internationalism

this guy has a long history: "Trade chief son faces rape charge Prinn Panitchpakdi, 25, son of the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday accused of raping a woman, 18, at his riverside flat in West London, and at another address in Westminster, and of the rape and false imprisonment of a woman, 27, in November last year. His father is Supachai Panitchpakdi, 56, head of the Swiss-based trade watchdog and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. The defendant, who runs a restaurant in the City of London, was granted bail with a condition of residence. A provisional trial date was set for September." https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/news-in-brief-r09fv8cwx5r?fbclid=IwAR05YDSfFt60OQEvDfTPUfE8OvpNWTIVTprbGa1-8Dwpy35FWukuBXZEhus

as a background, that is an article from a month ago "Thais lured into Cambodia for illegal businesses as border closed" https://prachatai.com/english/node/9741

on holidays I get up to 6h daily (usually 3x2h, but also 2x3h) for up a week. I try to get it from only one, the best possible, therapist. Usually I give a large tip at the end of holiday. Getting many therapists increases chance for covid. Important to drink water as much as possible. To lower price I offer them 10h package, jomtien from 1500b, bangkok from 2000b. I aim at the owner, so she has full money (doesn't have to pay wage to employee), but often difficult.

some development. "BREAKING: Police charged former Democrat Deputy Leader Prinn Panitchapakdi with rape and two counts of indecency Saturday morning. Three women have lodged complaints. Police will ask the prosecutor to seek court's temporary detention on Sunday." https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/photos/a.848518215167112/5399423896743165

ask some your younger relatives to help with thailand pass. but really you should read all recent discussions here on covid subforum, as well as on immigration subforum. If you dont have insurance start looking for one. The cheapest one, covering only covid, but good enough for thailand pass, is only from 650b month or from 4200b year. Many insurance policies, at that mentioned, require 14 days from the start date to activation. Do get flexible airfare and wait till May for clarification. You will have enough time for getting thailand pass, that takes max 7 days

now some 20 women came forward. Rape, not just sexual harrasment. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Alleged Rape Victim of Democrat Party Deputy Leader Speak Out By Pravit Rojanaphruk BANGKOK -- Anna Vidhyaphum, 30, on Thursday became the first person to publicly accuse Democrat Party deputy leader Prinn Panitchapakdi of rape. As of press time Friday, about twenty people have made similar claims and some have reported to police accusing Prinn of sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape. Prinn held a press conference at the Democrat Party Thursday afternoon, saying he’s innocent. He resigned from all party posts and has assigned his lawyer to fight the mounting allegations." https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/5396831753669046

get thai health insurance for 1 year. top it up with accident up to 1mln. It's cheap, from around 1k. For entry only $20k needed (some 700k baht). check misterprakan website, after age input they will show tens of policies.

some 5000 venues across the country got special permits to do holiday activities, so only 100 people at each. Listing those 10 bangkok temples is bringing there tens of thousands every day. There is no chance for social distancing - even if not allowed inside temple, they will gather outside, at streets and at car parks. Some shopping malls also applied for kite flying, dance and singing performances, some other cultural events. The are all overcrowded, with punters lining for shops, cafes, restaurants. Water splashing is harmless in comparison to those visiting temples, malls and the other enclosed places. Even if water games are banned, they should be tolerated. Surely young generation will hate dinosaurs for robbing them for the 3rd year of some entertainment. They will remember it at election times

were those 777 arrested for spreading fake news about 3 brand new first class configuration B777 air planes leased recently by thai airways international, while airline is a bankrupt?

in thailand visa exempt was reinstated from 1.06.2021, almost a year ago, for sandboxes. Issue is more about covid restrictions, quarantine, tests. Each country is different. Some more desperate than the others. I don't know much about a recent tourist boom in cambodia. For many of those who entered there, their final destination is thailand. They just use cambodia for a start and will cross land borders as soon as they open.

season ends in middle of february when summer approaches. But this year is different, rain and cold. With a changing weather pattern it's still unknown when the proper rainy season will come. Regular tourists to thailand, those who use to come every single year, are coming in waves after each liberalisation of rules. For them just enough a few weeks to organise their holidays. Backpackers, gap year students, are a large part of thai tourism. Say 20% pre-covid. They don't spend much, from budget hotels from 200b/night and less at hostels on bunk beds, but they stay for many months, spending minimum $500/month. And all year round, not just high season. Yes, they don't have much money and try to find teaching jobs to sustain them. There were many 19 years old native english speakers doing 1-2 semesters at the governmental schools for some 30k month. If they got this money they would spend it all in thailand on a higher standard of living.

since pandemic I have started to go to pattaya/jomtien, because prices became reasonable, no tourists. Entertainment was right on the very residential street I was staying. Moving towards pattaya every 3-4 sois there were much more. That was autumn 2020. I would imagine same was earlier, from June 2020, when prohibition was cancelled. Just daytime eateries which became alcohol bars in the evening and into night, playing music. Mostly pensioners entertaining impoverished hookers

according to reports from the airport, backpackers (or maybe gap year teachers) started to come back. They know better than what is value for money. This years is cold. No pollution, because of very unusual rains since January (just the last 10 days is bad in bangkok, also unusual at that time). if backpackers can afford to come, surely all other tourists would easily do. Insurance is only 650/month or 4200/year. As to nothern hemisphere - heating is still needed for nights and winter clothing for some days. Pollution in cities using coal and even fire wood can still be high. People stay indoors in poorly ventilated rooms and breed covid. There might be no restrictions anymore, but there is still virus and people get sick (see germany, france, UK, USA - comparable or higher than thailand)

over 10 women came forward to police. why resign?

suspension of all restrictions suppose to be from 1st July. It's a small chance it would happen from 1.5. So far only replacement of entry pcr with atk is seriously planned, and still might be delayed to end of May. As much as everybody wants restrictions lifted, it would take several months

looks, like they have allowed for unhindered songkran, domectic tourism, at the expense of an international tourism from May. They still have time, some 1 week after songkran, to make decisions, adjust and organise entry system. The 3rd phase (cancelling entry pcr) and replaying it with atk, most likely will be postponed. That would be the last steep before full opening on 1st July.

if they scrap pcr on arrival, there would be an atk replacement. So will have to wait at the airport for your result and paperwork. Probably 30-60 minutes, if apply thai working speed and coordination. But not any details were given yet. I don't think hotel+pcr refund is likely. The last time, when they cancelled 5th day stay+pcr, hotels were not obliged to refund and they were refusing to do so. Now looks not likely that change would be approved on 1.05. There would be a delay. Don't apply on AQ website. do it proper way on thailandpass. Because not big chance for a pcr cancellation you can change arrival even to April (if your airline allows no charge change)

it's hotel which needs your flight details, no thailand pass. Have you included insurance? Also there is a chance you booked hotel only, without pcr and transport. Proper hotels would cost from around 3500b. Anything cheaper is not a proper booking. Would have to talk with hotel how to top up. There is an option of contacting hotel before booking. I would find their phone number and call them (mind songkran holidays, will delay reply)

because they have earlier announced that if infections rise over 100 per day, the Songkran would be cancelled. So they have started reporting high figures only when it was too late to revert all preparations, there was no CCSA meeting since then to make decisions. They should scaled down holidays a few months ago, instead they insisted celebrations will go on unhindered. Later on they have decided no water plays, no alcohol sale at locations of approved celebrations with special permits, and vax certificate checking at entry to large events. The popular mood is no restrictions for moderate celebrations, but crowding at temples, restaurants, on trains and busses would cause a higher wave of infections, as it did a year ago.

in almost 2 month since war broke, there was no increased traffic over thailand. why should change suddenly?

those 2.5mln medical tourists, who were coming yearly before covid, are gone somewhere else. Most probably already had treatments at their own countries. You can't wait for a hospital treatment more than a few months. I would be difficult to get them back now, unless the government throws in some monetary incentives, like lowering taxes on private hospitals, so they would be competitive to the other countries.

tourists don have homes, so hospitels. If resident, you have to convince doctor you can isolate and be able to get there in a secure transport. For thais the health system pays. Foreigners pay by themselves (partly by insurance), are seen as an easy target by private hospitals (hospitels are also under hospital supervision and share profits). Much depends how busy hospitels and hospitals are. If they are overflowing they would rather let go home.

no, not tourists travelling monthly, but many other groups - for family reasons, for work, businessmen, traders, working nomads. They take very small, calculated risk. With recovery certificate this risk is zero. For asymptomatic positives there are hospitels. Since 15.02 definitely not hospitals

usually there are paths along canals, local roads. Or even possible to walk on the wall of canal itself. The furthest you go west, or any other direction from the town centre, skyscrapers, the cheaper rent becomes - you you are able to get a larger own house. I can look for budget house some 10km west of khaosan. You can get it just by monthly. And move anytime anywhere more suitable, once you get bored or find more suitable. But it's completely different from you wanted at ekkamai.

since phuket sandbox 1st june 2021 anybody vaxed can come at a minimal cost of some 4500b for a week hotel stay, some insurance (sometimes coming free with airfare), and 1-3 pcr tests for some $70 each. that's small expense and a week on the beach doesn't have to be a hassle. each country is different and it's difficult to compare, many variables come into consideration (including, that countries with harsh entry restrictions might attract those, who don't want to get covid - for example elderly, not vaxed, with compromised immune system, with underlying conditions). so what for you is insane, for the other is rational and desired. there are travellers who do visit thailand monthly. there are those who came and don't want to go back to their problematic countries.