GanDoonToonPet

Good news ???? I've just come over from China for the extended Golden Week and brought a few bricks of Yuan with me...time to head to the exchanges in Silom me thinks... Usually the Yuan dips 5% when the hordes of Chinese descend so it's a pleasant change this time ????

The insurance is still needed, for those who are returning to Mainland China and India, according to the latest info (Jan 10) released by the Thai gov. The original claim that it was cancelled came from a 'Thai PBS World' article that quoted a 'spokesman'. This was then published verbatim by the investigative journalists at 'Phuket Go' ???? 'Thai PBS World' corrected themselves yesterday: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-from-china-and-india-must-have-health-insurance-coverage/

I'm due to fly on on Saturday, from China, and I'm on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. ???? AFAIK there's been no official confirmation of this, only the 'Phuket Go' article which references a 'Thai PBS World' article which has a dead link to 'Ministry of Public Health'. There's nothing on TAT, CAAT or MOPH websites. Also nothing on Richard Barrow's twitter which is surprising as he usually has his ear to the ground.

According to the TAT website, the insurance requirement still remains. https://www.tatnews.org/2023/01/thailand-maintains-fully-reopen-entry-rules/ This is going to catch a lot of people out, mainly those coming from China. I'm one of them and still confused as to whether I need it for my 'self transfer' in Singapore. Air Asia still hasn't updated it's website to reflect the most recent changes. https://support.airasia.com/s/article/Travel-Requirements-Thailand?language=en_GB

Here's a conundrum. ???? I'm fully vaccinated, travelling from China via Singapore. The connection in Singapore is a 'self transfer' which means the two flights aren't connected. I'll have to exit immigration in Singapore, pick up my tickets for the Thailand leg, then pass through immigration again; then rinse and repeat for the return journey. I'll obviously need a PCR test to re-enter China but surely this is irrelevant as, as far as Thailand is concerned, I'm only flying from / to Singapore. This surely means that I don't need the COVID insurance as Singapore doesn't require the test? My head hurts ????

Mixed feelings about season 3 of The Orville. There were a couple of great episodes that were thought-provoking and pulled on the heart strings but the finale...100% opera and 0% space. What a shame ☹️

Here in China apps are all the rage and very convenient. WeChat is always open because...chat. Just open phone with finger and scan or they scan you (can set different levels of security). Only drawback is can only link to one bank account now. With Alipay you can pay any bills and transfer money between bank accounts. Also it links up with Taobao where you can only pay if enough cash in your wallet. Both can be used on the Metro and buses (in some cities) and then there's Didi taxi without which most foreigners would be stranded somewhere ???? When I come back to to LOS I think I'll have great difficulty switching back to paper money ????

Maybe one way to tackle this, in some cases, is trying more to prevent bullying in schools. Not that I'm justifying his actions. Some people don't seem to understand the difference in explaining something (cause-effect) and justifying it. I doubt very much he was born that way.

I obtained my Thai Teachers' Licence back in 2014, which has sadly expired. I only had a Bachelor's degree at that time so had to take the 4 TCT tests which I passed first time due to the help of the, now defunct, Thailand Teaching Forum (thanks Stamp). I also had to do the (joke of a) Thai Culture Course which set me back a few thousand baht and taught me nothing I didn't know already. I heard that the corrupt TCT officials had been purged after the coup so it amazes me (not really) that another 'cash cow' teachers' test has been introduced. I'm currently teaching in China so that I can semi-retire in Thailand until pension age. Silliness like this just makes me want to stay here until I can fully retire.

Intriguing start to this one...I'm hooked ????

New series of UK-AUS comedy 'Frayed'. Not for the faint of heart ???? https://youtu.be/2YmmD8MbfIA

That series has been been 'right-on' for the last 20 years. At least they're consistent. Remember the assistant in a wheelchair with severe bone disease?