Old Nomad

I generally don't like buffets. In Jomtien I only know the breakfast buffet at Danmark Restaurant in Soi White House

I assume every place with a CC terminal that accepts contactless payment (visible by to contactless symbol).

"This allows me online use of the cards. But some hotels need to see the actual card, which requires me to go to America to get the physical card." You could register your card with Google or Apply pay (don't need the physical card for this). This enables you to pay in shops and hotels and even get money from ATMs that support cardless withdrawals. As a precaution for yours and similar problems I carry at least two CC from different banks and different CC organizations. Details (in German) here: karten - Weltweit im Ruhestand

The German "social insurance" provides a pension and nursing care. Pensions are paid in full regardless of where in the world you live and increases are not frozen (as I have heard for UK). There are restrictions for disability pensions. Nursing care is only paid when living in Germany. The retirement age is gradually shifted to 67. One can claim the old-age pension early from the age of 63, but with a deduction of up to 14.4 percent.

In many years they never bothered me. A friendly no always was enough.

How old were you at 17?

Jokes aside. When staying at a new hotel I always get two business cards of the place and put one in my wallet and the other one in as pocket of my trousers. This not only helps me being confident to find back but also sometime makes it easier to show a taxi driver where to go.

This would be relevant for some German expats. While Germany has a tax agreement with Thailand, many Germans choose to be taxed in Thailand, relying on TH not collecting the tax on their pensions even though it is entitled to do so. The German tax on typical pensions is not high, e.g. 63€ tax for 1700€ per month pension in 2020.

In Germany many use walkers like these https://mot-shop.com/products/nowego-carbon-rollator-sonderedition https://www.amazon.de/s?k=rollator&__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=1AQ8K6NOXTTN8&sprefix=rollator+%2Caps%2C152&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 Besides giving support while walking, one can sit on them to take a pause anytime.

A new Dengue vaccine Qdenga was authorized in the EU. In contrast to the older vaccine this one is said to be safe for use without a prior infection.

Simple Simon for a good englisch breakfast. Surf Kitchen at the beach front. Kiss Restaurant for cheap thai and western dishes at rhompo market. Street food at rhompo market, in the evening only. Akvavit at the beach front has good western and thai food. Very clean - one of the few places I eat a salad. Ons Moeder for breakfast. Has the cleanest toilet I ever saw in Jomtien ???? Miyazaki in Pattaya. Not for sushi but for other japanese dishes. There was a very good Japanese Restaurant for Sushi and Sashimi in Pattaya 2nd road - on the opposite side of the airplane. Forgot the name, has lots of ads outside. Doesn't look like much, but I really liked the food. They have a second restaurant in Terminal 21.

Made me remember the following (not that I live by this): “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” ― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

https://www.chiangmailocator.com/wiki-traffic-rules-in-thailand-and-how-to-avoid-traffic-accidents-p169

As much as I love traveling to exotic locations, to find oneself might be easier in ones own culture. A new culture might be too distracting. Assuming your are Australian: how about finding a retreat in NZ. https://www.theurbanlist.com/nz/a-list/new-zealands-best-retreats Some answered you were too old. That is nonsense! Even psychotherapie is worth it at any age.

Did you try one of the repair shops at Tukcom Pattaya mall?

No complaint. As far as I remember I had to sign something saying that I had been warned and was informed that I need a visa for my type of travel. Violation or law or not: I will not go through this again, it took about an hour of waiting and discussions.

The same happened to me about 2.5 years ago at DM airport. I made 3 trips out of TH (Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam) - each between 3 and 4 weeks long. Three IO talked to me for a long time. They insisted I needed a proper Visa. Had to sign a report. Will definitely get a visa next time.

I gave up eating airline food (including Thai Airways) many years ago. Generally don't like the taste and strongly dislike eating cramped up. I bring a pack of chips because sometimes I crave something salty during long flights. Instead I eat something at the airport before the flight and have a meal at my destination (not at the airport).

"The minimum monthly income required was raised from RM10,000 a month to RM40,000 and there was a major increase in the required Fixed Deposit to RM1 million." The Sararwak My Secound Home programme might be an alternatvie.

According to the German insurer association (Gesamtverbands der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) electric cars do not catch fire more often than cars with combustion engines. Source: https://www.next-mobility.de/brennen-e-autos-wirklich-leichter-a-1029962/ The statistics for electric cars in the US may differ.

1. AZ, 2, BioNTech Both in Germany. 2 months after 2nd shot an IgG test (SARS-CoV-2 S-ak quantitative) shows 3670 BAU/ml antibodies. Will try to get 3rd shot about 5 mon after 2nd.

In this context "False Balance" is a subject to think about / be aware of: "False balance is a bias, which usually stems from an attempt to avoid bias, and gives unsupported or dubious positions an illusion of respectability. It creates a public perception that some issues are scientifically contentious, though in reality they aren't, therefore creating doubt about the scientific state of research, and can be exploited by interest groups such as corporations like the fossil fuel industry or the tobacco industry, or ideologically motivated activists such as vaccination opponents or creationists."

I don't know the specific size limits for airlines in TH. In my general experience with carry-on luggage on airlines allowed weight is the more limiting factor. While weight and size are often not checked I prefer to adhere to the limits so I never have to worry.