Amazing Thailand in Pattaya
It seemed for a while that the restrictions due to the pandemic were becoming a bit more flexible, but the Omicron variant is already lurking to throw a spanner in the works. One can only guess at the consequences and hope that it will not lead to a general lockdown again.
It looked good about ten days ago. After a long time, restaurants were allowed to serve alcoholic drinks again. The same day it seemed as if “all of Pattaya” went crazy, because the restaurants, which had been waiting for months for customers, were filling up. To be able to eat with a drink of course, but many also went to restaurants to drink a beer or something in a pleasant atmosphere, they had already eaten at home. The measure to release alcoholic beverages in restaurants was probably not entirely the intention.
But that wasn't all. Bars and other establishments soon transformed themselves into “restaurants” by offering soup or other small dishes, for example. Beer and other alcoholic beverages went smoothly over the counter. That was not the intention, because it was required from above that a restaurant must apply for an SHA certificate.
A few days have now passed, restaurants are doing good business and many bars and bar complexes are again full of foreigners. I heard that in Walking Street the famous discos of Lucifer and Insomnia had also opened their doors. Last night I drove through Soi Buakhao at about eleven o'clock where there was a pleasant bustle and many bars were open as usual. Police control hadn't been there for days and that wouldn't be wise either, because that would have met with major protests.
I do wonder how long this civil disobedience will be tolerated or whether the local government will continue to turn a blind eye to it. In the latter case, the turn of the year can sometimes result in a big party. It should also be clear that the specter of infection can also run its course, but yes!
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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It could get extremely busy in Pattaya during the turn of the year. The countdown festivities have been canceled in Bangkok. So there may be a population migration to Pattaya.
Countdown canceled in Bangkok? Is that right?
I had been celebrating on a boat on the Chao Praya, or Iconsiam, for several years. Last year I followed the countdown on TV from Belgium. Does anyone have a good website link to follow the countdown this Friday, again from BE unfortunately? Thx!
Only the official festivities organized by the government (BMA) have been cancelled. All private / commercial festivities may continue. As a result, not much will change.
I meant: where can I follow the fireworks at iconsiam LIVE from Belgium, so via which website? I've googled, but found nothing useful.
They are prepared to make a party out of it, I came back from Kho Larn by ferry and they were already testing the sound system for the countdown. I've been in LOS for a week now and haven't experienced any cramped, convulsive states yet........ glad I'm here.
Kees
As always, I'm keeping it healthy and safe and will avoid the fighting in Pattaya and spend a week in the farmland of Thailand. Together with the family, which I'm sure won't cause any problems. Tying the cat to the bacon passes me by. It is already certain that a lot will become infected again. Omicron more contagious, but less harmful as indicated. If we are to believe this, of course. You will just die because of it and there are more than enough if we have to believe the news again. What is true and who should you believe. Conspiracy theorists or those with entwined interests. Will 2022 make this more clear. Time will tell and I wish everyone for the times that follow the wisdom needed and in the end we have to live with the choices made.
The fact is and remains that the Thai government is not a reliable and credible party.
There are very few Thais (and perhaps also foreigners) who do not have a high opinion of the quality of public administration including the enforcement of rules and laws (see the control of Covid and violation of traffic rules these days). Randomness reigns supreme. In order to frighten the various citizens and entrepreneurs, raids are held at regular intervals (not too big). Some are aware of the razzia in advance (due to leaks in the device), the victims pay their fines properly because they know that there will be no new razzia in the same place for the time being. And so the effectiveness of these 'spontaneous' actions is extremely low.