SammyJ

Back in the US, i purchased "non-burst" hoses that addressed such a fear--got them at Home Depot, and they were a little more expensive than the regular houses, but, of course, well worth it. Not sure if they sell them here at Home Pro, Global House, Mega Home, etc--or on Lazada, but you could probably order them on Amazon. Whatever the cost, it would be well worth it as a water disaster is a mess you really want to avoid at all costs!

Yes, and other good advice is not to wait until getting the statements ready for immigration to note if they are listed as international transfers or not--check your acct after each transfer is received so that if there is a problem, it can be corrected for that transfer and any future transfers.

Hate to rain on your retirement parade, but have you given, being 81 years young, what you will do for any potential medical costs once you have qualified to retire here? If you can afford to pay out of pocket, then you are ok, but there will likely not be any health insurance for you to purchase here.

Yes, likely better as you suggest--the local Thai ambulances are quick on the spot, as the poster earlier mentioned to the restaurant in 7 minutes--we have used them several times for a quick family emergency transport ride to the hospital--you can tell them, as we did, which hospital we wanted them to go to--however, a key point in understanding these FREE ambulances is that they are mainly TRANSPORT to a hospital--they do not, from many instances i have been directly involved with, provide any medical attention on the way--how, if you call Bkk-CM or Ram hospitals, they have more fully-equipped ambulances, and i believe they will provide some medical attention, but, they usually only have one--and for them to find your location, perhaps late at night, may take time, and that is, of course, if their ambulances are not otherwise engaged--and i doubt they provide this service for free--if you have insurance, it may cover it?? But, back to the govt, free local Thai ambulances--I must be clear to sing their praises--when we needed them at my house, they arrived literally in minutes, were very helpful, got the person on the gurney carefully, into the ambulance and off we went, racing to the hospital--driving fast, but carefully, They were incredibly helpful in a few difficult, but thankfully, not life or death, situations.

Having gone recently to CM Ram to see an ophthalmologist for an eye infection, she recommended we see the hospital optometrist for an updated eyeglass prescription. So, at least ophthalmologists at Ram, as is the case for most medical doctors do not do the eye exams for prescription eyeglasses--they are medical doctors--in Thailand, it is difficult to find a real, trained optometrist, who will do a complete and accurate eye exam--most definitely, those machines in the shopping malls that eyeglass shops use, which spits out a prescription after gazing for a moment into it, are not accurate, nor are most others who pretend to do an eye exam and who have the necessary equipment to complete an exam accurately. We did end up seeing the optometrist as Ram and had a good exam and received the eyeglass prescription--so, you might try there. I will add that the best, most western, most thorough eye exam, I have experienced in 20 plus years of living in Thailand--whether it be in Bangkok or here, was done at Vision Center here in Chiang Mai--however, they do the exam for free and do expect a purchase then of eyeglasses.

i absolutely was NOT one of those here who recommended using it. I know from family and friends the damage that can be done. As to Google, I am not recommending reading what some random, individual posters have put up--I am advising sites like the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Web MD, the CDC, and depending on if organs are involved sites like the National Kidney Foundation, National Institute of Health, etc--and I look at not just one, but look for a consensus among these outstanding resources for medical information--they are often far more up-to-date than many doctors. And, it is not so I am able to counter doctors, but so that I can confirm and understand better what I am being told by doctors--also, there are countless tales of doctors and mistakes and wrong, expensive medication being prescribed, so I always want to confirm drugs prescribed are actually helpful and will not carry serious side effects. As with the Norfloxacin, it is not that it should never be used, but it is a drug of last resort, not first as potential side effects can be very serious and permanent, but here and the US, i have seen doctors prescribe it first, seemingly unaware that it carries the strongest warning possible about the dangers of its use???

I agree---you can see that a number of posters recommended Imodium and norfloxacin when those are not really the appropriate treatments. Sometimes, even doctors are not up to date on medicines--in the US, it is the pharmacist who is licensed and must undertake ongoing training, etc--here, not so sure--if one uses a consensus of reliable sites, Google can assist in understanding the side effects of medicines prescribed, side effects that perhaps no one warned you about, I learned a long time ago, that one must be their own advocate, whether in the US or here, when it comes to medical treatment.

I have found that some doctors here, and even in the US, are ignorant of the side effects of some medicines--the "...floxacins and quinss-" have the strongest US FDA warning on them, use only if all other medicines do not work and only under the guidance of a doctor--the tendon damage can be severe and permanent--there have been cases of individuals Achilles tendons rupturing.

I take norfloxacin - relief within a day https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/drugs/genrx-norfloxacin Check with your pharmacist, but ask for dysentary medication - does not sound to me like you're in Imodium territory anymore ****************************** You might be aware that norfloxacin, like other related drugs, may have very serious and permanent side effects--in the US, it carries that is called a "black box warning" for all doctors and pharmacists and is to be used when all other antibiotics may have failed in helping---below is an example of the most serious side effects (and i have had family members and friends be prescribed levofloxacin, a related drug and too often prescribed for minor respiratory problems) and had these very side effects that lingered for years. Norfloxacin may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. This effect may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. As I shared, family members and friends, quickly discontinued use of this drug due to strong tendon problems, and even after stopping, the aches lingered for years.

Sorry, read online or ask a knowledgeable doctor, only use Imodium in an emergency where a toilet is unavailable---Imodium is an "anti-motility" drug, stopping the muscles that make you poo--it does nothing to help the situation and actually can do more harm if used unnecessarily. The "runs" is your body's effort to empty itself of the bacteria that is causing the problem--Imodium just "locks" up this stuff inside your body--as advised by other posters, drink lots of water and be sure to take the electrolytes--Gatorade, or easily available at most 7-11's and pharmacies, which is powder mixed with water--very important to take those. But, unless, traveling or a toilet is unavailable, don't fall for the myth that imodium is good for you--let your body rid itself of all that bacteria. Same when one vomits--ur body is purging what is causing the problem--you would rarely ever take an anti-vomit drug (unless directed by a doctor for very particular reasons)--if you plug yourself up with Imodium, you are literally letting that "crap" fester inside your gastro system--let your body do its job as unpleasant as it may be.

Exactly, getting a good android tablet and use the kindle app--I have four various kindles that are really not in use---up to the Fire, color, versions--then realized that using the kindle app was, in my view, better--it has the functions of the kindle devices, often with better specs on a decent tablet--and, with the app installed on various devices you can login and any of those devices or share with another family member.

Literally, the "devil is in the details"---obviously, they may appear to be the same, but they are not---review the policy details--all the "fine print", not just general categories--see for caps, co-pays, if only accidents, emergencies are covered--which is usually the case with travel insurance.

It does not have a Michelin "STAR"--stars not given to such restaurants--it has, I believe, a Michelin guide recommendation. Stars are a whole other category to earn.

Exactly, why doesn't he offer recommendations if he has them. But, again, why fewer and fewer want to post or help here--any comments get attacked by those lurkers who have nothing else to offer but their negativity. Glad you aren't renting to him, for sure!!

Again, if you think there is no more animosity between the Grab, etc and the other long-established taxis, you are sadly misinformed. Do you really think simply because something became "legal" in Thailand, that this stops all the previous problems?? That is laughable--it is now "legal" or "illegal" and therefore all problems cease--what a fantasy!! You must read more of local news and news around the country--battles continue!

It appears to be for GRAB, not Bolt--then Grab may have negotiated a fee with the Airport, as have the other blue/yellow taxis have--and, I never said it was "illegal", i said "approved" by the Airport--and, you maybe not discouraged directly by the airport, especially if they are making revenue, but you are kidding yourself if you think the other taxis who have claimed that territory (rightly or wrongly--TIT) for so many years are pleased with GRAB, or any others coming into their previously claimed areas---have you not read about the open battles in cities all over Thailand between taxis. baht busses, etc with (before Uber), Grab, etc.??

yes, it is possible, of course, but most do not have the approval to pick up passengers incoming at the airport--but, it is done, of course, other airport taxis do not like grab or bolt, etc as they must pay a fee to the "airport" in order to collect customers, Easiest thing is to turn left after departure, and take an airport taxi--to most hotels in the city the fee is usually only 150 baht--if to a home, then can negotiate that.

If it was available at McCormick Hospital, I am assuming it is available at most other Chiang Mai hospitals--just asking if anyone has tried other hospitals, and, if so, what were the costs? Thanks!

really, they are are for sale so many places--if you have any Thai friends--and I am consistently surprised how many expats live here and have no Thai friends whatsoever, but if you do, ask them, they will know a local place for the burners and gas tank. My Thai kitchen is outfitted with a gas burner I bought at Home Pro--a stainless steel, double burner, etc and I was so proud (this was years ago) and my Thai family scolded me and said i had failed to talk to them or realize that down the road and inside a soi was a Thai appliance shop which had better than I had purchased at Home Pro and for nearly half the cost--and not far from there was a gas company that happily delivered the tanks and exchanged them when needed. So, as a Thai friend for the location nearest you!

PEA in Chiang Mai--and other places, I don't know--but, here--condos are also often charging double--the condo i lived in years ago in Pattatya, not Chiang Mai--didn't deliver the direct bill from the govt electrical provider, but a slip with your electric bill on created by the condo management, and, guess what--cost was near double.

laws or regulations were changed, but there are criteria, i think like having more than 5 units in a bldg or something like that, plus, TIT,many rules and regs are routinely ignored. and often the utility rates, for water and electric are something, when renting a condo/apt, are assumed the cost is the real cost. few check until after signing the lease.

the key thing to check is what has been suggested already by one comment--do you pay directly to PEA, or to another entity? Sounds like you live in a condo, where often a surcharge is added, which in some cases DOUBLES what the PEA would charge.

sent pm

I couldn't agree more about Vision Center--have purchased many glasses there, and had eye tests done for my family as well--rivals anything I have had done by professionals in the U.S.

Yes, I knew that already and was discussed--I was just sharing for those with Aetna that it does something similar.