Report from Thailand

[Pinetree]

Hi everyone.  Not sure if anyone will be particularly interested, but here is an update from us folk 'stuck' in Thailand.  Actually being stuck here has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the Thai approach to Covid 19 has been , shall we say, pragmatic. The month long alcohol ban has now been lifted. Provided you wear a mask and keep 2m between you and other folk,  life is slowly returning to normal.  Internal travel restrictions have been eased and although the international  borders are shut both ways, that is not too much of an inconvenience.  Restaurants and coffee shop can open, with appropriate distancing measures in place.  Bars are still shut, as are gyms, but all is easing off nicely.  I must say that, in general, I'm impressed with the way that the Military government  has dealt with this issue.  Much better that being in the UK,  which sounds like a nightmare. Perhaps staying here is not such a bad idea after all, we will see.  Hope you folk in the PI are okay and coping well?  

[hk blues]

On 5/6/2020 at 4:31 PM, Pinetree said:

  Much better that being in the UK,  which sounds like a nightmare. Perhaps staying here is not such a bad idea after all, we will see.  

With all respect, it depends on your situation. The UK has been paying 80% of salaries - absolutely astounding level of support. Even our friends over the pond haven't come close to matching that.

I don't know what your govt. has done but if it's anything like the 70 quid, a few kilos of rice and some tins of sardines then it's fallen short. 

Sorry to be so direct, but the UK has stood by its people in the economic sense thus far and deserves some credit. The UK surely screwed up the initial response to the virus, but I'm not buying the idea that SE Asian governments have suddenly acquired a level of competence hitherto unseen.

Anyhow, good to hear your situation is stable - for most of us foreigners here it's not so bad.

Stay safe!

 

[Old55]

6 hours ago, hk blues said:

With all respect, it depends on your situation. The UK has been paying 80% of salaries - absolutely astounding level of support. Even our friends over the pond haven't come close to matching that.

I don't know what your govt. has done but if it's anything like the 70 quid, a few kilos of rice and some tins of sardines then it's fallen short. 

Sorry to be so direct, but the UK has stood by its people in the economic sense thus far and deserves some credit. The UK surely screwed up the initial response to the virus, but I'm not buying the idea that SE Asian governments have suddenly acquired a level of competence hitherto unseen.

Anyhow, good to hear your situation is stable - for most of us foreigners here it's not so bad.

Stay safe!

 

Thanks Pinetree. Interesting to know of your first hand experiences in Thailand. Stay safe!

HK, not calling you out just a FYI. Many here in the US are receiving more every week from unemployment and the bonus payment than their regular salaries and few are looking forward returning to work. I am pleased the UK government has looked after those needing support.

[Jollygoodfellow]

On 5/6/2020 at 4:31 PM, Pinetree said:

The month long alcohol ban has now been lifted

That depends where in Thailand you are.  Some parts just like here the local government has still not lifted the alcohol ban so wherever you are you are lucky.  

[Pinetree]

4 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

That depends where in Thailand you are.  Some parts just like here the local government has still not lifted the alcohol ban so wherever you are you are lucky.  

30km outside of Pattaya, in the countryside of Rayong Province.  

[hk blues]

9 hours ago, Old55 said:

Thanks Pinetree. Interesting to know of your first hand experiences in Thailand. Stay safe!

HK, not calling you out just a FYI. Many here in the US are receiving more every week from unemployment and the bonus payment than their regular salaries and few are looking forward returning to work. I am pleased the UK government has looked after those needing support.

Thanks Old55 - I wasn't really trying to suggest the US government wasn't doing enough, just trying to emphasise how much the UK government is doing.

My post didn't read the way I intended.

[Old55]

40 minutes ago, hk blues said:

Thanks Old55 - I wasn't really trying to suggest the US government wasn't doing enough, just trying to emphasise how much the UK government is doing.

My post didn't read the way I intended.

Thanks for understanding I was not being critical of you or how UK was supporting it's citizens.