soi3eddie

Assuming it's just for calls then Skype local number is a good option and works well for me. They have a choice of UK area codes. Calls to my London number come through to my phone app or PC where I am in the world - must be connected on 4G or WiFi though. Just £5.16 per month (received calls are free). A more businesslike option is "RingCentral" that works in a similar way with a huge number of features - I've been using this for my business for the last 4 years.

National Insurance is a tax too. 12% for UK employees and 13.8% for UK employer's NIC's at present Class 1 - due to rise by 2.5% soon. Don't know about Thailand but suspect nowhere near the same as the UK as few people in Thailand are even officially "on the books".

Plenty of ventilation. No need for more fans.

Would be intersting to see Pension Figures vs levels of General Taxation. Very few pay taxes at any level in Thailand. Even VAT is still supressed at 7%. A bit shocked to see UK only at #9 despite how much tax we pay.

Never seen any age restriction noted on COE (or Thai pass so far). Assume there might be. 17yr old in these times probably has more common sense for travel than many 60yrs older! My 10yr old half Brit/Thai son was quite happy to travel by himself from UK to Thailand and back a few years ago. Most airlines rule 14/16yrs for solo travel so your 17yr old will be fine in that regard. Just ensure that he/she has access to cash/debit card/phone in case of need.

The transport and PCR test is done by the SHA+/AQ hotel that you must stay at for at least 1 night. They could have mentioned that though.

I would bubble wrap each item and try to fit inside a carry-on bag or case so that there would not be any pressure on any components that might bend or break any connectors or pins.

My condo is on 5th floor of an 8 floor building. I wasn't sure how 3BB were going to get the fibre cable into my condo. I couldn't see how they would thread it through the existing trunking for the copper telephone wires. A 3 man installation crew arrived on time. They started in the hallway where there is a utilities riser shaft from the communications room in the basement. There was already some type of fibre splitter box in the cabinet. The installation team connected to the splitter and then ran the fibre cable through the suspended ceiling to my condo. They drilled a small hole in the ceiling void into my property. Then they continued to run through the ceilnig void to my TV, Phone, Entertainment cabinet. Dropped the wire down the wall discretely and plugged in the new router. 900MBPS/500MBPS real speeds with ethernet cable connection.

I booked a Pattaya 1 day SHA+/AQ hotel yesterday for 4th November. On the hotel confirmation it says: • 1 SWAB Test • Airport pick up from Suvarnabhumi International Airport So I'm guessing that the hotel's partner hospital does the test on check-in at the hotel.

Had one done at Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok in 2014. Was told no food - only water from 4pm. Doc gave me prescription for laxative tablets and 2 small (200ml?) bottles of something called Swiff. Started at 6pm night before and it was VERY fast acting. One does not want to be far from the pan! Had to drink a couple of litres of water too. In the hospital room they gave me a "sedative". In fact it actually knocked me out and I was just waking up at completion of the investigation. No pain and very professionally done. Was not given any different options for the "cleanse".

I very nearly turned away and left but the husband was genuinly nice and chatty (he had worked in Phuket until the pandemic). I was <deleted> off at first but I really wanted that coffee!

That's for sure. I can't help think that by blaming foreigners for the virus and Anutin's infamous comments last year, it's all part of the plan to distract Thais from criticising their government for all it's failings. More talk and fear of foreigners will maintain controls on everyone and divert attention from the Thai government. It will be interesting to see the poll attitudes to foreigners once the pandemic is well and truly over. I'm reminded of a situation in June 2020 while travelling near Khao Sok in Surat Thani. I stopped at a roadside coffee shop and was greeted by the owner's husband outside in the garden, he spoke great English and was a nice chap. On trying to enter the shop to place my order, his wife said I must leave as "foreigners have Covid". She was adamant that I could not enter the shop. Her husband persuaded her to serve me coffee at the table outside which she did. Cleary she was <deleted> scared of foreigners and covid.

Such a sad occurence, too young and tragic end of life. The parent/s may or may not be devastated. Riding bikes from age 10 in Thailand is the norm though not normally on busy roads but just in the village. The only way to stop this would be proper and fair enforcement of the laws but we all know that will never happen.

I switched to 3BB (1000/500 MBPS) full fibre to my condo in Bangkok in 2020. Excellent service and speeds. No outages. They supplied a WiFi6AX router which is fast. I pay a year upfront and they give one month free. IIRC it works out about 600 Baht/Month. IMO very good value. Before that I had AIS VDSL 80/30MBPS from 2014 to 2020 which was reliable too but their old pricing plans were more expensive than 3BB fiber. Before AIS I had TOT and you can all guess how bad that was (from 2010 to 2014).

I booked in hotel Pattaya. The site at: https://asq.in.th/?durationSelectedItem=1+Day had quite a few hotels. I'm sure they'll add Bangkok hotels (if not already)

For this trip I used Atlas Worldtrips travel policy with 1,000,000 USD medical cover that also covers Covid-19. Their confirmation states this. Got it through aainsure.net (Benny) and paid 159USD for 3rd Nov to 15th Dec. Not the cheapest policy however the cover is good and there is no exclusion accidents from riding motorcyles (The Luna Pass and Axa Sawasdee exclude M/C accidents). Next trip in January is for 3 months so not sure what company to use for that.

Today I have spent several hours booking a sha+ AQ hotel for 1 night. Bought the required covid insurance too. I already had the flight tickets (extended from 12 months ago to 3rd November) and non-o extension of stay (until May 2022). Even with the above and my tenacity in navigating beaurocracy and determination to return to my second home, I wonder is it worth the effort for 5 weeks stay! I'm not bothered about bars being officially closed (know plenty of places to have fun) but there is no way a 2 week "Tourist" would go through all of this. I submitted a COE application this afternoon in hope it may be accepted in advance of the Thai Pass being open for applications. Even then, I still have to get a PCR test before being allowed to board the plane in London. No tourist is going to go through all the hassle and cost. No wonder very few have booked and paid for flights yet. Easier places to travel to for winter sun closer to home for most.

Allegedly a senior figure of the Boys in Brown is a shareholder of the bar area in Sukhumvit Soi 7. When all else is closed it's a reliable place to find refreshment and entertainment. Ditto the beer garden. Was at both places a few times during the January 2021 lockdown and it was pretty much business as usual.

A good idea IMO but these clowns are so insulated from reality that the general populace can never get anywhere near them.

My guess is 15th November too for bar reopening. This would allow 2 weeks after the relaxed entry rules to see if infection rates increase with foreigners arriving.

All kinds of underhand arrangements go on that many are unaware of. You did well to remedy the situation.

How is the owner going to turf you out if he/she is in China? Stay put and enjoy the rest of your contract. The issue is between the owner and the agen and not you. IMO.

Before the pandemic, Bangkok held the title of the most visited city in the world and it was not just "tourists". Many came to and passed through to do trade and business benefitting the whole country. Creating jobs and employment but not just in the "entertainment areas" that so many here are fond of. Really it's about footfall. More people visiting or relocating in Thailand means more money in the economy. This money sustains employment which ultimately keeps people in jobs and that includes pupils and teachers in private schools educating the young generations in the way of the world. Private vs Government schools not the issue but it educates both types of students upwards. No private education or oversubscrition to government schools will not benefit anyone.

The conversation probably went as follows... ...thank goodness we filmed at an airport. At least we were able to depart swiftly on our private jets once filming finished...

I send from my UK account to Wise (2 seconds). Then Wise to my Thai account (a few more seconds and very good exchange rate). Take out cash at Thai Atm or in branch with minimal costs. Job done.