anddy

That is a very good point, hardly ever acknowledged or admitted. I loved NYC back in the 90s precisely because of that factor. Which in turn did lead to that feeling of anticipation and euphoria prior to arrival:
Not anymore in NYC, but in the 90s for sure (see above)!!

really? Unbelievable, and proves PetrRS's point that
actually, it was never out of disarray at all  

This comment does not only apply to Thailand.
You could be talking about Australia here, too!

The difference is, that in Europe testing was and is EVERYWHERE. Here, testing is (almost) NOWHERE. It only happens at select places that the authorities pick and chose, and from the few that go to get themselves tested voluntarily IF they can find a place that will do it. Don't look at the raw numbers, which indeed look not TOO bad. But the real numbers are guaranteed to be vastly higher than that, not just somewhat higher like in Europe.
Things will not improve here in any meaningful way anytime soon. One reason is vaccination is progressing at a snails pace and is in complete shambles with no procurement strategy that would deserve the label "strategy". Another reason is protests flaring up again, driving the urge to impose more restrictions. 

The difference is, that in Europe testing was and is EVERYWHERE. Here, testing is (almost) NOWHERE. It only happens at select places that the authorities pick and chose, and from the few that go to get themselves tested voluntarily IF they can find a place that will do it. Don't look at the raw numbers, which indeed look not TOO bad. But the real numbers are guaranteed to be vastly higher than that, not just somewhat higher like in Europe.
Things will not improve here in any meaningful way anytime soon. One reason is vaccination is progressing at a snails pace and is in complete shambles with no procurement strategy that would deserve the label "strategy". Another reason is protests flaring up again, driving the urge to impose more restrictions. 

it's not a health insurance at all, it's more like a covid lottery: if you test positive, you get a lump sum, that's it. Symptoms or not, necessity of treatment, treatment expenses, all irrelevant. Many indeed see it as a way to potentially make some money to cover for lost income due to crisis. I know one boy, who recently told me he bought no less than three such policies! I don't know the details of those and didn't ask, but it sounded like they were all less than 500 Baht in premium, and payouts something like 50k or 100k, maybe 200k.

The difference is, that in Europe testing was and is EVERYWHERE. Here, testing is (almost) NOWHERE. It only happens at select places that the authorities pick and chose, and from the few that go to get themselves tested voluntarily IF they can find a place that will do it. Don't look at the raw numbers, which indeed look not TOO bad. But the real numbers are guaranteed to be vastly higher than that, not just somewhat higher like in Europe.
Things will not improve here in any meaningful way anytime soon. One reason is vaccination is progressing at a snails pace and is in complete shambles with no procurement strategy that would deserve the label "strategy". Another reason is protests flaring up again, driving the urge to impose more restrictions. 

why would hospital imply serious? I'm sure you must be aware of the absurd Thai policy of the Covid Jail (my term)? Everyone, as in 100%, who tests positive here get's put in a hospital. Where hospital can range from field hospital to hospitel (a repurposed hotel similar to quarantine) or a real hospital. There is no escaping, even if 100% symptom free. No home quarantine allowed. Hence the term "covid jail" is the only appropriate one IMO. Totally absurd. And a reason why I no longer check in at malls or shops using the Thai Chana Line-app and would avoid getting a test at all cost. I rather do a home test (apparently they are finally being sold here since Thursday I was told, but I previdoulsly had a source) when in doubt and self-isolate and go to a hospital only if I were to develop symptoms.

Sounds like a get rich money scam rather than insurance. With these around, no wonder covid cases in thailand cant go down hehe.

The gay scene has not left Thailand.
While the physical manifestations of it have temporarily retreated, the gay scene certainly continues to exist in the consciousness of Thais and foreigners alike.
Gays certainly do not suddenly become non-gay because their favorite venues are not available at the moment. Their inclinations and desires persist.
Our identities exist in our minds, and for a while longer we'll have to be content to live off those memories. And for those still in the country, the gay scene--as mentioned above--is accessible electronically.
Even if the hi-so proponents may wish to sweep "sex capital of the world" from the narrative of guide books, the gay scene will continue because it's an irrepressible force of nature: the nature of men who have sex with men.
One of the pleasures of international travel is that gay men still understand how to find like-minded individuals, even if there's a lack of venues. And beyond looking on line, there's always the eyes. Isn't that how we spotted other gays before any of the electronics existed? If you walk down Silom, or just about any crowded road, and can't find a local guy who may be interested in sex--or at least getting to know you, you're probably not paying attention.
Despite the naysayers' claims, Thailand is not suddenly about to reverse form. Bangkok is not going to become London; Pattaya not St. Kitts.  Even the Tourism Authority (TAT) acknowledged Thursday that getting tourists back to Bangkok is job one:
"The worsening Covid-19 situation in Thailand has led the Tourism and Sports Ministry to reconsider the country's reopening strategy, admitting some target destinations are still marred by soaring infections. However, the ministry insists on reopening Bangkok by this year as the capital is the heart of the tourism industry in Thailand."
There are gloomy days ahead. Opening plans will be delayed. But the government is all too well aware that it must get the doors reopened. The transportation infrastructure and hospitality sector haven't gone away. More important, tourists from across the globe have not forgotten why they want to return.
When the great cities of the world get back into the tourism business, they, too, know that what made them so damn successful in the first place is something that should not be tampered with. Whether it's Rio, Paris, New York, London, Tokyo or Bangkok, tourists will want more of the same. Count on it.
 

I wonder what the rationale is for this apparently indefinite extension. All those reasons for getting stuck in Thailand no longer exist for most I'd say. For insane Australia, which is shutting out it's own citizens for no good reason, it clearly still exists, but most others?

I wonder what the rationale is for this apparently indefinite extension. All those reasons for getting stuck in Thailand no longer exist for most I'd say. For insane Australia, which is shutting out it's own citizens for no good reason, it clearly still exists, but most others?

In case anyone is interested for future reference, I have had confirmed from the hotel that joiners are allowed at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok. 

I haven't been to any of the Bangkok go-go bars in years, but my understanding, based on what friends tell me, as long as they don't expect a police raid (they often get tipped off) and don't suspect any plain clothes police are in the audience, pretty much anything goes.
It would be great if things eventually return to the way they were many years ago.  Some of you who have been around long enough may remember the Utopia Guest House in Bangkok and the owner, John Goss.  During my very first trip to Thailand I stayed at the Utopia and John personally took me around to show me the ropes and took me to a couple of the go-go bars. 
There is nothing like the first time.  I can't remember the name of the bar, but I will never forget my first experience.  There were at least 30 go-go boys and both on and off stage they were completely naked.  And I mean completely.  I was absolutely overwhelmed.  I did not expect anything like that and had never seen anything like that.  And in those days, the go-go bars had short time rooms. 
Do I need to tell you where I was every night while I was in Bangkok?
Bring back the way it was in those days!  Please!

too small. And the concept is more targeted at locals

erections: they have the big cock shows That's as erect a show as it gets. Other show numbers also include erections
butthole: never really seen it, guess they just don't think that's something suitable to be shown on stage? There is certainly no rule that would prevent it more than erections
fondle: happens in many erotic numbers (and of course the sex shows)
legal: that's moot. Presumably it is not (public indecency or something like that). There are only two scenarios:
- it is legal, so it will happen
- it is illegal, then it will still happen (for $$$ to certain, uhm, places)
To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as a "limit" on the shows. Except such depending on the mood of the current local police chief, and the alignment of the stars. 

this is wishful thinking for a time machine haha. Of course it's a typo, should read 2022  unfortunately  
On a serious note to OP's question: yes it is of course free for Thais and it is actually rather difficult if not almost impossible to buy it anywhere. Someone told me of a friend or acquaintance of his, American, who got it (Astra Zeneca) for cash at MedPark Hospital in Bangkok. Don't know the price though. The "alternative" vaccine, Moderna will be available for cash only, the government is not involved in that (other than in it's role in delaying it's purchase, those idiots), but it get's constantly delayed, and it is only with luck that any doses will even arrive in October, as Patanawet already alluded to in the post above. The offers I've seen all speak of "4th quarter" which is obviously very vague and could mean year end. So good luck with that.
So the bottom line is, it is really not necessary or even useful to send money for the vaccine for a Thai person. 
If he is Lao or Cambodian or Burmese, that would be a different story, but for those guys it is probably even more difficult to get it for cash.

While reasonable price discrimination based on age like @z909 mentioned for Singapore (which I've also witnessed there, including the beneficial effect on the composition of the crowd) is very much acceptable, the egregious one that R3 and to a lesser extent Sauna Mania had were not. However, if I remember correctly the outrageous 1200 or 1500 mentioned in some posts here (which were real, I've seem those stated there at the cashier myself) were for the orgy nights. On regular nights it wasn't so extreme. And regarding foreigner pricing at Mania, it wasn't for farang, but for foreigners in general, including the MANY Chinese tourists that used to frequent the place. There was a sign saying in English "Entry fee 200 (or 230 or whatever the fee of the day was)" and another one entirely in Thai quoting something like 120. 
But all those are now a thing of the past. All saunas of the R3 group have completely abolished all tiered pricing. Presumably a result of slow business due to covid to attract more customers.
KRUBB has some price differentiation, i.e. discounts for youngsters. It's a nice and attractive place, even with an onsen bath on the top floor (6th) along with the dry sauna and steam room. Almost never any foreigners.

While reasonable price discrimination based on age like @z909 mentioned for Singapore (which I've also witnessed there, including the beneficial effect on the composition of the crowd) is very much acceptable, the egregious one that R3 and to a lesser extent Sauna Mania had were not. However, if I remember correctly the outrageous 1200 or 1500 mentioned in some posts here (which were real, I've seem those stated there at the cashier myself) were for the orgy nights. On regular nights it wasn't so extreme. And regarding foreigner pricing at Mania, it wasn't for farang, but for foreigners in general, including the MANY Chinese tourists that used to frequent the place. There was a sign saying in English "Entry fee 200 (or 230 or whatever the fee of the day was)" and another one entirely in Thai quoting something like 120. 
But all those are now a thing of the past. All saunas of the R3 group have completely abolished all tiered pricing. Presumably a result of slow business due to covid to attract more customers.
KRUBB has some price differentiation, i.e. discounts for youngsters. It's a nice and attractive place, even with an onsen bath on the top floor (6th) along with the dry sauna and steam room. Almost never any foreigners.

While reasonable price discrimination based on age like @z909 mentioned for Singapore (which I've also witnessed there, including the beneficial effect on the composition of the crowd) is very much acceptable, the egregious one that R3 and to a lesser extent Sauna Mania had were not. However, if I remember correctly the outrageous 1200 or 1500 mentioned in some posts here (which were real, I've seem those stated there at the cashier myself) were for the orgy nights. On regular nights it wasn't so extreme. And regarding foreigner pricing at Mania, it wasn't for farang, but for foreigners in general, including the MANY Chinese tourists that used to frequent the place. There was a sign saying in English "Entry fee 200 (or 230 or whatever the fee of the day was)" and another one entirely in Thai quoting something like 120. 
But all those are now a thing of the past. All saunas of the R3 group have completely abolished all tiered pricing. Presumably a result of slow business due to covid to attract more customers.
KRUBB has some price differentiation, i.e. discounts for youngsters. It's a nice and attractive place, even with an onsen bath on the top floor (6th) along with the dry sauna and steam room. Almost never any foreigners.

As a perceptive article in yesterday's Guardian points out, it is customary to look at the good that men do when they pass from this earth. Talking of the death of Rumsfeld, President Bush praised his "steady service as a wartime Secretary of Defence - a duty he carried out with strength, skill and honour." Even the USA's main serious newspapers had reasonably decent comments on his life.
In the case of Rumsfled, though, surely Mark Anthony's words in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar are far more likely to be accurate: "the evil that men do lives after them." 
As the Guardian article points out:
"He destroyed the public trust, the integrity of the presidency, and left America’s reputation far weaker than when he came.
"How did he do all that in the fevered five years between the 9/11 attacks of 2001 and his resignation in 2006?
"We could start with his disastrous decision to turn away from the hunt from Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan to pursue Saddam Hussein in Iraq: one of the most baffling, harebrained and ultimately bloody choices in the history of American national security.
"We now know that Rumsfeld was contemplating this bizarre plan within days, if not hours, of the attacks. He pursued an illegal aggressive war with no link to al-Qaida but with all the dogged skills he had learned from a career inside Washington, concocting a case for war that destroyed international trust and the integrity of anyone who touched it . . . 
"We are still living with the catastrophic consequences of Rumsfeld and his gang [Cheney etc.]. There’s a direct line from the Iraq invasion to Syria’s civil war, along with the immense suffering of millions of civilians, and the political strain and instability caused by so many refugees to this day.
"It’s not as if this chain of events was unimaginable at the time.
"Rumsfeld himself was just about smart enough to flick at the lid of the Pandora’s box he was about to detonate. In one of his classically cryptic memos to his inner circle of warmongers in late 2001, Rumsfeld casually raised an eyebrow over the chaos he was unleashing on the world.
“'We ought to think through what are the bad things that could happen, and what are the good things that can happen that we need to be ready for in both respects. Please give me a list of each,' he wrote. 'Thanks.'
"Rumsfeld might have been talking about Afghanistan, where Kabul was about to fall and Bin Laden was ready to run for the mountains at Tora Bora. Or he might have been talking about Iraq, where Rumsfeld was already planning his war. Either way, he botched them both by failing to give a damn about the messy business of rebuilding nations after war . . .
"It was this mixture of extreme arrogance and incompetence, along with a cavalier disregard for human suffering and integrity, that was the hallmark of Rumsfeld’s short and bloody reign. His policy chief, Doug Feith, bragged about how going to Baghdad was just a milestone on the road to Tehran.
"But when Iraq fell apart, their hawkish allies in the White House turned on Rumsfeld’s team for failing to have any kind of credible plan to run a country ravaged by decades of sanctions, airstrikes and corrupt government . . .
"Rumsfeld’s victories were illusions. His defeats will outlive him. And his much-vaunted courage was a smokescreen for lies, crimes and deaths. If he was an exemplary public servant, we need to reimagine what public service actually means."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/01/donald-rumsfeld-defense-secretary-lies-crime-death

I am not a Facebook member and have not desire to join. But we all know it is not the only way to meet guys and the apps we use have been changing over time. At the end of the 1990s there was one here in Thailand mostly for Thai boys but surprisingly was almost all in English. I'm sure it was only on the internet, but it was a good way of finding very agreeable company.
For some years my two most successful Asian computer apps were fridae, based in Singapore, allegedly with 500,000 members around the Chinese diaspora, and gaydar. The former was free but you accessed the entire membership for a $49 annual fee. Living in Asia that was certainly worth it and I met many guys as a result. It was taken over from the gay guy who ran it as a commercial concern about 5 or so years ago. Now it is a shell and in its death throws. Perhaps surprisingly I found gaydar extremely good for making contacts in places like Japan and Taiwan. I may have mentioned this hook-up before - if so, apologies in advance. I have tried to find the key words on the search engine but without success.
Once planning a trip to Tokyo in the mid-2000s I spotted a lovely 21 year old on gaydar. We chatted and agree to meet at my hotel for coffee after he had finished his studies. I never like to hook up with someone first in my room as descriptions and photos are still sometimes inaccurate. So I waited for my hoped-for new friend in a corner of the lobby coffee shop. A few minutes later in walked this vision. Surely it has to be him, I thought. It was. He came and sat with me and we chatted for about an hour. Not surprisingly for those looking for foreigners on the hook up sites in those days he spoke excellent English. He told me he had recently broken up with a US sailor from the nearby Yokosuka Naval base.
He was happy to come up to my room. I was ecstatic! I was even more so when he hugged and held each other tightly. I could feel down below something which was certainly not the "medium" in the gaydar description. I told him, "Masayuki-san, that is not medium. It's not even big. Its humungous!" Clothes ripped off, I saw with my own eyes that I was right. A marvellous sight to behold - and he was not even a top! We quickly showered, played around a bit and then got down to business. Wow! What an evening. Later I suggested I take him for dinner. One of my favourite restaurants in Nishi-Azabu was full and so we went to a nice French restaurant across the road. He then came and stayed the night, as he was to do the following two nights until I had to leave. 
Masayuki was definitely boyfriend material - and more! But there were two problems. We lived in different countries and his studies were being paid by one of the Japanese large conglomerates. Six months later when he graduated, he was theirs for a minimum of five years and they could post him anywhere and everywhere in Japan they wanted and when they wanted. So as we discussed seeing each other again, we both knew we could only be together before his graduation. I made the most of it with three trips to Japan and he came to spend 8 days with me in Bangkok and Phuket. We said our goodbyes and they were tearful.
Yet we did meet up once again. Probably around 2 years later I was whiling away time in the shower area of the 24 Kaikan sauna in Tokyo when I heard someone mention my name. Who on earth can this be? It was Masayuki. But he had changed. Once he started working, he had met up online with an New York banker who visited Japan every month and was a muscle mary. He had persuaded Masayuki to join him in the gyms. In a way I was glad, because this body was not the Masayuki I had known. But that "medium" appendage was still there!
I wonder what the best apps are nowadays apart from Facebook.

So, I was curious about Facebook dating and gave it a try. People like you or you like them and if a match, you can chat. I met one guy that I thought was really cute and I wanted to meet him. We chatted for a few days and last night he came to my place for a date. We went to eat (not really as no seating but brought it back to the apartment). We chatted and had a great time. He speaks great English and is into computers and programming. He is a bit young, 20 years old, but very smart and funny. He did enjoy playing games online a bit, but that was fine. The night was great, sex was very good, and he asked for no money at all. He wants a BF. He comes to Bangkok once per week to play volleyball and asked if he could spend next weekend with me as well. I said yes. Since Jupiter Boy has left the picture, it looks like Volleyball Boy has came into the race.

As for the US: it is clearly not unable but unwilling to do so. I happened to see a press conference with the WH press secretary Psaki a month or two ago. When asked she said something like "the State Department has traditionally not provided health support to Americans living abroad. We would like to to stick to that policy." 
Traditionally that is all well and fine in the past, but then we didn't have a fucking pandemic! So there is no real reason why they don't do it. "Unable" because it has been a "traditional policy" is hardly a valid reason.
The German Embassy sent out a letter to their citizens reporting that France is doing this, but "For legal reasons, the German embassy has no way of offering vaccines or vaccinations for all German citizens." That's similar bullshit to the US excuse. Legal reasons? Can't be legal reasons in Thailand, else China and France couldn't do it. Can't be EU legal reasons either, else France couldn't do it. So must be German legal reasons. Who can do something about those legal obstacles? Hmm I wonder who that could be..... Maybe Kim Jong-Un and he is unwilling to do it? What a super lame excuse. They have been changing the law like all the time in this pandemic to set a framework to manage it, most recently to implement Merkel's big "emergency brake" which entailed massive restrictions of fundamental rights and freedoms. And they can't change some minor fine print to allow the embassy to follow the example of France? Laughable!
Ok sorry about that, */end of rant  lol

As for the US: it is clearly not unable but unwilling to do so. I happened to see a press conference with the WH press secretary Psaki a month or two ago. When asked she said something like "the State Department has traditionally not provided health support to Americans living abroad. We would like to to stick to that policy." 
Traditionally that is all well and fine in the past, but then we didn't have a fucking pandemic! So there is no real reason why they don't do it. "Unable" because it has been a "traditional policy" is hardly a valid reason.
The German Embassy sent out a letter to their citizens reporting that France is doing this, but "For legal reasons, the German embassy has no way of offering vaccines or vaccinations for all German citizens." That's similar bullshit to the US excuse. Legal reasons? Can't be legal reasons in Thailand, else China and France couldn't do it. Can't be EU legal reasons either, else France couldn't do it. So must be German legal reasons. Who can do something about those legal obstacles? Hmm I wonder who that could be..... Maybe Kim Jong-Un and he is unwilling to do it? What a super lame excuse. They have been changing the law like all the time in this pandemic to set a framework to manage it, most recently to implement Merkel's big "emergency brake" which entailed massive restrictions of fundamental rights and freedoms. And they can't change some minor fine print to allow the embassy to follow the example of France? Laughable!
Ok sorry about that, */end of rant  lol