hank75

His own? 
Early in the pandemic one enterprising lad asked for donations “in case I get Covid”. It wasn’t specific to me, it was a general beg to all his Line contacts but I couldn’t resist, I replied offering 200 baht for face masks to prevent catching Covid. No reply ever since. 

His own? 
Early in the pandemic one enterprising lad asked for donations “in case I get Covid”. It wasn’t specific to me, it was a general beg to all his Line contacts but I couldn’t resist, I replied offering 200 baht for face masks to prevent catching Covid. No reply ever since. 

His own? 
Early in the pandemic one enterprising lad asked for donations “in case I get Covid”. It wasn’t specific to me, it was a general beg to all his Line contacts but I couldn’t resist, I replied offering 200 baht for face masks to prevent catching Covid. No reply ever since. 

His own? 
Early in the pandemic one enterprising lad asked for donations “in case I get Covid”. It wasn’t specific to me, it was a general beg to all his Line contacts but I couldn’t resist, I replied offering 200 baht for face masks to prevent catching Covid. No reply ever since. 

Looks like the verdict will be out today. From The Pattaya News.
CCSA to meet with leading nightlife, entertainment, bar, Alcohol industry representatives and musicians on Sunday to discuss unlocking entertainment venues
Bangkok-
Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, stated this weekend that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has stated that he wishes to see all professions return to work and making an income.
This follows a public and increasing petition and pleading from musicians, the entertainment industry, The Tourism Authority, the Thai Alcoholic Beverage Industry and even members of Parliament to allow Thailand’s world famous nightlife and entertainment industry to begin to re-open and allow people to return to work.
The entertainment industry is essentially the only major exception to being closed currently as Thailand has relaxed restrictions on what they state is 95 percent of previous closure orders.
However, with the Thai Tourism Authority starting a renewed push for domestic tourism, having the entertainment and nightlife industry re-open is a substantial part, even without international flights allowed into the country with foreign tourists.
According to some industry estimates the domestic Thai entertainment industry, or bars and nightlife catering only for Thai’s, is as much as 80 to 90 percent of the overall entertainment industry. Additionally some parts of the country, like Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket rely on entertainment venues for the majority of their attractions and appeal.
As a result, a large meeting has been scheduled with all relevant parties and the CCSA tomorrow, Sunday June 21, 2020. This meeting is expected to directly address when and how entertainment venues can re-open.
It is important to note that there is no promise or firm date ahead of the meeting on when venues will reopen. However, with wheels in motion and Thailand expected to hit 28 days Monday without a single confirmed locally spread case of Covid-19 recorded, the date is likely in the near future.
 

Looks like the verdict will be out today. From The Pattaya News.
CCSA to meet with leading nightlife, entertainment, bar, Alcohol industry representatives and musicians on Sunday to discuss unlocking entertainment venues
Bangkok-
Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson of the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, stated this weekend that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has stated that he wishes to see all professions return to work and making an income.
This follows a public and increasing petition and pleading from musicians, the entertainment industry, The Tourism Authority, the Thai Alcoholic Beverage Industry and even members of Parliament to allow Thailand’s world famous nightlife and entertainment industry to begin to re-open and allow people to return to work.
The entertainment industry is essentially the only major exception to being closed currently as Thailand has relaxed restrictions on what they state is 95 percent of previous closure orders.
However, with the Thai Tourism Authority starting a renewed push for domestic tourism, having the entertainment and nightlife industry re-open is a substantial part, even without international flights allowed into the country with foreign tourists.
According to some industry estimates the domestic Thai entertainment industry, or bars and nightlife catering only for Thai’s, is as much as 80 to 90 percent of the overall entertainment industry. Additionally some parts of the country, like Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket rely on entertainment venues for the majority of their attractions and appeal.
As a result, a large meeting has been scheduled with all relevant parties and the CCSA tomorrow, Sunday June 21, 2020. This meeting is expected to directly address when and how entertainment venues can re-open.
It is important to note that there is no promise or firm date ahead of the meeting on when venues will reopen. However, with wheels in motion and Thailand expected to hit 28 days Monday without a single confirmed locally spread case of Covid-19 recorded, the date is likely in the near future.
 

As Thailand starts to reopen, a quick straw poll to see where members’ opinions lie about the recovery of go go bars. I am referring mainly to the Silom scene as Pattaya bars have already been besieged by other issues even pre pandemic, but opinions on Pattaya too are welcome. 
A couple of boys and bar staff I spoke to have suggested, based on current government policies, a mid June reopening of bars seems realistic. However most of you will also have read the latest news that international inbound flights are now banned until 1 July. No word yet if a lengthy quarantine will be imposed even after the ban is lifted. This means tourism will be impacted until at least end July or early August, the start of the rainy season and the usual low income period for bars. Should bars reopen in June, they will be dependent on expats and the rich foreign customers who weathered the lockdown in Bangkok for at least six to eight weeks if flights do not resume. 

Right now the bars are not paying salary to their staff, most of whom have returned to their hometowns. Based on social media posts they are all keen to get back to work, so diminished numbers should not be a problem. Those who have not left Bangkok are already active on apps and for private massages. Bar owners have incurred at least 2-3 months of rent (perhaps some are still repaying bank loans) with no income. Does it make sense to reopen bars despite lack of tourists, and take on salary and operation costs on top of rent? As we all know, bars only make income from cover, drinks, and off fees. 

There is another “Mr Eak” whom I have never seen before. Also a “Mr Party” whom I have seen many times before and is not interested in gay custom 

There is another “Mr Eak” whom I have never seen before. Also a “Mr Party” whom I have seen many times before and is not interested in gay custom 

And Mr Boom!
Jupiter FB also has a slideshow of Spai and the full performance of the drag queen and boys on chains. First time I can recall them uploading a performance as they don’t like putting the boys on social media. Must be desperate to get back to business. 
IMG_6459.MP4

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”

Well, a partial answer to my question.
https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/bangkok-closes-shopping-centres-and-markets-from-tomorrow

As the video is embedded I don’t know how to link to it directly, but click here for “Bangkok nightlife goes quiet” with very brief glimpses of some familiar spots.
https://www.straitstimes.com/videos

Rather, I think this has proven Anutin’s stupidity and lack of understanding of healthcare systems in other countries.
Pity the Thai students having to explain to overloaded NHS clinics they are not unwell, only requiring a fit-to-fly letter. 
https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/returning-thais-face-being-turned-away-if-they-cant-show-fit-to-fly-health-certificate

SECOND UPDATE:
The Vietnamese (all from Ha Tinh who worked in Thailand) remain stranded in the rain at border crossing. No food in eight hours. A bus arrived to take some across but driver refused to allow them to board. He reportedly wanted assurance that his bus would be cleaned afterwards. Unsatisfied, he drove away.

Yes. No quarantine required if health declared fit by doctor.

I like to take a more optimistic point of view. If the closures are really only two weeks, the boys on enforced holiday will likely be out of cash by then and only too happy to return to work.
However if longer than two weeks, many of them will have severe income difficulties. Some may return to work on the family farm but the economy is contracting everywhere. Finding alternative jobs on short notice especially when they have zero other skills will be close to impossible. They will weather the storm somehow but when bars reopen in a month or several months (some leeway expected of course for situation to stabilise and not immediately the day after opening) they will flock back in droves searching for customers, desperate to get back to their former easy lifestyles. And likely they will have friends in non-bar jobs who now find themselves jobless and come with them. 
We may well be spoiled for choice after this is all over. 

Right now some Chinese and Asian regulars are still landing in Bangkok to visit the bars or making external bookings, rather irresponsibly IMO as they may pass the virus on. 

Correct.
Again - no word on how it will apply to restaurants or places like Telephone Bar Restaurant.  Probably will shut?
No word on whether it applies to hotel bars.
Some bars/venues are shutting early (tonight the 17th).  Fake Club.  Stranger Bar.
 

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”

I have had to travel extensively for work even during the virus escalation. While I had the same thoughts as you (relatively “young”...well at least not close to retirement! healthy etc..) with good hygiene I thought I would be fairly relaxed about it all. Let me tell you. Long haul travel is zero fun. Other people’s paranoia and tension starts to rub off especially in airports and places with crowds. 
 
I don’t doubt you could have a good time in Bangkok proper especially if you picked the right hotels and activities, but the actual commute through flights and airports is a complete pain in the a**. My friend just returned from Bangkok, he had an average time but said he felt leery everytime he got into a taxi because a number of known cases were via passenger-driver transmissions and he doubted the drivers were properly sanitizing their vehicles. Tuk tuk suddenly felt like a very attractive option. The situation changed significantly once the first death was recorded, far more panic, so it depends also if another death occurs or things remain stable.
On SK2020, this is a tremendous financial loss for the organisers. I heard they are very appreciative if ticket holders opt for SK2021 instead of refunds as this helps to keep the event going for next year. 

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”

Moonlight’s latest “Bat”
I hope he doesn’t cost too many “bat”