pookondee

1 hour ago, n8sail said:

I drive from Chon Buri to Rayong every day for work.  Not one check point, except on 36 road for about 3 days in the very beginning.   Traffic was too much, so they took it down.  Sukhumvit between Chon Buri and Rayong has never had one checkpoint, ever, even during the legit lockdowns last year.

 

My mates regularly drive from BKK to Rayong and Chon Buri.  Several friends just this weekend, come to the beach, stay over night, drive back.   No checkpoints.  No quarantine.  If they really wanted to take this seriously, they should not allow this type of travel, but if they really stopped this type of travel, the entire Eastern Seaboard economy would grind to a halt.  Eastern Economic Corridor is what, 20% of GDP?  (without ANY tourism activities, that is)

 

Not that sitting OUTSIDE, ON A BEACH IN HIGH UV with 15 knots of wind, has literally ANY risk at all of transmitting or contracting COVID.

 

I wish these no-talent a$$ clowns would read the current research on how this is actually transmitted and how infinitesimally small the risk of outdoor transmission is, even with horribly ill people around you.  And if there is ANY wind at all, there is nearly 0 risk.  Even if you're yelling and drinking and sitting close to each other.  Nearly 0 risk.

This research is 6 months old already.  I imagine there are even more current sources supporting what I'm saying above:  https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/covid-christmas-special

I get what you are saying here, but really a lot of countries have worse idiocy going on than than Thailand.

Take Melbourne, Australia for instance..

A city of 5million or so keep getting locked down when just 4 people are infected, and that's when they ALREADY have them controlled and in quarantine!!

Ive read reports there have been NO covid deaths at all in Australia this year, yet the P.M still has a ban on international outward travel.

Thailand may have a few frustrating things going on, but try being stuck (being held prisoner) in Australia now.

It really sucks.

17 hours ago, balo said:

One night in Phuket , why not ? 

Do we have a link available where you can book $1  rooms? 
 

Surely the posters that keep asking this question really don't think they

will get 1 room for 1 night for $1  ??

You dont think It would come with conditions?

Id say something along the lines:

if normally a $300 room..

* minimum of 3 nights stay.

-Pay $1 for the first night

-Next 2 nights cost you $450 per night.

Therefor,you actually get ripped off for the $1

????????

5 hours ago, anchadian said:

The Department of Corrections is reporting 1,953 new infections today and another death. In this latest wave, there have been 26,272 infections and nine deaths in 13 prisons. So far, 10,078 inmates have recovered #COVID19 #โควิด19 #โควิดวันนี้ #Thailand

 

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1399329876084105216

 

To my calculations, that death rate

(out of 26,272 prisoners) is a minuscule 0.035%.

And even then, you would have to consider they are living in the worst possible environment.

That tells you how dangerous this thing really is...or isnt.

You could also assume the 0.035% would be those few who were very old and/or  were in a bad way with other comorbidities.

IMO To many people get caught up on case numbers and dont consider the fatality rate.

Actually such a small figure, probaby chronic pneumonia and many other conditions would have a similar % death rate. 

 and do not mind if the second shot is postponed.

Yes, who can be surprised how desperate people can get

when there's businesses closing and masses of people out of work due to lockdowns and restrictions?

No job...no money for household bills,

kids school fees and the like...

and bบออer-all welfare to help out.

Imagine what that would be like in the west?

We are seeing riots and protests in various countries now, and that's in places where people ARE receiving decent welfare and hand-outs.

It would be Anarchy id say.

I sometimes can't believe how well the Thais are coping with all this.

But then again i can't believe the way Australians are copping being held prisoner in their own country, not allowed to leave, and doing sweet FA about it.

There never was any power amongst sheeple i guess.

2 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

Yes all of this is supposed to work if you can control the airport

(Easy to do) and the road way (Less easy but doable) to come into the island

 

Now how much costs a speed boat trip to enter in the island outside of a controled point?

Yep, i

4 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

Yes all of this is supposed to work if you can control the airport

(Easy to do) and the road way (Less easy but doable) to come into the island

 

Now how much costs a speed boat trip to enter in the island outside of a controled point?

Yes thats a valid point.

In a place where even the land borders between neighboring countries are said to be "porous"

how much confidence can you have in them being able to properly monitor all the roads and waterways into Puket?

When traffic builds up, I can see a lot of cars being waved through, especially important people with flash plated and driving  Beamers.

Not to mention the old

<wind the window down and hand goes inside car to collect your 500baht>

trick, so the camera cant see. ????

27 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Thais without vaccinations have to do PCR test (72 hours) to enter phuket. 

Ok, Hopefully it does play out that way.

I can't help but have a few doubts though, being Thailand 

and knowing how far a crisp 500baht note can go towards making inconveniences disappear.

10 hours ago, placeholder said:

It is suspect how when large groups of people get together there seems to be a lot more contagion than when people are isolated. Don't people know that diseases are inflicted by evil spirits who will track you down no matter how well you think you are hidden?

And Covid doesnt like sport either.

Pack 75k into a stadium and not one case,

but here in Australia it usually turns up in a store or Thai restaurant, so it obviously likes Thai food

24 minutes ago, Ryan754326 said:

How can a cross of two separate variants come into existence if viruses don’t breed with each other to reproduce? 

Well dont you know??

Everything is possible with Covid, as long as the fear is kept going.

I find it strange how every country that previously had very low Covid figures ends up making headlines sooner or later.

Its as if someone is pulling the strings and letting it be known:

"Everyone has to have a turn"

And if fear should be at risk of diminishing in any certain country,

a mystery outbreak will be sure to appear,

usually on around religious celebrations or holidays.

funny that.

Another question is:

will they

(or rather, how will they?)

be restricting the Thais that will no doubt be travelling from other parts of Thailand to go and work there?

I already know a few from BKK who are saying they will go and to work in Phuket

"as soon as the farangs arrive"

Not much use bothering with all the vaccinated/testing/certificates

hoo-haa

if there is going to be Thais wondering around from all other areas possibly infecting the cleared travellers.

18 hours ago, oldcpu said:

Booked a year ago?  That is not what I heard - these are relatively recent bookings as of some weeks back.

 

Indeed I suspect the bookings can be cancelled if entry to Thailand for the fully vaccinated foreigner becomes difficult, or if there is a 4th wave in Phuket, or if there are large restrictions still in place in Phuket.  But these recent bookings do give a indication that the doom and gloom predictions of some could very much be "in the wrong ball park"  (to coin an expression) for some of the hotels. 

 

There is pent up demand for those who want to holiday, who have been unable to, because of the pandemic. To ignore that would be foolish for any business, and as stated, I have heard 3rd hand (from sources I tend to believe) that some of the large hotel chains in Phuket are getting many bookings for high season, albeit the bookings could be cancelled if need be.    My suspicion is the Hotels with the overseas connections ... the big hotel chains ... that have guaranteed cancellations possible, are quite possibly going to do well with these bookings.

 

This of course means the roll out of the vaccine in Phuket, and the driving down of COVID cases in Phuket, becomes very important, and this need (to vaccinate/drive down COVID in Phuket) is IMHO not lost on the local government who are pushing hard to meet their 70% vaccination goal. 

 

Related to a certain extent, I was exchanging posts with a friend in Europe who loves to downhill ski (where the friend is living in a country with a COVID situation far far worse than Thailand) and he is looking to downhill ski for the 2021/2022 downhill ski season in another country in a different content, also with a COVID situation far far worse than Thailand.  He noted he finally booked a ski package, but that it was VERY difficult to get good ski packages for the 2021/2022 season, because many have already been taken/booked full.  There is massive pent up demand for those who want to holiday ... in this case in a winter sport.

 

Granted - that is a winter sport (and NOT a hot summer activity such as Thailand) but the point here - is the pent up demand.  

 

IMHO it would be foolish for any business to ignore a pent up demand that is about to take place ..... Of course its free for us on this forum to pontificate with no consequence for a wrong business decision.

 

Lets see what happens.  I'm becoming optimistic.

 

Im glad someone is optimistic.

Id like to think there is a lot of pent-up demand in Australia also,

alas the sheeple dont seem to be saying Jack Sทit about our !@#$ government keeping us prisoner for !@#$%^ knows how much longer.

13 hours ago, Polaky said:

Not sure about European countries coming as they have their summer,  but from au especially from Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth , there will be heaps coming over to get away from the bitter cold.

So you think they will let Australians escape fortress Australia?

Apart from North Korea and Cuba, i think Australia is the only place holding their citizens captive.

11 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Very easy answer by way of a couple of questions. How's the covid situation going in Oz? How's the covid situation going here?

Australia never had a hugely grim Covid situation, and of course are not even landlocked with other countries.

Yet they have the most draconian measures in the world,

in not even allowing people to leave.

And I would'nt call Thailands Covid situation hugely grim...just yet.

Going on that logic it should be Australia opening in October and Thailand opening mid next year, though everyone knows Thailand wont be getting tourists.

They might get a few returning, who have lived/stayed long term before,

those who have business, condos, Thai gf...whatever.

But Id be very surprised if a regular tourist just wanting a getaway will go through all that <deleted>.

Especially if aware of the risk of being dragged off to a Covid "hospitel" after all the trouble and expense of getting there.

12 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Australia maybe openning boarders mid nxt yr. The brilliant minds at work here think November. Outstanding show of complete empty headed idiots. This so-called 3rd wave brought on by the general who has no idea what he's doing will go ahead with this? Just like Songkran. Many fools run many countries but I guess Thailand To Be Number One. The Hub of Idiots in Power.

So im just wondering, why is it you judge what Thailand proposes based on Australias decision to

"maybe open mid next year""

To me, Australia locking up people (even leaving outbound) for a further 12 months is a LOT more nuttier than anything Thailand has ever done.

Just think about it.

 Lots can happen in just 3 or 6 months and Australia is talking another 12 months??

really?

That is just completely bizzare IMO,

 and makes one think there must be more to it in Australia if they are making 12 month predictions when a lot of the world is thinking about how to open up.

32 minutes ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

 

Having looked at all the evidence and all, I now concur with you 100%.

 

Tourism is finished. Not just in Thailand but many other parts of the world. Certainly throughout South-East Asia and South Asia. The glory days aren't coming back. Nor are we likely to see border hopping backpackers, full moon parties, Indian wedding parties, free and unrestricted business travel using Bangkok or Singapore as a base. 

 

There are several reasons for this, including the penchant for control that governments have thanks to Covid. I don't see governments ever fully lifting all these restrictions. Tourists simply aren't going to come, if they have jump through a myriad of hoops then once they're inside the country, face childish restrictions like not being allowed to have a beer, or confusion over mask rules.

 

People go on vacation to relax and have fun, not be threatened or treated like a child. 

Sadly, one must come to the eventual realization that there is a world-wide war against fun, or more so, a war against any type of decent quality of life, not just Thailand.

Can it seriously be all just about a virus that the high 90%'s will recover from without any major problems??

6 hours ago, khunphil said:

It's OK, it is only in 1 month half .. until that date, we can estimate 100 flip-flops ... ????

My question is, as someone compared Phuket to Samui without sandbox ... if they open Phuket for international travelers, do they close it for domestic travelers , as they are speaking about direct flights only ?

If they close Phuket island, what would you agree to sign on NOW ... Regular domestic tourists (including expats) from June-July or "unknown number" of international travelers ready to spend 100,000 or more for a week from July ... ?

Not an easy choice, so maybe Samui, which is not "ready for July test", is not the unlucky one.

My 2 cents

Phil.

" it is only in 1 month half .. until that date, we can estimate 100 flip-flops"

Well thanks Thailand,

but this little black duck is going to be waiting at least  1.5 months AFTER the grand opening before i consider heading over.

I get how some guys will be keen to go, but the idea of being a guinea pig on the the first fleet doesn't do it for me.

I can see there being flip flops after the opening, possible infections, policy changes, flights cancelled.

And It wouldn't be Thailand if the Immigrations didnt bring in a bunch of New requirements for entry- while you were en-route and waiting to land.????

3 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

There are around 380,000 inmates around the country.
Thailand’s prisons are overpopulated by 145 per cent, according to the International Federation for Human Rights’s 2017 report titled Behind the walls – 

I recall many years ago a Thai politician commenting about conditions in a Thai jail..

His comment summing it all up

" Its deigned to be a punishment, not a 4star hotel"

In Tasmania, Australia, people actually re-offend to get back into prison if they are homeless in the winter months. 

I guess with Covid now and Aussies not allowed to leave Australia,

 one might as well be in prison getting free healthcare, 3 meals a day and good internet.

So, has anyone heard, or experienced anyone actually successful in escaping Australia through New Zealand?

I read an article today, saying

" Its an embarrassment that Australians are now having to escape Australia via the back door of New Zealand"

Which kind of implies people are doing it but doesnt state it as fact.

But In any case, I cannot see the government jailing people for 2 years or fining then $65k for trying to visit family overseas ( or whatever be the reasons)

Once you step out of your country you are lower than a piece of dried whale sหit as far as your government is concerned.

a. Because you are part of a small powerless group that mostly doesnt vote

b. Because you are taking your currency out of the country and spending it elsewhere.

(there are many more reasons but these are the magour gripes)

So the days of expecting ANY help whatsoever are long gone if you are on the outside looking in.

Actually you should consider yourselves lucky to even be abroad.

Australians have been locked up from outward travel from an illegal travel ban well over 12 months now. 

They have even delayed and denied returning citizens prompt entry, which in itself is a breach of human rights laws. 

7 hours ago, Susco said:

 

Why Thailand always makes plans 6 months ahead, when they don't have the slightest control over the current situation yet?

Its no different than Australia declaring it must keep Australians locked up for another 12 months when they dont even know what the situation will be in 2-3 months time.

Actually ill take Thailands approach anytime.

Clearly, Covid is here for the long run.

We can suffer it with endless lockdowns and NO quality of life till goodness knows when

or we can try to manage it and start living again.

Personally, Id sooner join those who have already succumbed to it, rather than sit through another X years of this. 

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Treatment? Really? What treatment do you think a poor Thai will receive?

If the ICU is full, where will the poor Thai be "treated"? I don't think private for profit will offer ICU capacity because it will be used for VIP or someone with money. The military ICU beds are reserved for government and military, are they not?

I think the critical care lower caste person might get is oxygen, anti inflammatory and access to a ventilator if it is available. 

 

 

 

For the few who have bad symptoms, im sure any treatment would be better than sitting it out at home?

And then possibly infecting other family members and friends who drop by to see or have a meal with sick "Pee".

Its looking obvious by now, these field hospitals are meant first and foremost for getting the infected out of "circulation" and avoiding infecting others.

Is the government negligent?

Maybe, but i feel sorry for both them and the people.

I think the government didnt want to squash the peoples spirits by completely ruining 2 consecutive Songkrans.

And we all knew right along that Thais wouldnt handle long term isolation to easily.

They've never liked being dictated to, and there was only so much they could take.

I guess they are paying the price now,

but im predicting they will recover ok,

now that the general population realises this thing is real and serious.

11 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

With testing in the Klong Toey Communities scheduled at 1000 per Day for the next 20 Days, for sure this will turn into a living Hell for many of those poor people.

Thats a possible 20,000 tested from Communities totaling 90,000+

Being poor in Thailand is a grim future.

Why is that?

As you say, most of them are dirt poor, yet they will still receive treatment.

I presume the infected are getting dragged away to these field hospitals regardless of if they have money or not.

So one would think it must be free for Thais?

Can't get blood out of a stone.