What reopening?

[Brunolem]

Yesterday, trying to escape the worst weather I have seen in years, with a humidity off the charts (not rain, but sauna), I decided to take a big risk and go visit Chernobyl...sorry...Central Plaza Ubon Ratchatani.

 

Wearing a full hazmat suit, I embarked on the journey to the contaminated zone.

 

Arriving at destination, I was able to find a parking space very close to the entrance, and to the tents assembled in the front, making it look like the access to a field hospital...understandable given the terrible circumstances...

 

After going through the multiple formalities, I was finally inside, in the aircon...which was unfortunately running at half the usual power...not the best when you are already trying to breath your own CO2 behind a mask.

 

The place was quiet, not empty, but with much less visitors you might expect after two months of abstinence.

 

While the Japanese restaurants (80% of the total) were open, but totally empty, others (Sizzler, Pizza Co, S&P...) had not even bothered to open.

 

At the supermarket, you could breeze through the checkout without having to wait one minute.

 

All in all, the feeling was not that good, and one can imagine what it was for the retailers who have to pay their very expensive rent and other expenses.

 

A friend of mine, based in Pattaya, has told me that things are very similar over there.

 

It seems that the government is going to have to deal with a far worse economic crisis than it imagines...the buying spirit is not there, but the fear still is.

 

One can imagine that things won't be different when bars and discos will reopen, despite all the Pattaya hombres' best efforts.

 

And things probably won't be different when borders will reopen.

 

It is going to take much more than a "come in, we are open" to put the country back on track.

 

Difficult times are coming...

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by Brunolem

[cormanr7]

Went to Chatuchak week-end market this morning (ca 10.30). Very quiet, many shops closed. Talked to a few vendors who all complained about the lack of customers.

As a side note, at the food stalls in Kampeng Phet road in front of the market, maybe one in ten vendors was wearing a mask and customers were happily rubbing shoulders in a show of non-social distancing.   

[Bluetongue]

All over the world will be the same, half the population is still cowering in fear, any wonder given the messaages we had at the start, which haven't been modified much even though more facts are emerging

Edited May 24, 2020 by Bluetongue