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Although I prefer to regain my wellness in Bangkok, I think this proposal is a worthy idea. Now if authorities can only come to realize that the best way to make it a reality is to make Thailand accessible as it was in 2019. 'Wellness' Sandbox touted The government is set to promote Hua Hin and Cha-am as Thailand's “Wellness Sandbox” to attract health-conscious tourists from around the world. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Friday that the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (Cesa) approved in principle the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) proposal to promote the "Thailand Wellness Sandbox" for Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Cha-am district of Phetchaburi. According to the spokesman, Hua Hin and Cha-am will be touted as destinations for wellness tourism targeting tourists from neighbouring countries in Asean as well as from Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Canada. Health-related products and services in both districts will be highlighted, along with the "Thailand Riviera" campaign to attract visitors to coastal destinations in the South, Mr Thanakorn said. Efforts will be made to ensure tourists receive international-standard services, he said. Cesa also instructed TAT to consider expanding wellness promotion to other regions, Mr Thanakorn said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2251671/government-to-plug-wellness-sandbox

From richardbarrow.com Infection rate of international arrivals tested during their first week in Thailand: 1-20 January: 3.52% (139,633) Test & Go: 3.77% Sandbox: 3.78% Quarantine: 2.16% ===================================== Bangkok Airways to fly twice daily sealed-route Bangkok-Phuket flights from 1 February Bangkok, 21 January, 2022 – Starting from 1 February, 2022, Bangkok Airways will operate two special sealed-route flights per day from Bangkok to Phuket in support of the reintroduction of the Sandbox Extension programme. The two services – one at midday and the other in the early evening – will be operated by an ATR72-600 aircraft. Flight PG5275 will depart from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 12.00 Hrs. and arrive at Phuket International Airport at 14.05 Hrs., while Flight PG5279 will depart Suvarnabhumi Airport at 17.10 Hrs. and arrive at Phuket at 19.15 Hrs. The introduction of the two daily Bangkok to Phuket flights coincides with the 1 February, 2022 resumption of the Sandbox Extension programme between Phuket, Phang-Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), whereby Sandbox travellers can travel within these destinations during their first 7 days in Thailand and can stay in 3 different hotels if they so wish. Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has also approved the resumption of the Exemption from Quarantine (TEST & GO) entry scheme and the reopening of Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray – in Chon Buri, and Ko Chang in Trat as Sandbox destinations – also effective from 1 February, 2022. This means that from 1 February, 2022, fully vaccinated travellers from any country around the world can apply for a TEST & GO Thailand Pass up to 60 days in advance. Existing rules under the scheme remain unchanged, additional requirements have been introduced to ensure stringent COVID-19 precautions. Meanwhile, fully vaccinated travellers from overseas who are planning to travel to Thailand under the Sandbox programme can choose to undergo their first 7 days in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao), Chon Buri (Bang Lamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Si Chang, and Sattahip – only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray), and Trat (Ko Chang). https://www.tatnews.org/2022/01/bangkok-airways-to-fly-twice-daily-sealed-route-bangkok-phuket-flights-from-1-february-2022/

From VN Express Vietnam Airlines to resume regular flights to Europe Vietnam Airlines plans to resume regular flights to France, Germany, Russia, and the U.K. starting Monday, after a gap of almost two years caused by the Covid pandemic. The national flag carrier will operate its first flight to Europe from Hanoi to London in the U.K. on Monday and another flight from Hanoi to Frankfurt in Germany next Thursday. From February 8, the carrier will operate flights once a week every Tuesday on the Hanoi-London route and the Hanoi-Paris-Frankfurt routes every Thursday. Another once a week flight between Hanoi and Moscow is set for launch on January 29. Tet, Vietnam's biggest and most important holiday, often sees millions of migrant workers and overseas Vietnamese return to their homes for family reunions. Under current regulations, fully vaccinated people and those who have recovered from Covid-19 arriving in Vietnam only need to self-isolate for three days. Everyone, except children below two, must have tested negative for the novel coronavirus using the PCR method within 72 hours before departure. However, due to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, passengers are also required to undergo a rapid test on landing at the Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports.

When large, international banks opened their operations in Thailand, and other foreign countries, two things were different than today: most banking was conducted in person and on-line banking was generally non-existent or in its infancy. There was a not dissimilar evolution in the international airline industry. Facilitated by code-sharing and network affiliations, economies of scale changed over time. This allowed carriers to offer seamless flights involving other carriers. Code sharing did for the airlines what ATM networks did for banking.

From The Thaiger New Test & Go program draws huge criticism The revamped Test & Go entry scheme now requires overseas arrivals to stay at an approved hotel on day 1 and again on day 5 of their stay – and to take a PCR test on each day. They must Netflix and chill in their hotel rooms after each test, until they receive a negative result. However, what has many people scratching their heads is the fact that in between both tests, people are free to wander wherever they like. Test & Go does not require travelers to book the same hotel for days 1 and 5, or even to stay in the same province. Tourists can arrive in Bangkok on day 1 and by day 5, be in Chiang Mai for their second test and mandatory hotel stay. What is also not known is whether the government will consider infections detected on day 5 as imported… The new requirements have tourism operators concerned that tourists will be put off by the additional costs, especially the second PCR test. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says PCR tests on the island cost 2,200 baht. He wants that price cut to 1,500 baht, as otherwise, it could be a deterrent for people traveling on a budget. Meanwhile, มาริสา สุโกศล หนุนภักดี from the Thai Hotels Association says officials need to design a system for the new testing requirements prior to Test & Go resuming. She suggests that the second test should be dispensed with once the Covid situation improves. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-news-today-new-test-go-program-draws-huge-criticism

From Bangkok Post Phuket wary of travel call involving sealed route Authorities in Phuket on Thursday gave a lukewarm response to an idea that Covid-infected tourists with no symptoms could be allowed to travel via a sealed route. Pichet Panapong, deputy Phuket governor, said visitors testing positive for Covid-19 should be isolated in their hotel rooms, adding he had already conveyed this to the chief of the provincial immigration police who floated the idea. He said SHA Plus managers, whose role it is to ensure compliance with Covid-19 preventive measures such as vaccination requirements for service staff, were also instructed to strictly comply with the virus curbs. "For the proposed sealed route, if tourists need to go out, they may visit areas where there are no other people, like an empty beach via a sealed route. But this arrangement must be supervised by an SHA Plus Manager. "Some tourists with no symptoms might forget they are infected and visit markets or shopping malls. This is worrying. I think the best thing to do is to keep them isolated. A sealed route may be considered in some cases only," he said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2250875/phuket-wary-of-travel-call-involving-sealed-route

There is much confusion in the Thai media at the moment about the resumption of Test and Go. Articles appear to contain incomplete details or in at lest one case inaccurate details. Everything remains very fluid. From Richard Barrow's website: FACT CHECK: Someone asked me about the story in The Nation regarding the updated rules for Test & Go. I can confirm that it isn’t true that you must book at least five nights in a hotel and show receipts to get a Thailand Pass. You only have to book for Day 1 and Day 5. ========================= The language about changes in insurance requirements is ambiguous. The official Thai Pass website contains no new information. ========================== From Pattaya Mail The CCSA also agreed to reimplement the “Test&Go” scheme for vaccinated international arrivals under nearly quarantine-free conditions. Two RT-PCR tests are required on Day 1 and Day 5 of the arrival. Travelers must stay at SHA+ hotels while waiting for the PCR results. These must be paid for in advance and there will be a system in place to ensure that tourists check into hotels, especially on Day 5. One will need to only stay at the hotel until the results of their test arrive. There does not appear to be a country restriction on the Test and Go program based on the preliminary information. Upon arrival in Thailand, travelers must present receipt or booking records of the SHA+ hotels on the nights after the PCR tests. The registrations of “Thailand Pass” for entering the program under Test and Go would reopen on February 1st. You will not be able to register for Test and Go prior to this date. There was not a specific time announced for when this will open on this day. The Test and Go program will need to be officially released as law in the Royal Gazette, like all major laws, before becoming “official”. Specific regulations will also be clarified when this happens, although there is not a “promised” date or time for the release of the changes and could be anytime before February 1st. For individuals interested in Sandboxes versus Test and Go, Chonburi (Banglamung, Pattaya, Sri Racha, Koh Sichang, Sattahip(only Na Jomtien and Bang Saray) will be added. Additionally, so will Trat (Koh Chang only), and additional travel links will be opened between Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani(Koh Samui, Phangan, Koh Tao). This is effective February 1st in terms of registration, but will also need to be published in the Royal Gazette. TPN notes that with Test and Go reopening there is not a significant difference between sandbox and test and go plans, although one needs to stay at a qualified hotel for their entire sandbox stay. In other changes, high-risk contacts will now be isolated/quarantined for only 7 days versus previously having to be quarantined for up to fourteen days. They will need to have several negative rapid Covid-19 tests both before their release from isolation (Day 5/6) and after being released (Day 10). The guidelines for what entails a high-risk contact are also much more clear than before, specifying that to be considered a high-risk close contact one must have been with the positive case in question on the day of the onset of the illness or 2-3 days before the onset of symptoms in a closed place for more than 30 minutes. Not wearing masks during contact or close moments is also considered high-risk. https://thepattayanews.com/2022/01/20/thailand-covid-19-center-announces-major-covid-19-preventive-measures-changes-including-resumption-of-testgo-scheme/

From Bangkok Post Test & Go for overseas arrivals to be restored, fine-tuned The Test & Go programme will be reintroduced soon while entry rules under the scheme will be tweaked to allow close monitoring of overseas arrivals' health, said Gen Supoj Malaniyom, head of operations at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Gen Supoj, also secretary-general of the National Security Council, added that Test & Go rules need to be tightened. The CCSA is looking into ways to monitor the health of overseas arrivals during the first seven days of entry. It appears that under the tightening of the programme, arrivals will undergo two RT-PCR tests during their initial seven days, the first upon arrival and the second on the fifth or sixth day. Before the programme was suspended earlier this month due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, overseas visitors only had to spend one night at a hotel. If their Covid-19 test was negative, they were free to leave their accommodation and enjoy their holidays. Gen Supoj said the CCSA on Wednesday assessed the pandemic situation in the kingdom and found that daily caseloads, which had shot up previously, were now stabilising. The centre is considering adjusting areas with varying degrees of Covid-19 prevalence and easing some restrictions to allow greater mobility. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted measures should be modified where necessary to help revive the economy. Also on Wednesday, the Public Health Ministry suggested that overseas visitors take out comprehensive health insurance that covers all Covid-19 treatment cases. Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, the public health permanent secretary, said visitors must ensure they are fully covered for all types of Covid-19 treatments. Partial insurance coverage leaves the government to pick up the rest of the bill. So far, 100 million baht of state funds have been disbursed. "We will no longer subsidise. The visitors must buy insurance that covers all treatments or purchase additional health insurance when they arrive here," Dr Kiattiphum said. "The measure will take effect when Test & Go is reintroduced." https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2250235/test-go-for-overseas-arrivals-to-be-restored-fine-tuned

I think this clearly demonstrates that a guy who's savvy enough to understands this will never find himself desperate for work.

Coming to Bangkok since 2002 and don't think I ever booked a massage or offed a guy who wasn't smiling. You can't gag and smile at same time. ☺️

From Channel News Asia BANGKOK: Thailand expects the first leg of an 873 km high-speed railway connecting it to China to begin operations in 2026, a senior official said on Tuesday (Jan 18), three years later than planned, Phase one links the capital Bangkok to the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, about 200 km away. Phase two connects Nakhon Ratchasima with Nong Khai, bordering Laos, about 330 km further north. The second phase is currently under environmental assessment and is expected to begin service in 2028, said government deputy spokeswoman Traisulee Traisaranakul. The project comes under China's ambitious Belt and Road initiative, which aims to link the world's second-largest economy by land corridors and sea links to Southeast, Central and South Asia and Central Asia, and with maritime routes opening up trade with the Middle East and Europe. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-expects-high-speed-rail-china-2023-2442766

You seem to believe that the available options are toiling in the rice fields or selling bananas. But Thailand has been rapidly transforming into an industrialized country with many entry-level manufacturing jobs available. Working in the rice field is normally something that the whole family contributes to in the planting and harvesting seasons, but some of that labor is now mechanized. It's not the Thailand of 40-50 years ago. The options aren't as humble as you project. You twice refer to suppressing the gag reflex. You and I have obviously had very different experiences in Thailand because I've not encountered that behavior. Many are up front in setting their personal limits but so do we. If I treated an affair as a purely transactional arrangement, I would expect a mechanical and impersonal response. I've found that trying to learn a little about the guy as an individual frequently makes a difference in how he views both me and himself. It's been my experience that most of the guys I meet have much better self-images than you present here.

Chonburi may get Sandbox nod From Bangkok Post The government will lower the Covid-19 alert level and is considering easing more restrictions to boost the economy, the health minister said on Tuesday, in response to a slower infection rate. Among measures being considered are establishing more "sandbox" areas for tourists, who can skip quarantine if they stay in specified areas for seven days and undergo two Covid-19 tests. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters new sandbox areas could include Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Khon Kaen and Samut Prakan provinces. The scheme, a calibrated move to rebuild the decimated tourism sector, currently operates in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Koh Samui. Mr Anutin added that the 'Test and Go' scheme that allows free movement to tourists who pass one Covid test on arrival could be revived as soon as February. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2249539/govt-to-lower-covid-alert-ease-curbs-as-infections-slow

I meant to say EWR (Newark) to SIN. Singapore has since shifted the flight to JFK.

From Bangkok Post The government may revive the quarantine-free visa programme for vaccinated travellers from abroad, less than a month after suspending the waiver, as fears of a new wave of Omicron-driven Covid cases recede. Officials will propose lifting the suspension of the Test & Go programme to the nation’s virus task force led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2248875/govt-mulls-resuming-quarantine-free-travel-programme

Per-covid, I flew that non-stop from JFK to SIN four times. There's no getting around that it's a marathon passage. I'd be sure to get up and walk around every few hours (if you're not sleeping). The good news is that I found Singapore's customer service (in the air and on the ground) to be the best in the sky. The entertainment package will keep you occupied with a huge variety of movies and TV series. The rest rooms on board are continually cleaned. The aircraft used is the Airbus 350-900 in the ultra long range configuration, with only two classes of service (business and premium economy). The prevailing winds aloft determine the precise course you'll take. Twice the route tracked across the northern Atlantic, Europe and a host of other nations on its way into Changi, an enormous but efficient airport. Hope you enjoy thee ride. Some of the views are truly unforgettable regardless of the route actually flown.

I agree with much of what you said above but I have to take issue with assumption that "desperation" is necessarily the primary factor that drives them to taking up sex work. For most who I've encountered, the schedule and the amount of tax-free cash they can earn are the overriding factors. And not everyone is suited for the work. Those with the right skills, appearance and personality earn wages significantly higher than construction or seafood processing, the two areas that attract most of the ASEAN workers who find their way to Thailand--and are so sorely missed now. And then there's some who enjoy the ancillary benefits of free meals and travel, and the opportunity to meet visitors from around the globe they'd never have the chance to meet otherwise.

From Thai Enquirer Thailand should stop publicizing Covid numbers by April Thailand must learn to live with the Covid-19 virus and stop publicizing daily pandemic numbers by the end of April to boost public confidence and allow the country to get back to normal, a senior public health expert told Thai Enquirer on Monday. Thailand recorded 6,929 cases on Monday but just 13 fatalities. On Sunday, the number of deaths, 9, was the lowest recorded in over a year. However, one of those fatalities was from the new Omicron variant of the disease. “I think there is an understanding among health officials that the new Omicron variant is less deadly and could mean the end of the pandemic for us,” said Kanyarat Wanna-anant, a public health expert with Chiang Mai Rajaphat University. “You have to factor this in with our vaccine numbers which are increasing everyday including the use of boosters to know that the end of the pandemic is in sight.” According to Kanyarat, the economic effects of the pandemic have been much more devastating than the virus itself and the country must do all it can to boost consumer and public confidence. “The only number that matters is the death toll and it has gone done by a massive amount since last September and will continue to stay low. If it hovers around the single digits then Thailand will see more road deaths per day than Covid-19 deaths,” she said. “That means we have to reevaluate our priorities, continue to be vigilant, keep acquiring the latest technology to fight the virus but also not induce undue panic in the population.” Kanyarat says if the government were to set a target to stop publicizing numbers by April, then it would signal to the country that there is an end date to the public health crisis and that it was not a “forever war.” “Barring another variant that is more deadly, we will see the world emerge out of this shadow by the middle of this year.” https://www.thaienquirer.com/36572/thailand-should-stop-publicizing-covid-numbers-by-april/

The labor dilemmas that have have affected some western nations have now beset Thailand. From Bangkok Post Having endured the pandemic for the last two years, Thailand's workforce gradually changed over that period as many unemployed people started to run their own business or work as freelancers. More than a few companies are now lamenting they cannot find staff in time for a recovery. Migrant workers who were laid off moved back to their countries during the peak of the pandemic last year and have not returned to Thailand, partly because of enhanced border-crossing restrictions. Thailand is poised to enter a fifth wave of the pandemic, driven by the Omicron variant, sparking uncertainty over the labour force during the coming months. The labour shortage is a long-term concern and social scientists have been warning about it for years, fuelled by a decline in birth rates, an ageing population and now the pandemic. According to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the working age population in Thailand will continue to edge downward, from 43.2 million in 2020 to 36.5 million in 2040. A labour shortage has loomed over the tourism industry the past few years, but during the pandemic it was ignored because many places closed given the lack of foreign tourists, said Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association. Hotel operators are now struggling to fill vacant posts as they reopen to tourists, said Mrs Marisa. She said hospitality companies operate successfully with a mix of younger and experienced employees, as hotel services require skilled workers who can meet company standards. However, tourism workers are reluctant to return to jobs that do not provide a secure future, said Mrs Marisa. "As the tourism situation remains fluid, 50% of those who were furloughed or laid off during the pandemic decided not to return," she said. "Even though we can attract a number of young applicants, this group often does not have sufficient qualifications, particularly English communication skills that generally remain pretty weak." Mrs Marisa said in addition to a shrinking young population because of a declining birth rate, the government should pay serious attention to the quality of education for students and young adults. Positions that require English skills, such as sales representatives and front receptionists, are the most sought-after jobs, she said. Many hotels have to offer a high salary to recruit employees with potential during the intense labour shortage. Most hotels also find it difficult to recruit back-office workers that require specific skill sets, such as engineers responsible for system maintenance and IT and digital tech officers, said Mrs Marisa. Thailand depends on migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, but their numbers declined during Covid-19 outbreaks, leading to a shortage of 486,000 legal labourers. Many of them returned to their countries during the pandemic and could not easily come back to work because of strict travel restrictions, he said. "Up to 70% of migrant workers are Myanmar nationals, which Thailand greatly depends on," said Mr Tanit. "Laotians tend not to work here because their government is promoting more investments, especially from Chinese investors. A similar tendency is happening with Cambodian workers." Labour scarcity, notably in labour-intensive industries, led to a call for the Thai government to sign memoranda of understanding (MoU) with neighbouring countries to import more workers. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2248547/demographic-doomsday

The height of the balcony railing plays a significant role in accidental falls. I've noticed that many older buildings, and even some newer ones, have balconies that don't meet recommended building code of 42 inches (107 cm). This photo illustrates a man leaning against a railing that appears to be constructed at the minimum recommended height. His center of gravity is well below the railing, minimizing accidental falls.

From Channel News Asia Hong Kong suspends transit flights from most of the world HONG KONG: Hong Kong will suspend for a month transit flights from about 150 countries and territories considered high risk because of the coronavirus, deepening the global financial hub's isolation. The move comes as the city has seen about 50 cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant since the end of last year. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/hong-kong-suspends-transit-flights-covid-19-omicron-2435456

One of the reasons for the short flights were in preparation for reintroducing the A380 into service between JFK and Frankfurt, with continuing service to Singapore sometime in March. From Travel and Leisure / Yahoo Singapore Airlines Is Bringing Back A380s Singapore Airlines' A380 aircraft is set to return to New York City for the first time in almost two years. Beginning March 2022, Singapore Airlines will fly from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Changi Airport via Frankfurt on their newly upgraded aircraft. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and lower passenger numbers, Singapore Airlines' A380s — the world's largest passenger aircraft — have not flown from the U.S since before the pandemic. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/singapore-airlines-bringing-back-a380s-110100228.html

(photo: Pattaya Mail) People who have tested positive using home antigen tests (most of whom who have mild or no symptoms) converge on Pattaya's Banglamung Hospital. Here they'll be assigned to a room in the hospital, in an isolation center, in a "hospitel", or told to recuperate at home. It's easy to see how hospitals are becoming rapidly overwhelmed with the current procedure. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/long-lines-of-covid-infected-wait-at-pattaya-hospital-for-quarantine-bed-386280

In recognition of Vinapu's generous contributions that have stirred us from our covid-induced malaise:

The Health Ministry today walked back dire predictions about Omicron, suggesting it might be time to lighten up on some restrictions. However, nothing was mentioned about "test-and-go" . https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2247663/govt-mulls-easing-virus-curbs