mikosan

17 hours ago, MarcelV said:

I teach at a very prestigious private school and we have been having online classes since May. I'm not worried about the school closing down for good. The school has been in business too long to forfeit. The fallout would be unthinkable.

I imagine that regardless of the provision of online lessons, the fees have not been reduced?  I'd be withdrawing my kids as well.  You can't tell me that there is the same value for money in online lessons as there is with classroom lessons.  I don't suppose any school is safe from closure, even your 'prestigious' school.  It's existence it at the whim of the parents who pay the fees and if they decide they are not getting value for money, which online lessons are not, your school goes down the pan as well.  As for the fallout being unthinkable, just have a look around you, the unthinkable fallout is happening all over Thailand, in all areas of life.  With any luck it will hopefully include this useless, corrupt and puritanical government soon.  Good luck.  

3 minutes ago, MarcelV said:

My school is in the deep south and we have already been told we can forget about reopening anytime soon and as teachers we should prepare our classes until the end of the school year in April as the governor doesn't expect any on-site learning in our province in the near future.

I've heard similar.  In reality they should simply forget this school year and start again when the new school year is supposed to start, after songkran in 2022, with the kids re-sitting the year they were in this year.  It will result in kids leaving school a year later, but at least they will have received a full education, for what it's worth. 

3 hours ago, natway09 said:

I certainly hope that our illustrious leaders comments have been taken out of context here.

His "no drinking" comment has so many stupid arguments against, in particular here in Thailand where the tax & duty on alcohol make so much money for the government directly, then all the closed bars ( I am one) who are not contributing to the coffers & our customers who are responsible people

just about had enough of his anti alcohol stance which is actually putting people into ilegal hovels and at MORE RISK

(counted 9 open last night after 10pm) where no social distancing measures except one being upheld, where I had a drink,

& most importantly in my case 14 Thai staff getting no income at all, which this guy in his ivory tower would have no idea about.

The only people making any money is the envelope for the corrupt BIB to go blind.

It is happening, make it legal again & know where people are

 

 

I couldn't agree with you more mate. I am in a similar situation and laugh at the stupidity of people being forced into illegal, enclosed hovels, a la prohibition in the US in the 1920's, where the likelihood of the spread of COVID is far greater.  I appreciate that it is illegal and the holier than thou will say they shouldn't be doing it and should be avoiding the evils of the devil drink, but sadly that is not human nature.  In the meantime, as you say, staff are getting no wages and who knows how they are surviving.  But the BiB are doing OK out of it, so I guess that's alright then?

7 hours ago, billd766 said:

Through his spokesman at Government House Thanakorn Wangbunkhongchana as reported by Daily News, Prayuth said:

 

No parties

 

No drinking

 

No gambling

 

I am more than willing to obey this ruling, IF I can be sure that it is applied fairly and equally across the Thai population from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high.

 

That would mean EVERY officers, SNCOs and other ranks in the military, police, civil service messes and HiSo house in the entire country with NO exceptions at all.

 

Otherwise it is just more mealy mouth meaningless drivel which many people see and hear every day, and ignore.

Yes, that's exactly what it is and why so many of the normal people totally ignore their fallacious proclamations and carry on, almost as normal, whilst being careful to check over their shoulders, frequently.  Unfortunately, that does not help those employed in the hospitality and entertainment sectors, who are down and almost out. Not that this corrupt, misguided and hypocritically puritanical government, their lackeys and the hi-so's give a toss.  A famous Tracy Chapman song springs to mind, but I daren't talk about it here.

16 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

Wrong KB: i was down Bangla at 6pm Friday 1 Oct and it was in full swing just without nightclubs.

same in Rawai that evening too…….

Pubs and clubs are not LEGALLY open.  Pubs are calling themselves restaurants, but generally do not have a restaurant licence.  Those that are open are paying the police handsomely.  The whole situation is a joke, but not a very funny one for the millions of Thais around Thailand out of work because of the draconian measures of their useless and corrupt government.

OK, we all know that the sale of alcohol in restaurants, throughout Thailand, is legally banned and bars and pubs everywhere are closed.  However, I'm not sure what it's like where anyone else out there lives, but where I live, I won't name it, for fear that we will hereafter be targeted, the ban on the sale of alcohol in restaurants and the closure of bars, is producing a farcical scenario.

Many bars have turned into restaurants, mostly without a restaurant licence and are selling food, selected from the menus of genuine local restaurants and produced elsewhere, which is delivered to order.  At the same time they are clearly selling alcohol, even if it is concealed in a unmarked mug or cup.

Many restaurants are openly selling alcohol, without the requirement to order food, again in the obligatory unmarked mug or cup.

Far be it for me to criticise them, many are struggling financially, on the verge of financial ruin, many already ruined and closed and with families to support, what else are they expected to do.  My point is, what is the point?  If I go to a restaurant and eat food, I have to take off my mask, so if my mask is off and I am consuming food, what's the problem with having a glass of two of wine or a beer, or whatever other alcoholic beverage tickles my fancy.  I can drink a non-alcoholic drink, so I'm drinking, so what's the problem with that drink being alcoholic?

Bar and pubs are the same.  If I can sit in a restaurant and eat without a mask, why can't I sit in a bar and drink without a mask?

The farce is that the police mainly seem to turn a blind eye, be that (a) because they are being paid to do so, (b) the premises are owned by one of their own or another influential person, or (c) they simply can't be bothered.  Occasionally, they have an urge to collect some money, maybe the bills are due at home, or the missus needs a new dress, or the child needs a new iPhone, or maybe some conscientious (read jealous) member of the public has grassed on some restaurant or bar and this has been officially recorded, so they have to do something.  On these occasions they zealously raid said bar or restaurant, then, whilst they're out, also randomly raid a few others, but generally not those covered by (a) & (b) above, collecting whatever monies they think they can get away with and pocketing it without issuing a receipt.

So, if the laws are not going to be properly enforced, what is the point in having them?  Why is alcohol consumption being forced underground, a la prohibition in the US in the 1920's, into smoky enclosed spaces.  Surely that defeats the whole point of the exercise?  

Before the usual anti-alcohol brigade lay into me, as they surely will, let me firstly say that I do not drink alcohol, but have no issue with others doing so.  I also fully appreciate that alcohol loosens up inhibitions and could cause a slackening in COVID awareness.  However, if people are already drinking, regardless, then that argument is negated.

Whilst I appreciate that the solution is not opening up huge warehouse sized discos and nightclubs, to hordes of drunks, with politicians and hi-so's included in that group, with regards to pubs and bars, wouldn't a sensible idea be to restrict patronage by square meterage, with restrictions similar to that of restaurants.  Premises can at least then open their doors again and let a bit of fresh air in, which is acknowledged as better for preventing the COVID than enclosed spaces, families can be saved from financial ruin, people can be employed and we can get back to a semblance of normal life?

In conclusion, drinking alcohol is going on, regardless of the laws, it is ridiculous to think it is not.  Implementation seems to be mainly a way to get publicity that makes it appear that something is being done, generally following a complaint, or to feather the pockets of those supposed to be implementing the laws.  So, either enforce the laws absolutely, impossible in reality, or get rid of them, the preferable option, the current farcical situation is of no benefit to anyone, other than the MiB.  

1 hour ago, bluejets said:

Dual pricing in a form applies all over the world.

Most would know how airport cafes charge like scrub bulls ....hit the tourist/traveller.

Service station cafes the same thing when travelling around compared to your corner cafe.

Get over it and move on.......

If this bloke has cancer as they say, i'd say the stress would not be good for him anyhow.

 

I have no problem with paying extra to enter National parks or whatever or paying where Thai is free.

Ridiculous example. Airport cafes charge EVERYONE exorbitant prices, there is no discrimination whatsoever. Dual pricing in Thailand is based on race, which is certainly not acceptable, or practiced in

most other countries, certainly western ones. You may find it acceptable and are willing or happy to pay it, most of us are not.

1 hour ago, actonion said:

My [Thai} wife and i were sitting at an outsside table at a  Pattaya Restaurant, i was staring at a  menu board in Thai language  belonging  to the Laundry next door..

 

I was interested as to why each item listed  had 2 prices,  ie;  socks, underwear,  shirts, etc ....I  asked my wife is  that price listing for large  & small items, she replied ,  no  its one price for Thai and  1 price for foreigners..........even in a laundry??

You have a Thai wife, as do I, therefore you have a ready made solution. If you want to buy something or get something done, get her do, or organise it. It might actually cost you more in the long run, after she takes her cut, but at least the extra will be going into the pocket of your wife. 555