CG1 Blue

Ah now I know Red Hot. Never sat in there before. Will have to check it out. The one I was referring to had some pool tables at the back. I've played pool with staff at the end of the night a couple of times. The place was always more or less full at peak times, very popular. Have a good night tomorrow!

Lion, that's the one! Well it's a shame it closed, but these days we're lucky if any our favourite haunts have survived. Glad to hear a few of yours have. I don't think I've been to Red Hot, but I did sometimes go to another music bar on the same side as Lion but right at the other end of Bangla, Taipan end. Could that be Red Hot? And yes, no logic being applied by the authorities. No surprises there...

How sad. Reading through the last couple of pages my optimism was growing (many thanks to you and Xylo btw for your 'on the ground' reports). I started to picture myself sitting at my favourite live music bar on Bangla, which stupidly I don't know the name of after all these years. It's on the left if you walk up from the beach end, the first live music bar you come to. Is it New York? I should probably cut down on the beers/long islands in there... But then the hammer blow about bars closing down for covid outbreaks. One of the many reasons I don't want to risk going back to LOS at the moment, with things potentially changing for the worse at the drop of a hat, and the officials being even more officious than usual. Mind you, as the English winter sets in I might just have to bite the bullet...

The risk of testing positive on arrival and being sent to quarantine will put off most tourists. I don't think speeding up the arrival test would make a difference. Full vaccination plus a covid test before departure should be sufficient.

Not sure why your emphasis is on 'new infections'. Given that the UK tests more people than most countries in the world we're always going to get a high number of positive tests. Plus Covid isn't going away and we'll probably all get it. New infection numbers are becoming less relevant now. The important stats are deaths (down 11.7% in last 7 days) and hospital admissions (down 3.8% in last 7 days). Considering the UK is entering winter I'd say this is good news. https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

The big deal is if you test positive in Thailand you'll be whisked off in an ambulance and forced to quarantine for (insert guess of choice) days at a cost of thousands, symptoms or no symptoms.

Countries need to stop using infection rates as the headline. This number is all dependent on how many tests are being done. And the vast majority of people testing positive will have no ill effects. What's important now is death rates (UK is down 4.4% in last 7 days) and hospitalisations (UK down 10.8% in last 7 days). Positive news considering the UK is entering winter. https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

I heard the Black club on Samui is now open and selling alcohol, plus a few bars? The only thing at the moment that gives me any optimism is the speed at which the Thais can open / re-open / build a bar. Meaning that when (if) this government come to their senses and end the anti-tourism measures, the nightlife can be revived pretty quickly.

It seems to have escaped your notice that only a miniscule number of people who test positive will get any symptoms at all, let alone need any treatment. If I cut my knee should I be hospitalised for a couple of weeks in case I get Tetanus? It's insane blocking up hospitals with asymptomatic 'patients'!

You mean enjoying their lives? Yep, we're doing that in the UK. I'm off to the pub shortly actually to have a few beers. Eventually the rest of the world will realise the virus isn't going away and we just have to live with it. I'll go back to Thailand when they get to that point. I hope that's sooner rather than later, but not holding my breath. (P.S. I realise Thailand needs to catch up on vaccinations first)

Miller Kinge - is that a Spoonerism?

I'll be in Tenerife at the end of this month, and was in Spain last month and agree it's all pretty much business as usual. Living with the virus is the new norm across most of Europe. I can't wait to get back to Thailand, but I'll be spending my money elsewhere until all the ridiculous rules have been relaxed.

I'm fully vaccinated and I'm not too concerned what other people choose to do or not do. Life's too short to find other things to get riled up about

Indeed! And yes, Covid insurance might cover the cost of forced quarantine. But if you (or someone on your flight) test positive upon arrival and you get banged up for 2 weeks, that's the holiday ruined. Imagine waiting 1-2 years to have a big holiday and then having to spend it in quarantine. Tourists won't take that risk whether or not the cost is covered by insurance.

I don't think they need to worry about thousands of holidaymakers turning up. Booking a holiday to Thailand is just too risky at the moment. If you test positive on arrival you'll spend most of your holiday quarantined. Plus the always looming anti-alcohol sentiment from those in power now. Most holiday makers want the choice to have a drink with a meal or go to a bar for some bevvies. Who knows what alcohol rules will be in place by the time you arrive in Thailand. I remember several occasions when I was out enjoying the bars of Chaweng and suddenly all the music stopped and lights went down because the police from the mainland were doing curfew spot checks. Night out ruined. It could be 10 times worse in the current climate. So I don't think hotel capacity is going to be an issue for them.

Do you really think the fun stuff is gone forever? God I hope not! It might be more like a reset. Once the ridiculous alcohol bans and curfews are over, the nightlife is initially centered around Bkk, Patts and Patong and then slowly spreads back to Samui etc. A bit like going back 25 years and starting from there.

All this aggro after spending 11 hours on board a plane. And if your result comes back positive you'll get quarantined for a couple more weeks. But if you test negative you're free to do what you want! Well, apart from drinking alcohol with your meal or going to any bars or clubs, or staying out beyond 11pm. Sounds like a dream holiday ????

And if your arrival PCR test is positive you'll be banged up for 2 weeks. Hope you've allowed for that

Thailand's reopening plan may coincide with other nations from a timing perspective, but from a complexity / unpredictability / and obsession with alcohol bans perspective Thailand is on another planet. Such a shame

Sorry but that's not true. Fully vaccinated tourists from the UK can fly to Spain / the Canary Islands (for example) and don't need to take a test until they return home. There are plenty of countries people can take a holiday to without the risk of being banged up for 14 days because of a positive test on arrival. And without the risk of alcohol bans!

Much easier to do that in a tiny city state like Singapore with it's tiny (easily controlled) population. A big challenge to do it across a more vast country like Thailand. But you're probably right in saying that's the government's intention.

"His brother met Khun Nee about eight years ago when she worked in a bar in Soi Green mango on Koh Samui." So she worked at a bar in Soi Green Mango around 2001. Scary to think I may well have met her myself. RIP to your friend

Who said it was new? I've only seen people saying the invasion is imminent.

Sorry, but I didn't hear it here first. A senior CCP minister made a statement a couple of weeks ago saying the 'reunification' of China/Taiwan will happen soon and will be completed much quicker than most people anticipate. And I don't think there's much the US or anybody will be able to do about it - sadly

Well that's good news. It's a start anyway! Hope you enjoyed the view ???? I guess it's a chicken and egg situation. The local businesses need tourists in order to open, and the tourists need businesses open to go there on holiday. Tough situation