samran

Hi all - so I’ve gotten a decent deal down there early next month and we’ll be staying in a place which allows for self catering.

Im just wondering what the availability down there is for western basics (decent bread, breakfast cereals, meat, sausages, fresh salad). No huge loss if they aren’t available but kind of wondering if they are.
 

Im assuming fresh fish and other seafood would be widely available. 

Also any idea on if restaurants are opening - especially for take away etc.  

14 hours ago, kokesaat said:

I appreciate all the feedback.  I may explore having someone go through my personal papers to find my wife's old passport and sent it to the US.  I have since found out that you have to present yourself in person at one of the embassies/consulates to have a new passport issued.  

Just to clarify a few things.....my wife is Thai (when she's in Thailand), with a Thai ID card and housepaper.  But over the 23 years we've lived in Thailand, she's always traveled back and forth with her American passport.  Yes, she goes through the rubber stamp process to get an annual extension......as we both do our extensions at the same time, the immigration officer is only concerned with my finances.  For a variety of reasons (coups, unrest, etc) we've both felt more comfortable with her being in Thailand on a US passport.   Obviously, we didn't see Covid happening, but it's a lesson learned.

No need to dig through old documents, she can get a new passport with her ID card. it is an extremely easy process. If they ask for her old passport, just report it lost.

As for being in Thailand on a US passport, given she still is a Thai citizen (despite entering on the US passport) she won't be offered any consular assistance, so it makes little difference from that perspective. 

1 hour ago, KhaoYai said:

If you don't get any joy with a new passport from the Thai Embassy, as far as I know you'll be fine with her old one if you can get someone to send it to you.  She is a Thai citizen and her passport establishes that.  I've seen several accounts where Thai citizens have been allowed to enter Thailand on an expired passport.

I’ve entered Thailand on an expired passport a couple of times. 

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Oh really?

 

I don't think some of the loony liberals would have issues with the UK doing great work on C-19, I know it. They're so guilt ridden and hateful towards their own country that they are terrified it could lead to national pride. ????.

 

Don't believe me?

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1273335/oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-trial-begins-covid19-doctor-emily-cousens-political-correctness

 

Oh dear, I have to give you that one. A level of wokeness which even makes me shudder.

6 hours ago, CGW said:

???? What am I missing? to me it makes perfect sense to use PTT rather than imported gas!

If the "gas" was imported the level of corruption would doubtless be higher than it currently is, PTT is an excellent well run company, ranking about 80 on in the fortune 500 companies, though sure many wont want to recognise this fact. ???? 

Your missing plenty. EGAT importing gas allows for competition. PTT have been resisting this for about a decade.

As for their being no corruption at PTT...555

8 hours ago, Moonfire said:

If you are Thai, you need to leave Thailand on a Thai passport (when you say you left it in Thailand is the first red flag about your post). Reason when your wife returns to Thailand she would enter on the same Thai passport she exited with, which will also have her departure card with it. 

A Thai entering the Kingdom on a US passport, means she will have to follow the immigration rules that apply to the US passport and this is where the problems start.

It is a must leave on a Thai passport from Thailand, enter the US on the US passport, exit the US on the US passport, re-enter Thailand on the Thai passport that was used to exit Thailand at the start. 

 

You want the Thai embassy to issue you a new Thai passport when you have NO exit stamp or departure card from the Thai passport you used to leave Thailand at the beginning. 

 

Yes, you have a issue!

No she won’t. The majority of this post is just straight out wrong. Departure and arrival cards have been done away with, not that it ever mattered. The embassy will issue her with a Thai passport given she is thai. 
 

She’ll have no issue reentering Thailand on a blank unused passport. It happens all the time. 

She can just get a new Thai passport via the embassy in DC or the nearest consulate authorized to issue them. All she needs is her ID card. A certificate of identity would also be allowable if they are issuing them.

Once issued, she can travel to Thailand, but under current arrangements, will need to arrange this with the embassy and do the mandatory 14 day quarantine.

6 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Wow. A state owned by majority share corporation supplying a Stated owned Authority. All in the family.

Its a dysfunctional family. The idea they even trying to play nice together is a big achievement. Of course, EGAT should simply be able to procure its own, and is allowed to these days by law to import it (from memory!), but the landmines in Thai politics means that PTT has won the day for now in keeping a tight hold of the market.

1 hour ago, vermin on arrival said:

Only if they keep their borders shut to high rick countries until a treatment or vaccine emerges. If you are lucky it's fast. If not, since there will be no herd immunity developing, NZ may be in a lot of trouble (there are number of epidemiologists who believe this policy is a mistake, but their voices are being stifled). For the moment, it is a great success story and may bear out to be long term. I do hope that they create travel bubbles with other successful nations in containing the virus.

Its uncharted territory, but if you can avoid the importation of it, then that's one less source to worry about.

I'm actually skeptical we will be getting a vaccine anytime soon. Nor for a magic bullet pill. What I suspect will happen will be some sort of combo therapy to blunt the worst effects for it. Reading in between the lines, that's whats coming first. Hopefully that and travel bubbles will be the best home for a return to some medium term normalcy.