Enigmatist
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Posts posted by Enigmatist
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There's no doubt that many parts of the World, if not most have probably experienced a drop in their happiness index inrecent times. If all had suffered equally, the previous rankings would remain unchanged, just all at a lower happiness level than before. What IS a little interesting is that Thailand has dropped a further 4 placings in relation to those other nations, which would indicate a greater drop in happiness in comparison, possibly related to the severity of the impact of Covid on the poorer elements of society: Little or no work due to sustained lockdown measures, very little food or state support, increasing suicide numbers, false promises by the government, delayed rollout of vaccines, suppression of free speech, heavy-handed treatment of protesters, increasing corruption and dubious election results, just to name a few. Arguably, the Thais have had to suffer more than most nations and thereby dropping down the rankings may be seen as inevitable. TBH the Thai people have shown great resilience and a little surprised that they didn't drop further down the list.
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The entire OP can be almost be transcribed word-for-word for the Thai dating manual.
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Has noone else lived in Samkong? I spent my first year in Phuket there, before moving to another location. It's a perfect little piece middle-class Thai suburbia. Affordable housing, it's own entertainment district around Boat Plaza with a lovely lagoon that includes 4-5 bars, including traditional Thai and also Western-style themed.
Go west to Bypass road for easy access to Airport and Patong, 5 minutes from the HUGE Tesco store at the main Crossroads for shopping, minutes from one of the 2 major bus terminals in Phuket at the end of Pratchasamakhi road (and maybe a kilometre or so further north up Thepkrasatri Road. 10 minutes from the heart of Phuket Town.
Super-chilled friendly Thai community. Ubiquitous 7/11s and street markets and food all self-enclosed within a low traffic environment. I loved it, but the call of the beach encouraged me to move to the perimeter of the island :P
Even though it did not have a beach of its own per se, I was able to go to any beach or any other place on the island in any direction in about 30 minutes or so, it was the perfect location for exploring Phuket for the first year, and thereby assist in deciding where to move next if one so desired. -
4 hours ago, DLock said:
Bars in the Phuket "Sandbox" have been specifically excluded in recent news today, even if they have a licence and capacity to serve food as well.
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Nope, they were quite specific in denying bars in Phuket from opening and selling alcohol even if they also have a restaurant licence to provide food.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thephuketnews.com%2Fphuket-restaurants-allowed-to-sell-alcohol-as-restrictions-eased-80424.php%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR09GpWimDn-j5jOO9t2YLdXsl5n3Zytv-PPK0s9PEVc15kZQQ43IwzEWek&h=AT3jZu5S7fvSBh0yVngHeSnOKNQMYox4nsFASNnf_bChDIPuroOZHANMCpa2x50S4ZFajqOCjYaB6qp9cqXj4sxR_4j6DqK81RdS41okbeNnabggb9kY40NzTS72ZmShorCs4ABiVGcfDZ54FQ&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AT1PZYAD1f0qHQFFydwNyhtQM3GdeRqOZd3ga7Kf3PvuHy_qyB9PYtYZx3DqWVHfYDLUa1N_04IX03eDOUrG-aGsR8ididVJAaFwMmXhOUXrjh39q_D2KKngKjL0xWvt9KDlIaUx36EiNv14CesYg-6V8d7qxZqdO7ZwuDIfE1f7nSAo4ynSP0yqpHxZFkIrjfZdrKUVzYO4Klbs1eRmiUc_ZL8jQz_mkJUOnly restaurants have been given the green light.
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9 hours ago, skytrooper70 said:
I'm ignoring the "guesstimate" of arrivals because, as they say, "the proof is in the pudding," and that will occur, on 1 July.
Meanwhile, did anyone else have a problem with the picture of Karon Beach that was taken, on 31 March 2021? I haven't been back to Phuket (I live in Kata Noi), since August 2019, due to C-19 restrictions; however, that picture doesn't resemble my recollection of Karon Beach (especially, that white tower, at the far end of the beach). I used to walk from Kata Noi to Karon Beach Circle and back to Kata Noi, every morning.
Can anyone clarify my confusion? Thanks.
I'm pretty sure that is Ya Nui beach in Rawai. Its ón a road that connects the Naiharn Beach lake to Laem Promthep lookout. It's the only beach I know in Phuket that has an 'outcropping' like that pictured.
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When they said again that farangs could register on 14 June on the thailandvaccine.com\expatriates link, I got a glimmer of renewed hope (God knows why after repeated failures to register for a vaccine previously). I was told to register between the hours of 12:00 - 15:00, not sure where I read this, but come 12:15, I tried the link. BEHOLD!! I finally got the registration finished. FYI, if you have previously tried to complete a registration and it failed, DO NOT try again with the same email address, Use the Login option and you should be able to restart the registration after putting in your email and passwrod from previous attempts. Hopefully you can remember your previous password or you are screwed unless you have another email address. There is no "Send an SMS to phone or email link to confirm" it is you option.
OK, so I completed the registration, for the obese category, I didn't have any of other listed ailments and I am 6'4" and well over the 100kgs ???? I hit NEXT and got a message that I did not qualify because I was not over 60 years old. WTH, when are they going to recognise that foreigners can retire in Thailand at 50!.... I've been here 6 years already, and pretty cannot go anywhere inside or outside the country until I get a (deleted) vaccine!
At least the functionality worked as possibly intended, finally, but I am still without a vaccine and no knowledge of when others in the same sub-60-year category will every be able to get one. I'll continue with my only recourse, keep waiting for further news and trying again.-
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18,000 Baht x 10,000 staff = 180 Million total for the one-year contract. 2.2 Billion Baht total allocation by cabinet approval, what happens to the other 2,020,000,000 (2.02 Billion) baht??....
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4 hours ago, cnx101 said:
Very easy I registered yesterday no waiting just in with passport friendly service in Tesco Lotus in and out about 20 minutes and picked hospital to get, only thing probably get done July first is old and sick Thais.
What province?
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5 hours ago, finnsk said:
"The healthworkers and other care people in the frontline, must be the first to be vaccinated.
Now we have Covid more than 1 year, and the health and care people is still not vaccinated ?"
I'm totally with finnsk on this point, something like 22 million doses were bought in the first tranche by the government , EASILY enough to ensure ALL medical workers got vaccinated. As they said, more than one year on and there are still unvaccinated medical personnel at the front lines, risking their own health and life, and 512 of these 'angels' have contracted the virus DESPITE gloves, masks, gowns and other PPEs...
As deplorable as this situation is, it also led me to thinking that some of these who are becoming infected at the frontline may be asymptomatic, and therefore unwittingly becoming "spreaders" themselves!! Thereby possibly perpetuating and exacerbating the current crisis and spike in numbers.
For the sake of everyone in this country, if there are still unvaccinated medical staff yet to contract the virus, vaccinate them ASAP!
The vaccination effort so far as been like witnessing a herd of tortoises 'stampeding' through a pool of molasses. Inexcusable.
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Hahaha. Surprised it took this long to come out. Their inability to satisfy their debts is a direct result of the paucity of tourists due to the lockdown measures. My Thai ladyfriends have told me that much of the previous corruption activity of fining any farang for anything was due to the police living beyond their means, by taking loans for big cars and bigger houses than their salaries could reasonably afford. The Thai financial institutions being only too happy to oblige with loans as most police could service them with the proceeds from their constabulary activities.
Therein lies the grain of truth within the article and why the police have been affected more than other professions, and precisely why the police chief knows all about it, turning a blind eye to such activities, as he himself may have been a beneficiary of just such an MO when he was a junior officer in better times.
Dare I say, the number of police applying for similar loans may have dipped sharply in the last year.
As far as my non-police Thai friends are concerned, there is no way the rest of Thailand's citizens should be sympathetic, nor help them in any way their plight.
There is possbily a blessing in disguise here. If it takes years, as possibly expected by those more reasonable in their estimation of a timeframe that tourist numbers may recover, corrupt methods of fleecing tourists may lessen somewhat in the longer term ????
Having been fleeced for myself significant sums on completely false pretenses previously, I for one will not be assisting in their relief.-
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No 'Hybrid War'??
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This is one of the reasons I moved to Thailand, their simple naivete. Nalak mak. Sure you can possibly find a bar girl for a wife, but there are arguably many more devout buddhist women who may make excellent partners, although even these are not particularly common. Some of these will be perfectly devoted and loving as long as the gravy-train continues, their continuing devotion dependent on the gravy continuing to flow. Having said that, you may be even more fortunate in coming across a partner that will stay "for better or worse". Best of luck.
The pursuit of love is riddled with pitfalls, even more so in the Thai-centric interpretation of farang-Thai interactions e.g. relationship separations, motorvehicle accidents, land-ownership, treatment by the police and military authorities, recourse avenues for being scammed etc. For many it is far safer and cheaper to remain largely single with the occasional tryst, unless you are specifically looking for a 'live-in carer' wife, or starting a family that you may have missed out on in your previous faranng wife.
Be careful what you pray for... it might just fome true. :)-
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What concerns? Omg, finish with the PPP powerplay already.
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Oh, and the masks? ... only a little useful if you already have the COVID virus, as maybe a diffuser when coughing or sneezing droplets towards others. This virus is spread in exactly the same way as the regular flu virus. Wearing a mask yourself, unless the right grade and fitted correctly, provide almost zero protection. Regular OTC masks commonly sold as air pollutant filters, still allow respiration of virus particles through the fabric from droplets on the exterior. If someone sneezes in your direction, stop breathing, remove mask, discard immediately and wear another one.
Kissing is also a great way to spread the virus, Valentine's probably didn't help????
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Wow. I think he's quoting a recent statement by the US president.
Totally in fantasyland.
The COVID virus is currently THRIVING in the human body with an average temperature range of 36.2C - 37C, hell it may even cause your body temperature to soar to 38C when your fever hits.
Temperatures in Thailand rarely get above that in most locales.
Sterilisation through steam requires 132C+ to have any effect, dry sterilisation requires 160C+!!! How hot does he think it is gonna be in April/Songkran??
Ok, Even IF the COVID virus was THE WEAKEST virus ever and the temperature managed to exceed the 38C 'fevered' body maximum, and the virus somehow uniquely susceptible....that is still yet to be determined.
It is nigh impossible that the hottest weather in Thailand will have any effect.
Isolation and hygiene are the only solution. Most viruses survive only a short time outside of a host, generally 12-48 hours. This virus is said to be droplet spread, sneeze or cough into your sleeve. Wash hands when you return from going outside. Do not rub your eyes with your hands, a fresh tissue can suffice. Carry on.
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3 hours ago, bluesofa said:
This is concerning ATM cards issued by Thai banks.
AFAIK foreign 'all magnetic cards' will still work.
TFFT!!
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Election
Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app -
OK not a big drinker but when i do i prefer to drink a couple of bottles of strong beer, to get me to sleep and to avoid having to go for a Jimmy Riddle in the night.
But on my return to Thailand this time it seems someone has managed to get Chang down to 5% alc content.
Is this some forced govt initiative or have Thais turned into shandy drinking vegetarians w###### like men in southern England?
It was 5.5% before the recent reduction to 5% about a year ago.
Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
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As far as I'm aware the rules were clarified recently, about 2 months ago and ALL METV Non-B's now require a work permit as well, even if you are the owner of a business and are probhibited from working. It'll take up to 15 days to get a work permit, and costs 5,00 per month or 30,000 B for a year.
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YOu can do it all online with the Siamese Visa Service ( www.siamese-visa.com/ ). Speak English well, communicate via Whatsapp and email. Was easy.
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Well there you have it BritMantoo, we'll see you on TVF real soon, another courageous, yet idiotic corpse on some street, the crime of which will never be investigated.
I'm gonna stay tuned to TVF and look out for ya
"He who turns and walks away,lives to fight another day". Like I said, pick your battles, you're on their turf. Ever heard of tactical retreat?
Oh and if you saw the Hua Hun CCTV, there was another long-haired farang drawn in to the scuffle, clearly one who knows what to do, he just threw the bar girl haranguing him to the ground and melted into the crowd ASAP, and the Thai guy that was gonna 'go' him, changed his mind and went back to the Scottish family. Wise man indeed. -
Of course there are locations that have a higher chance of violent behaviour, and pockets of these locations are a higher chance than others. This does not preclude generally more peaceful locations such as Hua Hin from having an exceptional incident.
Phuket as a whole is just like any other traditionally peaceful location. However head to Bangla Road in Patong any night and hang around until 2am where there are many young men sometimes in groups of friends (I've never seen a dangerous woman on Soi Bangla unless you count some of the ladyboys), most with some proficiency of Muay Thai, high on alcohol and other substances... and you've got the perfect environment for violence. having said this, go 2 blocks in any direction from Bangla Road in Patong and try another bar, and the chance of violence is greatly diminished. Crowds, loud bars and increased alcohol consumption provide a level of anonymity (those Hua Hin boys would have gotten away with it had it not been for CCTV), and an ability to 'vanish'.
Just be sensible, like a previous poster said, don't get too drunk yourself, if you are out with friends and one of them is getting drunk, put them into a taxi. Stay together. Be respectful. I saw the Hua Hin CCTV and to be honest if the mother had not gotten into the face of some of them, it might not have escalated. For me I just do the 'wai', bow slightly, say 'Ko-Toht' and then move on. I'm not excusing the behaviour of the boys, but pick your battles, when in a foreign culture, play smart. Get street savvy. It's just not worth it to engage in confrontation.
Most of the larger cities have similar locales, Soi Cowboy, Sukhumvit... It's precisely because these areas are what they are that makes them tourist attractions.
The vast majority of Thailand is still the LOS. I've got a few local Thai buddies with whom I share a few LEO with 2-3 nights per week, as drunk as they get (Thais cannot compete with farangs in holding their liqour lol) none of them have ever looked like getting violent.
Stay safe, tone it down a little if you have to, continue to live in a man's and retiree's paradise
), most with some proficiency of Muay Thai, high on alcohol and other substances... and you've got the perfect environment for violence. having said this, go 2 blocks in any direction from Bangla Road in Patong and try another bar, and the chance of violence is greatly diminished. Crowds, loud bars and increased alcohol consumption provide a level of anonymity (those Hua Hin boys would have gotten away with it had it not been for CCTV), and an ability to 'vanish'.
20k THB reward for people who report law breaking motorcyclists
in Thailand News
Posted
So many flaws with this article. Who actually thinks the RTP would make a payout, when they only impose a fine "not exceeding 5000 baht"? That's a lot of tea money gone.
Further, if they never made a payout, who would know? One way to demonstrate the integrity of the proposal would be to post proud photos of the monthly prizewinners, and we can all surmise some of the negative outcomes of that scenario.
Additionally they'll never get 5000 baht from Thai locals, the delivery drivers et al are geting peanuts as it is. So, although it is not stated, this would be essentially perpetuate the Thai v Foreigner paradigm (can't envisage too many foreigners camping the roadside videoing offenders, more likely the starving citizens with no social security). Great for tourism ...'Catch the tourist that just rented a motorbike for the first time ever and has no idea of local rules, seeing hundreds of Thais using the sidewalk, following suit, and then being hit with a fine' routine.
As stated earlier, invest in CCTV at locations where this commonly occurs and just let the fines pay off the investment. Also, remove "Scrolls Wheels" from the signs (Any wheeled vehicle?? = kiddy trikes/bikes? Segways? motrcycle trikes? Quad-bike ATVs?), totally lost in translation.... especially since only motorbikes and cars are pictured.