AlfonsV

Often Thai men let their small children recklessly behind without any empathy and responsibility. Sad but nothing really new.

coffee mate is so artificial and not tasty, I don't take it anymore since years. I changed to Americano black

After having read the comparison TH vs PI in detail I am happy to live in TH even I needed to accustom to some unpleasant issues - but which country in the world is free from even in the Western world?

I did understand but wrote about food

For me food is important, however I always wonder why people emigrate to a country where they do not like the local cuisine and keep eating their western food, in American chains such as Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut or Sizzler for instance. As in an expensive "food ghetto" of expats.

suggestion : change to simple O-visa and you can choose the insurance and the coverage you want, if any. As far as I know they will give you the simple O-visa anyway as the O-A is the one you need if you enter from your homeland.

It may depend in which society you move. In almost 40 years I met only a handful of unfriendly Thai people, mainly in Thai embassies. If you are approaching the people friendly and open minded and speak a little bit Thai it's fine.

Compulsory insurance is only needed if you continue the Non Immi O-A Retirement visa. At least in Chiang Mai. Ask and confirm at your immi.

If you enter with a tourist visa and apply later for a retired visa based on 800k you will get automatically a NON-O which not needs any insurance (at least in CNX). Thus you are free to choose an insurance or not and if you like to have any you are free to choose a domestic or an international insurance. There is no need to have a O-A which is only required if you apply a visa from abroad, i. e. your home. I did so spending a few days in Luang Prabang (even 1-2 night would be enough). Inexpensive Laos Air starts from BKK or CNX, is easy to book online and reliable.

Some years ago I went to Mr Krit. Formerly he was in the city, then moved in direction to Hang Dong or to Hang Dong. I kept 2 phone numbers not knowing if they are still working. 081 49 69 143 and 091 851 21 85. Possibly his wife takes the phone.

From my experiences in governmental or private hospitals, at least in the bigger cities, the doctors and nurses do their very best. The health system is much better than in the real third world. However, in very special issues, treatments and surgeries, knowledge, equipment and medicine yet didn't reach the level of more specialized hospitals/clinics in more advanced countries (Japan or Switzerland for instance). Some people travel to Thailand to get a better treatment but some Thai people travel to Japan for difficult surgeries if they may afford.

Nowadays you do not need newspapers any more to be informed.

From my experience I completely agree. The fears about loosing face (teachers, children, parents, friends, neighbours) is a very big obstacle in this society. These fears are culturally and mentally so deep rooted that I am afraid they will "never" overcome. Remark: in some schools you can pay for a certificate even you was absent half of the time.

Nowadays you do not need newspapers any more to be informed.

In an upcountry school a 15/16 y/o boy didn't dare to ask his teacher about an issue he didn't understand when he was sitting in the classroom. Because the question "WHY" would be taken as an offence and undermine the teacher's authority. This is respect for elders ad absurdum based on hundreds of years of strict social hierarchy.

A man organized training projects for youths on behalf of a foundation in several countries in Asia and Central America. After only 2 visits to Thailand, he summarized his impression as follows: "Here, form means everything, content means nothing". He was referring to the many ceremonies for teachers, officials, uniformed people and monks, flag roll calls, group photos, presentation of gift baskets, etc. The problem discussed in this forum is the glaring shortage in school education that has been lamented for decades, perpetuated by poorly qualified teachers, especially in rural areas. It is a mix of ignorance, disinterest, belief in authority and pride in "Thainess" which may then lead to arrogance. Some years ago in Thailand, an internationally binding English baseline test was held among all Thai(!) English teachers. I forget how many teachers there were, 20,000 or 40,000? Half of the English teachers failed the test and only 6 (sic!) in the whole country passed the test 100%! Should we laugh or cry? The outcry from politicians and journalists faded as quickly as the one about the annual Smoky Season in the North. About cars: How many Thais don't know that Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche are German products! Apropos general knowledge: Almost all Thais "confuse" Austria with Australia, if they even know that Austria exists. They are always surprised that the symbol of the Red Cross is the inverse in color of the Swiss national flag and that the founder was a Swiss. Or that England is an island. Or you are asked if Brazil is in Africa. If you mention Germany you often get Hitler mentioned immediately (with an admiring undertone) to show that the guy "knows" something, but without any idea about WW2 and the crimes of the NAZIS. "Jews" - who are they? It's just more comfortable to watch stereotypical soap operas or European football where stars even can be called by their names. But honestly: In Europe surveys on the street also show a frightening level of knowledge and absurd answers to the simplest questions.

my experience with underwear is similar. 2 of 5 times the size was not correct, 1 time the color

@JanPederIn CM the office for TM 30 is no longer in the 2nd floor but behind the main building next the copy shop.

Even the online report generally works it's never 100% reliable. It's easy to get the stamp at the drive-in counter outside of the immi, in short time, also a pedestrian.

I have no experience with canvas paintings. However, before I had left Thailand after my second visit to Thailand as a tourist, almost 40 years ago, I got an export permit for a very small wooden Buddha image in rural style, at that time worth THB 40(?). At the office I presented 4 pictures, seen from each side. I learned how much the bureaucracy is overdoing and the effort to do was unnecessary. Thus, during some 30 years I carried in my suitcase a lot of Buddha images from tiny size to 30 cm hight out of the country. Even it was x-rayed it was never a problem. When I immigrated to Thailand some years ago, I brought all of them back, again in my suitcase and step by step. Although always x-rayed there was never a critical question or a request to open the luggage. Only once an officer recognized one of the Buddha statues and smiled when I said "Buddha is come home". However, I always avoided to carry a Buddha image in my hand luggage.

The difference is that the migrants in Switzerland usually are relatively quick integrated and are allowed to work after a while - as far as I know. In Thailand, the elder expats who are not integrated in a working process which would increase the GDP. And if they are working than it is for a international company and the net product doesn't remain in Thailand. I am not an economist, perhaps I am wrong.

RAM do the same

The PCR test abroad before travel to LOSO is the minor issue. However, the awfully programmed Thai Pass procedure and the following impacts at arrival is the real obstacle - not only for tourists but for expats as well. Better 1 PCR test in old Europe and then let us in without any restriction.

My plane arrived together with 2 or 3 others more or less at the same time, hundreds of people in front of me. We have to wait 1,5 hours to finally reach the immigration counter. I have to wait another 20-30 minutes while other guests to the same hotel were collected. The hotel was called ".... Airport Hotel" but the van needed some 20 minutes to get there, without traffic jam and mainly on the highway. I arrived the hotel some 3 hours after the plane was landed. Immediately I was tested at a desk in front of the hotel and got the result after 13 hours. Surprisingly the quarantine allowed freely moving in the building, the court and the restaurant. Staff and room were very nice, however as the T&G package was cheap the buffet was not pleasant, probably better I would have ordered from the menu. When I checked out they gave me a ATK test set which I used some days later recognizing that it was officially useless. I installed the Mor Chana app on 2 phones, one with a European sim, the other with a Thai sim. One does not work, the other shows always the same, never ever got a message, never ever someone was asking me if I installed it on my phone. It's useless. I live in 5 minutes walking distance from a well-known private hospital and 10 minutes to drive to the university hospital, however they are not allowed to do the second PCR test but only 3 recommended ones on the list. I called all 3. The nearest No 1 was fully booked on that day and it was already my 7th day. No 2 send me directly to No 3 where I arrived after a 20 minutes ride by Grab. As there was not the smallest hint in English where the test station is located I have to ask 5 people and going around to find it temporarily installed in the parking space in the basements of building no 3. Exactly on the "plastic wall" in front of registration desk there was the first paper pinned with some short information in English. The test itself was done in a nearby "tent". I got the result by e-mail on the same day. What else to say than "amazing Thailand".....

First you need the most clear QR code possible. Often paper prints are not clear enough. Then you have to create a picture by cutting it out very precisely, i. e. only 1 mm margin around.