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From Miami Herald The long-planned sporting and cultural event known as the World OutGames, a 10-day LGBTQ-themed meeting advertised as a spectacular gathering of athletes from around the world, unraveled Friday about 24 hours before the opening ceremonies. Most of the sports events, along with opening and closing ceremonies, were canceled at the very last minute amid a flurry of financial woes and possible impropriety. By Friday night, Miami Beach Police and the State Attorney’s Office announced they were opening a fraud investigation “due to the potential misappropriation of funds.” Financial documents submitted by OutGames to Miami Beach City Hall in March show discrepancies that caused alarm in the Beach’s administration. The documents show the OutGames maintained a low cash balance despite a slew of fundraising commitments. The numbers still don’t add up, which led to the investigation. Earlier Friday, organizers cited financial when they announced the cancellation in a short message to participants from the event’s board of directors Friday. “It is with deep regret that due to financial burdens, World OutGames must cancel its sports programming and Opening and Closing Ceremony with the exception of soccer, aquatics and country western dance,” reads the statement. “The Human Rights Conference and cultural programs will continue as planned. We thank everyone who has supported the effort and apologize to those who will be impacted by this difficult decision.” Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article152835799.html#storylink=cpy http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article152835799.html

GWMinUS, thanks for telling us about your adventures in the Philippines. It's sad to see what is now happening in Mindanao that seems to echo what's been occurring in Thailand's south. If these movements succeed, we can expect more prosecution based on sexual orientation as we've witnessed in Indonesia and Chechnya.

From South China Morning Post Heeseon Xu and Jesson Liu have a dream – that one day they will own property in Thailand. The southeast Asian nation has made its name globally among investors and those seeking a second home thanks to its spicy food, ancient temples and tropical islands, but what attracts Xu and Liu is something else. Acceptance. The couple from Chongqing ( 重慶 ), southwest China, are gay. Isolated in their hometown, they have become frequent visitors to the Land of Smiles, where they can show their attachment in public, hang out with friends and enjoy a beer at gay-friendly bars. “We are saving money to buy a flat,” said Liu, a 42-year-old English teacher. “Ideally, it would be a one-bedroom apartment and we hope to settle down in Pattaya.” Members of China’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community seeking overseas property are contributing to Beijing’s headache as it tries to shore up its economy and stem the amount of money leaving its shores. And, like the many middle-class Chinese investing abroad due to fears over the weakening of the yuan, many LGBT property buyers find themselves drawn to a land where property is relatively cheap – Thailand. “Right now, about one-third of my clients are gay people from mainland China,” said Yin Jie, a real estate agent in Bangkok. Yin said many Chinese gays – already frequent travellers to Thailand – were seeking a vacation home, while others were preparing for their retirement. “This is an emerging trend among Chinese gay communities,” said Xin Ying, director of the civil group Beijing LGBT Centre, whose friends have bought property in Thailand. While Thai society might be less accepting of its own LGBT communities, the country tends to welcome gay foreigners who give its economy a boost. Bangkok in particular is seen as a gay-friendly tourist destination and the Songkran Festival – the Thai New Year festival in which people soak each other with water – is a highlight on the gay calendar . http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2095807/eat-play-love-why-chinas-gays-see-thailand-land-smiles-and-second

From Bangkok Post Several Bangkok streets have been paralysed after a downpour that soaked 80% of the capital and nearby provinces shortly before noon on Saturday. Pathumwan district saw the most rainfall with 72mm as of 1.55pm. As of 4.30pm, floods had been reported in 37 locations, with water levels ranging between 5 and 20cm, according to City Hall data. Earlier reports showed particularly high water levels of 15-20cm at 11 locations. They were: Suan Phlu Road in front of the Suan Phlu market for a distance of 200 metres Pracha Songkroh Road at Ong Phra-Soi 24 intersection (all) Ngam Wong Wan Road near the Pong Phet market (300m) and neat Soi Shinnaket (300m) Ratchadaphisek Road near the former Robinson store (300m), Phahon Yothin Road from Soi 9 to Saphan Kwai (all) Si Ayutthaya Road at the Royal Plaza (200m) Pradiphat Road at the Saphan Kwai intersection (200m) Nikhom Makkasan Road at Ratchaprarob intersection (100m) Ratchaprarob Road at Din Daeng-Si Ayutthaya intersection (500m) and from the railway to Pratunam (all) Rama IV Road between Soi 26-38 (entire area) http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1257511/bangkok-drenched-again Photos on tons of waste blocking Bangkok drainage system from Khaosod English http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2017/05/26/furniture-tonnes-waste-blocking-bangkok-drainage-photos/ See Christian's excellent photo essay "Bangkok is sinking" https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/05/bangkok-is-sinking.html

Your yarn may lack originality but I'm heartened that your abs have blossomed into a "six pack."

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The Gay and Lesbian Film Festival canceled its third edition scheduled for next month in part due to a censor review process that is increasingly unwieldy and disadvantages independent organizers. When organizers of the Bangkok Gay and Lesbian Film Festival announced Wednesday they were calling it off this year, they cited issues with sponsorship and an increasingly complicated review process. “The main reason for canceling this year’s fest is financial problems,” said Thawatchai Deepattana, editor of the Thai edition of Attitude magazine, main organizer of the fest. “And part of it is the complication in submitting movies for the authorities’ approval.” The confusing bureaucratic requirements for showing films has raised questions about the fairness of a process that seems to benefit state-sanctioned events while putting up barriers for private organizers. Thawatchai said the decision to cancel their LGBT-themed festival had nothing to do with its content – the films had yet to be selected – but rather the timing. It would have been the first such festival to undergo a new process for getting government approval for its films. According to the Film and Video Act of 2008, all films in Thailand must be screened for approval with some exceptions such as those produced by government agencies and those showing at certain film festivals. Films can be withheld from showing on grounds of morality, politics, objections from another nation or other sensitivities. The Gay and Lesbian Festival is organized by Thailand’s Attitude Magazine, but because it shows films from around the world, it is considered a foreign film festival. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2017/05/26/citing-govt-review-process-organizers-cancel-lgbt-film-fest/

I've learned that an old guy with a beer has a hell of a lot more fun in BKK than an old guy worried about his abs--that no one's interested in seeing anyway. But the date's still on, right?

OK, it's a date. You'll be the guy still working on your abs. I'll be the guy with the beer.

From the Nation BMA officials admit they cannot cope with heavy rains as experts blame infrastructure and lack of preparedness. BANGKOK WILL continue to experience flooding after heavy rains unless water-drainage problems including roads and canals are solved, water-management experts have said. Heavy rain was to blame for yesterday’s floods in 25 areas around Bangkok after up to 170 millimetres of rain fell on the capital on Wednesday night, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) stated. Bangkok faced the prospect of more flooding as the Meteorological Department predicted more heavy rains last night and this morning. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30316334

From Bangkok Post All mobile users must participate in the online fingerprint ID system for new prepaid and postpaid mobile SIM card registration, or they will not be allowed to use mobile service. The automated fingerprint registration system, implemented by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), is set to start from Jan 1, 2018, said secretary-general Takorn Tantasith. The regulator unveiled the first fingerprint ID machine to the media Thursday, with a plan to launch the first batch of 30 machines on May 31. Through a fingerprint enrolment process, mobile operators will scan each person's fingerprints, which will stored on the national ID card database and the NBTC's secure database. Those who failed to comply with the rule face a mobile signal cut-off. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1256574/fingerprinting-for-sims-made-mandatory

This may be the place that Christian review in '14. https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/02/thai-best-massage-silom-soi-8.html

Well, Dr. Stevie, I defer to your superior judgement on how you manage to deal with your "big fluffy hairy tummy" (forgive me if I avoid forming a visual image...just had lunch).

I agree, Hutch. Hairy, flabby tummy (or as Stevie puts it, "weak and fluffy") can be very gross indeed. That's why I prefer massage shops where you can avoid such experiences. But if hairy, older guys are your thing, feel free to pursue them with abandon. Frankly, I don't think many guys fly 10-20+ hours to spend their time that way. If you do, however, nothing at all wrong with that. Whatever floats your boat.

I'll take you at your word about that. You could always tell when one of the old gents was grabbing you. There was the hairy, flabby tummy and the odor of neglected dental hygiene. I agree that the young Thai guys were "harder" but I never viewed that as a negative. But if you think there are still some young Thai guys in the dark areas, I'd get myself in there ASAP. They're an endangered species at Babs and we're not getting any younger. It's the same reason so many visit the Galapagos: experience them while you still can.

Don't think you have anything to worry about on that count. All the other older gents are perfect gentlemen like yourself, I'm sure. Otherwise, you seem to have settled into a comfortable routine, and I agree that keeping the birth certificate private is a good idea on your part.

Then you're obviously not paying attention or spending too much of your time in the dark of the Garden of Earthly Delights. But it seems to have done so in your case, Stevie.

From Thai PBS Foreign criminal gangs are now using Pattaya as haven for their online crimes to cheat their country men, or for online gambling, according to the Chonburi Transnational Crime Coordination Centre. Pol Lt-Col Chiddecha Songhong, an officer attached to the centre, said Pattaya has become a haven for transnational criminals for illegal online activities. They came either as tourists or students and looked for commercial buildings to use as their offices for online crimes. They had turned from renting big houses in housing estates to renting offices in big commercial buildings to avoid attention from residents in the communities, and from government authorities, he said. The change of office location in housing estates was found out after Pattaya police recently busted a Chinese call centre gang and arrested 13 Chinese suspects, including the gang leader identified as Ming Chou Lee. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pattaya-becoming-haven-online-crimes/

From Coconuts - Jakarta While last year’s LGBT panic in Indonesia has largely died down, LGBT individuals still face serious discrimination here in all facets of their lives. The most recent example of institutionalized homophobia in Indonesia comes from a university that has made it their official policy to refuse any and all LGBT students. Last week, Universitas Andalas (Unand) in Padang, West Sumatra, stirred controversy after several people noticed that the Unand website told applicants to the school that they had to sign a letter declaring that they were not a part of the LGBT community. The requirement soon went viral, after which Unand took it down from their website. But it appears that they didn’t remove the no-LGBT requirement out of shame. Asked by the media, Unand’s chancellor Tafdil Husni made it very clear that his university has an official policy of discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. https://coconuts.co/jakarta/lifestyle/indonesian-university-refuses-accept-lgbt-students-citing-protection-rights/

When Babylon was in its heyday, I stayed there a few times. As its popularity among locals slipped, so did the quality of services and maintenance. There are far better options for the money in much more convenient locations in Silom and Suriwong area.

The following article from the UK's Telegraph drove home, for me at least, the message that although the incident took place in Indonesia, it's truly an attack our sense of freedom. Like many here I've visited saunas in KL and other southeast Asian cities besides Bangkok. I never actually worried about getting caught up in a raid. But there's at least one westerner (according to the story) who was caught up in this one. We frequently lament how much things have changed since our first trip. But I've never approached my arrivals into Don Mueang or Swampy with anything other than great anticipation. Soi Twilight may be less of a draw and Sunee Plaza may pale in comparison to what it once was, but I'll take Thailand any day and twice on Sundays. From the Telegraph A British national is among 141 men detained by Indonesian police in a raid on a gay sauna in the capital, Jakarta. The men were detained for questioning after police raided what they claimed was a gay sex party promoted as “The Wild One” on Sunday night. Rights activists say it is the latest sign of growing hostility towards homosexuality in the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Lawyers now claim they have been denied access to the men, leading to fears that the police will try to force confessions to be later used against them. Teams of lawyers had descended on the North Jakarta police precinct where the men are being held to offer legal assistance, but to no avail, Ricky Gunawan from the Community Legal Aid Institute told The Telegraph. “It’s been quite difficult to get access in terms of information as well as to get their permission to sign power of attorney…to ensure that their rights are respected in this legal process,” he said. Mr Gunawan claimed this was a common tactic used by Indonesian police immediately after arrest. “Usually this is the time where the people arrested will confess and then the police will use their confessions because there is no lawyer present,” he said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/22/indonesia-police-arrests-dozens-raid-jakarta-gay-sauna/

From Pattayaone and Thai Visa Figures revealed by the British government show a huge drop of visitors to Thailand in recent years but a massive rise in arrests especially for drugs. Also when taken as a percentage far more British people are dying in Thailand and being hospitalized than compared to just three or four years ago. While the figures worldwide show less overall problems for British embassies and consulates around the world the situation in Thailand is worse. From a high of 906,000 visitors in 2013/14 there were only 432,000 British visitors to Thailand in 2015/16. Yet despite this more than 50% drop in visitors drug arrests soared from 29 to 46 – a massive percentage rise of more than 60%. Total arrests and detentions of Britons in Thailand was also up a quarter last year compared to 2013/14. Article continues with charts http://pattayaone.news/en/brits-behaving-badly/

Photo from NY Times From CNN (CNN)A raid by police on a gym and sauna in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sunday evening is being seen by some as the latest evidence of a crackdown on the rights of the country's LGBT population. Police detained 141 men as part of the raid on the establishment in North Jakarta, said Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Argo Yuwono, the head of public relations for the Jakarta Police Department. Ten people have been charged with violating Indonesia's pornography laws, with police pointing to evidence including condoms, CCTV recordings and mattresses. The rest remain detained and are under investigation, though not officially charged, Argo said. The sauna was allegedly holding a sex party, promoted as "The Wild One," for which guests were charged 185,000 Indonesian rupees (US$14) to attend, Argo said. "We are still ... examining the perpetrators one by one, this takes time," Argo told CNN Indonesia Monday. The raid is just the latest in a series of anti-LGBT actions by Indonesian authorities, which Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono told CNN was having a chilling effect on the community. Article continues with video http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/asia/jakarta-sex-party-lgbt/

Photo and excerpts from BBC Two men have been caned in the Indonesian province of Aceh after being caught having sex. The men stood on stage in white gowns praying while a team of hooded men lashed their backs with a cane. The men were sentenced to 85 strokes but the number was reduced by two because they had spent two months in detention. Article continues with video and photos http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39996224

Excerpts from Bangkok Post Authorities say a bomb at a hospital in Bangkok has wounded 21 people. The blast went off at 10am on Monday in the dispensary's waiting room for commissioned officers at Phra Mongkutklao Hospital, an army-run facility which also treats civilians, on Ratchawithi Road in Bangkok, according to Thai media. Lt Gen Saroj Keokajee, commander of the Army Medical Department which supervises the hospital, said in the evening 21 people were wounded. Thirteen of them have already been discharged while the remaining eight are still being monitored at the hospital. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said it was too early to tell whether the bombing was linked to the third anniversary of the coup and the National Council for Peace and Order. Thai media reported at 4pm OED officials had found traces of gunpowder in a PVC pipe, which had been hidden in a vase. They also found many nails, supposedly used as shrapnel. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1254259/police-bomb-at-hospital-wounds-more-than-20

From Bangkok Post Three quarters of Thai universities are at risk of closing over the next decade due to low enrolment and increased competition from foreign rivals, an education expert has warned. Arnond Sakworawich, a lecturer in actuarial sciences and risk management at the Graduate School of Applied Statistics of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said he is worried the government's idea to allow institutes of higher education from overseas to create satellite campuses in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along Thailand's borders would put many Thai universities in danger of shutting down. Mr Arnond said Thailand's higher education market has been shrinking for many years due to a demographic transition from high to low levels of fertility. "There are just 600,000-700,000 babies born in Thailand per year on average now, compared to 1,000,000 per year from 30 years ago. The National Economic and Social Development Board also expects the number the number of Thais in the school-age group (0-21 years) will fall to 20% of the population in 2040, a sharp drop from 62% in 1980," he said. During last year's admission, the universities had vacancies for up to 150,000 prospective students to study various subjects, but only 80,000 applied for the entrance test, he added. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1253922/three-quarters-of-universities-at-risk-of-closure