macaroni21

Vinapu was prescient! Why, I wonder, was Boyztown alive on Wednesday and dead on Thursday? Tea money still pending? Or was Wednesday's street show not actually within the rules?

The blue new location doesn't look like it can seat more than 6 patrons....

The picture above is just click bait, but the video itself is interesting in its own way. Perhaps those more familiar with the non-touristy parts of the city can tell us where it was filmed. It has English subtitles (I think machine-translated but good enough to get a sense of what it's about).

Here's reason to keep it up well into our senior years, helped by Viagra. A roaring sex life keeps you young in more ways than one Viagra could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, study finds US scientists say users of sildenafil – the generic name for Viagra – are 69% less likely to develop the form of dementia than non-users QUOTE: They found sildenafil users were 69% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-sildenafil users after six years of follow-up. To further explore the drug’s potential effect on Alzheimer’s disease, researchers developed a lab model that showed that sildenafil increased brain cell growth and targeted tau proteins, offering insights into how it might influence disease-related brain changes. The findings were published in Nature Aging. Cheng cautioned that the study does not demonstrate a causal relationship between sildenafil and Alzhemer’s disease. Randomised clinical trials involving both sexes with a placebo control were needed to determine sildenafil’s efficacy, he said. Dr Ivan Koychev, a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, said it was “an exciting development” because “it points to a specific drug which may offer a new approach to treating the condition”. Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/06/viagra-could-be-used-to-treat-alzheimers-disease-study-finds?fbclid=IwAR3NFEtwUhC0QY_oSMAYCwXZX-kTtMz4Hvxj81fs4Lf0-3-oQyXfEDkOp0o

You mean "lateral" is the Thai pronunciation of Ra (pid) An ti ge(n) test?

Proposed Menu: Pizza: - Marinara - Quattro Formaggi - Neapolitana - Carpaccio - Prosciutto e Funghi Pasta: - Al tonno - Arabiatta - Carbonara - Bolognese Dessert: - Nui - Ton - Beer - Wut - Sao - Golf

Regardless of how any of us might think we shouldn't overreact to the Omicron variant and try to carry on as usual, particularly in our plans to travel to Thailand, the fact is that it is not something entirely within our control. News from many countries are of borders slamming shut again, or quarantines being demanded. Japan is barring entry of all foreigners. Morocco is banning all incoming flights. Who knows how many countries will follow? Airlines will be watching and adjusting their flight frequencies. I will predict that singling out southern Africa will prove meaningless. The variant has already reached many other places as the rising number of reports of Omicron being found here and there, in just the last few days, attest. So, if governments are of a mind to close borders or require quarantine, it won't be restricted to travellers coming from or through southern Africa. Of special cooncern is this report in the South China Morning Post (and elsewhere)that says Omicron has some 43 mutations in the spike protein compared to the original virus and compared to 18 mutations in the Delta variant's spike protein. Since the mRNA vaccines were developed to target the spike proteins of the original virus, this may mean reduced effetiveness of vaccine protection for those who have been vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna. It's to early to be certain -- no doubt we will hear more shortly -- but the big bad news is if the answer is "yes, noticeably reduced effectiveness", then we can expect more border control measures as countries try to protect their domestic populations while waiting for modified vaccines.

Read the fine print: "Visa on arrival is not available yet and Foreign travelers are required to apply visa from Royal Embassy or Consulate general of Cambodia in the host country." So, while it might not be similar to the Thai Pass, there is still an online application to be made for visa. This may be an existing and proven system, in which case the bugs would have been sorted out long ago, or it may be new. And does anyone know where to find out more about the differences among A B C K T E visas? Which countries qualify for "exemption visa"?

Such a plan may well draw domestic tourists; this market doesn't need the bars that farangs frequent. Even in the past, how often did we see Thais in the bars?

What's missing from Richard Barrow's stories is whether the featured persons had been vaccinated. Quite possibly the response protocol is differentiated by vaccination status of whoever tests PCT-positive. Also missing is that there is no second PCR-test to check if the first was a false positive??? I have long been concerned that this is the hidden side of Thailand trying to promote tourism. Much of the communication that I have seen stress this part: "If you test PCR-negative on arrival..." and then speaks of sandbox freedoms or reduced quarantine. Missing from the communication is any clarity about the other limb of the "if" statement. If not, then what? It's like a sales pitch for Bog-Sod Airlines. "If we take off on time, load your bags onto the same plane, and our pilot is not inebriated, then we will arrive at Paradise Beach by noon ..."

How brilliant! They deserve a prize. No, wait, they deserve a visit.

You'll have to take the Skytrain (BTS) to Saphan Khwai Station. If you're starting from Saladaeng station, that will involve a change at Siam station. the Gbeat website has a map but it's in Thai, so I have attached an equivalent map in English. It shows Gbeat Massage to be only 100 metres from Saphan Khwai station -- far closer to the station than most other attractions of the area. My question is a different one. I think I know what "H.173" and "W.60" means, but what would "S.52", "S.54" or "S.56" mean? I also notice that the website speaks of a promotion that ended in April 2021. It has not been updated since then, so one naturally wonders if it is still open. On the other hand @TotallyOz shared pictures of the guys above and he must have got them recently, perhaps from their Line account?

I am not referring to the users of parks, who may indeed include those less well off. I am referring to the street vendors, food cart operators and ordinary folks living in squatter colonies some miles from the proposed Chong Nonsi Park. Have you seen food sellers pour away unfinished soup into drains and wash their utensils by the side of same drains? I have, all the time. Have you seen toy vendors throw plastic wrap onto the ground, which then gets blown into drains? I have. Have you ever had a hard time finding a rubbish bin so that you can throw away your empty drink can responsibly? I am sure many of us have. When the municipality fails to provide basic sanitation amenities (clean water and sewage connections for squatters, to begin with) people do what they must. And then all that stuff drifts down canals and khlongs to the same parks that city planners imagine. I am not pointing moral fingers at those who have no choice but to live on the sidewalk or carry on their trades there. I am just stating a reality of poverty. But the downstream reality that follows is that somebody then has to take care of the rubbish in the waterways. I don't know how many board members have taken the Khlong Saen Saeb boat starting from near Pratunam and that goes all the way eastwards to Lat Phrao and Bangkapi. If you have you would have noticed the water - seated on the boat, you'd just be 30 cm from the virually black surface - and kept your fingers crossed you don't fall into it. Even being splashed would be most unwelcome.

The Cheonggyecheon stream has two advantages which the Chong Nonsi canal does not have. The first is that Cheonggyecheon stream runs down a slight incline, thus the water is never stagnant, and running water has a very soothing effect. The second advantage is that the stream sits in a bit of a valley about 6 metres below the road level on either side. So, when one is walking alongside the stream, one is physically cut off from the parallel roads, and traffic noise is reduced. In addition to the maintenance issue that z909 has referred to, I also doubt if Thais have the same social discipline as Koreans not to keep putting trash into waterways. Even if those appreciating the park demonstrate that discipline, thousands more upstream of it may not. As a poorer society, more of them spend their lives or carry out businesses on the street. This makes the burden and cost of cleaning and maintenance higher. I wonder as well if they're going to create more pedestrian crossings from the sidewalks along Narathiwat Road, otherwise it will be difficult and dangerous to get to the proposed park. But then, creating pedestrian crossings will annoy drivers -- the hi so on which most Thai governments depend on for support.

Don't forget to have your passport in hand too. They need to add the passport number onto the yellow card.

New data released in the last month or so seem to show that for good effect, Sinovac (also known as Coronavac) needs a 3-dose regime, with the 3rd dose about 6 - 8 months after the second dose. From https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210810005405/en/SINOVAC-Announces-Positive-Data-on-Booster-Shots-of-CoronaVac®-Induces-Strong-Immune-Response-in-Adult-and-Elderly-Populations "A third dose given 6 to 8 months after the second dose quickly induced a strong immune response, and the neutralizing antibody titers at day 28 after the third dose increased by three to five times higher than the levels recorded on day 28 after the second injection. " Also reported in https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-university-reveals-findings-of-3-dose-efficacy-of-sinovac/news Tell your friend not to despair. Just try to get a third dose 6 - 8 months after the second.

How are you able to ensure that?

Wasn't DMK the base for Air Asia? Is that airline no longer flying?

So the lucky Americans would be those vaccinated in Thailand Here's a sample image of this card which, as Peter RS says, states nationality, passport number etc: Now, here's the CDC covid vaccination card issued by private parties doing vaccination in the US: Is it possible for Americans to go back to their vaccinator and ask for a yellow card certifying Caovid vaccination? Would that work for Thailand immigration? On top of everything, here is a story from NPR about the availability of fake vaccination cards in New Jersey/New York: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/09/01/1033337445/fake-vaccination-cards-were-sold-to-health-care-workers-on-instagram

I won't underestimate the pushback from segments of the Thai elite who are embarrassed by the thought of Thailand as an entertainment destination. These folks may be living in cloud cuckoo land, but I have a met (and been alarmed by) a few who seriously want to shut down this side of the country's tourism sector. They genuinely think that the whole world values Thailand for its cultural attractions such as temples and elephant parks. The government will have to navigate the demands from this group who (taking advantage of the Covid situation) want to use the opportunity to permanently re-orient the tourism sector - the same way we always have voices about making Pattaya a wholesome family destination. They may not succeed, but they're not giving up. I would also anticipate the health ministry guys warning the prime minister that the country is not fully ready to open entertainment venues. They may not be speaking merely of tourism but of the Covid risk to the general population. After all, 99% of bar patrons across Thailand will be Thais. Bangkok Post recently had a story https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2199995/no-need-to-halt-boosters-for-sinovac pointing out that there is still a debate about whether to proceed with booster shots for those who have had two doses of Sinovac. There is recognition that the ten million who have received two SInovac jabs so far have "less capacity to fight against the dominated Delta variant, so it's now advised that a booster dose is required, largely from AstraZeneca, to increase immunity." Yet, they haven't quite rolled out the booster programme. So I can imagine the people in the ministry of health saying "Not so fast....."

It will be interesting to know whether the Thai agency succeeded eventually. Maybe it's mentioned in the programme, but I didn't watch more than 6 - 7 minutes of it. Americans will probably have the hardest time (among developed countries) navigating vaccination requirements for travel, because in the US, vaccination was outsourced to all manner of private parties (including pharmacy chains) each of which maintained its own database. As this guy said in the programme, he was lucky in that Maryland is one of the few states that maintain a State-wide register of vaccination. Trouble is, does a Thai bureaucrat even know what "Maryland" is? He probably looks up a register of countries and discovers there is no such sovereign country as "Maryland". This guy on the programme assumes that anyone in the world would know that if you're from Maryland, you must be from the US. This guy is also assuming that just because he is holding a passport of a country, he must surely be a citizen of that country. This is not quite true. Some countries give out passports to non-citizens, so (in defence of Thai authorities) it is not ridicidulous to ask specifically what one's nationality is, as a separate question from passport. The third thing I noticed is that the guy was waving all sorts of paper certificates. Some countries do not accept paper certificates (due to risk of fake certs) and want digital certs from reliable (preferably national) authorities. Here again, Americans may have hte hardest time due to a lack of a centralised database containing all the needed information. In India, I heard that fake vaccination certificates are available for only 40 Rupees (about $0.53). On this note, I wonder about Thailand's aspiration to attract Indian tourists as part of its reopening.

I agree. They are too complicated. I too will wait. I am pretty sure that in a couple of months the rules will change again, more likely in the direction of further loosening than tightening. Don't see the point of dealing with these complexities right now.

This is any "IF" question: What happens if the PCR test conducted on arrival is positive? Is one bundled off to a hospital? Or is a further quarantine period imposed, staying where? Another question: What if someone on the same flight tests positive?

I believe Cambodia is mostly using Chinese vaccines, with some Astra Zeneca, so its high vaccination rate my not be as re-assuring as it could be. Notwithstanding that, Cambodia is a viable alternative if Thailand does not open up soon. The only downside is that Phnom Penh doesn't really have enough attractions (our kind of attractions) to justify more than a quick 3 or 4 day visit. I don't know about Siem Reap, but from what I've read, no better than Phnom Penh.

Daydreaming! Using Maldives as comparison, as z909 did, we can see how unrealistic this TAT strategy daydream is. In 2019, Maldives had a grand total of 1.7 million tourists who spent an average of 4 nights in the country. Each visitor spent about USD1,862 per person for his/her holiday. (see https://www.worlddata.info/asia/maldives/tourism.php). However, the average spend per tourist has been flat or declining for the last 5 - 6 years, pre-pandemic. In 2014, the Maldives got 1.2 million tourists spending an average of USD2,333 per person. This seems to suggest that Maldives had only been able to grow its tourism numbers by attracting lower-spending travellers. Other articles on the web described a national plan to promote smaller guesthouses. The island country might have discovered that there was a limit to how many high-spending tourists would be prepared to go there, despite Maldives long-established high-end reputation. Yet Thailand imagines it can get about 32 million by 2023, each spending 82,000 baht (USD2,440). Are there even 32 million potential tourists anywhere in the world prepared to spend this kind of money on a Southeast Asian destination? (Don't compare with Italy or France -- these countries have far greater cultural pull than Thailand and people expect to pay developed country prices while there).