realfunster

Let’s all hope this fails like most TAT projects or projections. Thailand was already creaking at the seams with 40 million pre-covid. I have zero confidence that they can make the required infrastructure improvements to sustainably handle 80 million within 5 years. If this prediction comes true, I expect it will be hellish in many tourist areas and providing an overall experience which only the mass-tourism market would accept. Once again, it raises the (rhetorical) question of how does this fit in with a quality and sustainable tourism strategy as so often espoused by the TAT ?

Indeed, moving someone in such circumstances would not be wise. The ambulance arrival time is probably quicker than the UK at the moment….

I disagree, the winners were the content platforms and providers, for example the gentleman writing this opinion piece. Nothing like a good covid entry restrictions story to get everyone wound-up, even better as there was a Chinese angle involved. Just a pity for them the 'order' was rescinded before the ink had dried, there was so much more mileage to be had !

I think they have stopped reporting cases, not deaths. Sure someone will clarify for us ! Apart from the sad deaths of those before their time, this doesn't appear bad news to me based on the data below. Now we are at the lowest daily death rate since covid kicked-off in Thailand in April 2021. The peak in early '23, is the 58 deaths in the OP being reported on 1 day being Jan 9th, as they didn't report since Jan 2nd.

Easy now Tiger, maybe first they should start with the carpets.

Life's tough isn't it ???? These types of mandates typically only apply to the public sector. For those of us in the private sector, I'm sure we will be working as usual, unless we take some annual leave.

If my timelines are correct, this meeting happened later the same day after Anutin was rolling out the red carpet to the returning Chinese at the airport. Quite brave of the US ambassador As I mentioned in the Chinese welcoming ceremony thread, this is yet another picture of Anutin without mask, immediately after exposure to higher risk groups and in close proximity to others. Leading from the front and showing the Thai people the way forward and that masks are obviously an optional extra ! Or it could be, he is so arrogant he simply doesn’t think the guidelines applies to the anointed ones in the government. I’m going with the latter option.

Nothing says progress and advancement whilst foreshadowing a bright future more than a bunch of gimps in uniforms.

From the linked article : "The area in which Thailand performed best is working towards the “No Poverty” goal, which is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The indicator is the poverty: population ratio. (Q - how is poverty defined ?) Another area in which Thailand performed quite well was “Quality Education’. The report said that challenges remain, but that the country is still on track to SDG achievement. This is the goal to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. The indicators are participation in pre-primary organised learning, lower secondary completion and literacy rates." I will allow the good folk of TV to draw their own judgement on poverty (strangely Thailand has highest gini co-efficient in the region and very high globally...??) and Thai "Quality Education"..... Proof, if it were needed, that we should not simply digest as truth everything that is spoon-fed to us in the media...

The art of trolling and satire involves subtlety and believability, unfortunately you don't quite cut the mustard. Not replying to you but my general observations : Harry is clearly a troubled and manipulated individual. The amount of negative press him and Meghan received was negligible but somehow they have portrayed this as a media/institutional witch hunt and themselves, in their massively privileged position, as victims. Particularly sickening given what has happened in the last 3 years with covid and the cost of living crisis faced by many at present. If they want to break free from the rigours, challenges and duties of royal life then they are free to do so without mud-slinging in all directions to enrich themselves. He is probably not there just yet but if this carries on much longer I hope a review of his royal titles is considered. In the space of a few years, Harry has turned himself from a very well liked cheeky royal rogue into a majorly disliked enigma. This is quite a sudden and unexpected change of circumstances for a man of approaching 40 years of age, one wonders what or who was the catalyst for this...? Of course, it may take years but I feel there is a high chance that things will turn sour with Meghan, whom clearly has a history of relationship issues with nearly everyone close to her, and may well be instigating the same pattern of behaviour in her malleable husband, at which point he will be running home to.....

That's interesting that Anutin & at least one other welcoming host aren't wearing masks whilst in close proximity to an elevated covid risk group. Obviously. they are leading by example that there's no need for the Thai public to wear them anymore as well !

That would be hilarious. It's doubtful as Anutin has previous on this during the height of the pandemic, when he was confirmed as positive after some overseas jolly, was meant to isolate for a week and was back only a couple of days later for an obviously too important to miss photo-op.

Yes, my thoughts exactly. It's almost as if the writers have a good idea of what buttons to press to get a reaction (and web-traffic) from the expat community... ???? I think I will wait for a bit more substance than a half-arsed report from the world-renowned publication that is "PhuketGO"...

Easy access via the river by boat. Drop off at the 1st floor private 'sky' dock, purpose built for such occasions. Just kidding. Back to the OP : I live in an area of central Bangkok that was prone to flooding, neighbours tell me it was chest deep here back in the mid-90s and I have electrical sockets that are fitted half-way up the wall, which gives the game away ! However, to the best of my knowledge no floods at all in the 25+ years since then and definitely not in the 15 years I have been here. Yours is an interesting case, I can see the attraction of a nice property overlooking a river but being near a river comes with risks. On the basis everyone else has told you to stop considering this, let me offer an alternative view. As your map shows, many others have built there- so why not you ? With numerous houses and 2 main roads in the direct vicinity, you would expect that the 'authorities' will have a reasonable motivation to keep the area dry, if at all possible. Try to establish the risks - what's the historic and ongoing flood situation - was the previous flood just a f-up by the local water management team ? How often have there been floods on the property over the past twenty years ? What's the general state and condition of neighbouring land and properties ? Either way, it would obviously be prudent to build in some flood-proofing into your house/land designs (any design clues from neighbouring properties?) and if it's a once a decade or more thing then you can evaluate whether you see not being able to access your property for a few days/weeks once every 10 years and some clean-up/repair costs as a price worth paying, assuming the main property and belongings of value are safe and sound above the water line.

Doubt Thailand will be too bothered about this, if fact they are probably relieved that the temporary and insincere wooing of the less desirable Indian tourist market can now move to the back burner as the tourism mother load from China is back in action - yeah, baby ! Thailand is being quite liberal with covid entry requirements for the Chinese tourist market, let's hope it doesn't come back to bite them on the xxxx. I also wonder where this liberal attitude fits in with their stated "quality tourist" strategy, or should we just resign ourselves that all visitors with a pulse are welcome in the struggle to get Thai tourism back on its feet ?

Not that I disagree with your comment but this is something that all of Thai society needs to tackle. I remain astonished, especially given the amount of 'propaganda' peddled via various media channels, that the government/ministries find it difficult to develop national educational campaigns on several key national public behaviour issues, drink driving being one of these. If you can start to challenge and change the mindset and start making it a socially unacceptable behaviour, then you might see some improvements. Of course, as we see in wider day-to-day society and the generally lax law enforcement, telling someone what to do or receiving such guidance rarely goes down well in Thailand. Until this aspect of the Thai collective psyche develops, I think it will continue to be difficult...

They didn't. Not for me to speak for the original poster but perhaps they are alluding the the end of the 'zero covid' policy hitherto adopted by China. Once covid is widely out in the community we have a fairly good idea (after 3 years now) which groups are more likely to be seriously infected, or worse...especially with a somewhat limited vaccine roll-out in China. I suppose the positive for China is that the current dominant covid strains appear generally less dangerous than earlier strains.

In my experience most Thai washing up liquid requires a veritable niagara falls of water action to get some decent bubbles going, certainly a lot more than a gentle stir with a teaspoon. I feel it is fairly unlikely that she is partaking in any kind of scam.

With respect to Col.Udom, he might be better served keeping quiet at the moment rather than sharing anecdotal evidence. As he himself mentions, as a 'closed' ship, if protocols are properly followed then it should be extremely difficult to sink, even with a cracked hull at the "front ,left side". Of course, it is quite possible any hull crack developed after the power and control of the vessel was lost. Blaming an inanimate object for the incident is the most inoffensive and face saving approach and does not risk upsetting anyone. I do hope this is not the start of a PR cover-up campaign to deflect from a thorough investigation into the causes for the sinking.

If it is a fungal infection (suggest seeing a doctor) then they can be difficult to clear. Amongst various treatments I tried creams, varnishes, lotions and iodine foot baths. In the end, I tried what seemed to me a logical solution mentioned on the web. Fungus generally likes dark and moist environments, so I try to keep my feet aired as much as possible (I would suggest switching to open toed shoes as much as practical, this was not easy for me as a Brit with our general dislike for sandals ????) and perhaps more importantly, whenever possible I take "feet sun baths" for 10-15 minutes whilst day-dreaming about the UV zapping the fungus. Obviously you need to be a bit careful not too overdo this and risk sun burning your feet but in my experience it is amazing how often a seat/table just has a little area of direct sunlight nearby and then you can just stretch out your feet for a few minutes to get the benefits of the UV.

Allow me to give you another 3 words instead... "clickbait drives views".

Perhaps you have become institutionalised by the world of work ! I would be looking at this next phase with great excitement. I am sure you will have no problems to find many fulfilling and interesting ways to spend your time, with (finally) the freedom to do exactly what you want with your own time !

Oh dear, that’s terrible news. Thought the report said all were evacuated. I wonder if they can attempt an undersea rescue to check for those that might be trapped inside.

The sea didn’t look particularly rough in the video, I wonder if someone forgot to batten down the hatches ? Glad everyone got off the ship safely.

I've seen it around advertised in some clinics here in Bangkok. Not a recommendation but if you are in Bangkok I got a flyer handed to me recently by Medconsult who are now offering this service. Have you thought about a wider wellness check-up ? Apart from general aging (sorry to say!), it could be a range of underlying issues.