THE WEEK THAT WAS ‘TWAS the season to be jolly - peace and goodwill takes a backseat in Thailand

[rooster59]

 

The mood in Thailand took a big shift this week. Just when it should have been the season to be jolly, that carpet of hope was whipped away as “Grinch Omicron” and its hysterical facilitators stole the festive season. 

 

Now more than ever the people are turning on the government over what many see as Omicron panic. 

 

Tourists were put off coming while traders vented their frustration. One placard at the MoPH read:

 

“STOP just a few doctors deciding our fate”. Increasingly they seem to have a point.

 

Then while a chamber of commerce leader said the economic impact would be minimal, tourism people in Koh Samui said they had invested heavily in Thailand’s reopening - only to be knocked back yet again. 

 

Yes, it’s come to this. Politicians are flip-flopping with festive season abandon. While the Thais - and most everybody around the world - are at the whim of the men in white coats when Santa in his red coat should be bringing joy.

 

What a sea change from the days when a white coat and glasses - in countless TV ads - inferred respect and deference without thought for a Thai public used to bowing and scraping to authority.

 

They have had enough. The worm has turned. They are now joining large numbers of disenchanted foreigners in the country and potential tourists abroad who are at their wits end.

 

New Year beckons - of course a far more important time for Thais than Christmas. But 2022 looks bleak in the eyes of many. Hopes had been raised; now those hopes are being dashed.

 

Anutin Charnvirakul - health minister and DPM -  tried to burble his way through all this saying the suspension of new Test and Go applications was temporary. Then he went into standard mode, bigging up himself and his health department for strict measures and bountiful supplies of drugs and vaccines and the Thai people for following protocols to 90% effectiveness. 

 

All much better than those silly people abroad. 

 

Prayut got himself caught up in total confusion and delirium. Rather than saying CCSA he said NCPO.

 

No, sir, (pronounced in a certain way this means idiot) you disbanded the National Council for Peace and Order when you said this was no longer a “junta”. Remember?

 

And BTW - you’re not a general anymore, if that helps with pointing out the new reality you find yourself in. So please stop barking like one!

 

Anyway, let’s not get too depressed. I’m still basking in the parental joy of seeing my little kids wowing over their presents and enjoying leftover chicken from a delicious feast yesterday. 

 

I nearly lost one of my daughters last month in a swimming pool accident so it’s a special festive joy for me this year. What is going on outside the walls of my condo can stay there.

 

I’m happy so up yours Jack!

 

The suspension of Test and Go and Sandbox - and the introduction of yet more expensive tests for the 200,000 waiting to come - was hardly unexpected. 

 

It seems pointless to bash Thailand too much when restrictions are rising in Europe where bars and hospitality are being shut everywhere too.

 

Thailand doesn’t seem out of step with the Omicron madness! Epsilon will surely be next before we have to move onto the Hebrew alphabet after Omega. 

 

Fortunately, as ever Thailand kept locals and foreigners entertained in other ways this week.

 

Chief of these was a footbridge in Sattahip built round a power pole. It wasn’t finished but following a social media loss of face the district chief and mayor rushed to the scene within hours.

 

They managed to shift blame - if any were due - to the Navy who’ll get it all sorted in the New Year.

 

Then Sanook found another bridge in Korat where kids and the elderly have to actually step over electric wires and cables on the way to a school. This one was finished months ago!

 

Rooster, remembering a similar case in 2016, reignited the “Stairway to Heaven” idea as locals predicted a swift meeting with their maker by using the bridges.

 

Then laughs were taken to new heights as a SuperPoll suggested that Prayut was the Thai public’s favorite politician of 2021. They loved his “copay” scheme apparently.

 

Here at ASEAN NOW we love Anutin more; he gives us more news content for his brand of crass stupidity almost but not quite rivaling tourism minister Pipat and TAT chief Yutthasak.

 

To all four may I extend our heartfelt thanks for keeping the site afloat this year. Your flip-flopping and predictions have proved a life saver!

 

As if to prove my point one of the most commented upon stories in the last seven days was “news” that Anutin wants to be the next PM. Cue Outrage with a capital “O” on the forum!! 

 

This week Rooster celebrates the 300th edition of The Week That Was. In March 2016 I answered an ad for a translator on Thaivisa and since then have written more than five million words in 17,000 translations from Thai. 

 

I take pride in trying to explain the news as much as translate the Thai press accurately. Whenever you read “ASEAN NOW notes” that’s me, hopefully objectively.

 

The column - without a single Sunday break in nearly six years - has now far exceeded half a million words. Too many, some say, not enough say others! Up to you! 

 

Last week’s column on racism and stereotyping in Thailand was one of the most read and commented upon ever. Sadly it turned into a bicker-fest in the comments though many tried, and succeeded, in making salient and sensible observations on the subject.

 

I took exception to one poster calling the OP “trollish”. My views are genuinely held and very often middle of the road. I merely wanted to show how things were when I grew up and in the early days of Thailand and how they have developed. How the world in and outside Thailand has moved on, or not as the case may be.

 

I’m not interested in clicks per se; I want to inform and entertain and will continue to attempt that until I celebrate 1,000 not out.

 

At least I’m already scoring far more than the English cricket team down under…..

 

It was generally quite a bad week for the British in Thailand. Omicron Brits were found in both Samui and Chiang Rai (among more than 100 cases nationwide) while a far worse fate nearly befell one Blighty expat in Samut Prakan.

 

“Mr Jack” refused to get a pestering Thai man a beer and ended up being chased 200 meters at knifepoint.

 

I must say that I have very infrequently been asked to buy anyone a beer in Thailand. If I was, I'd say that I needed to keep my money in my pocket lest my “mia luang” (main wife) think I had been treating my “mia noi”(mistress).

 

Such banter usually diffuses any situation you need to extricate yourself from and shows the value of having more than “taxi Thai” to fall back on. 

 

Also, in my experience in Thailand I have found that it is far more likely to be invited to drink with generous Thais whether it be lao khao or beer. I use a version of the same excuse if I don't want to partake - missus #1 will miss me and suspect if I dally outside the home.

 

“Diaw mia luang ja waa ow!” - etc etc…

 

Grisly crime of the week had to be a 15 year old who hammered a 12 year old to death in sleepy Cha-Am.

 

Violent video games were blamed by his elder sibling who called him a quiet lad. 

 

Blaming GPS was a trucker in Nonthaburi taking a consignment south. He appeared to be so entranced by the dulcet tones of the GPS lady that he missed the sign saying “No vehicles higher than 2.9 meters”. 

 

His rig was 3 meters plus and the low bridge did the rest. 

 

Finally spare a thought for the thousands in Thailand - many from Scandinavia - whose lives were either ended or affected forever by the Asian Tsunami on this day in 2004. 

 

I was in my high up condo in Bangkok about 8.30 am when I noticed the mouthwash in the Listerine bottle wobble while I was in the bathroom. 

 

My son who was downstairs at my duplex said: “Wow dad! Did you feel the building shake”. I thought it must be a passing truck….

 

Meanwhile a close Harrow school colleague of mine in Khao Lak was being carried 400 meters inland in a smashed window frame, ending up high in a palm tree pulling another tourist to safety. My friend went on to become a headmaster in China.

 

He had a bad leg for a while and, not surprisingly, a fear of going to the seaside.

 

The stories of heroism and tragedy that day will stay with me forever. 

 

Lest we forget.

 

Rooster

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2021-12-26

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[grego49]

A good read and a Merry Christmas,cheers

[RichardColeman]

53 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

While the Thais - and most everybody around the world - are at the whim of the men in white coats when Santa in his red coat should be bringing joy.

Yes, I agree, I am sure I am not the only one that wishes our own Doom mongering 'lets look on the downside of everything' Mr Witty an unfortunate new year

[Benmart]

One of your best! Enjoyable, informative, with just the right amount of spiciness and lime juice into the eyes of those deserving such. Bravo!

[Dont confuse me]

This new 'Influenza' (that's  purely as I see it) is with us for the foreseeable future.

I for one whilst treating it with respect I'm attempting not to let it control my life.

Much the same as I didn't allow the the 'old Influenza' to control my life.

Unfortunately governments have implemented restrictions that not only curtail many aspects of my freedom of movement but control me unlike any previous outbreaks of flu.

Before all the armchair scientists and self appointed authorities on this pandemic start preaching, please note that I have stated this is purely as I see it ???? 

[Fairynuff]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, I agree, I am sure I am not the only one that wishes our own Doom mongering 'lets look on the downside of everything' Mr Witty an unfortunate new year

I’d be listening to Witty a lot more closely than that big johnson that can’t even string an honest sentence together.

[Mike k]

Prayut is right it is still the ncpo and he is still a general same as the 250 hand picked senators. You can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig 

[Phredd]

Thanks Rooster. All the Best of Luck in the New Year and to all of Us Readers.

[cheapcanuck]

Happy New Year!

Let hope 2022 brings us a better year.

[overt2016]

Was this column the you urged us to look forward to?

Well I did and I wasn't.

 

[BostonRob2]

2 hours ago, overt2016 said:

Was this column the you urged us to look forward to?

Well I did and I wasn't.

 

Merry Christmas to you too. 

[Pinot]

This is uninteresting dribble. Can anyone just post nonsense like this? More about the Listerine bottle, that was fascinating. 

[roo860]

12 minutes ago, Pinot said:

This is uninteresting dribble. Can anyone just post nonsense like this? More about the Listerine bottle, that was fascinating. 

Shouldn't that be drivvle?

[Mark mark]

Touch Screen Texting on my phone !!  And so Briefly. ... I wrote at length about Omicron on the blog about the Test and go being temporarily ? suspended. ... So I will not write it all again here. (And my stuff was not pulled eithet  !!  Like maybe it IS Christmas !!! ???) ...

 

... But well ... the speed it can spread is fast becoming the bigest problem. Like it is far less dedly ! ... Omicron ... but with infections doubling every 2 days !!! ?? ... Just about every where all over the world !!! ... ?

 

... So less serious or not, if you get 1000% more cases in a week !!! ... The Health system is NOT going to survive !   ...

 

And now the Problem is becoming obvious. ... We have Enough Vaccine !!! ... But they now can not plan to administer it as fast as we would like, as the heslth workers doing it, are getting sick, or being quarintined as close contacts !!! ... and Ditto the Testing system !   

 

So we are now starting to run out of front line workers !!! ... And Truck Drivers ...  and Diesel additives for the trucks ... !!! And Airport staff ... and flight crews !!! ... And the ques are getting longet ... up to 9 hrs around here !!  some times I have heard !!! ... And the cancelations are begining !!! ... ...  And every where !! 

 

So well what Thailand is doing seems pretty logical to me !!! ... Like just trying to slow it down !!! ... So the whole work force does not get sick, or quarintined !!! And we all CAN continue to deal with it !!!

 

Like we are not going to beat it now. ... just about every one will get it I think. Now, thank you very much Mr Omivcron. And ... ...  ...

So now, it is time ... to just to slow it down a bit I think. !!!

 

Not totally stop it like before !!! But we ARE getting good at dealing with it now !!! ... But now we just have to slow it down, !!! ... So that the work force ! CAN keep up !!! ... get to their jobs ... and also Just try to slow it down !!! ...

 

And also keep all of us more alive !!! ... Than we have been for just about the last two years !!! Also !!!

Edited December 26, 2021 by Mark mark
Corrections.

[thaipara]

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand doesn’t seem out of step with the Omicron madness! Epsilon will surely be next

The epsilon strain already exists. Nine letters follow omicron; the next up is pi. Might it be skipped as being too frivolous? Corona virus pie, yum yum. 

[Jack West Jr]

'tWas Brillig !

Seriously ? Do we need such uninformed, unscientific rot ? According to the latest studies Omicron isn't any weaker or less deadly than Delta . It is vastly more infectious , though . 

And this clown wants us to go out and dance like it's 1999 ? Really ????

Moreover, I cycle allover Thailand and the vast majority of people is still friendly , especially if you can show them proof you've been triple-vaccinated .

A bit more respect for the truth ,please instead of sending out drivel to sway the gullible. 

[Mark mark]

Listening to Radio National ... here !!! In Gods own Waiting Room ... the last un discovered millionaire strip !!! Adelaide SA. Australia ... ( you just need a lot of money ... and luck, to find some where to live ! ) ... But not much longer for me here I hope. Back to the land of Smiles !!! ... Again !!  ...  Let's Hope !!!!!!!!

 

But just listening to the people here, and it applies to Every Where !!! ...  the other problem is where to make the cut backs to try to slow the spresd of the Virus down !!! ??? ... So we do not loose all of our front line workers !!! ....

 

The beverage and Club and resteraunt owners are up in arms now !!! that they shoukd not be shut down, or even reduced !!! ... And they do employ a LOT of people !!! ... So what are you going to do with all of them !!!

 

And then then there is probably the Majority ??? ... Who do not give a toss about the clubs bars and resteraunts ! ...  But they want the Borders Open !!! (Like me) ... AND the Airports and flights working !!! ...  so that we can travel again and see our Family and friends, who are in diferent locations !!! ... And not just stay in our own state for bloody years !!! ... (Even if we can now go to clubs and Bars !!!) ...

 

... So some differences there ??? ... I of course, think opening the borders is the go and the Clubs Bard and resteraunts can stay Closed !!! .or reduced ! ? ..... but well I would not stand out in Hinley st ! and shout that out I think !!!

 

... Or you could be like NSW and just open up every thing !!! ... and let the cases go from 300 to 6,000 + in 2 weeks !!! ... ???

 

I wonder what is going to happen in Thailand in the next two werks !!! ??  

 

... All round I think So some compromise is necessary !!! ... Wear Mark's !!! That costs people nothing much really ! ? ... avoid large gatherings ? .. and LIMIT the clubs Bars and Resteraunts ??? ...

 

... No Ambulances here last night apparently.  ?  Not enough people available to crew them ??? ... Well also ?  Not enough Nurses ... or Carers, ...  so the old age homes are being under staffed ! ... So do not fall out of bed just now, all you old prople !!! ...

 

Just what A very VERY terrible situation. !!! ...

Edited December 26, 2021 by Mark mark
Spelling

[Sig]

4 hours ago, Jack West Jr said:

'tWas Brillig !

Seriously ? Do we need such uninformed, unscientific rot ? According to the latest studies Omicron isn't any weaker or less deadly than Delta . It is vastly more infectious , though . 

And this clown wants us to go out and dance like it's 1999 ? Really ????

Moreover, I cycle allover Thailand and the vast majority of people is still friendly , especially if you can show them proof you've been triple-vaccinated .

A bit more respect for the truth ,please instead of sending out drivel to sway the gullible. 

I'd be very interested in links to those latest studies you referred to. From what I've read (as late as this 22 December article https://www.statnews.com/2021/12/22/omicron-oddity-case-numbers-dont-predict-deaths/ ) , it is the exact opposite from what you mentioned. And this article (from 20 December https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2021/12/20/omicron-hospitalization-oxygen-mortality/ ), also appears to go against what you wrote. So, it would be nice to see the articles/studies that you refer to. I like to see information from all sides when I can.
I haven't found name-calling to be an effective way of making a cogent point. Although Trump, Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and other politicians seem to revel in name-calling, I don't think it ever did anything positive for them and personally, I'd prefer to keep it out of my sphere of influence as well. So, hopefully you can keep your name-calling down and just reply to me rationally. I'm not trying to argue with you. I'd like to see the information you claim to have read. Thanks.

[Mark mark]

And Rooster !!! ... Greatest Traverstation ! !! ... They have had to totally change out the whole Comentry crew over in .

Melbourn for the second day ? Of the Third Ashes Test !!! AGAIN !!! ...Like eher is the quiet and the Continuity !!!

 

And Play has been delayed again (light rain yestetday) ...  d/t a Possitive case ? Or Cases ? In one of the Elnglish teams Familie. !!!!

 

... Yes What an absolutely terible Virus !!! And totally <Deleted> Situation !!!

[Stargeezr]

Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year, Rooster, 

and thanks.

[Mark mark]

2 hours ago, Mark mark said:

...

 

The beverage and Club and resteraunt owners are up in arms now !!! that they shoukd not be shut down, or even reduced !!! ... And they do employ a LOT of people !!! ... So what are you going to do with all of them !!!

 

....

 

... No Ambulances here last night apparently.  ?  Not enough people available to crew them ??? ... Well also ?  Not enough Nurses ... or Carers, ...  so the old age homes are being under staffed ! ... So do not fall out of bed just now, all you old prople !!! ...

 

Just what A very VERY terrible situation. !!! ...

... Yes, Obviously, we just have to get all of the out of work Hospitality workers, into Gowns masks, and PPE, ... and then employ them as Testers, Vaccinators and old age homes and ambulance, and Hospital and airport Orderlies !!! !!! ... Right ??? ??? ...

 

... And Oh, getting Booster Jabs to every one could also be the obvious Help !!!

 

... And well lets not forget about Africa and every where else in the third world this time, ... Where the Variants are coming from !!! ... 

[unblocktheplanet]

My Xmas present came in the form of a free Moderna booster courtesy of Royal Thai Police. Then a Xmas phonecall from our daughter visiting Niagara Falls (Canuck side); she'd caught Covid from her b/f's family...after two Modernas. What a world!

[Purdey]

Reading various "personal opinions" I am less surprised that Omicron is an anagram of Moronic.

[Pinot]

13 hours ago, roo860 said:

Shouldn't that be drivvle?

Pedantic. Yes. 

[BostonRob2]

20 hours ago, Pinot said:

This is uninteresting dribble. Can anyone just post nonsense like this? More about the Listerine bottle, that was fascinating. 

It was alcohol free and the blue one, about 79 baht at the time from Watson's. The wobble in the surface tension indicated an approximate 7.6 on the Richter scale at a distance of 2000 kms. Regards and thanks for your interest in mouth wash. 

[The Hammer2021]

On 12/26/2021 at 4:06 PM, Dont confuse me said:

This new 'Influenza' (that's  purely as I see it) is with us for the foreseeable future.

I for one whilst treating it with respect I'm attempting not to let it control my life.

Much the same as I didn't allow the the 'old Influenza' to control my life.

Unfortunately governments have implemented restrictions that not only curtail many aspects of my freedom of movement but control me unlike any previous outbreaks of flu.

Before all the armchair scientists and self appointed authorities on this pandemic start preaching, please note that I have stated this is purely as I see it ???? 

'Purely as you see it'..LOL..just happens to be a commonly  held viewpoint on FB and you tube that in actually  you are just parroting  as an 'armchair scientist and self appointed authority,' yourself!

[The Hammer2021]

I often read this column  and wonder if it would benefit  from being published  less frequently. Perhaps  monthly.

[The Hammer2021]

20 hours ago, roo860 said:

Shouldn't that be drivvle?

Drivel

[The Hammer2021]

20 hours ago, Pinot said:

This is uninteresting dribble. Can anyone just post nonsense like this? More about the Listerine bottle, that was fascinating. 

This is not  just anyone but a fully paid staff member who is paid to right this witty, well informed water fall of wit and insightful erudition. I think its brilliant.

[overt2016]

11 hours ago, Mark mark said:

And Rooster !!! ... Greatest Traverstation ! !! ... They have had to totally change out the whole Comentry crew over in .

Melbourn for the second day ? Of the Third Ashes Test !!! AGAIN !!! ...Like eher is the quiet and the Continuity !!!

 

And Play has been delayed again (light rain yestetday) ...  d/t a Possitive case ? Or Cases ? In one of the Elnglish teams Familie. !!!!

 

... Yes What an absolutely terible Virus !!! And totally <Deleted> Situation !!!

Could somebody remind the poms, that a Test Match is supposed to last 5 days!!!!