Caldera

Quality over quantity? I have yet to see a quality tourist (read: wealthy tourist) who gets excited by the prospect of being quarantined for 14 days, treated like a leper (arm wrist, tracing app, whatever else they may dream up) and/or confined to visit certain areas only. That will be a tough, tough sell!

Two weeks are enough everywhere in the world. Is Thailand "different" again?

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

Which year?

Exactly. I've been reading this kind of "news" since 10+ years. Precious little has actually materialized. Not holding my breath, but it would be nice if they FINALLY get it done!

That doesn't sound too bad, compared with the hassle other visa holders seem to have.

@geriatrickid I did mention in my later post #19 that I donated to the Soi Dog Foundation in the past and that I'm supportive of their efforts to neuter strays and to educate locals about responsible pet ownership.

But this overseas pet adoption business is nuts! In my opinion (and I respect yours), that discredits the foundation. I'm all for treating animals well, but flying a Thai dog halfway round the world to an adopted home in a Western country is way over the top.

So he got his extension and was just attention whoring once again. I wonder if he wants to make this stunt a regular thing, considering it's already the second time.

His work situation does come across as a little odd though. As per his post, he works for a small company that sends him to a school to look after computers there.

Bubbles, twin countries, I think it will just fail again.

I think their best bet would be to aim for long-stay tourists, those who have time and money to spend and want to visit Thailand. Others simply won't be willing and able to quarantine. Snow birds and the likes, but it might already be too late to open for them as they tend to book well in advance.

Fear not, Boss! These bumbling idiots have made sure that you can safely wait until the statute of limitations for this charge, too, will have expired. It's all window dressing for the fuming public.

I'm out and about very often in Bangkok (including Thong Lor) and have been since 15+ years. I've only been asked for my passport twice, more than 10 years ago, both times when walking nearby Ekkamai bus terminal which falls into the Thong Lor police precinct. I didn't have my passport with me on both occasions (I never carry it unless I travel overnight or out of town) and they accepted photocopies. Friends of mine who've had "the same pleasure" more recently have reported the same. Be polite, don't talk too much (it only confuses them or makes them think you are nervous) and have at least photocopies of the relevant pages. Personally I wouldn't recommend carrying the original passport, too much hassle if it's lost or stolen.

No need to claim that I have high ranking police friends either, that kind of barstool nonsense always cracks me up.

I've been through checkpoints many times though, it's almost inevitable when being out late at night. My taxis have been stopped at night more recently in the Asoke and Rama 4 areas, but they've just shone their flashlight inside and waved us on. I guess that were close encounters, maybe I didn't fit their profile for some reason or another.

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

They DO neuter dogs and cats here, that is one of their main functions, and they also try to educate people... look at their website and what they do

I'm aware of that and actually donated to them some years ago, upon reading an article about their neutering efforts. When I wrote that they should focus on that, that is exactly what I meant.

I'm 100% opposed to this adoption nonsense, so I won't support them anymore in any shape or form while they're (also) doing this. Asking Thais or expats who reside in Thailand to adopt a soi dog, fine. Shipping one over to Europe or America, lunacy.

If you believe in "cheap gold", it would be better if your mommy still managed your finances for you.

That's nonsensical. Thailand currently isn't a "tourist destination" at all (safe or otherwise), as tourists aren't allowed to enter.

4 minutes ago, Susco said:

 

Treated different by that disgusting creature Trump is?

 

Is that why they started the birther drivel already?

Well I did say "differently", not "better". ????

What do you expect from Trump and his minions? That he's pretty desperate doesn't help things!

Queue up and wait your turn, Michael. You obnoxious piece of lawyer scum.

Who is NOT writing a book on Trump these days?

Hillary, dear, the treatment you got had nothing to do with sexism and all to do with your obnoxious personality and unethical conduct.

I'm sure a fine and upstanding lady such as Kamala Harris will be treated much differently.

What I don't like about the volunteer visa is that I've asked several agents (in both Bangkok as well as a few other places) who can facilitate this what I thought were perfectly reasonable questions, and none of them could or would give me a straight answer. It's pretty much a pay cash, don't ask too many silly questions and pray for the best kind of deal.

I don't like that your passport goes on a little trip for a few weeks and will then miraculously come back with stamps from an immigration office you've never attended to. Everything else I could probably live with if I had to.

4 minutes ago, alexlm said:

I have said MANY times that I'm actually waiting for the borders to reopen before coming back into Thailand. Even though I could come now with my Wife...

 

The school didn't tell me when the borders would reopen, why do you think they would know that??

 

When I used to go to Vientiane in solo I paid a similar price anyway so it doesn't change anything.

The thing is that reopening the borders might not be such a binary thing, "open" or "closed". We've seen that already, actually. While I realize that you plan this for the post coronavirus future, it's not unlikely that many regulations we've been used to will change. So when you quote a price for a visa run from the past - it's just that. That option might never exist again.

2 hours ago, alexlm said:

If I choose the ED visa route:

My school offers 7,000 THB trip to Vientiane, all included, with fast tracking at the Embassy to apply. No waiting time...

So that would be fine.

That kind of plan comes with quite a catch nowadays. Did your school also tell you when the border will reopen, what the entry requirements in both Laos and Thailand will be? For all we know, it could happen tomorrow or in two years time...

I think the Scottish government should wait for a little longer to let the economic downturn fester and the Brexit fully materialize. I predict they will be able to secure a much larger majority for independence then, maybe in the 60-70% range.

I'm of two minds about the guy. His reporting is often excellent and he clearly fills a void as local journalism is in a really sad state. On the other hand, he often comes across as arrogant and attention seeking for nothing but his own gratification.

I'm not surprised that the Thai authorities see his shenanigans with suspicion, and again I'm of two minds about it. Sometimes I'm glad that he exposes the truth and we all know how much those in power despise that. On other occasions he picks silly little battles (double pricing) and effectively baits the authorities by saying he shouldn't really do that while his "visa" is up for extension. So his trouble is kind of self-inflicted, maybe he wants to get kicked out to secure a book deal or something.

Then there's the fact that he says blogging is his "hobby", when clearly it is a lot more than that. As he gets compensated with stays at hotels quite frequently, the question of illegal work might also be on immigration's mind.

My guess is that he will ultimately get his extension. But who knows!