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  1. #1326
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    Quote Originally Posted by moose65 View Post
    Personally i think Thailand has had its chips, Tourism won't recover to pre epidemic level and it will continue to decrease due to it becoming too expensive.
    I'm sorry to hear that you're facing troubles . . . but I believe you're also looking at the situation far too bleakly. Will there be a period of downturn? Of course.
    The worst is yet to come when all the government subsidies run out but so many things are already returning to normal in New Zealand that the short-term future, though gloomy, isn't disastrous. Social distancing has disappeared, cinemas and sporting events and concerts are all fair go as of tomorrow . . . the only difference is the spending power . . . and that will return to normal eventually as well.

    We tend to think far too often of the grim reaper scenario . . . look at Phuket after the tsunami that killed scores . . . NYC after the WTC . . . Boston/Madrid after the bombing etc etc etc . . . the media and pundits thrive on sensationalism . . .

    If you rely on mainly Europeans the you'll be fine again by the end of the year, just as winter hits and the need for warmth, palm trees and a tan takes over.

    Difficult times, but chin up - best of luck and good wishes to you, it will get better.

  2. #1327
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    Flew to swampy okay this morning. Thai Smile provided tubes of hand sanitizer and kept to social distancing rules. Disembarking was in seat and row order, which was quite pleasant. Spent the day at airport hotel and just checked in for main flight. Swampy is eerily deserted but still had to queue at check-in and provide lots of evidence that I'm resident. Seat next to me is taken but shouldn't be as I could not book it for wife earlier. Looks to be a much fuller flight than I anticipated.
    Swampy, airside, is almost empty with only a couple of food stalls open. Shops are boarded up.

    The effects of covid-19 are sinking in as I enter the more sophisticated world...

  3. #1328
    I'm in Jail

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    ^^^ its going to be a customers market that's for sure.

  4. #1329
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    ^^ One thing I forgot to mention is that the maximum entry body temp at swampy is 37.3. possibly because thermal cameras are reading low from distance used. I was measured at 36.0, which is too low.

  5. #1330
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Covid Lockdown – hurray it’s over. All good things got to come to an end. I really was enjoying all those home cooked Thai meals on an almost daily basis.

    Wife says “lets travel”. My reply “everything is still closed”.

    “No, everything is open”. She has been conversing with family far and wide. So, she asks where would I like to go? How about Korat – no. How about Trat – Trat is still closed. OK how about Pattaya – maybe. How about Lampang or Chiang Mai – too far. How about Kanchanaburi – no. How about Hua Hin – still closed. OK, you decide, so, it’s off to Sai Yok National Park.

    Well, we arrive at Sai Yok National Park, and, yup it is closed due to Covid. Checked several other local tourist spots – all “closed due to Covid”.

    So, we checked into the Parrot Palace aka the Wang Nok Kaew Park View Resort. Quite a large resort that was, believe it or not – pretty well packed with Thai customers. Lots of rooms and lots of, well, “bungalows” which were in fact, cheap ass rooms assembled in rows on pontoons floating on Mae Nam Kwai Noi.

    Not a face mask in sight. The resort staff did have face masks, a few were worn, many close by but not worn or a few ear hangers. And nobody cares one bit. The exception was at the dinner buffet. You had to wear your face mask when you picked your food from the buffet. Rules not enforced as I saw quite a few Thais picking food from the buffet barefaced. Resort staff did, in fact, wear their face masks in the restaurant.

    And, in my recent views these past couple of days the Covid Prevention Show is displayed in many places, PPE, hand sanitizer, log-in/log-out books, and thermal scanners are everywhere, and for the most part, totally ignored.

  6. #1331
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    It's the Mama Noodles my wife says, I put it down to my Garlic necklace.

  7. #1332
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    Quarantine 2 just isn't as good as the original. At least in Thailand I could go to the farm and take a stroll around. Here in Germany we are not allowed out at all apart from the garden. Not even allowed to use the mailbox or other communal parts. Have to get a friend to shop for us as well.
    Almost finished the first week. I feel crappy, lack of exercise is not good.

  8. #1333
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bowie View Post
    . How about Trat – Trat is still closed.
    Re-opened June 1st.

  9. #1334
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    ^ One hopes it remains virus free.

  10. #1335
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    I do wonder what this lockdown has done for kids' mental health.

    My daughter is already saying things like, "remember when we did 'such and such' before Covid?", or "can we go and do 'such and such' after Covid goes away?". This has now gone on for a massive chunk of a young child's life.

    She's back at school... we have temperature checks for drivers and kids in the morning on arrival at the school gates, again for drivers when picking up. Only three cars allowed in at a time resulting huge queues. After entering through an alcohol spray tunnel, the kids have to wear a face mask and a face shield throughout the day... she says it's so hot and uncomfortable. She rips off the mask and shield as soon as she gets in the car at the end of the day.

    I know kids bounce back fast and all that... but what are we doing to them?

  11. #1336
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    I know kids bounce back fast and all that... but what are we doing to them?
    Well, the new normal... hopefully what we are teaching the children is to pay attention to the details and to protect themselves. We don't know where we will be in another year. Things are returning to the new, and as of yet undefined normal.

    The latest is For COVID-19, data to date suggest that 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are severe infection, requiring oxygen and 5% are critical infections, requiring ventilation.

    June 24 Covid Cases: 9,385,616 June 24 Fatalities: 480,445 480,445/9,385,616= 5.1%
    80% asymptomatic. 20% confirmed/diagnosed, 5.1% of the diagnosed cases being fatal.
    We have this: Of 100 persons who get Covid, 20 will be diagnosed and 1 will die.

    And, reports from all over is that the general population is sick and tired of practicing preventative measures.

    Ran into Bangkok today - almost 100% face mask compliance, MRT purple line, social distancing being practiced until we got closer to Bangkok and the passenger load increased. When we got to the blue line social distancing out the window, passengers almost shoulder to shoulder - funny though - not one person sitting in an X'd out seat (every other one).

    It will take the second wave to reinforce that a danger does actually exist. Seems the general population has already forgotten the first wave.

    Will history repeat itself? The Spanish flus estimated fatality total was 50 Million - that's a whole lot of corpses.

  12. #1337
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    My daughter is already saying things like, "remember when we did 'such and such' before Covid?", or "can we go and do 'such and such' after Covid goes away?". This has now gone on for a massive chunk of a young child's life.
    Wait until she's in her teens.

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1275051388431667200

  13. #1338
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    @mendip - I think it's stressful for the kids (and senior citizens) here in PI, since in most areas they're still prohibited from leaving their houses. As with TH, it's stricter in the big cities than in the provinces. I think in this case, the folks in the sticks have it better since they have gardens/ yards, more free space. I've seen/ heard reports and vlogs that ppl in the provinces are going about their daily lives without masks, social distancing & fear of covid. Kids jumping into rivers & streams, living life normally. I think it's taxing on kids (and parents) who live in an apartment in the city - many restrictions. Since the lockdown was imposed fairly early (mid March), many islands & orovinces are covid-free. However, that's now changing. Since Metro Manila transitioned to the less stringent GCQ (general community quarantine) last 1 June, stranded people in the cities have been allowed to go back to their provinces. But these people who went home have brought the virus with them - increased numbers in the provinces.

    Travel to other regions or provinces - that's another issue. If someone needs to go to another province or region, they must get a travel authority & medical certificate. Getting those docs entail going to diff govt offices, some of which may be several km from each other. Then there's the lack/ limited public transport, so ppl had to walk several km in the hot sun (was in the local news). Only essential travel allowed - going back/ home for stranded individuals, work or business reasons (must provide company ID or other docs). It's such a bother for now, so I won't attempt to go to Metro Manila because of the documents & hassle involved.

    Travel to the PI is still restricted to Filipino citizens, their spouses & children - must provide marriage or birth cert (if kids have foreign passport) at the airport upon checkin. I've read that Boracay island will open soon (July, I think) but only to ppl from that region (so not from Luzon or Manila wherein cases are high). The tourism industry is still f*****. PI will probably be closed to foreign tourists until Dec or next year. School opening for kids was supposed to be this June, then moved to August, then again moved to December. Pres Du30 has said in a speech that he won't allow reopening of schools until a cure or vaccine is available. As of now, the number of cases in Cebu city are skyrocketing - partly due to ppl from Manila going back to their provinces.

    On a lighter note, I was able to procure a balut, after the easing of lockdown. So yeah, there are still some minor pleasures in this world! Lol! (balut = boiled fertilized duck egg)

    Pics for y'all.

    How has Coronavirus affected you ?-img_20200625_085309-jpg

    How has Coronavirus affected you ?-img_20200625_085231-jpg

  14. #1339
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    It's affected me by completely fucking up a mortgage apllication on a propety I'd had an offer accepted on and been approved on by bank.

    Was at exchange of contract stage just before tge crisis, had massive pot of legit dough to throw on a property, everything was going well in the chain....then this shit happened.

    To cut a long story boring I now have 10's of thousands in an account ready to put into a decent house in the UK...yet cant get a mortgage cos they've all been pulled from market for less than 20% deposit...

    Shit happens I suppose, but I was so close to the dream manor it's sonewhat frustrating - been grafting my bollockz for 3 yrs to get to stage I'm at....

    Bollocks to it, will just have to throw the dough into a business instead and make the dough work for me until things settle down...

    Shit happens I suppose, onward and upward!

  15. #1340
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    To cut a long story boring I now have 10's of thousands in an account ready to put into a decent house in the UK...yet cant get a mortgage cos they've all been pulled from market for less than 20% deposit...

    ^ This is a BIG purchase, 10% was massive stretch, 20% is aridicululos amount of cash upfront that the vast majority of peeps ain't gonna have to hand....

  16. #1341
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by khmen
    ^ This is a BIG purchase, 10% was massive stretch, 20% is aridicululos amount of cash upfront that the vast majority of peeps ain't gonna have to hand....
    I'm a little surprised it was 10% to begin to be honest. Different markets and all, but in NZ 20% is basically standard (even more if you're offshore).

  17. #1342
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    First time buyers in the uk are FUCKED at.present, need a 70k.deposit on a 350k house....not many peeps in that position...

  18. #1343
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post

    On a lighter note, I was able to procure a balut, after the easing of lockdown. So yeah, there are still some minor pleasures in this world! Lol! (balut = boiled fertilized duck egg)

    Pics for y'all.

    How has Coronavirus affected you ?-img_20200625_085309-jpg

    How has Coronavirus affected you ?-img_20200625_085231-jpg
    I'm sorry Katie, but the only place for a fertilised egg...



    Is sitting under it's broody mum!

    These are due to hatch next week. Ain't that a nicer picture!


  19. #1344
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    Quote Originally Posted by AntRobertson View Post
    I'm a little surprised it was 10% to begin to be honest. Different markets and all, but in NZ 20% is basically standard (even more if you're offshore).
    In the uk 10% is bare minimim deposit - on a 350k house that's 35k...big chibk of change but achievable...if yiu been savinh for that acouple yrshen overnigyt it becomes 70k

  20. #1345
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by khmen View Post
    First time buyers in the uk are FUCKED at.present, need a 70k.deposit on a 350k house....not many peeps in that position...
    That means less buyers for the objects, sellers will face problems finding buyers and will eventually have to lower the price asked.

  21. #1346
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    ^^I'm keeping my eye on UK house prices also. Supposedly set to dip as much as 10% this year:

    UK house prices could fall by as much as 10 per cent this year due to the impact of coronavirus, experts predict.
    UK house prices had started to recover from uncertainty caused by Brexit at the end of 2019.
    And the so-called Boris bounce from the Tories’ election victory in December set the market up for a strong start to 2020.
    Read more: It’s official: Coronavirus killed UK house prices’ Brexit recovery
    But then coronavirus came along, sending the UK into lockdown – meaning buyers couldn’t visit houses, a fairly crucial step when moving house.
    The dramatic economic hit has also made people more wary of making big purchases right now.
    While the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on UK house prices is not yet fully understood, analysts believe they will dip in the second and third quarters of 2020.
    Read more: UK house prices dip as coronavirus lockdown makes sales ‘almost impossible’
    The latest data from Nationwide confirmed that UK house prices were hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown.
    Source: How badly will coronavirus hit UK house prices in 2020? : CityAM

    You might want to wait a while and dangle a bit of ready cash out at the end of this year.

  22. #1347
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Well it appears now I will be the only one covering all aspects of the business activities here on the ground. We used to have multiple technical and quality engineers rotating in and out weekly for the processes they owned but now they cannot travel and as bad as the US is right now with the virus containment, Thailand will ban any US citizens from arriving anytime soon. I just received notice that international travel to Thailand might be pushed out until September. Making this more challenging is that I too have limited access to the factory. It takes a plan in advance and security appvl which makes it a PITA to go in for a 2 or 3 hr visit/meeting so I am working this 100% remotely. There are pros and cons. Being home is nice but the telcons start sometimes at 6am and on and off through out the day and end at 9pm. In some some cases with customers they are at midnight covering the US/Germany/Czech Republic time zones. Being I am the only one here I lose out and have to take the call when it is. Right now as we are ramping operations as our customer demands are high. There is no one to hand it off too as we are running 24/7. So everywhere I go I have to carry my laptop and my phone. My wife has started giving me that look on and off now.....

    Life as it is right now. I am just very thankful I am not in the US. . Life up here in the north is pretty normal.

  23. #1348
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by khmen View Post
    Shit happens I suppose, but I was so close to the dream manor it's sonewhat frustrating - been grafting my bollockz for 3 yrs to get to stage I'm at....
    Yes, shit does happen and life marches merrily onward. Turn this to your advantage. You have accumulated a considerable sum of cash for your downpayment. Covid comes along and has turned the real estate market on it ear.

    The large number of unemployed, many who will never really recover, have been removed as competitors for properties. You, may have been sidetracked, but this will be temporary. Add to your deposit fund, keep your ear to the ground, and, when the real estate markets opens up again, you will be very well positioned and will most probably be able to get a far better property for similar funds.

    Good luck to you.

  24. #1349
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kmart
    I'm keeping my eye on UK house prices also. Supposedly set to dip as much as 10% this year:
    Just so happens that I'm selling a property in NZ right now after a recent valuation came in a lot higher than expected.

    I think the market is artificially high and the real effects of the recession yet to hit so I'm getting the fuck out while the getting is good.

  25. #1350
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    ^Agreed. There will be massive unemployment this year-end, and people unable to meet mortgage payments.

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