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From The Diplomat A Myanmar rebel group claims to have seized a major regional military headquarters in the city of Lashio near the border with China, in what would mark a historic and humiliating defeat for the country’s military junta. In a Chinese-language statement published on its Facebook page yesterday, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said that it had completely captured the military’s Northeastern Regional Command headquarters at 4 a.m. that morning, after 23 days of fighting. “The liberation of Lashio will mark a historic victory in our revolution,” the group declared. The MNDAA also claimed to have established effective control over the city of Lashio, which lies 110 kilometers south of the Chinese border. “Our army has won a decisive victory and is now clearing out the remaining enemy troops. The city is now declared completely liberated,” it added, urging the public to remain calm and comply with its administration of the city. However, the situation remains fluid and conditions on the ground are hard to verify. The Irrawaddy, citing “sources close to resistance forces on the ground,” reported that the city of 170,000 is not yet under full MNDAA control and that clashes are still going on in parts of the city. Myanmar Now, citing local sources, reported that fighting was ongoing but that MNDAA troops “have already entered the city’s downtown core, and were seen approaching the airport [yesterday] afternoon.” For what it’s worth, the military State Administration Council (SAC), the junta’s official name, denied that the Northeastern Regional Command had been overrun, with spokesperson Zaw Min Tun stating that its forces military were currently conducting clearance operations near the headquarters. The MNDAA’s sensational announcement came a day after its ally, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), reported that it had established control over Mogok, a ruby-mining center around 230 kilometers west of Lashio. The MNDAA and TNLA are members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which has been spearheading a multi-pronged offensive against junta positions across northern Shan State and parts of Mandalay Region. During its initial phase from October to January, the surprise offensive, known as Operation 1027 after the date of its commencement, saw the groups capture large swathes of territory in northern Shan State, including numerous towns and several important border crossings with China. The most significant of these was the MNDAA’s reconquest of the ethnic Chinese-dominated Kokang region, from which the military had expelled it in 2009.

From Richard Barrow Train Guide Looking for a train between Bangkok and Hua Hin? The most popular one is Special Express No. 43, which has air conditioning and only takes three hours. You can book this train up to 30 days in advance. Special Express No. 911 is a weekend excursion train. The ticket price is for a round trip. In theory, you can use this train just to go one-way to Hua Hin. You can book these tickets up to three months in advance. The next best train is Ordinary No. 255, which departs from Thonburi Station at 7:20am. Tickets are only 42 baht, but it takes 90 minutes longer than No. 43 and only has a fan and open windows. Like other local trains, you can only buy tickets at the station an hour before departure. If you want to leave from Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong), then Ordinary No. 261 is the one for you. This departs at 9:20 and arrives at 1:50pm. Back over at Thonburi, there is another slow train, No. 251, that departs at 1:10pm. If you don’t mind arriving in Hua Hin in the evening, you can try one of the sleeper trains. All of them, apart from No. 31, have 3rd Class carriages. But you can only buy tickets on the day, as you will be going less than 25% of the entire route.

From The Nation Historical park recognised as Thailand's 8th World Heritage site and 5th Cultural World Heritage site; it is also the 2nd World Heritage site in Udon Thani province At 11am on Saturday, Sudawan Wangsuphakitkosol, minister of culture, presided over a press conference at Isara Winitchai Throne Hall, Bangkok National Museum, announcing the inscription of Phu Phra Bat Historical Park as a Cultural World Heritage site. The event featured a live broadcast from the 46th regular session of the World Heritage Committee, held from July 21-31 in New Delhi, India. In the third agenda, UNESCO declared Phu Phra Bat Historical Park in Udon Thani Province a Cultural World Heritage site under the name “Phu Phra Bat: Witness to Sema Culture of the Dvaravati Period”. Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is Thailand's eighth World Heritage site and its fifth Cultural World Heritage site. It is also Udon Thani province's second World Heritage site, following the Ban Chiang Archeological Site, which was inscribed in 1992. According to the National Museum’s website, Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is located on a mountain called Phu Phra Bat in Ban Phue district, Udon Thani province. It is part of the Phu Phan mountain range, a sandstone range west of Udon Thani, with an average elevation of about 320-350 metres above sea level. The area is generally open forest, covered with natural hardwood species. Archeological surveys have revealed that Phu Phra Bat has been inhabited since prehistoric times, about 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, as evidenced by more than 54 sites on the mountain with ancient paintings. Additionally, natural rock shelters have been modified into religious sites by people from various cultures, including Dvaravati, Khmer, Lan Xang and Rattanakosin. These archeological traces illustrate the social development of humans in Northeast Thailand. Therefore, the Fine Arts Department requested the use of 3,430 rai of national forest reserve from the Department of Forestry. The area was officially registered as a historical site in the Royal Gazette, Volume 98, on April 28, 1981. Today, Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is under the management of the Eighth Regional Office of Fine Arts in Khon Kaen, Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture. The park oversees 78 registered historical sites. Its main missions include the preservation, conservation, and research of archeological sites and artefacts within and around the park. It also serves as a cultural-tourism and educational site for the public.

From Pattaya News On July 25th, 2024, at 1:00 PM, the Thai Patrol and Special Operation Division (PSD) and relevant agencies held a press conference to announce a major bust operation targeting illicit substances across 237 locations, resulting in the seizure of properties valued at over 23 million baht. According to the police, the operation targeted 237 locations within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters. As a result, officers dismantled 166 drug networks across 225 cases, seizing 530,000 amphetamine pills, 46 kilograms of methamphetamine, and other illicit substances. Additionally, they confiscated assets worth more than 23 million baht, including luxury cars and accessories. A notable achievement of the operation was the capture of a Chinese drug lord reportedly distributing illicit substances to the USA via a private delivery company. Further investigation led to the arrest of individuals involved in the drug network, including both Thai and Chinese nationals.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon An interview between the Bangkok Post and a deputy director general of the foreign affairs ministry has clarified some visa ambiguities but left others to immigration discretion. The actual recording is, according to the newspaper, available only by downloading the digital web player Spotify. Naruchai Ninnad, representing the ministry, emphasized that the new policies were designed to increase foreign tourism, in accordance with the prime minister’s desire to benefit the economy. Khun Naruchai clarified that tourists from 93 countries receiving the visa-exempt 60 days on entry could indeed extend for a further 30 days at local immigration. They could then, if they wished, leave the country and return the following (not the same) day to obtain a new 60 days and repeat the whole procedure. This has implications for the celebrated, single-day border runs which have traditionally operated through agencies in Bangkok and the provinces. If implemented fully, repeat if, these tourists would need to pay for a night’s accommodation in a foreign country, thus raising costs. The deputy director general emphasized the number of repeatable visa exempts will depend on individual immigration officers who have absolute discretion. Accordingly, it appears that tourists could still be challenged with the cry “you come to Thailand too often without a visa”. The interview also clarified that if visa-exempt tourists wanted to do ad hoc work – lasting fewer than 15 days – they needed to inform the immigration officer on entry or report to the employment ministry soon afterwards. Turning to the new Destination Visa Thailand, available only at foreign embassies or via the e-portal of the foreign affairs ministry, Khun Naruchai emphasized that the main target group were digital nomads and remote workers employed by overseas companies. But applications are also welcome from “activity” based tourists, assuming they have suitable documentary evidence such as enrolment for Thai boxing or cookery classes. Or even as hospital patients. Another surprising category is “music festivals” though precisely what evidence and updates would be required for any of the above remains blurry. These matters are presumably for the discretion of the immigration officer on entry throughout the multiple-entry five years validity of the DTV. Expats with one year extensions of stay based on marriage or retirement or the Elite visa are virtually ignored in the latest set of changes. It will probably be many months before the visa exempt and DTV ambiguities begin to clear up, so expats are probably safer to stick with what they have. Separately, any foreigner (with any visa or no visa at all) now residing in Thailand for 180 days or more in a calendar year is subject to taxation on “assessable” overseas income with many details yet to be unfolded. There is no elephant in the room. There are several.

I should have been more clear. I was referring to China's 9-dash line (or 19 dashes; it seems to keep expanding) in South China Sea.

15M Massage has been featuring a guy in recent posts that I find difficult to forget: "Harn". Not that it's particularly easy to forget any of them IMO. ======== Nearby Phetboy Spa has posted a link to videos on Tik Tok. https://www.tiktok.com/@phetboyspa?_t=8n6PAB7TEiA&_r=1 Its continually updated lists of masseurs is available at https://phetboyspa.blogspot.com/2024/02/phetboy-spa.html

NOTE -- On recent trip I was approached by a foreign male on Surawong Road (near Soi Thaniya), asking if I knew where he could find a hospital. After I directed him to nearby Bangkok Christian Hospital, he followed up and asked if I could change some money for him. I knew instinctively this was a scam attempt. If you're new to LOS, never agree to change money for a stranger. From Pattaya News Two Pakistani nationals were apprehended in Kamala after a series of thefts involving a clever 1,000 baht banknote trick. The suspects targeted businesses across Phuket, Pattaya, and other provinces. On Wednesday (July 24th) at 9:00 P.M., a foreign suspect entered a Kamala pharmacy posing as a customer. He engaged the pharmacist in conversation, using a 1,000 baht banknote to confuse them. The ruse involved pretending to buy small items, then claiming he didn’t want them, resulting in the pharmacist returning the banknote. The suspect would then change his mind and speak quickly, confusing the cashier, receiving both the items and the change, effectively leaving with the original 1,000 baht note. In the west, this sort of scam is called short changing, or a short change artist. The second suspect waited on a motorbike outside the pharmacy, ready to flee. This same tactic was employed at a mini mart in Kamala and three other businesses in Patong. In June, the duo executed similar scams in Pattaya, and earlier in March, they targeted shops in central Thailand, including Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, and Singburi according to Thai police. Authorities from multiple provinces had been pursuing the suspects until their arrest in Kamala on Thursday (July 25th). The thieves claimed they were intoxicated when committing the crimes and that they hadn’t meant to con anyone. Phuket Police have urged other businesses in the region to come forward if they fell victim to this scam. However, the names and ages of the arrested suspects remain undisclosed. Phuket police have also warned that these men may be part of a larger network and also could be involved in scams involving short changing tourists in areas like Phuket and Pattaya, confusing them by asking to help them exchange money and then short changing the victim instead.

Tits? Those qualify as boobs!

Yes, China is just trying to be helpful. As we speak it's trying to rearrange the South China Sea to relieve its neighbors of excess real estate. And its neighbors respond be being downright ungracious!

From New Zealand Herald Two bothers locked up in Thailand after a roadside struggle with a police officer are now safely back in New Zealand after spending nearly four months in prison. Hamish and Mattson Day, 36 and 38, were on holiday in Phuket when they were arrested in March and charged with robbery, obstruction of police duty, physical attack against a policeman, driving without a licence and bribery. Details of what happened are scarce although a video recording of the incident, which had been edited, was shared widely across social media. The footage showed Mattson Day grappling with a police officer on the side of the road, while Hamish Day can be seen proffering the officer’s firearm.

Fame at last.

Capitalism unleashed. You gotta love it.

Hope you did your share of the work.

And China paid for them and put Laos in deep debt as it has Cambodia. I think maybe Russia built some, too, with same objective. Can't trust either country. 🙂

A Transit Visa is needed unless exempt or transiting within the airport for less than 12 hours without leaving the transit area. Types of Thailand Transit Visas Thailand offers different categories of Transit Visas depending on the purpose of travel: Category “TS” Visa: For individuals transiting from Thailand to a third country. Category “S” Visa: For foreign sportspeople entering Thailand to participate in a sporting event. Category “C” Visa: For crew members of vehicles or vessels coming to a port, station, or area within Thailand. https://www.visaverge.com/guides/thailand-transit-visa-eligibility-requirements-application-process/

...and they'll be next to useless when China builds yet another one upstream.

From Thai PBS World Vareeraya Sukasem, a 12-year-old skateboarder, and 18-year-old sprinter Puripol Boonson will be the flag bearers for Thai athletes at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday. Thana Chaiprasit, chief of the Thai Olympic delegation to Paris, made the announcement today as the world’s finest athletes gather in France. As many as 51 Thai athletes will compete in the world’s largest sporting competition, from July 26 to August 11. Thirty-six of them are participating for the first time. Vareeraya, known by her nickname “ST,” is the first young Thai skateboarder to qualify for the Paris Olympics and is the youngest of all the athletes competing in this global event. She qualified for the Paris Games after an impressive performance in the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest in June. Starting skateboarding at the age of seven, ST has become one of 88 street skateboarders heading to Paris. Fans can cheer her on at the Paris 2024 Olympics, in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, on July 28. Skateboarding, divided into park and street events, made its Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, with skaters judged on the height and difficulty of their manoeuvres. Vareeraya told Agence France-Presse that her skating idol is Britain’s Sky Brown, who won a bronze medal at Tokyo at just 13 years old and will compete again in Paris. Brown will however be competing in the park event, which involves ramps and half-pipes. The Paris Olympics will also see the debut for Puripol, who has been nicknamed “Angel Bew” by the Thai media. The qualifying heats for the men’s 100m dash will take place on August 3, with the semi-final and final races scheduled for the following day. Puripol, a native of Surin province, won the 100m silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, clocking a personal best time of 10.06 seconds.

Four rehearsals for the Royal Barge Procession are scheduled this month, which also sees many other wonderful festivals and events including Summer Sonic Bangkok 2024. https://www.tatnews.org/2024/07/august-2024s-festivals-and-events-in-thailand/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=august-2024s-festivals-and-events-in-thailand

From The Nation The Royal Thai Navy said on Wednesday that His Majesty the King has granted permission for it to put three royal barges on public display this weekend at the Ratchaworadit Pier. The barges, Suphannahong, Narai Song Suban HM King Rama IX and Anantanakkharat, will be tied to pontoons in the Chao Phraya River at the pier. The display will be marked with a recital of the “boat song” in two 25-minute sessions per day. The boats will be on display on Sunday and Monday (July 28-29) at the pier in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district. On Sunday, the recital will be held at 3pm and 8.30pm, while on Monday, the song will be performed at 5pm and 8pm. This activity is part of celebrations marking His Majesty the King’s sixth-cycle (72nd) birthday on July 28. The public is invited to watch the performances as well as to check out an exhibition on royal barge processions at the Rajakij Winitchai Pavilion at the pier on the said dates. The barges can also be viewed from the Royal Thai Naval Institute, which is located on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River. Visitors are urged to wear yellow, the colour representing the King’s day of birth. Since early this month, the Navy has been taking royal barges out on trial runs to prepare for the Royal Krathin ceremony scheduled for October 27. On this day, His Majesty will present robes to Buddhist monks, which will also commemorate his 72nd birth anniversary. A total of 52 royal barges and 2,200 personnel will participate in the procession down the river towards Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn. The barges can also be viewed from the Royal Thai Naval Institute, which is located on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River. Visitors are urged to wear yellow, the colour representing the King’s day of birth. Since early this month, the Navy has been taking royal barges out on trial runs to prepare for the Royal Krathin ceremony scheduled for October 27. On this day, His Majesty will present robes to Buddhist monks, which will also commemorate his 72nd birth anniversary. A total of 52 royal barges and 2,200 personnel will participate in the procession down the river towards Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn.

From The Thaiger Indonesia has introduced a long-term visa scheme aimed at attracting rich, “good-quality” foreign investors, President Joko Widodo announced. The new Golden Visa offers a 10-year residency permit to those rich enough to invest up to US$10 million in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The scheme includes a five-year visa option, requiring an individual to set up a company worth US$2.5 million, while a 10-year visa needs a US$5 million investment. For those not establishing a company, a five-year permit can be obtained with a US$350,000 investment and a 10-year permit with US$700,000. These funds can be allocated towards Indonesian government bonds, public company stocks, or deposits. Corporate investors are also catered for under this scheme. An investment of US$25 million allows companies to secure five-year visas for directors and commissioners, while a US$50 million investment grants a 10-year visa. Incentives are further enhanced for investments in Indonesia’s new US$32 billion capital city, currently under construction in Borneo. Here, a US$5 million investment provides a five-year visa, and a US$10 million investment secures a 10-year visa, according to the immigration agency.

If a damn is constructed, Vietnam will lose much of its Mekong ecosystem.

FIFO 🙂

Thanks for bringing that up. Very possible. Last time I had that done was about five years ago when arriving in US airport. They did my hands and straps of my carry on bag. What puzzled me is that they swabbed the side of the tablet that was protected by the cover.