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Bangkok Post reports on November 28th, 2023: The cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft interior ministerial regulation to extend the operating hours of entertainment venues in key tourist destinations, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Koh Samui and Phuket, allowing them to operate until 4am.
Khaosod reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on November 30th:
The Cabinet on Tuesday (November 28th) approved an extension of opening hours of nightlight establishments on new year's eve to 6:00 of January 1st, 2024. The areas covered are: Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi province which includes Pattaya, Chiang Mai & Samui.
Bangkok Post: Opening hours extension 'will boost economy'
The Nation: Health networks want higher taxes on drinks in 4am closure zones
TPN National: Thailand's National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee has said that bars and entertainment venues open until 4AM under new rules from December 15th will need to Breathalyze all customers and those over the legal limit stay in a sobering up zone.
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 5th:
More than 25 million foreign visitors have visited Thailand between January 1 and December 3, marking a 175% year-on-year increase and meeting the government's minimum target for 2023.
The target range was 25-30 million. Tourist spending has surpassed one trillion baht, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
In 2022, the number of visitors was 11.15 million. The target for 2024 is 35 million, approaching the 39 million visitors in 2019 who spent more than 1.91 trillion baht before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The top five visitors so far this year were:
Click into the picture for its original size Travel insurance
The unpopular 300-baht tourist tax is postponed, but there is now a scramble for a last-minute announcement about a travel insurance.
The Nation: Unpopular tourist tax further postponed until industry recovers
Bangkok Post: State eyes alternative to B300 tourist levy
Thai PBS Worls: Travel insurance to be arranged for all tourist arrivals over holiday season : Srettha
Bangkok Post: Minister cools on visitor insurance
We will keep you up-to-date.
Mike Baird's Songkran Cartoon
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Stupid Idee?
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Water splashing during 30 days?
Songkran is an annual festival that (so far) takes place over three days during the traditional Thai New Year, from April 13th to April 15th, in almost all provinces of the Kingdom.
Songkran is a term derived from the Sanskrit word samkranti and means "to move", "movement" or "astrological passage". It is derived from the movement of the sun from one position to another in the zodiac. According to its literal meaning in Sanskrit, Songkran takes place every month. However, the period that Thai people refer to as Songkran occurs when the sun moves from the constellation of Pisces to Aries in the zodiac. The correct name for this period should actually be Maha Songkran ("great Songkran"), as it coincides with the arrival of a new year. The Songkran festival is therefore a celebration of the new year in line with the solar calendar.
The origin of the Songkran festival lies in a Buddhist folk myth or non-canonical Jataka related to harvest and spring. In the prosperous town of Sukhavati in Suvvannabhumi, Bodistva was born in the household of a poor farmer.
The Songkran festival is rich in symbolic traditions. The morning begins with the offering of merit. It is customary to visit local temples and offer food to the Buddhist monks. On this special occasion, dousing Buddha statues and young and old with water is a traditional ritual that represents purification and the washing away of one's sins and misfortunes. As a celebration of unity, people who have moved away usually return home to their loved ones and elders. Honouring the ancestors is an important part of the Songkran tradition.
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Changing the Tradition?
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, chairman of the Pheu Thai Party and president of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), announced on Friday, December 1st, that her committee had agreed to make Songkran one of the best festivals in the world.
"Let's make the Songkran festival an event that everyone must fly to Thailand to attend. Let's make Thailand the home of one of the 10 biggest festivals in the world. From next year, Songkran Festival will not be the same. We will not only splash water for three days, but the whole month," she said.
Thai News UNESCO Crowns Thailand's Songkran Festival: A Celebration That Splashes Across Time!
The Nation Songkran to be celebrated for entire April next year under soft power plan
Bangkok Post Songkran set to 'go global'
Bangkok Post Govt rejigs plans for Songkran
Does this mean that Pattaya will have to limit water splashing to the three known days and cancel its world-famous water splashing on April 19th? As we can already see, the idea of extending Songkran was not only not well thought out, it was also stupid.
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New Airport in Cambodia
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New International Airport
On October 16th, 2023, the new Siem Reap Angkor International Airport was opened in Cambodia with the landing of a Bangkok Airways plane.
The new airport replaces the previous Siem Reap International Airport, which opened in 1932. The new airport was built to protect the Angkor Wat monuments from being destroyed by pollution.
The new airport is located 18 km (11 miles) north-east of Damdek, 40 km (25 miles) east of Angkor Wat and 50 km (31 miles) east of Siem Reap.
It covers an area of 700 hectares (1'730 acres) of land and has a 3'600 metre runway. The airport is expected to be able to handle up to 65'800 flights and around 7 million passengers annually.
The airport's runway will initially be suitable for handling narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, while in a second phase the runway will be extended to handle wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330 and Airbus A350. This will increase the airport's capacity to 12 million passengers per year by 2030.
Airlines from Thailand to Siem Reap
Bangkok Airways and Thai Smile (later Thai Airways because Thai Smile will be merged into Thai Airways International on December 31st 2023) currently offer daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the new airport.
Thai Air Aisia serves Siem Reap Angkor International Airport daily from Don Mueang Airport.
At the time of writing, no airline serves Siem Reap Angkor International Airport with U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport.
From airport to Siem Reap City
The deputy governor of Siem Reap province, Ly Samrith, said that a new road would be built to facilitate the increasing traffic between the airport and Siem Reap city.
The current section of National Road 6 leading to the new airport is very narrow and will therefore hardly be suitable for the expected increased traffic to and from the airport.
Obviously, Cambodia works in exactly the same way as Thailand: it seems impossible to plan two or more events at the same time.
Transport to Siem Reap will be provided by minibuses with up to 15 seats, which cost about USD 8 per person for shared journeys, and by minivans with up to 7 seats, which cost about USD 40 for private transfers. Click into the picture for its original size
Amazing Thailand
Click into the picture for its original size The Thaksin treatment
August 22nd marked three months since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned from his self-imposed exile and was last seen in public.
Please read an opinion published by Bangkok Post: The Thaksin treatment
Bangkok Lad reports on his X (formerly Twitter) account on November 23th:
"The treatment of Thaksin, whose return coincided with the formation of the current government, seems to confirm the theory that a political deal was struck between Pheu Thai and the ex-junta leaders aimed at isolating the Move Forward Party."
Click into the picture for its original size Clean Tap Water?
Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister, told Thai citizens that they had a right to clean tap water.
But the nice man - and cannabis supporter - forgets to tell people when the target might be reached.
Apparently he just wanted to be in the news again.
TPN: Thai Government Plans to Provide Clean Drinking Tap Water Nationwide, Says Interior Minister
Click into the picture for its original size Elephant pants
After the cheap elephant pants that have become a trend among foreign tourists in Thailand, as well as the recent invention of cat pants in Korat, some netizens say that Thailand should have unique pants for each province.
Click into the picture for its original size AoT to raise passenger service tax
Airports of Thailand (AoT) will increase passenger service charges at six international airports by 30 baht from April 1 next year to cover the operating costs of Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (Cupps).
Bangkok Post: AoT to raise passenger service tax
Khaosod: Six Thai Airports Will Increase Departure Fees in April 2024
In reality, it is just another rip-off with false arguments. In the long term, the Cupps will reduce costs.
Click into the picture for its original size Fake News published by the UN
A few years ago, the United Nations claimed that the Maldives would be under water by 2018. A recently updated UN forecast now states that most of the low-lying Maldives will be flooded by 2100 ....
On November 26th, 2023, the "highly educated" people at the United Nations revealed a new study. It claims that by 2053 Bangkok will be under water ....
The Nation: New study shows Bangkok will be under water in 30 years
The Nation: Thai hospitals at risk of shutdown due to extreme weather
Both the UN (United Nations), the WHO (World Health Organization), the EU (European Union), the ECB (European Central Bank) and the WEF (World Economic Forum) are trash cans for no longer needed but experienced politicians, but also for party activists who have become uncomfortable for the people in charge and need to be deported somehow. It is therefore time to dismantle these bodies and send those who have gained power in these organizations into retirement before they cause more mischief.
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Education crisis: Thailand's failing education system
Click into the picture for its original size English proficiency among Thais is the worst in Asean
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on November 26th:
Thailand's English proficiency is the lowest when compared to other ASEAN countries, according to Education First's English Proficiency Index, ranking third lowest in Asia.
Thailand is placed at 101 out of 113 non-native English-speaking countries/regions on the annual index, falling into the "very low proficiency" category. A score less than 450 points out of the possible 800 points is categorized as "very low proficiency" and is displayed as orange on the map. In the Asian context, Thailand is positioned at 21 out of 23 countries/regions.
In the previous year, EF EPI 2022 scores were found to strongly correlate with TOEFL iBT 2020 scores (r=0.81) and IELTS Academic Test 2019 scores (r=0.75).
Eight ASEAN countries have taken the test, and their index scores and world rankings are as follows:
For additional information we recommend
Bangkok Post: Thailand ranked 'very low' in English proficiency index
Bangkok Post: English proficiency on the wane, says latest EF survey
Thai PBS World: Education Ministry assigned to improve Thais' English proficiency
Click into the picture for its original size Thai pupils perform below average in science, maths and reading
It's not just Thai students who have become dumber since the last PISA study, the latest report shows that this is a global trend ...
The Nation: Thai students ranked lower on every PISA index
Bangkok Post: Pisa results panic scholars
Bangkok Post: Pisa results panic scholars
Thai Enquirer: Panic! At the PISA Scores
Thai PBS World: Experts say lowest ever PISA score is a wakeup call for Thailand's failing education system
OECD PISA Report: We're getting dumber - global education in crisis
Click into the picture for its original size Thai teachers in debt
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 8th:
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 720,000 teachers out of the total 900,000, or around 80%, are in debt, amounting to approximately 1.4 trillion baht.
The majority of the debt, approximately 890 billion baht, is owed to teachers' cooperatives, with an average interest rate of 5.64%. An additional 349 billion baht is owed to the Government Savings Bank, with an average interest rate of 6.9%.
The ministry will share this information with the Ministry of Interior to explore options for providing debt relief measures and implementing debt restructuring programs for the teachers.
How can teachers teach children how to handle money if they don't know how to handle it themselves?
Click into the picture for its original size Brainwashing?
About 6.5 million Thais will soon be getting lessons in patriotism and love of the monarchy via four key government ministries, Thai PBS World reports.
Khaosod reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 2nd:
The Ministry of Interior under Anutin Charnveerakul has signed an MOU with the Education Ministry, the Ministry of Higher Education and related agencies to introduce three compulsory subjects for students: Thai history, citizen's duties and morality.
It will inculcate patriotism and reverence towards the monarchy, said ministry's spokesperson Traisulee Traisornkul on Saturday. These compulsory subjects will start next year.
Click into the picture for its original size Eliminating state censorship?
On November 26th The Nation reports: Culture Ministry proposes game-changing bill for Thai film industry, giving control to producers
Don't forget, this is just a proposal, whether it will ever be realised is still written in the stars.
Click into the picture for its original size Streamlining regulations?
On 29 November, an adviser announced that the government would reform laws to simplify permits for Thai and foreign businesses, starting with restaurants, accommodation and filming, and also to make it more convenient for immigrants to work in the Kingdom.
The Nation: Government speeding up reform of laws to help businesses, investments.
Bangkok Post: Panels to cut business red tape: govt
Click into the picture for its original size Thailand's problem with Loan Sharks
For decades, every new government has promised to take "tough" action against Thailand's notorious loan sharks, Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is no exception. So far, however, we have only heard nice words, but no action - probably because many of these crooks seem to have good connections to high-ranking officials.
On November 29th Bangkok Post announced that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has declared tackling loan sharks and the problems they cause a national priority, and likened the situation some of their victims find themselves in to a form of modern-day slavery.
However, this announcement comes far too late for a single mother and her child in Chanthaburi: Khaosod writes on the same day that the Tragic Death of a Single Mother and Her Child Underscore the Issue of Loan Sharks. It has been reported that a 38-year-old single mother committed suicide with her 7-year-old daughter in a house in Chanthaburi province. The tragic incident occurred before Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Finance Minister, announced the plan to solve the loan shark problem and declared that it was a “national agenda” on November 28th, 2023.
Bank of Thailand [BoT]: Sustainable Solutions to Thailand's Household Debt Problems [PDF File]
The Nation: All provinces to open centres for loan shark victims as Thai household debt soars
The Nation: Registration for restructuring of household debt begins today [December 1st, 2023]
Khaosod: Informal Debt Registry Starts And Reveals How People Struggle
The Nation: 3 Indians nabbed in Saraburi for suspected illegal lending
Don't be fooled by this message, most of the Loan Sharks are Thai, often with excellent connections to officials.
Bangkok Post: High debt remains key concern
Thai PBS World: Household debt for Q2 spikes at Bt16.07 trillion
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 8th:
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 720,000 teachers out of the total 900,000, or around 80%, are in debt, amounting to approximately 1.4 trillion baht.
The majority of the debt, approximately 890 billion baht, is owed to teachers' cooperatives, with an average interest rate of 5.64%. An additional 349 billion baht is owed to the Government Savings Bank, with an average interest rate of 6.9%.
The ministry will share this information with the Ministry of Interior to explore options for providing debt relief measures and implementing debt restructuring programs for the teachers.
Thai PBS World: Finance Ministry reveals approach to tackling formal indebtedness
Click into the picture for its original size Intimidation – the Thai way?
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on November 29th:
Despite the change in government, state intimidation against pro-democracy activists continues.
An anti-coup activist from the Ratsadon, Thatchapong "Boy" Kaedum, reported that his house was visited by security officials from the Internal Security Operations Command without prior notice. Thatchapong said he was not at home, so the ISOC officials merely spoke with his mother, took photos of his house, and departed without providing an explanation for the visit.
On November 24, Anna, an 18-year-old human rights activist from the Bad Students group, recounted being followed by a plainclothes officer while walking near the palace. She successfully deterred him by loudly declaring, "I am not Anna!" and then proceeded to perform a traditional Thai dance while approaching him.
Former candidate for the Move Forward Party and former student activist in Phetchabun, Sirivich Thongkum, disclosed that his house was visited by four police officers without prior notice on November 23. The officers inquired about his whereabouts, requested his father's phone number, took a photo of his father and the house, and then left without clearly stating the purpose of their visit.
On the same day, police also visited the homes of two other former student activists in Phetchabun, asking if they were still organizing political activities without specifying the reason for their inquiry, according to Sirivich.
Thongsaeng Chaikaew, an activist previously charged with violating the emergency decree for organizing a protest against the Prayut administration in Uttaradit (before the case was dropped), revealed that two police officers visited his house without prior notice on November 23. Finding him absent, the officers questioned his grandmother about his whereabouts, took a photo of her, and departed without explaining the reason for their search.
"I do not know what it was all about, but they are still monitoring us, and even though the government has changed, the officers are still harassing us," Thongsaeng told Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
TLHR previously reported recording at least 23 similar cases between September and October. Such unannounced visits by officials during this period usually align with official visits from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to the province where the activists reside, as per TLHR's findings. Additionally, individuals who have voiced political opinions regarding the royal institution are consistently subjected to surveillance.
Nazis and communists use(d) the same tactics ....
Click into the picture for its original size Electricity price increase
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of Thailand approved an increase in the fuel tariff (FT) for electricity generation on November 29th, which would result in an increase in the price of electricity from 3.99 baht to 4.68 baht per unit from January 2024. This corresponds to a price increase of 17%!
As recently as September 19, 2023, the Thai government announced a reduction in electricity tariffs from 4.10 baht per unit to 3.99 baht per unit, effective from the September billing cycle. This decision was made to reduce the burden on the public and lower costs for the private sector, the Srettha Thavisin government claimed.
The Nation: Power bills to go up from Jan as energy agency agrees on fuel tariff hike
Thai PBS World: Energy Commission lambasted over electricity price increase
Thai PBS World: New electricity price will be less than Bt4.68 per unit : Energy minister
Bangkok Post: Power rate hike plan shocks PM
The Nation: Electricity rise capped at 4.20 baht per unit from January
The Nation: Google, Microsoft and Tesla not after electricity price cuts: govt
The Nation: PM rejects electricity tariff hike proposal
The Nation: Srettha rejects power price hike proposal, pushes for THB4.10 a unit
Click into the picture for its original size New criteria for VAT refunds
To reduce queues, the Thai government has introduced new criteria for VAT refunds for tourists.
Bangkok Post: New criteria for VAT refunds for tourists to reduce waiting queues
Click into the picture for its original size I don't know where this money comes from
According to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, four special experts from the Revenue Department in Samut Prakarn were unable to explain the origin of the unusually high assets in their bank accounts.
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 4th:
Four special experts in the Revenue Department in Samut Prakarn have been accused of possessing unusually large amounts of assets, ranging from 1.8 million baht to 1.1 billion baht, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
These officials are suspected of involvement in the embezzlement of tax refunds in Samut Prakan. The balances in their bank accounts were discovered to be significantly higher than their reported incomes, and they were unable to provide explanations for the sources of these funds, leading to the accusations against them.
The four individuals implicated are Danai Damrongchaiyothin, who has accumulated over 1.1 billion baht across seven deposit accounts; Chonlatharn Kongmun, with over 590 million baht in five deposit accounts; Duangkamon Plermsawat, possessing more than 334 million baht in three deposit accounts; and Utumporn Khemwichai, holding over 1.8 million baht in one of her deposit accounts.
The NACC is asking the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to seize their assets and prosecute them for being unusually affluent, in addition to other charges related to the alleged embezzlement.
Click into the picture for its original size Items violating copyrights to be removed from Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shops
Thailand's Commerce Ministery announces crackdown on the sale of counterfeit branded products online.
NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 5th:
Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has announced a crackdown on the sale of counterfeit branded products online, highlighting the urgency to address the infringement of property rights, which could damage Thailand's international reputation.
According to Phumtham, the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has been tasked with educating small and medium enterprises about patenting their products for protection against imitation. The agency also plans to promote more GI (geographical indication) products to leverage Thailand's soft power globally.
DIP Director-General Vuttikrai Leewiraphan detailed a forthcoming memorandum of understanding between 30 copyright owners and three leading online platforms - Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop. The agreement is expected to enhance the fight against piracy, allowing direct reporting of infringements.
The DIP is also collaborating with Facebook to develop tools for identifying and removing counterfeit products, aiming to address copyright violations on the platform.
To date, 960 items violating copyrights have been removed from these platforms
Click into the picture for its original size Pay rise
During its election campaign, the now "ruling" Pheu Thai party promised the population an increase in the daily minimum wage to at least 400 baht if it won.
On December 8th, the government announced the new minimum wage rates. All are far below the promised 400 baht. The real wage increase is between 2 (!) baht and 16 baht, depending on the part of the country, which corresponds to an average wage increase of around 2.4%. It comes into force on January 1st, 2024.
Let's not forget that on 28 November, the Cabinet approved the Civil Service Commission's proposal to increase the salaries of lower-level government officials and civil servants by 10% for two years to offset the rising cost of living. The pay rise will come into effect in May 2024 after the draft budget for the 2024 financial year is approved in April next year. The salaries of subordinate government officials and civil servants today are between 10,000 and 15,000 baht/month or more ....
Bangkok Post Minimum wage to rise by only 2.4%
The Nation Cabinet approves 10% pay rise for state employees
Bangkok Post PM appeals for better wage rate
Bangkok Post Wages hike call irks panel
But the panel claims that the PM has no right to intervene. Khaosod Thailand's Minimum Wage Adjustment Plan Has Sparked Debate
Khaosod reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 12th:
Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said Tues tripartite Labour committee will revise new minimum wage announced last week & make it higher. Move came aft PM Srettha expressed disapproval, saying in some provinces, hike was 2 bt per day - not enough to buy 1 egg.
Pipat said the new rates will be announced before the year's end so it can be effective on Jan 1, 2024.
Thai PBS World Labour minister withdraws wage issue from cabinet for review
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 20th:
The tripartite wage committee maintains that the daily minimum wage will be increased by 2-16 baht to a range of 330-370 per day, expected to come into effect in January.
The committee convened today after the labor ministry decided that the committee should reassess its decision following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's expression of disagreement with the modest hike.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn did not provide an explanation for the committee's decision to uphold the hike, despite his earlier argument that the calculation should not be based on the GDP growth between 2020 and 2021 due to the economic downturn during the pandemic. However, he suggested that the committee should revise its calculation structure to base it on professions rather than provincial output as a whole.
Piroj Chotikasatien, Permanent Secretary for Labor and the committee's chair, said the committee plans to establish a sub-committee during the January 17 meeting to study the suggested recalculation structure proposed by the ministry. As for the timing of the next wage hike, Piroj said the committee has yet to make a decision.
Click into the picture for its original size Why keep it simple when you can make it complicated?
Terminal21 has not only replaced the previous barcode cards with QR code cards in its Pier21 Food Court, but has also installed QR code readers that customers have to operate themselves - but only after the kitchen staff have activated the order codes!
However, the whole thing only works properly if the QR code card is read at a distance of around 5 cm from the reader.
So don't be surprised if there are queues in front of the food stalls!
Click into the picture for its original size The invisible cost of famous clothing brands
In a sewing factory on the Thai border, migrant workers are working in abusive condition and being paid less than minimum wage to sew garments. Those who demand a fair wage were fired. Their names were put on a blacklist, and other factory owners were told to not hire them.
Prachatai Exploited to the bone: the invisible cost of famous clothing brands
Click into the picture for its original size Thai government aims to eradicate the yaba problem (again)
Yaba (which means crazy medicine in Thai) is a combination of metham- phetamine (a powerful and addictive stimulant) and caffeine. It's Thailand's biggest drug problem.
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 13th:
The government aims to eradicate the yaba (meth pill) problem within its 4-year term, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Yaba currently costs around 30-50 baht per pill and even as low as 10-15 baht for retail and 6-7 baht for wholesale in major cities. Yesterday, more than 50 million yaba pills were seized from a six-wheeler truck in Kanchanaburi, marking the largest bust in the province's history. The truck was made to look like it was carrying plastic bottles and scrap metal.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime stated that most of the yaba pills flooding Thailand are coming from the Golden Triangle, primarily the Shan State. The latest surge in trafficking began after the Myanmar military coup in February 2021. Since there was a step-up in anti-drug smuggling efforts on the northern borders, the drug is now also entering via the northeast borders.
Srettha said the government plans to eliminate the problem by cutting off the supply from neighboring countries and implementing measures to transition addicts into patients. This includes follow-up measures to ensure they do not relapse into drug use, achieved by providing them with job opportunities and counseling with their families. Srettha pointed out that 85% of people incarcerated in jail are involved in drug-related crimes.
The Nation Thai officials seize THB1.5bn worth of meth pills in record bust on Myanmar border
TPN National: Thai Police Bust Major Meth Smuggling Gang in Mukdahan
In most cases, the police only arrest the people found in the transport vehicles. Nothing is learnt about the people behind the scenes who finance the entire cargo. Obviously they are of no interest to the police ....
Click into the picture for its original size Violation of freedom of expression
The conviction of Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork for royal defamation charge was a violation of freedom of expression and sends a message to opposition party members to keep silent, says Human Rights Watch
Prachatai Verdict against Move Forward MP "appalling violation of free expression," says HRW
As we reported last month in our "Amazing Thailand" column titled "The election winner must disappear!", it appears that a manhunt has been launched against Move Forward members (and the party itself) to remove the entire organisation - like its predecessors - from the political landscape.
Click into the picture for its original size Health care in Thailand
Thailand's universal health care is provided through three programmes: the social welfare system for civil servants and their families, the social insurance for private employees and the universal insurance system introduced in 2002, which is available to all other Thai nationals.
The Universal Coverage scheme, known as Gold Card or 30 Baht scheme, was introduced in 2002 by the Thaksin Shinawatra government and is gaining worldwide recognition for the quality of its healthcare services.
Gold Card holders are entitled to all types of healthcare at a registered hospital or clinic for 30 baht/consultation, including (most) medicines.
Like almost everything that has been "invented" and put into practice in Thailand, this scheme also has its weak points, for example, the cardholder only receives the favourable services at the hospital or doctor with whom he is registered. If he needs medical care elsewhere, he is asked to pay.
Now, 20 years after the introduction of the Gold Card, these shortcomings are finally being (slowly) eliminated.
TDRI Universal Health Care Coverage: Impacts of the 30-Baht Health-Care Scheme on the Poor in Thailand
Bangkok Post How Thailand's welfare state could change
Thai PBS World Treatment 'anywhere': A new era dawns for Thailand's universal healthcare scheme
Bangkok Post Private hospitals urged to cap prices
In private hospitals, medication costs 3 to 4 times as much as in a pharmacy.
The Nation Probe launched into Bangkok hospital's rejection of severely injured tourist
Thai PBS World Taiwan seeking answers over hit and run death in Bangkok
Click into the picture for its original size Health insurance for non-Thai nationals
The Ministry of Health just announced that its health insurance scheme for non-Thai nationals, called Hint, will be launched on January 1st, 2024, providing access to healthcare for stateless persons and non-Thai nationals.
Bangkok Post Health insurance for non-Thais coming
Opinion: Bangkok Post Ensuring access to healthcare for all
Must read
  Thailand's new Tax Directive
Thai Enquirer: Understanding Thailand's New Tax Directive on Foreign Income
Additional information:
Thai Enquirer: Thailand's new tax directive risks alienating investors and the digital workforce
Roedl & Partner: Tax overhaul looming? Taxation of foreign-sourced income
IMI Daily: Thailand's Tax Tightening on Foreign Income Raises Questions About Implementation
Moved Public Holiday
 The Thai cabinet has decided to move the New Year holiday from January 2nd, 2024, to December 29th, 2023.
This means there will be a 4-day holiday period between December 29th and January 1st. January 2nd, 2024, is now a regular working day.
Government offices and banks will remain closed on these days.
Flu & Dengue warnings
 Flu warning
The Ministry of Health warns that many respiratory diseases, especially influenza, spread during the rainy season and the rate of patients is higher than last year.
For additional information:
Bangkok Post: Flu spike prompts warning
The Nation: Flu jab essential for vulnerable groups: Public Health Ministry
Bangkok Post: 2023's influenza cases jump 5-fold
Bangkok Post: Flu spike prompts warning
Bangkok Post: Covid-19 on the rise again
 Dengue warning
Bangkok Post: What to know about dengue fever as cases spread
Thai PBS World: Dengue fever infections increase by about 300% this year
Thai Travel Clinic: Dengue vaccine for foreigners/travelers in Thailand: Should I get it? UPDATE 2023
HIV & Monkeypox warnings
Bangkok Post: Rise in HIV among young prompts 'safe sex' drive
Bangkok Post: 535 monkeypox cases reported nationwide since May last year
Pattaya News Flash: Major infectious diseases in Thailand
Live Science: We could end the AIDS epidemic in less than a decade. Experts have laid out a road map to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is it possible?
HIV and AIDS
 New STIs still a problem in Thailand
There are presently 561'578 people living with HIV in Thailand. The government has joined a global commitment to end HIV/Aids by 2030, with a target of Thailand reducing newly infected cases to less than 1,000 per year from the present 9'230 cases per year.
HIV infection rates among youth are alarmingly high, primarily due to unsafe sexual practices, said Dr Suchada Jiamsiri, Deputy Director of the Division of AIDS and STIs at the Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control.
The highest rates used to be among sex workers and the group of men who have sex with other men, Dr Suchada Jiamsiri, chief of the Division of Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control, said.
According to the same source, an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and HIV has been observed in young people over the last two to three years.
Bangkok Post: Nearly half of new HIV cases among young people
Thai PBS World: HIV reduction campaign targets Thai youth
Live Science: We could end the AIDS epidemic in less than a decade. Experts have laid out a road map to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is it possible?
mRNA vaccines
 Shocking discovery in Pfizer & Moderna vaccines
Early in 2023, genomics scientist Kevin McKernan made an accidental discovery. While running an experiment in his Boston lab, McKernan used some vials of mRNA Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines as controls. He was ‘shocked’ to find that they were allegedly contaminated with tiny fragments of plasmid DNA.
McKernan, who has 25 years’ experience in his field, ran the experiment again, confirming that the vials contained up to, in his opinion, 18-70 times more DNA contamination than the legal limits allowed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In particular, McKernan was alarmed to find the presence of an SV40 promoter in the Pfizer vaccine vials. This is a sequence that is, ‘…used to drive DNA into the nucleus, especially in gene therapies,’ McKernan explains. This is something that regulatory agencies around the world have specifically said is not possible with the mRNA vaccines.
Now, McKernan, Dr Buckhaults and other scientists are calling for urgent research to test whether the DNA contamination is lingering in the cells of mRNA vaccinated people, and whether the human genome has in fact been altered by mRNA Covid vaccines.
This information is based on a post published by Robin Monotti on his X account (until recently known as Twitter).
According to a recent study: Zerohedge.com: 70% Of Deaths From Pfizer Vaccine In Japan Reported Within 10 Days Of Jab
Trial Site News: Descriptive Analysis of Japanese Deaths Associated with Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 Vax
Be careful with instant noodles
 Ethylene oxide found in Instant Noodles
After the European Commission added ethylene oxide to the list of pesticides, the Thai Ministry of Health also reacted and asked all importers of instant noodles to check their products for possible contamination by ethylene oxide residues.
European countries are now required to take food samples and test them for ethylene oxide. The study of ethylene oxide will be carried out on dried beans, rye and rice in 2023, on wheat in 2024, on barley and oats in 2025 and again in 2026 on dried beans, rye and brown rice.
Ethylene oxide is a gaseous disinfectant originally used for sterilization purposes and to reduce the presence of salmonella in foods.
It is a highly irritating and mutagenic chemical that is believed to increase the risk of miscarriages, genetic abnormalities and the occurrence of cancer in humans. It has been banned in the EU as a pesticide since 1991 and as a raw material in food and feed since 2011.
For unknown reasons, ethylene oxide is not yet listed among the ingredients in the packaging. Therefore, caution should be exercised when consuming any type of instant noodles.
The Nation: Thai Public Health Ministry urges noodle importers to check for ethylene oxide
The mere reference to imported noodles is misleading. Ethylene oxide residues were also found in noodles produced in Thailand!
FDA (Philippines): UPDATES ON ETHYLENE OXIDE IN LUCKY ME! INSTANT NOODLES
New Straits Times: CAP: Ethylene oxide in instant noodles just the tip of the iceberg
Malaymail: Health Ministry finds carcinogenic compound in 11 Mi Sedaap instant noodles amid spotlight on ethylene oxide
BusinessToday: Commentary: Discover The Deadly Ethylene Oxide In Instant Noodles
VNExpress: EU warns Vietnamese instant noodle products contain banned substance
Center for Food Safety [HK]: Ethylene oxide found in prepackaged instant tossed noodle samples from Indonesia
The Korea Times: Carcinogens found in Nongshim's instant noodles exported to Europe
CO2 emissions
 This chart (published by Our World in Data) clearly shows how shifting production from Europe and the US to Asia is affecting CO2 emissions. The graphic illustrates once again the stupidity of our "environmentally conscious" politicians.
Reported criminal cases
 We have so many crimes to report this month that we had to create a special page called Criminal Cases Decenber 2023.
For information on all major criminal cases since January 1st, 2023, please click on our Major Criminal Cases 2023 page.
To our surprise, you learn that in an incredible number of cases, officers are implicated in these suspected criminal activities.
Very interesting: The Nation A recent opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) learned that most Thais lack confidence in the police force's integrity and performance.
Mike Baird's Cartoon
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From Airports to Pattaya
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To and from Pattaya by bus
Click here for an overview of current bus connections
Event Calendar
Click into the picture for its original size December 1st, 2023 - January 28th, 2024
Pattaya Countdown 2024
Location: Central Pattaya Shopping Mall (also known as CentralFestival) Pattaya Beach Road 
Click into the picture for its original size December 2nd - December 24th, 2023
January 6th - January 14th 2024 Saturdays & Sundays only
Location: Lamphoo Market Naklua Along Naklua old town 
Click into the picture for its original size December 23th, 2023 - January 3rd, 2024
Pattaya Countdown 2024
Location: CentralMarina Shopping Mall Pattaya 2nd Road, North Pattaya 
Click into the picture for its original size December 29th - 31st, 2023
Pattaya Countdown 2024
Location: Bali Hai All information is subject to change without notice
Mike Baird's Books
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 PattayaSweethearts reports on the A Go-Go and Disco scene in Pattaya!
Extended opening hours
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Chaos as usual
After Interior Minister Anutin Charnveerakul - known as Mr Cannabis - signed an order extending the opening hours of pubs, bars and nightclubs in Bangkok and four provinces until 04:00, everyone is waiting for clarification on the implementing regulations. The only thing that is clear is that the order will come into force on December 15th, 2023, if it is published in the Royal Gazette in time.
Although months have passed since the initial announcement, no details have yet been released about which venues, in which locations and under what conditions will be allowed to stay open until 04:00.
The only clear regulation - at the time of writing - is that pubs and bars in hotels across the country will be allowed to stay open until 04:00. The four provinces where bars, clubs and discos that are not affiliated with a hotel can stay open until 04:00 are Phuket, Chonburi, Chang Mai and Surat Thani's Samui Island. But it is still not known whether nightclubs in Pattaya or also in Jomtien and Naklua, Bang Saen, Bang Sarai, Chonburi itself or even Sattahip are allowed to serve guests until 04:00.
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Update (December 15th)
All bars and clubs with a legal licence between Pattaya 3rd Road and Beach Road and between Pattaya North Road and Bali Hai have been granted the right to be open until 04:00. The entertainment venues in Naklua and Jomtien as well as in the dark side of Pattaya cannot (yet) benefit from the new opening hours.
Bangkok Post Night venues warned to respect late opening rules
Khaosod reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 16th:
With pubs, bars & nightlife establishment in Bangkok, Phuket, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui now able to open until 4am, new regulations require patrons be tested before leaving the establishment at 4am & if found to have alcohol level of more than 50mg the person will be ask to sit and wait to sober up or seek a chauffeured transportation home. The legal drinking age remains at 20.
In addition, at least according to Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, surveillance cameras with facial recognition are being installed in nightclubs to record all visitors. Are we already in China or in another totalitarian state?
The Nation Everything in control, says Anutin after inspecting Khao San Road pubs
The Nation More time needed to evaluate impact of 4am closing: Police chief
Sightseeing
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City Sightseeing Pattaya
For a few weeks now, the world-famous "Family Resort" has also been offering sightseeing tours in a double-decker bus.
Jomtien
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New Bar & Restaurant
To the left of the popular Country Club on Thepprasit Road, about 200 meters from Jomtien Beach, Kitsune has opened a cozy restaurant and bar.
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Bikers meeting point
Not quite as new, but still worth mentioning is the Fire Bike Bar, also located on Thepprasite Road, a meeting place for all two-wheel enthusiasts.
Naklua
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Boncafé
The Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group has completely remodelled its Segafredo and Boncafé branch in Naklua in recent weeks, but continues to offer its One Stop Coffee and Beverage Solutions for companies and private individuals.
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Craze Café
In the new Craze Café, to the left of the Boncafé shop on Naklua Road and opposite the entrance to Naklua Soi 18, Boncafé serves sweets and other delicacies in addition to its coffee specialities.
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Jongjaroen
A new seafood restaurant has opened on Naklua Road under the name Jongjaroen. It serves its specialties at surprisingly affordable prices. The new restaurant is located opposite Belucky's S.S. Sausages shop.
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Piccolo
Another company is gaining a new foothold on Naklua Road: German Corner Piccolo will soon be opening its new restaurant Piccolo diagonally opposite the entrance to Naklua Soi 27.
The new restaurant is currently celebrating its soft opening with some special promotions.
Pattaya Beach Nourishment
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Lessons learned from Pattaya beach nourishment
Prachatai Recovering Pattaya's disappearing golden beach: lessons learned from Pattaya beach nourishment
Pattaya woken from sleep
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German documentary film shakes up tourism in Pattaya
Khaosod: PM Orders Investigation Into German Suspect Bribing Thai Officials High-ranking Thai officials, including the Prime Minister, ordered an investigation into a German media documentary that claimed one of two foreign suspects involved in child prostitution paid a 1 million baht bribe and escaped.
The Nation: Police to investigate bribery allegations reported by German media Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, Deputy Commissioner of Police, on Sunday (December 3) ordered an investigation into allegations that a German tourist paid a bribe to escape charges of buying sex from a minor in Pattaya, Chonburi province.
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 4th:
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed the Ministry of Justice and the Royal Thai Police to thoroughly investigate the claim that a German national paid a bribe worth about one million baht in exchange for his release from a pedophilia charge.
Germany's Deutsche Welle broadcasted a documentary by Norddeutscher Rundfunk titled "Sex Tourists in Thailand," shedding light on a case involving a 55-year-old pedophile named Jens Kirch. He was apprehended at the Cobra Beer Bar in Pattaya in September 2022 for engaging in sexual activities with a minor under the age of 15. However, he asserted that he paid 800,000 baht for legal fees and bail, along with an additional one million baht to authorities before returning to Frankfurt a week after his arrest.
Srettha said today that the arrest might have occurred last year before his tenure, but the problem must be addressed as it could impact tourism.
Pol Lt Gen Somprasong, the commander of the Provincial Police Region 2, mentioned on Sunday that many authorities are involved in the case, and his investigators will determine who took the bribe. He added that if the suspect was charged, his record should appear in the database, and more updates will be provided next week.
Move Forward Party list-MP Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat said the findings clearly contradicted the police's previous narrative that there are no sex workers in Pattaya, as everyone knows that there are. He also pointed out that the case highlights loopholes in the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, which allow corrupt authorities to exploit them through bribes and extortion. Tunyawaj argued that legalizing prostitution would reduce corruption, prevent sex workers from being exploited, and protect children from becoming victims of sex trafficking.
DW's version of the documentary has been blocked from viewing in Thailand, but NDR's German copy can still be accessed on YouTube.. For the English version please click here.
Thai PBS World: Pattaya police explain alleged bribery in child prostitution case Pattaya police issued a statement today in an attempt to clarify a German media report, claiming that a German tourist, who was arrested for buying sexual services from an underage girl in Pattaya bar in September last year, was released after allegedly paying a million baht bribe to police before leaving Thailand.
Now we are just as smart as we were before the 'statement'.
Bangkok Post Documentary rocks Pattaya tourism With the image of Pattaya as a sex tourism destination being amplified by a German media organisation, the private sector is concerned about the consequences as it could impact the overall tourism market.
The Pattaya News Thai Lawyer Denies German Expat Paid Bribe to Escape Child Sexual Abuse Charges in Pattaya A Thai lawyer has denied allegations that a German expat who was arrested on child sexual abuse charges in Pattaya paid a bribe of 1 million baht to escape Thailand.
Anyone who has read the above report published by The Pattaya News will have realised immediately that there is something fishy about the whole story. And so it is:
The Nation 3 Pattaya cops face disciplinary action over escape by German, American suspects Three Pattaya policemen are to face legal action related to the escape of two suspects, a German and an American, arrested for allegedly buying sex from underage girls, a deputy national police chief said Wednesday.
The Pattay News: German Suspect in Pattaya Child Sexual Abuse Case and Documentary Reportedly Detained in Germany A German national charged with sexually abusing children in Pattaya was reportedly arrested in his home country, said a Pattaya business operator.
The above report published by TPN should also be read with caution until real facts are published. At the time of writing, there was no information about an arrest of J.K. in Germany.
Thai Enquirer reports on its X (formerly Twitter) account on December 7th:
Three police officers are under investigation for misconduct related to the German pedophile case in Pattaya, as announced by Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
The Superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station, the Chief Investigator, and an Investigative Officer are being scrutinized for failing to adhere to regulations by granting bail to the 55-year-old pedophile. The individual claimed to have paid a one-million-baht bribe to secure his release and leave the country.
Furthermore, the officers neglected to report the German national and his charges to immigration police. Pol Gen Surachate said he plans to meet with the German ambassador tomorrow to explore options for interrogating the German national and determining the recipient of the alleged bribe. However, the German national's lawyer insists that no bribe was paid, asserting that the money was intended for legal fees and bail.
In the meantime, another American, facing similar charges, has already fled the country, while the UK national, who owns the Cobra Beer Bar, remains in custody.
Bangkok Post: Officers to be disciplined for freeing German child sex suspect Two senior police officers who allowed a German man facing child sex charges in Pattaya to leave the country will face disciplinary and possibly criminal action, a deputy national police chief said on Wednesday.
Bangkok Post: Police in paedophile bail case face action The chief of Pattaya City police station in Chon Buri and a number of his staff will face disciplinary action for failing to object to bail granted to a German national accused of child sexual abuse.
This is (perhaps) a developing story: We'll give updates on the situation as we learn more.
Pattaya
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Go Wholesale
Go Wholesale opened on December 21st in South Pattaya, where Baan & Beyond and a Tops outlet were previously located. Go Wholesale is a direct competitor to the Makro Cash & Carry shops with roughly the same prices but a wider selection than Makro, at least in its Pattaya shop. Like Tops, Go Wholesale is managed by the Central Retail Corporation.
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Car parks sacrificed
The parking spaces in front of the well-known One Patio Hotel in the northern part of Pattaya Second Road had to give way to two open-air restaurants.
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Girls like you (but not me!)
Girls Like You in Soi Post Office (officially known as Soi 13/2) is a nails & spa that is apparently dedicated to women only - but maybe even wannabe women.
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New at CentralFestival
Kumpoon, a well known Thai Restaurant chain from Bangkok, opened a branch on the ground floor of CentralFestival Mall, sometimes known as Central Pattaya.
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New at CentralFestival too
Woo Gogi, a Korean BBQ chain, also opened a branch on the ground floor of CentralFestival Mall, sometimes known as Central Pattaya.
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Also new at CentralFestival
The well-known and Michelin-awarded Baan Benjarong Pai restaurant from northern Thailand has opened a branch on the ground floor of CentralFestival (now also advertised as Central Pattaya) to bring its northern regional Thai cuisine to Pattaya.
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New at Terminal 21
AKA, a Japanese typ grill restaurant, and Din's, a Taiwanese Xiao Long Bao Restaurant, opened on the top floor of Pattaya's Termianl 21 Mall
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Also new at Terminal 21
Starting from December 23rd, Zen, a Japanese-style seafood restaurant, is ready to spoil its guests on the top floor of the Terminal 21 shopping centre in Pattaya.
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Eating in one of the many restaurants in Terminal 21 seems to be a favourite pastime.
Soi Buakhao
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Good things come to those who wait
Fever A Go-Go, opened on December 15th with a big party that we really deserved. We waited months for the opening and thankfully we were not disappointed.
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Closed for good
Bottoms Up, a Bar and Restaurant located near the popular Soi Buakhao Night Market, closed for good.
We will keep you up-to-date.
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Good bye Minx
In Soi LK Metro (off Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana), Top Gun A Go-Go is the successor to the less successful Minx A Go-Go, also known as Pulse A Go-Go before the pandemic.
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Good bye Pandoras
In Soi LK Metro (off Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana), Peachy Lily Go-Go is the successor to Pandoras A Go-Go.
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Good bye As Friends
In Soi LK Metro (off Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana), N-Joy will be the successor to As Friends HipHop Club. It is billed as a resto-lounge, whatever that means.
We will keep you up-to-date.
Soi 6
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New cannabis coffee shop
In addition to the impressive Takumi Cannabis Cafe, two more ganja dispensaries will be opening on Soi 6 in the next few days.
A trend that can hardly be stopped.
Nevertheless, we will keep you up-to-date.
Walking Street
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Open air dancing
Candy Shop is still the only "open-air" disco on Pattaya's world-famous Walking Street.
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Mixx Disco
Following the closure of Mixx Disco at the Bali Hai Entertainment Complex, Mixx on Soi Lucky Star (off Walking Street) is the only remaining alternative for existing Mixx fans.
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Comeback
The Lighthouse, which has been closed for a long time, is announcing its comeback.
We will keep you up-to-date.
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Pattaya Sweethearts reports:
Reopened
The Lighthouse A Go-Go in Pattaya Walking Street has reopened after a long closure.
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Removed
The popular Mini Mart to the left of the New Star Bar at the entrance to Soi 15 had to pay tribute to a new purpose and was completely demolished.
Burger King will open its first branch on Walking Street here in a few days.
We will keep you up-to-date.
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Reopened
McDonald's has reopened its branch on Walking Street near Soi 16 at the entrance to Soho Square. The completely renovated shop is not only much larger, but also much airier.
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New life?
It seems that the Golden Club, which has been closed for a long time and put up for sale, has found a new owner.
We will keep you up-to-date.
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New Indian Disco
If rumours are to be believed, a new Indian nightclub is being built in the former Bollywood Disco.
We will keep you up-to-date.
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Pattaya Sweethearts reports:
Closed
All the bars and clubs on Pattaya Walking Street pictured above have closed their doors.
Update (December 15th):
All Russian A Go-Go Bars pictured above are open again. But Lovi Nightclub remains closed.
Mike Baird's Cartoon
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PattayaSweethearts reports on the A Go-Go and Disco scene in Pattaya!
More Fun starts here
Survey
 Statistics dont lie
 We eat vegan
 Ancient Tribal Name
 End the violence
 Saving your food
 Alternative
 Taste it!
 Try it yourself!
 Climate change in Thailand
 Have every size ....
 OK with gas, but not with electricity
 Can I have a few more?
 For our Chinese visitors
 Fear of water?
 Art ....
 My wife is always there
  Amazing Switzerland
That's what we call a steak in Switzerland
 Mike Baird presents:
Pattaya Tourist Guides
These Tourist Guides were designed by Pattaya's #1 Cartoonist Mike Baird.Please click on an images above to see more and larger copies of his work.
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