Dickp

With Embassy in LA not being able to issue travel permits my Daughter and son-in-law were force to cancel their trip to Bangkok and travel around Phuket. Time was running out on no cost cancelation for Plane , ASQ, Villa at Phuket ($2,500 per nigh 4 nights for the four of us. they were to be he 11 Nov for three weeks but that's gone for now. The wife and me may just go the US next June and stay 2 months like we did 2018. Spend our money in the USA rather then them spending there money here.

I believe I'll be having a problem mid Nov. Our daughter and her husband are coming to visit 12 Nov - 5 Dec. We plan on a trip to Phuket 21 Nov - 25 Nov. Both me and the wife have start phones with prepaid service but only my phone has WiFi connection to DTAC which I pay 200 B pre month extra for the wife has her vaccine info on her phone that only works if she can log in to a free WiFi Do not know if the BKK airport has free WiFi connation?

"Negative PCR/ATK tests should also be required for “all travelers entering Bangkok or any major tourist destinations from all cities in Thailand”. This last statement by Mr. Heinecke really out of line when trying encourage tourist to come. By what he said I would need a PCR test when going from Bangkok to Phuket and then again coming back to Bangkok. My daughter and Husband are coming next month for three weeks they what us all to go to Phuket for five days and then the wife and I would come back to Bangkok. Mined you that my daughter and husband would already had three PCR test with in just 3 Days. Then they would need two to three more test just travel to the south. If it were me I would say forget Mom & Dad come to the US and we will go to Mexico for a week, at far less money and a lot more fun. We have vacation there before and had a great time at Cancun.

Just got off the LINE call with my daughter, who is both US and Thai ID. She has not seen her mother or me since 2019 and really what's to come. She and her husband have already booked Air Line flights and vacation spots in Thailand. They will be here for three weeks. She booked her hotel for over night stay PRC testing. 9,800 Thb at the Dusit near Sea Con Mall that's way over priced for what they are getting. She told me they need three PRC test one on arrival one 6 or 7 days afterwards and one for departure. Plus one in the US no longer then 72 before getting on the plane. She has book a Villa on Phuket 4 nights for all of us $2,000 per night, plus 5 nights at another resort on Phuket for them to have some real vacation time together. She arrives at 12:05 12th Nov and leaves 5 Dec. She is only coming to Thailand because of us and other wise they would have gone to Mexico Cancun for about 1/3 the cost and a real nice place to relax we been there for 2 weeks four years ago and it beat anything I've seen in my 30 years in Thailand for cost and things to see and do. .

First I Had Bank America savings for 25 years, checking, savings and Stock accounts. Then one day they gave 15 days to find a new bank because of my stock account no long handled people living overseas. Open USAA savings and stocks that lasted 5 years then they sold the stock management to Charles Schwab, have savings and stock accounts for the last 10 years. No problems with them since then stock have gone from $25,000 to $110,000. I'm happy

Bought a new car 2 years ago. Car delivered to our house with new plates and the number we requested . NO Red plates, 3rd new car since being in Thailand never had Red Plates??? It's who you known that makes the deafferents.

I do not see many true tourists coming if the Puds and Bars along with night life are not open. My Daughter and Husband what to come to see us as we 78 and not in good health. But if they were true tourists they would be going to some place else that's for sure.

When I came to Bangkok some 30+ years ago I was full filling a promise I had made to my wife when we married. That when I retired in 1991, I would bring her back home to be near her family. Though I was still young only 49 and I still what'd to work. Had a hard time finding a job here due to all the Thai work restrictions. Took 2 1/2 years but got the job I wanted and new I could move up the ladder there. Before working I had little money and school cost for my 8 year old daughter took most of what I had left after pay the monthly bills. I had planed well begging in 1986 to make the move. Wife bought land next to her family and had house build just before we move here. Once working a I had more then enough money. Back then things were simple like going to IMO in and out within 30 minutes, doing it all by myself. As the time moved on things got more difficult to do, IMO with 10 years now took 1 hour and each year I went always something new. Daughter grew-up went to the states for college which ended up being 12 years finishing with 1 BS, 2 MS and 1 Phd. Married and no way moving back hear. That made it a little more harder. Then I had to retire 13 years ago now a lot more time on my hands with nothing to do. Money after the first 3 years was never a issue, what to do was. Now to old to move back to the states and I problely would not like it there anyways. Wife's family is getting smaller each year, I'll be here until I die or if my wife goes first then just maybe I'll return to be with my daughter, but not to live with her just near by.

For me to open a new bank account in my name only 2019 Jan, for 800,000 baht for IMO to extend my one year extension of stay. I went to 6 different banks and branch office. All saying the I need some different documents, like certified copy of my pass port by the American embassy, need to go to the IMO and get form showing my address, need work permit even after showing and telling that I was retired and on a retirement visas and not authorized to work. One bank told me the truth they did what to open a account because I was a American and to much paper work to filed to the US IRS. Finally went a Brach office in a mall for Bangkok Bank, they tried the same thing about proof of my address go to US Embassy and get a letter or IMO and get a document. But I read their Web site and made a copy the requirements, one proof of my address could be a until bill in my name and I had a water bill in my name only showing my address. That made the teller go to the manger and she came out to see me about document and show my copy of their requirements of poof my address. She called the Headquarters to ask them, guess she did not have a PC with internet of start phone. Account open with no more questions. I have since then moved my money out of the bank that told me to much paper work, after having five accounts with for more then 25 years, open before the US IRS requirements.

They should just scrap the whole idea of foreigners from buying land program . With all with all restriction being add to program I'm for sure not interested in it. It's just like it is now only with high price property now added to for foreigners Only foreigners with ten million baht and more should qualify Foreigners should be restricted to buying houses in the Thai capital Bangkok, the island of Phuket in the south and areas of the so called Eastern Economic Corridor (that's Pattaya mainly). He said that Thais should keep more than 50% of voting rights irrespective of how many own units in buildings. "Thais need to stay in control" in such circumstances, he said. He was also in favor of leases going up in increments of 30 years rather than 90 year or 99 year leases being offered off the bat. Only foreigners with ten million baht and more should qualify. They should be prevented from buying in the 3 - 8 million baht range favored by most Thai employees as this would lead to pricing Thais out of the market.

I started at the bottom, of course when I join the Military as a enlisted personal. Work hard and asked a lot of question. Forced to retire due to time in service and age, but that was when the service were drawing down. Retire top enlisted grade as a E-9; 30 Plus years service and can say enjoyed my work the full time. Move from overseas posting directly to Thailand, promised the wife once retire I would bring her home. Did not think it would be as hard as it was to fine work here, Thai laws on foreign employment. Took 2 1/2 yrs to finely to get hired, and started at the low end of the pole, doing the same kind of work that I did when I joined the service. But was happy just to be working again. Used the same system that I used in the service work hard and ask a lot of questions. In less then a year two manager jobs both open at the same time, one was Division manger pay grade 9 and the other section office Supervisor pay grade 7. Everyone in the office thought that would put in for the position in the office I was working in, the grade 7. I went for the top as I knew I could do it and do really great job, as it was a lot less then I had been doing for my last ten years in the service. Got the job, was up against one lady that had be doing the same job as section supervisor at different company put same job and bout the same pay, just what to move up to the hirer pay. Once picked for my new portion my new boss asked me if I thought she would be a good candidate for the other supervisor opening and I said yes, she new the job and presented herself as a I can do person, so she was asked if she wanted the job and she said yes and was hired, Why would she take the job, work location and office were much better then were she was already working at. How we come to my 14 Plus years work at the Thai job. First I was the first Western that the company ever hired in country. I knew how to interview and hire been doing it for many a year, but never in Thailand. Short learning curve, just applied what I already new. I agree Thai Lady's are much better workers and supervisor's then Thai men. When I start all but one of the different section supervisors were men. When I retired all were Lady's. I normally sat in on all hiring interviews with the direct person who the candidate would be working for and one other supervisor. I review all applications before hand and picked what I though were the top ten and then set up interviews for the top five. All three of us would have a copy of their applications and would ask different types of questions. I only hire one person that I had not seen doing there job before. We tried to hirer from within, or people we saw doing their work at another company. One thing that was a killer on job application for me was having worked for to many different companies in a three year time. Another was what college had they attended. I had three types of employee's Labor, Team leaders some college and Supervisors in some kind of office field Degree. I hired people who worked as guards, waitress, and office works. When I left all of my supervisors ( all lady's ) had finished their Master programs. One had started as a guard and one was the waitress.

My first visit to Thailand was in 1965, next time 1972 and then move here 1991. When I was 18, I was married had son and working two jobs. Had 5 children, 4 still alive, sad for a parent to out live their own off spring. Have 3 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and one Great Great grandchild. Have travel the world and seen most of it, but not Africa sadly. I grow up in the time when everything was a lot more simpler, and glad I did. Been married to my Thai wife more then forty years. We move here to keep a promise that when I retired I would bring her back home to be with her mother and farther in Bangkok, I kept that promise. How old am I?

Back in late May early June We ( the family ) could not get my wife register in the MOR PHROM App we were able to get 8 other family member's register but not my wife. We could fill out the first Page but when the second page which was support to come up kept getting a Reject that stated to register at your hospital of record, where we normally go to the Hospital. The next day I called from the Hospital told them what was happing. As a foreigner at that time I could not register, no Pink card with Thai ID number. They told me they would look into it for my wife, we are both 78 yrs old. With in a few hrs they called back gave me a time and date for my wife 1st shot 8 June. She got her shot but still no hope for me. I then talked to a lady that work at the government corvid center in early July explained it all to her and she said she would see what could be done. That after noon got a call, had date of 12 July at the same hospital. Got the shot and Government paper which gave all the Corvid info for the 1st shot and next 2nd shot date. Both the wife and me have had the dates changed due going from 16 weeks to 12 weeks between the 2nd shot. Early Sept 2nd shot of AZ to be done.

IO CW I use the fix account at BKK Bank, Interest paid once a year In Jan, traction interest paid in and another tax taken out. Normally go one before but IO has told CW good up 7 days, never done it so don't know for sure. When coming to the building I go BKK Bank due a up date and have copy by the bank , no charge. Work since the Embassy stop giving income letters 2019?

I have used the OLD OLD school method of plane cotton trine / core not too thick. wrap it clock wise around the male pipe, all threads. Used to work for me but that was along time ago. Don't do Plumber work anymore to old.

I read a lot about not many Expats at the shot centers. One reason maybe like me . Could not get on the Modera sign up each time I tried the hospitals sign up was full even after only being open less then a hr. This back in late May early June I did not believe any Pfizer would be here until late Dec or next year. Did the next best thing at the time got both the wife and me AZ shots in June 2nd shot Sept 6 . So when the Pfizer sign up came in Aug, I was not eligible already had one corvid 19 vaccination. End Story

Both Pfizer and Modera have just approved for full use by US FDA.

I tried to sign up at the private hospitals in BKK for the Purchase of Modera all BKG, Samitivej, Bumrungrad , ect never able to make the cut on their web page apps always Sorry Full up. Never figure that US would sent any Pfizer until next year, so sign the wife up for AstraZeneca she got her first shot 8 June. I was not not allow No Thai ID #. But later on got with hospital and got my AstraZeneca shot on 12 July. Later Pfizer shows up but only for people that had not got a first corvid shot. Still I try the Expatvac web page but never heard anything. I told the truth had 1 shot.

Got my 1st shot of AZ on 12 July next shot was due 4 Oct today I saw that hospitals had changed the span between shots from 16 wks to 12 wks. Called the Hospital and they checked and I was right my date had been change from 4 Oct to 4 Sept. for 2nd shot.

Same thing happen in Bangkok, less then 10 min

I went to a large private hospital in Bangkok with very bad lower back pain. Had Lumbar fusion done 2 yrs. before and though that either another disk was bad or a nerve pinch. I asked the doctor to do a C scan and said not now, x ray should be enough to say what was going. He was right simple muscle strain. Give some relaxer pills. Follow up in one week was getting better. Said come seem in two weeks if not better or getting worse, if not and your better cancel don't come, Corvid makes it risky to come for nothing.

I have read may high remarks from expats that have gotten the vaccine shots from government hospital. It is also true for private hospitals. I have had may first shot and waiting till 4 Oct for the second, very thing done high outstanding manner. What I read are the high number of people not being able to registered for the vaccines. That's the real problem not the service once your in the hospital waiting for your number to come up. By the way I do live in Bangkok and know it is easier here to get registered. but still way to many road blocks set up to stop you from getting registered. One is on the government web page app for signing up expats. You can not have had another vaccine before, if so rejected. I AZ before Pfizer or Modena were even approved by Thai FDA. So I got the best that was available for expats at that time in early June. Now can not get Pfizer!

I do all brokerage buy / sales with a large brokerage Co. in the the USA both US and oversea stocks. My account is med Sz 110,000.00 USD. I due it to have something to do, not so much for the money. Don't real know much about stock ect but learning more every day been investing in stock for 2 1/2 yrs now other then some mutual funds I purchase 37 yrs ago, those just had any dividends just rollover to purchase more funds. Grown from 1,500 USD to today 30,000 USD. The mutual funds were for my daughters college, never need them for that as the US saving bonds that I also started to purchase when she was born cover that cost plus then I was making enough to pay her yearly cost plus cashing in the US savings bonds. She finished college 2018, 12 yrs college with a PHD. A few years back I start buying stocks, that has grown to size I have now. Do not trust overseas stocks that much so that's what's why US brokerage account, easy for me to transfer from my bank to to them. I can purchase almost any overseas stock that I what though them.

I do not understand the OP "to this further hospitality industry brutalisation." That are you trying to say? I was at a Major Bangkok Hospital yesterday, talking to many Doctors and first line staff that come into contact all day long with sick people. Every one had a Pfizer booster shot.

Back In late May and early June when the government in Bangkok open on line registration, only Thai's could register, needed Thai ID #. I tried and tried to get my Thai wife but kept getting rejected, First page ok but rejected on page two Error need to register at hospital which has your Medical records. I called the hospital and talked to some one in the Corvid centre explained what was happing, they said that they would look into it. The next day received SMS msg with log in to Line App did that and there was a appointment for for 8 June 11AM. She got her shot Astra. When MFA open up App web page for Expats to register at non-government Hospitals I tried each time a hospital said they were taking registration for Modera and payments in advance. I could never get on the app page until it was closed some times less one hr. I call my hospital told what had happen. They called back and told me that they had no registration left for Modera, they could not me get register for Modera but could get me Astra shot. With nothing left to do and being 78 same as my wife I took the Astra, and next shot due 4 Oct. Now MFA open expats for First shot only of Pfizer I called hospital an asked if I could get Pfizer as my second shot no luck can not do. Back in May & June none of the US vaccines were Thai FDA approved. Reason I would like Pfizer or Modera is I have had a blood clot from DVI left into my lungs almost die luckily I was in a major hospital at the time. Since then I have three more DVI all in my left leg. Astra has a record for making blood colts. I'll keep working the system and see if I can get on the Modera list an wait or get a Pfizer shot now.