reader

Will Vinapu take the bait?

There are exceptions for dedicated fans and your preference is duly noted.

I was discussing the OP with PaulSF, who is as an experienced long-haul traveler and airline buff as you'll find here. He reminded me that during Covid when China required cargo pilots to quarantine for 14 days just like anyone else entering the PRC, crews ate and slept on board and never passed through immigration.

Are the bars struggling? I can say with certainty that weekends are very busy for Goodboy and Freshboy. One member posted recently that he barely got seated at FB. Mid-week is understandably slower off-season but still drawing crowds to keep operations in the black. In high season, even weekdays can be quite busy. As for lip-syncing LB's, there's only one bar (Hotmale) that comes to mind that doesn't include some in their acts. The other bars know that they're an attraction to most Asian customers and include at least a few in their performances.

The 9-Teen Massage consortium is able to expand its reach primarily because it has investors with deep pockets and a strategy of how and how it wants to position itself going forward. As we all know, size has its advantages beyond the obvious and 9-Teen is the only exclusively male shop model in Silom-Surawong area. Among the advantages are standardization in design, masseurs (only Thai masseurs) and ability to promote the band across multiple shops. They also get to easily move masseurs around their shops on Silom road, Soi 6 and Soi Tarntawan. If a customer doesn't indicate a preference, the job will go to the next guy in rotation. That's generally how all shops in the area operate. Olivia's has more shops but it operates more like the mixed Surawong shops of Green and Avarin where foot and leg massages represent a lot of the workload. I believe that the shop located adjacent to the old Tawan was known as Sun Massage. On the opposite side of Soi Tarntawan you would have found Indra Massage. Both have long since closed.

+1

From The Thaiger A 64 year old American dental professor from a renowned university tragically died after falling from a high-rise condominium in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, yesterday, March 24. Police suspect personal issues as a possible cause and are investigating further details. Police Sub-inspector Montri Khamkhao of Pathumwan Police Station received notification of the incident, which led him to the scene with Police Colonel Sirichat Janprom, Deputy Superintendent Phongwut Radasert, forensic officers, medical examiners from the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine, and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers. The incident occurred at a luxury residential building. The deceased was found on the ground below the building. Building staff revealed that the professor was spotted at a window on the 26th floor, attempting to jump and preventing others from approaching. Eventually, he fell, prompting them to contact emergency services and the police. https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/american-professor-dies-in-fall-from-bangkok-high-rise

From The Thaiger A retired Canadian man issued a warning to others after being a victim of vicious assault and theft by three cunning Thai women in Pattaya. The Canadian victim, Douglas, was led to a makeshift bar in Pattaya by the three Thai women where he was held captive and physically assaulted. On Monday, March 10, Douglas returned to Thailand after several months away. Staying near Rompho Market in Jomtien, the 64 year old decided to head out alone despite the jetlag fatigue. After visiting three bars close to each other, a ladyboy waitress confirmed that the women in her bar were freelancers, not regular employees. A lady, who had smiled at Douglas on a previous visit, invited him to join her at another bar. They left together while the other women headed in a different direction, revealed the Canadian. “They split up. There’s camera footage of them leaving and returning to the original bar. One lady I know a little was watching me from across the road.” They walked for quite a distance, away from the familiar bar area. Douglas began to feel uneasy but was reassured by the woman, who insisted that they were near the bar, which was supposedly located upstairs. “When we got to the second floor, it wasn’t a real bar. I told her I wanted to go home, but that’s when things started to go wrong.” Despite several attempts to leave, Douglas was physically assaulted by a man who had joined the women. He squeezed his face so tight that it gave him a black eye. Douglas later discovered around 15,000 baht was missing from his wallet. “I just wanted to go home but they had a motorbike waiting to take me back to one of the bars we were in earlier.” After reporting the incident to the police, the response was disappointing. “I was told there was little they could do.” Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/canadian-man-held-captive-in-pattaya-fake-bar-by-3-thai-women

From The Thaiger The British tourist who died in Bangkok following a violent altercation with two karaoke bar workers last Sunday, March 23, has been identified. The British man, 28 year old Nick Weir from Salisbury, Wiltshire, South West England, was found lying on a footpath near Soi Pracharat Sai 1, in the Bang Sue district of Bangkok. His body, wearing black shorts and a yellow polo shirt, was discovered with blood flowing from his nose. Police were called to the scene shortly after the altercation, but the man, who had no personal documents on him, was already unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead. According to reports, Weir had been acting erratically before the incident. He was seen running from Kiak Kai Intersection towards the 91karaoke bar, where he attempted to force his way inside, demanding beers. The bar workers, two Thai men aged 32 and 29, initially prevented him from entering due to his erratic behaviour. As the British man continued running, the bouncers followed him on a motorcycle, apparently intending to help. They parked at the scene of the incident and tried to communicate with him, even offering him a mobile phone with a translation application. However, things quickly escalated when Weir allegedly grabbed the phone and tried to flee. The workers retrieved the phone but Weir allegedly jumped onto the motorcycle in an attempt to escape, despite the keys remaining with the workers. The altercation that followed saw the workers pulling the Brit off the bike, leading to a violent scuffle. Police have said that the two men insist the confrontation was not violent enough to have caused Weir’s death. However, a witness and another bar worker suspected that the British tourist may have been under the influence of drugs, and they suggested that exhaustion from running could have contributed to the cause of death. CCTV footage later surfaced, showing the shocking moment the bouncers chased Weir on their motorcycle before confronting him and pinning him down. The footage, which has since been shared widely, shows the tourist screaming for help as the workers held him down for over 10 minutes. They eventually called for an ambulance when he became unconscious, but it was too late. https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/british-tourist-beaten-to-death-by-bar-workers-in-bangkok-identified

From The Thaiger In a groundbreaking move for children’s rights, Thailand has officially outlawed all forms of corporal punishment, including both physical and psychological discipline. The amendment to Section 1567 of the Civil and Commercial Code, announced in the Royal Gazette on Monday, March 24, marks a historic moment for the nation, making Thailand the 68th country worldwide to ban violent discipline in homes, schools, care facilities, juvenile centres, and daycare centres. UNICEF Thailand praised the new law, calling it a major milestone in the protection of children’s rights and the promotion of positive parenting. The amendment aligns with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), reaffirming the principle that a child’s best interests must be the top priority in all decisions affecting them. The new law comes after a 2022 survey by the National Statistical Office and UNICEF revealed that 54% of Thai children under 14 had experienced some form of physical or psychological punishment at home, a notable decrease from 75% in 2015. While UNICEF acknowledges this progress, the organisation stresses that no child should ever suffer violence and that further efforts are needed to eliminate it. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-bans-all-corporal-punishment-a-win-for-childrens-rights

From Bangkok Post The liquid petroleum gas tanker NP Bankpakong ran onto the rocks at Sangwan beach, near the larger Ta Waen beach, on Koh Lan in tambon Na Klua of Bang Lamung district. The waters there are known for their many natural coral reefs. A source on the inspection team said the vessel was not carrying any cargo. The tanker had left Bang Pakong in Chachoengsao province about 10pm on Monday, scheduled to load at Map Ta Phut port in Rayong province. The owner, SC Group Holding, said the ship ran aground about 2.25am on Tuesday. It issued a statement expressing its regret and saying it accepted full responsibility for the incident it acknowledged was caused by the negligence of on-duty crew members. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2987973/lpg-tanker-aground-on-koh-lan-beach-pattaya

From Pattaya Mail / NNT The government has issued a health alert following a surge in acute diarrhea cases linked to the country’s ongoing hot season. The warning, announced by Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Polpornklang, urges the public to take extra care with food and water hygiene as high temperatures increase the risk of contamination. Authorities are urging strict adherence to the “Cooked, Hot, Clean” principle to help reduce illness. Between January 1 and March 13, more than 129,000 cases of acute diarrhea have been reported, with two related deaths. The highest rates were recorded among children aged 0–4. Food poisoning cases have also climbed to nearly 38,000, with school-aged children between 5 and 9 years most affected. Warmer weather contributes to faster food spoilage, raising the likelihood of foodborne infections. Other seasonal illnesses are also being closely tracked. Influenza cases have reached over 211,000, with 23 deaths reported. The most common strain is Influenza A/H1N1, and outbreaks are concentrated in schools, especially among children aged 5–9. Pneumonia has resulted in more than 111,000 cases and 149 deaths, primarily affecting young children and older adults. Health officials advise consuming only thoroughly cooked meals, drinking boiled or sealed bottled water, and using FDA-certified ice with intact packaging. Regular hand-washing, mask-wearing in crowded spaces, and staying home while recovering from respiratory symptoms are also strongly recommended to limit the spread of infections. https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-issues-health-alert-as-acute-diarrhea-cases-surge-amid-hot-season-495279

All of them have tipable tips. But I use the opportunity to check out their balls which are not hiding behind condom. 😊

There no reason to plan a visit around an event that continually gets postponed.

I have no problem with the coins. It allows you tailor your tip to the service.

I fall into similar category: I tip all the guys in BC show (sometimes 10+) or all the dancers (6-8) in my favorite bars. The boys understandably come to expect that and I have no regrets about doing it because they deserve to be compensated for the enjoyment they bring me. But I have a budget and that limits the number of times I can visit those venues. Nevertheless, I'm comfortable with the fairness of that arrangement.

Have made 13 visits now to Phoenix without a miss.

Buffet's latest notable buys are five of Japan's largest trading houses. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/03/18/companies/berkshire-japan-trading-firms-stake/

Some karaoke bars have songs available in different languages on request, the Beer Garden and Skybar among them.

He would have been wrong about that. 🙂

Near Super A

I should have specified “in Bangkok”.

Three things come to mind. First, hunting for take away from host bars is not often reviewed here and I can’t off-hand recall a positive one. Second, more boys and mamasans read this board than we think. Third, you know what the ST rate at is from the bars. Anyplace else guys are free to swing for the long ball with crazy numbers.

From MSN / South China Morning Post In some poorer areas, stunting is even more prevalent. Experts say a lack of dietary diversity is a big part of the problem Laos is facing worsening child malnutrition, with experts warning that the country's economic challenges and underfunding for agriculture are contributing to the crisis, leaving thousands of children at risk of experiencing stunted growth and other serious health complications. At the 10th National Nutrition Forum in Vientiane, speakers from global agencies and academia said there was a need for comprehensive measures to tackle the crisis, as failure to do so would hurt the Laotian economy. "Adequate nutrition is essential for a child's growth, intelligence and future earnings," Alexander Kremer, the World Bank's country manager in Laos, said at the forum on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, Laos faces extremely high rates of childhood malnutrition." https://www.msn.com/en-xl/food-and-drink/general/in-laos-1-in-3-children-has-stunted-growth-despite-surplus-rice/ar-AA1BvAta

From Phnom Penh Posr Cambodia is set to mark a significant milestone in its aviation sector with the launch of Techo International Airport (TIA) in July 2025. Designed as both a major passenger gateway and a strategic cargo hub, the airport is poised to enhance the country’s connectivity and economic growth. Located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh in Kandal and Takeo provinces, the 2,600-hectare facility — developed through a $1.5 billion investment — aims to position Cambodia as a key logistics and aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Cambodia is set to mark a significant milestone in its aviation sector with the launch of Techo International Airport (TIA) in July Designed as both a major passenger gateway and a strategic cargo hub, the airport is poised to enhance the country’s connectivity and economic growth. Located about 20 kilometers south of Phnom Penh in Kandal and Takeo provinces, the 2,600-hectare facility — developed through a $1.5 billion investment — aims to position Cambodia as a key logistics and aviation hub in Southeast Asia. Continues with photos https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/techo-international-airport-cambodia-s-emerging-passenger-and-cargo-hub