Rohe60

4 hours ago, giddyup said:

I still get YT ads on a smart TV.

You could try SMARTTUBE (next)
Thats an alternative youtube client which comes with an embedded adblocker.
I am using Smarttube on my "smart" TV and it runs like a charm. No ads, no sponsor block, no in-roll ads

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

But where do you buy the ticket? Would it be after you left the aircraft in Thailand, I can see problems with people having no cash, those with foreign cash, those with credit cards etc?

Or do you purchase at check in? Same problems there?

Oh, I'm sure you will be able to buy the entry fee ticket at the ONE booth which will be found before immigration. And I'm also sure that it will be possible to pay the entry fee with foreign currency. The rate however will be a bit different from what you may get at Super Rich........

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Maybe we should charge an 'occupancy charge' like the USA. 17% hotel tax for Thai  tourists in Houston! 

How about we charge Germans a culture tax of $5 a day!

Spaniards $4.50 a DAY! 

Dutch $9 a day! 

Malaysians $2.50 a day! 

Whataboutism at its very best......

I dont care about those 10 EUR extra. But I would care about additional delays at Swampy. I care about corrupt officials stuffing their pockets with that money extorted from the tourist (Well, at least some of that money will make its way back to Germany as well as the UK, since the sale numbers of the local Benz/BMW/Rolls Royce/Bentley dealers will go up.....).

And to all those who are comparing Thailand with the UK, the USA or the EU:
Does the mountain come to the prophet or will the prophet have to come to the mountain? 

1 hour ago, Joe Farang said:

This uncertainty around bar opening times will discourage Tourists from returning

Exactly. I have planned a full month starting on October 31st.
But with bars closing in the "early evening" at midnight, I have to think twice if it isnt better to cancel the trip. 

On 8/22/2022 at 5:07 PM, wn78 said:

Thanks, maybe I will do that too.  3000b better than 5000b if the outcome is the same.  

Did the agent handle opening all by herself, or did you go to the branch together with her?

I had to meet with the agent at the branch since there where plenty of papers to sign.
But the agent did all the bureaucracy with immigration by her own. I even got a residence certificate from immigration.
(I was on vacation only, staying at a hotel, entry to Thailand was done with visa exempt)

I got an account with Bangkok Bank in June this year with the help of an agent.
The agent did cost me 3,000 BHT but there was no need for me to go to immigration to get some weird confirmations from them.
All she needed was my passport and a business card from my hotel.
Opening the account took about 30 minutes, there where no insurances or other scams.
Just the normal bank fees, location was Pattaya.

3 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

So why was the hottest day recorded in 1913?

Yes, back in 1913.....
Really hot it was. The engine of my Tin Lizzie was boiling over again and again....

We all know what the emergency decree is REALLY for.......
And this has nothing to do with any kind of virus.
I am predicting that we will see the emergency decree removed right after the "elections" which Thailand will have in the next months.
And of course the winner of that election will be HE Gen. (ret.) Prayuts party.

What happened with the idea to waive the fees for tourist visa?
Has the proposal already been dumped or will there be a decision on the next meeting
of the big guys?

I fear that parity is reached as early as this week.
And according to economists that won't be the end of the Euroliras way down.
0.80 and even 0.70 USD/EUR are possible, those guys say.
A rate of 0.80 USD/EUR would mean less than 29 BHT for the Eurolira in Thailand........

4 hours ago, TigerandDog said:

Just came back from Hua Hin where the hotel I stayed at strictly enforced mask wearing. Most of the farangs staying there were not wearing masks and refused to even after hotel staff asked them to wear them. So the hotel manager called a meeting of all the farangs staying at the hotel and also had local police in attendance. Hotel guests were told in no uncertain terms that refusal to wear a mask both in and around the hotel and outside would result in them being refused entry to the hotel and being told to leave with no refunds. The police also told them of the maximum penalties for non mask wearing that were still applicable under the emergency decree. Needless to say all complied from that point onwards. many did state their travel agents did not advise them of the mask wearing requirements but that argument was quickly shot down when they were asked if they did their own research before travelling as to the requirements in Thailand. All answered no.

Very well done by that hotel management.....
Many of the guests of that hotel will tell other people that they were threatened by the police to pay astronomic fines if they dont comply with the useless and silly face diaper mandate.
If I were in that situation I would tell anybody to stay well away from Thailand until that madness has ended (if it ever ends at all).
Thats exactly the kind of publicity that Thai tourism needs those days.
But the emergency decree is enforced.... "SIR, YES, SIR!"

16 hours ago, RandiRona said:

"Once buying their tickets, travelers will then be directed to an additional screen where they will be able to pay the fee, which is set to become mandatory ‘from August or September’."

 

<deleted>.....are they taking classes in how to make things more complex for tourists? If they want to add a tax, add it in flight ticket and manage it from there. Just think about everyone carrying proof of payments and barcodes...

Wait.....
Do they really expect that I will enter highly sensitive information like credit card numbers, etc. on a website run by the Thai Government?
How long will it take until hackers will break into that database and steal all that information?
No, thank you Thailand!
If you want to rip off your customers even more, include that new entry fee into the ticket price. This also enables you to increase that fee on a regular basis.....
(Just in case that those Rolls Royce and Bentley dealers in BKK increase the prices for their vehicles......)

No, I will not come to Thailand as long as there is
- any form of quarantine ("Test & Go" is considered as quarantine by me)
- any tests after arrival
- bars / pubs closed

Plenty of (better and cheaper) alternatives in Europe here in summer.

Well, Mr. Charnvirakul still speaking about travel restrictions while neighboring and competing countries are starting to open their borders.
Latest candidate is Malaysia, which will drop many (not all) restrictions by April 1st.
From that date on fully vaccinated travellers "only" need
- a RT-PCR test not older than 48 before departure
- a RAT (rapid antigen test) performed by a professional within 24 hrs after arriving in Malaysia
- download a spy-app (tracking app)
Many COVID related restrictions will be dumped, but the mandatory use of masks remains in place.

The pressure on Thailand is increasing.....
First the Philippines, very soon Vietnam and then, on fools day, Malaysia.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-reopen-border-fully-apr-1-2551491

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Well, you play it down and like to make fun of this, but I know many wealthy people who visited Thailand and due to having to pay ridiculous sums for a great bottle of wine, they said they would never even consider returning. Many will not come due to this. And this suppresses what could be a very dynamic and profitable industry here. 

You're right.
And despite the fact that I'm considering myself not as wealthy, I know that a good (!) glass of wine is an essential part of any nice dinner.
I myself did quit drinking wine in Thailand after the last tax hike. For that reason I stopped visiting up-market restaurants when on vacation in Thailand. A fine five course dinner with beer? No way!

18 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Certainly could make a hard man humble!

.... especially when that hard man gets tested positive and is invited to spend a nice 14-day vacation in quarantine. Sounds like a dream vacation to me.

40 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

Thai politicians love Chinese powers, but the Thai people I know are racist of Chinese people. Another case of love the currency/hate the country

.... and the (very few) Chinese people I know do the same. They look down on the thais.

That stuff is pretty nasty, even when not on fire.

Here's link to a "Safe Handling Guide" for styrene monomer which also shows the dangers of it:
https://www.plasticseurope.org/application/files/6115/4453/7896/Styrene_HSE_brochure_EN_20181211.pdf

 

19 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Doubt he pushed it to the motorway to run it so not sure why you think the vehicles fluids were not up to operating temperature.

 

 

He obviously did drive only a very short distance or the car did wait a while on the motorway with its engine turned off.
In the YT video (at 0:30) you can see the temperatures displayed in the bottom right corner.
At the start of the race water was at 64 and oil at 61 degrees celsius..
 

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems like it takes half an hour in that video before that thing reaches 240. Maybe he should buy a decent car.

Yes it did. Its a diesel, a Mazda BT-50.  Most likely with tons of LED bling-bling, a bigger turbocharger and (may be) modified ECU software. Anyway, the rev limiter kicked in at about 5,200 rpm.
And that "professional tuner" did put the hammer down before the engines coolant and lube has reached proper temperatures.

BTW: May be those drivers did not understand what speed limit 120 km/h means. 120 km/h per car or per axle? ????