Maybe we should pay more attention to logic and logical fallacies.  Attacking De Niro instead of his words entails using a common logical fallacy called "ad hominem" or "attack the man."   The Donald himself uses logical fallacies with wild abandon.  I agree with everything De Niro said about Trump except the view that Trump is "stupid."  He is not stupid.  He obviously understands how to manipulate and persuade tens of millions of Americans.  Americans would do well to heed George Orwell's words and steer clear of Mr. Trump. 

I'm very happy to hear that there are still some dugongs and turtles down there!  Looking at the aerial photo, I didn't realize the turtles are as large as the dugongs!  I guess leatherbacks can grow that big and bigger though.  I would really love to see one in real life.

I need to get a Thai drivers license.  I let my California drivers license expire.  Can I get started with that online?

I read on Thai Visa that I can buy a connecting flight from BKK to Phuket and participate in the Phuket Sandbox.  I hold a non-immigrant B visa and a work permit.  I am traveling in the US now and booked to return to BKK 11 July.  I submitted my COE already but have not heard back yet.  Any revelations regarding this?

18 hours ago, Espanol said:

Yes, flying to BKK and then connecting to HKT is already approved.

Is this "flying to BKK and then connecting to HKT is already approved" really true??  If so, all I need to do is book a flight leaving Suvarnabhumi for Phuket!  However, I thought connecting flights were NOT approved.  So here is the real question:  How does one find genuine answers to questions of this sort?  I think the member who started this forum must have the closest communications line to the situation. Or could some sort of "travel agent" really help me?? I have to decide today whether I can book a connecting flight to Phuket after landing in BKK or not.  I REALLY  do not want to spend 14 days locked up in a quarantine hotel!  Could somebody please help me?!

I'm in the US now, with a ticket returning July 11th, as I have to work starting the 29th.  I check every day, wanting to see that I can return and roam freely in Phuket rather than being cooped up in a quarantine hotel for 14 days.  I'm booked to fly into Bangkok, so I hoped to buy a connecting flight from Bangkok to Phuket, but it seems that is not allowed (yet).  I had banked on having to stay in Phuket 7 days, not 14, and I could still join the Phuket Sandbox if it was 7 days, not 14.  Do you think the 14 days will change to 7, or people booked to fly into Bangkok can get connecting flights to Phuket??

I live in Thailand, working at an international school, so I hold a non-immigrant B visa. I am in the U.S. now.  I got my Johnson vaccine June 15th.  I am on vacation now, and return to work in Thailand July 29th.  I have booked a ticket on JAL returning to Bangkok July 12th, so I can quarantine 14 days and start work on time.  I would like to take advantage of the Phuket Sandbox and go to Phuket instead of staying in a hotel room in Bangkok for 14 days.  I have been trying to follow this forum, but I am still unclear on a few points. Here are my questions:      1. I have already booked my return to Bangkok leaving July 11 and arriving in BKK July 12, so can I book a connecting flight now from BKK to Phuket on the day of my arrival in Bangkok and book a SHA+ hotel in Phuket?    2. Although the COE claims I have to get the COE at least 15 days before my flight, do I still have time to apply for the COE (before my July 11 flight) because Thailand has not yet clarified the specifics of the Phuket Sandbox?  3.  Is there a different COE now for the Phuket Sandbox as the one I see online does not seem to take the Phuket Sandbox into account?

Well, I was really hoping the Phuket Sandbox scheme would somehow materialize.  I have to visit the US June and July. I have to work here in Bangkok July 29th, so as of now, I have to book a quarantine hotel for 2 weeks, at a cost of 30,000 baht +, and spend 2 miserable weeks in that hotel room alone.  If the Phuket Sandbox scheme happens, would I be able to not leave Suvarnabhumi, catch a plane to Phuket after I arrive from the US, spend 7 days in Phuket, roaming around at will, and then return to Bangkok? If so, I would not have to cut my time in the US as short, and I would not have to spend so much money paying for something I don't want, namely 2 weeks alone in a hotel room in Bangkok.  Any thoughts on that?

I wonder why the number of cases, excluding the prison cases today of course, is always right around 2,000?  Isn't that a little strange/staged?  : o 

Do you think our Covid Czar has any idea how idiotic he looks??

Although I don't believe this near-reversal of policy by our esteemed "prime minister" is entirely the doing of Thai Visa, I think Thai Visa can be thanked for helping to light the fire under his posterior.  So I'm saying a big "THANK YOU"!  Now let's see if any genuine actions come from his words!  

My girlfriend just called St. Louis hospital about this.  They said I have to own a condo to register for the free vaccine.  Did I miss something in the original article that said the foreigner has to own a condo?  The hospital said they have very few vaccines anyway.  

We SHOULD see free Covid testing and a hurry-up on those vaccines now

.  

On 1/29/2021 at 1:24 PM, JonnyF said:

OK, allow me to rephrase for the hard of understanding.

 

Time for a weekend away. From 1st Feb, will the pubs in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi be open? 

I would really like an answer to the questions above.  Missing Pattaya.

1 hour ago, sambum said:

 

I think the PM passed the buck to the Governor of each Province to decide?

Sooo, does that mean we still cannot get a drink at a restaurant?  I was refused one just last night.

I plan to travel to Koh Tao the 23rd, returning to Bangkok the 8th of January.  Some people are telling me not to go because I would not be able to return to Bangkok because Bangkok could be in lockdown.  Any thoughts on that?

Really, a poll of only 1400 to 1500 people has virtually no validity, so the title Over 90% of Thai people want a total ban on foreign arrivals has virtually no validity. It's an insult to my intelligence.  

Somebody must be up to get big tea money from China.  Their "zero-dollar tours" certainly are not helping Thai small businesses.  

Poor Pattaya! 

21 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

 

 

...................... and massages.......... ??

A massage owner said he could open for foot massage only on the 17th.  No body or oil, only foot. I intend to get at least one foot massage.

12 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

Just more scare tactics to make the population more compliant, or try to anyway.. Next they will try to introduce some form of tracking, justified by a possible 2nd wave. 

Australia are saying that the quicker people sign up to be tracked, the sooner restrictions will be relaxed.

Singapore are trying the same with the added bonus of dongles for people, without smartphones, to carry when out.

Anyone who still thinks governments aren't using this virus as an excuse to expand control really needs to open their eyes....

“Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?"

Are you guys thinking the govt is going to ban alcohol again?  I bought enough at 7Eleven to last a couple of days, but saw no need to buy cases.  Am I missing something??

I think guessing why they changed their minds is just guessing. I'm just happy they changed.  I was drinking more when it was outlawed because we always want what we can't have. 

"Prohibition" worked really well in the U.S. back in the early 1900s.  "When alcohol is outlawed, only outlaws will have alcohol." 

Was there any mention of massage parlors??

Well I went to 3 "mom and pop" little stores, and none of them would sell it to me, even though I asked in fluent Thai and had bought beer from one of them on a holiday more than once in the past.  If they decide to sell booze tomorrow and Saturday, I do not look forward to the lines and people crowded together.