OliverKlozerof

Thanks for all the tips and info guys. But as I'm now back in the Big Mango, I'm no longer following.

BTW, I did ride my bike around Naklua one day, refamiliarizing myself with the area and even saw some parts I'd not before. But in the end was underwhelmed, so drove back to Mae Phim Beach east of Rayong for a few days, until deciding to go back to the city. Was just sort of tired of living in hotels. But after a few weeks here, I'll probably be up for some new adventure. Cheers.

2 hours ago, Aomelia said:

Yes AcQua and The Vision do you want my agents number , he’s on Line Techrentals Pattaya I’ve been doing it for 9 months moved only once

I guess you've only stayed in Pattaya area? I'm actually not very interested in Pattaya/Jomtien right now....

55 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Go north young Marco Polo... see the real Thailand, country people.

I've lived in LOS 15 years and spent a month here every year since 1990. I've seen quite a bit, but no, have never really spent much time with rural Thais. Did this in 2018 for example:

https://davesrave.net/IsaanAndNorthThai/IsaanNorthThai.html

Sometimes I think about helping with rice harvest or something, but then not sure I'm really into it. 

I've actually been ready for my usual break from Asia since around the time covid started last year. So now I'm extra ready for a break, and am considering it, despite the difficulty in coming back.

Also, I just spent a month driving around south Thailand, which I blogged about in recent (March) blogs on my site davesrave.net, if you're interested.

18 hours ago, Aomelia said:

Air B and B have great deals I’m doing monthly and no deposits 

Have you found one or more good ones? That is, QUIET, nice, etc. Where, how much...? Thx

10 hours ago, Lancashirelad said:

How was the sailing course? Any more detail? Who with? How much?

I wrote this blog about it. You're welcome. ???? 
 

https://davesrave.net/eleven-day-sailboat-skipper-course/

I hung out in my hotel there for several days afterward, then drove over to Mae Phim Beach, east of Rayong, for a couple days (where I'd been at the beginning of February). But I quickly started to feel bored with it, so drove back to BKK yesterday. Then I learned BKK will become a "dark red zone" again starting tomorrow, which includes the order to not leave "unless necessary;" which is, of course, pretty vague. But since I just got back, I don't really feel like leaving again right away. And the last "lockdown" was actually not that burdensome....

Looks like someone deleted the rude comment I saw earlier. Thanks

4 hours ago, rcuthbert said:

Check out Southern Naklua. Many good deals are available.

I got a bit confused looking at google maps today.... I always thought 'Naklua' meant the area north of N Pattaya Rd. Actually, I think that's correct. But what confused me was, if you search for 'Na Kleua' on g'maps, it includes all of Pattaya plus Jomtien. But when I looked at the area north of N Pattaya Rd, I see "Pattaya-Naklua Rd," which I think is what most people are referring to when they say Naklua. Chai mai?

I've been staying in Na (south) Jomtien, as it was close to the sailing course I took. But one of the worst areas for dogs I've been in in quite a while. Probably anywhere would be an improvement over this. Room itself is very nice. Owner offered me a room that has bedroom with no external walls, so in there almost never hear the dogs.

But step into main room and with a couple minutes you can hear the poor creatures. It's never the dog's fault, but the humans that make up this culture that thinks it's somehow kind to let malnourished, worm infested packs of dogs roam freely through the neighborhoods.

In "developed" countries, dog catchers (/animal control officers), round them up, put them up for adoption...if no takers, eventually they are euthanized. To the tune of around 1800 per day in the US. Both cases are tragic. But I think the western approach is far more sensible. I realize it's a longer discussion than this; they say no money for 'animal control'/euthanasia here, for example....

4 hours ago, rcuthbert said:

Check out Southern Naklua. Many good deals are available.

I'll drive over to that area today to check things out. Any specific properties you know of? I treated myself at I think New Years about 12 years ago and stayed in a nice hotel there. As I recall, the area seemed classier/more civil than most of Pattaya, which is what I'm looking for. And a variety of places to eat.

Dog noise. I posted before looking for area with no/minimal dog noise. Inevitably someone says, 'Not possible in Thailand.' Wrong; it is possible. My room in BKK has no barking (took some searching but...). Six out of seven hotels I was just in in south Thailand last month had no (/minimal) barking. East end of Mae Phim Beach (east of Rayong), at beginning of Feb. this year, no barking (thanks to farang who paid local shelter owner to castrate all male dogs ???? ).

So: Anyone know of area around Pattaya with no/minimal dogs/barking? Preferably not central. Na Klua? Jomtien? Hill in between (whatever it's called)? I came to Na Jomtien for sailing course Apr. 10 and now don't want to return to BKK. Will stay day by day until I know it's quiet, then by week/month. Otherwise: clean, decent, everything works, etc. Small kitchen best. Airbnb? Agoda...? Thx

I drove from BKK to south Jomtien to take an intensive sailing course on April 10. The course lasted 11 days. Since then, I've been relaxing and catching up on things in my hotel here. Now I'm considering what's next.
I could very well be wrong but, I think I saw that driving (/traveling), between provinces is "discouraged," but not banned? So, if I wanted to drive back to BKK, I wouldn't have to go through any checkpoints which could potentially be a hassle (or worse)?

However, I have no pressing reason to return to BKK. So, maybe I'd be wiser to (or may as well), stay away a while longer...maybe find a room to rent by the week, or even month? Any helpful info/advice appreciated. Thx

1 hour ago, LomSak27 said:

. 

This info is perfect for me. Thanks tons! I have one friend who drove to some small town in northeast WA for his shots—twice! Yes, it now depends on getting back into Thailand....

5 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

Camped at quite a few places over the years, few videos here:

Wow very cool, thanks. I watched a couple and saved the others. ???? 

I just drove around south Thailand for a month. I learned that some national parks allow camping, and some even have tents to rent and other things to make it easy. One day I drove to Kui Buri National Park from Hua Hin. Unfortunately, it was closed (but I still enjoyed being up there). I was also in Khao Lak and thought about checking out Khao Sok National Park near there...but then I got too much sun while snorkeling one day, and just didn't want to be out in the hot sun and high humidity. And it's also possible they don't allow camping now (due to covid).

While I'm sure 'cool season' would be a better time to contemplate camping in the country, is it possible there's a place to do it now where it could be comfortable? Like, maybe up in some high hills it could be comfortable; at least mornings and evenings? If they had showers or swimmable streams or lakes, then you could rinse off when it got too hot.... Thanks for any *helpful* advice/info.

I don't see a subforum about this, so I guess I'll ask here. I'm interested in learning about boating in Thailand. The rough goal would be to be able to boat around the islands, etc. Anyone know of any forums that deal with this? I guess next I'll check youtube....

Growing up in the US, my family had a membership at a small sailing club where I took the course to be able to check out their 21-foot sailboat and go sailing on Lake Washington with my friends. At the lake in upstate New York, we had a ski boat I used to operate. So, I'm not a complete newbie, but would like to learn about what's required to boat in this country. Thx

OK, so looks like in Nevada, and probably other places now or soon, I would be able to get the shot(s) with just my US passport (or Medicare card, which just arrived, since I just turned 65). 
So now the concern may shift to: At what point will Thailand start allowing fully vaccinated people to return to the country without undergoing 14-day quarantine? Again, I haven't been paying much attention to any discussion about this. But seems likely at some point they will either end the quarantine requirement for those who can show proof of vaccination, or make it much shorter....

Since I was thinking of staying in the US for at least 2 months this trip, then I suppose I could go there if there's word the quarantine will likely be lifted in 2–3 months.... (I'm single and retired, so pretty flexible about travel, etc.)

BTW, has there been any info about when farang might be able to start getting shots in Thailand?

I don't pay much attention to the news, but I do think I heard Biden's hoping in a few weeks to open it up to anyone who wants to get vaccinated. I suppose it will still depend policies states/districts. But it seems like, as supplies continue to increase, that eligibility requirements will be eased.

I'm quite ready for a break from Asia (and this hot season), so as soon as it looks like I'll be able to get a/some shot(s), I'd like to fly to the US. Well, I suppose I might also want to wait until lots of stuff is open, which, more and more, it seems to be. 
Anyone know current requirements to make such a flight? I'm obviously unvaccinated. Do I need to get a covid test prior? (There must be other threads on this here, but....)

41 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I think you got a bit confused, this started with your first post where you were not really clear: "When I come back, I go to the office of my apartment building and they print a TM30 for me, which I now include with the 90-day report I mail in. (Mailing always works, online was hit and miss.)"

This sounds like they print the TM30 form for you, and you submit this TM30 form to immigration. You probably meant that they do the TM30 for you online, and give you the receipt, right?

Thus Ubonjoe said "You do not need to file a new TM30 report when you do 90 day reports." Pay attention to the word new

 

When you do the 90 day report by mail you add a copy of your TM30 receipt to it.

 

Ah. I guess I didn’t clearly understand what was happening. I just tell my apartment people I’m back and  could they give me the tm30 paper. They go to a govt site, then print something for me that says tm30 on it, which I include with my 90-day report. So I guess I still follow that procedure. 

According to UbonJoe I no longer need to include tm30 when mailing in 90-day report (unless I want to change my address of record). Hmm. Last time I didn’t include one...I did receive the A-OK receipt a while later, but they wrote on it ‘pls include tm30 next time,’ as if they were letting me slide this (last) time. (My last reporting period, during which I went to Pattaya for two days at Xmas, then forgot to get the tm30 when back in BKK.) 

But as we know, it’s not uncommon for govt workers to not know the correct/new rules.

I leave BKK occasionally to spend a few nights in a hotel somewhere. When I come back, I go to the office of my apartment building and they print a TM30 for me, which I now include with the 90-day report I mail in. (Mailing always works, online was hit and miss.)
I've now been traveling for 3 weeks, am now in Trang in south Thailand, but stopped at 7 other locations for a night or four along the way (Hua Hin, Prachuap Town, Ranong, etc.). (I know all hotels are supposed to report my arrival to the govt, and I guess departure?) Well, I neglected to find out beforehand if there's anything I should be doing along the way re: TM30s. Eventually (in a week or three), I'll get back to my apartment in BKK and, as usual, get them to print a TM30 for me. Anyone know if that will be sufficient?
Actually, I brought all the 90-day report forms with me, since I still may be on the road when it's time to mail in the next one (around April 5). If I mail that in, maybe I should just include a note saying I'm traveling around the country, and list all the places/hotels I've stayed at? Anyone with experience in this sort of case? (Helpful replies only pls.) Thx

Well, I've been watching some youtube videos and also asked my sister who is a birder, and a friend who's a pro photog (but not specializing in wildlife). My conclusion thus far is to put off any purchase until I've studied the subject quite a bit. Could change, but sorta think I may end up with a point and shoot "superzoom" "bridge camera." (A couple terms I just learned.) My sis has a Canon Powershot SX720 HS, which is 40x optical zoom. She likes it, but says it would be even better if it had 1) a viewfinder (can't see screen when shooting toward sun), 2) bigger buttons (it's pocket size, which is nice, but as a result, buttons are scrunched together, 3) a touch screen to set focal points. Her camera cost only about $350. Then they came out with the 730, and now 740. I think main improvement is the screen now tilts, but I guess there are a couple other things. But like her, I'm not out to win any photography awards, and don't want to get a pro DSLR and expensive lenses. I've done a bit of looking for a superzoom point and shoot that also answers her main complaints, but not sure there is such an animal. Anyhow, I think I'd be willing to got to around $600 to get one with a viewfinder, etc. But I'm in no rush and I think I'd better take some time to learn more about photography and how a modern 'bridge camera.'

Anyone have, or know about, storage boxes for the back of a pickup truck and where to get in Thailand? I'll be traveling around the country, bringing a variety of stuff, and could use more space than I have in the cab. I'd probably just be putting in things that aren't particularly valuable, like clothes, camping equipment, etc. But I'd like them to stay dry, and I'd like to be able to secure the box so it doesn't move around, using the metal loops that are included on my Toyota Hilux Revo, etc. (not drill holes for bolts, etc.). Thx

My sister came to visit from the US a couple years ago. She's a birder and one fun thing we did was to hire a local guide to take us up Doi Inthanon, near Chiang Mai, for some birding one day. My sis brought some binoculars and a very basic camera. The guide had a really long lens, a tripod (or monopod?), and some other stuff. I just bought a truck and will be traveling around Thailand to some national parks, etc. and think it would be fun to snap photos of birds, wildlife, and so on, that I come across...and also just take travel photos. It seems like technology keeps making strides, so I wouldn't be surprised if there now exists some camera/kit that can achieve what only high end gear could do a few years ago (or am I wrong?). 

Anyhow, can anyone here recommend something that wouldn't break the bank, but that could take some pretty good shots of birds and things (that might be pretty far away). I'm also willing to get a tripod (or monopod?), to help stabilize the camera. Thx

14 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

This may be more about accounting - like which governmental organization absorbs the expense, ulitmately - than "identification"?

 

Now that the J&J shot is approved, and the weather moderates, vaccinations might get to 3m/day.

I guess I'm not surprised that the bar is set quite low re: 'proving eligibility.' The objective, after all, is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, as fast as possible. I'd guess a lot of the people at vaccination sites are volunteers; somewhat analogous to the volunteer effort at polling centers during an election. If you look and sound like a US citizen, and look like you're in the currently targeted age group, you get a shot. How many are at risk of getting reprimanded for giving a shot to someone who 'forgot to bring their Medicare card,' or had other ID issues? What harm could be done by giving a shot to someone who may not be officially eligible?

Many friends back in the US have gotten one or both shots. Yesterday a guy I went to high school with said he just got his first shot. Here's our FB exchange:
--

ST:

Just got my first vaccine at Safeway (grocery store chain)

Me:

What ID was required? Just driver's license?

ST:

They wanted my Medicare card but that was in my wallet in the car ???? so I just gave them the last 4 digits in my social security card.

Me:

Wow, simple. You made appointment online I guess?

ST:

No they took my name on a piece of paper and put me on a waiting list, and called me.