BKKBike09

I don't think it's fixation on masks per se. It's more (for me, anyway) idle curiosity as to why wearing of masks outside in Thailand remains so prevalent amongst locals. Having lived in BKK since the late 1980s I can, however, attest with confidence that it is nonsense to try and say that general mask-wearing was popular / prevalent pre-Covid. That is simply not true. It is also complete rubbish to suggest that many people now wear masks outside because they are more attuned to issues linked to air pollution. A properly fitted N95 or better mask will be beneficial in protecting against the most dangerous fine particulates. Anything else - surgical mask, bandana etc - may offer some protection against coarse particulates, but is of little to no benefit protecting against the really fine stuff that gets deep into lung tissue. The 'average' Thai in Bangkok or wherever wears a mask as much because of pressure to comply with social norms as for any other reason. They've been told by their elders and betters that they need to wear them, so they do.

I commented earlier: "... plus the gutless media here will be too scared of defamation laws to print names etc". Watching TV news this evening (Nation Thai channel) and they listed all the dead as plain Mr / Ms (นาย/น.ศ.) . However there are various earlier online reports which identified some of the victims as military (NCOs - I've blocked out the names). ทราบชื่อ 1.จ่าเอก xxxx xxxx อายุ 32 ปี 2.จ่าเอก xxx xxx อายุ 31 ปี Either initial reports were wrong or I suspect the wagons are being circled and it's been deemed unwise to mention military customers or ... The newsreader, sounding grave, said "someone has to take responsibility". Really? Ya think? My heart goes out to the victims and their families. What's the betting there'll be no insurance, or no more than some risible amount that won't cover any long-term care needs, or compensation. A couple of years back the illegal hi-so pub operation next to my condo in BKK had a kitchen fire. My tenant took photos of the flames shooting up to his third floor balcony. Could we do anything? Nope - the place has high-powered shareholders. Police not interested, district office not interested ... "no-one was hurt, were they?" It's that thinking which allows this sort of s**t to rinse and repeat.

Cue hapless manager taking the fall while the owners slide, if they're connected in any way (lot of military folk in Sattahip). Plus the gutless media here will be too scared of defamation laws to print names etc. Anyone remember Santika in Bangkok ...

I flew back in early July on TG and masking was not compulsory. Or rather, in Thai the announcement said "must wear" but in English it said "recommended to wear". I and many others didn't wear a mask and cabin crew said nothing. Didn't wear one at the airport either (both LHR and BKK). If you're flying on a 777 that is way better than the tired 787 Dreamliner. AFAIK the 777 is used on the midday LHR departure while the 787 is the evening flight. Food is dire, movies are poor (and on 787 the screens are fixed to the seat back so if the person in front reclines their seat all the way you have to do the same to see the screen). But it is direct. That said, now EVA are flying LHR-BKK again, I'd always choose EVA over TG.

Possibly. Also some celebrities. People in the media. Rich folks who don't care what other people think. People who saw an influencer on IG with a 'cute' tat. Back in the early 90s I'd have probably agreed with the comment that tattoos were usually associated with bar girls. Not anymore. Got to move with these social media driven times, my friend.

Not true.

I was quite tempted by WRX (not the STI) but they've stopped importing the manual version here. I think they've stopped importing the STI altogether.

Too right. And according to pics in other Thai articles, driving a brand new Merc G-Wagon on a red plate (must be THB 10 mil plus). I'll go out on a limb and speculate ... online gaming and crypto in the mix somewhere.

Where does it say the driver was an alcoholic? Regardless, no sympathy here (and in any case, some alcoholics would be better drivers, despite their blood alcohol level, than someone who'd just been on the lash).

As an aside to this engrossing tale of rustic rivalries, I have coconut trees on a plot of land I rarely visit. It's near a mosque so have a deal with the imam that he can take as many coconuts as he likes to sell if he wants to help pay for the mosque power and water. Means we don't get random villagers doing what they want on 'the Bangkok people's' land.

According to the Thai language story, it seems like the piece of land in question lies between a public road and the boundary of a titled land plot, so the villagers use it for foraging etc. However the galangal plants in question were purchased and planted by the guy who's now claiming damages. I imagine that's why he's not claiming trespass as well. Also it says the two of them have a long history of not getting on. Welcome to life in a small village. Oh, the cops also seized gran's motorcycle because its papers weren't in order.

Is that while they 'respectfully' ignore wearing motorcycle helmets, stopping at pedestrian crossings and a host of other things that are legal requirements, as opposed to advisory?

Exactly. It needs masks to be off - even though it also means being indoors in close proximity to others for an extended period of time, in an environment with much higher potential for viral droplet / aerosol spread (thanks to talking and eating). Which is why I find it curious that said people then mask up outside. If others are concerned about their health, I urge them to take appropriate precautions. The limo driver was separated from me by a solid perspex partition. He (a young guy) actually told me he didn't want to wear a mask, but his employer made him wear it.

I flew back last week. The cabin announcement in Thai said masks were compulsory, but in the English version they were only 'recommended'. I didn't wear one on the flight, at the airport, in the AOT limo, in fact not once since I got back. No-one has said anything, and I haven't seen anyone looking very upset (this is in Bangkok). Pro-maskers will doubtless be outraged by my behaviour but hey, it's freedom of choice now. Indeed. More people seem to be masking outside now than before I left end June. Bizarre. Wear them outside but then go to an indoor food court with 4 friends from the office and sit cheek by jowl gabbing away and slurping noodles.

Not much danger of catching Covid in any of those bars in the picture - anyone for a game of 'spot the customer'?

Lounging by the pool fully clothed is kinda odd (unless you're Thai and it was after 4 pm)

In Bangkok at MFA Chaengwattana they offer a same-day service (I think 3,000 for a 5-year passport). Apply in morning and pick up in afternoon. Best to book slot online.

The new M-Flow system doesn't recognise ID numbers that don't begin with 1 or 3 as being held by Thai nationals, so my Thai ID starting with 8 means I can't link my M-Flow account to debit directly from my EasyPass - have to link M-Flow to a credit card 'because foreigners can only link to a credit card'.

A 'cooperative society'? That's what Western ideologue liberals like to think about the socialist approach. The reality is more and more becoming: "So-called freedom can sometimes be easily confused with selfishness" - Hong Kong's new Health Minister, talking about possible introduction of mandatory China-style tracking apps, which I'm sure a 'cooperative society' welcomes. (https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/macau-lockdown-begins-hong-kong-mulls-health-code-app/news-story/300ba4685a58d3a8aebbff75d56fe7e9 If that's what a 'cooperative society' means, we should all be concerned.

What's it got to do with the 'Right'? Some people prefer to be told what to do, others prefer to make their own minds up, and to believe that people should take agency for their own lives where possible. A democratic government should respect that. An autocratic government will always know what's best for people. People at serious risk from Covid are in a distinct minority. Why should the majority sacrifice for the minority? No-one has any idea about the real level of infections here in Thailand. Surely you don't believe the official statistics? Of course, it would be inconvenient for the government to admit that manic masking doesn't stop many infections, given how easy it is to catch it now. If moronic compliance with rules just because they're 'the rules' is your thing, that's up to you. I find it frankly astonishing how easily people will cede personal liberties with nary a whimper.

Thanks for the insight ... I had Delta last year. I really don't care if I get Covid again. My sister's had it 3 times now (UK school teacher). It's everywhere. It's mild for the vast majority of people. Live in fear if you choose. I'd rather not.

Rigorous data-based analysis at its best. Really, who cares about this stuff anymore?

https://indoorskydivingsource.com/tunnels/chaijinda-wind-tunnel/ This is the newest facility (in Cha-am). Military, but I believe open to civilians as well (friend of mine sometimes flies a Porter for one of the skydive ops here and told me about it).

How does that prevent an ambulance turning up to answer a 999 call right now? Why can’t people get on a Dentist or GP list? On your ambulance point - the problem, caused by NHS mismanagement and Covid staffing, is that in many health authorities there is currently little capacity to admit, in a timely fashion, patients arriving by ambulance. There are free beds, there are doctors, but the system is screwed up. So ambulances sit at A&E for hours waiting to offload before they can be sent out again. My 90 year old mum fell very ill on Monday, vomiting, incoherent, in great pain. We called an ambulance at 1 pm. It never showed, despite three follow up calls to 999 and being told at 9 pm (!) that one would be blue lighted out to our rural location. Oh, and being told to get the local defibrillator ready. I don't blame the Tories for this. But back on topic - time for Johnson to go before he does even more damage to the Conservatives. Although I suspect people are sick and tired of the sorry pack of them, not that Labour are any more edifying.

Everyone's back at work in the UK?? More accurate to say that many companies have failed to hire back staff they laid off during the pandemic, and that Covid continues to see huge numbers of people - while not very sick - off work. That is having a massive impact. That said, Johnson has to go. Enough with the "I made a mistake and I'm apologising now".