Lorry

Correct. And if you meet certain conditions (like health insurance and income, the 2 main requirements in the EU and the 2 problems of OP), you can live in Thailand, in New Caledonia or on Mars.

As others have noted, insurance companies will bring almost all patients from Vang Vieng to Udon or Bangkok. Hospitals in Laos are very basic. The one in Vang Vieng is a better one, new, they do have doors, glass windows, an ambulance, they can handle basic stuff - but of course, not an ICU patient. The transfer to Thailand is often slow. For example, not every insurance is able to get a helicopter in Laos (there is one). Methanol intoxication requires fast treatment. If the doctor in Vang Vieng doesn't dare to give iv ethanol (= normal alcohol) - he has no diagnostic means to check for methanol - and therapy is only started in Bangkok, the patient probably won't survive.

Fermentation of fruit also gives you methanol. Apple liquor, stuff like that. If it's whiskey containing methanol, the methanol has been added.

I beg to differ. The TRD hasn't made a clear decision - we get as many opinions from the TRD as they have staff. This was to be expected. The first time they really demonstrated in public what a complete mess their own thinking is, was the French embassy video. @4myr's post yesterday reminds me a lot of this video. An incredible, incoherent hodgepodge of truths, halftruths, misunderstandings and falsehoods. But they have the power. Like immigration. My personal conclusion: I really don't want to deal with these guys. For the time being, this means I won't bring money into Thailand. No condo, no car, no house, no flight tickets, no nothing. What do I live on? I have some savings here, and I am staying in Thailand a lot less than before. Longer term, I will probably stay less than 180 days a year. And when - not if - worldwide income will be taxed or the visa will be tied to a tax return, I am out of here. Filing taxes at home is bad enough, filing taxes in 2 bureaucratic countries - life is too short.

I am one of the people you mention, but I didn't know this. And I am not sure at all whether it's true. Can you somehow support this statement or do you just "know"? I see many other reasons for road deaths in Thailand: - poor planning and maintenance of roads - poor enforcement of the laws, including poor enforcement of traffic rules, especially with farang (BTW I still have to see a farang who knows Thai traffic rules - just read the hilarious discussions about specific rules on AN sometimes, where people living here for decades can't agree) - too many motorcycles, maybe the most important reason - drug usage (esp. yaba, alcohol, cannabis, mobile phones) ...

It may be news to you, but they are human (really) with a EU passport.

That's the whole point that you are not able to understand. For the 3rd time: you can work anywhere in the EU, and if you have a job in country XYZ, you con live there too. But if you have no job, e.g. you are retired or a housewife, there is no right to live anywhere in the EU.

You are just plain wrong, what can I say... Yes, many EU countries are quite relaxed about these things, but you have absolutely no right to settle down anywhere in the EU if you are not working. Prime example: Bulgarians/Romanian in rich EU countries. Even the Irish wife of my German friend was not automatically allowed to stay as long as she wanted.

That's Paxlovid. Good idea if tested positive and in a risk group or elderly (recommendations vary, from over 50 to over 65) Available at the ARI clinic downstairs at the parking of Samitivej Hospital for about 27000, Bumrungrad (a bit more than 30000) etc. You have to see a doctor and do a test at the hospital.

Best post I have read on AN for a long time. Just 3 comments: They are (especially in combination with busses and motorcycles) much more expensive than in the most expensive cities of my home country, which is a rich country. Same in Spain, Paris, London, Germany, NZ... I don't think unaffordable housing is the main reason for decreasing populations. But that's another topic.

I thought that's an oxymoron

You can still buy Minoxidil. 5% for men. 2.5% for women (I have never seen 2.5% in Thailand, though,

Job offers. Good jobs, supposedly in Thailand, Malaysia or Cambodia. Salaries double of a beginner's salary in Taiwan (which are extremely low, not much more than in Thailand). They kidnap not only women, also men.

It's a government place, you cannot normally choose a doctor. You will first be seen by a junior doctor.

Good article. I would add the beautiful exotic beach of Pattaya, absolutely stunning. These are the beaches all tourists should go. And please stay there!

Wasn't the rainy season supposed to be over?

Not only Taiwanese https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/05/transnational-crime-southeast-asia-growing-threat-global-peace-and-security

The pm2.5 part of it would not be in your lungs - it passes through the lungs and goes directly into your blood. Did the Filtrete make your a/c more noisy?

3M says, cover only 50% -66%

I fitted Filtrete into my wall-mounted Daikin unit after having the unit cleaned. The wall-mounted unit (not the compressor) is quite noisy know.Is this a typical effect of Filtrete? (I have never used Filtrete before) Or is this an effect of shoddy cleaning? (My Mitsubishi unit got noisy after cleaning, no Filtrete involved)

All the rice farmers I know don't file taxes. But I don't know 12 million. Some do claim WHT refunds, most don't, as fixed term deposits are not popular with farmers. The word ภาษี "tax" for them means VAT. This one they all know.

I had more food poisonings this year (3) than in the last 20 years. What's changed? 1. I got old. 2. I still like street food. But the stuff that, 20 years ago, used to be regular food for most people here, and was reasonably clean, is now clearly (in Bangkok) a very low-class rarity. One coconut sweet I bought was clearly rotten, I threw it away (saved me from a 4th food poisoning this year). City Thais nowadays eat at Pepper Lunch, Fuji, Chesters and all the other crappy "food" joints, just look at Terminal 21 or Emquartier.

You (or your wife) should have gotten the invitation to pay property tax. I got it for several years, some mail from the government adressed to my former landlord, I had no idea what it was and threw it away. That wasn't very smart.

Are you qualified to judge this? Obviously not. The private hospitals on the Algarve and Hospital da Luz are good, but Hospital da Luz is a bureaucratic nightmare. The others... have fun!

EU citizens are free to travel anywhere in the EU. They are not free to live/settle down anywhere in the EU. They are free to work anywhere in the EU. But if you are retired, not working: You can stay 3 months, after this, you need a permission of stay. It's different in every country, but generally requires proof of income or financial stability, and proof of health insurance. Spain: beware of the tax traps many expats have fallen into, eg property tax for foreigners. Greece: no medical care. You have to bribe even the dentist if you want treatment - and it's still bad. Portugal: public medical care is soso, a bit better than in Thailand. Private medical care is by far not as good as in Thailand,.