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Sambotte
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Posts posted by Sambotte
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Having been travelling all my life, and mostly long time in Thailand (my answer is here actually), i would say simply :
+ Business, daily business like renting a condo, a scooter, buying a transport ticket, food, massages, shopping, etc. Thailand is imo by FAR the No 1 in the world ! Like it's on another planet. Everything works well, good price, excellent service, trust, easyness, quality, politness !
And i mean by far. Compared to any country in Europe, USA, and hmm of course Latin America, Africa, India, but too Philipine, Laos, Cambogia, Vietnam, etc.
+ People. No argument, always polite (with very few exception in overtouristic area), easy to live by, funny.
+- : not many are strong intellectually and culturally suited, but to be nice is more important.
+ People are beautiful (and let's say "slim" to not offense the others ????) especially in the north. And let's say it : girls are much more "cool" than in many other countries.
+ Buddhism ! It's a philosophy, a way of life, source of many of those positives (but curiously it's not the case in India as i remember - 20 years ago that's said)
+ Safety.
+- Climate : the BIG problem is pollution. The high season is actually the smoky season, even in the south.
At least it's not cold, there are some nice beachs, mountains, the Mekong, etc.
+- Government/immigration policy : opposite to "before", it has become very complicated, and not nice sometimes. Hope it will change for the best, not only for Chineese/Indian tourist-pack, but for high or medium networth tourists/travellers/expats too. Waiting for that.
- Driving ha ha ! Not a big issue for me, but wow !...
Being in Mexico now since 6 months (with 2 in Colombia), i can say i really can't wait to come back in Thailand !!!!!!
But i may have to wait actually, some clarification about the entry soooo-many conditions still affecting maybe the strongest force of Thailand, it's hospitality (but i mean business too ???? ).
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My 2 cents :
For vaccinated :
Scrap everything ! Or ask only insurance if it's easy to get online.
Asking for a test is borderline. 3 tests is a no-go. Quarantine was... paranoia.
For unvaccinated :
First scrap the covid-pass, witch is a way to force people to get the vaccine (western idea)
Insurance ok.
One test before, borderline one test on arrival, period. (Many countries ask only one test)
Quarantine is a no-go for many (high networth)
COE looks like an emergency-only thing, scrap it. Or make it instant, online, working (like USA) if necessary for other purpose.
Tracking app is borderline, but ok for 1-2 weeks.
Same rules everywhere should be obvious.
In short : make it easy !
- Vaccinated : that's it. Or in crisis time ONE test before.- Unvaccinated : + ONE test on arrival (but no queue, no delay)
(- If really necessary : Insurance easy online and quick, COE easy online and instant, Track-app 1-2 weeks.)
- Same rules everywhere. No covid-pass. No travel restrictions. No lockdown. Those are such a mess it makes visitors (particularely investors, long term high networth, etc.) think twice "and tomorrow what's next ?".
My advice too : stop obeying the "medical experts", they are not gods (Malice 1993) - and Buddha is better ????-
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Very good and interesting post. First time i read article here, but i will look for it.
Yes it may looks long. But one in a week is worth it, and such intelligent post is rare imo (everywhere).
I happen to just have read (for the 4th time) "Le comte de Monte Cristo" from Dumas, a perl, very long, very excellent. There is mention of cannabis actually, but not with much accuracy.
To fully legalize it is very obvious (i mean, even medecine says it's good, that's something... ????).
(parano-complotist mode on) except it would be a LOT of money to miss for... let's say many corrupt people in charge... And for big pharma.
Business as usual...
Psylocibe is indeed a very interesting medecine, on rare and controlled experiences.
There are a few must see documentary about it.
Salute from Colombia guys, i have been lucky (or wise) to pick-up still-free countries since the begining of the panic (Thailand, Mexico, Colombia, in that order) and just (by chance here) in timing with the numbers of covid cases.
But i miss Thailand !!!!!!!!!! ????
Sadly it does really not look like they actually want tourism to resume anytime soon.
I am a high net-worth traveller, let me come back, pleaaaase ????(i mean like normal tourism/traveller/expat business, without all those infamous lockdown, assurance, quarantine, pre-autorisation, immigration randomness, and the so many no-go hurdles...).
That said, as a French, not been back since 10 years, i am ashamed of my country pretending to be a democraty and the country of "les droits de l'homme"... Would be hilarious if not so sad and so bad...
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I have been there. I mean moving from Thailand to Latin America (and back), many times before, and have been travelling all my life. Been years total in Thailand, have had retirement visa and dropped it with the annual more complicated thing, the more money in bank, and mostly the more potential problem for no reason with immigration...
Recently went from Thailand to Mexico.
I agree Thai immigration policy has made a 180 turn those 5-7 last years or so, was one of the best, has become a big worry.
Mexico : 6 months on arrival, renewable at will. Panama same. Colombia : 3 months + extension 3 month, but limited to 6 month total in calendar year. Etc. Day and night compared to Thai immigration now, not to mention the nice welcome (like Thailand before), and not to mention the "no crazy requirement relative to covid", especially Mexico, but now Colombia too.
This is a starter, for a traveller especially. But for a expat too, or even a tourist.
Other big issues in Thailand : the amazing... POLLUTION ! Count 6 months a year (all the dry season) over polluted everywhere ! That's a cooler if you care about your air.
The driving.
Music is painful. No dance. No littérature.
The awfully bad management of covid related visa issues during the first 6 months at least of the covid crisis (and Thailand was safe, but making problem to the "dirty-farangs" to stay although they presented no risk but on contrary easy money income - i mean normal, not via immigration extorsion like i have seen -)
BUT ! Thailand is still a Number ONE for security (i do not care too much but it affect for example your will to rent a motorcycle, way less easy in Mexico and you just may not want to get your rental stolen !).
Number ONE for "everything basic works", like airports, airplane company, train, hotels, internet, hot water (not kidding in Latin America it's not a sure thing lol...), banks (excellents) ! Rental soooo easy. Etc. !!!
BUSINESS IS GOOD in Thailand. Number one i would say, always polite, never arguing, excellent services, quality, prices. And no cheating. I mean with exception but very rare.
And for those on budget or just liking good service/price, compared to Latin America, Thailand is easily half expensive and twice quality, total x4 difference !
And well, Girls... Are much nicer in Thailand, at least in the beginning ????
And, people are not noisy !
Mexico... 3 months and half now for me, wow ! Is this Africa ? India ? A small country far from civilisation ??? No ? Why is nothing working (and crazy like airport, food, taxi, internet, etc.) so many f. times here ???
Instead of fixing their mess most here will explain some excuses, and argue, talking and talking.
Food is just bad in so many places.
Full of American and Canadian (nothing against but you feel you are in a mass-north american tourist place, like Costa Rica i think. Like Vietnam was full of Chineese. I mean way too many tourists, it's not about their origin). Big difference is you don't want to go in small areas in Mexico, à contrario it's not a problem at all in Asia.
Girls well... i have met a few bad bit... here. Not the same "shape" either i would say...
VERY noisy. Hard to find a place isolated from the multi-massive-permanent noise.
Etc.
Air is good. Music they know.
My travel in Mexico started, after a perfect flight with ANA (Japan quality, top), with a TOTAL MESS at Mexico airport (as very usual i have been in transit here a few times, always messy, fully desorganized), Viva air canceling my connecting domestic ticket for no reason (was paid and checked-in online). Next day i can move (with Aeromexico no complain with them), but the booked hotel refused any change, lied to me, was not nice.
Oaxaca province, have issue with internet, since years and for years they say. Internet not working well is that on Earth <deleted> ?! Etc.
Another province (Jalisco), after of course another big issue at airport (info panel not updated, people stuck before the gates for no reason, no annoucement... never saw such a mess !)... i rented a condo, only one lift, became out of order for 7 days !!! (i forget but it was a well-known lift brand so no excuse for that). 8 floor nice ! Taxi i would say 1 in 5 know how to drive. Wait... of course they don't put aircon, can not figure out why... ATM are quite random for what you can withdraw, always a mess until you catch the good banks-brands. Etc. Etc.
Everyday i expect something NOT WORKING ! I have past the age and the envy to be in such an under-developed country seriously.
And business is so bad in general. Always trying to ask more money for less service or quality. Irritating.
Today i ordered a chicken steak, i got beef <deleted> ! And they explained it's normal it's an American thing ?.. (never saw that in USA). Not surprised. Annoyed. Another bad business losing mine.
I am generalizing of course, some things are pretty cool, some Mexican are really good friends.
But :
I always went back in Thailand before and hope i will again.
First time more than 3 weeks (one time) in Mexico (now 3 months 1/2), i just plan to leave soon, and i will not come back. Like... Gabon in Africa, some countries are just not basically working enough for me now.
Will try again Colombia, i kind of liked this country. Some big political problem there but not affecting foreigners i think, and it's a rare open-country relative to covid.
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I think they just copied what China does here.
For vaping, i had a short experience in France. For me it does not remplace tobacco (and i smoke rolling tobacco)... But it can help. Good ganja would help more ????
Like everything in this world, i would appreciate some tolerance, not the opposite that grow with "ban this", "ban that", "for your safety", "for your health"... always against freedom !
Will they start to try to ban booze permanently tomorrow ? Here i guess most people would protest hm ? ???? Too many drinkers, can not ban ????
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How stupid is this world... I mean the world, it came from USA if i do remember.
Smokers are like a smoking tree, when there is a forest burning behind !
Pollution, land and forest fires, chemicals, etc.
But easy for people to target scapegoat, easy to forbid smoking, and to not deal with the serious problem. Cars, truck, songtaw, can smoke, nobody complain...
Climate warming : some people still deny it.
But yeap, hunt the smokers, sure...
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15 minutes ago, ThomasPaine said:
Yes I am happy that I received my extension. For me it is either stay in Thailand or go back to my passport country. Gladly would stay in Thailand. I considered refusing to pay then going to Ubon over the weekend to receive the extension there but with the cost of travel and hotel it was simply not worth it.
You were considering a travel for avoiding... 1000 bahts ?... Seriously ? ????
I understand to be a little bit irritated at Chiang Mai where they asked to go via agent and pay 9000 bahts for a 2 months extension, it's extorsion.
But here you could just be happy, second covid extension, 1000 bahts extra, wow, good deal no ?
I went today at Buriram too. Had visa exempt, amnesty, and a one month extension normal made in Chiang Mai. I heard them talk about CM, but i do not know what about that.
-> They asked me about letter, i said France does not. Then it was not clear, they asked me for something from hotel, not sure it was someone writing for me (a letter official from hotel, not just the TMxx something). But i asked then "so i just need this letter, photo, and pay, that's all ?". Yep. So i was pretty sure it would be ok, i took the note they write for the hotel, went and came back with a nice letter 2 pages from hotel, no idea what it was.
No issue, done in 10mn, no extra (it was my first covid extension, since i had a "normal extension" previously in CM).
Point is : STRESS RELIEF, NO NONSENSE OF "UNDER CONSIDERATION", no extra asked to me.
Until 29 january, done today.
Happy now ????
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15 minutes ago, blanes2007 said:
Chiang Mai: just got 2 months stamp
(Tourist visa => amnesty => 1 month Visa extention in 27th of Aug => 2 months Covid extention Sempt until 27th of Nov => now got the next stamp until 29th of Jan 2021)
No Embassy Letter, had to sign Affidavit that my Embassy doesnt provide such a letters
2 pics, 1900 bht, about 1 hr. Quite friendly and helpful
No "under consideration" stamp ??
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12 minutes ago, teetersb said:
I went to Surin Imm. today for my 2nd 60 day ext. and got "Under consideration" return on Dec. 2nd. New IO, & polite staff.
Surin in Surin Province ?
It looks like the date of return to immigration is variable ? 15 days, you 9 days or so ?...
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By the way i have use an agent for the first time in Thailand, not sure i can post the name here ?
Let's say they assist me for Thai visa ???? In Chiang Mai.
It was just a normal extension (refused many times in Chiang Rai and Mae Sai), cost me 3100 so only 1100 extra. VIP service kind of : transport, immediate processing at airport office, took 5mn total no issue at all.
I came on monday afternoon, was short for the next day for appointment, so i got it wednesday.
This agency has an office, look very professionnal and reliable.
And at immigration the guy from agency was obviously in very good terms with IOs, talking and laughing.
I do not know for the 2 months extension, i would suggest to ask this agency.
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2 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:
Why not just take the bus to Chiang
Rai or any other province, check in to a hotel and then go to the local immigration office the next day?
Bad idea. Chiang Rai Immigration is worst than CM believe me. And not as many agent in CR too.
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55 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:
This year, CV in the U.S. -- which hasn't taken virus prevention measures seriously overall -- will be the third leading cause of death behind only cancer and heart disease. More than 220,000 deaths already in just over half a year, and likely heading to between 300K and almost 400K for the full year since the outbreak began.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america?view=total-deaths&tab=trend
The U.S. CDC just recently estimated that the CV pandemic caused nearly 300,000 extra deaths in the United States through early October.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/health/coronavirus-excess-deaths.html
Brutes numbers again ? Ok :
We should not put 99% people in misery and lockdown (diverses freedom privation) for the benefit (a few more years to live with pre-existing conditions for most cases) of 1% !
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So obvious.
How long will it takes (if ever) for people to understand there is no other way than to deal with virus, like human have done since EVER ! Our ADN is even made in part of viruses adn.
To hope for a miracle vaccine is unrealistic. This will go for years though. Like flu with mutations, new vaccine, rince and repeat.
To stop living to "save the medical" (still under funded/equiped), for the 0.05% old sick people or so, is crazy. Thanks to the media, and the brainwashing with just the number of "new cases" (much more rarely accurate data like hospitalisations, symptoms, etc.).
Lots of misery, depression, suicide, bankrupcy, hunger, etc. Datas can already show all this mess kills and weaken way more than the virus itself.
But primitive fear is always the main force in this world. And old people rule.
And by the way there is 60 Million deaths per year in the world.
Road accident, heart diseases, cancers, obesity, etc. Even DIARRHEA kills way more.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death
Crazy world.
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"Its curbs on outbound group tours have had a debilitating impact on the tourism industry in countries such as Thailand which have become heavily reliant on Chinese tourists over the years."
And that was a big mistake.
To make so many problems to western tourists and expats by any way : denial at airport, bureaucratic nonsense, and even recently the uncertainty with last minute amnesty...
Not to mention the "dirty farangs", "burden farangs", "must clear out farangs"...
And the crazy requirements to come in Thailand right now.
Thailand had a huge business with tourism since 40-50 years, not just Chineese.
Since a few years Thailand gouvernement has decided to go all-in on Chineese packs.
I said it long time ago : very risky bet, makes Thailand dependant of China, and profit mostly only the elites.
Time to rethink this bad strategy imo. Just saying : it's very bad business, just opposite to Thailand unique skills in such business. So it's really obvious : "make international tourism / long stay EASY LIKE IT WAS", business as usual.
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I loved Chiang Mai, and better now Chiang Rai, mostly for people here, and perfect size of Chiang Rai for me (no traffic issues, easy to go here or there, no police racket, etc.).
Although i am a sea guy rather, i really like it here.
BUT the HUGE pollution is a no-go / no stay.
It's december to june, with very dangerous levels around march to may.
To be honest, it's one of the WORST area (all north Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, China) in the f. WORLD for air !
Problem is increasing since decades, will never get fixed.
Too bad (air). Would have been one of the best area without this stupidity.
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Got lost again and again...
So for me :
Tourist/exemption original.
No extension. No letter. No stamp.
French passport.
Can i get until 30 november or better until 31 december straight or not ?
I do not want any 15 days "under consideration".
Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.
Any precise info ?
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On 10/5/2020 at 4:21 PM, LukKrueng said:The story behind "farang" is that the first westerner to ever visit Thailand was a person named Frank, pronounced by Thais farang, so ever since then all white westerners are referred to as Frank.
Hmm ?
I was pretty sure the origin came from "Français" => Farang-Set
French were around (Laos Cambodia...) first i think that's just why.
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So... Are we still waiting for a Royal Gazette to confirm actually ?
Or can one go now get a massage without being technically on over/under should-i-stay-or-should-i-go ? ????
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Fair for those who manage to get a previous extension.
For the 2 month visa in country : interesting will be to see what "not so many document" will be ????
Like they need any...
And to see if local immigration will follow a national rule, or again, make obstruction for corruption.
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6 minutes ago, timoti said:What about people with under consideration stamp? We will have to go again in 2 weeks so then how can we start a new application before this stamp is converted into real visa?
They may consider considering a new consideration i think... ????
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New visa AFTER october...
Do i feel they will not make this before a max farangs have to go the "agent" route ?...
I wish i am wrong.
To make a paid (OFFICIALLY) visa from inside Thailand with no hassle is obviously the right move.
I mean was, 2-3 months ago already...
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9 minutes ago, greggraham said:
Yes, it is now official (according to Reuters).
new +60 day extensions possible now too.
Have a link ?
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17 minutes ago, PaynHuaHin said:
Looks more serious now.
But still clear as mud if you read the article...
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Kind of weird only Bangkok herald is talking about that.
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PM can't wait any longer: 27 countries could be granted no quarantine access to Thailand
in Thailand News
Posted
There is a proverb : "L'important, ce n'est pas la destination, c'est le voyage" (could translate by : "what matters is not the destination, it's the journey").
I may wait to see how this works or not... Doubt it will work for travellers, especially high-medium net-worth.
Countries meaning (really) business like Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, to name a few (and the list will grow for sure) are asking : nothing ! or just insurance ! or just one test. No sand-or-hospital boxes ! No 3 tests. No bureaucratic nightmare. And no change of plan every month or so...
I still doubt Thailand government want to restore tourism business, it's just political announcement.
No more Farang-set ! (Français, not on the list).