It starts at the airport in Bangkok: Not only alll was well and neatly organized with the immigration officers even being friendly and welcoming, also from touchdown to hotel limousine it was 40 minutes (and this during a relatively busy afternoon arrival time) .

Not many "genuine" tourists tough, with backpackers and some elderly (white) couples looking for winter sun.

The whole experience is pleasant, but somewhat patronizing with for examle Santiago de Chile being more stressful, but "bona fide". Thais are scared about Covid and are running around like chickens - unfortunately they also will all get it as we did .

A special positive mention for the Shangri La hotel package, a really nice experience with impeccable service. They even thoroughly polished our nice Rinmowa bags with alcohol upon arrival . THB 17000 is a god price with private transfer, testing and (nice) breakfast. Dinner can be ordered with 20 % discount from their à la carte menu with wine available. A real world class product! And when checking out this morning profusely thanking them, they even provided their email address to send result of day 5 test stating that they understand that we may not be comfortable with the Moo Chana app . Fantastic, we did not ask for it.

This said beside the hot climate and the pollution, Thailand may have changed an we may consider it as a stopover in the future thinking at nice places like my friends at the Rabbit Resort in Pattaya or the "railway hotel" Centara Grand in Hua Hin.

For business and dealing by counting on Thais, I am still done tought. My future posts will focus on nice landscapes, good accomodation and Sixt which has now BMW X1 model rental cars.......