GR8fun in LOS

On 6/19/2021 at 3:42 AM, webfact said:

Fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Sinopharm Covid vaccines (no less than 14 days earlier, but no more than one year) and has a Vaccine Certificate to prove it.

Interesting will this slow down the Russian arrivals - No Sputnick 5 vaccine approved, by the Thai officialdum?

I wonder if any of the Rice came from the old Shinawatra Rice Scheme stocks?

15 hours ago, dinsdale said:

New South Wales has a few positives in quarantine. Heard it said today that daily testing of the populice is quite low at the moment. 6000 a day but they want it back up to >13,000. Population of New South Wales just over 8 million. Relate tests per population and even at the low standard of 6000 tests per day equates at a guess to around 42,000 tests a day in Thailand. Around 1.2-1.3 million a month. So far just over 8,000,000 since the beginning. Australia 16,000,000, UK 146,000,000 and USA 433,000,000. To see one must first look.

If you can believe those Thai figures - total tests increased to 8,124,896 on 3rd of April - no change in 17 days. Previous change was 28 Mar 8,074,112 and prior to that 15 Mar 1.600,951 and previous to that 18 Dec'20 1,217,873 and then 2 months earlier 14 Oct'20 977,854 and that comes from the worldOmeters site, updated daily or as provided. As you say Thailand is 69.9m 11% tested on current figures; whilst Australia is 25.5m 64% tested.

On 6/18/2020 at 12:56 PM, natway09 said:

This protection racket should have been stopped years ago.

They have had 2 or 3 chances of being a heavy aircraft major maintenance hub but this

was the stumbling block, Where did they go 1, Singapore, 2 Malaysia 3 (cannot remember).

They wanted to come here as labour is more availablle & diligent (Yes, employed a Malaysian recently ?)

This needs to be extended to other businesses assoon as possible. I have been involved twice with 

offshore Companies that really wanted to transfer some of their operations here & in the end did not for this very reason that their board was not convinced that if working by the book they had control.

and what is the chance that the aviation industry of China, does consider the opportunity? They are starting to produce aircraft in some numbers now but looking to the future. They could get cheap government loans from PRC, obtain lots of Chinese workers and become another Chinese Hub hanging off the Belt & Braces and string of Pearls logistic program  Only thinking out-loud BUT....

8 hours ago, franck1972 said:

The color won't make it grow :-D

Yes I was just wondering whether it was a typo and should have read "widening" not "Whiting" ?

On 11/30/2017 at 8:22 PM, Sir Dude said:

There is obviously no scamming margin in the tender for a company...or they are waiting till the price is upped and then corruption can commence forthwith.

Sir Dude the tender was put out with 4 months extra work and less money than the last Contract. I understand all the hotels pay % for beach life guard service and there aint any. Nice little earner for someone - Guess Who?

On 11/4/2017 at 8:20 AM, geovalin said:

Revenue from ticket sales at the Angkor Archaeological Park reached $84 million during the first 10 months of the year, an increase of 71.54 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest report from Angkor Enterprise. “The revenue has sharply increased during the first 10 months of 2017, with the number of foreign tourists reaching 1.9 million, up 12.25 percent compared to the same period last year,” the report reads.

 

In October alone, revenue from ticket sales to foreign tourists amounted to $8.51 million, an increase of 81.78 percent compared with the same month in 2016. Ho Vandy, the secretary-general of the Cambodia National Tourism Alliance, said the positive results owe much to governmental efforts to promote the iconic archeological park.

 

“This shows that the government’s strategy is successful in attracting tourists. Even increasing the price of tickets has proven to be a wise decision,” Mr Vandy said. “The rising revenue is helping increase the budget allocated to the protection of the Angkor historical site,” he added.

It seems that a 72% increase in revenue has been achieved with only a 12.25% increase in tourists; prices must have increased dramatically?
Is the Revenue increase all going to "the protection of the Ankor historical site" I wonder?

Joy's Cafe in Patong has been a popular US style eating place, usually with in excess of 6 different styles of cooking Turkey. They also do the Super Bowl. Up from the beach just near the Andaman Beach Suites set back from Hatpatong Soi, just before RatUthit. Good luck

6 hours ago, coops said:

the Ookla speedtest will usually search and select one in Thailand for you.

I have found and also read on this site that the "Ookla Speed Test" is a complete waste of time.

I have found that it is recommended by Thai providers, as it overstates the speeds by 10 times and sometimes higher.

Try some other speed test tests there are many free ones about and also look to testing outside of Thailand, is my suggestion. 

2 hours ago, missoura said:

Yesterday afternoon at Don Muang domestic departure. Fastest, I have ever seen. All lanes seemed open and the Thai staff were waving people through. Maybe 5 minutes at most.

Missoura from my simple knowledge we do not need Immigration Officers for Domestic flights. I could be wrong 

3 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Unbelievable! Why is this department seemingly totally incapable of training - and deploying - enough officers at BOTH airports?

 

It cannot be budget restraints, because the Immigration Bureau earns literally hundreds of millions of baht each and every month from visa applications, visa extensions and re-entry permits alone. Secondly, they do get a certain share from the departure taxes, as well as taxiing and landing fees charged by Airports of Thailand and factored into every flight ticket sold.

 

So it must be a human resources issue, I figure. But what exactly that entails, I cannot tell.

 

Is there a lack of interest because service at the airports doesn't leave enough opportunity for collecting tea money?

 

Is it that the Bureau cannot find enough people with a rudimentary command of English?

 

Is the stumbling block the inability or unwillingness of officers to acquaint themselves and memorize the rather convoluted immigration procedures and rules that often differ between citizens of a huge number of foreign countries?

 

Is the problem that they simply don't find people intelligent enough to be trained to operate the electronic equipment installed in the booths (as we all know, the local police force does not necessarily attract the brightest minds in the country).

 

Or is it simply that the Immigration Bureau - alas, like so many other government departments - has absolutely no idea whatsoever of human resources planning and looking ahead further than just a few days?

 

My hunch is that it might be a combination of all the above, though.          

Mr Whisper I think you may find it relates to the Common Thai practice of forward planning - which rarely extends beyond "mmm what am I having for lunch"?

8 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Saturday 8 and Sunday 9, hope your friend has a great weekend.

I checked my calendar and it stated Sunday 9th "Buddhist Lent" and Monday 10th "Asalha Bucha Day". So Saturday 8th is OK.

Is my Calendar Wrong?

17 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

I entered the word "snake" into Google, and a picture of comey popped up, just like that !

Well I just followed your recommendation and found many pictures of reptiles but no humans nor Americans were shown; which version of Google were you accessing?

7 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

And to think only a matter of months ago they failed several major international safety audits based on deficiencies with maintenance and inspection routines of aircraft.

Yes have they satisfied the international requirements?

Last I remember there was a threat from at least the US and Europe to prevent planes based or serviced in Thailand from flying into those international regions. There was a lot of Thai bluster but very little action from memory; has that situation changed so that a new "Hub" can be situated here?

3 hours ago, Bangna Betty said:

Complete failure of any town planning priority for green areas in a growing city.  It's all about the money here and parks and outdoor areas don't make money. No prioritising of quality of life for residents.  Worse in Pattaya - opening up of area behind Jomtien Beach Road would have been a perfect opportunity for council to zone a park and leisure space on Jomtien 2nd Road but it is all going to be condos. Lost opportunity for a great beach, leisure zone for tourists and locals. Very shortsighted. 

How can you "shortsighted" ?  

Thai forward planning is "what will I have for Lunch today?"

10 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Not sure if translation was the problem, but this is totally wrong.  From the MORI site:

https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3664/perils-of-perception-2015.aspx

 

It would help if you quoted from the correct year your figures above are for 2015 and THailand does not even appear. See https://www.ipsos-mori.com/Assets/Docs/Polls/ipsos-mori-perils-of-perception-charts-2016.pdf 

On 12/25/2016 at 11:18 AM, wayned said:

The navy can use their new submarine and patrol at periscope depth and clandestinely search for illegal sand bed builders!  What a joke!

 The Navy are also responsible for all the Paragliding, at last count 7 operating on Patong Beach, numerous Jet Skis to many to count, various other boat rides just off the shoreline. Those stupid toys operate in the water which is a marine responsibility.

Why don't the navy use their marine skill set and clear up the water and leave the land to the land lubbers.

If they still have excess time available the could collect the rubbish and dead fish before they reach the waterline.

We can but live in hope for surely TIT.

I have to agree with the majority of posters above, the waste and rubbish lying around the beaches is amasing.

10 days ago I went to the supposedly beautiful Patong Beach, what a cesspit!

As you approach the water you have to avoid at least 7 paragliding groups who suggest that they own the beach and you should get out of their way. I must admit if the deck chairs and umbrellas can only take up 10% of the beach because it is owned by the Royal Family and people should not profit from that strip of land; the paragliders and jet ski operators take-up or try to control the other 90% of the beach. 

As you approach the water's edge there are numerous plastic bags and plastic containers, dead or dying fish of various sizes and colours, the odd glass beverage bottle, bottle caps and some vegetable matter. Not entirely enticing as you wade into the water.

Once in the water you legs or torso are brushed by leaves, fronds and various other pieces of misplaced vegetation. Then come the plastic bags, plastic wrappers, plasticised paper wrappers and previously used condoms to name but a few . The water is far from crystal clear being pale greeny brown colour. I have heard of numerous people developing eye and ear infections after swimming in the beautiful Patong Bay

Whilst in the water you need to take care of jet ski riders who zoom here there and every where with no obvious intention of avoiding the swimmers in the marked areas or outside those areas.

It seems the jet ski and paragliding people are the ones responsible for laying out the Swimming flags Red / Yellow (safe to swim here) and the Water Sports (no swimming) Red Flags and these seem to suit the commercial needs of the flag layers rather than the swimmer's safety needs.

Another day in Paradise ....   ????

I see a few problems with the story or it may be Diplomatic Errors from translation:- 

Russian-Thai trade fell 52 percent from USD$4.9 billion in 2014 to $2.4 billion last year, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce. As of October, this year was down by almost a quarter.  There were not to many Russians coming to visit Thailand in 2014 and 2015.

“Everyone in Russia knows that the best canned fruit comes from Thailand,” he said.  _ I thought the canned fruit industry was heavily affected by Cheap / Slave labour particularly the Canned Pineapple Processors.

President-elect Trump’s promise to cancel the Trans-Pacific Partnership, nations like Thailand left without a dance partner  - Thailand is not a signatory nor member of the TPP so why is Thailand denied opportunities?

Rosatom, Russia’s state-run nuclear power enterprise, was recently in Thailand trying to spark interest in its technology.  - could the Thais be trusted to maintain and run a nuclear power plant?

“There’s beauty in Russia that you can’t find anywhere else,   - could the Thais survive a Russian winter?

The blue-eyed president is a household name in Thailand, and possibly the only major foreign political figure to have a Thai fanclub.  - is that statement correct? With the level of education available to all Thais, I don't think many folks from Issan would know to much about Russia let alone their President.

including a photo exhibition of then-Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn’s visit to the Soviet Union in 1989.  - not particularly current, 27 years old.

Anyway we will have to wait and see.

8 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

TOT got so bad we moved today to True fiber and will see how it goes. With fiber rain should not have an influence.

I'm in Patong and was getting terrible service from TOT so I looked into True; initially we had both boxes working and using a number of tests true seemed best for both ethernet and WiFi.

Having gone with True they have now gone down the drain and are F...ing useless with ratings on downloads regularly below 2.0 mbps.

What do you do; I have now heard so many complaints about True and it's only "Low Season"?

Perhaps the Chinese have taken the WiFi with them as they have left no money behind.

3BB is the next option as I have heard good reports about them.

Good luck

I'm based in Patong and many friends over the last 3 weeks have been complaining about True, both internet and television supply.

I have an android box from IlikeHD "StreamboxMini" and was having lots of problems with True speeds and buffering; after many questions and complaints to IlikeHD (which they answered promptly and generally solved the problems); I was asked if I had True internet to which asked why, the response was "we get about 90% of our problems from those using True".

When I have complained to True direct, the response and action is generally very ordinary; I cannot say much more than that.

TIT

As stated above the open central area, between the 2 circular buildings has been closed-off since the "small problem" became obvious.

Visitors have to walk along the internal roadway outside the building to travel between the 2 major buildings. The restaurants and shops facing onto the central area are closed but others remain open. The bridge area into Robinsons is open and you can go past the brewery site to access the back road but not the shops nearby.

The Thai shopping area downstairs is almost all open, only those shops close to the entrance from the car-park are closed and access is boarded up.

The car-park is still operating almost normally with access available from most access points including the external one near Robinsons.

However it does pose a number of questions as to how the poor quality workmanship could have been allowed. It almost looks as if inferior quality concrete was used and almost certainly not vibrated when the piers were poured.

Are there any others in the same condition? It seems strange that the problem is only in an isolated area and not in a major load bearing area.

TIT

I know, previously a friend imported greyhounds from USA to Australia. 4 Animals 1 dog and 3 bitches who were all in pup.

The foursome traveled from the US to England where they spent 6 months in quarantine and then traveled to Australia where they spent a further month in quarantine. Pups were born during the quarantine period but unfortunately there was very little space for the dogs to run around or exercise whilst in quarantine and consequently were not in good condition when they were finally released to the owner in Sydney.

You must remember that Australia is quite unique with the number of diseases it does not have and does not want to have. So the quarantine requirements are quite severe and even so called "famous actors" receive no leniency. All of which I think is very important to maintain for the good of the country and future generations.

Good luck with your importation but don't be surprised if it takes a period longer than you would like to receive your puppy.

Been going on for years. Wonder why the crackdown now?

“Phuket officially has about 50,000 hotel rooms but we know that there are in fact close to 100,000 rooms in the province that are being operated like hotels through rentals on a daily basis,” said the vice governor.

Perhaps the officials are attempting to reconcile the ToT Chinese tourist numbers with those actually registered and spending money on the island. "We have been told that the actual spending by our Chinese visitors is not up to the levels we have projected, please determine reasons for this error."

Same old Same Same and of course the local Farangs will provide very good scapegoats.

Easy.

Paint out the Zebra crossing.

It's dangerous as it gives tourists a totally false sense of security.

Thailand hasn't evolved far enough for Zebra crossings to be used here.

Yes the Thai drivers only use the stripes to better line up their targets on the crossing.

Whilst the Foreign Tourists believe they are safe but they are target

Almost the perfect killing zone