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Doesn’t mean you can’t try 🙂

Five minutes you’ll not soon forget 👌

From UNESCO UNESCO and partners’ ongoing project ‘Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN’—it has already convened three dynamic seminars benefitting thousands of tourism professionals since its launch in September 2023 — is pleased to announce its upcoming, fourth installment in its South-East Asia seminar series, ‘Pattaya & Sustainable Festival and Event Tourism: Exploring Strategies for Growth and Development’. The hybrid seminar, to be held 10 April 2024, will focus on Thailand’s coastal city of Pattaya as a special case study for the potential to be had in fostering dynamic networks of tourism businesses in the ASEAN sub-region. Following keynote presentations, a panel discussion will explore the cultural significance of Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the role of hotels in driving sustainable festival and event tourism; and standards and efforts of various organisations in supporting sustainable events and festivals. Panelists include: Dr Chumpol Musiganont, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration-DASTA (Public Organization) Mr Jongrak Rojpalasatean, Director of the Management System Certification Institute (MASCI) Ms Urai Mukpradabthong, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Office in Pattaya Ms Alisa Phanthusak Kunpalin, Managing Director of Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Webinar Details Date: Wednesday, 10 April 2024 Time: 13.20–15.50, Bangkok time (GMT+7) Location: Amari Pattaya Hotel For on-site participation, please pre-register at: https://bit.ly/SongkranICH For online participation, please pre-register at: UNESCO’s Zoom

From The Thaiger Egyptian man damages Phuket taxi in violent outburst An Egyptian traveller was taken into protective custody at a hospital following a violent outburst which caused significant damage to a taxi in Bang Tao, Phuket, yesterday. The taxi driver, 53 year old Suriya Plodmai reported to the police that he had picked up the 31 year old Egyptian national, Basem Aly Ismail, from the Patong area and was ferrying him to Bang Tao, with the fare agreed at 450 baht. Upon reaching the destination, Ismail borrowed Suriya’s mobile phone to make a call to a friend. However, after using the phone, he refused to return it to the driver. In a sudden fit of anger, the Egyptian smashed the borrowed phone onto another phone that the taxi driver was holding, resulting in both devices, a Xiaomi 12 and a Samsung A54, being damaged. The rage did not end there. Ismail then used an iron rod to vandalise the taxi cab. The damage included a shattered windshield, broken windows, and a damaged rear windshield, with additional damage to surrounding areas of the vehicle. Emergency services from Cherng Talay Municipality arrived at the scene and took the Egyptian, who was still in an agitated state, to Thalang Hospital. Later, he was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, reported Phuket News.

From Thai PBS World The 42nd annual Thailand Tourism 2024, curated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), promises to enchant with diverse activities across nine captivating zones. From March 28 to April 1, the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center will transform into a hub of excitement and celebration, drawing travel enthusiasts and fans of all things Thai into the vibrant world of tourism promotion, a culture showcase, and a crafts and food extravaganza. Visitors are encouraged to use the MRT underground to the QSNCC Station or taxi or Bus No. 136 to participate in the Thailand Tourism Festival 2024, from 28 March to 1 April, from 10-00-21.00 Hrs. Entrance is free.

You live a charmed life, Tom. Now have better appreciation of your interest in this topic and why you posted about it.

Putin is unusually reserved because he dismissed warnings from US that attack was imminent, including specific mention of a concert venue. In other words he is embarrassed that he didn't act. Not unlike Netanyahu who failed to take seriously US warning of Oct. 6 attacks by Hamas.

Give it a rest, Caustic. 7-Eleven not about to run out of cheap booze.

From The Independent An image of children dancing on the side of the road as shared by the Cambodian PM --------------- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is fed up with street dancing. The politician this week ordered a ban on musical horns, after videos posted on social media showed people dancing on roads and roadsides as passing trucks blasted rhythmic little tunes. Hun Manet, who last year took over the wheel of government from his father, Hun Sen, called on the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and police across the country to immediately take action against any vehicle whose normal horn has been replaced by a tune-playing one by ripping it out and restoring the standard honking type. He said the measure has already been implemented by provincial authorities, but he wanted to announce it publicly to make sure it was enforced nationwide. He commented on his Facebook page on Monday that recent social media posts had shown “inappropriate activity committed by some people, especially youth and children, dancing on the roadside to the musical sounds from trucks’ horns.”

From Pattaya Mail The Thai government has made it a priority to tackle the notable rise in criminal activities by foreigners, which has negatively impacted the nation’s tourism reputation. In response, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed the Royal Thai Police (RTP) to devise strategies and enforce measures to surveil and apprehend foreign lawbreakers. The RTP recently convened meetings to strategize and execute initiatives against foreign offenders, with a focus on the Phuket Provincial Police Region. Since October 1st, 2023, police efforts have led to 614 arrests for a variety of crimes, including illegal employment and offenses related to sex. Addressing crimes committed by foreigners is of paramount importance to the Royal Thai Police, with significant cases being referred to the Immigration Bureau for potential visa cancellation. Furthermore, comprehensive operations have been launched to eradicate such criminal activities, aiming to refurbish the tourism sector’s image and bolster the security perception among visitors. (NNT)

On every trip I find more and more 7-Eleven shop assistants I'd like to report to. 😍

Buffets usually inspire customers to over indulge. Love the concept of extending it to world of massage. Nothing succeeds like excess. 😊

Although the owner of New Twlight and its likewise failed successor never could find the right combination to make a go of it, there's no denying it had some of the best components for a great venue: lighting, stage open on three sides, comfortable seating, high-end sound system. In the hands of the right promoter, the Tawan concept could retained but redefined in a way that has wider appeal. I know I was in the minority at the time but I didn't believe location was huge drawback. SOL bar had a primo location on PP2 and ultimately failed because it didn't get the concept right and has since evolved into a hybrid operation.

One Spa is now offering four long stay (12-24 hours) rooms for rent. The prices range from 300 to 500 for 12 hours and 600 to 1,000 for 24 hours. Rooms located on fourth, fifth and sixth floors.

In India perhaps during the British Raj but never heard the term applied in Thailand.

There is no need to thank me. But since you asked a lot of questions and got a lot of answers, perhaps you could share some of your own experiences in appreciation. 🙂

Certainly the case in this article. Reporter accepts statements without any critical analysis or knowledge of project's history. Recent news articles about Thai public education system have all identified "lack of critical thinking" as one of its failures.

If Biden has dementia, what's your excuse?

From The Nation After 14 years in operation, Bangkok’s Airport Rail Link that connects Suvarnabhumi Airport with downtown Bangkok, will soon undergo a major maintenance, the Department of Rail Transport has announced. Skipping this important step could jeopardise the safety of commuters, the department’s director-general Pichet Kunadhamraks said on Thursday (March 21) He said that following a recent inspection, the current operator Asia Era One hired experienced companies, including Siemens Mobility, to monitor and maintain the rail’s electrical and signaling systems on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. All trains are inspected by officials before running every day, he added. Asia Era One is a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, Thailand’s largest conglomerate. Operating the Airport Rail Link is part of the deal to which CP agreed after winning the 276.5-billion-baht contract to build and operate high-speed rail lines linking the three airports of Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao. Pichet added that the Airport Rail Link, which began operations in 2010, had undergone a major overhaul in 2018 after hitting the 2.4 million-kilometre mark while it was still under the administration of State Railway of Thailand (SRT). “Another major overhaul is due soon as the route has expanded to cover a greater distance since 2018,” he said. “Without this overhaul, the train system could experience more frequent malfunctions that affect passenger safety or cause more delays in schedules.” The system could also suffer from having insufficient functioning trains to serve the increasing number of passengers in the future, he added. In 2021, CP Group announced that it had earmarked 2 billion baht to improve Airport Rail Link’s services and various systems, including braking, electricity, air conditioning, lighting and radio communication. It also vowed to add one more carriage to the express line, which has 3 carriages per train, to increase passenger capacity to 800 per day.

From Pattaya News The Tourist Police Bureau has collaborated with CP All Public Company Limited to establish incident reporting points for tourists in 7-ELEVEN convenience stores, initially piloting in 20 major tourist destinations nationwide. The initiative aims to enhance convenience and ensure the safety of tourists, following the government’s reopening to foreign tourists and efforts to promote the country’s tourism image. The project began with training volunteers from the Strong Tourism Community, as well as security guards and employees of 7-ELEVEN stores, to assist tourists effectively. Participating 7-ELEVEN branches will have designated reporting points and trained staff ready to provide information and coordinate with the Tourist Police. 7-ELEVEN stores are easily accessible and open 24 hours, making them ideal locations for incident reporting points to aid tourists promptly. This project represents a collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and communities to enhance safety and foster a positive image of Thailand in tourism.

Hopefully you will. 🙂

Yes, 28 days is the minimum stay in Bangkok province.

NOTE -- "Live and let live" is another reason why Thailand is a haven for gay men from around the world that keeps us coming back. From Thai PBS World Sereechai Sukmak is a senior sergeant major in the tourist police force in Nakhon Ratchasima province. For Thai TikTokers, however, he is ‘Phi Serg Nicky’, who has 132,400 followers. What makes him stand out from his colleagues is that he is openly gay, dresses as a female and attends parties as a drag queen when not on duty. His bosses have no problem with how he lives his life. Many times, Sereechai has represented his office in beauty contests or on sports days, as a cheerleader. He says that his family supports him in every way and has no problem with him being a member of the LGBT+ community. “I became a police officer because my father wanted me to join either the army or the police. My mother is happy when I become a lady,” says Sereechai, adding that his sister is also gay, so he told his father that he would become a daughter for him, making him smile. What is important for him is that his father recognises his abilities and as a person. “He said his only wish is that I do good,” Sereechai said. He is happy that Thai society is accepting of the gay community, unlike about 20 years ago. “When I was a new police officer, some of my colleagues did not accept my being homosexual. They said police had to look strong. They told me that they felt ashamed going out with me,” he said. Now, however, his life choices are accepted more widely, partly because he honours the uniform by acting appropriately when wearing it. Proudly, he said that, in February, he joined a Chinese New Year festival in Nakhon Sawan province as a cheerleader, carrying a ‘wan’ before a parade, adding “I volunteered to join the parade after learning that the organisers could not find any volunteer beauty queens and that hiring one would cost a lot.” “Many people asked to take photos with me, saying I was beautiful,” he said, adding that they were surprised to learn that I am a man. “My TikTok account receives some negative comments, but I ignore them because I am a positive-thinking person. Many times, my followers defend me,” he said. Talking about his TikTok account, the sergeant said that he posts video clips and photos of his work as a police officer and his off duty time as a woman. “Seeing my video clips and photos, I hope that the viewers will love the police and gay people more,” he said.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon To the delight of British tourists and expats, the UK pound touched 46 on the early morning of Thursday March 21. This translates to a tourist rate of slightly above 45 and a half baht in most Thai currency exchange shops. The pound’s improvement – it is now at its highest level against the baht for several years – is mostly attributed to the weakness of the Thai economy according to financial commentators. Kasikorn Research Center points to sluggish exports, public investment and domestic consumption. Revenue from international tourism still lags behind pre-covid levels. The public disagreement between the Thai premier and the Bank of Thailand about whether to reduce interest rates is a further worry to financial markets. The central bank authorities are concerned about the effects on inflation if interest rates are reduced to improve domestic consumption. The British economy, meanwhile, is viewed as broadly neutral present. The March 2024 budget contained no surprises, whilst the cut in national insurance contributions and the freezing of duty on alcohol and fuel had been anticipated by international markets. Kasikorn also points out that the Thai currency is falling against the US dollar as the Federal Reserve declines to reduce borrowing rates for the time being.

From Bloomberg News A son of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has secured a government-issued identification card and a Thai passport, and now intends to move back to the Southeast Asian country after living abroad for nearly three decades, according to the Bangkok Post. Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse used the new passport for his third visit to the country in seven months, the Post reported Thursday. Vacharaesorn told the newspaper in an interview that his trips were personal and that he had no particular agenda.