Kaoboi Bebobp

3 hours ago, OnTheRun said:

Not so sure about that. Quite a few I know are used to drinking at home now with friends and seeing the money they save, also the 22 rule thing doesn't apply in your house. 

Same here, hanging out with old and new friends.

OK, the savings have been substantial, but more important, those of us who know each other have met many new people at our condo complex over the nearly four months. The camaraderie has grown exponentially, we have had respectful arguments and lots of fun, the evening poolside atmosphere has been relaxing and comfortable, generosity surprising, and the Thai wives/GFs have met new like-minded Thais and are having a ball. The only rule is that we clean up after ourselves, which everyone pitches in to do.

We've had occasional compare and contrast discussions and we like our "new normal" (sorry . . .) Well, except I do love my draft beer. So, I will go out but it will very likely be less often. 

22 minutes ago, chrisinth said:

Yep, that is my choice also, have been smoking them for quite a while now, suite me in a number of ways. I have been using a cigarette case for many years now (was sick of the soft packets crumpling up in my pockets) and, the case I like you can get more of these into it. Never trying to be flash with the case, just sensible.

 

Also changed the insert of my Zippo to the gas module because I was pi$$ed off with the dehydration of the petrol in this climate. One of the better moves I've made; if anyone uses a zippo here, these are highly recommended...............

 

 

Been carrying around a Zippo for years and never used it because it would run out way too fast compared to a regular Bic. Did not know about gas inserts. Know anywhere I can buy an insert? Bangkok/Pattaya? Thanks.

It's been a lot longer than a month ago since Thai smokes have been degraded. 

Since the generic packaging, Mevius (formerly Mild 7) has really sunk to a new low. Previous to that, the Mevius Sky Blues and Wind Blues took a big turn for the worse two or three years ago. They used to be a really smooth smoke. 

Switched to Camel Blues recently. Not as bad as I thought they would be since I tend to dislike US cigs. And the 60 baht price does wonders for the wallet compared to the 150 baht for Mevius and 145 for Marlboros (which I really dislike). 

The Cambodian and Viet Mevius cigs are so much better and only 45 baht and 35 baht respectively. 

2 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

No sports matches or competitions that will attract large groups of people are allowed;

 

No service personnel or public relations representatives are allowed to sit with customers.

 

So no live football and no bar girls allowed to sit with customers, that's beer bars and go go bars finished.

Seriously? So sports bars, er, restaurants, which have had the TVs burning brightly for the past week, will now have to turn the TVs off. Wow, that's just unbelievable. So the sports "restaurants" (and bars)  might as well shut down again and send all their desperately needy staff back to the village. 

Even at 55 years old, he has given so much to literature. So sad, yet his output will continue to give so much pleasure around the world. It's possibly the greatest set of novels I have ever read, generally known as The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which is not giving anything away since he uses the phrase in the first sentence of his first book in the series, The Shadow of the Wind. 

I nominate him for a posthumous Nobel Prize in Literature. 

Will be in Pattaya in a few days and always like to shop at the big market on south-end Buakhao. Is it operating both days at full strength? Thanks.

37 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Buying the thai IO-approved health-insurance policy Plan 1 (with 200K deductible) from LMG Insurance only costs 6.000 THB to 11.400 THB for the annual premium in the age bracket of 51 to 75.  And that policy does not require an (expensive) medical, just full in the application form and the Health-Insurance certificate is send to you by mail on approval and receipt of payment.

Probably cheaper than engaging an agent.

Good point. I checked the LMG policy page. Looks like a "winner." Much appreciated @Peter Denis

I have an O-A based retirement extension and will have to (unwillingly) renew by mid-August. I will have an embassy-notarized pension income statement. However, I don't want health insurance due to my departure sometime this fall (when outbound flights resume). What might I expect for an agent fee to deal with Jomtien? Thanks.

27 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Are you talking of Bangkok, or Rayong or somewhere as I don't know these soi 33/1 places in Pattaya.....

It's Bangkok. It was in reply to CrunchWrapSupreme who seemed to be asking about the openings yesterday in Bangkok where he lives.  

Me, I'll be heading to Pattaya soon.

4 hours ago, Kelsall said:

Do you have a link or other reference for this?

An American living in Da Nang posts really good video livestreams and his info has been rock solid. Don't know if I can put a link to one video in particular. He's done several urging people to reconsider buying a Business visa if you don't have a business. The one below is from Dec. 2019. His short vids on visas have helpful titles. 

Eli the Bike Guy in Da Nang

This is better. It's his latest short livestream is on several topics, including business visas.

Business visas crackdowns

Also the Admin of the FB expat pages for Da Nang and Hoi An, Craig Anderson, has posted many times about cases of people having their business visa revoked. I think you might have to become a member though. But plug in Business Visa Revoked in the Search bar, you will get Craig's many threads. 

Here's a link to a summary of the Visa changes.

Link to VN legal firm

Imagine all the way over on the plane you have to pray no one else has a fever. That's no way to take a holiday. 

This doesn't look like a short-term policy. It's looking like it will be months before Cambodia will drop the barriers to tourists. Cambodia was one of my get-out destinations.

1 hour ago, drbeach said:

Yes the Vietnamese visa changes pre-date corona and were coming anyway.

 

Some people with an anti-Thai vendetta like to make out as if some neighboring countries are just dying to "embrace" poor farang, but the reality is anything but. It's only a matter of time before all these countries have strict visa regimens in place. As things are looking, Thailand will soon look more attractive visa-wise than Vietnam. There is however a precedent in Vietnam's case. Unlike Thailand, Vietnam immigration law requires a 2-month absence between 15-day visa free entries, that some European and South Korean/Japanese nationals receive.

Incorrect.  There's never been a 2-month cooling off period. The former 30-day cooling off period between the last departure and next re-entry into VN for visa-free nationals will be eliminated July 1 under the new immigration law revisions approved in Nov 2019. You will be able to go out and re-enter the next day. 

Of course,  not until VN re-opens the borders to the Europeans and others. 

And the revisions bring an expanded selection of investor business visas with residence cards.

Which immigration district? 

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

Very interesting, a Khmer pal of mine works for Annam based in Siem Reap and I know its quality branded imported food and drink products. Yes, they are a little expensive but you pay for the quality.

That's a pleasant surprise! I couldn't find the store on a map. Where is it in SR? Thanks.

1 hour ago, MJKT2014 said:

Is this just a shameless plug for a pub opening that actually isn't going to let you drink anywhere nearby the premises? Never saw that coming ????

 

And don't get too excited. The Londoner CANNOT serve you takeaway brew pub draft. I assume they'll offer the usual brands in a bottle or can. In answer to a question on the pub FB page, the pub spokesman said: ". . . sorry man! Unfortunately we won't have draught beer, as illegal for us to sell our own beer off-site and the other draught we won't sell enough to open a keg."

Going there was already borderline for me but if there's no pub-brewed beer, then there's no point to go all the way out to Phatthanakan for a common beer.  

Ask Australia how the Thailand-Aus Free Trade deal is going. For one, Australian wines still attract huge price markups (call them market-protecting hidden tariffs). Two, Thailand pulled the rug out from under Aus gold miner Kingsgate, which says it is owed 30 billion baht/$US1 billion for its losses. 

Good question. But, wow, no replies in over 7 hours. Maybe Pattaya is dead. (Joking . . .) 

Can't find any videos of the doctor's weekend presentations. Looked by name, committee and/or COVID19 on YouTube. Any links, please? Blogger Richard Barrow always had a direct link to the video of the weekday info officer but there's none for the weekend presenter.

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

Yes indeed, pubs, beer bars and girlie bars and restaurants - still NO ALCOHOL, other than for home consumption. Glad I managed to "escape" draconian Thailand just over 3 months ago before borders closed. Life in retirement here in Cambodia very enjoyable - no bans, lock-downs, curfews or reporting apps!

Same thing in nearly all of Viet Nam. Even social distancing has been relaxed. The Viets might even open a few international air routes come June 1.  

Quote

Pneumonia Vaccine - 3,500 Thb  + Service charge - 900 Thb = 4,400 THB

In Canada, my Pneumovax 23 shot was CA$165/3800 baht last fall. So the 3500 baht fee is cheaper. However, as Sheryl mentions, the service charge puts it at over CA$190. A bit expensive, compared to a taxi fare of something like a 100 baht or so to the unnamed hospital. 

My next one this fall (Prevnar 13) should be free as I got my first shot before a new regulation made the vaccine free for us wisemen. They're always looking to reduce hospital admissions so many serious vaccines are free.