A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[Semaj2357]

Take away Thai seafood dinner at home. Bought from Somboon Seafood Restaurant.

Egg plant with salted fish minced pork

Sea snails

m&d crab

Kale with pork belly

Mimosa

Pork knuckles

Seafood fried rice

EH KAKPOH, THE KANGKONG / WATER CON

Take away Thai seafood dinner at home. Bought from Somboon Seafood Restaurant.

Egg plant with salted fish minced pork

Sea snails

m&d crab

Kale with pork belly

Mimosa

Pork knuckles

Seafood fried rice

eh kakpoh, the kangkong / water convolvulus / morning glory has a tinge of yellow (even when not cooked with curry) and looks unappetising.
perhaps overcooked / done?

 

[Froggy]

GOOD NEWS

1. Malls open on 17th May 2020

2. Curfew adjusted to start from 11pm instead of 10pm ends the same, 4am.

There are some other details coming up like the malls will open at 10am but must close at 8pm

Also hardware mega stores are allowed to open also

 

[yinyang]

Thailand reports 7 new coronavirus cases, all from overseas
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 15 MAY 2020 AT 13:19

The Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development offers free service at the Anti-Covid-19 salon
launched at the department on Friday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Thailand reported seven new coronavirus cases on Friday, while the number of deaths remained unchanged at 56.
The new cases were all patients who arrived from Pakistan on May 7 and have been in state quarantine, said Taweesin Visanuyothin,
a spokesman for the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Thailand has confirmed a total of 3,025 cases since the coronavirus outbreak started in January and earlier in the week reported zero new daily cases for the first time in two months.

 

[yinyang]

Bankruptcy an option for debt-stricken THAI, says Uttama
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 15 MAY 2020 AT 04:00

Uttama: Staff might not get paid

The Finance Ministry admitted yesterday that financially crippled Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) could go into debt rehabilitation under the bankruptcy law.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said yesterday the national flag carrier was at a critical junction with its survival hinging upon either of two rehabilitation plans -- one already partly created and approved by the State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) and the other, still optional under the bankruptcy law but which is touted by many experts and politicians.

Despite Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's assertion that the time is not yet ripe for THAI to enter bankruptcy-dictated rehabilitation, Mr Uttama indicated it cannot be ruled out.

Mr Uttama's comments came after his absence was noted at a meeting with the Transport Ministry yesterday to find a way out for THAI's financial woes.
A source in the Transport Ministry said the meeting found the Sepo-approved rehab blueprint, prepared jointly by Sepo and THAI to pave the way for the Finance Ministry to guarantee a 50-billion-baht bailout loan expected to be procured by the airline, was flawed.

The meeting also thought the loan would was not an "ideal" solution to salvage the national carrier, the source added. However, the Sepo-approved plan contained a suggestion on a bankruptcy court-dictated rehab which would keep the airline flying and let it negotiate terms with creditors more effectively. The Sepo-approved plan is also reported to have been mulled over by the Finance Ministry, which is the biggest shareholder in the national carrier.

The plan was originally thought to be slated for consideration by the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, given the urgency of the issue. However, it has not yet reached the cabinet.

After yesterday's meeting, Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister overseeing the Transport Ministry, said nothing conclusive had come out of the meeting. Personally, he felt the bailout loan was not a "viable" alternative.

Mr Uttama, meanwhile, said all sides are trying their best to resolve THAI's financial crisis. He conceded time is not on the airline's side.
Regardless of which rehabilitation plan is chosen, the airline has to bite the bullet and undertake a radical overhaul, he said. "It'll be nothing shy of a major change although the method of implementing such a change is being looked at," he added.

The Sepo-approved is intended to pave the way for the Finance Ministry to guarantee a 50-billion-baht bailout loan expected to be procured by the airline. However, the proposed loan has been chastised by the opposition and critics as a waste of taxpayers' money.

Also, it was reported the cabinet has reason to be concerned that the bailout loan might backfire. THAI, while retaining its status as a state enterprise, is also a public company and if the cabinet gives the nod to the loan guarantee, it could risk being accused of extending financial help for the vested interests of the company.

"Ultimately, the final decision [on the airline's fate] will be made by the cabinet," Mr Uttama said.

An emergency has now arisen where a drying-up of liquidity may prevent the airline from paying its staff this month, he said, though the Finance Ministry has negotiated with creditors which will allow some cash to be maintained for payroll purposes.

 

[yinyang]

No new Covid-19 case for second time this week
May 16. 2020

 

[Froggy]

In a nutshell

 

[Froggy]

It’s midnight now, hungry, there’s a curfew outside, so

 

[yinyang]

Thailand shuts its doors on foreign flights until June 30
National
May 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Saturday (May 16) extended the ban on international flights from 12.01am of June 1 to 11.59pm on June 30.

The announcement cited the need to continue measures for preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Its previous diktat on April 27 had banned international flights from May 1 to 31.

However, state or military aircraft, emergency landings, technical landings, humanitarian and relief flights, as well as cargo aircraft, will be exempted.

The CAAT on Friday (May 15) decided against reopening Phuket International Airport from 12.01am on May 16 given the lingering risk of a Covid-19 outbreak. The airport will remain closed until further notice, the CAAT said.

 

[yinyang]

Social distancing, India style

Thai style

 

[yinyang]

Tourism levy mulled
Tax could cover pandemic insurance
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 12 MAY 2020 AT 05:35

Tourists and officers at Suvarnabhumi airport wear face masks. Travellers entering Thailand via air travel could be charged a new tax
as part of their tickets. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

The Tourism and Sports Ministry is considering a tax of 300 baht or less per person for foreign arrivals that could cover pandemic insurance, once inbound flights and tourism activities resume in the country.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the tax would be collected once foreigners arrive by air, land or sea transport.
The scheme is part of the 20-year national strategic plan that requires government agencies to have recurring income to sustain and stabilise the national economy.

The levy will be added to the tourism fund managed by the ministry that aims to rebuild and develop tourism supply chains here, as well as offer safety and security protection for tourists.
He said this idea was initiated last year but was delayed because of the pandemic. Now is the right time to initiate collection, said Mr Phiphat.

• Tourism goal raises eyebrows
• Tourism Ministry readies campaigns
• Long-stay travel

The goal is to have tourists entering via air travel charged as a part of their air tickets, but the government has not finalised how collection for land and sea transport would work.

"The pandemic has had a severe impact on tourism confidence, and the tourism fund should set aside a budget for state agencies to carry on when looking after tourists affected by the pandemic," he said.

Mr Phiphat said the ministry assigned Naresuan University to conduct a feasibility study on a reasonable tax burden for visitors. The ministry estimates the maximum should not exceed 300 baht per person.
He said Japan implemented similar measures, commencing a departure tax of ¥1,000 [around 300 baht] per person.
Mr Phiphat favours a levy of 100-200 baht.

After the feasibility study is finished, the ministry will submit it to the cabinet for approval. The ministry intends to announce the new tax before the fourth quarter to let tourists prepare, he said.

"The Tourism Authority of Thailand's [TAT] new target is 16 million arrivals this year, but I'm not optimistic we can reach that goal as international tourists will not come back before the fourth quarter. Compared with the last quarter of 2019, when we had 11-12 million arrivals, the new goal is too high amid these circumstances," said Mr Phiphat.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the amendment of the National Tourism Policy Act at the end of last year allows the ministry to tax foreign tourists. The ministry's measures are part of the long-term tourism development plan.
"As long as Thailand has a clear plan on how to use the fund effectively and benefit international tourists, it should not create any obstacles," said Mr Yuthasak.

• 4.4K
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[yinyang]

Thailand reports 3 new coronavirus cases, no deaths Sunday
PUBLISHED : 17 MAY 2020 AT 12:53
WRITER: REUTERS

• 
• The Ratchada Railway Night Market in Bangkok reopens after the government eases isolation measures. (Reuters photo)

Thailand reported three additional cases of the new coronavirus, bringing its total cases to 3,028 as the country relaxes local restrictions and re-opens malls and department stores. No additional deaths were recorded.

The three new cases, detected in state quarantine, were Thai students who returned from overseas earlier this month, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Sunday. One flew in from Pakistan and two from Egypt.
Thailand has reported a total of 56 deaths with 116 patients still being treated.


Screenshot from https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/en

Screenshot from https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/en

 

[yinyang]

Pent up demand, after being cooped up

Long queues as Thai malls reopen after COVID-19 restrictions eased
Long queues to enter Bangkok's plush Siam Paragon mall. (Photo: AFP/Mladen Antonov)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...-shopping-malls-reopen-long-queues-1274293417 May 2020 06:32PM(Updated: 17 May 2020 06:42PM)

BANGKOK: Shoppers flocked to Thailand's top-end malls on Sunday (May 17), eager for retail therapy as shopping centres reopened in a gradual easing of restrictions to revive the coronavirus-ravaged economy.
Hundreds of masked customers passed through temperature checks, disinfection stations and had their photos taken before they were allowed into plush malls in Bangkok.

In the main downtown shopping district, Central World touted a "new normal" of doing business on posters, while screens on the mall's exterior declared "We are open".
The shopping centre relaunch comes with Thailand's infection numbers slowing in recent weeks - authorities announced three new cases Sunday, with the total at just over 3,000.

People wait in line to enter the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok on May 17, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mladen Antonov)

Shopper Taewich Penpattakul said he was "not really worried" about contracting COVID-19 because of Thailand's low caseload.
"Mentally, it makes me feel better that all the malls are now opened," the 23-year-old told AFP.
Customers and businesses were advised to adhere to restrictions, which include limits on the number of people allowed in retail spaces and a ban on alcohol sales in restaurants. Cinemas, however, remain closed.
READ: Chilli paste to haircuts: Thai tourism workers improvise as COVID-19 hits travel

A visitor rides an escalator in front of a screen featuring the slogan "New Normal" at the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok on May 17, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mladen Antonov)

A giant screen welcomes visitors at the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok on May 17, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mladen Antonov)

The food court - often the most popular part of Thai shopping centres - filled up quickly, and a mobile robot roamed around monitoring people's temperatures.
Tables had plastic dividers set up to encourage social distancing, while one restaurant placed cardboard dinosaurs opposite customers to indicate the place was not to be used.

The government is also urging retailers and shoppers to check in on a digital platform when entering malls - it will send a message if a coronavirus case is discovered in a specific store.
"We would have to wait until a few weeks to see if this is a good idea and if they (the government) can still control COVID-19," said Jason Noel, 25, who was eyeing up some purchases.
READ: Panda dolls kick COVID-19 blues for Thai diners

People eat next to cardboard dinosaurs used for social distancing at Bar-B-Q Plaza restaurant at the Icon Siam luxury shopping mall in Bangkok on May 17, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

A woman walks past a temperature-measuring mobile robot at the Icon Siam shopping mall in Bangkok on May 17, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

Shopping centres - along with other public spaces like stadiums, gyms and parks - were ordered to close in mid-March as Thailand entered a state of emergency to curb the spread of infections.

But retailers have felt the slump since January when an economic malaise settled over a kingdom heavily dependent on spending from Chinese tourists.

Thailand on Saturday extended a ban on inbound international flights until Jun 30.
Its economy is forecast to contract by more than 6 per cent - the sharpest plunge since the crisis of 1997.

 

[knnb40]

I have work in Bangkok for 3-years before and presently frequent travel to Thailand for business, leisure and diving.
Thailand is a fascinating place which i encourage all the young to put more time to understand their culture, their way of life like how all those from the west spending their time.
Singaporean are pampered and rigid and therefore not able to think out of the box, therefore you see many is not able to venture out and success when they are outside Singapore.
if you can work in Thailand, not matter which industries or position, it will benefit you when you back in Singapore or if you venture to any part of the world.
Its a safe place to venture compare to the west.
you will experience kindness and cunning from the same culture.
You will experience rigidness and openness from the same government policy.
i look forward to Thailand after the COVID-19 ease travelling.

 

[yinyang]

Thailand logs 3 more Covid cases, no deaths Monday
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 18 MAY 2020 AT 12:02

Long queues are seen at the cashiers at IKEA as it reopened after restrictions to halt the spread of the Covid-19
coronavirus were lifted in Bangkok on Sunday. (AFP photo)

Thailand reported three additional cases of the new coronavirus on Monday, bringing total cases to 3,031. No additional deaths were recorded, leaving the accumulated toll at 56.

The new cases were a man and a woman in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and a woman in Phuket in the south of the country, Taweesilp Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said at a regular briefing.
Dr Taweesilp raised concerns that other people who had recently left Phuket for their home towns might be infected and spread the disease elsewhere in the country. He said 12 confirmed cases found in other provinces since March had spent time in Phuket.

“If Phuket province continues to take good care of the situation, the number of patients linked to Phuket will fall,” he said.
Some 2,857 patients in Thailand have so far recovered.


Screenshot from https://covid19.ddc.moph.go.th/en

 

[yinyang]

Protection hard to find as top condom maker closed under lockdown
National
May 19. 2020

By The Nation

There is a severe shortage of condoms globally as the largest condom manufacturer in Malaysia was forced to stop production due to lockdown measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, Somdet Susomboon, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said on Monday (May 18).

However, he said, Thai Nippon Rubber Industry Public Co, Thailand’s biggest condom manufacturer, has responded to the situation by boosting its production by 27 per cent with the aim of selling 1.9 billion condoms this year.

“Most, or 90 per cent of the orders came from the US, Japan and China, which gives Thai exporters the perfect opportunity to expand their shipments,” he said.

He added that the demand for condoms in China has risen since the Covid-19 outbreak, while in comparison, the consumption of toilet paper has remained unchanged.

“The value of the condom market next year is expected to hit US$9.41 billion [Bt301.3 billion], up 18.07 per cent year on year,” he said.

Somdet went on to say that last year, China imported $50.7 million worth of condoms and more than $443 million worth of natural rubber latex for condom production from Thailand, which accounted for 76.5 per cent of the country’s total imports worth $580 million.

“From January to February this year, China import of natural rubber latex was worth $63 million, $55 million of which was imported from Thailand,” he said.

He said that despite the Covid-19 crisis, there’s a new opportunity as condoms and natural rubber latex from Thailand are known for their quality across the world.

“Thai businesses are encouraged to monitor the global market closely, improve the product quality, seek new marketing channels and take advantage of technology to ensure consumers’ demands are met and Thailand can maintain its market share,” he said.

Manufacturers, exporters and anyone else interested can visit the department’s website for more details.

 

[yinyang]

THAI edges to bankruptcy court
Plan would pave way for debt restructuring
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 19 MAY 2020 AT 04:00

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) planes sit idle at Suvarnabhumi airport during the Covid-19 pandemic. The loss-ridden national carrier's financial woes have worsened because of the coronavirus crisis. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

The national state enterprise policy supervisor has proposed that loss-ridden Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) should file for bankruptcy to pave the way for a decisive debt restructuring, the plan for which will go before the cabinet on Tuesday.

Under the process, if it is approved, the airline will get an automatic stay from debt collection by creditors who will be forced to participate in the national flag carrier's debt-rehabilitation plan.
The Central Bankruptcy Court will organise the negotiations between the creditors and debtor and appoint a professional plan administrator with the consent of the two sides.

Speaking after chairing Monday's State Enterprise Policy Committee (SEPC) meeting, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that it was agreed that rehabilitation under the bankruptcy law for the national carrier will be tabled for cabinet consideration.
Calls had been made for the national carrier to seek bankruptcy in court so it can qualify to enter a rehabilitation programme.

• Thai Airways steps closer to restructuring in bankruptcy court
• THAI union vows to oppose status change
• Helping ailing airline

Asked if the rehabilitation plan is in compliance with the Bankruptcy Act, Gen Prayut said rehabilitation is different from bankruptcy.

Government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat told reporters that the SEPC, which oversees policies for state-run enterprises, agreed that the airline should seek rehabilitation under the supervision of the Central Bankruptcy Court.
Details of the plan will be known after the cabinet meeting today, she said, adding that both the Transport Ministry and the Finance Ministry have agreed to the plan.

"The prime minister has stressed the need to make the public understand that this is not about entering bankruptcy, but undergoing a process of rehabilitation," Ms Narumon said.

The government spokeswoman added that the SEPC has retracted its earlier resolution that the Finance Ministry should serve as a loan guarantor for THAI, and has decided in favour of a rehabilitation plan instead.

According to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, THAI's assets were recorded at 256 billion baht at the end of last year while its total debts stood at 245 billion baht. Still, its debts are expected to outpace those assets this year. Meanwhile, the airline's debt-to-equity ratio has skyrocketed to 21:1.
THAI recorded a net loss of 11.6 billion baht in 2018 and 12 billion baht in 2019. For the first half of this year, the airline is projected to record a loss of 18 billion baht due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Previously, the government planned to bail out the airline, which has been hit hard by the global lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, by providing a loan guarantee worth 54 billion baht to the company.
The plan had come under severe criticism from the general public.

Many said the government should not spend taxpayers' money to bail out the company without a clear rehabilitation plan.
An announcement by THAI's labour union saying that it agreed with the bailout plan but opposed anything that would affect employees' benefits and welfare only fuelled public anger.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, who oversees the Transport Ministry, said the SEPC agreed in principle that THAI will undergo a rehabilitation process, not enter bankruptcy and liquidation. It involves debt-restructuring under the Bankruptcy Act, he said.
"Rehabilitation is good for a company which has huge debts because it will not have to cease operations or sell off its assets. It is an automatic stay which halts creditors' action to collect debt," Mr Anutin added.

Meanwhile, Nares Phuangyaem, president of THAI's labour union, on Monday voiced opposition to a proposal that the Finance Ministry cut its shareholding in the national carrier by 2% to below 50%, saying this will undermine investors' confidence and the government's credibility.
He said the union supported the idea to rehabilitate THAI.
THAI shares on Monday plunged nearly 15% to close at 4.10 baht in trade worth 363 million baht.

 

[yinyang]

 

[yinyang]

Thai fate

The airlines crisis
Khalid Cherradi
Stopping flights threatens aviation economy around the world

 

[Froggy]

Cooked a simple dish for breakfast yesterday - tofu+beansprouts+salted fish. The braised duck was leftovers.

 

[knnb40]

Cooked a simple dish for breakfast yesterday - tofu+beansprouts+salted fish. The braised duck was leftovers.

tofu+beansprouts+salted fish, old days my mum used to cook this.
braised duck if braised goose would be best.