Awinkl

On 6/19/2021 at 5:10 PM, Swiss1960 said:

Not sure what your problems are with me, but hey, I get barked at by soi dogs every other day ????

I am flabbergasted by the bickering between the Excel Guy and your posts  - Both of you are lucky that you are ....."IN" LOS, while many, many People cannot get there to resume staying in our properties there - because NO travel is permitted from Oz.. We will have to wait probably until Mid 2022, until these travel restrictions are lifted ..... so just count your blessings - while we can only lament .....

BTW, now that you are going to Switzerland for your shot of Moderna - what are your chances of getting back into LOS? Or are  you staying over in Switzerland for a while?

Good Luck.

On 6/21/2021 at 2:05 PM, Swiss1960 said:

Second: I am not sure, why you can not travel out from Australia to Thailand? 

.... The Australian Government has CLOSED the Borders and only people with Special Exemptions are allowed to fly-out from Australia and the opening of the Borders is estimated around the middle of 2022!! That is why I mentioned, that those of you who are "IN" LOS are the lucky ones. I left LOS in November 2019 for a 3-4 months visit to Australia - but then Covid happened and since then I have been Stuck here.

BTW, according to Government figures, there are still about 20,000 ++ Australian Citizens/Residents awaiting flights to return to Australia from many places around the Globe, but Seats on return flights are not only very expensive, but also very scarce - as there are limited spaces available to Quarantine. 

I will get my 2nd shot this week, but still will have to wait until the borders are open again.

On 6/19/2021 at 5:10 PM, Swiss1960 said:

Not sure what your problems are with me, but hey, I get barked at by soi dogs every other day ????

I am flabbergasted by the bickering between the Excel Guy and your posts  - Both of you are lucky that you are ....."IN" LOS, while many, many People cannot get there to resume staying in our properties there - because NO travel is permitted from Oz.. We will have to wait probably until Mid 2022, until these travel restrictions are lifted ..... so just count your blessings - while we can only lament .....

BTW, now that you are going to Switzerland for your shot of Moderna - what are your chances of getting back into LOS? Or are  you staying over in Switzerland for a while?

Good Luck.

I recall that 1 AUD$ was as high as 31 Baht - and it doesn't seem that long ago, while as recently as last year, it was down to 21 Baht!!?? So, it has fluctuated between 25-30 % and that certainly showed, that Thailand is no longer the CHEAP Holiday??

While the lower Xchange rate doesn't really hit you on a day-to-day basis, it does make a HUGE difference when you go the Xchange $1000.00 - then, the difference really hit's HOME!!

20 minutes ago, ChakaKhan said:

Im holding out to ditch ASQ and insurance and Im in......is like when the cops set up a mbike helmet checkpoint and I stop 100 meters up the road as I spot them and they wait 100 meters waiting for them to snatch me..

 

Keep throwing rice at the wall and see what sticks....in the end we all know how much we need each other...

I am totally WITH YOU on that one - ready to go ...... when THAT happens!!

21 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

I found Singapore Airlines was the only flight out of Brisbane for $900 one-way. Another problem is SQ has a 19 hour stop over in Singapore, so a long time stuck at the airport.

 

While I had a Retirement Visa, One-Way tickets was my preference. But now, with my Retirement Visa expired - I would NOT be allowed to travel on a ONE WAY, so have to book a RETURN ticket - and they are very HIGh in price now. Looking at Skyscanner for February, the prices seem to be ok again - including the Non-stop flights. And hopefully by then, the Quarantine requirements would have also been lifted?

On 11/17/2020 at 1:02 PM, aussiexpat said:

They are now. From the Thai embassy in Aus.

 

Certain airlines are now permitted to operate semi-commercial flights to Thailand, such as, Emirates (EK384), Etihad (EY406), EVA (BR211), Qatar Airways (QR 826, QR830, QR832, QR834, QR836, QR980), Singapore Airline (SQ976), Cathay Pacific (CX653), Lufthansa  (LH772), Austrian Airlines (OS25), Swiss Air (LX180), KLM (KL873, KL875, KL887, KL847, KL811, KL843, KL815, KL803) and Air France (AF253, AF168).

Just checked - and the prices are ...... HIGH, will WAIT until Sanity has returned and (hopefully) Quarantine might also be .... gone?

Coming from the OLD Country, I never forget my first Oz Christmas, with Plastic Christmas trees, the Shop Windows at the Major Department Stores full of SNOWY Christmas Scene Displays, 30 Degrees outside and people singing all the traditional Christmas Songs of "jingle Bells" and other Winter/Snow songs ....... just did not feel Christmassy at all.

So now, I just "ignore" Christmas and hope, that someday I will be able to experience a REAL "WHITE CHRISTMAS" again??

3 minutes ago, Salerno said:

 

You can leave Oz easily given your situation. The 3 mil is a red herring and irrelevant to you. The quarantine sucks.

Unfortunately, flights out from Oz are NOT possible at present - maybe by the end of 2020 - or early 2021? I am NOT in a desperate hurry - so hope to wait until NO more Quarantine.

2 minutes ago, Thaifly88 said:

My suggestion would be to come back when retirement visa/extension holders are allowed back, rather than this 3 mill baht requirement for property owners. It’s probably not far away. However if you are like me, your OA visa/extension may have expired by then.

Yes, my (old) Retirement Visa had expired. My Plan was (prior Covid) .... to just go up on a 30 day Tourist Visa and then apply again for a Retirement Visa. But the (normal) 30 Day Visa may not come back in use - for a long time?

5 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Given you mention your "retirement visa" what's stopping you now?

Firstly, I cannot leave Oz - until they open flights - and then, I'd hope to wait until they don't require Quarantine anymore? ...... and certainly, I don't want to have to stomp-up another 3 Mill.

Regarding the 3 Mill Baht In-the-Bank Issue. 

Does anybody know WHY the Authorities opted for THAT amount? 

I already had the required 800K in my Thai Bank for many years - to get my Retirement Visa, but WHY now the additional 3 Mill?

I only have a small Studio Condo (2 Mill) - the additional 3 Mill would make it almost impossible for me to get back there?

Any thoughts - except ....... waiting until the situation get's more reasonable ....in mid/late 2021 - or early 2022??

23 hours ago, Piscis said:

 

Piscis, regarding your Quarantine Hotel - did YOU choose that one, or was it the Thai Authorities that selected it? 

At what cost?

So, if these requirements continue - then I will NOT be able to get back into LOS, since my CHANOD is in Thailand - as well as my Bankbook with the necessary 800.000 Bath that I needed for my Retirement Visa for the past 10 years.....

Wile I may be able to get the Money back from the Bank, but the Condo will then be a ..... Write-off??? This is an UNBELIEVABLE situation - but ...... TiT???

14 hours ago, allane said:

Thank you to all, including the person who sent me a P.M. re a suggested hotel.

....just out of curiosity - are you "flying IN" for your holiday? ..... from WHERE? ... and what about your "Isolation"?

On 10/10/2020 at 11:50 AM, tgw said:

there are very good locally produced cured meats for comparable cost.

totally agree - I also like cured & smoked meats and get it usually at Foodland (Pattaya Klang Shop). They have all kinds of GREAT stuff .... from Europe!!

During the early days in Sydney (March/April), when Facemasks were mostly sold out everywhere, I was able to buy ONLY 2 - at $2 apiece - other Pharmacies had prices of up to $5 per piece? ... clearly just a HUGE Rip-Off. Lately, as Facemasks became (almost) mandatary in Shops & public transport, I was able to buy a box of 50 for $ 50.00!!! Great Business opportunities?

..... was it a NICE .... Junket? Including a "brown" envelope?

Koh Kood?? ....Nah - not in my book - but I still have many, many others to sample ????

Is there any  more information? I looked at the Link, but .... how do you book such a trip? ....the cost? How often per season? ... per year?

Hmmm - it seems that Pattaya City Hall is an extremely fertile ground for utterly stupid Ideas - just like their belief, that Pattaya is the RIVIERA of SEA ......?????

On 9/9/2020 at 5:28 PM, JensenZ said:

To get everything I need at the right price I have to use several supermarkets. I use Tops Central, Foodland (Klang and T21 branches), Friendship and Big-C Extra. Each has their strengths and weaknesses.

My problem is - anytime I go to any one of them - I end up with a BIG shopping Bill - I usually "over-buy" .... unfortunately.....

9 minutes ago, scoupeo said:

 

 

I cannot stop laughing ! You people really are living in your dreams ! it must be great to know nothing and be happy with it !

 

I went to Koh lipe 10 years ago before they built any shop, but since, Koh lipe is packed with hordes of tourists, and of course over built.

 

10 years ago the islands was full of 500 thb wooden bungalows and there was no road AT ALL.

 

So funny that you can imagine that people don't know about this island, how ridiculous !

 

 

 

Good to know - hopefully you won't go there again - ONE (ignorant) person less there!

I went there - BEFORE Covid. Had a flight to KRABI, then Mini Van to Koh Lanta, stayed there (nice) then Ferry to Koh Lipe .... about 3 hours? It;s a nice/small Island - nice - after the stay, took a Ferry to Pak Bara and Mini Van to Hat Yai - flight back to BKK.

There are Ferry Timetables /phone numbers available on the internet as well as current Flight connections and - travel restrictions?

DON't spread the word too much - otherwise it becomes another Samui - (over crowded)