Wow, For years whenever politics conversation came up I always without reading any stats just threw out that 1% of the richest Thais ran this country but down deep gave them the benefit of the doubt and just round it off to 5%.
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Wow, For years whenever politics conversation came up I always without reading any stats just threw out that 1% of the richest Thais ran this country but down deep gave them the benefit of the doubt and just round it off to 5%.
[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2477643]"Thailand outperformed Russia and India by becoming the most unequal country in the world according to the 2018 report released by Credit Suisse.
According to the findings of the 2018 Global Wealth Databook 2018 report, statistics compiled by Credit Suisse in 40 countries show that the richest 1% of Thais control 66.9% of the country's wealth.
At the same time, 50% of the poorest Thais (25 million people) held 1. 7% of the country's wealth, while 70% (35 million) controlled 5%.
Two years ago, Thailand ranked third in the report, after Russia and India.
In 2016, the richest 1% of Thais (500,000 people) held 58.0% of the country's wealth. In 2018, they controlled 66.9%, overtaking their Russian peers whose wealth share rose from 78% to 57.1%.
These three countries are followed by Turkey where the richest control 54.1% of the wealth.
Apart from these four countries, there is no country in the world where the richest 1% control more than half of their country's wealth.[/QUOTE]Go to Moscow, I read a couple years ago when I was there, there were 65 billionaires in the city, more than anywhere in the world, what do you think P4P prices are like LOL?
I'm surprised PI isn't #1, walk down a dirty busy road with dead dogs and women sleeping in the dirt with their infants in their arms or whole families.
Parents old people children and infants sleeping on a tiny section of sidewalk by JJ market, or even Mexico my god the disparities there are eye popping as well.
[QUOTE=MarquisdeSade1;2477285]And the guy told me the prices I saw 2 rows and asked about that?
He said white guys are charged more LOL.[/QUOTE]There are tons of non P4 P places in Thailand where Farang are charged more than Thai most noticeably at tourist traps like Art in Paradise, Pattaya Floating market, etc. There is no hiding it. Signs clearly list different pricing for Thai and tourists. IIRC Thai leaders have recently said this can no longer be done in hopes of bringing back more tourists when the borders open again.
Even with every day taxis, motorbikes, and tuk tuks. Farang get charged much higher than Thai. Farang are stupid enough to pay it so why not charge more.
A possible re-opening for tourists:
[URL]https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/thailand-reopening-safe-and-sealed-covid/index.html[/URL]
[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2478153]A possible re-opening for tourists:
[URL]https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/thailand-reopening-safe-and-sealed-covid/index.html[/URL][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]"I have asked the prime minister for approval to set October 1 as the date to allow (inbound) tourists to enter," he said. "I also have requested to use Phuket as a pilot model ... and have received approval from the Center for Economic Situation Administration."[/QUOTE]Of course, only time will tell if this tentative restart actually happens then, later or at all. But when I posted earlier that I had a feeling the September 26 deadline for short term visa amnesty would likely serve as the dividing line for "out with the old, in with the new" and that a new way for tourists to enter via international flights would follow shortly thereafter, even I didn't predict it might be less than a week thereafter. LOL.
I swear I had no CESA insider information on which to base my guess. It was based solely on my observations of the general Thai mindset and behavior over the years.
Sorry I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but each day there seem to be some official getting up on their soapbox saying this or that I wonder how many government people do they have? Whatever the number none of these people can change a thing no one MP or even the PM himself he is nothing but a puppet. None of the announcements read between the lines that they are going to open anything or anywhere without a bunch of strings attached.
In the Phuket story, they have taken the " travel bubble term " now replace it with some " safe be. S. " you still need the see. O. E certificate of entry from the Thai Embassy but they don't tell you what you got to do to get one! I suggest unless you see it on paper and it reads something like " no restrictions " I just wouldn't get my hopes up! Today another official T.V article said they are " Hoping " that they will get 2 million tourists by end of year but noted you still need the C. O. E. this article got 20 plus pages of negative jokes and responses just as I noted above. Should I jump up and down and get my pom-poms out hell no I'm just too damn old and tired of all the smoke they like to blow up everyone's ass does anyone wonder why the young are on the rise to overthrow these old fuckers!
In the end, I continue to hope I'm wrong but when I read the articles and break it down it always falls apart! They are scared shit and I don't blame them each repatriates flight you have cases so if they open the doors there is no way Thailand or any country can handle the rise in cases.
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2478174]Sorry I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but each day there seem to be some official getting up on their soapbox saying this or that I wonder how many government people do they have? Whatever the number none of these people can change a thing no one MP or even the PM himself he is nothing but a puppet. None of the announcements read between the lines that they are going to open anything or anywhere without a bunch of strings attached.
In the Phuket story, they have taken the " travel bubble term " now replace it with some " safe be. S. " you still need the see. O. E certificate of entry from the Thai Embassy but they don't tell you what you got to do to get one! I suggest unless you see it on paper and it reads something like " no restrictions " I just wouldn't get my hopes up! Today another official T.V article said they are " Hoping " that they will get 2 million tourists by end of year but noted you still need the C. O. E. this article got 20 plus pages of negative jokes and responses just as I noted above. Should I jump up and down and get my pom-poms out hell no I'm just too damn old and tired of all the smoke they like to blow up everyone's ass does anyone wonder why the young are on the rise to overthrow these old fuckers!
In the end, I continue to hope I'm wrong but when I read the articles and break it down it always falls apart! They are scared shit and I don't blame them each repatriates flight you have cases so if they open the doors there is no way Thailand or any country can handle the rise in cases.[/QUOTE]This is the first proposal I have read that involves arriving on an island first to spend the 14 day quarantine before being permitted to transfer directly to the mainland. Kind of a two week Covid-19 leper colony. LOL.
Have you read any others like this?
The first big hurdle is to find out how the residents and business owners of Phuket feel about it. I suspect after the Tsunami and recovery not that long ago the business owners of Phuket will be on board with whatever the hell brings tourists into the area to sleep and eat somewhere on the island for at least two weeks with the possibility they might linger in the area for another week after busting out of quarantine and heading to the mainland. Yes, this is definitely for people looking to remain in Thailand at least 30-90 days with some serious money to spend. Not a bad fit for the "in with the new" concept I mentioned, imo.
I assume the proposal is being floated to see what the reaction to the idea is to Thais in Phuket and on the mainland. Same as all the other travel bubble proposals.
So far, the majority of mainland Thais DON'T want inbound flights full of tourists arriving now or the near future. But if the deal is they are only arriving on the mainland after spending 2 weeks isolated in a Phuket hotel with zero symptoms and zero positive test results, there is at least a chance not that many Thais on the mainland would object to it.
Of course, it is just as likely this proposal goes down in flames, too. However, going from no inbound flights allowed to "no restrictions" in one giant leap for Mankind is most certainly not going to happen. There is going to be some months or years of incremental movement first. And this incremental one sounds more practical and potentially effective than any of the others I have read or heard.
[QUOTE=EihTooms;2478196]This is the first proposal I have read that involves arriving on an island first to spend the 14 day quarantine before being permitted to transfer directly to the mainland. Kind of a two week Covid-19 leper colony. LOL.
Have you read any others like this?
The first big hurdle is to find out how the residents and business owners of Phuket feel about it. I suspect after the Tsunami and recovery not that long ago the business owners of Phuket will be on board with whatever the hell brings tourists into the area to sleep and eat somewhere on the island for at least two weeks with the possibility they might linger in the area for another week after busting out of quarantine and heading to the mainland. Yes, this is definitely for people looking to remain in Thailand at least 30-90 days with some serious money to spend. Not a bad fit for the "in with the new" concept I mentioned, imo.
I assume the proposal is being floated to see what the reaction to the idea is to Thais in Phuket and on the mainland. Same as all the other travel bubble proposals.
So far, the majority of mainland Thais DON'T want inbound flights full of tourists arriving now or the near future. But if the deal is they are only arriving on the mainland after spending 2 weeks isolated in a Phuket hotel with zero symptoms and zero positive test results, there is at least a chance not that many Thais on the mainland would object to it.
Of course, it is just as likely this proposal goes down in flames, too. However, going from no inbound flights allowed to "no restrictions" in one giant leap for Mankind is most certainly not going to happen. There is going to be some months or years of incremental movement first. And this incremental one sounds more practical and potentially effective than any of the others I have read or heard.[/QUOTE]That is where we will have to agree to disagree! What the business and the resident want in Phuket I seriously don't think the Thai leaders even care. For example, what is going on in the USA With a number of States in Lockdown with numerous lawsuits you think these State governments really care what the business and residents think? So why would the Thai leaders care sure they go through the motion which is what they are doing now but none of them have the authority to push their agenda through as I said not even puppet man himself can do it. When it is decided Thailand is going to open up the skies he will be the spokesman that is it!
As I said try to read between the lines whenever these MP like in the Phuket case getting to the 14-day quarantine is the last part try there are like 10 steps of items you must obtain prior to even getting a flight to Thailand to be quarantine. This proposal is no different from the Elite Card or for medical tourism made two months ago which there are hardly any takers so like always they relabel stuff " hoping " charlie tuna is going to bite. If I could I tell the man to his face KEEP PRAYING plenty of Temples around to take your donations.
In general, The Thais don't have the critical thinking to break down or challenge their leaders they just follow the reason the survey result want the leaders to keep foreigners out. Anyone can put two and two together and see Thais coming back from overseas like the USA Need to be tested and quarantine as long there isn't a vaccine but reality you can't live in a bubble in today world 21st, Global when the skies open the 2nd, 3rd mutation is coming and the Thai leaders know they are unprepared.
They are just smoking the bad weed they grow here or the constant dying of their hair is affecting their thinking that no one can see thru the smoke they are blowing up everyone butt. The only credit I give them is they don't seem to have much shame getting up on their soapbox.
Whatever suggestion they make whatever small step you suggest they are making isn't going to bring in the tourist they want short or long term no one has the time or dumb enough to spend the money right now to get to the 14 day stage. I read every article particularly on T. V. The last two months and have seen two or three cases posted. The requirements are still in place whatever story you read it they don't come out and actually spell it out that they have reduced some of the restrictions then it is just another day they are blowing smoke.
I will do you a favor since you are posting so much to the envy of so many although I don't agree with the Bareback stuff each story that comes I will point out if it is smoke or actually a small step to opening.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2478109]There are tons of non P4 P places in Thailand where Farang are charged more than Thai most noticeably at tourist traps like Art in Paradise, Pattaya Floating market, etc. There is no hiding it. Signs clearly list different pricing for Thai and tourists. IIRC Thai leaders have recently said this can no longer be done in hopes of bringing back more tourists when the borders open again.
Even with every day taxis, motorbikes, and tuk tuks. Farang get charged much higher than Thai. Farang are stupid enough to pay it so why not charge more.[/QUOTE]Neither of the following are discriminatory but I have always found these anomalies interesting.
Start with similar ingredients and depending which recipe is used and where it's placed on the menu you pay different prices for the finished dish. Turn it into a burger and chips and you pay say 300 baht, turn it into a massaman curry and it's yours for 200. In other words farang food costs more than Thai food even though the cost of goods is roughly the same.
Oil massages usually cost 50% to 100% more than Thai massages. OK you pay extra for the oil but that is offset by the cost of laundry with a Thai massage and the masseuse gets the same, sometimes maybe an extra 20 or 40 more for her hour.
Is it because foreigners are more likely to have oil massages and non-Thai food.
Two new articles just came over the TV wired.
One commented that it would be 5 years before Pattaya gets back to pre-covid tourist numbers so braced yourself and year to date 71% reduction in tourist. So the next highlight article is some official now he is preparing his prison population in speaking better English and he wants to open his prison as a tourist attraction so tourists can rub shoulders with how the other half lives you can't make up this shit or can you.
He doesn't mention a thing about any restrictions why because he is blowing smoke!
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2478219]............some official now he is preparing his prison population in speaking better English.........[/QUOTE]So you guys out there, be careful in not offending Thai law, he may want resident tutors.
This morning an article that the Hotel Association of Thailand " Demanded " that the country open up to foreigners. Where will this go the member is from a very powerful family and does have influence with the puppet man since the Hotel industry is pretty much at Zero!
But as you continue with the article it still is talking about allowing only certain countries and only into a specific location like Phuket and if that works which I really hope I'm wrong Chon Buri (Pattaya) will be next but as I noted there is no mentioned about removing all the obstacles in place just to get into quarantine! So I put this article into my smoke pile!
[QUOTE=Franciscass;2478217]Oil massages usually cost 50% to 100% more than Thai massages. OK you pay extra for the oil but that is offset by the cost of laundry with a Thai massage and the masseuse gets the same, sometimes maybe an extra 20 or 40 more for her hour.[/QUOTE]I thought asking for oil massage was the secret word for wanting extras. At least that's what I recall reading before my first trip to Thailand. After my interrupting a massage girl eating her Somtan fiasco I now clarify that the girl does extras before paying for any massage. Waste of my time if no extras are involved.
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2478219]One commented that it would be 5 years before Pattaya gets back to pre-covid tourist numbers [/QUOTE]Pattaya won't last 5 years. It will become a sleepy town for Thai people to take over and live. It will not be anything like you know it as today.
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2478331]allowing only certain countries and only into a specific location like Phuket [/QUOTE]Only for long term visitors over 30 days and still a mandatory 14 day quarantine. Pretty sure people from China can find better holiday destinations with no lengthy quarantine and only limited to staying in Phuket and Krabi by the time Thailand decides to reopen borders. The key is stays OVER 30 days only which most casual travelers who still work are unable to do and many countries only have 30 day limit Visas.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2478401]I thought asking for oil massage was the secret word for wanting extras. At least that's what I recall reading before my first trip to Thailand. After my interrupting a massage girl eating her Somtan fiasco I now clarify that the girl does extras before paying for any massage. Waste of my time if no extras are involved.[/QUOTE]Yup BB if its a rub and tug its an oil massage but believe it or not there lots of people male and female who just want a massage and choose an oil massage which as I said for some inexplicable reason costs a lot more.