scorecard

Any SSO member know if SSO members can get free flu shots?

Seems to me that's coming. When I call my bank in Australia it's answered quickly by a bank employee who says 'we will do the voice security test immediately and at the same time transfer your call to a secure free VOIP call - i guess that means transfer to a landline number. When I get my phone bill there's a less than 1 minute charge. All seems to work.

Last month my Thai granddaughter (from Chiang Mai) attended a university activity in Bangkok. Initially the students / parents were told 'only single storey buses' but on arrival at the CM campus a row of double storey buses. Teacher in charge hoffified and tried to get the fleet changed to single story only. One powerful parent was able to get a win for the Double storey buses. (Granddaughter says the student son of the powerful parent has since removed himself from his study from CMU after he got ostracized at the event in Bkk.) One item, granddaughter shared they every bus has 2 drivers and the driver changed every 3 hours. The students (many <incl granddaughter> monitored the change of driver. No extension of driving time was permitted, it did change at 3 hrs. but of course there's more to this situation besides driver change.

Sure but sems to me all aircraft would have a 'locker; or whatever you might call it to temporarily store the body of a passenger who died during flight. There's always the point that some / many passengers might well refuse to have the deceased body sitting in the seat next to them. And that might well extend quickly to all passengers refusing to have a dead body next to them. In such case what could the cabin crew do, especially if it's a full flight? Therefore seems to me there would be an alternative storage area. I've always wondered if there is easy quick access to the lower level? Perhaps a a body could be moved there?

Is that really the main point? No it's not. Zelensky is the president and not expected to be in the trenches / carrying a weapon. Someone must be in the background studying the whole situation and developing strategies. Same comments for all world leaders including past US presidents.

and lack of leadership. Staff not sure what to do to dispose of the rubbish. employee / employer relationship prevents employee from asking, so employee takes the most obvious at hand action.

Ultimately 'up to u'.

Seems to me there's no need to use the word farang, just use the word foreigner(s).

Is that fate or face?

True, One trip I flew to U-Tapao, I was standing on the kerb waiting for my driver. Just as my driver arrived a U-Tapao staff person spoke to the driver and wanted 100Baht parking fee. Driver and I refused. I asked my driver to call the police. he stared the all, quick smart U-Tapao staff person disappeared.

All from the man not elected / no portfolio / no specific role except than to tell the inexperienced daughter he installed how to look silly.

I've always had doubts about the whole viability of U-Tapao as a commercial airport. It isn't that close to Pattaya and the airport and the difference in kilometers Swamyp to Pattaya and U-Tapao to Pattaya is not that great. And cost of taxis etc., between U-Taopao and Pattaya has at times between outrageous. Took a taxi from Pattaya one time only driver complained al the way to U-Tapao,wanted to increase the fare by 500Baht and wanted to stop half way and me wait in his car while he had lunch. Why bother, just go to swampy and get one of the regular buses which have many departures downstairs at swampy. For several years I had to live at Jomtien, the regular bus Swampy to Jomtien had several departures every day, was reliable, comfortable not expensive at all and 10 minute mocy taxi to my house. Why even consider flying into U-Tapao?

On the city - Shanghai airport trip there was some limited feeling of speed but nothing serious. Faster, who knows?

Talking about Holland. A wealthy Dutch friend (Thai Elite card holder) just finishes his final year of private health cover. He just turned 78 and had been told when he renewed his policy at 77 it would be the final year the company would insure him. The final premium he paid was 134,000Baht, at a medium level of cover and with a long list of previous ailments which were not covered. He's decided to grin and bear it (nothing more he can do). And he's investigating the possibility of buying a 'long-term' discounted business class flight deal for 5 flights to Amsterdam, all paid now, if never used no refund possible. He approached his favorite EU airline HO in Europe asking for a quotation, not yet arrived. Friends in Pattaya criticized him for not talking to a Thai travel agent on such deal. His choice.

5 wheels?

In both cases mentioned the total distance of the line is very short (e.g. city to Shanghai International airport - 33 kilometers) so the train has to start the slow down process very quickly after it departs the city / airport station or it wouldn't be able to stop at the destination. Done that trip several times, yes it's fast. On one trip took my 18 year old Thai son who wouldn't believe the speeds advertised. Within 10 seconds of departing the Shanghai city station he was convinced.

Maybe his passport is now expired and he's never attempted to renew it.

But how successful is that? Many cops and other officials have powerful contacts who will do their bidding for a price.

In the UK and in many European countries there national health schemes, some free, some with small fees, Thailand is not like that. There's several 'national' schemes for Thai citizens and mostly close to free, but these schemes are not available to tourists. On the other hand tourists can walk into government hospitals to seek treatment, some hospitals will give care to tourists, some won't and nothing you can do to change that.

But not all hospitals have reasonable / cheap pricing. Make yourself aware which private hospitals have very expensive, eye watering pricing. Some do. In reality the reasonably priced hospitals are generally the same quality as the outrageously expensive places.

1. How's that? and 2. Who do you suggest as a reliable source of information?

Agree, how can transfer be a valid response?

And what about the Aussie dollar?

12? Really? And you have very little real information about weight, cubic size, etc. You said companies, I'm mentioned Thai Post. my son has had some real experience with Thai Post for moving 2 motorcycles and several suitcases / boxes of personal clothing, work equipment etc., and their charges were nowhere near as high as 10 to 15,000Bah.

Your guess?