Sir Dude

Whilst his comments have merit, it'll be interesting to see if he has any visa/WP issues next time round... haha.

The pros just about still outweigh the cons here in Thailand, plus some key things are very reasonably priced... however, it is nowhere near the deal it was 10+ years ago, and those days are long gone. 10+ years ago, it would easily qualify in the top 10, but now, I'm not so sure. As has been said, that list is merely searches on the net. If you actually got the figures of people that have moved, then I'd be expecting to see Panama and NZ there too. Detailed research of Thailand behind the TAT nonsense might put off many potential expat retirees... just much more hassle now than it used to be.

The smart thing to do is to wait until the dust settles a couple months into 2022, then we'll see where the goal posts really are. Those that want to come now, really do want/need to come, probably for reasons other than your 2 week jollies break, then off home. Likely that those wanting to arrive now will be those separated from family, property owners or those with financial/business interests here. I might be wrong, but coming now is a big roll of the dice on a few fronts as anything, at either end of a holiday, could suddenly do a 180 for all sorts of reasons. Furthermore, why bother coming if there is no fun, alcohol in restaurants, bars/pubs/nightclubs etc. or even proper freedom of movement, plus curfews? There will be all sorts of persnickety nonsense all the way through a vacation here right now. Personally, I'd wait unless there really was a pressing reason to get here.

For those who were "confused" by my last post - my apologies - then I recommend you watch more movies... especially the Matrix, and has a new one coming out end of the year.

Such an epic fail on this front from the killjoy squad... keep taking the military-approved blue pill.

Hmm, more debt. Got trouble stamped all over it, especially as interest rates are likely headed upwards everywhere in the short term. This fantasy land of free money and the entitlement to it, needs to end... even at the cost of growth. Help the developers at the cost of your average Joe who might flounder and then it's the bank's problem... OK, can see that and guess the average Joe is just the insignificant middle player. Although, due to western economies questionable strategy of allowing QE - which in the land of the sane is a short term economic stimulus measure - to go on for 15 years, interest rates in the West are inevitably going up as the stars seem to be aligning for it now, maybe up even to as far back as to 2007 levels eventually (5%) in the short-medium term. This might have a silver lining for expats bringing foreign currency as higher interest rates in Europe/US etc. should translate into money exiting places like Thailand and flowing back to safer economies with better returns. Often times, that translates to a stronger western currency and hopefully a weaker baht so we could get a better bang-for-our-buck ultimately, so to speak.

Pretty cushy posting as it's abundantly clear that the UK embassy isn't basically interested in any of us or our problems... soirees on the lawn. Anyone for tennis?

Pity the government doesn't take this attitude of "talking about it" a little more seriously on a few other subjects too.

By the end of next year after this idea has gone properly south, then like so much else, it will be quietly swept under the carpet and forgotten with a stealth u-turn when no-one is looking. Unless, of course, they are not telling everyone the truth and the regime just wants Chinese sheep as tourists and Indian weddings... which could be true, as a wider agenda these days seems to be about getting rid of as many westerners as possible, and has been so over the last 5 years.

So, not really much point coming then. You can't expect tourists to come if there is no fun, alcohol in restaurants, pubs/bars, clubs, really free movement etc. etc. plus nanny-squad curfews. Just won't happen... dream on.

One of the problems there will be here is that they are expecting all staff and students to be responsible. That means, if you have a cough/flu... don't come into work/class instead of thinking "Oh, never mind, I'll just go because it's me and the rules only apply to others in case I draw attention to myself" sort of nonsense. A person can be responsible, but people are dumb, sheep-like and panic prone. Many will just dodge their responsibility because they don't want to be tested or end up quarantined/penalized etc. It's like with so much else here, they think they can cruise under the radar and won't be noticed for all sorts of things. What will happen is that you'll get three weeks into the term and some numpty gets tested that has been cruising around to lessons and starts a cluster because they are a selfish moron... then the authorities will sweepingly decide to knee-jerk it back to online classes for the next two months again. Really, they need to do a couple more months online until they have many more people double vaccinated.

November the 1st... good luck, and even more good luck for December the 1st ambitiousness. It'll probably start going south after the long weekend on the 22nd.

Vaccines like AZ are viral vector vaccines, which is the traditional/conventional style, like many you would have taken when younger. The mRNA vaccines are experimental in the way that they haven't been deployed on such a vast scale before, rushed into service too, even if the discovery was a while back. With Covid casualties or serious illness at 1% or less, then I don't feel I need to rush to take the new type of vaccine and am happy with the tried and tested way (viral vector). A wait and see approach seems the prudent/sensible thing to do with any new miracle medical solution unless circumstance dictates no option... but still to get vaccinated. So, a double shot of AZ seems okay, then when the dust settles next year consider a booster of a different type. There may even be better options by then at the rate we are going. No rush to be a sheeple, just do what will is required to travel and see how the cards fall later. The truth will out eventually.

Thailand's paranoid nationalist straight jacket has held it back for years, because it only serves the elite and the few. The winds of change are blowing in many places around the world... Asia included. The old way of doing things will not fly for much longer as the Internet/social media has seen to that... hence why so many authoritarian governments are so scared of it.

Truth is, that viruses seek out all eventually... and you'll either live or die (99% or more will live from this one). Sooner or later, we are going to all have to just take our chances and get on with life (can't wear a mask or socially distance forever). To give some persective, about 20k or more die every year in the UK from the normal flu (and that's just the UK). Many casualties are on borrowed time anyhow and unaware of just how fragile their existence actually was. Best case senario is that as many as possible get double vaccinated and we move on. If you refuse a vaccine, then your call, as you are the one at risk... but you are also responsible for the results of your actions/decisions too, no whinging, please. You can't cheat death, but you can lengthen the odds through your decisions. If it's your time, then it's your time and it doesn't matter how fast you try to run. Covid will end up like the new normal flu and those at risk will get their yearly jab... much like what has happened before now.

Maybe they should have popped a question in something along the lines of "How many Grab riders have you met that are now deceased due to poor driving?"

I'd like to know if they've been picking into the foreign reserves, or not. Not that we are likely to get an honest answer, but it sure must be like a little temptress in a mini-skirt dancing around in the minds of those consumed by greed and power in high orifice.

The level of how many psyops are being directed at people these days is just nuts.

There's nothing wrong with allowing foreigners to buy land, so long as it's done right. Something along the lines of... those who are married (not a sham one), retired with a certain length of continual back-to-back visas, limits on size of land (like half or 1 rai), only owning like a max of 2 properties (so house and condo, for example), designate areas that are okay for this (like estates) etc. etc. I'm not suggesting a free-for-all as that will spell trouble with large corporations or zillions of Chinese gorging themselves on anything available and then it will become a political problem, like it has in New Zealand or other places. Do it right, and a situation will arise where Thai society is fair to foreign residents who contribute, the government gets investments that are positive/of benefit, and Thais aren't priced out of the market... although, a large proportion of Thais already are as it stands now. If you want to attract foreign investment and people to sink money into the country etc., then it's about sentiment and confidence... and these are brought about by fairness and strength of law with everyone being treated the same regardless (basically not screwing over straight-up foreigners). Until you start addressing that, then you can dream up whatever ideas you want and it won't fly. If people think things will just quietly be rescinded or perform a complete 180 at short notice, then the "jumpy investor" syndrome will persist. Thailand could "ace it" so easily, if it just let go of some seriously outdated opinions championed by some seriously outdated dinosaurs. Actually, to be a little whimsical, I'm surprised that Prayuthosauros is actually up-for-it, when the other nationalist relic has already done a extreme yellow shirt rant on it being treasonous.

They should be helping those that have nothing and have no ability to help themselves.

Not surprised Thailand sends out the signals of basically being China's southernmost province and has been slowly inching towards that for a long time now. Good move by the US, UK and Australia really as those three together actually have clout and with Australian bases being provided, makes a huge difference in realistically projecting power around here. As for the French, well, nothing new in them having a public tizzy at something. Truth is, they are very hard to deal with on any issue and one of the main reasons the EU is too. Also, diesel subs are getting antiquated and not up-to-snuff really and now nuclear ones are on offer, no-brainer really. The French have also procrastinated for numerous years giving the Australians very little info on what is happening about their deal, plus all the construction would have been done in France at state-owned shipyards... not in Australia. So many reasons like this that the Ozzies bailed and France really only has itself to blame, but, of course, France is self-obsessed with its delusions of grandeur that it's a main player and all... hence the tizzy.

Yeah, that's about as low as you can get. If true, then a proper punishment is warranted. Bad enough that the disabled are helped so little somewhere like this, but to have people actively scamming what little is available, is contemptible. Toss the key away.

This guy sounds like exactly the type of xenophobic relic from the early 20th century that should not have any input into the future of Thailand... exactly the type of intolerant elitist nonsense that is unhelpful and welcome. He probably thinks protesting about inequality in society is treasonous too. As an aside, likely he owns a property outright in London, Paris, New York or such place.

Yeah, that's fantasy land thinking. Good luck with that. There's no way that'll happen for the basic wage, especially with that cunningly slipped in bit about wages relevant to education levels, so that probably means national minimums at best for those who have finished M6... lower for those that haven't probably. Shouldn't be any difference for labouring jobs.

Remote online learning only really works for the intrinsically motivated... a quality often lacking in the modern day student.