madmen

It will go ahead there is no doubt, the authorities and the PM are in it neck deep and way too much loss of face to flip. I predict 129000 blue balls will make the journey 

13 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Do I detect a tad of envy?

A chlorinated swimming pool is one of the safest places on the planet to be, the problem is people who gather around the pools to party.

Politicians in Australia are not scientists or engineers. The penny has not dropped yet. The hotel quarantine system in Oz is actually a pretty good virus distribution method, as centralised air conditioning is used in all the hotels. Howard Springs is the exception. It has a perfect record, simply because there is no central aircon system at that facility.

When you have the Federal Health Minister relaxing the rules so unvaccinated aged care workers can move between aged care units freely, what would you expect in a pandemic?

Sorry,your lockdowns are the result of dumb dumb dumb.

Read my post again... slooowly

1 hour ago, clivebaxter said:

Wont be long before the lunatics want to rename the country and call it after some indigenous fairy tale

V B is a lot easier to pronounce 

Here is a really crazy idea. How about reporting it in the royal gazette and THEN start chest beating? 

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

I’m hoping the information I read is incorrect...  Nothing has been finalised or confirmed.

 

This Facebook group contains people directly involved. There was a virtual meeting between some Airline and Hotel Reps with the TAT. One of the Airline Reps (Louis Tan) posted information from that meeting in the facebook group.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/388875605677294/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=393835548514633

 

 

Quote: Louis Tan Facebook Post [Station Manager for Singapore Airlines] 

 

Hello everyone. A few hotel and airline reps attended a virtual meeting with the TAT Deputy Governor this afternoon. Although the outlook remains somewhat foggy, the contours of the much touted Sandbox are becoming clearer with the new information we gleaned today.

TAT stressed that the Sandbox was still on track, and that "the government is not backing down, and this is still going ahead". TAT acknowledged that the authorities had appeared fickle when the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reversed Bangkok City Hall's plans to reopen five types of businesses, including spas and beauty clinics, on 31 May. TAT said that this was because of the poor lines of communication between City Hall and CCSA. CCSA was not informed about City Hall's reopening plans for Bangkok. In contrast, CCSA has been kept abreast of the Sandbox developments, and it would be "incorrect" for the disinterested observer to draw any parallels.

The Phuket provincial government had discussions with the TAT Governor on the modalities of the Sandbox earlier this afternoon. If all goes well - and the operative keyword here is "if" - this would be the estimated timeline:

Friday, 4 June - TAT submits the Sandbox to the Prime Minister-chaired Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) for formal approval. CESA has already given the Sandbox its "in-principle approval".

Early next week - CCSA would review the Sandbox and give its approval if satisfied.

2 to 3 days later - Announcement in the Royal Gazette

That said, there were a couple of disquieting but yet-to-be-confirmed developments that could temper travel demand. They are:

i) A proposal by the Public Health Ministry to increase the mandatory stay in Phuket from 7 to 14 days. This means that a vaccinated traveller in Phuket under the auspices of the Sandbox must stay in a SHA-certified hotel/resort in Phuket for a minimum of 14 days before they may travel to other parts of Thailand; and

ii) "Area Quarantine": instead of allowing vaccinated travellers the freedom to roam around Phuket as per the current plan, he could be confined to the area where he is staying. For example, if he is staying in a hotel in Patong sub-district, he would have to remain in Patong sub-district for the duration of his stay. If he wants to travel to other parts of Phuket, he may only do so via "sealed routes".

All this is still basically a work-in-progress. The briefing was bereft of details.

For those interested in entering Phuket via Bangkok under the auspices of the Sandbox, TAT said that this would be possible, with Terminal E9 to be reserved for such international-domestic transfers. However, the logistical arrangements of such a transfer are still being worked out and that "it would take some time".

Apart from Singapore Airlines which is already flying to Phuket, I heard from the airport grapevine that other airlines which would be mounting scheduled flights to Phuket from 1 July are Turkish, Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Cathay, Malaysia, EL AL and Aeroflot.

 

Thanks for this 

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Every politician and his dog is making announcements which are back-tracked upon.

 

We have the 7 day Phuket Sandbox model which initially looked great with the first sets of announcements, the reality is starting to look quite different.... 

 

After the initial announcements that the Phuket Sandbox would be 7 days on the Island, its now starting to look like the duration will be set at 14 days and the area limited to the ‘area’ and perhaps by the time they’ve finished applying further restrictions the the Phuket Sandbox Model will be 14 days restricted to a resort...

 

Is there one single announcement which has been accurate so far????

You have a link to the the change from 7 to 14 days? It would effect me and many others. 

Please  tell me if you just made that up 

Did anyone need to fill out an affidavit? And what about document translation, I assume condo deeds would need translation as well 

1 minute ago, hansgruber said:

I don't think so. 

I can't bring my self to vaccinate against a virus with a 99.7% survival rate. 

It makes no sense to me so I'll take my chances with boogeyman covid. 

I'm tired of hearing anti vaxxer nonsense. I'm anti experiments. 

That's perfectly fine if you plan on dying before international travel. Doesn't mean it's right but it's just the way it is 

Leftover is what the officials still have stored in their garages at sauna temperature. 

Leftover is what the officials still have stored in their garages at sauna temperature. 

5 hours ago, smedly said:

indeed 

 

and what happens to long term expats if you refuse to accept this vaccine ?, a question I asked before 

You will be dragged into the jungle shot and your condo repossessed. 

4 minutes ago, mell said:

So does this.mean that landlords in condo blocks which all have separate meters are receiving the discount and not passing it on to the tenants or they are not receiving the discount on the condo electricity bills?

My tenant pays for it monthly from the bill in my letterbox however what thai landlords do is another matter 

Renters should always request a one month deposit only and pay the bills direct.. Or move on plenty of condos to choose 

On 5/31/2021 at 12:56 PM, BritManToo said:

I can't believe Chiang Mai has gone from thousands of cases to ZERO cases in less than a month.

This just isn't reasonable.

 

And if there are ZERO cases why aren't they serving alcohol in restaurants, why aren't all the entertainment venues open, why can't I use my local swimming pool?

I'm in Oz, first world and the second biggest city is in a 7 day lockdown over just 35 new cases

. My state has locked them out EVEN FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED 

So far Thailand has been very reasonable IMO. Can't use  your pool in a pandemic? boohoo! 

4 minutes ago, Harry Om said:

In my experience it's still best to pre-apply and get it in writing,  even if you fall under this category.

 

When I left in February "Border Force" told me at Melbourne airport that I was refused permission to leave.

 

I had the printed out pre-approval as "Ordinarily resident" overseas, and it still took numerous phone calls and back and forth before I was allowed to board my flight.

 

But that was from Melbourne, which nowadays resembles Alcatraz.

Agreed the 12/24 is a bit dodgy because 24 months should cover all scenarios so  why is the 12 in there? 

4 minutes ago, wasabi said:

As usual too much paperwork, rules and bureaucracy. If 70% of Phuket will be FULLY vaccinated as they say. Why not limit the requirements for entry to a negative PCR test for fully vaccinated tourists? The trust and confidence in their grand reopening only goes part of the way and the remaining distrust evident in too many rules and requirements causes chaos and confusion. They can't keep dipping their toes in the water. Either let them in or keep them out.

<deleted> Are you talking about? 

8 hours ago, DefaultName said:

You're assuming that they'll do their homework before coming.  Given the numbers of tourists who have gone to Pattaya and been horrified at the scene there, I doubt they'll do that.  They'll just go blindly, then scream to the press that things weren't as they expected.

Are you  girl or boy because a lot of drama in your post 

Feel sad for expats that may not see family again until well after covid is squashed in the west. 

That's communism at its ugliest! 

47 minutes ago, jack71 said:

No, Im thin in general. a tiny fat gut develops slowly on me but trying to fight that with exercise and sit ups. Thin neck

Well you need a hospital study where they wire you up overnight. Don't panic you may not have it but if you have a partner that can watch you and note down if you snore and especially if you stop breathing. That's as good as any study. 

Sorry to b direct but are you fat especially around the neck eg double or triple chins?

I was and used cpap for 10 <deleted>ty years and dropped 30 kg and it was all over. 

20 hours ago, Iamemjay said:

Just a couple of updates on Phuketboy's mostly correct info. (I'm still in Oz and am currently preparing to leave early in July.)

 

All the State Thai Consulates have now been closed, either entirely (as in Brisbane) or to visa applications. You must now deal directly with the Thai Embassy in Canberra. Furthermore you now cannot deal with them face to face.

 

Instead of an ASQ hotel, from July 1 you can fly DIRECTLY to Phuket ie NOT through BKK (Singapore Airlines are best) stay in a designated hotel 7 nights, and subject to PCR tests etc then proceed to anywhere in Thailand without quarantine PROVIDED YOU HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED for at least 14 days., The Thai Embassy have yet to update their website on this, but you can get a preview at Siam Legal. Here's an extract:

***************************************

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has sent out a letter to people in the tourism industry saying that Phuket will open to vaccinated foreign tourists from 1 July. Travelers do not need to do quarantine but they must stay in Phuket for at least 7 days and will then be allowed to visit other destinations in Thailand.

 

Phuket SandBox Requirements:

• Vaccine Certificate/proof of vaccination
• ThailandPlus alert application on mobile phone
• RT-PCR test on 4th or 5th day in Phuket
• COVID-19 Insurance
• Certificate of Entry issued by Thai Embassy/Consulate

Important Things to Remember:

• You must stay in a SHA+ accredited hotel in Phuket only (there are 419 hotels).
• The hotel booking at an accredited hotel must be at least 7 days.
• You must fly directly to Phuket from abroad.
• If you are staying less than 7 days in Phuket, you must fly out of Phuket to an international destination.
• If you are staying for 7 or more days in Phuket, you will then be able to travel to any domestic destination in Thailand.

All of this information may change as soon as the list of low and medium-risk countries eligible for the Phuket SandBox program and the list of hotels will be released sometime in June 2021.

*******************************

I have yet to test the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade re permission to escape Prison Camp Scomo but all the info I have gleaned accords with what Phuketboy had said.

 

BoL

You won't even need permission if you're time outside of oz Island is more than in the last 12/24 months. 

If you have family and proof of a lease or better, condo deeds and tick the 3 months box you should be good to go. 

My understanding is that Vietnam has done their communist thing and shut everything down permanently. 

Is that the case? What about expats trapped outside can they not return back to their families and homes? 

9 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

The Sportsman, soi 13.

 

Good food, good beers including imported ones, really nice staff, lots of pool tables.

A greed and the old German beer house adjoining it also does great food and shows the footy. 

I would prefer it to shut down until the 1st when I arrive, why risk new clusters . What's the point in opening the doors right now,  there is nobody there!