THE AQI TIMES

The government’s budget for the environment for 2023 accounts for 0.003% of the total budget.

Source: Move Forward Party, “Dust Budget: Better but not enough,” Jun 2, 2022

Bangkok’s AQI reached 220+ in early February

Most areas in Bangkok have air quality ratings 3 times higher than the acceptable level announced by WHO. had inhaled smog equivalent of smoking 1,261 cigarettes per year.

Source: The Standard, “Revealing data for the year 2021,” Jan 18, 2022

YOU SAID WHAT?

“The rich guests get entangled with police and then by the last episode they leave scot free.”

Hot Or Not

The current budget could translate into 3,665,268 (Xiaomi 3C) air purifiers.

“I know a few exclusive clubs in Bangkok with better returns for your money.”

Is ‘White Lotus’ coming to Thailand?

The sex-fueled, star-studded dark comedy might be coming to an island near you—if the creator’s recent holiday is anything to go by. Writer and creator Mike White posted a video of himself on a Thailand beach. It was enough grist for this particular rumor mill. Four Seasons was the early favorite but told BK no filming was ongoing.

Chocolate whopper, big flopper

Two years ago, Burger King released promo pictures of flame-grilled chocolate patties on April’s Fool Day. Now, the monarch of ground meat has followed through, and these chocolate (bun) whoppers are already in Thailand. The questionable combination is a collaboration between Burger King and Hershey’s.

Really, Really Loud

For one of the hottest live shows in all of Southeast Asia, the full set list for Rolling Loud includes a bevy of A-list talent. Cardi B of WAP fame, hip-hop legend Travis Scott, and domestic abuser Chris Brown will all take the stage Apr 13-15 at The Legend Siam Amusement Park. Tickets, though, ain’t cheap (B15,000).

Alas poor Yona

The New Year came with the news that a hot new floating party island, Yona Beach Club, would be opening in Phuket—and days later the idea was sunk. Phuket officials scuppered plans, saying it wasn’t up to code. Lacking permits and as a potential pollution and noise issue, the floating beach club was ordered to cease operation.

NIGHTLIFE Paradise gone BAD

It’s official and the winners have been chosen. If you missed it, we’re bringing back the much-hyped Bangkok After Dark (BAD) Awards in March. The awards celebrate the very best of Bangkok’s nightlife industry: the bartenders, speakeasies, hole-in-the-wall drinking spots you didn’t know about, hi-so rooftop cocktail bars and more. If it deals with booze in Bangkok, we’re using our borderline problematic drinking habits to crown the best of the best.

In March, we’ll be hosting an invite-only awards party at Paradise Lost at Siam@ Siam to hand out the awards and celebrate the nightlife scene. That same day, BK will release a print guide to hundreds of locations around Bangkok announcing the winners. If you miss that, we’ll be releasing digital content on the BK website cataloging all the winners.

Restaurants

Does the long queue make your food better?

Have you ever queued for your food or heard about hours of wait time (Jay Fai, for example) and still stand in the heat and wait? Maybe bars blast about being a speakeasy through every social media channel and doing everything but standing on the street and shouting about it? There’s intrigue and excitement, but is it actually better at a hardto-book/hard-to-find place?

That’s subjective, sure. But does it sell? Also, sure. The harder it is to get something, the more the people want it. It’s the “look at me” culture of exclusivity on social media. Look at me, I’m eating at No Name Noodle, and you could never book here! Some places might actually sell good food or good drinks

(we actually love No Name Noodle but wish they would expand). Don’t get sucked into the marketing scheme.

City Living

The new downtown park may finally open Several metal-sheeted hovels belonging to longtime residents were recently demolished, clearing the way for Pathumwananurak Park behind the Central World shopping mall to open, 49 months after it was finished

The park spans 40 rai and was completed in December 2018, according to developer Landprocess, which built it for the Crown Property Bureau. Landprocess is headed by landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom, who is also credited with Bangkok’s Centenary Park

A sign at the park declares it to be an “Oasis in the City” that offers a “fresh remix of nature, open air and flowing waters.” It’s divided into five sections including a water purification center, outdoor theater, walking path, green forest and rest area.

Bk News Quiz

1) How much money do you need to pay for a private police escort from the airport?

a. B5,000 b. B4,500 c. B7,000 d. How dare you. The venerated police would never do such a thing. a. World’s largest mango sticky rice b. Sexiest uniforms c. Most cronies in political office d. World’s largest Muay Thai wai khru ritual a. Banned him from all matches b. Bought his BMW at a discount c. Apologized to the victim’s family d. Made him a national team member a. Krungthep Mahanakorn Central Terminal b. Krungthep Central Aphiwat Terminal c. Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal d. Hua Lamphong II

2) What’s the Thai military’s most recent Guinness World Record attempt?

3) A 16-year-old tennis player killed a man while driving a BMW. What did the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand do after learning of his crime?

4) What’s the new name for Bang Sue Grand Station?

Answers: 1) C – B7,000 buys you a police pick up and escort from the airport. The story went viral after Chinese Tik Tokers shared the “grand service,” and after initial denials, several officers believed to be involved were fired. Problem solved. 2) D – Competing against no one, 3,600 military recruits dressed in Muay Thai gear for the wai kru ceremony. 3) D – Deja vu? The Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand not only let the sportsman continue to compete but also put him on a national team. However, after online pressure, the player withdrew. 4) C – No one knows why they want to change the rail station name all of a sudden, but they (or rather we) paid B33 million for it. So why not?

Weed has been decriminalized for more than nine months.

Since June 9, 2022, fresh off the heels of an economy ravaged by a pandemic, Bangkokians have been getting high with careless abandon. First, there were reluctant streetside sellers and trucks; now well-lit Sukhumvit haunts sell buds from around the world, and there is hardly a major soi absent a glowing marijuana leaf—seven for indica, nine for sativa, of course.

There are weed and wine pairings, 420-friendly restaurants, and even clubs are now boasting their own inhouse dispensaries.

But how long can the good times last?