KhunLA

That might be location dependent, or not wishing to pay a bit more, for off hours services. Local hospital has an evening clinic for GP service/consultation, though he is a kidney specialist, but will refer you to whomever is needed, and within a week, I believe. I was overdue for full abdominal ultrasound (usually done yearly or so), but wanted a few other things checked. So he suggested a CT Scan instead. Sounds better, a call to radiology, it was done immediately. Returned following week for results. Same in Bangkok, I found a doc for colonoscopy & endoscopy, at most popular hospital, that had an 6 ish month Q during regular hours. Paid a bit more for off house, and was done within a week. Stopped going to private hospitals for their overpriced, same, if not less care. Not happy with most private hospital (3) results, except no long Qs, but you pay for that convenience. I'll stick with govt hospitals, and think about 4 different ones so far.

Hard to compare a city / Patts, to a province / Phuket, with so much more to see and beaches to visit. Main issue with both is simply too many people & congestion. Even when we visited Phuket regularly, 10+ years ago, there were simply too many people/cars/taxies/no parking. Even self driving, I'd rent a MB, to explore, so I could park somewhere. Why we stopped visiting till recently. Phuket was bliss during covid, but last visit (June 2023), and totally packed again, and that's off season. Might visit again, during next pandemic

Yes, many major protest, and not just EU, but you won't see them on MSM, unless part of their spin. Sad you need to go to platforms like X for 'free expression'. News & updates from people actually there. Not from the controlled sources ... when entertainment mirrors reality ...

It is as I expect it, very good. The query should be, 'why is healthcare so bad in 1st world countries?'

I do, as it's my most important document, so why would I leave it anywhere unsecured. Safest with me. I'd state it's the law, but that would start a long discussion / debate, for another thread. I do think most will accept copies, or so I read, of which I do have on my phone, along with next pulse check, for times I do leave it at home, when wife is there. Not an inconvenience to carry, as I carry my wallet & loose money, along with plastic sleeve it is in, and even my yellow & bank book, when out of the house with wife. All tidy in my bag, which stays in the car or MB, if not carrying. All much more convenient than the hassle or replacing all those. Will I ever need it, though rarely visit touristy areas where one might be aske for it. That said, 23+ years, and I've been asked for it once, I think. I use my pink ID when asked for ID for any reason, very rare, but keeps fingers out of my passport, and when renewed, the old one (10 yrs old) still looks brand new.

Shop wisely ... smile more ... ... not that I would pay even those silly prices for a crappy can of beans.

Of the 2, Nestle' for the same reason, keep crunch longer. Although, switched brands recently, last 4 bags worth to this brand on LAZ. Also cut way back on my carbs/grains intake. Save on shipping by purchasing 2 bags at a time.

PKK province, Muang, the first 140 meters is free, if needed. We are 155 meters from the main line, on a mapped soi, but not hard surfaced. They didn't charge us extra, just spaced the poles out a bit further. Helps to smile when chit chatting with them. I guess they charge by poles, every 20 meters. I think each office is different, and guessing there is a 'free limit' ... but ... if they can scam you, then they will. Udon Thani (2 different districts) had a completely different 'pricing' policy. Damn expensive if you let them get away with it. Water was a different story, and 50k baht, but it is 'our' line, and any additional houses added to it, need our permission, and we can charge them to hook up to. We allowed 1 house to use, but won't in the future, for fear of loss pressure.

Geez, I used to give my tuk tuk driver 500 baht a night, though it usually turned into a long night, 1900-midnight +. Once a month, for forum meet up. Then I'd spring for that late night munch. Use to crack me up, as his wife would call after midnight every time, and ask 'when you coming home ?' ... 'when farang is done" And that was 15 years ago.

I hope his driving ability is better than his math skills

Agree ... there's accidents, just that, and then there are preventable accidents. Drunks & speed / too fast for conditions fall in the latter. As he states, that's why there's laws. I guess he is in the 'it's not my problem' crowd, until of course it is, then he'll be the first to say ... 'how could that happen, why didn't someone do something if they know?" Now he knows how & why sh!t happens.

I think 3 beers (sm), w/food over the course of a few hours, might not ever register as illegal. I think the last 7 yrs, a barely got pass 2 sm Lao Darks or 1 Kopper Kaft while sitting surfside. You're either part of the solution, or the problem. Prevent someone you love or know, or not, from getting hurt or killed vs it's OK for you not prevent it. Judge your own moral compass, as you're the one that has to live with the feelings, as the ambulance pulls away from your soi / accident, when you could have prevented it. UP2U

Call me an Ahole, but I'd have to report him. There's no excuse for anyone being that irresponsible in the 21st century. If he gets that drunk, it's not if something will happen, but when and to who. For my monthly pub crawls days past, I use to hire a tuk tuk driver (on speed dial) for the night, and get a hotel, since living out of town. Any other time, the GF/wife would drive after that 3rd beer.

@SAFETY FIRST got it correct, comes down to budget. Patts is cheaper for the expat on a budget.

You can't fix stupid ... "It’s not such good news for Land Rover owners, whose cars rank the lowest of any passenger vehicle in the United States. Though its standing improved somewhat from 2022’s ranking of 284 PP100, Land Rover ranks as the least reliable badge at 273 PP100 for 2023." source With a few recalls

And here I thought ICEV didn't spontaneously combust, just EV. Must of went over a speed bump or got wet ...

We live comfy on ฿15k a month .... BUT ... ... own house, saves ฿15-20k a month ... own car, saves ฿15k a month (daughter just bought, that's her payment) ... have solar ... saves ฿5k a month, from PEA ... have solar ... save ฿5k a month on petrol ... enjoy cooking and do a better job than restaurants ... saves ฿10k a month That budget would be a minimum off ฿70k a month, IF not self sufficient, sort of. I'm self insured (health) so add monthly health insurance for a 70 yr old in 6 months Think that's knockin' on ฿100k, without alcohol, socializing, kid/s or supporting partners family (which would never happen). Alcohol, I prefer Bailey's, Bacardi's and Beer Lao Dark

Yep, don't even have to be a terrorist or an adult. Specific target or collateral damage.

Wait till he sees that ... MG, finally coming of age

Easy to spend if you have bills, mortgage/rent/car and or MB loans, kids in school and support partner's family. Might even need 200k But myself & wife w/dog ... don't know how I would spend the ฿2700 baht a day extra. With all of 2k baht mandatory monthly bills, leaves 98k to play with. 15k for mandatory food, leaving ฿83k ฿83k left, (actually about what my Soc Sec is, depending on exchange rate). In USA, yes, that would be easy. One night hotel stay. Last O&A, think most expensive room was ฿1000/$27, meal, maybe ฿800/$21 Even a full day of driving, 4- hrs, (320 kms) only cost ฿375 (EV) Can't remember last time a room cost >฿2k or a meal >฿1k. We don't do big metros or tourist areas. I guess if we stayed on the road, everyday, in a hotel, dined out, we'd spend ฿100k a month. That's not looking for any bargains and being thrifty, and still think we'd have plenty left over. If I ate western food w/alcohol, then it would be a lot easier to spend ฿100k a month, when O&A, but not from home. That would be holiday mode though. We like our bed, our food, and the view from the veranda, along with 5 ish minutes from surfside. At least the wife has stopped asking me, why we go O&A, on holiday, when we moved to our favorite holiday location in TH ... hmm

Just said NO ... let me talk to your supervisor. If failed, call the corruption office, and they would straighten it out. Had similar issues in Udon Thani for short period. The corruption office was right across the street at the time, as sorted out quickly, after more than a few complaints were received.

No, that's the name of the metro area. She doesn't live in Bangkok Yai or Noi. Actually, keeps a condo at Victory Monument area, and just moved back into her townhouse at Rangsit. So Krung Thep was just a general area, as many wouldn't have a clue where Rangsit is. Rangsit more a suburb of Krung Thep, or so referred to on wiki. Most people think Bangkok is; Suk, Asok & Silom

I retired early, and went with the 'family' life, after playing sexpat for awhile (no P4P). Gets boring. Family life ... something I didn't do before (no kids) and it was 25 yrs of party & thrill seeking till retirement. So wife, kid, dog, house, all the things most do the first 25 yrs of adulthood. But I never grew up, those first 25 yrs of adulthood, so did here, after retirement. Wife, now, being 22 yrs my junior, hence the house, solar & EVs, so she's set for quite some time, as all new. Why the monthly bills structured to be silly inexpensive. Kid's out of Uni, self employed, hooked up and living her life @ Krung Thep, so I'm on retirement # 2 Actually did everything I ever wanted to do before I retired. Now the family thing is checked off, so this is all new to me

I was thinking something else, (booze & hookers ) then noticed he did reply to you, hence the edit.