General Reports

[QUOTE=Horatio;2467435]Anyone have an educated guess on what the rules will be on returning? Is it reasonable to plan on returning early 2021? Will there be different rules?

I just asking for best guess.[/QUOTE]AFTER everyone else! You have to ask yourself if USA had very few cases would you allow people in from a country that has 10's of thousands of new cases daily?

Thailand nuked their thoughts on allowing China in because of an outbreak of 7 new cases per day in China. Not sure USA will ever get to 7 cases per day. Freedom of rights mindset.

Best guess? 2022. Keep in mind USA is not a country that allows Thais to easily visit so USA will not get any breaks here. Thailand was upset that UK didn't include Thailand in the countries who can visit. There will be passive retribution for that. It's the Thai way.

I got a Line message today. One of my Rayong Thai bar girls is p1 ssed that a guy from Egypt got in and brought COVID with him to Rayong.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2467572]Thailand was upset that UK didn't include Thailand in the countries who can visit.[/QUOTE]BB,

The UK has two lists. The first is countries to which the blanket advice against all non-essential foreign travel does not apply and Thailand is included on this. The second is a list of countries from which arrivals into the UK do not have to self isolate for 14 days on arrival. It is this list that Thailand is not on.

There are two schools of thought for the latter omission. One (to which I subscribe) is that the UK required reciprocity (I. E. No quarantine for UK visitors on arrival in Thailand) and that was never going to happen. The other is that UK does not trust the Thai numbers but if that were the case why would they be no non-essential travel "advice" be lifted? I put the word advice in quotes because its existence invalidates most medical and travel insurances, making it far stronger than just advice.

I was half expecting a lot of flak for suggesting autumn 2021 - thanks for drawing the fire with your guess!

[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2467540]HT,

I don't know where your friend is getting this information but it is contrary to everything that is being reported in English language Thai media.[/QUOTE]The original source of the information was written in Thai and read by my friends Thai wife. About 15 hours ago she reported that the Rayong situation has put a hold on everything, perhaps another 6 months.

The entire situation is fluid. I worry that even the introduction of a vaccine will be insufficient to stop this virus. Suppose that the vaccine is 75% effective and 80% of the population gets the vaccine. If I did the math right, that means only 60% of the population will be immune to COVID. I don't know if that will be good enough to return life back to "normal". I suppose it depends on the lifestyles of those who are not immune.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2467459]There is no way to guess something that the authorities have not even guessed at yet. All I can tell you is that I will be paying my rent up for the next year when I leave here on the 31st.[/QUOTE]You aren't staying after the 31st? Will I be the last man standing? We need to hit up WS together one last item before you leave. I've been hanging with the Dukester and Hakeem the Dream.

[URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1953220/foreigners-can-apply-for-visa-extension-after-july-31[/URL]

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;2467674]The original source of the information was written in Thai and read by my friends Thai wife. About 15 hours ago she reported that the Rayong situation has put a hold on everything, perhaps another 6 months.

The entire situation is fluid. I worry that even the introduction of a vaccine will be insufficient to stop this virus. Suppose that the vaccine is 75% effective and 80% of the population gets the vaccine. If I did the math right, that means only 60% of the population will be immune to COVID. I don't know if that will be good enough to return life back to "normal". I suppose it depends on the lifestyles of those who are not immune.[/QUOTE]The vaccine will not be distributed to the general population in the beginning. The first priority will be the elderly, most likely those who are older than 60 years. This is the most vulnerable age group. The second priority will likely be those with immune systems that have been compromised by some kind of disease or affliction. Once all those have been immunized, then the general population will begin to receive it. As soon as folks can flash their vaccination reports at the airlines, cruise ships and hotels, the tourism industries in every country will be celebrating.

The real problem with this pandemic is not the disease killing people, it is the damage it has done to the economic (and political) environments around the world. People who are without jobs are very unlikely to be planning expensive vacations in exotic locales. The world will be in a deep recession for a few years and many economic, political and social changes will be happening around the world. Hang on folks, it is going to be wild ride for the next few years!

[QUOTE=Rodwint2;2467714]The vaccine will not be distributed to the general population in the beginning. The first priority will be the elderly, most likely those who are older than 60 years. This is the most vulnerable age group. The second priority will likely be those with immune systems that have been compromised by some kind of disease or affliction. Once all those have been immunized, then the general population will begin to receive it. As soon as folks can flash their vaccination reports at the airlines, cruise ships and hotels, the tourism industries in every country will be celebrating.

The real problem with this pandemic is not the disease killing people, it is the damage it has done to the economic (and political) environments around the world. People who are without jobs are very unlikely to be planning expensive vacations in exotic locales. The world will be in a deep recession for a few years and many economic, political and social changes will be happening around the world. Hang on folks, it is going to be wild ride for the next few years![/QUOTE]So being this is the end of the world as we know it because of this is "world pandemic" affecting a global economy. We are all connected somehow. And bad news is that COVID-19 keeps mutating and the data keeps changing. Go to worldometer and look at those Coronavirus graphs. It's not going away when looking at a world wide perspective and just not with a New Zealand, Vietnam, or Thailand rose colored glasses. We only have one Earth to travel. If that "entire" Earth is not fixed, there will be NO normalcy to international travel. Just a few weeks ago, data emerged that COVID-19 was found in sewage and waste water in Spain way before the first case in Wuhan. So what is the conspiracy with the origin of COVID-19 again? And you are absolutely correct, a vaccine is not the end. What is the effectiveness of the FLU vaccine? How many strains of COVID-19? What about those who refuse to do vaccines for themselves and their kids because it infringes on their individual liberties? What about those who fake medical documents to fly? One foreign case in Rayong has Thailand up in arms right now. Imagine if international travelers came back and imported a few cases. And you can't compare this to Spanish Flu in early 1900's. Why? Because the world was not "global" and heavy on tourism and hospitality like it is now. So just one solution. God.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2467459]There is no way to guess something that the authorities have not even guessed at yet. All I can tell you is that I will be paying my rent up for the next year when I leave here on the 31st.[/QUOTE]What is this about paying rent while not living there? Is there something forcing you to?

[QUOTE=Banana Boi;2467572]...

I got a Line message today. One of my Rayong Thai bar girls is p1 ssed that a guy from Egypt got in and brought COVID with him to Rayong.[/QUOTE]Such a ruckus about 1 guy who was an asymptomatic carrier. Maybe no country was interested in Thailand's "travel bubbles" on Thailand's terms, and Thailand needed a pretext to save face? If not we can kiss good-bye to the idea of ever travelling to Thailand again in our lifetime.

[QUOTE=XXL;2467892]What is this about paying rent while not living there? Is there something forcing you to?[/QUOTE]No. But I have had the same room for 10 years and all my stuff is here. I go back and forth. All I come and go with is my tablet and things I have bought to bring either way. It is only 4500 baht/month. Some people pay that for a place or gogo girl for 1 day. Looks like they will change it so that we can stay until 26 September without visa extension though.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2467459]There is no way to guess something that the authorities have not even guessed at yet. All I can tell you is that I will be paying my rent up for the next year when I leave here on the 31st.[/QUOTE]Are Thai leases typically paid in full upfront before moving in or as 12 monthly payments?

[QUOTE=Goferring;2467993]Are Thai leases typically paid in full upfront before moving in or as 12 monthly payments?[/QUOTE]Monthly payments.

Now this in interesting. It shows how inaccurate those figures on Worldometres are for countries. You'll see 271 k cases for Iran. Today the President of Iran said up to 25 million Iranians have been infected by COVID. Very very scary if true and I'm sure they aren't the only country lying about the true numbers for political and economic reasons.

[URL]https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/[/URL]

[URL]https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-estimates-25-million-coronavirus-cases[/URL]

[QUOTE=Rodwint2;2467714]The vaccine will not be distributed to the general population in the beginning.[/QUOTE]

The bigger issue is that if there is a vaccine the country who develops it will likely keep most of it if needed and then it will be distributed to only the richest and most powerful countries. They aren't selling a vaccine for $50 to a third world country when USA will pay $5000 per dose.

Thailand news keeps giving the impression that they are near a vaccine. Imagine if Thailand was first to discover a vaccine that worked? They would become the richest country in the world.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2467904]No. But I have had the same room for 10 years and all my stuff is here. I go back and forth. All I come and go with is my tablet and things I have bought to bring either way. It is only 4500 baht/month. Some people pay that for a place or gogo girl for 1 day. Looks like they will change it so that we can stay until 26 September without visa extension though.[/QUOTE]Correct it is easier if you visit often. I have family and friends who rent like you come and go use Thailand as a base and just keep their small room it also comes in handy since I have their keys in case of emergency and those keys come in handy whenever I need to use their room for ST, heh heh.

Not so fast on the extension the article I read sound like they aren't going to allow for the extension but the operative word seem to be " request " you can request an extension until the end of September that might = some baht?

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2468007]The bigger issue is that if there is a vaccine the country who develops it will likely keep most of it if needed and then it will be distributed to only the richest and most powerful countries. They aren't selling a vaccine for $50 to a third world country when USA will pay $5000 per dose.

Thailand news keeps giving the impression that they are near a vaccine. Imagine if Thailand was first to discover a vaccine that worked? They would become the richest country in the world.[/QUOTE]They are reporting that the antibodies in people who had covid rapidly dwindle in 90 days. So a vaccine will be pointless because the antibodies one gets from the vaccine will also vanish in 90 days. And as long as the USA keeps paying the hospitals an extra $49,000 for every covid death the US will keep on leading the pack.

[URL]https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/studies-report-rapid-loss-of-covid-19-antibodies-67650[/URL]

[QUOTE=MonkeyPaw;2467855]So being this is the end of the world as we know it because of this is "world pandemic" affecting a global economy. We are all connected somehow. And bad news is that COVID-19 keeps mutating and the data keeps changing. Go to worldometer and look at those Coronavirus graphs. It's not going away when looking at a world wide perspective and just not with a New Zealand, Vietnam, or Thailand rose colored glasses. We only have one Earth to travel. If that "entire" Earth is not fixed, there will be NO normalcy to international travel. Just a few weeks ago, data emerged that COVID-19 was found in sewage and waste water in Spain way before the first case in Wuhan. So what is the conspiracy with the origin of COVID-19 again? And you are absolutely correct, a vaccine is not the end. What is the effectiveness of the FLU vaccine? How many strains of COVID-19? What about those who refuse to do vaccines for themselves and their kids because it infringes on their individual liberties? What about those who fake medical documents to fly? One foreign case in Rayong has Thailand up in arms right now. Imagine if international travelers came back and imported a few cases. And you can't compare this to Spanish Flu in early 1900's. Why? Because the world was not "global" and heavy on tourism and hospitality like it is now. So just one solution. God.[/QUOTE]If this is your perception of the situation, then this must be the "End of Times" as the Holy Bible foresees. Not quite the "Rapture" as people are not dying or disappearing in mass numbers. These times are rather a good opportunity for all of us to reflect and consider how we are treating each other and not just because we are facing the coming end of the world. You are right that we should be looking at the issue of what "God" has in store for all of us.

Most religions of the world have in common one overriding goal as I see it. It is to provide a social framework for people to live in some sort of civilized nature to allow for the betterment and advancement of mankind. My view is that this is the beginning of a new battle for religious and social freedom (ie good and evil) between dictatorships like China, Iran and Russia, and the rest of the free world.

It has been 75 years since the last battles for the hearts and minds of the world, so I expect we are due for another go at it again. I am betting on the "good guys" to win again in a war that will take more than the 36+ million deaths in WWII unfortunately. China started last fall when it unleashed the Wuhan virus on the world. The new laws in Hong Kong and new "islands" in the South China Sea are like the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia before the start of WWII. Again, we are in for a rough ride in the next few years!

[QUOTE=Rodwint2;2468059]If this is your perception of the situation, then this must be the "End of Times" as the Holy Bible foresees. Not quite the "Rapture" as people are not dying or disappearing in mass numbers. These times are rather a good opportunity for all of us to reflect and consider how we are treating each other and not just because we are facing the coming end of the world. You are right that we should be looking at the issue of what "God" has in store for all of us.

Most religions of the world have in common one overriding goal as I see it. It is to provide a social framework for people to live in some sort of civilized nature to allow for the betterment and advancement of mankind. My view is that this is the beginning of a new battle for religious and social freedom (ie good and evil) between dictatorships like China, Iran and Russia, and the rest of the free world.

It has been 75 years since the last battles for the hearts and minds of the world, so I expect we are due for another go at it again. I am betting on the "good guys" to win again in a war that will take more than the 36+ million deaths in WWII unfortunately. China started last fall when it unleashed the Wuhan virus on the world. The new laws in Hong Kong and new "islands" in the South China Sea are like the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia before the start of WWII. Again, we are in for a rough ride in the next few years![/QUOTE]"A closing narration explains that the aliens' immune systems could not handle the countless billions of microbes that inhabit the Earth, and that humanity has "earned" the right to the planet by virtue of naturally coexisting with the rest of its biosphere."

Metaphorically speaking, aliens are who? The aggressors? Humanity is who or what? Lesson to all is to learn to coexist with everything that is around you. The end of the world is not such a bad idea if you knew that the world was actually "hell. " Look at all the pain and suffering since the beginning of time. In that case, we all wait until God comes and delivers us from this evil. Wait until you see what God actually means.

Here is a hint: "They or Them."