I’ve landed safely at Suvarnabhumi Airport. We disembarked from the airplane at 6:05am and were in the van leaving the airport at 6:49am. This is a THREAD of my experience of arriving with Thailand Pass and then the hotel. Overall, it was fast and efficient. I give them 10/10. Image
[2] A short distance from the gate we came to this area where there were many chairs set up. We just kept walking to the far end. However, if there are several flights landing at the same time, you might have to sit and wait here. Image
[3] I reached the queue for checking COE and Thailand Pass documents at 6:07am (3 minutes after disembarking) and I was finished here by 6:12am. Very fast. Though mainly due to only one flight landing and only 100 people on our flight. Image
[4] At the counter, I told him I had a QR Code and handed over my negative Covid test and my passport with TM6. He then asked for my vaccine certificate. That was it. He didn’t scan my QR Code. He didn’t ask for my insurance or my hotel booking. But they did for the COE people. ImageImageImage
[5] Next was Immigration. All counters were manned and there were no queues. I arrived here at 6:14am and left at 6:30am. The reason it took so long was because the dates on my re-entry permit were stamped in the wrong place and she had to call her supervisor. Image
[6] Next up was baggage claim. My bag was one of the last to come out at 6:37am, about half an hour after disembarking from the airplane. Which isn’t bad at all. Image
[7] After Customs, there was an area set up with desks where people were waiting from various hotels. They checked my name and then called the hotel transfer van. Image
[8] My hotel had a choice of shared van or private limousine. The driver was dressed in protective clothing. He sprayed our luggage and we sat in the back of the van. There was a plastic partition between us and the driver. Total time from plane to van was 45 minutes. Image
[9] As it was a shared van, I was concerned about air quality. The CO2 reading started at 559ppm but quickly rose to 2066ppm. Which meant I was breathing in air that had been in someone else’s lungs. I asked the driver to turn off recirculating air. It then improved quite quickly Image
[10] I arrived at my hotel in Bangkok at 7:31am. Check-in was done in an area outside. She asked for my passport and departure card. Image
[11] Next was the RT-PCR test. This was done by someone from the hospital. This was slightly more painful than the one I did in London on Monday. She also gave me an ATK test to do myself on day 6-7. She said I should take a picture of the result and email back to the hotel. Image
[12] I was in my room by 7:43am. You have to stay here until the results come back. She said at around noon tomorrow. They don’t give you a keycard so you cannot leave the room.

From airplane to my hotel room, it took 90 minutes. Overall a good experience and no real hassles. Image
[13] In my hotel room, I scanned a QR Code to order my three meals. I had choices between Asian and Western. I could also choose time slots for the food to be delivered. They then knock on the door when they deliver. When I went out, I saw just the food in front of my room. Image
[14] The meals are included in the hotel package. My first meal back in Thailand was appropriately, stir-fried basil and minced pork with a fried egg. For dessert I had mixed fruit. I had also brought some snacks with me from London #Thailand Image
[15] Someone sent me this from yesterday (bottom) which is a big difference to my arrival today (top). He said four flights arrived at the same time and as everyone had COE, there were multiple documents to be checked. He said it took more than 3 hours to get out of the airport. Image
[16] During booking, my hotel said if I arrived before 8am I could get results the same day. My test was at 7:39am but now they said I must wait until the next day. Other hotels are quicker. One person told me his test yesterday was at 10am and he checked out at 6pm the same day. Image
11:28am on Day Two: The hotel reception just called to say my test results are back and that I can now check out. Someone has to come up to get me as she said the lift doesn’t work without a room keycard.

I landed in Thailand at 6am yesterday and I took the test 28 hours ago.
My SHA+ hotel was Hyatt Place in Bangkok. I give them 5/5 for food and room, and 2/5 for communication. The hotel was really slow in answering emails during booking. Plus said test results will be same day for our flight. But that’s really fault of partner hospital who I give 1/5 Image
[19] I asked my taxi driver if he was worried that I had just arrived in #Thailand. He quickly replied by saying “no” as he’s fully vaccinated. He then added he’s more scared of ordinary Thai passengers than foreign tourists as foreigners had been vaccinated and tested properly. Image
[20] I also talked to the driver about the need for better ventilation in his taxi. The high level as soon as I got in meant I was breathing air from someone else’s lungs. I asked him to turn off recirculating and within 10 minutes it was a good level #COVIDisAirborne #CovidCO2 Image

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More from @RichardBarrow

25 Oct
Until the Thailand Pass system is launched on 1st November, you must continue to use COE. In fact, the first person with a Thailand Pass is not expected to arrive until 12th November, as it takes 7 days to process. [THREAD]
Vaccinated people from countries on the list must book one night at a SHA+ hotel which will include hotel transfer and a RT-PCR test. In theory you can book a hotel in Pattaya or Hua Hin. But it’s advisable to spend the first night in Bangkok.
After you go through Immigration and customs, you cannot have a friend meet you. The driver will either take you straight to the hotel, if they have facilities for testing, or he will take you to a testing center first and then your hotel.
Read 6 tweets
14 Oct
Today I’m at the Department of Disease Control to apply for my yellow vaccine passport which I will use for international travel. I’m applying at the office in Nonthaburi, but you can also apply at your local health office or provincial hospital. This THREAD gives you the steps.
[2/6] I made an appointment to apply for the ‘COVID-19 Certificate of Vaccination’ from the website of the Division of Communicable Diseases: vpassport.ddc.moph.go.th. But please note, after 30 October, you must use the Mor Prom app to make an appointment.
[3/6] My appointment was at the Department of Disease Control in Nonthaburi (Map: goo.gl/maps/KdeCViUtA…). You need to go to Building 5. The security guards told me where to go before I asked. At the lobby entrance, you pick up a queue number and wait to be called.
Read 7 tweets
12 Oct
This is going to be a THREAD about Khlong Phra Khanong. The starting point of the canal is the Chao Phraya River in Klong Toei Port and it goes eastwards beyond Srinakarin Road. I will be posting in this thread every time I come here to explore #BKKcanals #walkingBKK #Bangkok Image
As you can see, Khlong Phra Khanong is not a straight canal. In fact it’s a natural river that has been straightened a little over the years to make it a more efficient “highway”. The community along the banks date back to the pre-Ayutthaya period #BKKcanals #walkingBKK #Bangkok ImageImage
I was hoping to start my exploration today by taking a public boat from Phra Khanong Pier. Unfortunately due to lack of interest it isn’t running at the moment. But you can rent a long-tailed boat for around ฿1,000.

📍MAP: goo.gl/maps/YYXJvDDxP… #BKKcanals #walkingBKK #Bangkok Image
Read 9 tweets
1 Oct
This weekend I am exploring the coastline from Samut Prakan to Samut Sakhon with my friends @chilipastetour and @DavidLuekens. There's a new road along Sapphasamit Canal that now goes all the way. My map notes for this trip are here: thailandphotomap.com/exploring-the-… #bkkdaytrip #Thailand.
If you switch to a satellite image, you can see that the coastline is mainly fish and shrimp farms. There are not many roads here. This section is actually in Bangkok. Yes, Bangkok has a coastline too in Bang Khun Thian district. #bkkdaytrip #Thailand.
[01] Our first stop on the coastal tour is Phra Samut Chedi. This is the symbol of Samut Province. When it was first built, it used to be on an island on the Chao Phraya River but it’s now on the West bank.

📍MAP: goo.gl/maps/oJFyt5u1z… #bkkdaytrip #Thailand.
Read 17 tweets
29 Sep
This morning I visited the new Samut Prakan Immigration office in Bang Phli. It has temporarily moved from Paknam to Thip Nimitra Market (pronounced tip-ni-mit). They will be building a five-storey building on the Paknam waterfront. It will probably take them a few years [THREAD]
[2] Thip Nimitra Market is on Theparak Road opposite Banplee Hospital. It is easy to spot as it is bright orange. Immigration is on the second floor. Just use the stairs in the corner that you can see in this picture.

📍MAP: goo.gl/maps/Vvvm8gPaj…
[3] Samut Prakan Immigration is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm. They are closed for lunch from 12pm to 1pm. The address for 90 day reports is Temporary Service Center, Samutprakan Immigration, Thipnimitra Market Building A, 2nd floor Bangphil Yai, Bangphil District, Samutprakan 10540
Read 7 tweets
28 Aug
😷 I’ve been invited to join an international campaign to research the potential dangers in shops and indoor venues. In this mega THREAD, I will be using a CO2 meter to measure the Covid-19 risks that we all face #Thailand #COVIDisAirborne #โควิดแพร่ทางอากาศ #CovidCO2 #โควิดco2 Image
Measuring the virus in the air is not easy. But CO2 meters recognize exhaled air inside rooms and so is a good proxy for the aerosols that carry the virus. If it’s 1,500 ppm that means 1.5% of the air has been in someone else’s lungs. Today I tested CO2 in three shops.
The first lesson I learned today is that you should be very careful in a vehicle. Anything over 800 ppm is risky if you’re not alone. With recirculating turned on it was 1885 ppm. In a taxi, ask the driver to turn it off or open a window or two #CovidCO2 #โควิดco2 #WearAMask Image
Read 26 tweets

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