[How have Thailand and Cambodia kept Covid cases so low?]

They lie, simples.

[Hotel operators beg govt to consider reopening Thailand soon]

For the Thai tourist industry, or any country's come to that, to expand back to pre covid levels people's incomes will have to return to pre covid levels. Many people are facing hardship through job loss. The last thing on your mind when you can't pay your bills is not holidays! End of 2021 or more like late in 2022 might see some recovery.

[ATTA urges govt to consider Chinese tourists or risk 2 million people being left jobless]

I'm a Brit retired (71) expat living here now in Pattaya. With all the shutters I see pulled down daily (and it's more and more) there must be more than 2,000,000 unemployed in Pattaya alone!

[Thailand urged to open up to foreign skilled labour, cut red tape on foreign investment]

There are many highly skilled retired westerners over here already, I myself was a senior aerospace quality engineer but with 51% required Thai ownership they are not going to listen to the junior partner even when they are right!

[Opening a bank account - new rules??]

When I was here 36 years ago you could get an account by just giving them some money to deposit, these days use a agent, much simpler.

[Do you remember what you were doing 4 years ago right now?]

I was over the dark side (East Pattaya) having a beer and lunch with friends as per a usual Saturday.

[Different tyre sizes on same car]

1 hour ago, andygrr said:

No major problem as long as left and right are the same size. But consider this what size spare would you carry. If you needed to fit the spare and run for any distance you would be compromised. 

Put the larger tyre on the drive wheels, many modern cars are front wheel drive. In many cases the "spare wheel" is a much smaller tyre only to used in an emergercy aand with restrictions on use.

[Thai tourist arrivals tumble 71% year-on-year in January-July amid outbreak]

I live in Pattaya, some bars are open and struggling. We have a fair few expats who live here but we can't support all the bars. Some whole beer bar complexes have shut down never to reopen.

[Court costs for divorce?]

Sort out property and the money side first, don't go to court, you will lose. Take both copies of your marriage certificates to the Ampure and the divorce is done in an instant. The biggest amount it cost was the taxi to the Ampure!

[Vaccine -- Will you take it or not?]

No, I don't plan to be vaccinated, I went down with bird flu in 1997. Haven't had any corona virus illnesses since.

[Is it ever going to rain?]

Just come to Pattaya, it's always bloody raining here!

[Dining in Big C extra]

The places quoted could rate 1 star between them!

[Has the Covid Pandamic Taught You Anything?]

Yes, not to listen to "experts" on the media!

[Thailand says monkey labour 'almost non-existent' after UK shop ban]

Does anyone else remember the postcard on sale here that said "Thailand's intelligent monkey!" and showed a monkey sat on a rock?

It was on sale for many years.

[Visit to Pattaya today - It was Almost a Pleasure]

I live in Pattaya and I for one don't think it's better as a ghost town! As i tend to walk to most places it was a joy to wander into a bar for a refreshing beer (one of the reasons I walk.)

If you want to drive to a dead zone I suggest you go to the wife's village where you can sit on your own all day every day.

Leave us who may be getting on a bit (71) but still have a bit of life in us alone.

[Bangkok: Most people complain about the terrible sidewalks]

In the UK there are strict laws about pavement surface (largely ignored) but are there any laws over here regarding the same as 99.9999% of streets in the kingdom don't have any?

[Tourist visa amnesty]

I just did my 90 day report, no sweat.

What's going to happen July 1 at immigration, total chaos what else?

[Is the continuing ban on alcohol sales in bars/restaurants punitive?]

It does have that feel about it.

But on the positive side I'm buying mine from the little shop on my condo complex, no hangers on sponging drinks, only 60 Baht a large Chang, I'm saving a fortune!

[Thailand ‘State of Emergency’ may be extended]

This is becoming a chicken and egg situation! There's no point having loads of incoming tourists if the bars, clubs etc. are all closed. Then who in they're right mind will open their bars, clubs etc. when their are no customers to serve!

They couldn't organise a w**k in a massage parlour.

[Culture Ministry proposes holidays from July 4th to 9th for Songkran celebrations]

The bars and clubs are all closed in Pattaya and even if they were open there is nobody about to go to them so it won't be much of a party!

[Thailand reports 2 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death]

This farce started in Communist China, every left wing bigot has jumped on the band wagon closing every business in sight and keeping people locked up! I don't go in for conspiracy theories but even I'm starting to smell a large rodent.

[When the world finally opens up again, where will you go first?]

Penang or Cambodia just for a weeks change of scenery.

[The wrong reasons to retire to Thailand?]

Until I retired some three years ago I was a contract engineer in the aerospace/defense industry. I made the choice to base myself in Pattaya a bit over 35 years ago, a nice place to live and up to date communications. When my retirement came up where to go but back to my half life base. Seen no reason to question that choice yet.

[China, South Korea to be removed from Thai list of Covid hotspots]

They do know that the Chinese are not overly inclined to tell the truth dont they?

[First Single Bought]

"Apache" The Shadows, 1960, I was 11 then.