Mmmmm Mo's meat
Safe journey bud.
Mmmmm Mo's meat
Safe journey bud.
Well done.
Per Knutson, sounds like a character from a Somtam Slap tale.
Oh, what a thread! Safe travels, Mendip.
Welcome back to Thailand Mendip, I look forward to the thread continuation from the ASQ.
Hals und Beinbruch!
Last edited by lom; 13-01-2021 at 05:22 PM.
Series I maybe, stay tuned for Series II.
A few videos/stories appear in the spring Netflix schedule and the Bangkok Post film review pages:
"Flights Cancelled In Sweden."
"Bangkok Airport Riot."
"Jailed For Importing Dangerous Conkers."
"ASQ Fined for Allowing Expat's Salon Visit."
"Korat Expat Mauled to Death By Guard Dogs."
"Corona Virus Fears - Korat Foreigner Banned from Wat Funeral."
A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.
One day to go!
Yep, now I can say 'I'm leaving tomorrow!'
Just one more sleep... and I must admit I'm not too old to be getting a bit excited!
I've spent the first hour of my 'working' day making four copies of my fancy new negative Covid test and Fit to Fly certs, and adding them to each of my four travel packs. Then I checked each pack again, for the umpteenth time. My flight is 17:20 from GOT tomorrow, so I should get an email through about lunchtime today about online check-in. It's possible 30 hours in advance, I believe.
After much debate with myself I've decided not to smuggle in a bottle of whisky to my ASQ.... I've been told it's possible so long as it's hidden deep down in your checked luggage.
There are two main reasons for my decision... firstly it would mean a perilous walk in the ice today to the Systembologet and I really don't want to risk a broken arm now that I've got my Fit to Fly certificate, and secondly I've been drinking way too much these past few weeks and think an enforced two week abstention will be a good thing. This is the year I'm finally going to sort this shit out, starting Friday. And besides, what's the point in taking one bottle of whisky? That would cover the first three or four days at most but there would still be another ten to go.
Maybe I'll even lose a bit of weight in ASQ? I seem to remember 112kg when I had that offshore medical in Bangkok all those months ago... I lost about 8kg on the boat, but fear that has been replaced with interest after four months office work. I think 90kg won't happen until at least March!
Just a few thoughts for anyone considering their return to Thailand... so long as you are eligible then it is a remarkably easy process. My only problem came when I changed the origin country of my flight as it then fell under a different embassy's jurisdiction and thus required a new CoE. Apart from that, the online system is easy and the embassy staff at both the London and Stockholm embassies have been incredibly helpful. I reckon the whole process could easily be done in two weeks, from initiation of CoE application to getting on the flight. It's all about the planning.
And not one to blow my own trumpet, but to give an idea of how detailed my planning has been... this is the last box of Yorkshire Tea I picked up from my mum's village in Somerset back in September... yep, four bags left... two for today and two for tomorrow. That kind of thing only comes with 30 years experience of offshore working!
And the cost?
My KLM flight GOT-AMS-BKK cost about £450, which isn't bad at all at the moment and I've certainly been on many more expensive one way flights after work from Scandinavia to BKK. It cost just £12 to rebook my original flight departing from Bristol to a Gothenburg departure, and I think that was just a difference in fare, not a rebooking fee. Another plus from changing the flight to a Gothenburg departure is that I can stick it on expenses now... I'm on a point to point contract.
The ASQ cost 60,000 Baht, but you can get them for between 30,000 and 40,000 I believe. As I mentioned before, I wanted a balcony, and treated meself to a small suite. A little reward for six months continuous work. The PCR test and Fit to Fly exam cost the equivalent of £250... so what's that altogether, maybe around £2300 if you were funding it all yourself. Not prohibitive I think.
But anyway, I'm not even there yet.
Mohamed stood me up last night and I ate pizza alone. He says he's going shopping tonight for a present for his wife... I mean come on... it's my last night! Surely the perfume counter at Schiphol will be open?
It's evidently not only the French that let you down. My last night will be spent again dining alone while trying to finish up the last of my cider and wine box. It'd be a shame to waste it!
"his wife" is Mo-code for YOU, Mendip! He's buyng a present for you! You are his.... wife! You lucky sod!
Anyway, enjoy your last evening freezing your bollocks off in Gothenburg. It was a much nicer 12 C last night. Cold for Thailand but it won't last long. And the warm body of Coco awaits you in Korat.
Had a couple of mates turn up for their ASQ and the room was not as advertised. One didn't get the balcony he asked for, one didn't get a bath.. Can't really walk out can you.
God speed Mendip.
See you on the other side.
Fookin brilliant, now just make sure you don’t get drunk and miss your flight...
My ASQ was more intrested in the paperwork and getting me to choose food from their menu for the evening and the next day's meals.
Not quite, you may have another balcony opposite to share the meals, but many will just be you or a Zoom partner.
Mendip said:
My last night will be spent again dining alone while trying to finish up the last of my cider and wine box. It'd be a shame to waste it!
And not one to blow my own trumpet, but to give an idea of how detailed my planning has been...
My flight is 17:20 from GOT tomorrow, so I should get an email through about lunchtime today about online check-in. It's possible 30 hours in advance, I believe.
So:
Unless the money hungry prick is going in to work tomorrow morning he can get drunk and still have plenty of time to not miss his flight.
Kind words indeed Ootai!
Yeah... I'll be coming in to work for a few hours in the morning... but just to show my face and delete my browsing history! And justify my day rate!
No chance of getting drunk tonight... I've got maybe a bottle's worth of red wine left in my box, a tin of Swedish cider and a small bottle of French cider that I decided to keep for meself once I saw the way things were going! I'm glad things worked out the way they did now... I'm looking forward to that bottle of French cider!
I've checked in, and both flights look pretty well deserted. I'll be disappointed not to get an entire row to myself for the AMS-BKK leg. I'm hoping for clear rows in front and behind as well.
OhOh... just a thought... with your ASQ experience how well did they check your bag for a bottle of duty free? I'm thinking of going a short stubby bottle of whisky like The Balvenie that I can hide in the bottom of my carry on. Were you closely monitored at the carousel during baggage claim? Should it be easy enough to transfer my bottle to the hold luggage bag before customs?
Like I said, just an idle thought...
No search at all.
I not sure if alcohol can affect the virus test result, maybe our TD virus experts can help.
Some further ramblings.
When our taxi arrived at hotel, us four passengers got out. The hotel staff loaded a trolley with our bags. We all had our temperatures taken at the door.
We went inside and sat at seats to wait to be called. Our bags were placed beside us. When I was called I was taken to the check-in desk, along with my baggage. The desk had been sealed off except a slot to pass the paperwork through. Passports and medical papers were checked and returned. A sheet was given with details of a messaging app to use to order the next days meals. Four menus were available. They asked what I wanted for that evening, and the morning, lunch and evening meals for the next day.
I was then handed my room card and taken up to my room. The staff carrying my one case.
All the contact numbers were on the sheets, app instructions and daily routines - temp checks, virus check timetables etc.
The first weeks routine was temp check at 8am, breakfast, lunch, temp check, evening meal. No leaving the room.
Day 7 was similar except a visit to a hotel doctor and a virus sample taken. A staff member took you, waited and took you back to your room. Once your test results, two days, were received you could call a number and arrange to visit the exercise "yard", a coffee shop or the pool. Taken both ways by a staff member.
After the second negative test result you could leave the next morning at 6am. I was there on the dot but no staff .... When they arrived they quickly signed me off and arranged for a taxi.
Not quite my previous Hilton Hotel Gold member card experience but acceptable, your hiso hotel may differ in the "amenities" offered.
About a week later an official Thai health certificate arrived at home by post.
Good luck.
^ Ok, so a bottle of whisky it is then!
I've never been called hiso before, but it feels good. Thanks for that OhOh!
I know of one more 'amenity' that would really make the 14 days quite enjoyable but I doubt if even my new found status would allow that!
Hope to see you posting from Thailand on friday
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)