soi3eddie

6:30pm to 6:30am curfew would be more realistic. Or better still, impose house 24/7 house curfew with very few exceptions as in the UK (key workers with ID etc.). Here in Hua Hin it's surprising to see so many locals out and about in the areas such as Chom Sim, Bon Kai, Hin Lek Fai etc. but taking a drive by The Hilton this afternoon it was a ghost town.

Foreigners (i.e. Westerners) are being blamed for Covid-19 in Thailand fair and square. Truth is that it was the Chinese that spread it around most of the world. Anutin's comments about "dirty foreigners" seem to have been the catalyst for us westerners getting the blame. The mood has definitely changed against us here in Thailand. Many of us are thinking about relocating afte this is all over. A shame for Thailand because of government ministers shocking outbursts and poor policies (often reversed, watered down or not implemnted. They haven't a clue what to do. No consistency or positive leadership anywhere with provincial governors making their own decisions and discriminating against certain races.

8 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

  Most people in this country do not know that Thailand would be similar to Burma without the tourist $$$.

Having visited and travelled Myanmar (Burma) on several occasions - most recently in Feb 2020, I would say that the mood and welcolme there is better than Thailand. Very refreshing atmosphere and English is more widely and better spoken in Yangon than in Bangkok. The country is developing fast and would be lovely to be able to call it home or stay long term if there were easy options to do so (no retirement option yet).

21 minutes ago, qwertyuiop said:

No they won't. The NHS is not available free of charge to Non-Residents. They would have to show that they had resettled in the UK, not simply returning for health care.

This particular couple sold everything and have nothing to go back to

Illegal immigrants in the UK seem to have no trouble accessing NHS and GP services. Are they paying?

2 hours ago, Mister Fixit said:

I doubt they'd be living the high life, not with two very young children with them.

It seems that they may not have been living the "high life" but they were certainly partying on Khao San Road before heading to the islands to get "chilled under the palm trees".

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Lets wait and see how long it takes for Thailand to start allowing the Chinese back in after things get back to normal. I bet they don't even wait that long as lots of expats and tourist have now gone forced out by ridiculous immigration issues,

Will there be a differentiation of foreigners once the border are re-opened? Chinese allowed in OK but Farang cannot?

6 hours ago, Redline said:

Police patrols would be welcome, but we know they don’t do that 

Here in Hua Hin since Saturday haven't seen a single cop anywhere. Mentioned this to the GF tonight when heading to Makro and she said "the cops are all off with their mia nois". Anyone else noticed a lower level of street plod during the shutdowns (and less opportunity for commission money)? 

I paid 4000 Baht deposit in December 2017 for my Bangkok Condo meter (30/100a). When I went to MEA they used my passport as ID. When applying online it would not accept my passport as ID as the number is too short. So, the GF used her Thai ID and it pulled up my contract account name all good. It does say that they will only refund if contract account name and bank name match - they do. I got the confirmation number for refund and printed it out. I'm checking my KBank daily to see if refund arrives. Anyone think there might be problems? Seems a hassle to call MEA by phone and the offices take 45 minutes by Taxi.

Can anyone post here once they actually receive their refund please?

7 hours ago, nsn1 said:

The wife phoned yesterday and was told, we would be responsible for the meter if we took the refund.

I was going to say that how do meters go wrong. Then remembered that my 30/100a meter stopped working last year before being before replaced by MEA. The meter simply stopped counting the usage. I had free electric for over 2 months while they sorted it out. What are the changes of a meter overcharging?

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Some offices are wanting a one year bank statement from the bank.

Unless you updated your bank book every month it would not likely show the entire year.

On my NON-O extension renewal at CW BKK last week, they wanted the full 12 month statement, bank letter and full copy of bankbook. The IO checked the 3/2 months balances very carefully drawing lines with ruler to check the balances withing the date periods.

On 3/29/2020 at 9:41 AM, 147SAG said:

Good time to do some maintance on them all.

Good time to scrap most of their aged planes and consolidate the fleet with modern fuel efficient ones suitable for the routes they serve (B747 BKK to Phuket anyone?). At the same time they should scrap THAI management, rid the airline of all the cronies and freeloaders and streamline processes and booking systems. That said I do love the onboard service compared to other airlines.

3 hours ago, GordyS said:

Maybe they are cutting off a certain individual's finances

That would definitely free up quite a bit of baht to be spent on real people

 

THAI Airways - "From April 1, it will cancel most of its flights to Europe — London, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, Oslo, Moscow and Stockholm". (BP 25/03/2020) ...but not Zurich or Munich? Why not? Maybe those are Very Important Routes?

THAI schedule checked today. TIP: Search any other flight with THAI to Europe during April and see what's available.

3 hours ago, smedly said:

outdoor skin surface temp reading doesn't work it will show most people outside in direct sunlight as having a high temperature of 40c or more so the screening is flawed 

 

Outdoor in the sun is vastly different from indoor

Coming back from Myanmar to Kanchanaburi at Phuu Nam Ron border last month, we had walked the last 150 metres in the sun after being dropped off by the guide. When we reached Thai Immigration we got zapped with the thermometer and both registered about 38.5c. The answer? Stand under the fan in the shade for 5 minutes to cool down. Zapped again and then allowed to pass.

I was at Chaeng Wattana 05:15am this morning. About 120 people in line at that time. By 06:00am about 200 waiting. Immigration officer anounced that TM30, 90 day reports and Tourist Extensions had moved to Muang Thong Thani and was handing out maps and directing people to get a taxi or motorbike taxi. This thinned out the queue by about 20% immediately. 

How dare these Thais be allowed overseas to seek a better life or improved earning opportunities. They should be punished and not allowed to return to their home nation under any circumstances (including global pandemics)!  Thai Rak Thai?

17 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Instead of taking the unsure road of applying for a refund, would it not be better to ask my credit-card company for a 'charge back', as you suggest.

Emirates send me an e-mail that my flights Dubai - Brussels were CANCELLED (not suspended).

But my flights Bangkok - Dubai are not cancelled yet by them (but obviously they did become worthless for me without onward flights to my final destination).

 

If your flights are on the same booking reference and through journey then it would be wrong of any airline to penalise you for not taking the operating flight when they could not provide the first flight to make the connection. Under these circumstance a full refund would be due. If not forthcoming then credit card company should charge back. For many years I never ever book with an agent anymore. It's almost impossible to make changes, get early seat assignments or mileage qualifying tickets. If anything goes wrong you will be caught in the middle of a game of ping-pong with agent and carrier regarding refund etc. 

I need to do retirement extension in next 45 days at CW Bangkok. I hope to go before Friday. Anyone know how bad the queues a L counters have been recently? I'm worried that immigration will be shut sometime soon. 

17 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

In addition to all this they dont lockdown things but close it; the closure of the non-existing nightlife of Bangkok, Pattaya etc. will result in tens of thousands of "service workers" to travel back home, in crowded buses waiting at crowded stations. This will do wonders in distribution of the virus, if you ask me.

Once home they will realize that due to no irrigation water there is no agricultural work nor revenue. No work, no money, go home = same same but different. 
 

Not just service workers but general workers too. We drove up from Bangkok to Phlapphla Chai, Buri Ram province last Sunday. I was surprised to see quite a few pick-up trucks heading away from the city loaded with possesions, fridges, M/Cs etc. same as the annual exodus for Songkran (although 1 month early). Here in the village it's dry as a chip. No real rain since last October. Ponds empty and ground rock hard. Some of the farmers have readied rice fields and levees ready for the rains - still about 2 months away!

There's a real opportunity here for the Thai government to offer some goodwill to visitors and expats who cannot comply with leaving before permitted stay expires. If border runs, visa runs and return to home countries is not possible then a 30 day grace period on all permitted stays could be offered with no financial or blacklist penalty. I was stuck here for 3 days over permitted stay due to the Iceland volcanic Ash cloud closing European airspace in 2010 and no penalty was applied for overstay. 

A trip to the British embassy will be of no help at all. You won't even get in without an appointment and even then the opening hours are very limited.