[Thailand tourist arrivals may fall by as much as 65% in 2020 due to virus outbreak]

It’s one thing being able to travel back to thailand but most westerners will either be needing to work to earn money lost in the first half of the year, or their companies won’t allow them to take long holidays when everyone is allowed to go back to work in shops / offices / factories etc.

 

big increase in tourist arrivals in thailand any time soon? Highly unlikely I would think. 

[Importing hifi gear into Thailand]

For what it’s worth I flew in with a Yamaha dsp a1 a couple of years ago. Had it for 20 years, was expensive but I wouldn’t exactly call it high end. Like the OP it was just sitting in storage at home so thought I may as well bring it. Customs opened it up and said it was very expensive, I found a website showing it hadn’t been made for over 20 years, proved by the fact it didn’t have things like USB, Blueteeth or HDMI and after a few minutes of debate they allowed me to box it up and take it home. It’s still sitting in the box in the corner of my spare bedroom ! 

[How many of us are stuck outside Thailand due to virus? ?]

As someone who has been tee total for over 10 years, I find it most peculiar all the people on this forum who can’t survive for a few weeks with no alcohol - trust me, after a while you won’t miss it and your body will thank you for it for the rest of your life. 

[Chinese tourists set to return to Chiang Mai in July, tourism chief predicts]

One other thing that seems to be overlooked is that with so many people off work and having little cash, they won’t be able to afford holidays - but even if they can afford one, they won’t have time as they will all be back at work trying to get finances sorted. The company I work for has basically banned anyone taking holidays when the pandemic is over - if the whole company suddenly goes on holiday when we are allowed to travel we will collapse completely. Most companies I know are doing the same. 

[Phi Phi residents talked into letting tourists stay]

I would hope that when this is all over and life returns to normal, tourists remember the racism and xenophobia they have received during this crisis and choose to spend their money elsewhere in future. Just looking at all the infected people in Phuket, the vast majority are Thai ..... I will certainly choose to spend my hard earned $$ elsewhere in future. 

[Isuzu to suspend vehicle production in Thailand]

I keep hoping that post the virus, the world will stop relying on china to manufacture everything. I am sure economics will prevail, but the thought of manufacturing more in other countries must be looked at. 

[BKK to UK Flights Qatar ( for the rich and famous)]

20 hours ago, CharlieK said:

first class would be a direct flight not a layover or 23+ hours travel time.

So they detach the first class cabin and fly it direct ?

 

what nonsense - Qatar can’t fly direct to UK, they have to go via their home base. I can assure you, the plane leaves in one piece and all the classes arrive at the same time ! ????????????

[PHOTOS: Immigration at Chaeng Wattana heaving with foreigners desperately trying to extend their visas]

I know what’s a good idea, let’s crowd everyone together in one place and really share the virus around! The sheer stupidity just beggars belief - for both the foreigners and the poor immigration staff. Whoever decided this was a good idea needs to lose their job immediately.

[COVID-19: Thailand adds UK, USA and others to list of high risk countries - new “self-monitoring” measure for travellers]

I still don’t really understand this: I am a UK citizen, a HK Permanent resident but have been in Singapore for the last two weeks. 
 

So can I come back to Thailand? It says HK travellers need a visa, but I am not on an HK passport. UK travellers need to self quarantine but I haven’t been in UK for nearly a year. Doesn’t say anything about Singapore but I am only a tourists here.
 

I guess the only way is to go to the consulate and ask, or book a ticket and see what happens. Anyone able to understand this better than me?

 

Many thanks !

["Bad boys, Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Filipino singer with no work permit nabbed on the job in smart BMW bust]

On 2/22/2020 at 10:11 AM, SupermarineS6B said:

Can't be that smart........ No news of the Red Bull heir then ?

It’s smart enough to look the other way!

[House loft insulation]

Thank you so much for your kind replies, I have found some thin foam wrapped in silver foil in a size of 0.9m x 4m called Sunshield for a flat ceiling, have bought 4 rolls to see what happens. Having looked in the roof space there is no way I am going up there at my age so now I need to find a thai builder In Krabi to pop up there for me! ???? thanks again, I really do appreciate it. 

[PM says military to be downsized and generals reduced by half within 8 years]

You can tell his is lying as his lips are moving. I still can’t understand (even after so many years here) the way officials talk what is clearly nonsense and expect people to believe them. 

[PM says military to be downsized and generals reduced by half within 8 years]

2 hours ago, bangkokfrog said:

Good idea, but what do you do with half a general?

Call him a sergeant ?

 

make his hat smaller ?

 

so many different ways 

[House loft insulation]

Hi everyone

 

have searched the forums but can’t find an answer I am afraid so asking for some advice please. We have a single story house that has a brown tile roof and from what I can work out, absolutely no insulation in the loft space so it’s basically an oven. In the UK we have fibreglass wool insulation rolls to keep in the heat, and over here I have seen silver rolls of reflective insulation  in homepro, but this is not my area of expertise.

 

Could anyone please advise me how I can insulate the loft? Should i use the silver rolls, but do I lay them on top of the room ceilings? Or glue them to the underside of the roofing tiles? Sorry to sound like an idiot but honestly clueless.

 

thanks everyone

[Supercar "worth millions" engulfed in flames on expressway near Bangkok]

No way is that a Porsche, it’s an old MR2 (MRS) likely with fibre glass kit. Worth millions?? Not even before the fire. Maybe a million Indonesian Rupiah at best ! 

[Visa Elite best option ? (vs retirement or marriage)]

6 hours ago, Sambotte said:

That's the main point imo.

I am a traveller, but find Thailand the best place, and want to be able to live in maybe 6-8 months a year, variable, free (no planning).

 

And the Elite visa is not necesarely more costly in fact.

 

Could some "Elite members" confirm there is absolutely no known problem with this Visa ? 

Never had problem with mine either. Great service 

[another weird day with 3BB]

If it helps, I have a card from 3BB, I just pop into their shop once per year and pay for 12 months, get some discount and a free gift that I usually decline ????

 

just did it yesterday as it happens 

[Phuket marine chief confident Phuket to remain strong as Asia cruise ships moved to Europe amid virus fears]

39 minutes ago, Aachen said:

What an interesting and important "comment". Thank you for sharing.

It’s called “sarcasm”, something that you maybe did not understand. It’s what we are all thinking .... this PR is dillusional. 

[Immigration's BMW "smart car" nabs snitched on overstaying Australian pensioner - he thought hiding in a country village would keep him safe]

Doesn’t it make us all feel welcome here to know that the government encourage locals to spy on us and report us - just for seeing us wandering around, even if they have no idea who we are and whether we are here legally or not. Just horrific. 

[Paying UK State Pensions Voluntary Contributions from Thailand]

Or send to a UK bank account and transfer it from there?

 

not answering the OP but related question, I am in the same boat re needing to top up UK pension. Is it worth it? Or is it just a waste of money? Many thanks.

[Thailand’s PM assures coronavirus situation is “100% under control”]

What the absolute <deleted> ?? Is this guy some kind of idiot?? The World Health Organization doesn’t have this under control but the jokers in Thailand do ??

 

i have seen some ludicrous stuff from governments over the years around the world but this is the absolute winner !!!

[Turf wars video: Two "Wins" vs Grab as customer cancels trip in busy Bangkok soi]

8 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Can the Win guys show any document that only they can do rides there?

Yes - they are light brown colour and will be inside a brown envelope......

[Agencies responsible for air quality are incompetent – Nida Poll]

I thought all thai govt agencies were incompetent - surely they are just fitting in with the rest ? ???? 

[Elite or retirement visa?]

Having had an elite visa, I can assure you the service is amazing - but you know the price. If you have plenty of spare cash then do the elite, if not do the retirement. 

[Thailand tourism: Chinese New Year down! "No positives" as Thais face tough year ahead]

Of course avoiding the fact that one of the key reasons are the chinese are fed up with being treated like idiots: ripped off, killed in road and sea disasters and generally not looked after very well at all. You reap what you sow. Just look at the taxi drivers running each over on phuket this last weekend ! It’s not just the high baht.