Yes as i understand it, but checking the UK embassy site there is nothing on this and it just talks about services when flights resume - Thainess. I cannot see me getting across until next year and given COVID rates climb in the colder months Thailand will shut down entry to any country with significant infection rates then this could be late spring. Oh well.
Sorry Mendip, back to your trip.
Not at all... it's all relevant.
A second wave in the UK is my nightmare but from what I've seen it would seem inevitable. That could prevent me visiting the UK... or if I did, not being welcome back on a Norwegian boat.
I have a friend with an apartment in Haugesund, Norway, and I've already sounded him out about using the spare room.
He, incidentally, lives in Samut Prakan and has been unable to return to Thailand since he went offshore in Norway back in February...
Anyway... I'm not even there yet!
My hotel approaches and I'm hoping for my first pint of Thatchers Gold within the hour.
Off comms...
And most of those hotels that do quarantine are fully booked right now...
^ i think he should put himself at our disposal, he should let us direct his itinerary for the next two days
Again, good luck to you & yours, mendip. With this covid thing, most things (jobs, travel) are uncertain.
It's similar circumstances in PI. At the moment, only Filipino citizens are allowed, as well as their spouses & dependents (must provide docs of marriage or having a PI parent at check-in). Diplomats are also allowed, but ordinary tourists aren't. By August, the PI govt will allow those with existing long stay visas to enter (e.g. SRRV or special resident retirees visa, also those with work visa). No issuing of new visas until further notice.
I've watched a vlog of a British family (8 miles from home) who opted to stay in Siargao Island during the lockdown. They renewed their tourist visas recently. In their vlog, they said that they encountered a German guy who was a long term tourist (wasn't married, but was in a relationship). German guy was at the end of his 3-year stay (foreigners can stay in PI for 3 years with just visa renewals in country, then they have to leave the country before 3-year period is up). German guy was in a dilemma because he needs to leave the country. But if he leaves, it's unknown when he'll be able to come back since the country isn't allowing foreign tourists yet. The immigration officer told the German guy that he could overstay (and pay fines later) or leave the country indefinitely. German guy chose to stay.
Tell her that farts are the ghosts of the animals we eat.
^ Seems a bit cruel. She spent her first six years believing that ice cream sellers only play music when they've run out of ice cream... and she's never really forgiven me for telling her that.
The brief hiatus in my commute yesterday started as planned...
But the cider didn't taste quite right... and with a couple of long haul flights coming up I'm taking no risks, so switched to Tiger.
I even made a new friend... and we spent a lot of time wondering how both of these glasses hold the same amount of liquid. I've been missing these highbrow conversations locked down in Isaan!
And then, as things were going nicely, my agent called around 9pm and spoilt it all. He told me the boat I'm due to join is insisting on a Norwegian STCW medical certificate, which I don't have. The OGUK medical has covered all my work for years, including in Norway, but each vessel has it's own rules and it was just a shame they hadn't realised I had no valid medical until this late on. They weren't going to accept my OGUK.
This put a dampener on the evening as it looked as though I'd have to still fly over but stay in a hotel to get a medical and not join the boat until the the next crew change a week or so later. The company would cover costs but no day rate (a sign of the times). On the off chance I sent a drunken email off to the doc at Bumrungrad and then slowed the drinking down... just in case...
On the bright side, you survived the first night of your brief hiatus, alone in Bangkok.
At 7:30am I had an email on my phone saying no problem... come in and get the medical... a result! But I was wishing I hadn't drunk quite so much yesterday...
So off I went... Day 2 of my commute to work wasn't really panning out as planned.
For anyone interested, a Doctor Vatana at Bumrungrad is certified to carry out the OGUK offshore medical, and as I've now discovered, the Norwegian STCW offshore medical.
After making an appointment you need to head to Floor 16 of this building.
There were strict social distancing instructions in the lift... but I've always been a rebel at heart!
A nice view from up there...
And not such a nice view... the only difference between the Norwegian and the OGUK medical is that the Norwegians specify a chest X-ray.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the future of Covid 19 I decided to renew my OGUK medical as well, as I was there, even though it had six months to run (so Headworx spotted that one!). Easy money for Bumrungrad... one set of tests carried out, charge for two certificates. I passed both, and yet again am thankful that the offshore medicals are no-where near as strict as they used to be thanks to the aging industry.
For less that 7000 Baht I'm good for work for another two years, Norway and elsewhere. That would have cost an awful lot more in Norway.
^ Result, now back to Suki beer and nosh reviews.
^ Seafarers have been given some kind of dispensation from quarantine and stuff provided they go directly to board a vessel on arrival in Norway, but I don't really know what to expect on Sunday. I'm sure they won't be getting a lot of travellers from SE Asia at the moment.
Day 2 of my work commute came back on track. Despite Bumrungrad's scales indicating I've achieved a lifetime peak in body weight I decided that passing two medicals in one day meant I could relax a bit on the diet. And besides, when they weighed me I was wearing a heavy pair of jeans with a pocket full of change from last night.
I returned to the Tiger... not risking the draught cider again, although I'm sure it would have been OK. One problem with cider I've found is that it doesn't mix kindly with other drinks and I've a half bottle of Ya Dong in the room I brought down from Korat. Unhealthy nachos for a late lunch.
And another fine view of this beautiful city... all of this was produced not five miles from where I grew up.
Strangely for me I decided on Thai for dinner, and this street place in an alley immediately before Suk Soi 39 is superb.
A view from Sukhumvit Road...
And the reciprocal view.
It would usually be packed out early evening but the rain must have put people off. The traffic was jammed... I had a silver Toyota trapped next to me for at least 30 minutes while I was eating. Would drive me nuts.
And dinner... larb moo, two other moo dishes and some kind of a som tam.
The highlights... my favourite larb moo.
And another moo that was superb.
And breakfast to boot!
The food is fantastic and I love eating on the street, watching it all pass by.
But I wouldn't advise turning up with a full bladder after a belly full of Tiger...
Tomorrow my commute resumes... it's off to Swampy.
Last edited by Mendip; 24-07-2020 at 07:46 PM.
Early night, early start? safe journey.
^ Early night... late start!
After my brief Bangkok stopover to break up the journey my commute came back on track today, Day 3.
But first a last decent meal in the Robin Hood...
And my last cider for some weeks before I left the hotel...
I arrived at Suvarnabhumi more than 4 hours before the flight time tonight because I had no idea what to expect.
There was no problem crossing the road to the terminal. This at about 21:30 on a Saturday night. The last time I saw the airport this quiet was when I flew in the day after one of the coups.
The departure hall was deserted...
There was a big group of people camped out here...
And they turned out to be a horde of Thai farm workers off to Doha... on my bladdy flight. Somehow I found myself at the back of a huge queue even though the rest of the hall was deserted!
But a lovely Qatar check-in girl saw my plight and waved me through. Check-in took an age due to Covid 19 restrictions. They didn't like the fact I was travelling to a different country than my nationality, but a Seaman's Book and Letter of Guarantee eventually persuaded them to check me in. Thank God.
So off to security and immigration...
This looked hopeful...
The most enjoyable security check for a long time... not a single Chinese to step on my heels and barge me from behind!
And my biggest worry... immigration, was a breeze. Straight through.
A look back into the immigration hall...
I'm on a Non O visa based on marriage and my last entry into Thailand was 21st Feb... my 90 days were up on 20th May, well over two months ago. Despite the amnesty I was still a little concerned... but no need. The immigration guy stamped me out, gave the passport to his superior who then wrote something about Covid... and job done. Less than two minutes from start to finish.
And departures was absolutely deserted... eerily so.
Looks like they're trying to save electricity as well...
Boots was still open for a couple of cheap bottles of water.
And this group of girls were taking business passengers off to the lounges... sadly not me.
The Bill Bentley Pub... shut.
As was my current place of choice, Silom Village.
It was looking like I'd have to break into my emergency Steak and Kidney Pie!
But then found this crappy chicken and rice place... bladdy horrible it was.
And 130 Baht for a small tin of Leo, the bandits. This cost me over 350 Baht... and I'll still be eating my pie!
About 23 hours until I land at Narvik on Sunday evening... I'll be bloody shagged. And I bet they put me straight on night shift.
Last edited by Mendip; 26-07-2020 at 12:27 AM.
Safe journey mate. Looks very much like my experience
and time in KL's deserted airport with one open restaurant and even the duty frees were shut, after getting there 4 hours early although I wasted a good hour in the Emirates queue instead of Qatar. All look the same those Arabs
Welcome back to Europe
Brrrrrrrrr
another problem with cider IS,dont mix with a vindaloo
Weird seeing Swampy deserted.
Like Bangkok during Song Kran. It just doesn't look right.
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