1 hour ago, fygjam said:

Well if you've been vaccinated then all the rest is irrelevant.

 

5 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Agreed but it is a first that he appears to be concerned for those around him lol.

Nope to both.

My point is, why ask it to visitors and not to the people who are going to handle the visitors ?

So, vaccine is gonna be the miracle solution . OK.

Country "X" requires all visitors to be vaccinated. If I really want to go, I will take the vaccine.

But than I can expect :

- The cabin crew of my flight to be vaccinated, or pass a Covid test every 2 week.

- Same for the hotel staff in that country.

- Same for all the restaurant staff, etc ....

You see, there is no limit to stupidity. 

Even without speaking about the vaccine, I am asked a negative Covid test less than 3 days old.

So what about all the staff above ? Do they pass a test every 2 week ?

The whole thing is completely ridiculous.

16 hours ago, Esco said:

That's a lot of money for a bit of sand to improve a beach that doesn't need much improvement. 

It's not the sand that is expensive. It are the "commissions" .....

4 minutes ago, fygjam said:

I don't think a yellow booklet with easily forged rubber stamp and signature are going to cut it in 2021 and beyond.

 

Given the number of vaccines which will probably be available, is each country going to "recognize" every vaccine. e.g. Perhaps Thailand will only recognize vaccines produced by Chinese pharmaceutical companies. Your Moderna or Pfizer vaccination ain't worth spit.

 

 

I mean mandatory in the country of destination.

Same as before, living in France  where vaccine "x" was not required but if you went to work to a country where is was required you had to take it.

16 minutes ago, Esco said:

I've had a yellow booklet ever since I first went to the tropics 15 years ago and got my vaccinations. Not sure its the same in the UK? I've always had travel insurance as well which doesn't seem to be the norm in the UK either. 

Thing is that nowadays very few countries require a mandatory vaccine, and so the thing has become a bit obsolete.

If I remember well, I had it Saudi and Egypt in the 80's.

After that I never had a vaccine. 

But sure this would be the simpliest way to go as this booklet is already internationnally approved by many countries.

Insurance, I was covered by a generous company insurance, including rapatriation, so I never had to worry about that.

1 hour ago, Nightcrawler said:

I am wondering whether they will issue a certificate or even a vaccine card. Otherwise how will people be able to show reasonable proof on entry to Thailand or at the airport of departure? They should have some sort of database. 

With the flu jab, apart from GP records, there is no evidence of having the vaccine. 

If you were a seasoned expat, you would know it exists since 50 years.

Google "international vacination booklet" or "carnet de vaccination international"

24 minutes ago, dcfc2007 said:

I'm hoping that with people due to receive the new vaccine anyday now, it should be a case that if you can prove vaccination you are allowed to enter Thailand without quarantine or restrictions, same for any country really. 

That would require a lot of cooperation and bilateral agreements.

Ain't gonna happen in 2 or 3 months !

1 hour ago, Sangsom said:

Think they are just fold up bikes aren’t they?

IMO yes, considering the folding wheel. But seeing the size of the wheels I called them mini.

I had a look, and seeing the quality and finition it are definitively not some Chinese shit.

Will try to make a few closer pics tmrw.

A group of mini bikes fans at the resort since yesterday.

Obviously not poor people as they had their bikes trucked in from Jakarta. And here those things are not cheap to start with !

They plan to drive all around Bali during a week.

And, no I dont participate... Hell I would look like Pancho Villa on one of those things ....

3 hours ago, Zeb said:

COVID-19 May Cause Erectile Dysfunction

‘Although COVID-19 treatments have improved and a vaccine is on the way, even a mild case of the virus can cause long-term complications — including the possibility of erectile dysfunction. Infectious disease expert Dr. Dena Grayson joined LX News with a warning not to let our guards down as we wait for a vaccine.’

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/lx/another-reason-to-wear-a-mask-covid-19-may-cause-erectile-dysfunction/2621114/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_PHBrand

As the age at risk is 65 + I dont think that will be their major worry....

Interesting read for all who dream a vaccine will solve everything in a few month .....

Keep on dreaming....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-b6360f40-84f9-469b-b6a3-a4568e161c4f

1 hour ago, code_slayer_bkk said:

Like RCA ( Route 66, Onyx, TopOne and BabyFace clubs are there

Plenty videos on those places on Youtube. And indeed the girls quality is a complete different standarx...

Now, that's how I see a Songkran festival !

Hell, even at my age I could get stoned with simply the music and a few JD at the bar ....

The last very nice bottle I had. 

It having travelled from France to HKG, and then to Bali I feared it would have turned in Porto, but no, it was absolutely perfect.

Shared with 3 friends, French, Swiss and Belgian.

And with a nice foie gras....

Now back to local stuff.....

Imported wine prices are crazy here due to taxes.

When a big pharma company halves it deliveries plan and admits having some issues, you can be sure it are serious issues.

Or that their previous promesses was B.S.

Report: Pfizer to halve COVID-19 vaccine deliveries

Interesting article on the subject :

Part 1

https://asiatimes.com/2020/06/why-ai-isnt-nearly-as-smart-as-it-looks/

Part 2

https://asiatimes.com/2020/06/algorithm-approach-limits-artificial-intelligence/

1 hour ago, Horizondave said:

Everybody here who seems depressed has a family so I would hope that support and togetherness should be enough to see boredom or depression a distant thing

I had 2 "family" lives. One in France for 7 years 1 kid, one in Thailand 15 y 3 kids.

Now I have a companion. Different. Very different.

4 minutes ago, tommy dee said:

i too have lived all over the world but year 12 hear or 13 and still dont regret it.  settled to the life here and reached the phase where you accept what happens and find a work around.  no more wanderlust for me I think.  but i do have far to much to keep me busy to even think about monotony 

Agreed. But I know  I have a problem with accepting aging, which is a part of the issue.

Another part is being retired.

There are moments, where I am thinking "So, this is it now ? I am going to live like this, gently waiting to die ?" 

Its not a bad life, but I struggle accepting it. 

A social circle of mates is difficult, mainly because most retirees are Aussies  and lets say that culturally we have nothing in common.

They where on the table at least once a week when I was a kid, normal as we lived in Belgium. A menu like porkchop, boiled potatoes, and sprouts ...

There were a regular vegetable during my Navy days.

Banned on my table ever since ! 

Bored her also.

The place i live has always been a quiete beach town, and I choose it for that.

But now with zero tourists, 80% of the bars and restaurants have closed and the open ones are deserted..

Add to that that I am attacking my 4th year here, and for somebody who has always been.on the move it's becoming very monotonous.

And the Miss feels the same, it doesn't help !

But I know that I cant really complain, millions of people are much worse off.

My goodness, what a load of bollocks and debility.

Rules more strict than during WW 2 !

And everybody happy and applauds with both hands FFS ....

Happy to live here, far away from this madness ! 

Christmas is a family event, so at home with the Miss.

N.Y evening to be seen, but with nearly everything closed here maybe a few drinks out, but sure will not be party night.

Havent been really sober since 1 week...

Never really drunk, but in that semi stage . Really love it ! f**k, life is too short to take it seriously !

Enjoying being bachelor for 2 weeks ! 

But I am getting old, there would have been a time I would have had a dozen of "visitors" ...

7 hours ago, Glasseye said:

Have you ever worked more than a 2 day stretch ?

Oh yes, and in the sun and the snow, under the rain, but always with a smile....

8 hours ago, Washedup said:

Mate just txt me hes daughter NHS nurse got her booking for the Pfizer vaccine jab in 2 weeks...really glad for her..mate says she hasn't had a day off since early September 

Come on ....