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.