First impressions after 20 month in exile

[JustAnotherHun]

When I left Thailand in March 2020, I never expected it would take so long to see my son again.

I left him as a lovely "Papa-let's-play-Lego-child", now he's a young boy starting his voice breake, 20 cm taller than before. Leaving him alone was one of the worst faults I made in my life.

But ok, let's go on.

 

The flight:

No direct flights from Munich, so I took Swiss via Zurich, because it's the fastest connection right now. Checks in Munich, checks in Zurich, checks in Bangkok. Travelling in times of Covid.

Advice: The Swiss BC is seated 1-2-2 and 2-2-1 row by row. If you're travelling alone, not willing to pay (in my case 600 Euros, return) extra for the single seat, do NOT book a seat left or right. The much better choice is the middle row, where you can reach the toilet without cimbing over your neighbor. Do  not expect the comfort and the service of middle eastern airlines. Swiss BC is more like an Eco Plus.

The flight was fully booked. Most people did not look like expats/retirees. Some businiess men, some families with kids, some younger tourists.

 

Bangkok airport was much better than suspected. No chaos at the check stations, very professionally. Everything went smothly. 20 minutes after landing I was already wating for my bag. It might be different when more flights come in. 

Advice: Even if you have all documents and QR-codes on your mobile, please carry everything in paper form too (Thai Pass, PCR test, Insurance). They might want to see it, in my case they did. 

 

Booking the Green Park Resort 1-night-package is a good choice. The pick up service worked well, I checked in less than 3 hours after landing. Though the hotel is not one of those I would like to spend my holidays, the staff is friendly, the room service works and - most important! - the room you'll be locked in has a balkony. If you're heading to Pattaya there's no need to lose time in AQ-Bangkok.

Right after checkin at 9 am I was tested. Got the result at 5 pm and was FREE TO GO without spending the night there. Great!

 

Sin City:

Many shops and restaurants on Beach and Second road closed. No bars open. No booze. Aside from the closed shops/bars it looks a bit like 15 years ago in low season. Less traffic on the streets, not a single stinking tour bus, no Chinese hords, no Indians, no Arabs. But over all not deserted as I expedted after reading some posts here. I did not see the reported homeless people and beggars.

No waiting time in Fuji at 7 pm, but it was quite good visited. A handfull foreigners and Thais. The Casa Pascal breakfast today morning was nearly full with "trapped"? farang.

 

Happy to be back!

 

[chrisandsu]

Glad your son gets to see you mate . Make up for that lost time and enjoy 

[The Hammer2021]

There are much better breakfast deals than the CP which however  was doing great dinner and wine deals before Covid-19.

[champers]

Seen a few German tourists in Naklua on the Baht bus to Beach Road. They seem very reluctant to wear face masks.

 

[JustAnotherHun]

12 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

There are much better breakfast deals than the CP which however  was doing great dinner and wine deals before Covid-19.

They have a good bread. Scrambled eggs with bacon, hot chocolate, the inside/outside option and a decent parking situation are all I need in the morning. But sure there are cheaper places to get that.

[JustAnotherHun]

2 minutes ago, champers said:

Seen a few German tourists in Naklua on the Baht bus to Beach Road. They seem very reluctant to wear face masks.

 

Anutin was not at the airport to hand out masks to them when they arrived. Not farang's fault ????

Edited November 25, 2021 by JustAnotherHun

[The Hammer2021]

4 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

They have a good bread. Scrambled eggs with bacon, hot chocolate, the inside/outside option and a decent parking situation are all I need in the morning. But sure there are cheaper places to get that.

Yeah but about 18 months ago they changed their menu I think and it ceased to be a premier breakfast place.

[DrJack54]

OP, thanks for trip report. 

An aside impression of Pattaya.

OP, clearly you had compelling reasons to return. 

I cannot see why a tourist would wish to visit Thailand currently.

I arrived Pattaya yesterday (fireworks festival this weekend). Was here same time last year however bars were open at that time. I live in Bangkok.

Pattaya is horrible now. 

Cannot see one reason to visit Pattaya. Will never be similar again.

 

[Straight8]

nothing in the OP's post would suggest I'd be happy to be back right now

[JustAnotherHun]

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Cannot see one reason to visit Pattaya. Will never be similar again.

 

You're right, Dr.Jack54. I too do not understand what drives tourists to come here right now. The more incrompehensible it was to me that the majority of my packed plane were tourists. Maybe they were heading to other destinations in Thailand.

[JustAnotherHun]

13 minutes ago, Straight8 said:

nothing in the OP's post would suggest I'd be happy to be back right now

If you had a son that you only saw on Skype for 20 months, you would be happy.

[bkk6060]

 

Still plenty of fun to be had if one wants female company.

Massage

Soi Honey and Chiyapoon

Buakhao/Treetown area at night

Online sites busting with young Gogo quality girls

 

Buy some booze invite one over or take a girl or two back to your room and have a good time better then hanging out in a bar in my opinion.  Had a 20 year old stay last night top shelf from one of the best Gogo's in town no bar BS.

But, I guess if a person has drinking booze as a priority and focuses their attention and goal of being here in bars, then best to stay away.

[CH1961]

20 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

Do  not expect the comfort and the service of middle eastern airlines. Swiss BC is more like an Eco Plus.

Swiss (Air) is not Swiss. 

It's German Lufthansa. And <deleted> like all German Airlines. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

I would have hated being away from my son. I went through that with my daughter when I divorced in '87 and the ex-wife moved away. It's brutal. I hope you guys get to spend a lot of quality time together now.

[JustAnotherHun]

2 hours ago, CH1961 said:

Swiss (Air) is not Swiss. 

It's German Lufthansa. And <deleted> like all German Airlines. 

My deep regrets if I did hurt your national pride. ????

Swiss became a Lufthansa doughter after Swiss went bankrupt.

True too, Lufthansa is <deleted>, but still flying.

After all, Switzerland still has good chocolate and nice mountains.  ????

Edited November 26, 2021 by JustAnotherHun

[rott]

Good job you weren't here 2/3 weeks ago jah, today is positively buzzing compared to then. Well buzzing in a sense anyway, walking to my recently reopened Beach Rd venue I passed at least 3 new openings and the place is awash with people and traffic. 

Of course compared to 2/3 years ago it is still dead and buried. I don't know why people bring up Walking St and Sois 7 & 8, both long been known to be a washout. 

Anyway enjoy being back chum. 

[johng]

1 minute ago, rott said:

walking to my recently reopened Beach Rd venue I passed at least 3 new openings and the place is awash with people and traffic. 

Maybe something to do with the Fireworks display this weekend ?

[rott]

3 minutes ago, johng said:

Maybe something to do with the Fireworks display this weekend ?

Very likely but my point was that it has been picking up for a few weeks,people on the beach, people in caffs and restos. The Beefeater looked close to full a few nights ago. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by rott

[johng]

4 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

After all, Switzerland still has good chocolate and nice mountains.  ????

What about the cuckoo clocks and cheese ? ????

[johng]

Just now, rott said:

Very likely but my point was that it has been picking up for a few weeks. 

Well last weekend there was  the jetski event in Jomtien and the weekends before that was the Music festival   but yes  since the beaches where opened again there has been a revival in the  Bangkokians  clogging up the roads and parking spaces.

[JustAnotherHun]

7 minutes ago, johng said:

Maybe something to do with the Fireworks display this weekend ?

I think it has.

Back from Central just an hour ago. On the way to there, I saw -shocking!- a first tour bus and in front of Central the usual amount of Ferraris and Lamborghinis with Bangkok plates.

I expect, the recovery will be faster as many here are thinking. It may take a while, but within a year we will enjoy all the Chinese and Indians, we are missing so badly right now.

I'm looking forward to do the well known blackfacing again, when driving on the motorbike behind buses from Wongamart to downtown.

[Straight8]

21 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

If you had a son that you only saw on Skype for 20 months, you would be happy.

Fair enough, but your situation is in the minority. As a tourist & even longer term stayer, Thailand is a place to stay well away from at the moment.

 

No fun, and a threat of 20,000 baht fine for not wearing a mask. Yeah, nah.........

[jacko45k]

16 hours ago, JustAnotherHun said:

After all, Switzerland still has good chocolate and nice mountains

Although they lost a lot of custom when they changed their Toblerone Bar from terraced housing to semi detached style!

[Leaver]

On 11/26/2021 at 9:12 AM, bkk6060 said:

Buy some booze invite one over or take a girl or two back to your room and have a good time better then hanging out in a bar in my opinion.  Had a 20 year old stay last night top shelf from one of the best Gogo's in town no bar BS.

 

A method of mongering, mainly from apps, that I am sure will increase well after Thailand and the bars properly open.  

[Leaver]

 

OP, you may have been lucky to get back when you did. 

 

The new variant coming out of South Africa is seeing new boarder closures happening all around the world.

 

Hug your son, and appreciate every day you have with him.  

 

Edited November 27, 2021 by Leaver

[SteveWilts]

Thanx to reading the OP, I managed to get out of my quarantine hotel in the evening. I had thought I had to wait till the following morning for the PCR result!