Thai YouTuber Found Dead in Georgia

🌡️ Weather: 25-27°C (77-81°F). Cool and wet. The coldest Friday Bangkok has had this year. Rain through the day. A jacket might actually be useful.

🌫️ Air Quality: 89-138 (Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Morning is the cleaner window.

🗞️ TOP STORY

⚠️ This story involves the death of a young person. We have kept the details factual and respectful.

THAI TRAVEL YOUTUBER HLUN SOLO HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD IN A HOTEL ROOM IN TBILISI, GEORGIA. HE WAS 27. THE CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

Bowornthat Pengsuk, known to nearly 2.5 million Facebook followers and 950,000 YouTube subscribers as Hlun Solo, was found dead in a hotel room in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, more than two weeks after his family lost contact with him. Georgian police confirmed the discovery on Wednesday and opened a formal investigation. Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow confirmed the death on Thursday, saying Thai officials had traveled to Tbilisi immediately and were awaiting the Georgian investigation's findings. "This is an unexpected event, as Hlun travelled to many countries," the minister said.

The timeline is where the questions begin. Hlun checked into a hotel in Tbilisi on July 13, the same day his family last heard from him. Hotel staff reportedly found his body on July 19, six days later. His brother issued a public appeal for information on July 29, more than two weeks after all communication stopped. In the days between his disappearance and the confirmation of his death, Thai communities in Georgia, travel bloggers and fans across social media mobilized to search for him. His camera was reported missing, but according to Georgia authorities all of his belongs, gear and camera have been accounted for. His grandmother has publicly rejected suggestions of suicide and is demanding a full investigation. Georgian police opened the case under Article 115 of Georgia's Criminal Code, a standard procedure when someone is found dead under unclear circumstances. Online speculation has ranged from health complications, Hlun had previously mentioned needing medication in his videos, to theories involving foul play, fueled by the missing camera and the fact that Georgia has been flagged internationally as a hub for scam operations targeting Asian nationals traveling alone. The Royal Thai Embassy has urged the public not to spread unconfirmed information while the investigation continues.

Bottom line: Hlun Solo built his following by showing that a kid from a humble background in Thailand could travel the world alone with a camera and an honest voice. He inspired hundreds of thousands of young Thais to believe the same thing. His death at 27 in a hotel room in Tbilisi, with unanswered questions about what happened during those six days, deserves a thorough investigation. The Georgian authorities have opened one. The Thai government is present. His family and his 2.5 million followers are watching. Hopefully the answers come.

If you're planning for retirement, or just want to know if your savings will actually last this free calculator is worth a look.

You’ve saved $1.5 million. Now comes the real test.

Can it produce $10,000 a month, or will that pace drain your portfolio?

Most retirees do not get a clear answer until it is too late.

The issue is not just how much you have. It is whether your portfolio was built to pay you, not just grow.

That difference can determine whether your money lasts decades or starts breaking down early.

Sequence of returns, taxes on withdrawals, healthcare costs, and whether the 4% rule still applies all play a role.

Fiduciary advisors created a breakdown showing what drives sustainable income and why the same $1.5M can produce very different outcomes.

If you have $1M or more invested, do not guess.

See How Long My Money Lasts

Learn More

A CHINESE MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR STEALING CREDIT CARD INFORMATION FROM CUSTOMERS ACROSS CHIANG MAI AND BANGKOK. THE LOSSES EXCEED ฿29 MILLION.

Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division raided three businesses in Chiang Mai and on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok after receiving complaints from Chinese nationals about suspected credit card data theft. The suspect, a Chinese national, was found to have been skimming customer credit card information during transactions and using the stolen data to make unauthorized purchases. The combined losses from the operation exceeded 29 million baht.

The method is not new, but the scale is. Credit card skimming typically involves copying card data during a legitimate transaction, either through a modified card reader or through manual recording of card details. The suspect operated across two cities, which means the skimming was not a one-location operation but a coordinated effort spanning Chiang Mai's tourist district and Bangkok's Chinatown. For anyone who has used a credit card at a small business, restaurant or shop in either area, the practical advice is to check your recent statements. Look for unfamiliar charges, particularly small "test" transactions that skimmers often run before making larger purchases. If you find anything, contact your bank immediately. The arrest is a reminder that digital financial crime does not require sophisticated hacking or access to databases. Sometimes it just requires a person behind a counter and a few seconds with your card out of sight.

Bottom line: ฿29 million from stolen credit card data across two cities. Check your statements. If you used a card at a small business in Chiang Mai or on Yaowarat Road recently, check them tonight. And consider using contactless payment wherever possible. A card that never leaves your hand is a card that’s harder to be skimmed.

Want to keep more of your retirement savings? This free book explains a tax strategy many investors overlook.

Most IRA Millionaires missed the first Roth conversion window. Craig Wear, CFP® — who's helped 3,000+ families avoid a projected $10B+ in lifetime taxes — wrote Roth Conversion Reset to make sure you don't miss the second. The full book is free, delivered to your inbox in minutes.

Send Me the Book

⚡ QUICK HITS

Airport Rail Link disrupted for the second time in a week. A power outage on the evening of July 29 knocked out services between central Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi for more than 16 hours. Services resumed this morning but some passengers are still reporting delays. This is the second major disruption in eight days, and it comes at the worst possible time: the long holiday weekend when thousands of people are flying out. If you are heading to Suvarnabhumi this weekend, do not rely on the Airport Rail Link. Take a taxi, Grab or airport bus instead and budget extra time. The rail link's reliability has become a genuine problem.

A former Filipino pilot was found homeless and seriously ill beneath a BTS station in Bangkok. The Mirror Foundation confirmed on July 29 that they are working with authorities to assist the man, whose story was shared by a Thai resident on Facebook. How he ended up beneath a train station is not yet clear. What is clear is that someone noticed, posted about it, and within hours Thailand's most capable social welfare organization was on the ground helping.

CP Group warns scammers are using deepfake videos and manipulated images of the company to promote fake investment platforms. Nation Thailand confirmed July 30. If you have seen an ad featuring a well-known Thai conglomerate promising guaranteed returns, it is almost certainly fraudulent. CP Group has asked the public to verify any investment opportunity through official channels before sending money.

SRT Bangkok Connex launches tomorrow. Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Air-conditioned. Daily. The most comfortable day trip to the ancient capital starts in the morning.

🍸 SPOT OF THE DAY

ABANDONED MANSION

Abandoned Mansion sits beneath The Coach Hotel on Sukhumvit 14 and the concept is exactly what it sounds like: a 1930s American gangster speakeasy built underground, with live music nightly, vintage gold and copper interiors, velvet seating and dim lighting that makes everyone in the room look like they belong in a period film. The bar opened in 2022 and has built one of the strongest reputations in Bangkok's nightlife scene without relying on a rooftop view, a celebrity DJ or a bottle-service model. What it relies on is atmosphere, live music and cocktails that justify sitting in one place for three hours.

The 4.8-star rating across 7,025 Google reviews is extraordinary. Seven thousand people reviewed a bar and the average is 4.8. On Tripadvisor it runs 4.9 across 1,242 reviews. The consistency at that volume is what separates Abandoned Mansion from bars that feel special on a good night. This feels special every night. "The place was fully packed and the vibe was stunning," one reviewer wrote. "The food and drinks are so good, the staff Anis gave perfect service," wrote another. On a rainy night when 25°C makes Bangkok feel like a different city and you want an evening that feels like stepping into a different decade, Abandoned Mansion is one of the best nights out in Bangkok.

→ See the menu and find them here ←

Insider tip: Reserve ahead. The room fills fast, especially Fridays and Saturdays. Arrive at 5:30PM opening for the best seats. The live music starts early and runs all night. Smart casual dress code.

📍 41 Soi Sukhumvit 14, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
📞 02 259 7007
🕐 Daily 5:30PM-2AM
⭐ 4.8 stars (7,025 Google reviews) | ฿400-1,600
🌐 montraj.com | 📸 @abandonedmansionbkk

Always check opening times before heading out.

📅 WHAT'S ON

See you tomorrow morning.

Reach Bangkok's English-speaking community, every morning. Advertise.