOT) Public Company. AOT operates Suvarnabhumi, Don Muaeng, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai’s Mae Fah Luang international airports. He disclosed that the lowest point for the aviation industry in Thailand was from July to September, this year, after the Thai government suspended all regular flights as a pr…

The overly dramatic music is a bit much, but this paints quite a dire picture

Well we're almost there, the only issue is which state you fly back into as per quarantine rules (and the airlines of course) but we are slowly seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. I will still be waiting until things get back to some form of normality or at least to the new nomal. Travel exemptions to leave Australia officially scrapped for fully vaccinated travellers from November 1 The federal government has removed the need for fully vaccinated Australians to ask for permission to leave the country from Monday, but those who are unvaccinated will still have to ask for an exemption if they want to leave. When the government closed the internationa…

From Thai PBS World Thailand’s Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to prepare guidelines to allow visitors from Thailand’s neighbouring countries, such as Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia, to take one-day trips to Thailand as the country prepares to reopen to tourism on November 1st. Today (Tuesday), Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said discussions are being held and plans are being drawn up to allow tourists to travel over the Malaysian border into Hat Yai in Thailand’s southern province of Songkhla, and tourists from Laos to travel to the north-eastern province of Nong Khai. Tourists crossing the Thai-Myanmar border w…

Source It’s official: Alitalia is shutting down. While the end of the airline has been clear for months now, the carrier has officially announced that it will stop flying from 14th October. All flights beyond this date are canceled, and passengers may request a refund or travel before the 14th. From the 15th of October, ITA will become the new Italian flag carrier, kicking off a new era for Italian aviation. As the anticipation for ITA builds up, Alitalia has been planning its orderly closure. Yesterday, the Italian flag carrier announced that the end is near. Effective from today, 25th August, Alitalia won’t sell tickets for flights from 15th October, limiting …

I am considering a new home base. I am pretty flexible but looking for a good gay nightlife at times and the ease of hooking up. But, more important is the availability of Western amenities. I have been to all three countries many times but never for more than 2 months. Any suggestions?

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon A news report that some visas based on retirement could now require two insurances has stirred confusion on social media. Deputy public health minister Sathit Pitutecha, in comments first relayed by ThaiPBSWorld, is quoted as saying that applications for one year 0/A visas would carry the extra requirement of “health” insurance of US$100,000, or over 3 million baht. However, the minister did not provide any backup information. O/A visas are one year (usually multiple entry) permissions of stay issued by Thai embassies abroad to wannabe retirees aged 50 and above. In 2019, a pre-pandemic era, the Ministry of Foreign Affai…

Come out NOW! I wish I had it in me to come out early. The Bible Belt was not easy in the 1980s but there were openly gay men. It took me another 10 plus years before I came out and I regretted it ever since.

This morning CNN posted their usual graph of pollution in cities around Asia. I don't recall seeing a number higher than 5 before but that may be because I simply was not paying attention. Today CNN gave Bangkok a 6, higher even than the 5s in the usual heavily polluted cities like Delhi and Jakarta. Just from looking out of my window I can see that the air quality is not as good as recently, but it is nowhere near as bad as the dreadful pollution over the winter of 2019/20. Indeed the Real Time AQI index for Bangkok this morning is just "moderate" at 74. Delhi is an "unhealthy" 104. So where does CNN pick up its inaccurate information? It made me think of a day some…

Considered the Oscars of Fine Dining, the World's 50 Best Restaurant List has been announced. I know many take these lists with a large pinch of salt, but this one does seem to be especially valid. (Actually the list is not truly the best of the best since some which previously came top of the list have been withdrawn and will be included in a new Best of the Best list). The top two restaurants are both in Copenhagen. The others are spread around many countries. In Asia, the best is Singapore's Odette, one of two from the city state. Two places lower sees a Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong's Soho district, The Chairman, which is the highest climber from the last lis…

FIrst let me make it perfectly clear. This is not a God-loving or a God-bashing post. Many of us belong to religions and worship God or Buddha or Allah - even a few are still believers in Ahura Mazda, the God of the world's oldest monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism. More, this post is about the influence of a belief in God and sporting prowess. One of the 'sports' I would run a mile to avoid is boxing. I noted though that over the week-end there was a heavyweight championship match in Las Vegas won by an Englishman appropriately named Fury. When thanking all those who had helped him in the run up to the fight, he praised God for helping him during the fight and to…

From Coconuts Bangkok Architects in New York have designed a massive expansion to the U.S. Embassy compound that incorporates shaded outdoor Thai terraces and Lanna features from the north. Ground was broken Friday in a ceremony overseen by Charge d’ Affaires Michael Heath and Thai VIPs on what’s modestly coined an “annex” to the embassy property on Wireless Road, a US$625 million (THB20.21 billion) development aiming for a 2025 opening. The New Office Annex, dubbed The Nox, will be used to house additional diplomatic, security and commercial services while also modernizing the 1960s-era embassy’s consular services. It will also house U.S. agencies cu…

From CNN (CNN)Superman's done a lot since he first appeared in comic books 80 years ago, almost. He's saved the world more than a few times. He's died and come back to life. He dodged punches from Muhammad Ali and even faced off against White supremacists. Until this year, though, every comic iteration of Superman has been besotted with longtime love Lois Lane. But in an upcoming issue of a new "Superman" series, the Man of Steel enters into a queer relationship. The fifth issue of the DC comic series "Superman: Son of Kal-El" will confirm that the new Superman -- Jon Kent, child of Clark Kent and Lane -- is bisexual after falling for Jay Nakamura…

Betrayed and left at the altar...so sexy and sad.

According to a recent but cryptic article in The Nation, the Automated People Mover (APM) train system at Suvarnabhumi airport is 90 per cent complete and should be ready in time for the return of international travellers. This project was much in the news 2-3 years ago as controversies over budget and design were debated. The firm that's doing the work had this artist's rendering of the airport posted on its website with the new terminal in the foreground. You can also find detailed information about the system. When the terminal will actually be put into use is not mentioned. https://www.maathai.com/project_detail/62 https://www.nationthailand.…

From CNN By Faith Karimi, CNN (CNN)His messages are a mix of uncertainty and terror -- with glimmers of hope. He is gay, a convert to Christianity and a member of the Hazara ethnic minority -- three groups that have been historically persecuted by the Taliban. The 32-year-old man went into hiding after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August, cutting off communication with family back home and holing up in a Kabul basement with his younger brother. They spent their days reading and praying and venturing outside only for food. With phones their sole connection to the outside world, he and his brother sent messages. Lots o…

From Channel News Asia SINGAPORE: National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) will expand flights under the vaccinated travel lane scheme to nine more cities, following the announcement on Saturday (Oct 9) that Singapore will extend the travel arrangement to eight more countries. Starting Oct 19, SIA will operate vaccinated travel lane flights from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Paris and Rome. SINGAPORE: National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) will expand flights under the vaccinated travel lane scheme to nine more cities, following the announcement on Saturday (Oct 9) that Singapore will extend the travel arrangem…

From Coconuts Bangkok Days after Thailand remained on a revised list of nations barred from traveling to the United Kingdom, a top diplomat said this morning that it would soon be removed. Ambassador Mark Gooding said Thailand will be excluded when the “red list” is updated Monday. On Tuesday, the U.K. government scrapped its color-coded threat system in favor of a simplified list, removing 32 nations – but not Thailand – in the process. “Happy to confirm that Thailand will be removed from the UK’s red list at 0400 UK time on 11 October, and that UK will recognise vaccine certification from Thailand,” tweeted Mark Gooding, British ambassador to Thailand. …

From Coconuts Bangkok A Dutch national said today he will appeal a court ruling against his lawsuit challenging dual-pricing at Thailand’s public hospitals as unconstitutional. Erwin Buse said the Administrative Court in Phetchaburi province relied on incorrect information provided by the health ministry in its Tuesday decision. “I am very disappointed that the court mainly follows and repeat statements of the defendant without fact check,” Buse said Wednesday afternoon in a message. He noted that the ministry had changed how it defined labor costs, a key factor in determining hospital fees. Erwin had asked the court to strike down the pricing structur…

Last boyfriend gets all money.

Weeks after picking up the Emmy Award for hair style and make up design, Bridgerton's Marc Pilcher has died of Covid aged 53. Pilcher had had his two vaccinations and several negative tests before and after flying to Los Angeles to pick up the Award. He had no underlying conditions. Yet still he died. I do not know how frequently this happens but I expect it highlights the need to continue wearing masks and socially distance.

Facebook and it apps are all down for me. What is the world to do? Inner self: Read a book moron Great idea!

A Lil Nas tribute to Dolly Parton. Damn good too.