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But it does solve the problem that is Madam Lucy

Product presenters? They can't sit with the guests? There goes Screwboys business model.

At one moment in the past 100 days, I was considering a trip to Beijing. It was a time when there were flights and the governments were speaking civility to one another. I was told I'd need a negative antigen test before departing, that when I arrived I'd take another at the airport and wait at the airport for the result - possibly a 12 hour turn around. Then I'd need to self quarantine for an unspecified period of up to two weeks - quarantine could be at a family/friend's home or an approved hotel. I didn't follow up on this, but I mention it as there are work arounds possible that should become more viable as more is learned/discovered/understood about covid-19.

I agree that there will be other polls...but the new outbreak in Beijing will make every country recalculate their welcome. The rumor was that China was under consideration as a low risk country similar to Vietnam. I'm thinking of new chairs rather than a sofa bed...

I consider this to be "pick a theory" time. So many individuals, labs, governments, day dreamers looking for a way to get back to where things were. One of the best researchers I know is having his lab look for treatments 0f covid symptoms rather than a vaccine. He theorizes a vaccine is in the not near future and then it will take time to produce billions of doses and even more time to administer. And in the interim, folks will have covid and need health care/treatments. If I dwell on this too long, I could get depressed, so, instead, I'min the Bangkok by New Years theory group! Stay well Forum members and voyeurs, (sorry, I meant visitors)

For what it’s worth, two of the Viets I know messaged me about the July 1 reopening. They are in Vietnam and indicated they are going back to Bangkok.

Patience can be such a challenge....

Being in the same age range as Reader - where international health policies will not price/sell policies that cover Covid, I suspect by later in the year health insurance will be available at BKK in the arrivals area, same as mobile phones are in the arrivals area.

31.8 at the end of May 2020

I receive a news alert when airfares to/from the SF Bay Area are lowered. I didn't opt for one when they increased... In the past weeK I've received notices of availabilities in the $400-$500 range for Viet Nam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Thailand, the UK, Turkey...the offers had to be booked within a week of the notice, but could be booked for almost anytime in the next 8 months.

I receive texts and some photos from some of the Vietnamese boys I've known for many years. They are home safely, it appears that they have work that does not compensate like the bars/massage shops. No one seems in a hurry to go back to Bangkok. They want to know if I'm ok because they news they receive is of how large a number of cases and deaths there are in the USA. It's a matter of perspective. Last week, United and ANA each offered me round trip airfares of less than $400 for anytime, but Christmas, between now and March. Tempting...but I try to be a realistic optimist (written as I'm enter week 11 of quarantine in the Bay Area). I am of an age that both puts me at heightened statistical risk today and allows me to remember being in Bangkok in the 80s. Condoms were available but usually I had to ask. I share the other posters desire to return as soon as there is opportunity and some sense of safety. Back at the end of last year, Reader and I thought we'd meet up later this November and enjoy the delights of Patpong 2. I thought that I might catch up with Vinapu this summer. (Note: Vinapu, monastery is not a good idea, as several in the US have had massive covid outbreaks). I live in Berkeley, it is a science hub, and the scientists I talk to remark on the amount of funding being channelled to finding a vaccine. Lawrence Berkeley Lab, famed for deep learning programming as well as nuclear research has redirected much of its research capability to combating covid.. Vaccines take a long time and billions of doses are required if one or more is developed. Invest in the manufacturers. A long-time friend is the head of science for a Beijing based Chinese pharma company. He told me yesterday that he and his team are focusing not on a vaccine but at drugs that would minimize symptoms - he noted that there is still no vaccine for HIV or SARS but there are medications that limit the damage potentially making the effects of the virus benign. He said many other firms are doing the same. Canada today announced successful results from a trial with ferrets, President Trump is no longer taking the lupus drug, bleach sales are holding steady, the drug companies seem to allow their early positive results get out to the world which seems to cause their market value to jump and then fall back when the trial only involved a dozen subjects. So, to sum up, I, along with the rest of us, can only wait and ,when the waiting is ending, weigh our options as to risk and reward. Reader mentions he booked a haircut, I'm still weeks away from barbers reopening here. Luckily, I have very little hair. Reader can speak for himself on the subject. And, being very bored in quarantine, I now and then wonder how Numazu is doing as was deciding between Bangkok and Brazil for April... Be well and stay well everyone.

I'm taking some pride in posting this story before Reader called it to our attention.

From Coconuts Bangkok You can't make this stuff up - https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thai-masseuses-may-soon-get-back-to-work-but-only-below-the-belt/

While there are numerous and active lab studies on a vaccine moving along to the point of beginning human trials, there is an equal or greater number of applications for testing of treatments for one or more of the symptoms/impacts of cover-19. This is somewhat similar to HIV. No vaccine two decades and more later but multiple treatment regimens.

Hope to be close on your winged heels...

Vinapu and anndy sum up my sense of the situation. With the arrival quarantines required, I’m not up to spending 4 weeks for a night in Bangkok (apologies to the musical “Chess”)

Since the USA, where I would be arriving from, has a less than stellar reputation for combatting the Covid-19 outbreak, the Thai requirement for a 14 day stay in a state facility is a deterrent that is unlikely to be waived. And, as Reader noted in an earlier post, there are ways, most at a steep discount, to travel to Thailand...but the delights of a state facility lack a certain appeal, which is Thailand’s objective.

Thanks, Reader for the updates. Unfortunately, US Treasury Secretary stated that he expects there will be NO international travel for the US until 2021.

Agree...When I was more frequently visiting Pattaya, my hotel base was (and hopefully will be) The Poseidon in Jomtien. The hotel has no business, surprise, but has taken to feeding folks. They do this once or twice a week and provide 450+ meals each time. I've decided this is a good place to provide financial support. I haven't had a direct request from any of the guys I know though I have heard from many...they complan about the lack of work but are happy to away from Bangkok where the virus is...at least it is in their minds and they don't want another quarantine. Starting week 8 of the California lockdown.

I completely agree...one shouldn't miss the ladies who lunch...

babe is posting on Instagram and TIk Tok...the Tik Tog have mor of him dancing. The tik tok link is @babe_ittiporn.

Cathy Pacific and American are offering some phenomenal pricing for west coast USA to Bangkok in the late fall I booked for the end of November. If it doesn't wok out...I';; have lost a small amount of dollars...which will be offset in the interim by thought of travel to LOS.

Thanks for your report...it is truly a delight to have a report that is pre-covid...I hope the future will bring an opportunity for this type of trip to again be a regular event.

I have a similar hope

I had an email from Heiko the owner/manager of the Poseidon Hotel and restaurant in Jomtien telling of the loss of business, the upcoming 3 week shut down, that half of the staff has been let go but others kept on. I wrote back that I would return as soon as I possible could...