DLock

I don't care about Phuket. I want to know Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Phuket is simple.

So, how big is the "designated area"? How far can I wander from the AQ hotel? ...and what will they do if I wander too far, or stay out later than I should, or leave my phone in the room "accidentally"? This really is quite farcical and it does give me a chuckle. Just open it up for vaccinated tourists with a 3-day COVID free test and Insurance...anything more is just stupid.

Wrong.

I believe that by November 1st or 15th, the 5 other Sandboxes will be ready, BUT it’s not announced or Royal Gazetted yet So my plan is wait until November, for the NEW 5 sandboxes are announced, and then enter via that route, I’ve already done Sandbox in Phuket and even though 14 days was too long, 7 days will be fine as long as we’re allowed out using same principle as Phuket sandbox. The areas are 1. Bangkok, 2. Chiang Mai (Muang. Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao districts), 3. Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin district), 4. Phetchaburi (Cha-am district) and 5.Chon Buri (Pattaya, Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts), government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday. Edited just now by bolt So, on the 15th November, in Chiang Mai, I can leave my AQ Hotel at 7am, and go anywhere I want in Chiang Mai and return at midnight? ...or Prachuap, or Cha-am, or Bangkok? This is all I'm trying to figure out. In which case, what is the purpose of the AQ?

So, November, I can leave my Chiang Mai hotel at 7am and return at midnight if I want? ...or am I stuck in a hotel still...in which case, what is the context of Chiang Mai "sandbox"?

I agree. This is confusing. So, a tourists has to stay at an AQ hotel. Can he go anywhere in Bangkok or Chiang Mai - like leave at 7am and return home at midnight doing whatever he wants? If yes, then the AQ are basically meaningless. If no, then this is a quarantine, so stop saying Thailand is "open". It's not.

I will tolerate vegetarians and vegans, as long as they stay on their side of the supermarket... ...but lately, I am seeing vegetable burgers in the manly meat section. If this continues, we are going to put meat products in the vegetable sections and make artificial vegetables out of meat products to confuse your bean sized brains. You have been warned.

What complete idiot would trust the Thai Government and pre-pay for Moderna vaccines for their staff in Thailand? Me. For I am that idiot. Given my staff need to be vaccinated to re-open some businesses, kind of puts us in a bit of a pickle really.

I have no doubt Thailand will produce some decent eSports players who will probably make decent $$$... ...but as far as Thailand developing games or content, given the lack of relevant education, literally no skilled developers or gaming studios, and the fact that they are so far behind the curve...there is virtually (no pun intended) no chance Thailand will be able to "attain the level of a regional hub" in the gaming community. There is no correlation to playing games to developing a gaming industry...and they fail to understand that.

Interesting when I got my second shot of Pfizer this morning. They said I can that take that vaccine paper and go get a yellow vaccine booklet if I plan to fly Internationally. But they say that they have run out of vaccine yellow books and will not have them until late October, so please change your flight until then.

Press is justifiably confused. But as long as they are specifying provinces, that implies there is still quarantine in place...meaning any arrival must stay in that designated area, implying SHA+ hotels and possible closed routes. I still don't really understand how that can work...but they seem to have a "plan". ...otherwise people could go to Chiang Mai, and just disappear elsewhere in Thailand. Sooner or later, their plan will be fully vaccinated and a negative test within 3 days of flying, plus probably insurance to enter Thailand...probably next year sometime.

Where do you read "no quarantine 1st November"? I was hoping that was the case, but as far as I read the re-opening plan remains at 7-days and every month they just add more places implementing 7-day quarantine with no end in sight. Really hope I am wrong.

"Prayut" and "High level dialogue"...2 words that should never be in the same sentence...or paragraph...or document for that matter. He thinks the world buys what he says, but he never has any intention of following through...just hollow words.

Is there any websites that detail how the Bangkok sandbox will work? I understand staying in SHA+ Hotels, but is it like Chiang Mai with restricted travel to limited tourists attractions and no free wandering wherever they want? Or as long as you are fully vaccinated and stay in a SHA+ Hotel, you can go wherever you want in Bangkok? I am not really up to date on the re-openings, so appreciate any better information that I have...

The Chinese are way to smart for the Thai's...and they have all the gold...that Thai's want. The Chinese play the long game. Thai's play the short game. Thai's may think they are winning by selling condo's and land and hotels to the Chinese, but over time, the Chinese will overwhelm the tourist economies like Pattaya. The high speed rail from China to Pattaya will be the final incursion. The smarter bargirls will already be studying Chinese on Duolingo.

I worked in the Philippines for 2 years, and that was more than enough for me. The traffic, poverty, food, 60/40 foreign investment requirements (yes, you only own 40% of your business), airport, phone and internet, were all show stoppers for me. Although the people were very friendly and helpful. I really don't know how anyone could favor the Philippines over Thailand...it's false spite. PI may have better beaches and islands, but most foreigners will end up living in a condo in Quezon City, wearing San Miguel single with pork adobo stains down the front, going "malling" every weekend, wondering how they get out of here... Thailand isn't perfect, but life is pretty good if you made good decisions on how/where you live, who your partner is and your financial situation. If you satisfy all the visa requirements, it works as advertised. If you feel like a cash machine, treated poorly, suffer from police corruption or double pricing...I gotta question your decisions in Thailand. Change them. Thailand is what YOU make of it.

Just call Microsoft and move everything to the Cloud and Azure.

If that's all you aspire to and can attract based on your success in life...I understand your predicament. Carry on.

I'm always intrigued at how someone could find a 3/10 flat footed, splay toed farm girl, with cheap make-up and minimal language skills attractive....and marry them...but maybe that's just me.

Almost every Thai has someone in their family or close friends that is a Cop, as some sort of "power"...and yes, the dumb foreigners think that gives them some "power" or false confidence or insurance. I used to enjoy the new foreigners in Phuket starting a business (usually entertainment) saying everything will be fine - because we have a Cop as a shareholder. Until they are making losses upon losses and that Cop comes around every month for his cut - regardless if they are losing money. They soon find out the "benefit" of having a Thai Cop too close...

He was better in the Goonies...

Wow, what are the odds of Thailand and Malaysia having the exact same number of new infections, and only 1 apart on deaths. Split decision and Thailand has officially overtaken Malaysia (on a straight absolute count) by 1.

What does it matter? Thailand is opening in October...as promised by Prayut. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40002107

...and this is why Thailand will never achieve the 70% vaccination target this year. The amount of boosters and do-overs limits the amount of vaccines for fresh unvaccinated people. If only they had chosen quality vaccines from Day 1, we wouldn't be in this mess.

They can come...what's stopping them?