JonnyF

I see. Offer some light at the end of the tunnel while changing nothing and leaving plenty of time for a U-turn/extension of restrictions if the peasants start revolting. Standard procedure for those using Covid as a tool of control.

Well yes, that's what happens when you let people out of their homes to live their lives. Some get run over, some get Flu and die, some get Covid and die, some crash their motorcycles and die etc etc. What do you propose? Perpetual lockdowns so we can eradicate risk/death completely and all live to be 95 years old in isolated misery? I propose that those who wish to lock themselves down are free to do so. Those who wish to live a life of freedom (and the associated risks that come with that) are also free to do so. Me? I've taken my 3 vaccines like a good comrade and now I wish to continue my life.

It's never going away. We have to live with it. We can't stay restricted forever, lots of old people die from Flu every year as well but nobody locks down. Time to move on and stop pumping the fear. The UK is setting a great example, I spoke to my sister and she said it's pretty much over there. Yesterday's news. Back to normal, no masks, everyone just going about their lives. If you don't like Songkran that's fine, I get it - stay home. No need to restart all the fear peddling and calls for restrictions.

Seems you had plenty of time to brake to avoid hitting him. The original beep was pretty aggressive as well you could have just eased off the gas and let him go. The brake check move by him was really stupid, but what do you expect here? It's best to accept you're sharing the roads with people with the mentality of a petulant 13 year old and not get involved. I'd agree to the 50:50 and take it as a lesson learnt to chill out a bit.

Unfortunately, daring to ask questions to/of people in authority is one of the fundamental things that Thai schools aim to stamp out of Thai youth, sometimes quite literally as this story proves. Think where that could lead. First teachers being questioned, then civil servants, then police, then politicians, where could it end??? It's not like the PM sets a good example of how to behave maturely when he is questioned.

It's really incredible that after spending so much money, their squad resembles a rag tag bunch of mercenaries with no style of play and no real system. Managed by someone that nobody had heard of 6 months ago and who isn't really a Manager. In need of a complete rebuild. 5th place in the table flatters them, it's going to be a long way back from here especially with those 'characters' in the dressing room.

What a kind, selfless gesture to his children, the people of Thailand. He really is all heart.

It says a lot about the country that the National Anti-Corruption Commission can itself be bought off.

Given the status of the males on the boat, I predict a conclusion of accidental death followed by someone dressed in brown making a trip to the Benz showroom.

When I met the mother of a previous Thai girlfriend she (the mother) started asking about when we would get married and how much the dowry would be. Since her Mother didn't speak English and I didn't speak Thai at the time, I told my girlfriend very politely (but deadly serious) to tell her that dowry is not a part of my culture, but that in my culture the father of the bride pays for the wedding and the honeymoon and that I'd like to go to The Maldives for 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure she didn't translate that to her mother but either way the conversation moved on to other subjects quickly enough.

A lot of homeless in that area. I walk between soi 7 and 15 quite often early in the morning and they're all sleeping in the doorways or begging under the BTS steps. Looks like it might be one of those guys.

7 of which continue to drive while suspended.

Thailand made it onto the 'No Cajones' list. Well done.

I've read that 10 times and I still don't understand it. If you read as well as you write, it's not surprising you completely misunderstood my post ????. If you want to fly half way around the world to smoke a joint under a coconut tree (and probably get arrested as it's not actually legal) then go for it. I look forward to the GoFundMe. ????

She was never going to miss such a huge opportunity for publicity. I'm only surprised it took her this long. I wonder when Dr Yong will be along?

Weed is pretty much decriminalized in the UK now (as long as you only have enough for personal use). If caught smoking it most cops will just confiscate it. So I don't see much point flying half way round the world to smoke a joint in a third world country with ambiguous laws and a corrupt police force that could use that ambiguity to extort thousands of pounds from you under the threat of years in a Thai jail. If they made the laws crystal clear and opened perfectly legal, stylish Marijuana cafe's on the beaches then that would be different but this is Thailand so laws are not designed to be crystal clear as that removes opportunities for extortion. Expect lots of FaceBook posts and GoFundMe's from dreadlocked backpackers locked up and 'fined' for misunderstanding the laws and rolling a fat one in Thong Lor.

I've done similar rides along the side of, or over the khlongs in Bangkok but I'm not so good with heights so there would have to be a VERY good reason for me to ride over that. If I had to do it, I'd do it pretty fast and I certainly wouldn't be looking left/right/down.

I think she means "No-one should be able to take your rights away from you". Because if the last 2 years has taught us anything, it's that governments can take away our rights, indeed our basic freedoms very easily. Sadly, once the fear has been amped up to a sufficient level, the majority roll over to have their tummy's tickled with barely a murmur.

Sounded like Putin was handing out free versions of Android (6.0 MarshMallow, 7.0 Nougat etc.)

A few of my Thai friends have elderly parents that refuse to take the vaccine. Generally they are afraid of the side effects of the vaccine due to other health issues like Diabetes. One got very sick from the first one and now refuses to take it again despite being cajoled by their son and daughter. It's available, they just don't want it. Very unwise IMO, but ultimately their body their choice.

Mid April? An interesting choice of date. More ground work for cancelling Songkran unless we're good little comrades. Reminds me of my parents threatening Santa wouldn't come when I was misbehaving as a kid. This paternalistic attitude from a government that stole power down the barrel of a gun is really galling.

I hadn't really noticed. Farang food/drink has always been expensive here, I gave up comparing it to UK prices years ago. An extra 10 or 15 Baht here and there doesn't really register but I've found the longer I am here the less I crave farang food anyway, apart from my obligatory Sunday roast at the local Irish Pub washed down with a few draught pints I'm not that fussed. The only thing I noticed was the cost of filling up the car. For the first time a few weeks ago it was over 2000 Baht to fill it up but I'm fortunate in that I don't pay for that. If people are really struggling they could turn a negative into a positive and try not drinking for a few days every week and eating less. Or maybe eat local food that is still cheap here and also pretty healthy like Chicken, fish, eggs, bananas etc. Save money and improve your health at the same time.

The way they talk, it's like lockdown is the default position and if we work very hard we will be allowed Freedom. It's ridiculous. The only real cause for concern was that a lot of the early vaccines were Sinovac (thanks Anutin!) which appears to be less effective and protect for a shorter period of time so these people should get boosted with a proper vaccine and then we all learn to live with it like the rest of the civilized world. All these announcements make me think they're laying the foundations for cancelling Songkran.

Personally, yes I would test because if I had it then I would want to isolate but I wouldn't want to isolate for no reason. But if it was positive, no I would not report it for fear of being carted off to a hospitel at my own expense. If I was Thai, I'd be more likely to report it since I'd be less likely to be fleeced.

Wow. Weird how the number of rapid tests suddenly rocketed after hovering at around the 20k mark for a while. I wonder if more people are reporting them now since they can home isolate, or whether the government is now releasing the real figures to support upcoming restrictions? Because staying extremely consistent for 6 days and then doubling overnight seems unrealistic.