Devlin

8 hours ago, Olmate said:

Tourist or volunteer, which is it? 

Are they mutually exclusive?  What prevents a tourist from volunteering? 

5 hours ago, bigupandchill said:

What is there to investigate? Driver riding the brakes rather than using the gears, overheats and fails causing the accident.

In answer to your over simplistic question, for starters how about… road surface suitability for grip & condition, repair records, gradient, safety barriers, signage, lighting, weather conditions? runaway escape lane? CCTV to check other driver involvement? 

I’m currently in Thailand under Test and Go. Had my pre-Departure PCR test,  endured the tedium and expense of the 1 night quarantine and PCR test. I’ve been handed a Lateral flow kit for my 5 night test, but apparently this is just for my info, there’s no requirement or instruction to record the result anywhere! 

On 2/23/2022 at 9:53 AM, internationalism said:

yes, obvious 

If it’s obvious why isn’t it specifically stated? The article says LFT test replaces PCR, it makes no reference to whether or not the 5th night hotel stay is abolished. 
Likely, logical, but not obvious is it!!! Presumptuous fools make me angry, it’s facts we need not supposition! 

Any news on the re-introduction of ‘Test to release’ … Thai Pass, one night in a hotel, one Rt-PCR test? Two PCR tests is stress inducing and expensive, especially as in the UK, we’re pretty much finished with Covid restrictions now. So weird to see the theatre of wellington’s, visors & space suits in Thailand when back in the UK, even staff in vaccine centres need nothing more than a face mask!

If it’s reported by the BBC, then take with a pinch of salt. Once exemplary, their journalism now sadly lacks integrity and balance. What they report in the UK bears little resemblance to the normality most Brits experience! 

This is not particularly news-worthy.  In the UK and most other countries providing free vaccines to residents, the patient has no choice in which vaccine they'll receive.  I wanted Pfizer but when I arrived at the vaccination centre in my local UK hospital, I was given Astra-Zeneca.   No need to stir up fear on this subject as long as the vaccine works and the contra-indication risks remain infinitesimally small. 

On 2/5/2021 at 1:38 AM, webfact said:

Dream leads to brothers finding rare pearl worth 10 million baht on Thai beach

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Two brothers in the southern Thai province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat could soon be getting millions of baht after finding what they believe is an extremely rare kind of orange pearl called a Melo Pearl on the beach.

 

Sanook reported that Channel 3 featured the story of Hatchai and Worachat Niyomdecha who had a dream about an old man with a flowing beard dressed in white who urged them to go to the beach as there was something there for them.

 

On waking with a start they headed to the sands and found a clump of shellfish attached to the remnants of a pontoon and within that were three shellfish that dropped off and almost presented themselves to the brothers. 

 

On closer inspection they realised they had found the Melo Pearl that is the most valuable pearl in the world.

 

Online information suggests they have been sold for as much as $250,000 when set in jewelry. 

 

They come from a gastropod or snail called the Melo Melo.

 

Now Sanook said that a wealthy Chinese businessman has offered the brothers 10 million baht for the pearl and plans to fly to Thailand.

 

Source: Sanook 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-02-05

 

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Hey you sceptical lot, imagine if that wealthy Chinese businessman turns out to be an old man with a flowing beard dressed in white!  

Nice story, no need for any negativity please.

As usual so much negativity and anti-Thai sentiment in this blog. The The 'Oxford' AstraZenca vaccine is almost certainly going to be the one adopted by Thailand. Manufactured by AstraZenca (Thailand) Ltd , employing Thai workers, effective, efficient and significantly easier to distribute and administer in a Tropical country than the Pfizer Biontec vaccine ever could be.  I understand that this will be a great disappointment to your many American contributors. But considerably better for Thailand, other ASEAN and African (HOT / Tropical / Sub Tropical) nations. 

As a British Emergency Services worker, I drive a vehicle daily on 'Blues & Twos'.  In the UK there is strict regulation governing exactly when warning instrumentation can be used, based upon the nature and urgency of the incident being attended.  It is extremely unusual in the UK for other drivers not to give way and, as a someone posting earlier said, an offending driver could be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty notice.  

 

The first time I ever drove in Thailand I thought the same would be true there too. But over many years of visiting and driving there, I have come to realise that virtually all ambulances in Thailand use their sirens and lights when simply travelling from A to B, rather than exclusively reserved for emergencies.  I too have seen ambulances, stop and wait at traffic lights, pull into 'drive throughs' with sirens and lights.  On one occasion I even saw  an ambulance with sirens and lights pull into a 7 Eleven car park.  I quickly followed to see if I could help the crew only to discover them in the queue to buy a Slurpee!

 

When visiting the UK, my partner is amazed at the way drivers give way to lights and sirens.  

In Thailand, abuse of the warning instrumentation over many years has lead to the situation as being discussed in this thread.  The inevitable consequence of which will, of course sadly be loss of life.  

In the UK, under British traffic legislation, the motorcyclist would have been at fault. The rationale being that one should always leave a safe stopping distance between the vehicle at front to allow for sudden stops, swerves to avoid debris , holes in the road etc etc.  In addition undertaking in the UK is an absolute offence. 

***  But this happened in Thailand so who knows!  ***

This is a ridiculous post thread. Sounds like a playground squabble. People are people, some are good, some are bad, some are rude, some are friendly. America is pretty much in conflict with everyone except America. So of course people from targeted countries won't want to shower you with rose petals. Ignore it and move on. If the pressure is too great, then holiday (sorry vacation) in the USA.

I live here so too late.

All the more reason to vacation in the USA.

Jingthing... As you live in Thailand, that's easy. "Where you come from?".... "Thailand". Problem solved, happy to help. :0)

This is a ridiculous post thread. Sounds like a playground squabble. People are people, some are good, some are bad, some are rude, some are friendly. America is pretty much in conflict with everyone except America. So of course people from targeted countries won't want to shower you with rose petals. Ignore it and move on. If the pressure is too great, then holiday (sorry vacation) in the USA.

You know you are ready to go to Pattaya when...

1, you are fluent in Russian!!!

2, you have got your 3 friends mustafa, achmed and mohammed and you all want to share that 1 ladyboy for the same price....and mohammed is paying!

3, you have sold your house in farang land and paid the now divorced wife off.....only to turn up here and let some trash mouthed peasant take control of all your finances, bought her a bar and can now only go out when she lets you or if she is with you....

Clearly what the Police officer has done was wrong but in the context of that officers' personal situation in a poor developing country, I firmly believe that Mr Van Der Spek was the unethical one in this case. Not understanding Dutch, I wish I knew what Van Der Spek was saying which might change my views. [English being the universal world language, subtitles are required please] I don't wan't to fall into the trap of sterotypes but to me Mr Van Der Spek looks like yet another annoying society drop-out forigner who looks down on all the locals falsely believing he is better than them! With his weathered skin, alcohol eyes, hair that was in fashion in the 1960s and blatent disregard for road traffic legislation has shown a brazen disregard for the rules. Then feels he has the moral high ground to point out that the Police officer has broken the rules. This is not the USA, this is not Holland. I would enjoy watching a Youtube Post of Mr Van Der Speks interaction with Police in the USA or Holland if the was arrogant enough to ride without a helmet there! But, I guess he would confirm and become a law abiding citizen there.

People visit Bali / Vietnam / Thailand..... etc because they are different from home. Accept it, and enjoy it. Everything in life is an experience. I hope the Police officer and his family do not become homeless and destitute as a result of the selfish actions of Mr Van Der Spek.

April Fool! :0)

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Actually Devlin, I've never met any Thai anywhere, ever, that said they respected the police here. Do an informal poll of sorts amongst your Thai friends and/or acquaintances, I think you'll find the same.

Most likely with 'Respect' Devlin meant "are afraid of".

iSabai.... you misunderstood my use of the word 'respect' [within inverted commas]..... keestha, you are spot on - correct. I am well aware that the boys in brown command little or no respect from the vast majority of Thais. Their reputation however does afford them immense operational capability. When they want to achieve something, rest assured they do. If the police 'policed' this bus service venture, then the bus service would operate.

In summary.

The airport is a good distance from town.

Phuket rips off visitors with a super lucrative taxi / minibus service.

This new bus service is long overdue and needed.

SOLUTION... Police on private cost overtime travel in the bus and escort the bus in liveried vehicles.

This works well in the UK on certain bus routes and at certain times of the year e.g Halloween, bonfire & mischief nights.

Working Thais 'Respect' the boys in brown.

Even if it takes back handers, this service is essential.

Rip off merchants can not be allowed to win here!!!

:0)

make me laugh when i see you guy's crying at 45 bath

Canadian $$$ always bee around 30 bath and we never said anything about it bcz it's life

If you can't make a living in Thailand with that, go back to work or you can probably enjoy your retirement somewhere in Africa

Ps: if some of you are curious about my avatar it's a add of Aston Martin pre owned car....

" You know you're not the first, but do you really care ? "

If you're worried about the cost of baths, take a shower instead, they're cheaper....... Always happy to help :0)

I received a News Flash email form Thai Visa News 4 mins ago, with a headline of " New 500 THB bank note - here’s how it looks like ".

Only to read that the OP said " It was issued in 1996 " <deleted> ?

It must be time for a coffee

The post actually started as " New 500 Thb Bank Note?". The clue to the post being a query is the "?" ! :0)

My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died and I hope that those injured make a speedy recovery. I agree with many other posters on this topic. I have used this bus company and travelled on the same route many times. I consider it to be a reputable and reliable company with many many safe hours of safe driving accrued. Sadly a momentary lapse of concentration her has resulted in tragic consequences. Road accidents worldwide acccount for more deaths and serious injuries than any other causal factor. This accident could just have easily happened in the UK, USA, France Germany or any other location that readers of THAI VISA Forum reside. Please posters, don't turn this into something that it is not!