Marknreston

Unfortunately I believe more and more will cancel as more changes and restrictions come out.  Multiple COVID tests, very few businesses open, increasing from 7 to 14 days, etc etc.  and this for vaccinated and pre-travel tested tourists??   Just does not make sense to spend thousands on air travel and hotel.  I have reservations but will cancel soon.  

Unfortunately with or without the pipeline, the oil will move.  Instead of a pipeline it will move via trucks or trains which will be more prone to accidents, derailments and environmental damage. Yes, this is politically correct and will be welcome by the Progressives in his Party but this is very short sighted  

I wonder if having the Pfizer vaccine will obviate the need for Covid insurance.   HAHA....just kidding...I know the answer....TIT

If you have been vaccinated AND you have tested negative within 72 hours of departure, which is still a requirement, then quarantine is superfluous and should be eliminated 

8 hours ago, Surelynot said:

It is thanks to the total ineptitude of Trump and his administration that large parts of the world.....Africa in particular .....have been delivered on a plate to the Chinese.....MAGA...what a joke!

If you think China started their expansionist policies and only engaged in vast and undisputed human rights abuses etc etc ONLY during the past 4 years of Trump then you have not been paying attention or you just want to take another swipe at Trump.  China played Obama like a fiddle and most Presidents before him were not interested.  But it was during Obamas 8 years that the South China Sea islands were built and became militarized and China started their Loan and construction policies with third world countries.   I am not making a political comment.  It is just reality.  I would say that one thing that Trump did in a positive way was to shine the light of international malfeasance more directly on China.  Like him or not (and I don't like him), his China policy was at least an attempt to expose them for what they are.  Unfortunately, it appears human rights abuses, economic espionage, corporate blackmail and all of the other wonderful things China engages in does not seem to disturb the rest of the world except Australia.   

Another USA hater heard from.  

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

Is is a pickle as what to do with them as any assistant the Thai government will render to these people will incur the wrath of the N. Korean and will encourage many others to follow suite...

There is no “pickle”.  These women face certain execution if returned to North Korea.  International law is clear in cases of this kind.  They must be given sanctuary in Thailand or another country willing to take them

I have made multiple flight reservations in February and March in hopes I can get a retirement visa from Washington DC consulate.  Does anyone have solid information regarding “semi-commercial” flights.  Are all Cathay Pacific flight to BKK acceptable?   Sorry.  This is confusing to me 

On 7/2/2020 at 1:44 AM, DrJack54 said:

OP, I can understand your wish to change to non O and get rid of the non O-A and it's ridiculous Thai insurance

However at this time I would do one more year with the extension to the O-A.

I realize it has expired just now, however being under amnesty you most likely still can obtain extension. There is cheap throw away insurance that you can obtain.

 

Please direct me to "cheap throw away insurance" that satisfies Thai immigration.  I understand some have been denied entry based on having insurance from companies NOT listed as authorized on the long stay insurance web site referred to by Thai Immigration.  I am out of the country and will need to reapply for a new retirement visa once thailand opens up to my category.  Last year I paid 20K for insurance and if possible I would like to reduce this amount.  But I am leery of buying insurance from any company not listed.  

I mailed 3 greeting cards from the US to Thailand over the past 3 months (April May and June) and NONE of them have arrived at the address in Thailand that I mailed them to.  I will try a package tomorrow which will be certified and insured so it can be tracked.

Being rich and well connected gets you the visa. Many less fortunate who just want to visit friends or have an unforgettable trip of a lifetime are not allowed. It is not about sex as some of you might intimate. I have met so many nice sincere people who wNt to travel to the west but the process of getting a visa is worse then a criminal proceeding. Unless of course your Daddy or Uncle is well connected. Unfortunate for so many.

Having ejected from an F-4 (fire on takeoff), I can understand having to avoid populated areas with an emergency on takeoff or landing ( low altitude and low speed). What I am wondering is why this happened 40 minutes after takeoff. At that phase of flight he should have been high enough or fast enough to avoid any populated area and still eject. 30 year old airplanes do t have black boxes or voice recorders and I doubt radar coverage I'll tell much. I don't know the area so maybe he was doing practice approaches somewhere. I doubt we will hear more.

It is obvious that some here are just anti police for whatever reason. A couple of points here. How many protesters or looters in Fergudon were injured by police ior national guard. None. They showed considerable restraint Of course the ROE is different in Afghan when on patrol through a market. But if you have hundreds of protesters 10 feet away calling for your death and throwing bottles etc then my weapon is at the ready. In fact the leniency of law enforcement was shown clearly as looters and arsonists destroyed their own community without law enforcement interference. As far as the weapons and body armor used by law enforcement , there is an old saying. Don't show up at a gunfight with a knife. Are you all sure none of the protesters and looters weren't armed?? The LA police learned this the hard way when five bank robbers wearing body armor engaged the police with M16s while the police returned fire with.....38s!!

I hope the next time your car is stolen, your house is robbed or you are the victim of any crime your anti police bias is restrained.

There are 330 million Americans protected by hundreds of outstanding law enforcement agencies. Of course there are some bad apples. But I think many if you have way. Way overstated police issues. But have fun ranting. that is your right.

Lots of posts about bad cops not backed with anything besides opinions. Yes there are bad cops. Always have been and always will be. But compared to the corrupt, inefficient, and often invisible Thai police, I will take US police practices any day. When was the last time you saw Thai police issue citations for traffic violations or render assistance at a serious road accident? It is unfortunate the world is jumping on the "unarmed black teenager killed by a white police officer" story with no more regards to the truth in the case than what the liberal press offers. For every bad cop in the US I am confident there are thousAnds who would and do give their lives on a daily basis to protect their citizens