Rainmon
Introduction
I joined expat.com on 28 July 2017.
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Rainmonposted on the thread Which banks are OK for required THB 800,000
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Rainmonposted on the thread Cheapest cities in Thailand
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Rainmonposted on the thread Health Insurance
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Rainmonposted on the thread Music day in Thailand
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Rainmonposted on the thread Cheapest cities in Thailand
Expat experience
I am a Stroke Survivor, had a Lacunar Stroke at age 62 in Oct 2017 while living in Thailand and went to BPH emergency here in Pattaya and for follow up care. There are some very good doctors there that helped me more than the doctors in USA after I returned last year for a 2nd opinion. Spent 5 months in USA and returned to Thailand in Aug 2019. I've lived in Thailand over 12 years including 2 years in Bangkok running my own condo rental business. Moved back to USA to work for a year then to Pattaya where I had a back injury in 2012. Now I'm unable to work full time being partially disabled, plus dealing with all the post stroke issues. After so many years here the ignorant hooligan alcoholic expats and perverts have become very tiresome, but nowhere is perfect, Thailand is still a good place to retire. Now considering a move to Philippines after the 2019 retirement visa rule changes which go into effect March 2019, but will stay until all the new rules get sorted out.
It's affordable to live here, most the Thai people are very nice, I can walk most places and don't need a car (I now live in the beach resort town of Pattaya, before I lived and worked in Bangkok). If I need a ride I can take Grab (Grab took over Uber) most places around town for about $5-6 per ride around (250 baht). Good healthcare and much lower costs than the US, you can buy prescription medication directly without a doctor. Bumrungrad is one of the best and largest Private Hospital in Southeast Asia that provides cost efficient world-class healthcare, patients come here from all over the world. The BDMS Bangkok Dusit medical network is also very good with hospitals nationwide, there are also many good smaller government hospitals and Camillian hospital a very good private/Catholic charity funded hospital in Bangkok I've gone to many times in 2008-2010 near Sukhumvit Soi 55 Thong Lor. Also note, you don't need to pay an agency for medical "vacation/tourism" concierge service, most all major private hospitals have English speaking staff and inhouse medical concierge type services/advice free for foreign patients.
A big issue is the high suicide rate, physical and mental health issues and financial issues in the expat community, every week there is a report about an expat death. Pattaya is the suicide capital of Thailand. According to statistics collated by the website 'Farang Deaths', 25 percent of foreign deaths in Thailand occur from road accidents, 20 percent from drowning, and 12 percent through other accidental reasons. Some of the Thai's can be racist, resentful and hateful toward Farang (foreigners) especially in a tourist destinations. The tourist and expat hooligans can be dangerous and will assault you or try to start fights in Pattaya. The motorbikes, cars, trucks and buses will constantly try to run you over as there is no respect for pedestrians (even in a crosswalk you can be struck easily by a vehicle as the Thais and tourists drivers don't observe the traffic laws which are also not enforced by the police). Food poisoning is a chronic problem here (I keep a good supply of Cipro and other antibiotics in my condo). And if you a looking for a relationship, be warned there is a high probability you will be conned and next to impossible to find a genuine lady for marriage or girlfriend.
Lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area all of my life, where I worked and ran my own Printing & Graphics business for 75% of my career until I retired early in 2006 and moved to Thailand.
