cerox

Not many people here, many restaurants have only a few customers.

Went to see Angkor Wat last week, it was kind of busy but not too much. Do not want to imagine how it looked like before with all the Chinese tourists. I think it is a great time to visit.

I am happy they finally started burning.

Went out on Feb 7th. I was angry because it seems between Feb 1 and 15th they were not burning much, when I checked the AQI, AQI "only" at 100-150 (normal hahaha).

So thank you, for finally starting it.  Because I want to return somewhere in May, so please burn now get it done. I was worried they dropped dead and it would take more time to get the burning started. Please do not disappoint us. Burn every day, we want to be able to come back, but you need to finish first.

I have been in Siem Reap for the last 5 days enjoying life travelling like normal people. Busy here, so other people have not all lost their mind.

So you sit in your room all day and waiting 2 years until they have a vaccine or something? Unbelievable this panic here.

How can you be friends with someone who wants to kill you.

It sounds really logical what you say BritMan, but I have to try really hard not to laugh when I hear "burning ban" in a city which is polluted AQI 150+ for 6 months for the year ????

If that is true, the burning ban has the opposite effect than intended. Before people could live here peacefully and leave for 3 months. Now it is inhabitable for 6 instead of 3 months.

1 hour ago, WaveHunter said:

I thought it was just my imagination at first but the pollution in Chiang Mai has indeed been really terrible lately.  Why? Did they start burning the fields already?

I wish I knew that too.

But something definitely changed 2019. The burning season was so much stronger. Then in October, November they was occasional burning when I watched the AQI remotely.

December/January every other day alternating. Was never like this before. I came back in December for a 60 day visit and leave in two days. Believe me, if I had known it would be like this, I would never have come. Really sad, but I accepted reality.

I assume it is partially due to more mushrooms they want to gather, because you see all those forests burning. I heard the Chinese want them so much - I did not verify it and cannot tell if it is true. But would make sense. I gave up to understand the details and accepted it is something I cannot change and Northern Thailand is not a good place to live anymore due to the pollution.

Want to come back in May, but now with Corona I wait before I book a ticket. Now that we saw all those flight bans (flights to China).

I heard the Thai government will release the figures of Corona on Feb 9th - not sure if that's true. So much false information nowadays. You never know.

I used to have this colloidal silver device a long time ago. Almost forgot about it, but I do not have one anymore.

Maybe one thing I could add to your list is that I do nasal wash - now daily, since the pollution started in December. But since it is salt water, it should also keep you generally healthy. Takes 1min in the morning if you have done it for some time and are used to it.

WaveHunter,

as much as I appreciate your information, what are you going to do?

You said decisive action is required. You write here all day which is nice for people who want to know but what difference does it make?

I do not mean that insulting or mean in any way. But you tell us all to take it serious, and then? Locking myself up in my room 24/7? I rather die early.

All you wrote about the ICU care and not enough beds etc. - yes you are right. What are you going to do? What can we do? Nothing. So that is why I am asking. I am not ignoring the coronavirus, I know it is a serious threat but I also know that for me personally in my position there is nothing I could do.

I think I need a new motorbike now. I want to save 50 Baht per year 555

I like Vietnam, exciting for holidays every time and very cheap.

I would not consider it for living due to:

- no long-term visa available, no matter whether your visa run is after 1 or 3 months (not everybody is American with that special visa)

- need to learn a new language, too much for me now

- worldwide taxation

- too much noise / traffic for my taste

I have been reading that they are cracking down on that business visa, it is essentially a very similar misuse as with the ED visa in Thailand if I am not mistaken.

Since there is no retirement visa, Elite visa etc. in Vietnam as there is in Thailand or the Philippines (SRRV), I would not make any long-term plans there. If you like it, stay in AirBnBs etc. so you can leave when they throw you out.

IMHO with this law change, do you really think they let you do these visa runs every 30 days after 180 days in the country? Most likely they will deny entry, maybe not right away - takes perhaps more time as it did in Thailand.

The give a free mask? A real one for pollution? Maybe I should go there every day and stock up this way 555

You should be happy about the fake numbers.

I think I am not the only one who travels and wants to come back here after the smog without airlines cancelling flights as they do to China.

Dont worry, soon there will be an order to resolve it within 7 days 555

I am curious what happens if I get the virus, recover. Is the body immune after that or can you get it a second time?

Monitoring and checking 555

But if the stations go above 200 AQI many times they are offline. Wonder if that is coincidence hahaha

I also think the numbers are not correct.

But you have to consider, all the numbers are likely fake which come from China. Not only the infections but also the death rate. We simply do not have a clue.

Thats why I neither like the panic attitude nor the "it is nothing" attitude. Lets wait and see.

I have been thinking about this a lot and been here since 2016. Was actually not here mostly during smoky season but observed from far away.

I cannot remember it being a big deal 2017, maybe 2-3 months of orange/red pollution. It is undoubtedly bad, but wasnt a big deal for me because I just travelled away. Same 2018, was 3 months but consistent - in one period and then over - easy to avoid and travel. 2019 very similar - yes much higher readings but one stretch of 3 months from about mid February to May 20th.

The issue I and many have now is that they do not stop. They have been burning since I came here in December. That makes it 6 months of burning if it lasts until mid/end May again.

If you cannot or do not want to move, there is nothing you can do apart from air purifiers, masks etc. It is understandable that you cannot just sell your house and go. I really hope that one day they solve it, because I do love this city so much, but all things have to come to and end. I have accepted that in the medium-term things will not change. Nothing will be done about the air pollution. Not saying this in a negative or bitter way, just the facts.

I am curious what changed and why they have so much to burn since 2019. 6 months consistent burning instead of 3 months before. So why so much more? I would be curious if anyone knows.

The reason why nothing will change is, because the majority of locals just does not care. Not talking about those who burn. Just normal people. Pollution is just no concern to them, again talking about the majority. Now they wear a mask because of the virus. Never seen anyone wear a mask before since December.

Perhaps the PM could give an ultimatum of 7 days once again. This would surely help to resolve it. Now he should have free time because he already solved the pm2.5 crisis and was praised for it.

22 hours ago, TigerandDog said:

So much for all the district offices in Chiang Mai Province advising EVERY village that burning off of any kind was banned from the 1st January this year indefinitley. Offenders are supposed to be liable to 50000 baht fines and/or 6 months imprisonment.

This is the difference between Thais and foreigners.

Foreigners like us discuss this topic over and over again. Thais already know it wont get enforced and continue with their fun. Who is stupid now? We are the stupid ones - they are clever and know its just talk 555

Let him recover outside on the balcony. Because pm2.5 has been solved already, so he should like it. Maybe the reason why he is sick in the first place. สมนำหน้า

Would not be worried too much about the flights.

If they cancel it, you get a refund.

I have also around 6 flights up to until Europe in the next two months. All non-refundable 555

What bothers me more is how to do it on a long-haul flight, these masks are not really comfortable for so many hours. Also as I said before, stockpile (masks) does not last forever so I have to be stingy, since it is so difficult to buy more.

It is really sad, a city I love so much, inhabitable now.

But time to accept now; nothing is forever in life, right?

4 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

Beside the fact that forest fires are forbidden, sure, they can do what they want. Following laws or not, poisoning their own citizens... Up to them. 

I guess you are not living in Thailand. Lol

"Forbidden" every year if you mean this funny "burning ban" 555

Yes I am here. But I am realistic that there is nothing I can do other than air purifiers, masks and leaving next week for 3 months.

It is "up to them" and we have nothing to say. Just plain truth.