22 hours ago, Makoshark said:

I've had the "Best time of my life " here

Please log on to this forum in 5 years and then lets see if you write something like:

I've had the best time of my life here in ... (wherever you are at that time)

Or if you will write: I had the best time in my live in Thailand a couple of years ago.

Good luck!

 

 

3 hours ago, watthong said:

(I'm surprised the above posting wasn't taken down. But since it's still up:) 

- Why "good posters" are not around anymore? It depends what you mean by "good posters." For the current "nobody upstairs" that means if you...

 

[re-edited then self-censored]

 

- In the same token you don't see many "familiar names" either, probably because quite a few of them... 

 

[re-edited then self-censored]

 

Sorry, don't want to risk account suspension during this covid crisis. Hope you catch my drift...

To me good posters are the ones that can look at things on both sides of a discussion and accept the difference. One who can say I agree with you there and there but overall I disagree with you. One who doesn't run other posters down and you can have a banter with.

 

M of those people are gone and will not return, though they may lurk now and again.

Why tell us!

9 minutes ago, billd766 said:

To me good posters are the ones that can look at things on both sides of a discussion and accept the difference. One who can say I agree with you there and there but overall I disagree with you. One who doesn't run other posters down and you can have a banter with.

 

M of those people are gone and will not return, though they may lurk now and again.

The Thailand haters took over..People with love and knowledge left..As did the astute and erudite. .

20 hours ago, Genix said:

... this is just temporary depression that we are going through with covid.

hope you're right

Melisa wants to divorce Richard. She told her best friend Cindy: I am going to leave Dick. I already packed my bags. I am moving back to my parents. But I will come back to check if Dick is OK every one to two months and stay for 2 to 3 weeks each time...

 

Cindy: Melisa, you are not being leaving Richard. You are still with Richard half of the time. You are not 'left'. You are kidding yourself!

 

So to the original poster: You are the Melisa, you think you have left Richard the Dick, you are still technically live with him, except you are away half of the month when Dick can now fxxk around while you are away. In marriage term, it is not a divorce, it is even not a separation. 

11 hours ago, Pravda said:

His perspective changed over the years and Thailand is no fun for many old people especially if you are not rich.

Living  in a bedsit in Bradford surrounded by Pakistani immigrants ain't that much fun either. (which is the realistic alternative for many of us)

Edited July 11, 20214 yr by BritManToo

1 hour ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The Thailand haters took over..People with love and knowledge left..As did the astute and erudite. .

I would not consider myself a Thailand hater ................

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

To me good posters are the ones that can look at things on both sides of a discussion and accept the difference.

To me good posters are the realistic, rather than the hopelessly optimistic.

On 7/10/2021 at 7:47 PM, BritManToo said:

Alternative destinations are pretty thin on the ground at the moment.

Pre-COVID I'd have had no problems relocating to PI or Cambodia.

Pre-Brexit I'd have had no problems relocating to France/Spain for that matter.

Mexico.  Yeah, the US State Department keeps issuing plague and do not travel warning.  If it's not viruses than it's cartels.  It's all open.  The government understands how to attract tourists and longer stay expats.
You chose to subsist in fear or you chose to live.  Nowadays most are choosing the former.  The latter is the choice of those who don't follow the herd.

58 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I would not consider myself a Thailand hater ................

Au contraire.  A Thai lover of all things of the female persuasion.  A connoisseur of the womanly form and girlish antics.  Pouts. Kisses. Selfies. A beer.  A game of pool.

On 7/10/2021 at 8:21 PM, BritManToo said:

You, me, Connada, TBL is about it.

There were some who were total PITAs but don't seem to be around any longer.  <crosses fingers; makes a wish>.
Of course, then again, I also have a rather large ignore list.  There are just some people and opinions that are better left unread. So, I've made many of those people <poof> disappear.  Presto, Chango, Sha-Zam!  (Gone man!) <laughs>

On 7/10/2021 at 8:16 PM, rumak said:

One thing i've noticed is that there are a heck of a lot LESS  farangs on this new named site

that i had grown somewhat fond of  .    Seems like the purge has been successful.

 

Now there's just 2 or 3 that I even recognize.  And I'm one of them !

You recognize your self , that is encouraging 

On 7/10/2021 at 8:30 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Well here is a news update for the Sandbox

 

Phuket Sandbox update on Saturday: Nine local cases and two Sandbox cases with 70 patients now in hospital.

 

WEEK ONE: 24 local + 1 sandbox = 25 cases

WEEK TWO: 26 local + 2 sandbox = 28 cases in three days

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1413845300725248001

Not so good news coming out of Phuket this evening. Health officials have just announced that two foreigners aged 8 and 9 have tested positive for #COVID19 on their 2nd test (Days 6-7). The children have been sent to hospital and the family to quarantine #Thailand #PhuketSandbox

 

What we know so far. The two that tested positive are children aged 8 and 9. This was the 2nd test and so Days 6-7. They have been sent to hospital. There are two families with a total of 7 members. The people who tested negative have been sent to ALQ quarantine #Thailand

 

The two children were allowed to enter even though they were not vaccinated because they were with family members. Health officials are now doing track and trace to see where they’ve been over the last seven days. They’ve asked people not to panic #Thailand #PhuketSandbox

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1413848090193272842

All of us here understand that this entire 'scheme' was destine to implode under the weight of its own regulatory burden and bureaucratic insanity.  The program is managed by control freaks and driven by fear and greed.  Not a good combination imho.  The only people who don't see the deck listing at a 35% bow-down angle are the ones attempting to arrange the deck chairs while the band plays "Nearer My God to Thee."
Honestly, time and time again.  Thailand fails through fear, greed, corruption, elitism, xenophobia, and the complete inability to plan, forecast, and implement reasonable solutions.
I wonder who the 'drunk baker' will be?  Anutin or Prayut standing on the taffrail as the good ship Siam goes under?

12 hours ago, BobinBKK said:

How many sandbox tourists are currently being held against their will in Covid-Jail?

The real question will be, "How many sandbox tourists will have be incarcerated into expensive Phuket hospitals by October?  As well, how many hundreds of sandbox tourist who were in contact with those placed in hospitals due to a PCR test will also be forcefully incarcerated in expensive ALQ facilities which will blow their vacations out of the water?
Then - How long before all this wonderful news filters back to potential tourists, travel agencies, and those who have booked but decide to cancel?

"Cases" are going to torpedo the good ship Siam and contract tracing and the subsequent rounding up and incarceration of 'contactees' into quarantine facilities will be the hyper-sonic missile which will break its keel and send it to the bottom.

No.  It all with be sunshine, roses, Thai smiles, and 'billions and billions' of tourism revenues. 

1 hour ago, connda said:

There were some who were total PITAs but don't seem to be around any longer.  <crosses fingers; makes a wish>.
Of course, then again, I also have a rather large ignore list.  There are just some people and opinions that are better left unread. So, I've made many of those people <poof> disappear.  Presto, Chango, Sha-Zam!  (Gone man!) <laughs>

Well done. But they remain a malign, unrestricted influence .

Sadly, Thailand does nothing to encourage retirees, many of which by definition are elderly. 

2 hours ago, itsari said:

You recognize your self , that is encouraging 

I don't have a problem with me, myself and I.  It's those other voices in my head that concern me. 

29 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

Sadly, Thailand does nothing to encourage retirees, many of which by definition are elderly. 

And Thailand very rightly will never do anything to accomodate (Western) immigrants. Its take it or leave it. In my opinion they are right. This is why Thailand will remain Thailand. Very unlike the West where we bend over backwards to please immigrants, and get mocked in return.

 

'Soft as silk, bend as bamboo'.

Edited July 11, 20214 yr by MayBeNow

3 minutes ago, MayBeNow said:

And Thailand very rightly will never do anything to accomodate (Western) immigrants. Its take it or leave it. In my opinion they are right. This is why Thailand will remain Thailand. Very unlike the West where we bend over backwards to please immigrants, and get mocked in return.

 

'Soft as silk, bend as bamboo'.

Accommodate is one thing, but doing business is another.  I don't want Thailand to bend over backwards.   Charge reasonable fees, and rates and take the money.  Many retirees support Thai families, Pay for elderly care from Thai care takers, buy food, pay rent, etc.  Many can be excellent teachers for low to mid level technical things such as math science or engineering.  Maybe not the most current, but sure could teach algebra, calculus, engineering 101, etc.  I know I can and would love to tutor part time.  I have a BS and MS in engineering and math and would love to tutor on the side while retired in Thailand to keep my mind active.  

 

3 hours ago, itsari said:

You recognize your self , that is encouraging 

Well,   i have removed all the mirrors in my house because i was getting really annoyed looking in them and wondering why there were so many people I had to take care of .

Your post makes no sense to me... You wrote:

 

"With insurance costing me 180,000 bht per year and with pre-existing conditions, the insurance is useless."

I do not have health insurance in Thailand, but am planning on getting some before the end of the year just in case Thai Immigrations requires it for a long stay on an O-visa. I've found some that would meet Immigration's requirements (of which I have none right now) for about 20,000 baht a year. But yes, because of the extremely high deductible, its only use would be to meet Thai Immigration requirements.

 

"At 71 years old,  and good health..."

I'm 75 and in good health. How could you say you're in "good health" if you have pre-existing conditions?

 

"I do not have access to the vaccine."

I registered for the vaccine on my phone (Mor Prom) the first day it was available and then got a shot of AZ on 7 June.

 

You make no sense to me at all, although I support your decision to leave Thailand and wish you well.

 

On 7/10/2021 at 8:16 PM, rumak said:

One thing i've noticed is that there are a heck of a lot LESS  farangs on this new named site

that i had grown somewhat fond of  .    Seems like the purge has been successful.

 

 

Forgot their ten year old password?

Hmm I'm considering changing my return flight to Thailand from early September to early October.

 

Chances of life returning to normal (can go out to restaurants / bar)  in September are very slim - would that be a fair assumption?

 

In a bit of a dilemma....

 

27 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Forgot their ten year old password?

And no longer have the E-mail address to receive a new password 

5 minutes ago, Genix said:

Hmm I'm considering changing my return flight to Thailand from early September to early October.

 

Chances of life returning to normal (can go out to restaurants / bar)  in September are very slim - would that be a fair assumption?

 

In a bit of a dilemma....

 

Yep IMHO that's a fair assumption. In fact I'd write off the remainder of this year. Cross the fingers and hope there's some good signs early 2022. 

9 minutes ago, Genix said:

Hmm I'm considering changing my return flight to Thailand from early September to early October.

 

Chances of life returning to normal (can go out to restaurants / bar)  in September are very slim - would that be a fair assumption?

 

In a bit of a dilemma....

 

Which year?

23 minutes ago, Genix said:

Hmm I'm considering changing my return flight to Thailand from early September to early October.

 

Chances of life returning to normal (can go out to restaurants / bar)  in September are very slim - would that be a fair assumption?

 

In a bit of a dilemma....

 

Of 2022 is that what you mean. Not seeing this October opening up but then I have been wrong before.

On 7/10/2021 at 7:47 PM, BritManToo said:

Alternative destinations are pretty thin on the ground at the moment.

Pre-COVID I'd have had no problems relocating to PI or Cambodia.

Pre-Brexit I'd have had no problems relocating to France/Spain for that matter.

Mexico is a good bet

Some places without quarantine required. Mexico & parts of Central America and some Caribbean. Also some South American countries, if memory serves. 

 

Mexico seems to be the most open and free. Would be my choice if I was looking. Much as I berate this crazy place with well deserved criticism...it's still my top pick for myriad reasons.