A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[Froggy]

Its Sunday and time for a good Singapore breakfast - mee rebus

 

[Froggy]

Went to a Chinese restaurant for dimsum. Thailand may have many ethnic Chinese and Chinese food including dimsum is common however good dimsum is very hard to come by, very very hard. This is a good restaurant, Hong Bao.



Pickled radish

Roast duck and pork belly

Siew mai

Har gao

Chicken feet

Steamed pork ribs

Fish maw soup with crab meat

Long beans with ham

Steamed goby fish (soon hock)

 

[mudhatter]

Its Sunday and time for a good Singapore breakfast - mee rebus

Malay breakfast.

Better to call it Malaysian.

Good to see ASEAN countries are well represented in each others' territories.

 

[Froggy]

Last evening came home from work decided to prepare a special breakfast for the next day - Singapore style carrot cake. Actually use turnip instead of carrot.

Ingredient

Fry dry shrimps

Add Chinese sausage

Add shredded turnip

Stir fry till cooked

Add rice flour

Put into baking pan to steam

Steam for 45 mins, let it cool then keep in refrigerator till next day

This morning, prepare breakfast

 

[Froggy]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...6zRO378fut3CD_wVIxa-lMble0uWDrGy-QBMGmMury1Ek

More than 2 million tourists have rushed to Thailand this year

Foreign tourist arrivals totalled 2.03 million between Jan 1 and June 26. PHOTO: REUTERS

BANGKOK (BLOOMBERG) - Indians and Malaysians are leading a tourist rush to Thailand after it relaxed entry rules, with total arrivals topping 2 million since the start of the year and providing a fillip to the South-east Asian nation's sluggish economy.

Foreign tourist arrivals totalled 2.03 million between Jan 1 and June 26, deputy government spokesman Traisuree Taisaranakul said in a statement on Monday (June 27).

Travellers from India, Malaysia, Britain, Singapore and the US topped the list, she added.

Thailand's tourism industry, which was nearly decimated during the pandemic, expects average monthly arrivals to surge to about 1.5 million with the country scrapping a pre-travel registration and mandatory medical insurance from July 1.

South-east Asia's second-largest economy has rolled back most of the pandemic-era curbs on travel and businesses, and last week lifted a mask mandate while allowing pubs and bars to return to normal operating hours.

The measures are part of efforts to shore up an economy which depended on tourism to generate about 12 per cent of gross domestic product before the pandemic.

A weaker currency and the recent legalisation of cannabis may also help bring back more tourists to Thailand, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said last week.

The ministry has set a "conservative" forecast to attract 7.5 million foreign arrivals this year, based on the assumption that Chinese tourists will remain absent due to that country's zero-Covid-19 policy and factoring in the war in Ukraine, he added.

While Thailand is unlikely to see pre-pandemic levels of tourist arrivals without Chinese visitors, a gradual easing of travel curbs for students and business executives and resumption of flights between the two countries offered optimism of the return of holidaymakers in the second half, Ms Traisuree said in a statement on Sunday.

Chinese tourists made up almost 30 per cent of the total of 40 million tourists Thailand received in 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to official data.

 

[jw5]

Last evening came home from work decided to prepare a special breakfast for the next day - Singapore style carrot cake. Actually use turnip instead of carrot.

Ingredient

Fry dry shrimps

Add Chinese sausage

Add shredded turnip

Stir fry till cooked

Add rice flour

Put into baking pan to steam

Steam for 45 mins, let it cool then keep in refrigerator till next day

This morning, prepare breakfast

Looks very professional.

 

[Froggy]

Late lunch, sashimi at Zuru

Just flown in the same day, pick your choice, we picked everything on the tray

Preparing our sashimi feast

Here it comes

Maruaji (mackerel)

Kobudai

Iwakaki (Hokkaido oyster)

Akagai (Giant blood clam or cockles)

Kamasu (Barracuda)

Uni

Sashimi

Dig in

Steamed leg of taraba king crab

Iwakaki

Nodokuro

Japanese sweet potatoes

 

[Rus]

Last evening came home from work decided to prepare a special breakfast for the next day - Singapore style carrot cake. Actually use turnip instead of carrot

Wow! It must be delicious from the look. Can send some over by Grab?

 

[Froggy]

Had a simple lunch yesterday, just a soup and a starter.

Starter is anchovies

Soup is this

My simple lunch

 

[Froggy]

Another traditional Singapore breakfast all prepared at home. "Economy Beehoon" breakfast.

 

[Froggy]

This morning went for a walk near home to look at typical Thai breakfasts from the street. Hope you enjoy

 

[Froggy]

It’s been bloody 2 years since I last got a shave in a barber shop as it was not allowed due to covid. But since masks wearing had been lifted this month shaving is finally allowed.

Got a good face shave a few minutes ago at my regular

 

[Froggy]

Sometimes I really wonder if its all worth it.

I spent the whole morning since 7am going to the market and then prepare and then cooked this meal for lunch and I finished at 11.30am.

And then I was reminded "It's not the Destination. It's the Journey." I felt happy once again.

Sunday Nasi Lemak Lunch

Its got, sambal egg, fried mackerel, ikan bilis sambal with cucumber, crispy ikan bilis with peanuts, beef rendang

 

[Froggy]

Prepared another portion for the boss of the house

 

[Froggy]

At The Grill Tokyo in Siam Paragon - https://goo.gl/maps/7yiRBcCqpjH3g3pL8

Salad

Grilled yellowtail

Shabu

Burger patty

Wagyu steak

Dessert

 

[Froggy]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tr...1&pub_date=20220704123000&seq_num=23&si=44594

Thai Airways aims to finish restructuring in 2024 as travel rebounds
Increased passenger traffic helps carrier halve capital needs under updated plan

Thai Airways International filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
YOHEI MURAMATSU, Nikkei staff writerJuly 2, 2022 00:44 JST

BANGKOK -- Thai Airways International on Friday announced that it expects to complete its capital restructuring in 2024 through a debt-for-equity swap, as easing travel restrictions from COVID-19 lift its performance.

The embattled flag carrier has submitted an updated turnaround plan to the authorities, and will seek approval from creditors in a meeting around August or September, pending a green light from the court.

The plan will convert the entire principal of Thai Airways' debt from the Thai government, its main creditor, as well as a portion of the principal from financial institutions into equity. The carrier expects to receive 80 billion baht ($2.26 billion) of capital through the process, eliminating its capital deficiency.

Thai Airways also said it expects to resume trading on the stock market in 2025.

The airline had previously sought an additional 50 billion baht in order to continue its operations. The new plan halves this figure to 25 billion baht, as a result of layoffs and asset sales, as well as improved cash flow from increased passenger traffic.

Amid a recovery in global travel, the carrier's average daily passenger numbers increased sixfold from January to around 12,600 in June. The load factor, or the percentage of available seats filled by passengers, gained 40 points to 75%.

The figures are approaching pre-pandemic levels, and Thai Airways is on track for a faster turnaround than previously planned, the carrier's recovery plan administrator Piyasvasti Amranand told reporters Friday.

Thai Airways filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020. Its original turnaround plan, approved by the court in June 2021, has a five-year deadline, with the option for a two-year extension.

 

[Froggy]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/s...scourages-discounts-wants-high-value-tourists

'Sell premium': Thailand discourages discounts, wants high-value tourists

Thailand has received about two million foreign visitors in the first six months of this year. PHOTO: AFP
Published 3 Hours Ago

BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's hotels, businesses and private hospitals should refrain from offering big discounts to lure tourists and focus instead on raising the country's value as a premium travel destination, government ministers said on Monday (July 4).

Thailand has received about two million foreign visitors in the first six months of this year, a steady revival after its tourism industry almost collapsed due to the pandemic and more than 18 months of complex and costly entry requirements.

"We cannot let people come to Thailand and say because it's cheap," Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at an event at Bangkok's main international airport to promote tourism.

"Instead they should say, 'because it works, it's reasonable', that's where we can increase value," he said, echoing remarks by the country's tourism minister.

Mr Anutin likened the approach to that of luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton.

"Hold your ground. Sell premium. The more expensive, the more customers," he said. "Otherwise Louis Vuitton wouldn't have any sales."

One of Asia's most popular travel destinations, Thailand welcomed a record of nearly 40 million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019, who spent 1.91 trillion baht (S$74.70 billion), equivalent to 11 per cent of gross domestic product.

Arrivals slumped to 6.7 million the following year, and down to 428,000 in 2021, despite calibrated moves to end quarantine requirements.

It is forecasting 10 million foreign arrivals in 2022.

Earlier this year, Thailand launched a long-term visa programme for wealthy foreigners and skilled workers, sticking to its plan to lure high-spending visitors, despite major job and business losses in tourism during the pandemic.

Comment from Froggy - This Mr. Anutin seemed to be High on marijuana

 

[Charlie99]

Dinner at an Isaan restaurant last night

Love restaurants like this with lots of parking space

Very simple and rustic

Outdoor dining

Indoor dining

Raw vegetables

Deep fried duck beak

Grilled pork collar meat

Grilled chicken (whole)

Somtam with crab

Chicken tamarind tomyam

Korat style fried glass noodle

The spread

All these with 2 bottles of Heineken and a bottle of Coke costs only 930 baht or $37.00

Very reasonable, or I would say that the price is cheap.

 

[Froggy]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Te...1&pub_date=20220704190000&seq_num=14&si=44594

Thailand's AIS acquires broadband internet provider 3BB
Telcom spends $908m to grab bigger market share ahead of rivals' megamerger

AIS will buy a 99.87% stake in 3BB, a leading broadband internet provider. (Source photos by Yumi Kotani and screenshot from Triple T's website)
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerJuly 4, 2022 15:59 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's biggest mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) will spend a total of 32.4 billion baht ($908 million) to acquire shares of an internet service operator and infrastructure provider to expand its customer base ahead of a huge merger planned by rivals True Corp. and Total Access Communication (DTAC).

AIS will buy a 99.87% stake in internet service provider 3BB for 19.5 billion baht.

The company will also spend 12.9 billion baht to acquire 19% of Jasmine Broadband Internet Infrastructure Fund in a bid to strengthen its fiber-optic internet services.

"This [latest] acquisition will enhance consumer access to a broader and better quality of service by improving broadband inclusion in new areas targeting the [northern parts of the country] and non-city areas," said Tee Seeumpornroj, AIS chief finance officer, in a statement on Monday.

He added that the acquisition was expected to be completed and approved by the Office of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) by the first quarter of 2023.

Currently, AIS has 1.9 million customers and the acquisition will increase this to 4.3 million, nearing its rival True, which has 4.7 million.

The acquisition was part of AIS's strategy to expand its customer base while focusing on 5G infrastructure buildout, a crucial part of a digital overhaul called Thailand 4.0 for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. Wireless carriers are racing to capitalize on the country's 5G ambitions.

True and DTAC, the country's second- and third-largest internet providers by subscribers, respectively, say they are merging to secure capital and resources for the transition to 5G.

In April, shareholders of True and DTAC approved the merger, with the companies expecting the process to be completed in the third quarter of the year. Still, the outlook for the deal remains uncertain after a supervisory authority urged the telecom regulator NBTC to stop it out of interest to consumers.

While their merger awaits regulatory approval, AIS CEO Somchai Lertsutiwong vowed his company will continue to invest more, not only in internet broadband but also in telecom networks -- particularly 5G -- to maintain its dominant position in the country.

AIS says its 5G network now covers 75% of Thailand and plans to increase coverage to 85% by the end of the year.

Founded in 1986, AIS started as a computer rental business. In October 1990, it launched analog 900 MHz mobile phone services with a 20-year monopoly concession from the Telephone Organization of Thailand.

AIS posted a net profit of 6.3 billion baht in the first quarter of the year, down 4.5% from 6.6 billion baht in the same period of last year.

 

[Froggy]

This morning was craving for soya sauce fried noodles (豉油王炒麵) so I cooked it with fried chicken wings.



My breakfast

Very tasty noodle

Crispy chicken wings