Tropicalevo

OK. So I am old and suffering from memory issues, but..... ........is that suposed to be a photo of sniffer dogs? "police at the Lao border have seized the cargo of a transport truck carrying 20 tonnes of illegally smuggled pork." This from the BP and Thaiger 23/1.

Yes. I have just spent a few days on KPN with friends. Pretty much everywhere that we went, we were the only foreigners wearing masks. All others - maskless. The number of recorded Covid cases on KPN for the last four weeks - 683. (From the Koh Samui thread.) Population according to Wikipedia - just over 10,000. Not including tourists.

Similar story from Samui. Taxi to the airport for our guests - 400 baht. Grab - 150 baht or there abouts. The problem is that with Test and Go in December/January, Grab taxis are as rare as hen's teeth. The taxis are all queuing up outside hotels/ferries again. A few taxis are now using the meter from time to time. (First time that I have seen this for 20 years.) However, the meter rates are higher than say Bangkok.

So, just another 799,816 to go? "FTI: 800,000 migrant workers needed" from the BP

I am sure that all of this is so that they can 'organise' a larger majority! No way will they accept defeat.

Nah. They will do a 'Myanmar'. Huge electrion fraud and arrest the winners. Generals rule OK!

And yet students get shot at, water cannon (with chemicals) and gaoled? I suppose that fear is a powerful driver.

What is a lady's motorcycle?

Definitely plenty of empty rooms in February. Some 'Sandbox' hotels have been full though.

I do not know about the rest of Thailand, but here on Koh Samui, the hotels paint a zebra crossing on the road for their guests. Nothing to do with civil engineers. Not all zebra crossing are 'authorised' ones.

You will probably get a room in most hotels. What I do not know is 'walk in' rates v people like Agoda/Booking.com etc. It is very competitive out there. For example - I go to KPN every year for a few nights about this time. Same hotel every year. Agoda rates - 2,000 baht per night. "Special, special offer". Hotel rates own web-site - 3,000 baht per night.

The latest guests had arrived under the Test and Go process. They were found negative after the one night in quarantine and allowed to go to their pre-booked villa. They were then found to be positive after a 5th day PCR test from the villa. As they had very mild symptoms, they were allowed to stay in the villa for a 10 day quarantine. They were allowed outside but not supposed to travel far.

The busiest place on the island now is Bangrak. I have not been to Chaweng for a while but it was dead the last time hat I went. Friends told me that it was opening up a bit over Christmas, but it is nothing like it's former days. More than enough to do in Bangrak for a couple of nights. Mainland (Donsak) to Samui (Nathon), the ferries (Raja) are on a timetable. https://www.phanganferries.com/time-table/?from=12&to=2

Deleted

Thailand wide, I expect that you could add a zero onto the end of that number. ????

Star Petroleum Refining have already stopped the leak and repaired the pipe. They have commenced clean up. As always PM, your 'orders' are reactive and not proactive.

A Thai family of six - makes a difference. Especially when they can be bought for 37 baht.

Fake news ; - after the illegal coup, the man at the head of the government said that he would reduce corruption. Fail (big time).

Tell that to the families of more than 5 million people who have died from Covid. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-01/covid-deaths-top-5-million-even-as-vaccines-slash-fatality-rate But hey - you're OK Jack.

Most people do not realise that the pedestrian has to wait until the traffic stops. The UK has changed that law this year. Now vehicles must stop for pedestrians. Not sure if Thailand plans something similar. The really sad thing for this young doctor was that the traffic had stopped for her and thus, she had the right of way once she was on the crossing. RIP Doc.

I know that the UK law has changed this year. (Most pedestrians in the UK never understood that one.) Is that also true in Thailand?

About 50%

I wonder if any of the 31,501 THB was for alcohol? My restaurant bills are usually 50/50 food/alcohol.

You missed off 'Leave to go home and vote'.

That is exactly what I do for the staff in my company. If they do not take the 14 days - they can have cash instead.