Jakarta

[Blanquiceleste]

I've attached a pic sent to me today by a friend in SG. Taken on the SG MRT. If this woman wears this get up (cloth mask which is totally ineffective) on the MRT, what do you think she makes a guy wear for sex (I'm guessing at least 2 condoms but could be more). Note, a lot of people don't have masks on. I'm bringing some 55 gallon drum clear bags to hand out with me.

LOL. Probably a fake pic making its circulation around the world on social media.

Being in the health care industry you would also know that there are fewer doctors per capita in the East compared to the West. General awareness is lower. Sanitation and environmental conditions are less favorable.

Little surprise that a doctor sees a patient every 4 minutes.

As for death show me one person who isn't afraid of death.

[Geneva Guy]

I really hope this thing settles down by April. For your sake and mine. 555. Sure, people in SG are trying hard to go about their normal lives the best they can. There is a deep sense of fear and concern writ large on everyone's face barely covered by a thin veneer of grit. Been through this sort of shit before back in 2004. Plenty of precautions. Almost every place will check your temperature and make you sign a declaration about your travel history. The Government has introduced a slew of rules and directives on people with travel history to China, including draconian ones like a Stay At Home order, where you have to rely on someone else to even bring you food and basic necessities. Restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, malls, parks and any other places of public gathering are practically empty. Nearly everyone on the MRT or buses wears a mask. Call it paranoia, but I am happy with paranoia if that keeps me alive. I will take paranoia over dick-swinging like the Cambodian Premiere going out to greet people who disembarked from the cruise ship. Completely irresponsible action. Now one of the American tourists who was aboard that cruise and disembarked at Snooky was tested positive in Malaysia while she was making her way back to the States.

My issue is countries in SEA don't understand how far up shitcreek there are in, and I hope it isn't too late before they realize it.

Amen to that! Stay safe.

OK. Let me chime in. Working in health care for many years in SE Asia has taught me some things. Asian people are always afraid of dying. This is why they pack the hospitals in Singapore, vietnam, philippines, etc. For minor illness that people in the western world take care of at home. Vomit once or twice. They go to the hospital. Sniffles and sneezes, got to see the doctor. For example, in VN, a physician sees a patient every 4 minutes, in Singapore not much different (maybe every 6 minutes) and they always expect to get a prescription. We would go crazy if a doctor saw us in the western world for 4 minutes. And the doctors know this is not good.

This is one reason why antibiotic resistance is so high. Big misuse of these drugs (and buying them without a prescription in VN). Unfortunately, there is little way to change this culture. I'm not playing down the seriousness of Corona virus, but life has to go on.

I've attached a pic sent to me today by a friend in SG. Taken on the SG MRT. If this woman wears this get up (cloth mask which is totally ineffective) on the MRT, what do you think she makes a guy wear for sex (I'm guessing at least 2 condoms but could be more). Note, a lot of people don't have masks on. I'm bringing some 55 gallon drum clear bags to hand out with me.

I'm off to SG in a week, then to VN. But having lived in the medical world where we practice universal precautions, I will implement these personally, stay out of large crowds, wash hands or use hand santizer and yep, I do have masks to wear although they offer limited protection according to the CDC.

GG.

[Catire]

That's because I had not ever heard of it until I read your post. But yes agree Burma's zero virus count is more than suspect.

Again, I would say that at Chinese Burmese border and bordertowns you need to be worried about the HIV virus, not the coronavirus.

Look into the EXPLOSION of HIV in that very specific area over the last decade.

[Banana Boi]

What about Mong La, Burma? That town near the Chinese border is the wild east, a true no man's land with gambling, whoer houses,

That's because I had not ever heard of it until I read your post. But yes agree Burma's zero virus count is more than suspect.

[Member #4698]

Natty, is what you're saying as access information for Mong La up to the minute and firsthand? The situation is changeable. I was in Keng Tung in November (3 months ago) where there was no going onward north, no way-no how. Well, except maybe overland by foot, and keeping off the roads, avoiding the military checkpoints.

Your info is more current than mine. Thanks for the update.

[Blanquiceleste]

Blanqui, I respect your decision to play it cool for a while, but I, apparently, am not as risk adverse as you. I think I would still fly to BKK, Pat, Jakarta tomorrow and do my thing if tomorrow was the scheduled date on my flight. Fortunately or not, my flight is not scheduled until late April. It is still a go as far as I am concerned, but I watch the new case numbers on a daily basis. If the numbers should really start to take off, I will cancel my trip in a heartbeat and like I said, head to Sao Paulo. But right now, I don't see the point of changing my plans. Except for China and aboard that Cruise ship everything looks pretty benign, at least for the present. I have girls on the ground in BKK and one is visiting Singapore as I write this. They are telling me everything is a little slow, but more or less normal. You are in Singapore. Aren't the people there more or less going about their daily lives?

I really hope this thing settles down by April. For your sake and mine. 555. Sure, people in SG are trying hard to go about their normal lives the best they can. There is a deep sense of fear and concern writ large on everyone's face barely covered by a thin veneer of grit. Been through this sort of shit before back in 2004. Plenty of precautions. Almost every place will check your temperature and make you sign a declaration about your travel history. The Government has introduced a slew of rules and directives on people with travel history to China, including draconian ones like a Stay At Home order, where you have to rely on someone else to even bring you food and basic necessities. Restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, malls, parks and any other places of public gathering are practically empty. Nearly everyone on the MRT or buses wears a mask. Call it paranoia, but I am happy with paranoia if that keeps me alive. I will take paranoia over dick-swinging like the Cambodian Premiere going out to greet people who disembarked from the cruise ship. Completely irresponsible action. Now one of the American tourists who was aboard that cruise and disembarked at Snooky was tested positive in Malaysia while she was making her way back to the States.

My issue is countries in SEA don't understand how far up shitcreek there are in, and I hope it isn't too late before they realize it.

Wash your hands a lot and try not to touch your face. I hope to see you on the other side of this in the late spring.

Amen to that! Stay safe.

[Golfinho]

Yes. You can cross the Thai / Burmese border from Mai Sai to Tachelik, Then, from Tachelok you have 2 options. A) You can buy a one day visa and schedule a day trip to Mong La. Or B) You can buy a 14 day visa and stay in Mong La. However the 14 day visa is limited to travel between Tachelik and Mong La. In addition, the Burmese authorities at the border will issue local travel permits only. They keep your passport until you return to Tachelik.

Natty, is what you're saying as access information for Mong La up to the minute and firsthand? The situation is changeable. I was in Keng Tung in November (3 months ago) where there was no going onward north, no way-no how. Well, except maybe overland by foot, and keeping off the roads, avoiding the military checkpoints.

[Member #4698]

Is there a way a westerner can go and party there?

Yes. You can cross the Thai / Burmese border from Mai Sai to Tachelik, Then, from Tachelok you have 2 options. A) You can buy a one day visa and schedule a day trip to Mong La. Or B) You can buy a 14 day visa and stay in Mong La. However the 14 day visa is limited to travel between Tachelik and Mong La. In addition, the Burmese authorities at the border will issue local travel permits only. They keep your passport until you return to Tachelik.

So keep in mind that Mong La is a raw town. I only mentioned it in passing because I know that the vast majority of the visitors that go there to gamble, smuggle, and monger are Chinese Nationals. A majority of the locals are Chinese as well. The local town currency is the Chinese Yuan not Kyat and the border here between Burma and China is as porous as you can get. Yet no reported cases of Bat Virus. So even in the best of times, this is not a trip for the faint of heart. And right now in the present circumstances, you would have to be downright bat crazy to go there. IMHO. 555.

Blanqui, I respect your decision to play it cool for a while, but I, apparently, am not as risk adverse as you. I think I would still fly to BKK, Pat, Jakarta tomorrow and do my thing if tomorrow was the scheduled date on my flight. Fortunately or not, my flight is not scheduled until late April. It is still a go as far as I am concerned, but I watch the new case numbers on a daily basis. If the numbers should really start to take off, I will cancel my trip in a heartbeat and like I said, head to Sao Paulo. But right now, I don't see the point of changing my plans. Except for China and aboard that Cruise ship everything looks pretty benign, at least for the present. I have girls on the ground in BKK and one is visiting Singapore as I write this. They are telling me everything is a little slow, but more or less normal. You are in Singapore. Aren't the people there more or less going about their daily lives?

Wash your hands a lot and try not to touch your face. I hope to see you on the other side of this in the late spring.

NB

[Blanquiceleste]

What about Mong La, Burma? That town near the Chinese border is the wild east, a true no man's land with gambling, whoer houses, and just about anything illegal in the animal and drug trade available for a price in CNY currency. It basically has an open land border with China and I have heard of no reported cases from there since the epidemic began. Meanwhile the rest of Burma, lawful Myanmar, is reporting zero cases as well. I have my doubts, ha ha, but I still have plans to fly to Yangon to party with my Burmese FL in May. In fact, I am going to bring her back to BKK with me and show her the sights for a few nights. It should be fun.

Every country in SEA other than Singapore has no clue about COVID19 and how it affects their countries. None of them have the means (medical infrastructure, disaster response systems, money, trained manpower) to detect cases and report accurately. None of them have secure borders, especially countries like Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos that share land borders with China as well as Thailand and Malaysia which have completely porous borders. Add to this corrupt immigration officials who will let through absolutely anyone who waves a $100 bill (well, not exactly wave but its more like enclosing it in the passport). Then, we have extremely poor awareness among local populations because they are illiterate, do not have access to right information and their Governments don't tell them anything. And this leads to apathy and ignorance.

The Health Minister in Indonesia has gone on record to say the country does not have any confirmed cases because of our staunch belief in Islam and our prayers. Then he says we do not test everyone who has a cough, we do not have resources. Indonesian social media is rife with fake news being shared.

None of this bodes well. I will not travel to any place in SEA till this thing blows over. Singapore is still the safest place to be in during this time. At least there is complete transparency and these guys know what they are doing. Mongering locally has become a lot cheaper in the past few weeks, but I am still not taking chances.

[Catire]

What about Mong La, Burma? That town near the Chinese border is the wild east, a true no man's land with gambling, whoer houses, and just about anything illegal in the animal and drug trade available for a price in CNY currency. It basically has an open land border with China and I have heard of no reported cases from there since the epidemic began. Meanwhile the rest of Burma, lawful Myanmar, is reporting zero cases as well. I have my doubts, ha ha, but I still have plans to fly to Yangon to party with my Burmese FL in May. In fact, I am going to bring her back to BKK with me and show her the sights for a few nights. It should be fun.

It's the perfect place for you to catch HIV if you are so inclined.

Most of the cases in the country occur there.

Truckers. *****houses. Etc.

Have fun.

[KilledSoul]

What about Mong La, Burma?

Is there a way a westerner can go and party there?

[Golfinho]

I'd be very wary about countries like Indonesia reporting any information accurately. Another that jumps out at me would be Cambodia. 1 reported and recovered case out of all the Chinese who likely went to all the casinos in Sihanoukville and to Naga World in PP. Seems a bit suspect.

If ever there was a place for a viral "hot spot" to emerge, wouldn't it be in an airless, enclosed area where many people are congregated and sharing breathing space and fluids? How many infected Chinese in a place like Hotel 1001, Classic, Travel et. Al. Would it take to pollute everybody? Are they aiming the temperature taking gun at the entrances in Indonesia yet?

[Member #4698]

I'd be very wary about countries like Indonesia reporting any information accurately. Another that jumps out at me would be Cambodia. 1 reported and recovered case out of all the Chinese who likely went to all the casinos in Sihanoukville and to Naga World in PP. Seems a bit suspect.

What about Mong La, Burma? That town near the Chinese border is the wild east, a true no man's land with gambling, whoer houses, and just about anything illegal in the animal and drug trade available for a price in CNY currency. It basically has an open land border with China and I have heard of no reported cases from there since the epidemic began. Meanwhile the rest of Burma, lawful Myanmar, is reporting zero cases as well. I have my doubts, ha ha, but I still have plans to fly to Yangon to party with my Burmese FL in May. In fact, I am going to bring her back to BKK with me and show her the sights for a few nights. It should be fun.

[Banana Boi]

I also heard about '0' cases against Indonesia, which developed countries have little doubts about unreported cases.

I'd be very wary about countries like Indonesia reporting any information accurately. Another that jumps out at me would be Cambodia. 1 reported and recovered case out of all the Chinese who likely went to all the casinos in Sihanoukville and to Naga World in PP. Seems a bit suspect.

[Smoothy]

More I read about the fatalities, mostly elderly persons (50 +)

50 is "elderly"? I like to refer to myself as Brondong Tua, not elderly.

I also heard about '0' cases against Indonesia, which developed countries have little doubts about unreported cases.

Back when the bird flu hit Asia in the mid 2000's, I read some articles stating that Indonesia refused to report anything about that sickness to the world health organization (WHO). Their rationale for not reporting their cases and sharing samples seemingly was that the WHO (mainly the USA) was just scamming poorer countries like Indonesia so that they could provide high priced medications that Indonesians wouldn't be able to afford. I wasn't quite sure of the logic.