CygnusX1

I appreciate my 12.9 inch iPad ever more as my eyesight deteriorates with advancing age, and having almost instant access to millions of books is miraculous.

Reminds me of a scene in the TV series “Succession”, in which the mega rich were doing their bit to save the planet by being driven to their private jets in a fleet of Teslas.

Heaps of great condos with big swimming pools for 2-3 month rental in Jomtien on Airbnb and other sites, even in what will hopefully be high season. Probably one of the easiest places on the planet to rent a condo close to the beach. Perfectly legal for a month or more.

We’ll see, I wonder how tourist arrivals in Europe are going to compare with Asia in the next year. A member of my family who’s just returned from Rome described the city as jam packed with tourists, which doesn’t seem to match descriptions of Pattaya that I’ve been reading about on this forum.

After skimming it quickly, I first thought the headline read “Thailand’s Guns and Dogs Plagues”, and for a couple of seconds thought that something was about to be done about the soi dogs…

After more than 2 years of no travel, I have more money than ever, but sorry mask lovers, I now decide where to go based on whether face masks are ubiquitous or not. I know they’re not technically required in Thailand outside of health care settings, but with just about all Thais apparently still wearing them, I don’t care to be disrespectful. That means Italy, Croatia, Rio, Hawaii, maybe Tahiti next year, but not Thailand or any other Asian country, and that’s despite the fact that I own a condo in Thailand and have an elite visa.

I put this in quotes as it’s a term used by leftists that seems to refer to only the military spending of the US, rather than that of any other country. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that countries have to waste vast amounts of resources on defence. I don’t see the relevance of the dispute over the winner of the last US election. Just about all US politicians, with the exception of a few on either the most extreme left or the most extreme right, utterly despise Putin for the tens of thousands of people that he’s maimed and murdered.

Yes, they DO do it because they love those freedom loving people. The cynical explanation isn’t always the right one. If anything, a more powerful Russia incorporating Ukraine would give the US Govt more reasons to increase spending on its “military industrial complex”.

I have fond memories of one of my last taxi rides in Bangkok 3 or so years ago. The driver was a fan of Muay Thai, and was explaining the finer points of the bouts we were watching on his mobile phone.

i’m a very strong believer in vaccination, but - in Australia, the Covid vaccine is not advised for children under 5, except for those with special health issues such as very weak immune systems. The rationale is that although the risks of vaccination are tiny, the risk of severe disease from an infection with the virus is even smaller for these children.

I think so - are you from the UK? I think that’s a term only used in that country.

OK, I stand corrected, but I’m still confused. You say “it’s not to do with the length of stay” but in the next sentence you say “the owner must have a hotel license for short term stays”. So how long is a “‘short term stay”, if not 30 days or less?

The OP says he wants to rent for 2 months, not a few days. It’s my understanding that Airbnb rentals over 30 days are legal in Thailand, but I’m not an expert on Thai property law, so please correct me if I’m wrong.

Are taxis considered public transport in Thailand?

Based on a total of around 6 months over several years that I was in Japan pre virus, there would be a very occasional person wearing a face mask, but it was rare.

That’s how I feel as well, and it’s the reason why my first overseas trip from Australia after more than 2 years will be to Rio, followed by another holiday in Europe (direct flight), rather than back to my condo in Thailand.

That’s great news for me! I’ve just started swimming laps at the local pool as a substitute for the running my arthritic knees no longer permit. My swimming technique’s hopeless, which explains why I’m quickly exhausted and breathing really hard after only a few laps.

I think it should be stressed that it would only cover UNPAID medical bills that delinquent travellers without sufficient means or travel insurance were unable to pay.

I’ve seen proposals for proof of travel insurance required for entry discussed in the past. If the 300 baht is an alternative to that, it’s wonderful. I’d much rather pay a totally negligible 300 baht than go through the hassle of proving that my credit card already gives me travel insurance with unlimited medical expenses.

My computer glasses definitely do, as I remember ordering some kind of non reflective coating when I bought them a couple of years ago, but maybe that hasn’t been enough time for me to damage the coating? My photochromics are also only a couple of years old, don’t know if they work by some kind of coating. Have other much older polarised and non polarised sunglasses, no idea if they’re coated.

I’ve just been using tissues and methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) on my prescription glasses, including sunglasses and photochromics, for many years. I know this is the wrong way to clean glasses, and that tissues are supposed to be abrasive, but they’re all still fine, except for the odd scratch where I’ve dropped a pair. As my eyes change very little, some of the glasses are very old. I must just be lucky.

Not saying this was the cause of this accident, but all car drivers have to be aware that the thick A pillars in modern cars create a blind spot. While riding my bicycle I was once hit by a car turning across my path, and on another occasion almost hit. Both drivers apologised profusely, saying that I was in their blind spot. Case of passive safety (strong A pillar protecting occupants in a rollover) compromising active safety (being able to see everything in front of you). As both a cyclist and car driver, I appreciate both sides.

2 shots of AZ plus 1 of Moderna. Only time I’ve ever worn a face mask was while getting these shots at a pharmacy, grand total of less than one hour. 2 very mild colds the last 2 years, in Australia the whole time.

Sorry VinnieK, but even I wouldn’t go so far as to BAN masks. Maybe just gently encouraging people that constantly wearing a face mask to slightly reduce the chances of contracting a virus that for the great majority of people causes symptoms no worse than influenza or a bad cold is a little over the top. I do fear, however, that you’re correct in that Thai people will be wearing them for many years to come.

So many reasons given here for the lack of tourists compared with France, but the overwhelming reason is face masks - the elephant in the room that many pretend not to see. Exchange rate - not too far from long term average. 300 baht tourist tax - negligible. Dual pricing - who cares, always been that way. Broken footpaths - part of the charm of a 3rd world country. Bureaucratic evisa - a minor irritant. People don’t have money to travel - I’m on a low income by Australian standards, but have heaps to splurge on travel, especially as I’ve spent nothing on travel for more than two years, same applies to most westerners. Even though I own a condo in Thailand and have a 20 year elite visa, why would I travel from a mostly mask free Australia to Maskland, as NorthernRyland ably puts it. Masks have just been dropped on direct flights from Australia to Rome, and that’s where I’m thinking of my next holiday, rather than my usual long stopover in Thailand on the way to Europe. It’s a fact that the majority of Westerners loathe face masks - here in Australia, about 10% are wearing them in crowded shopping malls and supermarkets, so they sure don’t want to holiday in a country in which they’re ubiquitous.