J Branche

I would bring a little Reeses, favourite wine or liquor, maybe your favourite shampoo and soap. Any clothes others say they can't find. Play tennis so bring strings, grips and shoes. Shaving Gel, Boots brands is just like Gillette, Cheese Makro Mainland Vintage Cheddar Cheese, Cheese Doritos in Lotus, Big C, Tops Coles Double Chocolate Brownie mix is good, Beatty Crocker Chocolate Chip cookie mix Tops, or Lotus. Shirts and shorts are cheap. Can find decent pair of shoes and add gel insoles to make comfortable. I use the Biore UV Aqua off Lazada that is value priced and it actually works well. My choice advance sunscreen good zinc oxide for pool or beach. As others have noted with a little work you can find almost anything in Thailand.

The price is only expensive if you do not find it provides the experience and enjoyment you expected. Not starting debate but Universal Studios Orlando is with conversion 4100 baht for one person no food no hotel. The Ramayana Water Park is good value at local price. It was very busy Friday. Spent half the time waiting.

Bought some "Nike" at Pattaya Night Bazaar across from Central Festival. Added some soft insoles and they are good enough for what I needed. 600 baht was fair price. Check Mike's Shopping Mall on Beach Road also. A lot of athletic clothes, some shoes.

The issue is there is to little public, free spaces in between the rental areas that are shaded. The people who do not want to pay will sit in a chair on the sidewalk or in the free spaces. Thai families will sit on sidewalk with a few under trees in free area. Only on Holidays or days were there is an event in the area do chair rentals seem busy enough to support their efforts.

In my brief research. In USA a ban was placed on high capacity clips and magazines. Virginia State Police started seeing the new lower volume items at crime scenes and recovered from criminals after 9 months. There was an increase to approximately 25% after 3 to 5 years. It can and will help, reduce the availability. Hopefully reduce the severity of attacks. Possibly allow some potential victims to run or only incur minor wounds. There is a mental health problem for some in Thailand. Like in USA it is a complex, time consuming and expensive issue to address. I am still very happy living in Thailand and want to see us continue to improve.

I ride that road often. I have not seen any regular or daily baht buses. Hopefully it will return when more tourist visit.

From my brief review of responses. CNN can be biased, has low moral and ethical standards, use the human flaw in our brain that we seek and remember more negative and extreme events. CNN will only broadcast limited events that are positive and/or of something that benefits the community or society. We all make our own choses. I chose to seek and watch news that can benefit me or add value to my life.

Thailand, Buddhism believes in the next life. I've traveled the world and agree unfortunately in some countries the value of your life is noticeably less. That just means you have to be more accountable and way the risk versus the reward. Every government does theatrical things to attempt to fool and appease the masses. They are in a tough place. The media picking up on club fire kills 22 is bad enough. Media writing 30 clubs closed down in Pattaya because of whatever violations hurts tourism, and business. The business owner says mine and the other businesses have been open how many years and there have been no fires. You decide the risk and how much self preservation to take as a guest in Thailand.

Agreed. Covid is not over. There are at risk groups that should continue to protect themselves when they go in higher risk areas. I got it 3 weeks ago. I have 4 vaccinations. Covid is not fun, miserable for 3 days then negative by 7 day test. It seems hospitals and medical are managing Covid on a more outpatient basis and try to limit inpatients to the ones most at need. Why the government doesn't require mask wearing on public buses, trains, and other confined mass transit is sending mixed messages to the public.

Don't have time to read through every post. No one in the past 15 years should think Security is absolute. I'd recommend, insurance, dogs, security cameras, motion sensor lights, security system with motion, open/close detection and fence or gate to slow the entry or exit by vehicle. You are generally trying to slow, deter, become aware to escape or retreat, and notify police and possibly aid in identifying the perpetrators.