Smiler

First met Jethro on a rugby weekend in Cornwall 35 plus years ago. He wasn't a celebrity then, well perhaps on a local scale but certainly not country wide. A few years later and one of our team had an awful accident and ended up paraplegic. Somehow or other Jethro got to hear about it and offered to do a benefit gig to raise funds. His career was really taking off by this time. The guy made a 7 hour round journey, did a 2 hour set, bought a good few rounds and made a very generous donation to the cause. Really can't speak highly enough about the bloke. Rest In Peace sir.

No No Thanks Dave. Mods let me know if you want me to make a separate thread regarding my experience or add to an existing one. Will do my best to put something together over the next couple of days.

Get a positive PCR test in Thailand and it's off to hospital whether you have symptoms or not for 10 days. My source for this information? Young Smiler, Mrs Smiler and myself have just spent 10 days locked in Ampoe Phen hospital. Really quite frightening how freedom/liberty is suddenly taken away....

I did notice there was at least one place selling SIMs in the baggage hall before you go through customs.

When I checked out the hotel gave me a rapid antigen test kit and asked me to use it in 6 days time. I am then supposed to take a photo of the results and send it via Line to the hotel. I haven't heard about this before TBH so I will do a bit of research when I get back to the village to establish if the test is mandatory. Now for a late afternoon and evening of debauchery 😇.

Just about to check out of my 1 night quarantine hotel so a quick update. I flew KLM via Schiphol from Heathrow, cursory glance at my paperwork at check in, took about 30 seconds. However they really went into detail at Amsterdam. We were late leaving because a couple of travellers didn't pass the checks and their bags had to be unloaded. Sorry I haven't any details. Swampy was no busier than the couple of times I have flown in over the last year. All very smooth till you go through customs and then just mayhem as only the Thais can do it. Utter panic and confusion with people trying to find their respective hotel reps and hotel reps trying to find their guests. I called mine while I was waiting for my bags so I knew where they were. Had to wait about 15 mins for the other 3 people who were staying at my hotel. While I was having a ciggy outside I met up with a Swedish guy who was in the same quarantine hotel as me last year. He flew via Dubai and said he also saw people refused boarding, again sorry no details. Got to the hotel and a bit of drama, an old guy who was wearing winter clothing in 34 degrees heat, passed out during the check-in process.... Got my PCR results at 6 this morning and have just been chilling in the room making arrangements for tonight. Got an amazing deal on Agoda for a room that normally costs 4k baht, special price today 995 baht. I've downloaded the morchana app as according to the nurse who did my PCR the Thailand Pass one doesn't work. Will turn it back on when I get to the hotel in about an hour. Back to the jungle tomorrow afternoon. Lots of guys over thinking the process of getting to Thailand IMHO. All this "what happens if" is pointless, take care of what you can control rather than worry over what you can't.

Turns out my Hotmail addy did work. I have just received another Thailand Pass! 🙃👍😜

I am on a re entry mate. Used my Hotmail addy for the last 2 visas I obtained, also for the previous COE process - no wucking forries 🙃.

There have indeed been some tweaks to the Thailand Pass. Notably the 2mb size limit on attachments has increased and the new limits are clearly displayed in the appropriate sections. Also confirming rumours there is now a warning at the beginning of the process about using a Hotmail addy - don't 🙃. Got mine through yesterday, going to print it and stick a photo on my phone. My first application a week ago wasn't even acknowledged, I used my Hotmail addy. Did it all again Sunday with my Gmail, instant reply to say it had been received and 48 hours later it was approved. Now l need to book a PCR test within 72 hours of departure on Thursday. Oh yeah and test negative 😇.

Only accepting jpeg at present. There are limits on the size of file as well so I have been using an image resizer. Early days yet to be fair and I would expect changes in the future. But there again...

Well I have just submitted all the required documents and completed the new Thailand Pass registration system. Absolutely no problems or glitches, very easy in fact. Wonder how long it will take for approval or if all the docs I sent are correct? I am flying 18/11.🤞🤞

I have spent a few hours looking and having a play with the new Thailand Pass site today. Looks like a number of bugs and glitches reported yesterday have been fixed but I am guessing it's far from bomb proof. The big issue is you need to complete the entire application in one go. There isn't the facility to save your progress and return to the form at a later time. No attachment can be above 2mb in size and no PDFs. So I have been printing, taking photos and then resizing the following: passport, hotel booking, covid vaccinations. I stopped at that point because I am shopping around for insurance which will cover my extended non O visa and the $50k covid requirement. Guess I will also have to photo my visa and contact details, will report back when I complete the process hopefully tomorrow.

I was with my eldest nephew and his girlfriend yesterday. Both are junior Doctors on acute medicine wards, on the covid front line as it were. He told me about a covid denier who was a patient. The guy told his family he had lung cancer. It was up to my nephew to explain to the guy's family a couple of days before he passed away that in fact it was covid. Tragic story. I asked them both how they deal with the whole covid conspiracy thing and they said when people can't handle the truth because they are basically scared by it, they will make up or simply believe anything in attempts to deny or protect themselves from what they are so scared about.

Think you will find most if not all airlines will require a test of some sort for long haul travel, direct or with a transit. As I understand it you will still need a PCR test within 72 hours of travel to Thailand and another when you arrive. Going to be interesting watching how the new Thailand arrival process unfolds over the next week or so.....

I transited through Amsterdam and it was a KLM requirement. There were no checks whatsoever at Heathrow. 99% of people at the airport were wearing masks. Was a bit of a shock to get off the national express bus at Bournemouth to find nobody wearing them. Taxi driver laughed at me when I asked, it was wonderful after almost 24 hours to take mine off and enjoy the fresh air.

Was not too bad. Absolute chaos at Dr Donna's in Bangkok getting the (negative) rapid flow test. Not sure if I want to go through that again so might pay more for less hassle at a hospital if there is a next time. Going through Swampy was an absolute breeze, simply nobody around. First time I have ever seen immigration almost empty, went down the escalator and straight up to a desk. My KLM flight originated in Philippines so there were already passengers when we boarded. Guessing the flight was around 40% capacity. Got to Schiphol 40 mins early. You have to go through a health check area where all paperwork is scrutinized, particularly the UK passenger locator forms. UK border at Heathrow took about 15 minutes but I was lucky with my passport at an e-gate, lots of other people weren't. 5 minutes wait for bags and it's all good. Got to the bus station just as a bus was departing so had to hang around for a couple of hours. Weather wasn't so bad and I actually took off a jumper because I was too warm. Last thing today was doing a pre ordered rapid flow test. No probs but the Boots reporting site was a kin nightmare - took over half an hour to upload my results. Bunch of UK tax evading twats. Next week I will start the process to return to Thailand 18/11......

Going to be in Bristol 01/11 for a funeral. Sad for sure but looking forward to catching up with the family and having a party in celebration of a much loved man.

Mate it was noticeably colder here in the jungle this morning but yeah will feel positively Baltic at Heathrow on Wednesday.

As the travel restrictions have been largely eased, I am off to Blighty for 3 weeks. Travelling on Tuesday and hope to be back here in the jungle around the 20th November. Flights are cheap enough, got KLM return for £450 though I will most likely upgrade coming back to Thailand. No need for a PCR test however I will get a LFD one from Dr Donna in Bangkok on Tuesday morning for 600 baht. When I left UK in June there wasn't the option to get a proof of vaccination other than the poxy little card they gave you. With a bit of arse ache I now have a letter of confirmation obtained from my online NHS records printed out. Booked my day 2 LFD test with Boots (£20ish) for when I am in the UK. Quite surprised at how many other providers were booked up with no availability. Boots were definitely not my first choice. Started doing the required UK passenger locator form but am unable to complete as it has to be within 48 hours of travel. From my experience, yes it's cheaper now than when I traveled to UK in February this year. Still hassle though. Who knows what the trip back to Thailand will entail..... I'll update as and when.

I am nicking that 😁

📈

📈

Revising my revised budget for the new farang escape pod. 📈

📈