TMax

Latest from Richard Barrow, from the latest CCSA meeting. 1. Overview: Global situation and relaxation of measures - Thailand ranks 24th globally for number of new infections, and is on a general downward trend. Fatalities are still concentrated in the elderly and 608 groups and hospital occupancy rates remain low. - The number of new cases is expected to continue to decline and additional relaxed measures approved at the Meeting chaired by the PM today, will take effect on 1 June 2022. - As COVID-19 is now entering its endemic phase in Thailand, The Ministry of Public Health has issued a new set of recommendations on public health measures for “high-risk contacts” to self-monitor for 10 days without having to quarantine. - It should be noted however, that the endemic designation does not mean the disease is no longer dangerous. Top priority remains the healthcare system's capacity to handle emergency situations. - The General CCSA meeting also approved the reopening of nightclubs, bars and karaoke venues and extended the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations for another two months from 1 June to 31 July. 2. Adjustments on provincial zoning - The number of provinces designated “yellow” or “High Surveillance” zones will be reduced from 65 to 46. - The number of provinces designated “green” or “Surveillance” zones will increase to 14. - The number of provinces designated “blue” or “Pilot Tourism” zones will increase from 12 to 17. 3. Adjusted Entry Requirements/Thailand Pass - Starting 1 June 2022, foreigners planning to travel to Thailand will have to provide: 1) COVID-19 vaccination certificates or COVID-19 test results (for unvaccinated persons); 2) a minimum of 10,000 USD travel insurance covering COVID-19 medical expenses; and 3) a copy of a valid passport. - After registering the above on Thailand Pass, the QR code will be auto-generated immediately, which is intended to save time and the worry of waiting for approval. Airlines will then pre-check that QR code prior to issuing boarding passes and once arriving, travelers will go through the usual checks at the airport. - Another adjustment that should facilitate Thailand Pass for foreign visitors is that Thai nationals will no longer be required to register for it. So in fact, Thailand Pass will function next month as a pre-arrival registration, not an approval system, for foreign travelers. - Until the revised Thailand Pass measure takes effect on 1 June 2022, Thais and foreign visitors are still required to register with Thailand Pass and seek approval from the system. - The CCSA has been tracking the measures employed by other countries as well and these adjusted entry requirements/registration process for travelers coming to Thailand are similar to the public health measures and practices of other countries in Southeast Asia. 4. General situation - New confirmed cases on 20 May 2022 total 6,463, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 4.4 million. There are 58,910 active cases. - A total of 7,091 new recoveries are logged today, bringing the number of total recoveries to 4.31 million. Unfortunately, 41 new fatalities have been reported, with accumulated recorded deaths totaling 7,980. The fatality rate is low at 0.15%. - The top ten provinces with the highest number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are Bangkok (109), Ubon Ratchathani (61), Nakhon Ratchasima (54), Suphan Buri (51), Udon Thani (36), Chanthaburi (34), Chaiyaphum (33), Nakhon Sawan (30), Samut Prakarn (29), Nakhon Si Thammarat (27). 5. Vaccination progress - The total number of vaccine doses administered currently stands at 136 million. The total number of first vaccine doses administered amounts to 56.5 million, covering 81.3% of the population. The total number of second doses administered stands at 52.1 million, covering 74.9% of the population. The total number of third doses admnistered is 27.3 million, covering 39.4% of the population. 6. Thailand chosen as ASEAN Health Emergency Hub - Thailand will serve as the new ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), which is expected to strengthen ASEAN’s regional capacity for responding to public health emergencies and emerging diseases.

Looking at Google it says Patpong night market is permanently closed, I'm hoping not and that it reopens when more people return

For a straight one the Star of Light on Patpong 2 is / was a bj bar, quite a dingy atmosphere inside it despite the name (that was when I made my one and only foray there), would love to find one there for the gay guys but maybe not as dingy 😜

Yes Vessey I suspect you are correct on that one, it's certainly starting to look that way.

It will be interesting to see if they do agree to scrap the Thai Pass on June 1, also if they will add a section to the TM6 to declare vaccination status (as suggested elsewhere).

They change their plans like they change their undies, I can wait a bit longer.

I once did a tour to Ayutthaya and booked through TAT (several years back now and was in a mini bus), went via Bang Pa In - return was by river boat with buffet lunch. Well worth it too, had a great day out and the river boat ride back to Bangkok was nice and relaxing.

Black Swan

Silly question, have they ironed out the bugs with the Thai Pass website? Things like not accepting pdf, issues using certain browsers (chrome), being hacked etc. I saw a while back where they said they were working on all the issues but haven't seen anything about the bugs lately.

From Richard Barrow.

Following this one. It would be interesting to know just which massage places are currently open, I have watched some clips on youtube of walkthroughs at Patpong 1 and 2 but when they get to Bangkok massage it always seems to be closed.

I just wish they would scrap the Thai Pass, to me it's a lame duck and a hacked one at that, presenting the necessary paperwork on arrival or at the departure point would be preferred for me. I wouldn't mind taking a pre departure test of whatever kind they want (even though it's being scrapped in favor of an arrival ATK test), I always take out travel insurance so making sure it covers covid is not a problem. I have things happening here so I am looking at 2023 for the next trip so hopefully things will be better by then and hoping the Thai pass is relegated to history. I am also hoping for a week in Singapore later this year when things here are sorted out.

Pre covid I've always enjoyed Mango Tree, going early (6 - 6:30pm) and avoiding the crowds I have never had any issues with quality or service. Likewise I don't mind G's on Soi 4 to mix it up a bit, I used to like Roadhouse but that is a bit too expensive but will still drop by at times for the lunch specials. I have also had some good meals at Happy Beer Garden over the road from the Raya hotel.

Well my last few visits to Arena I managed to strike gold each time (pre covid times though) with nicely toned guys that it turned out were all nicely hung. The last time, standing in front of the boys I just asked for tops and about two thirds of the boys put their hand up, chose one that had a nicely toned body. Massage was reasonable but nothing to write home about but when it came to afters he was very well endowed and I must say he knew how to use it and boy did he use it well.

I very much like that section

How wonderful are memories of the good times in Thailand? Sitting here doing nothing yesterday my mind wandered down memory lane to the old Adonis massage off Soi Convent. I had 2 visits there and left more than satisfied both times, the first I was quite nervous (being new to the gay scene) but the selection, although there was only a half dozen or so boys to pick from were very nice looking and all had great bodies. The massage was quite good but when I saw the boy erect I very nearly fainted, my god but he had a lethal weapon and a half and I can say he knew just how to use it too (I was a novice no more). The second visit he wasn't there so I chose the other boy that had also taken my fancy the previous visit, once again a good massage and then I saw it, my god another one with a lethal weapon and same as the first he knew just how to use it to full effect. I wasn't into 4 hands massage at that time but thinking back to those experiences a 4 hands massage and those two monster cocks in the one session may just have destroyed me. After those two visits I had the feeling that all the tops at Adonis were very well hung but sadly I didn't manage to get back there to find out, I had this desire to go forth and keep trying out new places and experiences. Now as I start to think of returning to Bangkok that desire is also returning and I am looking forward to getting back into the fun times over there, soon hopefully.

This is good to see, the green bridge between Lumpini and Benjakitti parks is being renovated. On my trips I like to take the early morning walks around Lumpini park and the green bridge to Benjakitti will make it a good morning exercise walk, just trying to keep some fitness up on my trips. By the looks it may well be finished before my next "planned trip". The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has started renovation work on the “Green Bridge”, the elevated walkway connecting Lumpini and Benjakitti parks in Khlong Toei district. In a Facebook post on Sunday, the BMA said the renovation project started on March 1 and work on the 20-year-old walkway is expected to finish before the end of September 2022. The BMA also unveiled the concept design of the new Green Bridge (link below), with provision for pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes and green space incorporated seamlessly to maximise space usage and offer convenience to visitors to both parks. The renovation project started from Phaisingto Canal next to Ratchadaphisek Road and will finish at the Sarasin intersection on Wireless Road near Lumpini Park, a total distance of 1.6 kilometres. Read on Green bridge renovation

Very much hoping those permanent turn into only temporary as some of them I have fond memories of

Yes I thought that too, the only link I found that appears to be Sabaidee Spa in Bangkok was on Facebook

I prefer to visit Thailand during the wet season, one reason was that pre covid there were less tourists there. I did spend Christmas and new years in Bangkok once, the weather was very nice but as nice as it was I reverted back to the wet season on later trips.

By the looks it appears to be right at Bang Pho MRT, looks promising and will go on the must visit list.

Richard Barrow just posted it on facebook. Good news for tourists and returning expats. Starting in March, the requirement for the 2nd RT-PCR test on Day 5 will be dropped and replaced with a self-ATK test. In addition, the insurance will be reduced to $20,000. UPDATES: You can register with the new rules from 1st March onwards. Which means fly to Thailand on 7 March onwards. Only book one night SHA++ hotel while waiting for results Only book one RT-PCR test Minimum insurance reduced from $50,000 to $20,000

I used to have a preference for circumcised cocks and thought I would prefer Filipinos because of it, after seeing both Filipino and Thai cock I will take the uncut Thai any day. Some of those Filipino cocks look terrible.

I am much the same, preference is for the massage places, now that I have long gotten over the entrance and selection nerves I make sure to communicate with the boy my 3 wishes for being there, a good massage is number 1, 2 and 3 follow very soon after the massage 😁

Great report and pictures, thank you for sharing.