My friend Jim, wife Atsuko, and myself landed in Bangkok around 11:30 at night on Feb. 22. Remarkably, we were able to walk right up to the immigration desks, whereas we are accustomed to waiting in a line of several hundred people. After clearing immigration with our stack of documents, we were ushered to an area where we waited for a specially designated taxi which would drive us directly to an approved covid quarantine hotel.
Getting permission to come to Thailand would not have been possible without the persistence of Jim and our friend, Fa, in Thailand. Thai immigration will only grant entry to people bearing a document called a Thai Pass. In order to secure a Thai Pass, we had to provide proof of covid vaccinations, buy health insurance and provide documents of such, in case one of us should catch covid while here.
We also had to provide proof of reservation at a special covid hotel where we were tested upon arrival and quarantined for one day.
In addition to that, we had to provide proof of reservation at another covid hotel, where we would again be tested and quarantined on the fifth day after our arrival. There might have been another document or two required. It took us several days just to secure all of the required documentation before applying for the Thai Pass.
Upon release from the first covid quarantine hotel, we were surprised to see everyone wearing masks. I mean literally everyone! People driving cars, riding motorcycles, walking the streets, exercising in the park, or any other activity you can imagine. Apparently, the Thai government is extremely insistent and vigilant about masks. Infractions are punishable by a 40,000 baht ($1200) fine. This was really surprising to us since Thai citizens generally enjoy more individual freedom than we do in America.
In addition to the mask mandates, every business, hotel, restaurant, and public place has a special gadget placed at the entrance which measures a person’s temperature when the hand is passed in front of it. A person is stationed near the gadget to ensure that anyone with a fever is denied entry.
Hand sanitizer dispensers are everywhere and sinks with soap are often seen along the sidewalks and in public parks. It’s interesting to note that social distancing here is only one meter. Lines indicating one meter spacing are on the floors of every business.
With all of the restrictions and mandates, travel to Thailand isn’t particularly desirable at this time. Wearing a mask every waking moment in 80 and 90 degree temperatures and high humidity isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. It’s not unusual for our masks to become saturated with sweat, severely restricting the air flow. We have taken to carrying extra masks with us when we go out so we can change out of the sweat saturated ones. At my advancing age, I often require eyeglasses which are perpetually fogged up.
The hotel we are staying at has very few guests and only one of its three restaurants is open. Some mornings, we are the only people seated for breakfast in the 200 person capacity dining room.
Our Latest Gem Expedition 