traveller123

Leo, Singha or Chang?

I live in Issan. I have been registered for a couple of weeks now with an appointment for a first jab on the 23rd June. I qualified because of my age, I had to register and provide my yellow Tabian Baan (house book) and the admin lady asked me to go and get a pink Thai ID card before my appointment.- The lady registering me was very friendly and helpful, the person I needed to see for my pink ID card insisted on me and my partner, who have a UK Civil Partnership, returning with our Civil Partnership certificate translated into Thai - strange as Thailand doesn't recognise our relationship, but I got what was needed and now we'll see if I get the jab.

According to Google 6017 miles from Lancashire UK to Isaan

I am resident in rural Thailand, My partner cooks excellent Thai food but there are no restaurants serving "special occasion" western food. When I visit Pattaya or Bangkok I make the most of the opportunity to eat in restaurants serving western foods and rarely eat Thai foods. I would expect the majority of people visiting on holiday from their own countries would do the reverse.

The UK Government had no excuse for it's incompetence, they had won a 5 year term in 2019

I am very pleased they have confirmed what they told me. I do wonder about their explanation that they will open when The Local Authorities allow. Venue and Poseidon are currently open in the Jomtien Complex and I suspect The Agate may be waiting for some relaxation allowing international tourism. Incidentally if you like The Agate's Facebook page you will see they post a photo most days

Poseidon had a wine dinner last week which they told me was fully booked. I'm hoping to arrange a few days away in Pattaya in April to coincide with their next wine dinner, I'm hoping the dates don't clash with Songkran as I am getting too old to get a soaking.

My all time favourite is Cafe Des Amis, pricey but well worth it for special occasions, plus my partner loves it and he really looks good when he scrubs up for the visit. I rate Au Bon Coin, it has the feel of a French country restaurant. I always say I will leave room to enjoy the cheese at the end of the meal but I have never succeeded. Suggestions I really want to try. When we were in Jomtien at Christmas we drove out to have lunch only to be told on arrival it was booked out for a private party. I have had a couple of good dinners at Patricks. I had steak both times so I can't comment on other dishes. For a cheaper dinner we enjoy Robin Hood on second road and also rate Yupins in the Jomtien Complex

When my partner and I visit Jomtien we always stay at The Agate which is unfortunately now closed, although thankfully they tell me they will re-open when conditions allow. I then decided to check out East Suites only to find that is also closed. Has anyone anywhere they would recommend for a few night stay in Jomtien next month

Peter if you are in the UK you can find It's a Sin on Channel 4 catch up/All 4. If you are outside of the UK and have a VPN set it to the UK and search Channel 4 catch up/All 4

I suspect it is nothing to do with them being money boys or being in Thailand. I would bet that very few teen/twenty odd year old lads worldwide are using the time to read a book.

My partner and I were in Hua Hin about a month ago. We went to Guys Bar but it was very quiet, we were the only people there except for the manager and one staff. The manager was very friendly and no doubt would be glad of your custom just don't expect any cute boys

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 recently watched Fauda on Netflix and found it gripping.

@spoon I was always aware shingles wasn't classified as an STD, I have always assumed the Doctor's comment was because during the stage of open sores it can be passed on through close contact and the Doc wasn't explaining the difference between Chicken Pox and Shingles.- We were in a town in Isaan, it was 10 years ago and perhaps the Doctors there at that time were not as qualified as elsewhere. @PeterRS One thing I clearly remember it was 5000 baht for the consultation and tablets which did take me by surprise. The tablets did begin to work very quickly and there was an improvement after two or three days.

It reminded me of my partner's reaction about 10 years ago to a suggestion he had been unfaithful. We had been together about 18 months but only meeting up when I came to Thailand on holiday, he did however assure me he only wanted one partner and that was me. Anyway on this holiday we were spending time in his Isan village and when I arrived he had a bad shingles rash on his back and side. Initially he wouldn't let me take him to a Doctor at the private hospital in the city but he did go to see the village "magic doctor" who to my disgust proceeded to spit over his rash. Of course there was no improvement and after a few days he let me take him to the hospital. There we had a consultation and shingles was diagnosed. The Doctor told him (in English) that he could have caught it from other sexual partners. The horrified look on my boyfriends face has always stayed with me as he strongly denied any such encounters and he contemplated our relationship disappearing. Just to complete the story I have never in 11 years seriously thought he hasn't been monogamous. (Apologies for deviating from the main thread - the subject of which and lack of consideration for his partners I find disgusting)

Speaking personally I feel much safer here in Thailand than I would in the UK My partner and I many months ago booked tickets for a one month holiday in England beginning 28th May, which we cancelled. We accepted vouchers from Emirates in the hope we can safely travel next year

My daughter lives in California and she tells me that Whole Foods is their only local store where wearing a mask is compulsory

Londoner's/Vinapu's advice on a trial period is very important. Consider your life beyond the sexual entertainment, do you make friends easily (I live in Isaan where there are drawbacks, my partner of 11 years is wonderful but I miss having mature gay friends and meeting them for dinner at home and in restaurants), there are opportunities in Pattaya to socialise and eg to play bridge, don't laugh but do you want a dog(s) which may not be allowed in a condo.

I can appreciate the logic behind the ban. Although Thai New Year has been postponed it is reliably said and I can see it locally that many Thais from the NE living and working in Bangkok, Pattaya etc have lost their jobs and have returned to their villages in Isaan where I'm sure if they could they would still gather and have parties to celebrate the New Year In my Province the fine for selling alcohol is 100,000 baht which hubby tells me has even stopped the small village shops selling beer. IMO if it stops the spread in Isaan where there are a lot of vulnerable old people I can put up with being dry and console myself it's good for my liver and there are only 17 days to go. (Am I counting? YES I am)

You will not get that in Thailand now. The province where I live has the most stringent ban on alcohol sales in Thailand - April 2nd to April 30th

DrimVoiz you certainly know how to keep us happy in these difficult times - Thank you

I had flights booked for my (Thai) partner and myself Bangkok/Manchester departing 28th May. If I read and understood the Emirates website and ticket conditions correctly my choices were to cancel and obtain a refund with a penalty of 5000 baht per ticket or opt to receive a voucher with no financial penalty. However the voucher is only valid for one year from the date of issue. We were visiting and staying with my sister and her husband who are both 70+ with underlying health issues, I sincerely hope I'm wrong but I think the Coronavirus situation may not be resolved within a year and I took the certainty of requesting a refund with the financial penalty

Personally I would fly as little as possible at the moment. If you can cancel your air ticket without penalty I would do it, or if the price to change your flight is reasonable I would change it to 3/4 months forward when you can reassess the risk. We all need to consider that if we caught the virus we could unknowingly pass it on to relatives and others who are more vulnerable.

I haven't meet anyone in Thailand who believes the Thai Government figures