The measures that are now being taken in the Netherlands to combat the corona crisis are not tender. Whether it is a good decision by the government I leave in the middle, the fact is of course that more and many people are affected by this approach.

Here in Thailand such drastic measures will not be taken for the time being, but the misery of the millions of unemployed Thais due to the absence of tourists is no less.

Thailand has now reopened the door to all tourists after a long period of lockdown. However, entering is not easy, in any case it is a lot more expensive than before due to all the costly procedures and the Thai policy of quarantine.

The Dutch Prime Minister said in his speech earlier this week that traveling is now anti-social and reflects shameless behaviour. I do not agree with that. As long as someone has the money to follow the costly procedure of a trip to Thailand and as long as the airport continues to function and the airlines continue to fly, there is no antisocial behavior.

I would almost say, on the contrary! A visit to Thailand, for whatever reason, is good for the Thai economy, which, like in Europe, is suffering badly. Any extra is therefore very welcome.

At the moment, more and more foreigners, including Belgians and Dutch, are trickling in again. Life in Thailand for visitors is fairly normal, although of course many things are closed. It seems to me that it is better to stay in Thailand at the moment than in Belgium or the Netherlands.

Therefore my statement: It is not antisocial to travel to Thailand.

What do you think?

About this blogger

Gringo
Gringo
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!

58 responses to “Position of the week: It is not antisocial to travel to Thailand!”

  1. What is in any case anti-social are the empty promises, the twisting and lying and cheating of our Prime Minister Rutte. Not a penny to Greece, everyone gets an extra 1000 euros and so on. Not to mention the sloppy corona policy. First: face masks are nonsensical and do nothing, a little later they become mandatory. And then the government finds it strange that the Dutch do not comply with the rules.

    Now again the reports in the media that the Netherlands is not yet ready for vaccination. It's becoming a soap opera.

    So I agree with the statement that traveling to Thailand is NOT anti-social and the person who says that should take a look in the mirror first.

    • GJ Krol says up

      Dear Peter, Greece has nothing to do with corona; An additional € 1000 has nothing to do with corona fte either. Whether or not the Netherlands is ready for vaccination has nothing to do with travel advice either. It seems that your distaste for Mark Rutte is the only justification for traveling to Thailand. I think the call not to travel is a legitimate call. Why take the risk of further spread.

      • There is nothing wrong with a healthy critical attitude towards authority/government. Especially when it comes to a despot like Rutte. When people blindly accept everything the great leader says, things often go wrong. Unfortunately, people don't learn from history.

        • Leo Th. says up

          Moderator: Please respond to the statement and not only to each other.

        • Joseph says up

          You're saying quite a bit here. Rut a despot? You would end up straight in jail in Thailand. Dear Khun Peter, this comment really makes no sense. Have you read any wiser things? Rutte is doing more than fantastic in these difficult times and his job is not to be envied.

      • John says up

        Hr Krol: This further spread could have been stopped long ago if the government had taken the right steps earlier and not so half-heartedly but doing something.

      • Harm reitsma says up

        See, this is another unbeliever, who thinks it's quite a tour in the Netherlands, man check the real numbers sometime, I recommend Mourice de Hond's youtube story. Then maybe your eyes will open about our lying and arrogant Government!!!

    • Renee Martin says up

      The arguments in favor of traveling are disproportionate to the demand. I do believe that Thailand is a safe destination and therefore great to visit.

    • robchiangmai says up

      What a pity that there are people who think it is necessary to have a prime minister
      who does his best to map out a way for the so divided Netherlands
      to catch his words. All praise to Ruth! If many Dutch people are at an earlier stage
      would have adhered to the then very moderate rules were the harsh measure of today
      probably not necessary. Fortunately, a prime minister who calls the beast - anti-social behavior -
      dare to mention. Of course he never specifically mentioned Thailand and is it social behavior if a large part of the population has to live under difficult to very difficult circumstances to make a super expensive trip – including the costs of testing and quarantine – to Thailand?

  2. jhvd says up

    Dear Peter,

    I endorse this, it is outrageous.
    If you listen to Hugo de Jonge's conversation, it is exactly the same.
    A few months ago, the man explained about the nursing homes with all those infections.
    While he knew there was no protective gear, outrageous.
    I've decided to just let it go, it just makes you simple.
    Yes, in March you will be right with the elections.

    Yours faithfully,

    JHVD

  3. Nicky says up

    I think more was meant, traveling in Europe. Just keep the European borders closed. Then it will be over much faster. Why does everyone have to go on a ski holiday so badly?

    • PEER says up

      Nicky,
      Just as necessary if I want to go on a Thai holiday.
      That's how simple it is.

    • Renee Martin says up

      For example, for Europe, I also agree that people should stay at home, but Thailand is a reasonably safe destination in my opinion and it is therefore fine to travel to.

  4. French Pattaya says up

    Holiday travel is now seen as anti-social because there is a chance that (extra) Corona cases will be imported into the country.
    It is therefore understandable in itself to limit unnecessary flights as much as possible.
    However, Thailand is Corona free. The quarantine itself has taken measures to prevent Corona from entering the country. Conversely, travelers from Thailand will not bring Corona with them either.
    That Thailand is considered safe is also evidenced by the fact that, unlike many other countries, travelers from Thailand entering the EU do not have to provide a negative Covid test statement.
    As far as I'm concerned, (holiday) trips to and from Thailand are not anti-social.

  5. Rob V says up

    I think it's about holiday trips that get the stamp 'aso'. Just traveling around for a few days or weeks and possibly taking Covid elsewhere or back here. Think of traveling within Europe and the like, which is no problem. A trip to and from Thailand, especially if it is not a pleasure trip, is of a completely different order. With the measures in force, going to the beach in Thailand for a few weeks is not possible as an ordinary tourist. So if you now fly to and from Thailand, no that is not antisocial in my eyes.

    And flying to overseas Dutch territory, for example.. I don't know if aso is the right word, it's certainly not smart... here it's better to just stay at home as much as possible. But flying to Thailand? Fine.

  6. willem says up

    antisocial? No, on the contrary.

    Most who now go to Thailand do so for several months. To a country that is free of covid.

    The only reason why travel is now not recommended is the risk of an increase in the number of covid infections and an increase in the pressure on healthcare. Holidays to winter sports or Spain, for example, will certainly be an extra risk. But certainly not to Thailand.

    By staying in Thailand, the pressure decreases rather than increases. I am no longer a risk in the Netherlands.
    When I return in a few months, the pressure in the Netherlands will hopefully be much less and my arrival from Thailand from a covid-free environment is therefore no extra risk.

    The problem is that people do not want customization, but only easy-to-use generally applicable rules.

  7. keespattaya says up

    I totally agree with you Gringo. Rutte once again has a big mouth. Didn't he learn from Grapperhaus then? He has also denounced people as antisocials. He must think it will win votes in March.

  8. Erik says up

    It is not aso to travel to a distant destination; it does say Thailand but there are more safe places if you call code orange safe.

    Thailand has the quarantine measure with which you keep control for the first ten days and the mandatory test is not watertight but it is indicative. But don't feel too safe; especially in the border region (and the border is very long…) (illegal) passage has been taking place for years by border residents and corona does not stop that. For that reason I don't give a penny for the official figures about corona in Thailand, but I feel the same way about the malaria and dengue figures...

    The NL government will have the best for us, but the measures come across as twisted policy, call it a snap, policy according to the latest figures, but how reliable and up-to-date are they? On the other hand, there is public opposition in the Netherlands to measures that restrict individual freedom, because that is simply part of the national character and then only the knoet will help, Rutte will think.

    The truth will also lie in the middle here and peace will only come when the target groups have received their shot. And it is precisely organizing that prick that now appears to take a lot of time, but what do you expect in a country where a night of snow paralyzes train traffic?

  9. Dirk says up

    Some ignore the fact that initially an unknown virus has caused an excess mortality of 9 people in the Netherlands in almost 10.000 months. It also underestimates the efforts that politicians have to make to get things done properly. Many people are working to death, among others: in healthcare, scientists, supervisors and many others to contain the virus. While the instructions were clear, many compatriots made a mess of it during the summer period. Perhaps that is also why a second lockdown is required. When this is over, there will undoubtedly be a parliamentary inquiry, it will turn out that some things could have been done better and faster, but yes, in retrospect, a cow in the ass….
    I think a little more sense of reality and appreciation for all who are genuinely hardworking against this virus is in order. Back to the question, you currently travel to Thailand if you have built up your life there in the past, have emotional interests and are confident that at a certain age you are more protected from corona in Thailand than in the Netherlands. I sympathize with all those who overcome the difficulties to return to Thailand and do not find this anti-social.

    • Harm reitsma says up

      So this is not true, the real figures are obscured by this cabinet and I look at Mourice de Hond's real figures, which are balanced and more in line. There is excess mortality, but approximately no more than 500 more than with the flu…

      • Cornelis says up

        Yes, that dog juggles a bit with statistics and therefore knows it much better than all experts put together. But if you want to believe in it: go ahead!

  10. KhunTak says up

    Of course it is not anti-social to fly to Thailand for a short or long stay.
    What has long been known that an ordinary flu has more impact than this covid 19 crisis.
    The fear culture that has been and is being caused and its consequences are much more serious.
    Families and the economy are disrupted.
    Of course there are now people who are going to shout again, come with evidence and fake news.
    I only have one message for that: wake up and look beyond just the NOS news.
    If all this continues, we will lose much more than our own identity.

    • peter says up

      I totally agree. Indeed, look further. But for those who have not (yet) looked further, I can already mention that it is becoming increasingly difficult. Critical messages from virologists (professors) are removed from social media without reason.
      Discussion is hardly possible. We are obliged to accept what the government and official media tell us. There is immediate talk of fake news.
      The measures will cost many more lives than corona itself.
      And then Rutte dares to call people who are going to travel antisocial , disgusting !
      This also pits the population against each other.
      No longer being allowed to weigh things up yourself and undergoing everything docilely.
      In Thailand, the suffering is great and I respect everyone who comes here to ease the suffering.

  11. Erik says up

    I think the Prime Minister should take a look in the mirror with his lies and deception of the people. 10.000 empty spaces for Christmas..? There are 150.000 annually because so many people die there every year. Of the 10.000, you can in any case wonder whether Christmas would have been achieved without corona. As long as the Prime Minister is not honest I see no reason why I should heed his appeals.

    I hope to be able to regularly visit my girlfriend in Thailand as soon as possible, whether Rutte thinks that is antisocial or not.

  12. Eric says up

    I agree 100 percent with the statement that it is not antisocial to want to travel to Thailand. It is much safer than in Europe at the moment, with a much more pleasant climate on top of that. Hopefully the mandatory quarantine will end soon and I will be one of the first to come back to Thailand, because I miss the Thai warmth very much.

  13. Josh Ricken says up

    What is antisocial is that when the vaccine is approved on Monday and many countries will start vaccinating at the end of next week, the Netherlands will still not have the matter in order and is not expected to start until mid-January.

    • Eric H says up

      what is also aso of Rutte and associates is to encourage people to go on holiday to Curacao while it is not safe at all and then start grumbling when people go there en masse.

      • Ger Korat says up

        Which is also antisocial of Rutte to hold a press conference on Monday and announce that there will be a lockdown from a few hours later and then complain a day later that people who have booked a holiday or other trip far in advance and sometimes have paid a lot of money for anti-social if they are at Schiphol the day after the announcement. Then immediately come up with a compensation for the travel expenses incurred and realize that people have taken vacation days and paid for hotels and reimburse that; but no, the foreman then calls the inhabitants anti-social and does not even allow them 1 day to reflect or not give them a few weeks to change their travel plans.
        Couldn't he spend his energy better to manage the registration of the vaccinations so that we can vaccinate next week along with other countries instead of in 3 weeks. I find this antisocial because it means that many people die extra or end up in hospital due to delayed vaccinations, which can be directly attributed to him and his club.

        • Johnny BG says up

          @Ger Korat,
          The responsibility lies with Hugo, at least that's how it is arranged in the political landscape, right?
          Whether the slower will result in more deaths is of course the question. Seeing is believing, but if the IC is available, everything can be done and then there is also an incubation period that gives space.

  14. Witzier AA says up

    Ls
    Let Rutte first make sure he has the situation around the vaccine in order, he has known for at least 6 months that it is coming and now that it is actually around the corner, he has not reached the vaccine condition (which should not be a condition) in order there is almost nothing wrong with the policy. Now an ICT problem must be solved at the very last, he has had 6 months for that, so I can continue for a while with all his misses, but call people who could not visit their loved ones for more than 10 months Antisocial, then let me surprise him. His policies and his mistakes, they are antisocial.

  15. Jacobus says up

    Necessary travel is allowed. But what is necessary. I am currently in isolation in Bangkok. So I did not care about the advice of the Dutch government. Although that advice is not clear. I have traveled to a country that is in much less bad shape compared to Covid19 than the Netherlands. In addition, I have to comply with the measures of the Thai government and the airline, and they are not wrong. They are much stricter than the rules recently announced by Rutte. I believe that I have traveled completely safely. I had no corona when I started the journey, during the journey it was almost impossible to catch the virus and now that I am here there are so many precautions that it is unlikely that I will get the virus. Soon when I fly back with Qatar airways sometime in March I will have to test again and show a negative result to get on the plane. And then I arrive in the Netherlands. Only then do I worry.
    Just about necessity. I haven't seen my wife and son for 10 months. We could live with that. You'll survive that. But, have our government leaders such as Rutte (oh no, not Rutte), Hugo and 99% of the population ever had to miss their families for 10 months? The world would be too small. So I think this trip is also necessary.

  16. conimex says up

    I'm not going to Thailand for vacation, I'm going to Thailand to be with my family again, when someone thinks that's anti-social…, all those who travel to Thailand will not enter without quarantine and at least 3 tests, we are not spreaders of the virus.

  17. Craftsman says up

    Our cabinet did not come up with that lockdown at all. The only thing that is anti-social is the way those rules are shoved down our throats.

    From the beginning, they have left the borders open to Germany. It was Belgium that took the decision to close the borders. Now it was Germany that announced the lockdown. In the Netherlands everything revolves around the economy. The Dutch are being forced to stay at home, but the shopping centers and outlet centers remain open and are overrun by German and Belgian consumers. And….I am not racist at all, but on many photos you can see that they are mainly people with an immigrant background. I've experienced it myself on the train; immigrant boys (coincidentally residents of the local AZC…) who wear the face mask on one ear, around their neck or even NOT at all! That is pure provocation. Not wanting to adapt to Dutch policy. Rules are rules. I wear glasses and that mask is a really annoying thing, but I wear it where I have to.

    And that 'professor' Van Dissel must be an incredibly lonely man who wants to plunge everyone into a depression, because he apparently has no idea that a beard negates the minimal effect of a face mask. Can you shape it so nicely around your nose.... along the sides there is a stronger air flow than through the cap. It really shouldn't be possible for someone like that to represent RIVM. At a former coal gasification plant near here, someone with a beard didn't even enter the site. Because of SAFETY!!!! Because an oxygen mask must connect to the face for it to work!

    So again…..the only anti-social thing is the policy. There is no 'TOGETHER' at all, as they preach in 'Only together will we get Corona under control'. The world changed after 9/11, but almost 20 years later the world changed even more radically due to Covid-19.

  18. Maurice says up

    Completely agree with you Gringo. Such statements by our prime minister are (too) general in nature. However, it does bother me given the official travel advice for Thailand:

    The national government itself indicates that there is no increased risk of an increase in corona infections if a traveler returns from Thailand.

    See: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/landen/thailand/reizen/reisadvies
    (the page is current given the text “Last modified on: 18-11-2020 | Still valid on: 17-12-2020”)

    It says, among other things, “If you come back to the Netherlands from Thailand, you do NOT have to go into home quarantine. “.

  19. Ton says up

    I do not find it scandalous that the policy was regularly adjusted and that sometimes contradictory messages were given. It is very understandable that with a completely new unknown virus that comes to us, the government and scientific institutes also go through a learning curve. Anyone who expected a ready-made and unequivocal answer from the first moment has no idea what was going on, and is. In fact, I think that a great deal of knowledge has been collected at an incredible speed and that our scientists deserve all the credit for what has been achieved in that (for scientific research) short time.
    I don't think it's a scandal that I'm going back to Thailand. I live there and got stuck in Europe during a visit that was planned to be short, but lasted nine months. Finally home.
    Now if someone undertakes a trip to Thailand for the first time, I think that's their right but a bit risky, but that's up to you, I wouldn't have done that but waited until the vaccine was available. I am happy to see my partner and children again after 9 months. Whatsapp and Line is not enough to maintain relationships.

  20. ruud says up

    If it is dangerous and anti-social, Rutte should have locked Schiphol.
    You cannot allow flying on the one hand and shout on the other that it is dangerous and that the travelers are anti-social.

  21. GJ Krol says up

    The Thai economy will not improve significantly from those few Dutch people. In addition, Thailand is not free from corona at all, in Chiang Mai people are still infected with the virus. People who come to Thailand from Myanmar form a risk group and infections have been detected among them. Restoring order to the economy is only possible through measures taken by the Thai government. And I haven't seen much of that in recent months. I do see a lot, a lot of vacancy. Chiang Mai seems like a ghost town in some places and a few tourists who have the money will not make a difference. In addition, I read reports on this forum not so long ago that the local Thai population views the farang with suspicion, as if it were responsible for the corona outbreak.
    The whole world now has code orange and then I agree with Rutte. It is a fairy tale to assume that Thailand is free of viruses. Prayuth would like you to believe that it is, but that is simply not true. The measures taken by the Dutch government are indeed harsh, but I wouldn't trade life here for anything with Thailand under this lockdown, no matter how much I like to go there.
    Everyone is free to spend their money in the way that suits them best, having more money is different from being social. Who are you doing a favor with a few lazy Euros you spend in Thailand. As long as airlines fly, is there no question of antisocial behavior? What strange reasoning!

    • Rob says up

      Dear Krol, I completely agree with you, but we can say that Rutte cs has been just a step too late for 9 months, he should have introduced that entire lockdown in March/April and then especially just like Thailand now everyone entering the country does mandatory quarantine.
      So the people who now fly to Thailand to be with their families are not anti-social.

      People who go there now to spend the winter are not antisocial either, because as long as opportunities are offered you can use them, perhaps they are a bunch of people who
      hibernation/holiday so deep in the pockets.

  22. Inge says up

    That's how it is. Rutte is never clear, always inconsistent, with a lot
    if and only.

  23. Marianne says up

    Rutte made a mistake last Monday when he said that COVID was not just an innocent flu. Every year between 7.000 and 12.000 people die from that so-called harmless flu (now just over 10.000 from Covid). The only one who behaves antisocially here is Rutte himself, who, at the behest of his boss Klaus Schwab, is helping the entire country go to hell.

  24. Rudolf says up

    Flying to Thailand is not anti-social, I just wouldn't choose it now, with all the restrictions that come with it.

  25. Peter says up

    We are not on vacation. We are visiting family. We have been providing informal care at a distance for years, support the family financially and visit very elderly people who rarely see their daughter and granddaughter once a year. That is a deliberate choice. Now we relieve the family with our presence. In the Netherlands we call this the participation society…. Also comes from Mr Rutte…. However?

  26. BS knucklehead says up

    Our Prime Minister wants to reduce the number of contacts to a minimum and is committed to this with advice, restrictions and prohibitions, such as closing shops with non-essential products and advising against (holiday) travel.
    I don't understand much about this: it has been very busy in the local AH and Jumbo since last Tuesday and when I am abroad, I cannot infect anyone in the Netherlands. So everyone who wants to go on vacation, please go!
    Just encourage this.
    In Thailand, the government uses a different tactic: after arrival, a strict quarantine of 14 days, if you are corona-free, you can go and stand in the country where you want.
    I want to travel to Thailand next January to meet my family and notice that it is not easy to get all the necessary papers in my possession, in addition, the costs are a lot higher than in 2020.

  27. chris says up

    “Antisocial behavior is a form of deviant behavior that has no regard for other people or the environment.” (quote) Traveling to Thailand is not deviant behavior.
    It seems to me that anyone traveling to any destination, including Thailand, knowing that he/she is or could be infected with a rapidly transmissible virus is anti-social. If you are sick, or feel sick, stay home: flu, cold, cough, shortness of breath, maybe Covid.

  28. Hans van den Bogart says up

    Rutte's statement about anti-social behavior is not about flights to Thailand, because there are hardly any, but about the anti-social crowds at Schiphol by people flying to Aruba, Curaçau, and the Canary Islands at any cost and with the risk of spreading. the holidays

  29. lap suit says up

    I think that Rutte had other travelers in mind with his term anti-social, a different target group than those who feel so addressed here. Just insist on doing the right policy in these covid times, you can never get it right with our open borders. Not a fan of Rutte, but I don't see how it could have been better without getting all those ascending groups over you. At least we have safety nets for the affected groups and oh… how antisocial it is in Thailand where the population is left out in the tourist cold. At the designated quarantine hotels where the arrivals are milked, I am curious how much remains on bows. And no…. given the many measures to enter, it is not antisocial to want to visit those you have missed for so long.

  30. Jan says up

    When I read (most of) the messages, I get the idea that almost everyone goes to Thailand because it is so annoying for the Thai economy and the population. I don't want to be more Catholic than the Pope, but my reason is simply, I like the food, I like the sun and a good hotel. So all reasons for me.
    I won't beat around the bush, but I don't care about the Thai economy. I am not responsible for that. Those are the Thais themselves. And when I read all the posts, 70% boiled down to the same thing. Where can I eat cheaply, which hotel is not too expensive. So people are not that concerned with the economy. We, my wife and I have been going to Thailand twice a year for about 10 years. This is how I contribute, but it remains in my own interest. Jan

    • Rob says up

      They still have a surplus of $ 20 billion in 2020, so the Thai economy is not that bad.
      We read today that Thailand ended up on the American watch list because of manipulation of the exchange rate of the baht and the trade surplus. The exchange rate of the baht will rise in the near future.

  31. Hans Struijlaart says up

    How so? Traveling to Thailand antisocial. Not exactly I think.
    Thailand has better control of Corona than many other countries, including the Netherlands.
    You may of course wonder whether the extreme quarantine measures are really necessary.
    I think so to prevent Thailand from becoming a source of infection again.
    On that point, the Netherlands can learn something from Thailand. In the Netherlands there is no check whatsoever on that point if you fly to the Netherlands from abroad. And then you can do a Lock down in the Netherlands, but they forgot to test incoming passengers by plane for Corona. And so it went wrong with the first Corona infections from returning flights from winter sports. Intelligent Lock down my ass.
    Or you do it completely and not that half-soft policy that the Netherlands is doing now. Both China and Thailand are very clear about that. Complete lockdown. I think it is better to be in Thailand now than in the Netherlands when you talk about the risk of contamination with Corona.

  32. hans says up

    That is a nice mirror of the prime minister himself, expressing anti-social and shameless behavior against his people. Plunging millions of people into poverty with his crazy lock downs. Older people die in loneliness.
    Flu no longer exists. MSM is also lying there. We are being screwed over and censored.
    Here you can see a movie in Austria where people have no fear.
    https://www.stopdebankiers.com/kerstmis-in-oostenrijk-burgers-weigeren-lockdown-niemand-doet-mee-video/

  33. Pieter says up

    In my opinion, it is not necessarily anti-social to travel to Thailand, but it is anti-social if it means that you consciously go to a place where many different people come (Schiphol). There is a big problem, a virus that can spread very quickly. Then you have to do everything you can to prevent that. So not to Schiphol, not to shopping malls, not to Ikea, etc.
    Do you want to go to Thailand? Then you take the car.

    I really like the argument of the Thai economy. If you care so much about the Thai economy, transfer the money from your trip and what you would spend to an aid organization in Thailand. You support more with that than going to the country and spending it there on consumption.

  34. Stan says up

    Traveling to Thailand is not anti-social. It is antisocial with 100000 people on holiday to the Costas at the same time, like last summer. Thanks for the second wave and all those extra measures. And soon a third wave, because many people think it's too much to ask to skip Christmas and New Year once in their lives...
    The Thai government is looking at Europe and will not just open the borders without a quarantine obligation.

  35. Rob says up

    It cannot be anti-social to leave an anti-social country. If I hadn't had to work for a few more years here in the Netherlands. By then I would have been quarantined in Thailand for 2 weeks.

  36. Jacques says up

    I read that a lot of people are in agreement on this blog about our government. I only partly agree with this group. Quite a few mistakes are made, including by our government, which can partly be attributed to other factors. By taking measures you are partly dependent on the specialists in their field if you have insufficient knowledge. They are not all on the same page and the messages differ quite a bit. Relying on that leads to a wavering policy. In retrospect, etc., is the order of the day. We will have to make do with it, because no one has a monopoly on wisdom. We'll have to do it together. The best helmsmen are ashore and their own opinion is what counts. No, the big problem lies in man himself. Undisciplined behavior. Can have little. Me me me and the rest can choke. Still about 30% of the Dutch would not be willing to have him or her vaccinated. Fallacies not to do it are put forward in my opinion. Talk about selfishness. Contamination goes from person to person and sometimes from animal to person, avoiding each other completely or vaccinating is the answer. Everything in between are palliatives and by definition result in infections. It would cause major problems if people could not visit each other during Christmas. Incomprehensible, but apparently the virus of weakness has also struck. A vaccine should also be invented for this. Apart from the economic malaise, so many things are being blown up to unprecedented proportions. You can also have a good time with just the two of you and, if necessary, use the laptop or another means to be together virtually. It's no different and get over it. Better times are coming and if humanity is willing to cooperate 100%, this could be the case very soon. The fact that this does not happen ensures that we are still in this malaise. With or without a government that will never do well for many of us, no matter how you look at it.

    • KhunTak says up

      Dear Jacques,
      what does that all mean:
      Still about 30% of the Dutch would not be willing to have him or her vaccinated. Fallacies not to do it are put forward in my opinion. Talk about selfishness. Contamination goes from person to person and sometimes from animal to person, avoiding each other completely or vaccinating is the answer. Everything in between are palliatives and by definition result in infections.
      There has long been a solution to this virus, but even doctors are sidelined in this. A SAFE remedy.
      Are you so ill-informed about the fact that this vaccine, which has not been fully tested and is not safe at all??!!
      More and more, also internationally, doctors, politicians and even virologists etc. warn
      for this vaccine.
      How can you call this fallacies.

      • Pieter says up

        Hmm, KhunTak,
        What you say is not correct. The number of skeptics among scientists, doctors and other experts is actually declining.
        The resistance to the vaccine among 'ordinary' citizens is largely caused by the unknown. People are reluctant, prefer not to have a shot yet, because people are not completely reassured about the (side) effect of the vaccine. But the more that becomes known about it and the more countries (and drug authorities) approve the vaccine, the more confidence there is. Two months ago it was still 70% who indicated that they did not want an injection yet, that has already fallen enormously.
        The vaccine has been developed many times faster than any other drug. That makes you suspicious. But gradually everyone is starting to realize that something like this is possible if we join forces worldwide.
        (@editors: I am aware of the high off-topic content; but an incorrect statement such as above cannot and must not remain undisputed)

  37. shangha says up

    totally agree thailand is safer than the netherlands just follow all the rules in thailand then everything will be fine ..

  38. Khunchai says up

    Short but simple, traveling to Thailand is not anti-social, but it is unwise because traveling now in general increases the risk of spread rather than reducing it.


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