Sammyinla

On 4/11/2021 at 6:30 AM, Ralf001 said:

 

You walk everywhere ?

 

How many hours did it take to get from the airport to Pattaya ?

555! Of course I use transportation. The OP said that closing all commerce/businesses might actually be worse than the potential of saving a few lives. Then he got slammed for saying it. I’m trying to make a point that we make sacrifices that better our lives but also put us at more risk. That’s just how it is. Of course we all use cars and other means of transportation. We also use commerce. We just have to weigh the risk/rewards of what we choose. I could argue that commerce is more of a necessity than vehicles. Are vehicles really a necessity of life? I still don’t believe so (look at people in tribes, etc that have never been in a vehicle) but I choose to use them. 

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

Thailand has been sitting on its hands for months in relation to the vaccine. The country is rapidly falling behind the rest of the world for vaccinating its citizens.   

We can definitely agree to that. 

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Oh come on, bringing up the traffic fatalities as some sort of comparison is a weak and flawed argument. Driving is a necessity.... and by the way, it is the road accidents that bring about the fatalities and you can not say efforts are not made to reduce them.

Is driving really a necessity? I don’t own/drive a vehicle in Thailand. Or are you saying it’s a necessity for commerce just like having businesses open?

And do you think nothing is being done to contain the virus? Masks, washing hands, developing vaccines, etc.  I’m saying at some point we cross the line - I’m not sure where that point is, but it’s not clear cut. Shutting down entertainment venues for two weeks and contact tracing is probably the right thing to do. Giving us earlier access to vaccinations would be even better. 

14 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

well done, you just advocated killing 7000 innocent people.

 

words fail me

 

????

 

 

Well, it really isn't really that clear cut. I understand where the guy is coming from. Traffic fatalities kill about 20k in Thailand every year. Do we ban driving?  Sometimes we make compromises even for people's lives.

I think about "the greater good" quote the poster mentioned sometimes. I wonder if this is nature's way of healing itself too...

14 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I expect the dollar to continue to decline. I would not be surprised to see 15-20 baht to the dollar, within five years time. Bottom line. The West, and especially America, is in a continual state of decline, and Asia continues to rise. I consider this a long term trend. 

Going to 15 USD/THB in 5 years is a GIANT stretch without a major crisis. Even at 20, that is a pretty big swing for just 5 years. Currencies just don't fluctuate that much (as a percentage) unless there is a financial crisis (especially since the dollar is the reserve currency of the world). If your argument is that there will be a financial crisis in the US within the next 5 years, then that is a different discussion. There is a fairly strong floor just under the current 30 exchange rate (most currency experts forecast 29.50-30.50 for the end of 2021, even with the US piling on debt). The long-term trend does look like it is heading towards the 25 range, which was the floor for many years before Thailand had their financial crisis. You could make a decent argument for hitting 25 within the next 5 years...

5 hours ago, briansbiology said:

what streets are these? the streets inside the military billionaires private residences maybe..?"

LOL. I’ve just been talking to food vendors, Thai women that work at bars, etc. One older Thai lady that owns a small struggling that food and coffee shop shop forced me to stay and listen to her rant about it for an hour! She definitely did her research and knows her politics. Opinions are definitely divided, but it looks like there is big money backing the pro-democracy movement (and not the good kind).  
 

But, what do I know. I’m not claiming I know better - just reporting what I’ve been hearing and wondering what others living in Thailand have been hearing. 

Looks like it’s time for a big BBQ! Nom nom ???? 

I think a majority of people will be happy if the baht falls (except Thai importers, which shouldn’t be too bad). 
 

Bring rates down to zero and throw out a bunch of stimulus into the economy in a response to “covid recovery efforts”. Every other country is doing it.
 

 I wish they could just print money LOL.  Either way, they have to be careful not to get labeled a currency manipulator or else possibly face trade sanctions. It sucks. 

8 hours ago, madmen said:

What's the bloody point when both elite card and condo owners ARE NOT ALLOWED IN! 

I am an Elite card holder and I have FINALLY received approvals to come back to Thailand. Finally!! Of course now I have to get an ASQ hotel, repatriation flight, and insurance for a year before I can get a COE. Then I have to test negative for covid 72 hours before my flight or else I have to do this all over again. What a pain, but at least there seems to be a way back now. 

21 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Yes they are allowed to apply to return at this time. 

That is not true. I am a Elite Card holder and I am desperately trying to get back into Thailand. I don't mind jumping through all the hoops (like the required 15 night quarantine, getting tested, health insurance, etc). I have been planning to move to Thailand and just sold my house, car, etc. Now I am stuck in the US and will probably have to find an AirBNB somewhere for a few months until things change.

I called the Thai embassy and the emailed the Thai company I purchased the Elite visa from - both said I cannot enter Thailand with the Elite Visa right now. I told them I have read on many media outlets that (such as Thai Visa, Thaiger, Bangkok Post) that Elite Visa holders were now allowed in the Kingdom. The person at the Thai embassy gave me the best line, "That is the media. We follow the law." LOL.  

If anyone knows a way for Elite Visa holders to get into Thailand, PLEASE let me know.