What it’s really like dining out at social distancing restaurants in Thailand– and why it WON’T work post-lockdown

[peter14]

QR code   scan.. tracking  =privacy  right  

Not going to go out eating anytime soon..

Edited May 18, 2020 by peter14
Correction

[Relocated]

49 minutes ago, Fling said:

Wow you think really. Finally someone at least wrote a small little dose of common sense for a change not much here but finally a little bit. 

This whole thing is total nonsense. More of psychological epidemic than virus. 

Just imagine the living environment of S Korea and Japan. Majority of population (99$) is living in tiny space of jam packed high rise apartments like chicken farm and the subway as major transportation is packed with no space between each riders. What the hell mask would make any difference. On the other hand we have 100 times more space between each person in US. But the death rate is exponentially higher than tiny Asian country. Whole thing is scientifically BS. Definitely something is not right. And liberal media is eager to make Trump look bad for whatever the fact is and using COVID to attack Trump every possible way. 

It is more mystery than UFO.

 

[Venom]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

The popular restaurants in Central mall were fairly busy yesterday at 3 pm.

Bonchon had about a 30 minute wait.

X at places where not to sit.  Some had the plastic dividers and some not.

I guess people can wait for a vaccine before they go out and eat.  I plan on eating out when I feel like it.

Well Sunday is officially shopping day in Thailand so opening the malls on a Sunday was brilliant. It must have been like a buffalo stampede! Sorry we missed out on all the fun.????

[hioctane]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

my only comment is about the clear PVC screens dividing a single table up, what is the point of that, when you go to eat and sit at a table it is usually with someone you know and have already been in close contact with, putting a screen between you on a table serves no logical purpose, in saying that - putting a larger screen between the individual tables might make more sense but only a little more 

 

The hotbed for spreading something are the areas inside were people will share like toilets or even the chairs and table you are using - the sauces and salt and pepper shakers that usually sit on tables - the truth is - restaurants are hotbeds for spreading stuff by their very nature - even worse than bars but not by much

 

The point of the PVC is so they have more seating. Each party is supposed to be 2 meters apart. They are trying to get around that by separating parties with a barrier.

[Misterwhisper]

3 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

? It says he is 'Originally from Ireland' not Germany.

I guess he's a quite... uhm... Cork-y character.

[hioctane]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Personally I refuse to participate.  If restaurants are going to put up plastic sheeting, require masks, social distancing - then I won't go.  By the way, you can find restaurants is the back alley khets of cities and in villages where none of this nonsense is happening and it's back to business as usual.

This is a virus.  The virus will burn out like all seasonal viruses do. This entire fiasco has been politicized and hyped.  A seasonal flu has been made into something it is not - but in the process the economy, society, culture, and religions have been destroyed.

When average people feel enough pain they'll finally say "enough" then the world can get back to normal - not 'the new normal' promised by technocrats and power mad politicians - but normal. But until then, the economy will continue to be devastated and restaurants will be a bell-weather.  The future bell-weather will be tourism that refuses to recover.

Nobody is asking you to. You are free to cook at home or get delivery everyday. Some people would just like to do something different besides the same routine under lockdown. All restaurants will be like this in the near future. Day by day things will get better and restrictions will be lifted.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

I disagree but then again the Thaibashers / tinfoil hat brigade will always be like this. ITs being mulled all over the world and all of a sudden its a bad thing because its Thai.

No it's not a bad thing because it's Thai. That's a strawman argument. It's bad wherever it takes place and I already mentioned that the Thai government is simply copying their new best friends in China. 

 

As for the tin foil hat argument, I remember when it became common knowledge that your movements could be tracked by checking which towers your mobile phone pinged off. Naive people like you were claiming that was some kind of conspiracy theory being pushed by the "tinfoil hat" brigade ????. Ignorance is bliss eh?

 

People like you really make it easy for the authorities to invade the privacy of the people they are supposed to be serving (normally under the guise of national security). 

[david555]

As if we all do know this can never be done and expecting money comes out of it from restaurant or bars....this social distancing is killing the origin for dining out or drinking out .

All that temperature checking  and handwashing can become second nature,and can become accepted as a new way, but the whole social distancing is like a wishful fairy tale, same as the 1.5/2 meter or whatever distance, as already on airplane not requested anymore as the big shots their earnings would evaporate as no more economic possible to fly by the masses 

 

If they find no cure or vaccination this could create very hard civil unrest as limiting freedom as used to by very free people we westerners ……, you can see it starting all over Europe starting , and besides the rich would see their fortune evaporate

Edited May 18, 2020 by david555

[smedly]

15 minutes ago, hioctane said:

 

The point of the PVC is so they have more seating. Each party is supposed to be 2 meters apart. They are trying to get around that by separating parties with a barrier.

no they are not - the ones I have seen divide a single table in half - what is the point of that as generally if you share a table it is with the person/s you came in with

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, miamiman123 said:

Complete unadulterated nonsense.

i sleep every night w my GF, but when I go out to a Thai restaurant I have to be separated by a plexiglass screen or sit at another table and then I have to pay for the food bill.

absolute BS!

Thailand restaurant trade may very well be done! 
I’m sorry to say 

It's the IMAGE, stupid ???????? That is what counts. They feel good that they are doing something, even if what they are doing is pointless. It happens often in Thailand. Someone says something and they've done their bit. If it doesn't work then that is someone else's problem. Nothing to do with them at all. Not responsible.

[Surasak]

2 hours ago, Skallywag said:

No new cases in Chonburi district since April 26, Pattaya City since April 20. 

What "spread" are they "tracking"

What "spread" are they "tracking"

That is a leading question.

[david555]

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

No it's not a bad thing because it's Thai. That's a strawman argument. It's bad wherever it takes place and I already mentioned that the Thai government is simply copying their new best friends in China. 

 

As for the tin foil hat argument, I remember when it became common knowledge that your movements could be tracked by checking which towers your mobile phone pinged off. Naive people like you were claiming that was some kind of conspiracy theory being pushed by the "tinfoil hat" brigade ????. Ignorance is bliss eh?

 

People like you really make it easy for the authorities to invade the privacy of the people they are supposed to be serving (normally under the guise of national security). 

I went this morning Big C Sukhumvit and they use a scanning qr system  to whatever tracking (?) …, but it did not work for me or even another foreigner , probably as the connection site is only in Thai , maybe it don't accept any smartphone settings in a non Thai language ….., would not surprise me from Thai organizing such thing ….. finally we could be allowed go inside Big C  after again temperature  checked ….. but …. no handwashing there as at Tesco Lotus (?)

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, bangsaenguy said:

With all these restrictions, are restaurants washing dishes in hot water or sterilising between uses? Hell no

The heat of the water is not really a problem as long as they are using soap. More of a problem would be how often they change the water in the bowl used, which in most places is what is used. Having said that, I much prefer kitchen utensils washed using hot water.

[condobrit001]

3 hours ago, miamiman123 said:

I have to scan in to buy something at the malls here?????

NOT gonna happen see ya!!! 

Bye! Your sort not needed here, have a nice flight.

[JCP108]

4 minutes ago, Surasak said:

The heat of the water is not really a problem as long as they are using soap. More of a problem would be how often they change the water in the bowl used, which in most places is what is used. Having said that, I much prefer kitchen utensils washed using hot water.

The other day while driving down a road in BKK, saw a woman next to a food cart washing dishes in a big plastic bin...with a duck perched on the edge of same bin. A live duck. 

 

So...

 

I want to add, in addition to using soap and changing the water sufficiently often...

 

no waterfowl in the washing container, please. 

[scorecard]

Especially ducks, they shxx continuously.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Henryford said:

Even crazier is when they make you sit diagonally with another diner (whom you probably sleep with) instead of opposite. The distance is probably 1 cm different.

 

That's what I noticed in quite a few sit-down places when I was out and around over this past weekend in BKK...

 

Tables for 4... with two seats/places marked off as forbidden. So two people could sit at the table, but not opposite/across from each other... only in the diagonal chairs....

 

I guess it might prevent you breathing directly into the other person's face. But I'm not sure in reality how much difference shifting to a diagonal seat is gonna make.

 

[CM Dad]

I have found that I am spending much less money these days.  I only get food to take out from less expensive places, not the air-conditioned more upscale ones I used to go to.  I will save also more when I do decide to go to a restaurant where I am able to eat on site because I won't be ordering any over-priced wine or beer with my meal.  I used to get a haircut, a manicure and a pedicure twice a month, but now I am happy to just get my hair trimmed a bit shorter once a month and do the nail care myself at home.  I am now used to watching what I want when I want on Netflix for less than I used to spend going to a cinema only one time, and I can watch Netflix in my boxers.  I am also used to staying home more so there is no need to wear as many different articles of clothing which saves on laundry soap, softener, water and electricity.  In addition, I am spending only about a third as much on fuel for my vehicles, and not driving  means not having to change the oil or service the vehicles as often.  In short, I have found that I really do not need as much as I thought I used to need.  My life has become simpler, healthier and less stressful.

[Thor2020]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

The QR code and tracking is great idea. NO need to put that down unless you wear a tinfoil hat. During corvid times its great to know who came in contact with who if someone gets sick. It will help further spreading. It wont help the person infected in the restaurant but will help spread from there.

 

You are right that its not going to be viable financially. Perhaps they should keep the borders locked for a few more months just to be sure ????

 

But every little thing helps a bit. No measure will be full proof but at least its better then doing nothing. 

Yes, "the QR code and tracking is a good idea..." keep repeating says Big Brother

[david555]

2 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

I have found that I am spending much less money these days.  I only get food to take out from less expensive places, not the air-conditioned more upscale ones I used to go to.  I will save also more when I do decide to go to a restaurant where I am able to eat on site because I won't be ordering any over-priced wine or beer with my meal.  I used to get a haircut, a manicure and a pedicure twice a month, but now I am happy to just get my hair trimmed a bit shorter once a month and do the nail care myself at home.  I am now used to watching what I want when I want on Netflix for less than I used to spend going to a cinema only one time, and I can watch Netflix in my boxers.  I am also used to staying home more so there is no need to wear as many different articles of clothing which saves on laundry soap, softener, water and electricity.  In addition, I am spending only about a third as much on fuel for my vehicles, and not driving  means not having to change the oil or service the vehicles as often.  In short, I have found that I really do not need as much as I thought I used to need.  My life has become simpler, healthier and less stressful.

You are sure not the only one who found out that , that is why the economy go dive an recession  rise

[Monomial]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

The QR code and tracking is great idea. NO need to put that down unless you wear a tinfoil hat. During corvid times its great to know who came in contact with who if someone gets sick. It will help further spreading. It wont help the person infected in the restaurant but will help spread from there.

 

You are right that its not going to be viable financially. Perhaps they should keep the borders locked for a few more months just to be sure ????

 

But every little thing helps a bit. No measure will be full proof but at least its better then doing nothing. 

"at least its better then doing nothing."

 

I strongly disagree. The only way forward is via herd immunity. As long as there is a free hospital bed for someone who needs it, doing nothing is EXACTLY what we should be doing.

 

The faster everyone gets this virus, the faster we get past it. These restrictions do nothing except impoverish billions and extend the misery. It saves no lives. Because in the end, eventually, everyone of working age has to catch and recover from the virus. Only the old and infirm need be locked away and protected until the virus disappears. We can't continue to stay in lockdown for years upon years while we get a vaccine, "maybe".

 

Social distancing protocols merely artificially lower the R value and squash the curve. The area under the curve always remains essentially the same no matter what we do (within reason), therefore nobody's lives are saved through these measures. Optimally then, we want to place the peak infection rate exactly high enough that all our hospital beds are in use and none our wasted, but not so high that someone who needs one is denied. That is what flattening the curve was all about. And I agreed with that. I don't agree with any of this.

 

This new religious nonsense of social distancing and lockdown is a dogma I can not agree with on moral and ethical grounds. This causes pain and suffering for no valid reason.

 

 

 

 

 

[Clarkey611]

1 hour ago, 2 is 1 said:

Yesterday even in small Tesco need type your information on list! My name chance to Donald Duck! Phone 0856666666

I was delighted to see that Sid and Doris Bonkers were seen to be visiting Tesco On Nut yesterday.

[Fling]

1 hour ago, 2 is 1 said:

Yesterday even in small Tesco need type your information on list! My name chance to Donald Duck! Phone 0856666666

The big Tesco did that to us this morning we just scribbled something down on the paper and went shopping but the small Tesco has never done that although they do want you to wear a mask inside. I never wear it outside it’s just too damn for a hot outside and most people working outside don’t wear it either. I’ve made multiple videos including today. I just said my phone number really and I told my wife just write something and let’s go. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Fling

[bkk6060]

15 minutes ago, CM Dad said:

I have found that I am spending much less money these days.  I only get food to take out from less expensive places, not the air-conditioned more upscale ones I used to go to.  I will save also more when I do decide to go to a restaurant where I am able to eat on site because I won't be ordering any over-priced wine or beer with my meal.  I used to get a haircut, a manicure and a pedicure twice a month, but now I am happy to just get my hair trimmed a bit shorter once a month and do the nail care myself at home.  I am now used to watching what I want when I want on Netflix for less than I used to spend going to a cinema only one time, and I can watch Netflix in my boxers.  I am also used to staying home more so there is no need to wear as many different articles of clothing which saves on laundry soap, softener, water and electricity.  In addition, I am spending only about a third as much on fuel for my vehicles, and not driving  means not having to change the oil or service the vehicles as often.  In short, I have found that I really do not need as much as I thought I used to need.  My life has become simpler, healthier and less stressful.

What you and many seem to be doing is justifying a downgrade in their lifestyle.

I personally don't want to live my end years with some simpleton scared life feeling good about myself because I am squirreling away money.  

 

[watthong]

1 hour ago, Retarded said:

Whole thing is scientifically BS. Definitely something is not right. And liberal media is eager to make Trump look bad for whatever the fact is and using COVID to attack Trump every possible way. 

It is more mystery than UFO.

 

Indeed, there's absolutely no need to make Trump look bad, he is doing a wonderful job of that himself, every time he speaks or tweets. And yes, that's the reason we, especially americans, whether you're liberal or not, but with a sense of good vs evil, need to "attack Trump every possible way."

[brewsterbudgen]

I give it two weeks before it starts getting relaxed.  Many restaurants in Bangkok, which have been allowed to open for 2 weeks now, are not imposing the single seating restriction or having screens.  Table spacing, hand sanitising, masks for servers and temperature checks - yes, but it's a complete nonsense to separate diners from each other.

[Fling]

The mall here has been doing it pretty smart though, all this time they’ve stayed open but they are keeping the crowds small. 

Edited May 18, 2020 by Fling

[david555]

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

What you and many seem to be doing is justifying a downgrade in their lifestyle.

I personally don't want to live my end years with some simpleton scared life feeling good about myself because I am squirreling away money.  

 

it is same as the one you replied to, he only he see the benefit in it ,...sadly enough , while you just realize wat quality in life you loose .

The way it is going present is the wrong way , fault of wide spread media attention with so many experts contradicting each other and driving the world crazy 

[Jcord1]

4 hours ago, miamiman123 said:

Complete unadulterated nonsense.

i sleep every night w my GF, but when I go out to a Thai restaurant I have to be separated by a plexiglass screen or sit at another table and then I have to pay for the food bill.

absolute BS!

Thailand restaurant trade may very well be done! 
I’m sorry to say 

Where's the fun in eating alone, and can't drink alcohol.  Might as well take the food to go, or not go there at all.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, kenk24 said:

but the hamburger looks pretty good...

Not if you knew what the meat was really made up of !