Cherrytreeview

Just now, mommysboy said:

Fair point.  I think most people are assuming they want to keep deaths on the very low side.  Also, postings are based on what if it's only 50%, etc.  Yes, it could be the Government and people are willing to accept a higher count and it's their call.

It's 76 provinces call.

All can make independent decisions as they wish.

Try selling that as a guaranteed fun holiday or long stay trip.

Phuket said they would get 100,000 into the shambles box, ended up with at most 30,000.

About 6,000 tourists.

Nobody's going to be coming, no matter what Thailand decides.

32 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

 

You know Jack about me or anyone else so pretty pointless posting stuff like that or categorising me like you did earlier (now deleted)

Sorry if i offended you, i didn't mean to touch a nerve.

15 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Likewise its not what you think is an acceptable target to open up it’s what Thailand decides is acceptable. 

76 provinces of Thailand to be precise.

Each with their own powers to open or close as they wish.

A la Koh Tao. Opened then closed everything with a few covid cases.

You should be glad you don't have any business interests in Thailand.

I feel sorry for anyone that does.

On 9/16/2021 at 7:36 AM, Tanomazu said:

Really.
 

"The Policia Nacional has taken down an international pickpocketing gang which preyed on tourists in Mallorca.

 

A total of 34 members, all of Romanian nationality, were arrested during multiple raids across the island yesterday."

 

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2020/08/12/police-arrest-34-members-of-romanian-pickpocketing-gang-who-preyed-on-tourists-in-spains-mallorca/

 

Crime gangs with 34 members, all Romanian, not a problem. Okay. That's probably why the police arrested them then, because they're not a problem?

 

"Palma caught up in Romania mafia ring

 

SPANISH police have arrested a mafia ring of nearly 300 Romanians, two being picked up in Palma, in one of their biggest operations against foreign criminals. The network was organised by one leader, known as Iorgu I or Talanu, with several lieutenants, and operated in eight of Spain's 17 regions, the Interior Ministry said yesterday. “The crimes for which these mafia groups are accused include violent robbery, forgery and fraudulent use of credit cards, drug trafficking, falsifying documents, illegal possession of weapons, prostitution and offences against worker rights,” Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso told a news conference."

 

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2013/03/23/13582/palma-caught-romania-mafia-ring.html

 

So organized Romanian crime gangs of THREE HUNDRED Romanians engaging in violent robbery not a problem then. Okay. That'll be why the Spanish police conducted a nationwide operation to arrest them then, because they're not a problem.

 

"A united nations of crime’: how Marbella became a magnet for gangsters"

 

The new international crime organisations have made Marbella their centre of operations. And as violence rises, the police lag far behind.

 

“The Costa del Sol is a kind of hub, or ‘coworking’ space, where almost every major criminal group in the world has some sort of presence,” a senior National police agent investigating organised crime told us.

 

The rise in lethal violence is worrying the region’s security forces. “

 

Last August was an especially bad month: “Eastern European gangs were breaking into homes all the time,” Álvarez-Ossorio said. “There were robberies and assaults happening constantly. We call it ‘black August’, and I think it was really a turning point.”

 

A resident of an upmarket suburb in Marbella, who asked not to be identified by name, said she’s afraid to leave anything of value in her home. “I wear a lot of bracelets,” the woman said, showing off each one and noting its value, each in the tens of thousands of euros. “And when I go running, I cover them up with a wrist band. I don’t leave them in the house.” Asked if she ever thinks about moving, she said: “Yes. In fact, I’m sure that’s what I’ll end up doing.”

 

The Costa del Sol is home to more than 100 different criminal organisations. They range from extremely powerful, tightly structured mafias, like the Serbian, Morrocan and Dutch groups, to gangs of small-time burglars.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/may/20/a-united-nations-of-how-marbella-became-a-magnet-for-gangsters

 

It's so bad in Spain even the mafiosi themselves are scared. Of other mafiosi.

 

More than 100 crimininal organisations operating in Spain not a problem. Okay. Robberies and assaults happening constantly not a problem. Okay. A rise in lethal violence that is worrying even the region’s security forces, but not a problem. Okay. So many crime gangs that even the criminals themselves are scared, but not a problem. Okay. Residents wearing their jewellery to avoid it getting stolen in a break-in in their home and saying they will move away. But not a problem. Okay. Just my "worldview". Okay, genius.

 

Well, clearly you know Spain so well. And btw, Gamberros, youth hooligans, are a problem in Spain due to the 20% plus unemployment, they don't just stay in a neighbourhood, they have scooters and cars and go shopping where you do.

 

And yes, housing qaulity is a lot poorer in Spain than in Thailand, where the standard of housing in CM, BK, and Ko Samui is considerably higher than in most Spanish cities. I know, cause I lived in both.

 

Canary Islands? Lol, yes, winters are great there. Ideal if you like black ash beaches and being bored out of your mind.

 

And cultural life in Spain has been severely limited by animal rights fanatics and left wing extremists, one of the crowns in the jewel of Spanish culture, Tauromaquia, is now barely hanging on by a thread due to the prohibitions on bullfighting in many Spanish cities. As someone who grew up learning horse riding from a Rejeoneador I can tell you that it is a sad time for Spanish culture. Sure, Spain has better museums and opera than Thailand, but it does not have Buddhist monasteries, a Lantern festival, ancient Thai ruins etc.

 

Madrid airport is very limited, all Spaniards know this. Nobody wants to fly to Caracas, everyone wants to fly to Bangkok or Tokyo. But they often have to go to Frankfurt to fly there, because Iberia, the Spanish airline, is very poor and limited in its offering, and even if they offer flights they are wildly overpriced compared to what's on offer in Frankfurt.

 

Outside of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, in the smaller cities, btw Spain offers far less in dining options than Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Ko Samui. It's just a fact. It's mostly Spanish, which is great of course, but if you want to try a range of other cuisines, bad luck.

 

Choice of Shopping in Spain is better? Far from it. In Thailand you don't just get a range of malls Spain can only dream of, you also have Asia's largest market, Chatuchak (and it will be back), where you don't just get designer clothes, but unique items, where in fact the designers from Gucci go to be inspired. Shopping in Thailand is better.

 

And the weather in Thailand is better, btw, because in winter it is TEN degrees warmer than in most of Spain and a winter in Palma, Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia will see your furniture moulding green from the humidity which the Winter causes. It's horrible. I lived it for 8 years.

What utter tosh.

Thailand has 2 seasons, very warm and very warm with high humidity a la Bangkok in March or April.

Unbearable.

Why do you think many of the local expats head for the aircon malls.

In Ireland, we had a lovely spring and summer, while i have watched Thailand battered and flooded by monsoons.

Co Mayo's scenery would blow Thailand's out of the water.

Ever been to Isaan?

Flat, dull and same same.

Instead of writing your tedious essays, that nobody reads, why don't you just admit you come for the ladyboys.

16 minutes ago, mahtin said:

Think you mean provinces.

Not splitting hairs, but "According to the National Statistical Office, in 2000, Thailand had 76 provinces, 795 districts, 81 subdistricts, 7,255 communes, and 69,866 villages. Two districts have been created since the 2000 census."

 

http://www.statoids.com/yth.html

Thanks for that.

Plenty of vaccines ordered.

From penny pinching to betting the farm on every vaccine known to mankind.

Anyone who thinks this rolling nightmare will be over anytime soon, is going to be very disappointed.

77 districts with the power to make individual knee jerk decisions is a recipe for disaster.

On 9/17/2021 at 3:01 AM, murraynz said:

I have no idea what you are referring to? 

I'm a property investor in NZ and Australia. I don't normally buy new properties.. 

In good areas over many many years, I've had good cap gains. 

It's a totaly different situation to Pattaya Thailand, where cap gains on any property, are very rare.. 

I know a guy from Brighton, UK who sold his condo in the Centara hotel/condo complex on soi bukahow, Pattaya in December 2019.

Got basically what he paid for it. Chinese buyer bought the condo online through an estate agent.

UK housing market went up over 10% last year. New covid normal, a race for space and less travel means it won't be slowing anytime soon.

Buy at home, rent abroad.

I wouldn't buy any tangible asset in Thailand but be in no doubt if/when the Chinese return, they have money to burn.

Was watching a discussion between two well known Pattaya media people.

One pointed out that Thailand is effectively run as 77 separate areas.

Highlighted Koh Tao, where after reopening they discovered a case of coronavirus and the main man closed Koh Tao down again.

No country can attract tourists reacting like this. 

5 hours ago, placeholder said:

You criticize Neeranam for having a chip on his shoulder and yet you "have spent a very pleasant spring and summer in the UK and watched Thailand's monsoon season floods with amusement"? Clearly yours is a case of the soot calling the kettle black.

I am merely pointing out that his constant narrative of Thailand perfect, weather etc, UK bad is highly flawed.

I hope you noted that he intends to spend part of the year in Scotland, yet only a few days ago basically said "why would anyone live in the UK.'

I call that a hypocrite.

2 hours ago, anchadian said:

Thailand cannot finalize Bangkok’s reopening date

 

The plan to reopen Bangkok to international tourists from 15 October is being questioned, as to whether the city is actually ready. The government’s COVID-19 task force said on Saturday that any reopening plan needs to be evaluated by the Ministry of Public Health first.

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-cannot-finalize-bangkoks-reopening-date-372437

Singapore reopened and reintroduced restrictions within a fortnight.

Who in their right mind would book a ticket for long haul travel to a country that could close it's borders at a minutes notice.

3 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Actually, I retired from the Thai education system 2 years ago, I'm 55. I was a teacher, less of the insults. ????  You have no idea what my financial status is, pure speculation from someone who probably wasted the best years of his life working in the UK in a job he hated and jealous of those with more sense of adventure, coming here in their 20s. 

I do some part-time translation work now and trading. 

I will get a full UK pension as I worked for 4 years in the UK and pay yearly Class 2 contributions. I paid 10 years back at once a few years back, it was 66,000 baht. I pay about 150 quid a year now. 

I am going to spend only about 6 months a year in Thailand, the rest travelling and a few months a year in Scotland.  

 

I think i have an idea how you can defy the laws of economics.

A huge big silver spoon. 

A working life in Thailand and a frozen UK state pension don't make for an affluent retirement.

Returning to Scotland to keep in with your paternal sponsors does.

In another post you talked about 'peasant girls'.

At least those 'peasants' are self made and not scrounging off others.

I know who i have more respect for.

17 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

As soon as it opens the people will come.

Not with all the hoop jumping they won't and a Thai government that will close BKK if the Thai health care system starts being overwhelmed.

Singapore opened and then reintroduced restrictions within a fortnight.

Not great to encourage long haul visitors.

I do wonder if some of the contributors on this forum actually keep up with what is actually going on globally with this pandemic.

8 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Yes i have just finished doing it, 35 years this year.

6 years back contributions and 10 years class 2 or 3 I forget now.

Ps have a quick look at your math !!!!!!!!! LOL.

 

 

https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/can-i-top-up-my-state-pension-an0q09p37nsj

A frozen state pension in Thailand, will be pretty worthless after ten years of even moderate inflation.

In my opinion, better to live in both and get your state pension indexed.

15 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

His must be making voluntary national insurance  contributions. 

if he qualified to do that. most can

 

You can pay up to 6 years in arrears.

It's approximately £750 to make up one year in arrear.

In view he's on 40k baht a month (£890), he would be spending half his annual salary.

Can non resident UK expats do that?

That assumes he's still working.

Do English teachers in Thai schools get enrolled in a teacher's pension scheme?

Many come to Thailand as backpackers in their early 20s, i wouldn't want to be living like one in my 50s.