Stocky

You used to be able to do that, but most ATM machines now automatically guillotine the card if retained. .

Out in Hat Yai this weekend and happily restaurants are serving alcohol again, and the bars are all now signed as "bar & restaurant" or "bar & bistro". Centre of town remains largely quiet, the Post Laser was busy on Sunday night and I noted a couple of beer bars open, as well as the West Side, though it didn't look to be busy.

Rain every day in Hat Yai, apart from a dry January it's been unseasonably wet down here.

We use on average 900kwh per month and inclusive of standing charges that works out at about 4.51Bht per kwh. That's a 4 storey shophouse unit with 5 a/c though they're not all in use.

UK has a shed load of problems, GBPeso will no doubt drop further unless the BoE starts ramping up interest rates significantly.

Malaysian tourists in Hat Yai do comply

I don't know about the rest of the country but in Hat Yai it's 100% compliance, folks might not wear a crash hat on a motorbike but they'll certainly be wearing a mask. I'm not sure if it's actually law, but it's defiantly the current recommendation of the MOPH/CCSA that everyone wear a mask in public. It's not something I have a problem with, and frankly I find the resistance and protests seen in some western countries totally bemusing. .

Which is as it should be. Thailand still has a restriction on the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which can't exceed 0.2% by weight. So you'll need to be eating several boxes, and then the only thing you'll probably feel is sick.

Michael Bilge. Hat Yai just turned Blue and is expecting to welcome Malaysian tourists again this week; Malaysia has a long holiday to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

No, I'm on a marriage extension, so 400k in the bank and 2 months statements, but Krungsri require 2 hours (minimum) to produce the letter and statements. I don't really understand why it should take so long, but it does. If I go to Central Festival branch, which is seldom busy, I can shop and take an early lunch while I wait. To get the everything same day it will need to be the main branch in town and an early start and probably a long wait. My appointment with immigration is 1pm - so fingers-crossed.

You should be good if the files are the same. Krungsri put a little round pink chop (stamp) on them all by the manager's squiggle.

The booking system is actually pretty good. Selecting booking sends you a link to their Outlook Calendar. Pick purpose of visit, then select date and time from the slots available, complete your details and submit. You get a confirmation email which includes links to download the necessary forms and checklist. Fingers crossed everything else is as simple ????

The Songkhla Immigration LINE account now has a menu (whoever selected the font and background needs shooting) with options for forms, check lists, appointments and 90 day reports. Helpfully nearly everything except the menu is Thai only.

I'd not considered doing it in two parts, something to consider. I normally use the Krungsri branch in Central Festival, because it's seldom busy, though it still takes two hours for letter and two months bank statements; longer if the manager isn't around to sign. The problem with the Central Festival branch is it doesn't open until 11am. So looks like I need to go to the main branch in town which is always busy, and the staff are more ovine.

But doesn't it require to carry a stamp from the bank, I didn't think print your own was acceptable?!

Just about to start the application for a my marriage extension, the new check list contains one significant change from before: Section 3.1.1 has changed from: "A confirmation letter from the bank in Thailand (not over more than 7 days), the money must remain in the bank within the previous two months must not be less than 400,000 baht" to "Confirmation letter from the bank in Thailand (*Documents from the bank must be on the same day as the submission date*). The balance in the account over the past 2 months is not less than 400,000 baht." Which just adds an extra rush to proceedings, but I guess it brings us in line with other immigration offices. .

A few updates. The Holy Grail (7.016935, 100.481727) has closed for good, I didn't think it would survive somehow, a pity. We went back to MongMoon (7.007496, 100.482932) a couple of weeks ago, and it wasn't as good second time around, the understudy must have stepped (hopefully just for the night), the sauces in particular were all over reduced. Still haven't returned to The Second (6.999637, 100.470932) wife a kids keep giving the idea a thumbs down. Driving through town I've noticed increased activity with some of the pubs that have been closed, the change to the rules from May 1st has been a wake up call. The Post Laser (7.004264, 100.471746) has been doing lunchtime take away but I noticed it was open the other evening. The Acoustic (7.007282, 100.484838), which was raided by the police early in the lockdown for serving alcohol, has opened again. Eighteen Nineteen (6.998639, 100.484404) on Klong Rien 2 is also open in the evenings, as are a several other restaurant/bars along that strip. The central area of town around Lee Gardens Plaza, the main hub for Malaysian tourists, remains largely dead, though I noted a couple of massage shops have reopened. The evening food stalls have yet to return, no doubt they will when the tourists do.

Neglicide

I have no idea. Even if they did, it requires the neighbouring country to reciprocate.

The Malaysian/Thai border is already open at Sadao, Padang Besar and Sungai Golok. But until 1st May you need to do 'Test & Go' on return from Malaysia. Entering Malaysia there are no requirements beyond proof of being fully vaccinated. After 1st May returning to Thailand you will need to have your Thailand Pass, Proof of Vaccination and US$10,000 insurance cover.

No, this is a far cheaper option and one that may well succeed in fulfilling the dream of King Narai. Rather than cutting a canal, just have two deep water container ports connected by a dedicated rail link and oil pipeline. .

Whilst it might be nutritionally poor, bamboo clearly isn't totally devoid of calorific value, or else the Giant Panda wouldn't exist.

Much of the haze in Southern Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore that we suffer some years around July to September is driven by increasing demand for palm oil as a biofuel!

CLAY (Phone: 0828279154) (7.005855, 100.484181) Small restaurant on Rajyindee Soi 7/1, just off Thumnoovithi on the left side heading out of town. Opened just over a year ago, and Covid closed it not long after, it's managed to survive and has been open again for a while but this was our first visit. It's a small cozy restaurant with about nine tables, the kitchen is viewable behind a large glass window, overall a pleasant atmosphere. Menu is modern western with the occasional Asian twist, not a huge menu but an interesting mix of meat, fish, pasta, soups and salads. Service was attentive, but the restaurant was full (good job we booked a table), food came in fits & starts though not enough to spoil the evening. We all thoroughly enjoyed the meal, all the dishes were attractively presented and very tasty. If Clay were located on Bangkok's Soi Langsuan you'd be paying per head than we paid for four. Starters, mains and dessert for three adults and a child came to Bht2,600. That included drinks, though no alcohol due to current restrictions. We'll most certainly be back.

Diddums - I keep a small reusable fabric bag folded-up in my back pocket, it's not exactly difficult.