Up2u

Some more perspective. Maybe we can travel to Thailand sooner than thought.  My doctor in Pattaya said I could get the vaccine jabs in May or June with the anticipated opening of the AstraZenega plant here. Private hospitals can purchase vaccines on their own so Moderna and Pfizer should be available in August.  Can't wait. 
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404871
 

Bf likes Nara at T21. 

I'm always on the look out for good Thai restaurants in Pattaya. Somsakdi on Soi 1 is a very traditional Thai restaurant with a huge menu and generally very good food. For upmarket, I like the Avani hotel's Thai restaurant Sala Rim Nam - great setting in teak pavillions on lotus ponds. The set menus are good value and include dessert and coffee - if there are two of you, you can each have a different set menu and share everything Thai-style. The many German owned restaurants at the start of the Naklua Road just past the Dolphin roundabout, and in Naklua Soi 33, do the classic Thai dishes quite well, I particularly like Leckerle. If you're in need of western food the German set meals at these restaurants are great value, usually soup or salad, main, and desert or coffee for under 200B. In Jomtien, Surf Kitchen is a reliable and popular place for Thai food.

You clearly are unable to read, unfortunately. Look at Florida. That is as hot as it gets in Thailand for most of the year. 15,185 deaths and total of 729,000 cases - and counting.  If heat kills the virus, why is it spreading like wildfire in a very hot country like india? If the virus loves cold weather, why does New Zealand only have 25 deaths. That country, please remember, was just going in to its winter when the virus appeared. It has still not reached its summer there. 
The reason for countries like Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand, all dependent on huge numbers of Chinese tourists, having so relatively few cases is not related to weather. I wlll omit mention of your half-assed put-down re half-failed states. Instead I will again let facts speak for themselves.
Vietnam:  95.54 million population - 35 deaths
Thailand: 69.43 million population - 59  deaths
Taiwan: 23.78 million population - 7 deaths
USA: 328.2 million population - 219,686 deaths
The reasons for asian countries having vastly fewer deaths than western countries is perfectly simple. They identified and understood the threat as soon as it appeared. As early as February at least two of the above had put in place mask wearing, use of hand sanitisers, temperature checks and contact tracing. By late March, all three Asian countries locked down. In Thailand we had to use a phone app when entering and exiting every building to make tracing simple. Only take out food was available. In early May, there was a gradual opening up. Now we had to use the phone app not only when entering a shopping mall but also again when one of its eating places, shops and supermarkets.
I realise only too well how frustrating it is for so many stuck in other parts of the world who are unable to make their regular visits to Thailand. Rather than direct criticism at half-failed states, i suggest you write to your own government representatives to find out why they sat on their fat behinds and did nothing until it was too late. 

I agree. If much of the rest of the Western World had done its job , there would be many travelers who could visit Thailand .  Yes unfortunately I am a Trump citizen and not welcome in most of the countries in the world that I have visited over the last 50 years .
Talk about collapse how would you like to be a business owner in Hawaii. I'm not sure what % tourism is but I bet it is a lot larger then in Thailand . They let no one in from the other 49 states never mind any other countries , Just now talking about opening up without quarantine!

From Channel News Asia / Reuters
The Thai protest leader who emerged with a kiss

Tattep Ruangprakitseree (left) and his partner Panumas Singprom, also a member of the committee of Free People group, sit in a flat in Nonthaburi province, in Thailand, Aug 22, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Jiraporn Kuhakan)
BANGKOK: It was with a kiss that student activist Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree first took centre stage in Thai politics.
His embrace with his boyfriend at parliament as they campaigned for gay marriage rights last December shocked conservatives and stirred a social media storm.
Nine months on, the changes he now demands for Thailand are even more fundamental for the protest movement challenging an establishment long dominated by the army and the palace.
"I'm confused as to how I got here," Tattep, 23, told Reuters.
Since mid-July, protesters have been calling for the departure of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former coup leader. They want a new Constitution, fresh elections and an end to the harassment of activists.
Although there is no overall leader of the fragmented movement – and activists say they want to keep it that way – a Jul 18 protest by Tattep's Free Youth Movement unexpectedly drew some 2,500 people and helped to build momentum for almost daily demonstrations since.
"At that time, there was no one leading the protest, so I decided to do it," said Tattep, also known by the nickname Ford.
Tattep grew up in the heart of Bangkok. His father works as a delivery driver for a mobile phone app. When Tattep's mother died six years ago, they moved into one room in a shared house while he completed his studies.
"I support him because the movement is for the country: It's not only about him," said his father, Somrak Ruangprapaikitseree.
But his father worries the protests could turn violent, recalling the decade of bloody street turmoil before Prayut's 2014 coup.
Tattep said his political awareness began during those protests, when pro-establishment yellow shirts shut down Bangkok in clashes with red shirt supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
While Tattep had initially hoped to be a pharmacist, he switched to political science and graduated from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University this year.
He and boyfriend Panumas Singprom met on Tinder and realised they had been going to the same political meetings.
"We don't want to grow old and have our kids ask us, 'When the country faced injustice what did you do?'" said Panumas, who is often by his side.
Last year's election fuelled calls for change after Prayut returned as prime minister in a vote his opponents said was unfair. Prayut says the vote was fair.
As well as campaigning for LGBT rights, they set up a discussion forum on Facebook that became the Free Youth Movement – and later the Free People Movement to broaden its appeal.
"Let it end in our generation," shouted Tattep as he took the stage on Aug 16 at a Bangkok demonstration of more than 10,000 people, the biggest yet.
 

Thailand has to open its borders. Everyone understands that. There is an increasing number of state of sexual emergencies abroad,  which can only be healed in Thailand. Thailand must take seriously its responsibility towards international community. 

thepattayanews.com has posted articles and videos on the influx of domestic tourists to our fair city for the long weekend. Walking St, Soi Buakaew and Koh Larn businesses should be happy. 
 
 

France is spiking in recent days and don't forget Spain. 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/europe/france-coronavirus-cases.html&ved=2ahUKEwj9g5vo7NDrAhUFeisKHWkeBYoQFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw368YBG5F3u26w25Lm0Rxsa
Reading the various forums, I note there are are many posters giving advice to Thailand on how to deal with the virus. Looking at their own country's track record on managing (or lack of) the virus they lack any credibility. Shortly, flu season will arrive in the northern climates and with it predictions of another covid wave. In America, a forecaster the White House uses is predicting 410,000 deaths by Jan 1 with a worst case scenario of over 600k.  Think of that, hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly lost because of government mismanagement and selfish people not wearing masks and following well established guidelines. Thailand got it right; and one wonders who is the third world country, Thailand or my home country?  Trust science, be patient, vaccines will be here shortly and we'll all be traveling again. 
 

thepattayanews.com has posted articles and videos on the influx of domestic tourists to our fair city for the long weekend. Walking St, Soi Buakaew and Koh Larn businesses should be happy. 
 
 

thepattayanews.com has posted articles and videos on the influx of domestic tourists to our fair city for the long weekend. Walking St, Soi Buakaew and Koh Larn businesses should be happy. 
 
 

France is spiking in recent days and don't forget Spain. 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/europe/france-coronavirus-cases.html&ved=2ahUKEwj9g5vo7NDrAhUFeisKHWkeBYoQFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw368YBG5F3u26w25Lm0Rxsa
Reading the various forums, I note there are are many posters giving advice to Thailand on how to deal with the virus. Looking at their own country's track record on managing (or lack of) the virus they lack any credibility. Shortly, flu season will arrive in the northern climates and with it predictions of another covid wave. In America, a forecaster the White House uses is predicting 410,000 deaths by Jan 1 with a worst case scenario of over 600k.  Think of that, hundreds of thousands of lives needlessly lost because of government mismanagement and selfish people not wearing masks and following well established guidelines. Thailand got it right; and one wonders who is the third world country, Thailand or my home country?  Trust science, be patient, vaccines will be here shortly and we'll all be traveling again. 
 

I have read a number of scientific papers over recent years about SARS. The American Journal of Biomedical Science and Research stated this  
 
 
https://biomedgrid.com/pdf/AJBSR.MS.ID.001017.pdf
With SARS the world got lucky for two reasons. The period between infection and showing signs of symptoms was as early as 2 days. Then SARS was only transmitted once an infected person started to show symptoms. Testing and tracing was far easier than with covid19. Sorry I cannot speak for the other viruses you listed.
 
Most studies state clearly that early and accurate transmission of information between health authorities is vital in countering new viruses. With covid19 that has been lacking from the get go. The Chinese authorities are definitely in the wrong. The WHO were slow off the ball. Governments and health authorities around the world were equally slow off the ball. We should not forget the first known identified case outside China was discovered in Thailand on 13 January. Despite CDC alerts between January 6 and 8 about the danger of travel to and from China, general travel from China to the US was banned only on February 2 but with a large number of exceptions. Italy also confirmed the first European cases at the end of January and banned air travel from China at the same time. By then this virus was well and truly out of control.
Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong Kong were hard hit by SARS. Hong Kong has also had waves of various waves of swine flu. In these cases governments acted fast and set up departments to deal with future health emergencies. Taiwan has only had one small wave, Vietnam now two and Hong Kong three. But total numbers remain tiny compared to most other countries. At some future time I hope a lot of people around the world are going to be held accountable for the huge death toll and the coming economic catastrophes.

I know khaosod news has been forced to remove articles about the demonstrations. The ultra-royalist will not share power and I only hope my fears of an unforgiving government and violence do not come true.   Btw, for those who wish to follow the developments the https://www.khaosodenglish.com/ provides far more insight than the kowtowing Nation or Bangkok Post. Also Scottish journalist, Andrew MacGregor Marshall, banned from Thailand posts on FB and Twitter and is no friend of the government/junta. 

That is sad news, my partner and I don't often get up to Bangkok unless we are flying out on holiday but La Table de Tee served excellent food at a very reasonable price for the quality

I have just been talking with my boyfriend in Kamphaeng Phaet....it seems that coverage of the demonstrations on Thai media is very limited.
A government that could ban DMC TV as subversive (if only!) will certainly not flinch from eliminating the students from the national consciousness.
Or even eliminating the students.
 

Do not conflate a successful and public support for government covid-19 response and policy with economic recovery and anything that resembles democracy. Prayut is a dictator that serves at the pleasure of you know who. If HK style protests lead to Prayut's "dismissal" then we should all become acquainted with the name of ultrar-oyalist, Army commander-in-chief General Apirat Kongsompong. 

Do not conflate a successful and public support for government covid-19 response and policy with economic recovery and anything that resembles democracy. Prayut is a dictator that serves at the pleasure of you know who. If HK style protests lead to Prayut's "dismissal" then we should all become acquainted with the name of ultrar-oyalist, Army commander-in-chief General Apirat Kongsompong. 

NZ now has four new community transmitted cases and Auckland will shutdown again. Compare their response (and some other Asian countries) with that of America, Brazil, UK, etc. If only America had a leader who would lead and take responsibility. 

I hope you are right but we must not forget history and only have to go back 100 years and study the Spanish Flu. Four waves and it mutated over several years and killed 50 million and 675,000 Americans. We are still in first wave and some are forecasting 300,000 by November. Just think flu season isn't even here. 

Not really. My buddy plays this game with United and EVA. They let you book RT ticket but a week or two before travel dates they cancel (with the option of full refund or change dates). This has happened five times during covid-19 crisis. 

The two English language Bangkok papers  share  a smug acceptance of the status quo with   all its indignities and cruelties. Of course it is alarmed by any signs that Thais who aren't part of the elite may rise-up again and claim their country back. I lost all respect- not that I had much before- for their response to the massacre of the Red Shirts. Some dead bodies just don't count.
Thai Lives Matter. Even  those of  working class Thais and the young.
 

somebody needs to tell Bangkok Post and other than real change always involves 'crossing the line", be it abolition of slavery, introducing 8 hours work day and welfare state not to mention gay rights or even relatively trivial changes from imperial to metric or direction of traffic from left to the right like Sweden did in 60-ties  , first for trucks and few months later for all other traffic

all 4 countries named above have leaders they freely voted for so one can say they have what they asked for. It looks NZ chosen wiser and is reaping benefits.
Positive effect of covid may be  to sweep   aside wave of irrationality in world's politics in recent years.