[German cyclist taken to hospital after collapsing in northern Thailand]

Reportedly had a low pulse, well the pulse rate can be highly individualistic, I would think his blood pressure likely dropped due to dehydration, low electrolytic levels or possibly hypoglycemia. The heat and humidity here can punish the fittest of us. Hope he makes a full recovery.

[Twitter permanently suspends Trump's account, cites 'incitement of violence' risk]

Facebook, Twitter, Google and Amazon, the new book burning Nazi's????

[Former U.S. Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton willing to take coronavirus vaccine on camera]

I'm sure they'll thank President Trump for Operation Warp Speed

[Looking for the Thai word for (Treat)]

You're asking a lot????

[Biden says UK border with Ireland must be open]

Who cares what Biden thinks?

[Korat man's dreams of a romantic camping trip with his sweetheart turn to this!]

????????????????????????????

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

19 hours ago, Freigeist365 said:

 Hey, Watso63 - did you have an NDE? If yes, we could exchange our stories. I went to the other side in the 2014 Tsunami.

No, just wondered where I was when I woke up, saw my arms and left leg up in the air in traction then had flashes of the white van that pulled out in front of me lol

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

Yes, had a couple of mate's die in car accident's and I was recently a passenger in the back of my friend's pick up truck and berated him for playing chicken with oncoming cars and dogs through local villages

[Well known Thai YouTuber talks of "deserted Samui" - begs Thais to visit]

No use crying over spilt milk, she needs to move on to pastures new.

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

3 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

You might have......assuming you lived long enough....5555

Died on an operating table back in 2001but zapped back to life???? Still riding at 57, long may it continue????

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

Accidents happen everyday. No matter how much negativity is used to demonise "big bikes" they still remain the best machines in the world for those of us that love to ride them. Damn the hater's!

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

20 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Same here.....I educated my four kids early on....they were banned from bikes for life...I didn't even let them ride pedal bikes on the open road.....it is simply not worth the risk.

Banned for life? I'd have disowned you????

[One killed, another injured in big bike collision]

14 hours ago, 2long said:

I love bikes of all sizes, and don't like the disrespect they get here, but this was in the city (not many 'curves are there) with speed limits, and one guy's dead. The cause can only be excess/illegal speed.

 

RIP rider

Could've been a diesel spill????

[Confirmed: "Big Bike" riders will need special training from next year]

Nothing wrong with education and training as long as it's done correctly. The people in charge of implementing this policy should be listening to experienced motorcyclist's, maybe study and adopt motoring law from other countries with regards to large capacity motorcycles. I ride a Kawasaki Z900 yet can't ride on Thai motorway/toll roads which are much safer than the alternatives. Drove articulated fuel tankers too for a number of year's before moving to Thailand. The bike's themselves are very well built and often feature safety aids such as ABS and variable power settings. Riding safely according to prevailing conditions is the number one rule in my book. One of my pet hates, that is truly nonsensical which I observe on a regular basis is when I see a bike of any size with it's mirror's removed. Total madnes????????????

[Trump slams Facebook, Twitter for taking down Biden story in NY Post]

Social media giant's are as bad as book burning Nazi's

[Thailand targeting seven-day quarantine for tourists]

Oh no, not this one again! Whilst people are being diagnosed on the 2nd test during quarantine then seven days is pure folly.

[Perfectly legal but can't return: Retiree expat voices frustrations to Thaivisa]

Very frustrating for the OP and countless other's but the writing was on the wall at that time. Extremely tough for those that went home for family bereavements yet weren't allowed to attend a funeral service due to restricted attendee number's etc. The main point I take is the complaint revolves around perceived discrimination. Taking the complaint up with a lawyer is the only way to go, talking to the media anonymously makes for a good read but that's all it is really and a great subject for vox opinion's on forums such as this. I don't buy the "negative" viewpoints as trolling, mostly realistic and occasionally light hearted. I could speculate that maybe the decision to exclude retiree extension holders might be because of limited ASQ number's and possibly queue jumping those that are married who are still in the line and are seen of more as a priority. Horrible situation to be in, but we're living in tough times, sadly.

[‘Golden week’ ghost town: Thailand’s Pattaya party zone struggles with no Chinese tourists]

Just like an old person waiting for God remembering the good times????

[Eddie Van Halen, guitar god in rock band named after him, dies at 65]

Another one of the greats sadly gone but his music lives on forever.????????????

[Out of hospital but still sick with COVID-19, Trump abruptly cancels aid talks]

He knocked the pollster's off their perch 4 years ago and he'll do the same again. Strange how Hillary paid for the Russian dossier to distract from the loss of 30,000 emails then destroyed numerous devices and Obama, Biden were in on the briefings. Corruption at the highest level of the DNC, FBI, CIA, fake impeachment proceedings and many, many more treasonous acts committed against president Trump and his team. Now Biden says he's the man to unite American's, what a complete joke since it's been the Democrat's that threw their toys out of the pram and refuse to play fair.

[Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now]

Just now, Guderian said:

A good start to the article with a fair description of how things are in Thailand. Telling us that only 50 Elite visa holders have been able to return so far in total is useful and interesting, why can't be get more solid information like that? Kudo to the author.

 

But then it all (predictably) goes downhill as soon as the author starts the ritual wailing and gnashing of teeth about the grim situation in the tourism industry. There are three points to make in reply here, just in case the author or anyone else has missed them.

 

Firstly, the author essentially concludes by asking, or rather lamenting, why Thailand isn't doing something that no other country in the world has managed to do, i.e. reopen to tourism safely without quarantine. Why do you need to ask such a vacuous question? Thailand is far from being the only country that has a significant tourist industry but remains closed to most visitors for the safety of its general population. Don't you think that advanced economies like Japan and New Zealand would have figured out how to do this if it was so easy?

 

Secondly, look at what is happening in parts of Europe and the US where tourism was allowed this summer. Almost entire countries, like Wales, are now effectively in lockdown, though it's termed 'local' in the UK, with all the negative consequences for the non-tourism part of the economy. Something like 85%-90% of Thailand's economy dies not depend on foreign tourists, and the largest part of it is ticking over quite nicely at the moment. Why on earth would you risk having to shut down large swathes of that just so the 10%-15% that does depend on foreign tourists can make a few dollars again? Imperil high-tech factories for the sake of some manky, mass-market hotels, bars and tourist attractions in Pattaya and Phuket, that doesn't make much financial sense.

 

And thirdly, forget fancy models like the Imperial College one, we now have actual data as to what happens when countries reopen to tourism, even with certain limited controls applied at national level, and it isn't a pretty sight. Remember that this disaster is still ongoing and likely to get worse before it starts getting better.

 

 

And also remember that Thailand has an ageing population, not quite as bad as Japan's but heading in that direction, so if the virus does get a serious foothold here, it's consequences in terms of deaths are likely to be far worse than they have been in countries with a younger demographic.

 

 

You have more patience than me. Well put????

[Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now]

A big ask indeed and getting tired of listening to predictions and wishful hinking

[Confusion reigns as STV arrivals now may not land in Thailand this week]

Was the flight empty?????

[Hard truths about travelling to Thailand, right now]

Well that was a waste of time. Lots of wishful thinking and drivel. Holiday somewhere else until the Thai authorities decide what's best for their citizen's and country.

[India's Royal Enfield to begin making motorcycles in Thailand]

Assembling in Thailand should lower the already highly attractive price. CFMOTO have a decent range of medium sized bikes that have a good design (partnered up with Austria's KTM), well built and cheap. They make high spec ATV's too. Can't ever see Harley Davidson competing in Asia in the near future. There will always be brand loyal enthusiastic buyers but the writing's on the wall.