Bluetongue

I think NSW has had a very quick explosion of numbers due to Omicron, a couple of nightclub clusters and it's away. All over Australia the numbers have increased rapidly this week. Bodes well for my trip in less than 3 weeks. Still quarantine free into Sydney, long may it last.

OK I now have a statement that shows another account with ample funds to make up the shortfall, I'll keep that in reserve

Ok got that, thanks

Yes, good point, originally didn't set the account up for that purpose but I'm going into the bank to cancel the card (and the fee) on that account

Its been said that the SA experience is different due to demographics and pattern of previous infections. So it's early days, but good to see the same curve in more highly vaccinated countries with probably older populations. A previous poster alluded to Delta still being around in Denmark, is there clear evidence that Delta disappears after being displaced?

It looks like it's become a numbers game. Will the increased numbers of infections be so great as to increase the hospitalizations to the point where they can't cope. Some estimates (aka modelling) say yes. One thing is certain, waves peak, then trough, quickly or slowly. For our sake I hope the peak is quick. Huge numbers around the world, new global record etc

I may have to get a statement as the book will update in bulk and will not give the details of the rolling balance

Yes I do have another account, it would have had some money in it I'm sure

Weird yes. Actually only 400k has to be there all year, 800 has to be there 3months before and after extension. I just leave it there rather than stuff around with it

I think this is sound advice. And as a bonus it's actually true. I wouldn't normally travel outbound at that time, because of Covid, I'd had flight cancellations and been bumped, I was stressed out and quite literally in the air when this happened. So I'll go with that. I wouldn't have offered a bribe, but sort of poked around a bit. I thought about actually owning up to it straight off, but then thats a very Western thing to do, probably better to let them "catch it" and then beg Covid and ignorance etc. Thanks.

I like the way you think, I'll ask them when I'm in getting the letter

Yes the 800 has been there all year. I was hoping they wouldn't notice, ie the passbook update would be one of those block ones where each transaction isn't printed, however alas I didn't have enough transactions for that. No point "losing" the passbook and getting a statement as the opening balance would be 799977.5. I am leaving the country on 14/1 so I'm not sure an extension does it for me. My current one expires 18/1 a 2 month extension would be 18/3, they probably wouldn't do a retirement extension before I left. I should say regarding asking about a fine or penalty, my frugal instincts probably don't extend to giving them 5k for such a tiny mistake I'd have to think about that if it was the final option.

OK going in on Tuesday to Chantaburi to renew retirement extension and get reentry permit. The bank took out a 300baht card fee and that left me 22 baht short for a month. This was January. As soon as I noticed I put 1000 in. I wouldn't have got the text reminder anyway as I was out of the country so please don't bang on about that. I could leave the country without doing it as my flight is before the extension expires, but I would have to start again and I don't really want to do that, other possible issues etc. I get on pretty well with them and I expect that I'll be able to work it out reasonably, perhaps a small present. But forewarned is forearmed, whats the worst they can do. Any thoughts.

Well like Thailand perhaps but at different times. Both got through last year with barely a scratch. Thailand has had one big Delta wave this year starting in April tapering currently. Vietnam had one big outbreak starting in about July not getting to Thai numbers despite a bigger population. It went down much quicker to a similar level to Thailand now, but has shot back up again quite quickly. Their vaccination overall number is about 125 million so on about a par with here per capita. Does this mean a new wave should be expected here shortly? I wouldn't bet against it.

Add this proposal to reinstate quarantine, with the ongoing hesitancy to reopen schools and an incompetent unpopular Government, recipe for another disastrous year coming for Thailand. Let alone the rest of the world. I hope at least some Government's can hold the line.

Yes a few million of those, boosters etc, plus expats, I've heard of droves of Cambodians around here getting jabbed so presumably in all the border areas and migrant encampments. Starting to get in the ball park.

The 61.4% are all part of the 70%. I would put it thus; 70% of 12 and over say roughly 60 million = 42 million. 61.4% of the same 60 million = 37 million total 79 million. That's 20 million left over so you are right the figures don't look correct but on the opposite side to what you say, if I've read your post correctly.

Thailand's numbers have dropped to a point where we start to discuss other Covid stuff. The ASEAN numbers are quite interesting, some of the other nations are doing very well. I recall when Vietnam was the outlier on the bottom. In fact the whole way it has fluctuated in different places and times has been a feature of the pandemic. Probably reasons for most of it, but I'm already suffering Covid brain overload. I was on edge this time last year before travelling to Australia and I find myself in exactly the same position this year. Not because I thought I'd get it, but the uncertainties due to Governments and personalities running the response, lockdowns, border closures etc

So not commenting on the comments. But some context for those SA figures. Deaths are indeed up, weekly trend over 100% between Nov 22 and now. Cases however are up about 350% between Nov 8 and Dec 3. The jury is still out I reckon as to exactly how much more or less serious the variant is. So too early to argue that one in my opinion, have seen some experts say it's worse and some not.

They can actually condone violent village arrests of thieves and druggies, usually one and the same. The issue with the land height in our village on a block I bought meant that an old lady living next door complained to him and I had to put in a cheap low wall on her side. Another time a different official told me that I had to pay 1000bt for approval to "tom din" or put dirt down. I told the wife to cancel it and I'll do it again soon, Covid means they have other worries. I have heard it said over the loud speaker that he, "poo yai", knows who is stealing the motorbikes, he recovered two from Cambodian buyers, and that if it happened again the culprit would be taking a long one way walk into the forest.

So 3 things I checked both WHO and Worldometer this morning and counted 610 deaths in SA since the week starting 8 November which is actually before the wave started and Omicron was sequenced. So the expert quoting 640 is probably using the same/ish figure. Would they all be Omicron? The 7 day average death rate has gone up a bit. What's the take on UK repealing SA travel quarantine requirement, I notice Australia has done so also, their public health officials would not be acting prematurely would they? Or have they decided its arrived already anyway, no point? Lastly its disappointing that this variant seems to have given a bit of second wind to anti vaxxers, particularly the relatively early adaption of the rapid booster, before for instance the determination on how bad the variant is

I use pay wave in Australia on a card that attracts points, which I have zillions of, and one day will try and redeem them for a new teapot or something. Its usually fast and you can use your phone for it too. People pay in my taxi by numerous means, cash is still 20/30%. So I spend that or bring it here as well rather than bank it. I try to keep aware of developments but never knew of the QR code payment. I will add it to my repertoire and continue to use whatever is fastest and most convenient for me. Here I use cash, I cant be bothered carrying my phone around in the market or the shops either, usually leave it in the car. I would be very sorry to see cash disappear as seems eventually likely, when the Government and big tech know everything will the world be better?

Yet here in the sticks, mask compliance is still very, very high. No sign of any of the local schools reopening, the teachers are still handing out homework once a week. Yesterday they apparently said moves are afoot to reopen. Rinse and repeat. I'd say the vaccination rate has gone up, but still nowhere near where it needs to be, many of the older ones around here without smartphones etc, haven't had it yet. Only anecdotal, but we had an out break in Chantaburi, about 2 months ago, seems to have died off now, yesterday's markets were very busy. Lots of Cambodians around.

I wouldn't make too much of it. The number seems to fluctuate within a range, generally climbing a bit at the end of the week. Hospitalization data isn't much good for analyzing anything probably ICU and ventilator numbers are the go.

Yes up to speed on that one thanks, I had to do one of those last year, twice in fact, once at checkin Bangkok and once in the transit lounge at Auckland