LoudHailer

Double, double, toil and trouble: fire burn and cauldron bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. With the sound of gong, pollution gone!

High end tourism is booming globally. The world’s travelling population is very much “on the move.” Thailand is simply too hard and too expensive to get to and from with a limited number of seats at scalper’s prices. TG too is wallowing in incompetence and is only flying the long haul, more profitable, international routes. Short haul routes would fill hotels and resorts fast.

CHUBB THAILAND Travel Insurance online is an excellent option. Just type it into Google and away you go. Easy.

Chang is Carlsberg by a different name. Delicious. In their former joint venture, Carlsberg took the venture while the partner took the joint. Goodbye Carlsberg, hello Chang. 🥹

“Context” is important. Thaksin is a convicted criminal and is meant to be in prison. It is “in the public interest” to know exactly why and on whose authority he is spending this extraordinary amount of time in hospital.

Charles Sobhraj has already befitted once from his crimes with a book published in 1979. It seems another publication of the years in incarceration should finance him through to his eventual death.

I dined last night with a 91 year old Australian widower. He was on his way home to Australia after three months vacation … all over Europe. He golfs three days a week, rides a bike most mornings for exercise and drives competently day and night. He leads an active social life, has never smoked, and is a moderate social drinker. To deny him the ‘right’ to drive would be ludicrous. He submits a medical certificate annually for an annual licence renewal - required from age 80.

The time going through immigration is nothing compared to the waiting time outside for a taxi. Last evening my taxi queue number was 699. Taxi 17 was the next number called. The taxi spaces were pretty empty. Hundreds of people occupied the seats waiting for taxis that didn't come. I went back inside and got a limo.

People are fearful of spending on leisure travel during this time of economic crisis and cost of living from inflation, war, floods, droughts, typhoons and tornadoes. The scarcity of flights, seats and gauging prices is a hindrance to would be travellers. Thai Airways and other airlines are bankrupt. Thai will cancel the twice weekly (all full) Bangkok-Perth-Bangkok route from 28th October. They fear aircraft confiscation in some countries because of unpaid bills. Flying to and from Thailand is fraught with issues.

You're not going to get it done anywhere in Asia, not even Tokyo. I had mine done at Smythson of Bond Street. You can order online or CALL THEM on +44 20 7629 8558 London time 10:00-18:00 or contact them at https://www.smythson.com/ You can pay by credit card.

The only letter of complaint I have written to any airline during a lifetime of leisure and business travel was to British Airways. I complained about the attitude of the cabin crew and the meal - chicken to start, chicken as the main course. No choice. BA replied, with: "More people fly British Airways than any other airline in the world." One might call it a F... Y.. response. My complaint was not addressed. Just the facts. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Airlines_Group British Airways is part of an Anglo-Spanish conglomerate.

The Pink Card that comes with the Yellow Book, upon request, offers zero benefits that I have experienced, except for ID. However, a Pink Card issued to Permanent Residents, who have specifically applied for PR with working rights and etc. has a tiny PR printed on it that the ordinary Pink Card does not. The PR Pink Card provides free 'Emergency Care' at 'any' hospital, even BNH.

Turning 80 and I have loved living in Thailand for 30 years. Nowhere on the planet compares with the comfortable lifestyle in Thailand. The majority of my expat friends have returned to their county of origin. The primary reason being that they wish to see their grandkids grow up, graduate and marry. I am selling my condo here and will rent. The prospect of my Executor having to liquidate my assets in Thailand, as history and experience shows, is a mission impossible. Therefore, I will sell now and rent, get my money out of Thailand, stay here and live happily ever after. ????

The TM6 has always been superfluous because your arrival date is stamped in your passport. Perhaps a .jpg of that arrival stamp will need to accompany your TM30 and 90 day extensions in future.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul should also propose the end of Thailand Pass registration for foreign returnees living and/or working here on various visas and with Multiple Re-entry visas. What's the rationale for assuming differing Covid infection rates of fully-vaccinated returning Thais and fully-vaccinated returning foreign residents? There's always an undercurrent of discrimination against foreigners in Thailand. Here it is again.