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Aeiou7

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Posts posted by Aeiou7

  1. 2 hours ago, Farmerslife said:

    I've just taken a look at the reviews on Google's Play Store,  it seems a lot of people are having problems with this latest update. 

    Apologies to the OP as I know this is of no use to them but I think I'll defer updating until they've sorted out the glitches.

    Right, thanks, I didn't think about looking there first but now I just did. It is acutually of use to me because now I know that "it's not just me". ????

    Also, I gave them a 2 * review and reported my post-update experience.

  2. I am vaccinated with 2 AZ shots received in Thailand and until last Friday, the Mor Prom app on my Android phone showed it correctly. When I started it then, I got a popup message asking me to update it to the newest version, so I did. The new version includes some location data functions and has a new menu item called "Moh Promt Station Near Me". It works and opens up a map of the area I am in, my own location and 2 apparently relevant places within a few kms are marked. So far, so good.

     

    But the bad thing is that essential functions don't work anymore:
     

    - "Digital Health Pass" shows me as "unvaccinated" now
    (previously: "vaccinated")
     

    - "COVID-19 Vaccination Records" shows a page with an empty list
    (previously, my 2 shots were listed with details on 1.5 pages)
     

    - "COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate" can lead to 2 different results, either to a page with an error message saying (in English) "404 - File or directory not found" or to a page with an official logo, a big red "!" in a red circle and a text in Thai, saying (translated by Google) "Sorry, temporarily disabled for improvements."
    (previously, a proper Thai vaccine certificate was shown, similar to the paper version)

    I uninstalled and reinstalled the Mor Prom app already twice on my phone, on Saturday and today again. Both times I was requrested to sign in again and then I got the same result as described above. Today, I also installed an Android emulator (BlueStacks 5) on my Windows 10 Laptop, downloaded and installed the Mor Prom app there as well, signed in and got the same kind of useless result as descirbed above.

    Fortunately, I have screenshots of the essential pages of this app when it still worked properly, so I am not really desperate but rather amused (again) about a Thai technological "achievement".

    Just curious:
    Did anyone else here update to the latest version of the Mor Prom app on Android?
    And what happened then: all good or same/similar nonsense as in my case?
     

  3. On 6/16/2021 at 12:35 PM, webfact said:

    travel to Koh Tao to enjoy their famed undersea beauty that simply "shouldn't be missed". 


    Koh Tao used to be the cheap dive certification factory of the world, with very bad effects on the local marine life. The current break due to the pandemic is good for nature but has not been long enough yet to allow broken corals to grow back. So, Koh Tao SHOULD actually be missed for diving.

    The prime dive site in the Southern Gulf of Thailand is Sail Rock anyway which is closest to Koh Phangan, with longer day trips from Koh Samui as well. Of course, this dive site has also suffered over the years but at least it didn't get the hoards of Koh Tao dive students. Divers best stay on Koh Phangan and get personal service from local dive shops.

  4. 21 hours ago, khunPer said:

    When I a few times, twice in 15 years I think, came three weeks before my extension expired, I got a bad look and was told that I came too early, but they did renew my permission to stay. Therefore I made it a habit to apply around two weeks before. However, two years ago when I came the just about 10 days before, the lady said: "Next year you better come a month before!"...????

     

    Next year, and that was last year, I was in doubt if I should show up early, but I came only two weeks before, no problem...????


    Very interesting! I have been getting 1-year extensions since 2015 but I only learned in 2017 that 17 days before the expiration date was "too early", I got rejected then and told to only come 10 days before. In 2016 I also went 17 days before without any problems but that was still in the Nathon office, maybe it mattered.

    I live on Koh Phangan and so far always needed to do one or two day trips to Koh Samui for my visa extension matters. Since 2018 I have always been told to come again a few days to a week later to pick up my passport, in the previous years I received it back the same day, either in the afternoon and once (2016) even later in the same morning. In 2020 I pleaded them to still get it back in the same afternoon because of covid constraints and surprisingly succeded, this year I tried it as well but without any luck.

     

    When I picked up my passport last time, a few weeks ago, I asked them (litterally "for a friend" who wanted to know) how early I could usually apply for the next extension. First I only got an empty stare from the lady (not the "usual one" who wasn't there), so I asked "one week? ... two weeks? ... " and she confirmed two weeks.

    Just yesterday the new (permanent) Immigration Office on Koh Phangan finally opened and if I am lucky, I will be able to get 1-year extensions from there in the future. But they only offer limited services and it's not that clear yet if 1-year extensions are part of them. 
     

    In April 2020 there was a temporary Immigration Office set up for two days here, three weeks before my current extension expired. I prepared everything and tried my luck, but was rejected and sent to Koh Samui, because they only issued 30-day extensions. I called Koh Samui and asked if I could come right now but was told "too early", so I needed to get current bank papers again and also to do a medical check again two weeks later, because after I asked, I was also told that the ones from early April would be outdated...

     

    • Like 2
  5. 2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

    in Phase I, foreigners have been getting vaccinated on same basis as Thais and quiet a few received it.

     

    Great news, thanks! I wasn't aware of this and was referring to 

    1) what I read in English-speaking media articles, valid nation wide

    2) the policy of Koh Phangan Hospital which is relevant to me with the priorities communicated as:
    - First Thais, with a higher priority for more vulnerable people (with certain conditions but not necessarily age as they will not get Sinovac which will be available first, but AZ which will be available later) and more exposed people (basically health care and tourism staff)
    - Second migrant workers
    - Third other foreigners, meaning Farangs ????
     

    7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

    IMO it is at this point impossible to discern a single, consistent, cogent government policy on this (or for that matter much of anything COVID related).


    Yup, indeed!

     

  6. On 5/18/2021 at 4:59 PM, friendofthai said:

    Maybe thais think that those who are too xenophobic with Chinese Sinovac vaccines should experience xenophobic vaccination policy.


    Maybe not...  I know many Thais who are Sinovac-critical, maybe even more than foreigners.

    I will happily accept the Sinovac vaccine when it is finally available to foreigners in Thailand, it's much better than not being vaccinated at all, and I know several foreigners who agree.

  7. Update: Koh Phangan Immigration Office is open!

    But it seems, for limited services only:

    - extensions of short-term visas incl. 60-day covid extensions, but apparently not for long-term visas incl. ED visas, Smart visas (I heard about both cases) and I guess not for Non-O, Non-OA and Business visas neither (no confirmation yet)

    - 90-day address reporting, but a completed TM47 is required (available there), not just the passport like in Koh Samui

    - notification of residence (I guess that's address changes, but not sure)

    Also, they seem to enforce the "dress politely" rule a bit more than in Koh Samui Immigration, which basically means no tank tops (showing shoulders) and no shorts. I heard of one lady who was sent home to dress up, but I also saw others in tank tops and very short shorts there.

    There is a strange confusion that people who went there for 60-day covid extensions were apparently told that they would need to do 90-day address reportings as well (everyone knows that it doesn't make sense, no need to point it out any further), the first time in person with a TM47 form and from then on possible to do online. I guess it comes back to "things in Thailand don't need to make sense, every Immigration Office invents their own rules". ????

    All in all, good to have this office open now, but not that useful for everyone. I fear that I still need to do Koh Samui trips for my own Non-O retirement extensions in the future. Oh boy... ⛴️

     

    • Thanks 2
  8. 10 hours ago, alw22 said:

    I wonder whether they'll do the full stamp like Samui or just an "under consideration" with a return date..


    Good question... I guess we'll find out over time if this office goes by the same rules as the one in Samui.

    There was a rumour on Facebook about 2 months ago that the "pumpui" lady from the Samui ofice was going to work on Phangan. We'll find out as well if that's true or not but if it's indeed true, I guess the rules will more likely be the same as in Samui. 

    ????

  9. 23 hours ago, Amusements said:

    For each 90 day report they also want to see an updated bank book AND bank letter.


    I didin't know it and didn't need this when I went there for my last 90-day report so far, on 5th April 2021. I have yearly extensions of an Non-O visa with 800k THB in a bank account. I only went there in person because online reporting didn't work again yet,  it did work for the previous 90-day reports of 2020 and 2021 where nothing from the bank was/is required from me neither, as far as I remember there is no option to upload them online anyway.

    On 23th April 2021 I went for my next 1-year extension, exactly as described by khunPer further up and exatly like in the previous few years. 

    Finally, this was my last visa "business" at Koh Samui Immigration, Koh Phangan Immigration is planned to open the day after tomorrow, confirmed by a Facebook post today - fingers crossed. We'll see what the requirements will be there...

    https://www.facebook.com/Suratimmigration/posts/2911250762468873
     

    • Like 2
  10. Official sources in Thailand seem to openly admit that foreigners are getting vaccinated against Covid-19 with lower priority than Thai citizens. I find this policy xenophobic and wonder if it is unique in the world or if there may be other countries that do the same thing. Does anyone know?

    I searched the web but only found references to Thailand's priorities and to the general principle that foreigners get vaccinated in their countries of residence, independent from any citicenship. I also checked specifically other countries that are known for their xenophobia like Japan but still didn't find anything.

     

    If the Thai way of defining vaccination priorities is unique in the world or at least almost unique, with possibly a few exceptions:
    Should there be international sanctions against Thailand? What is your opinion?

    • Sad 1
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  11. 57 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

    I’m due to renew next month now living on Phangan Samui is a red zone which means if I go I may have to go into quarantine for 14 days when I arrive back on Phangan only


    There is a good chance that the new Koh Phangan Immigration office will finally be open by then and you can do it there. It's next to the Police Station and already on Google Maps.

    But if not, going to Koh Samui Immigration (with all requirements 100 % in order) is not that a big hassle. Yes, they have more covid cases but all you have to do is register your arrival and where you have been before via a QR code that you get with your ferry ticket, both ways on a different website, for Samui and another one for Phangan.  No quarantine, unless this is brand new, just a temperature scan and some formalities. I know what I am talking about because I had to go to Samui and back to Phangan three times in the last few weeks.
    Special advice: Make sure to leave the ferry as one of the first passengers, both ways, to avoid/reduce waiting times for the arrival checks.

    • Like 1
  12. I am under 60 and have been able to register in person at Koh Phangan Hospital on a handwritten list yesterday, filled in by a staff member. 

     

    Koh Phangan Hospital first announced on their Facebook page that for foreigners, either a work permit or a pink ID card would be required but finally just a passport was fine. I have a non-O visa with yearly extensions for retirement, the visa status was irrelevant for my registration, the staff member only looked at the ID page of my passport, copied my name, nationality, birthdate and passport number, and asked me for my address and phone number. I had to sign then.
     
    It seems that Koh Phangan is a tourist area that gets priority for vaccinations, starting apparently even this month already with Sinovac for people under 60 and next month with AZ for people from 60.

    But foreigners have to wait and see if there is any vaccine left after all the Thai people who registered got vaccinated early already, so it's still quite uncertain if I get vaccinated soon or only much later.

  13. Does anyone here have any own practical experience (good or bad) with refractive lens exchange at the Bright View Center in Bangkok Hospital Phuket, as offered here?

    https://www.brightviewcenter.com/products_services

    I am 50+, have been using cheap reading glasses for about 10 years and would like to get rid of them. Besides presbyopia, I always had great eyesight and never needed any other corrective glasses or contact lenses.

    I know well that such an operation is relatively pricey and not completely risk-free. Armchair experts are therefore invited to shut up but TV being TV, they probably won't anyway. ????

    What I am interested in are the opinions of people who have had this operation, on one or on both eyes, maybe also elsewhere than at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

    ????

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