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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    It’s almost time …

    Well folks my 30 September retirement is rapidly approaching and the return to Thailand shortly after.

    So thought I’d solicit any advice or words of wisdom any of you’d like to share.

    I left in March 2010 and have only been back once since that time for the entire month of October 2017.

    Nope, not going to live in the house in Taphan Hin or Pattaya. And the land in Rayong will be eventually be sold.

    As it stands we’re probably going to live in Pattaya for at least the first 15-16 months. Looking at renting in either the Pratumnak area or maybe Jomtien.

    You heard it here first … setting a goal to lose 100 pounds so looking to be super close to a gym, rent a place with a good size communal swimming pool and will probably be doing a lot of walking. I’ve researched the gyms and I’m inclined to use Muscle Factory.

    Will probably become active in the local VFW so expect to participate in some volunteer activities.

    Also looking to join a 8 ball pool league at some point.

    Any “gotta try” restaurant recommendations would be appreciated including Thai.

    Anything you have to share would be appreciated … health care, dental care, banking, money transfers, immigration, fitness, vehicles, anything … nothing is off limits.

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
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    There's usually a contingent of VFW guys at the Remembrance Day service on 11th November in Kanchanaburi.

  3. #3
    Guest Member S Landreth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Anything you have to share would be appreciated … health care,.......
    Insurance. Get it if you can and try using private hospitals

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    As it stands we’re probably going to live in Pattaya for at least the first 15-16 months. Looking at renting in either the Pratumnak area or maybe Jomtien.
    Rent nothing above two floors

    Two things to add. You don’t want to be here in April and careful with the street food

    Good luck and enjoy yourself

    Edit. One more thing. Don’t make motorcycle taxis a habit
    Last edited by S Landreth; 07-08-2022 at 04:42 PM.
    Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    Great idea to get involved in a volunteering and sports clubs. A car would probably be useful as a walk to the gym in the rainy season would not be fun. Plus for shopping etc.

    and the Muscle Factory sounds terrifying.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat
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    Good luck Storekeeper. Why not get a dog? That'll help with walking every day.

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Anything you have to share would be appreciated … dental care...
    Very much overrated I would say. You can make an easy saving there.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip

    Very much overrated I would say. You can make an easy saving there.


    such a British answer re:dental care

  7. #7
    . Neverna's Avatar
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    Good luck with your move to Thailand, Storekeeper. And congrats on your retirement.

    Regarding the weight loss, good luck with that too, Stores, but tbh if you couldn't do it in the US, it will be much harder to do it here in Thailand, even if you are retired. The heat and the humidity make it much more difficult - but not impossible. A couple of years of hard work and dedication to the cause should do it, though. สู้ๆ

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    Regarding the weight loss, good luck with that too, Stores, but tbh if you couldn't do it in the US, it will be much harder to do it here in Thailand, even if you are retired. The heat and the humidity make it much more difficult - but not impossible.
    Quote Originally Posted by S Landreth View Post
    Two things to add. You don’t want to be here in April and careful with the street food
    There's your solution SK, a few days a week shitting through the eye of a needle and it'll fall off you.

    Good luck with the migration and retirement, you'll have a ball.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    ...about time...we've been waiting...if you were moving to the BKK area, I'd have a number of recommendations for excellent life support. Hint: don't be in a hurry to lose the weight: 1-2 pounds a month accustoms the body to gradual thinning and works against yo-yo weight loss-gain...
    Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd

  10. #10
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    สู้ๆ
    Yes, learn Thai, definitely to the point of not being illiterate. The amount of Westerners that have lived here for a decade and cannot read a simple menu or road sign is embarrassing, to be honest. Plus afternoon classes 3 times a week is good socially, and the teachers usually cute and fun.


    Though, you could well enjoy living here more when you don't know what they're saying.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    The amount of Westerners that have lived here for a decade and cannot read a simple menu or road sign is embarrassing, to be honest.
    ...how you must suffer from the deficiencies of others!
    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    Though, you could well enjoy living here more when you don't know what they're saying
    ...ah! The heavy weight of suffering lifted!...and all in one post...

  12. #12
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    how you must suffer from the deficiencies of others!
    To be fair, I'm considerate enough to help them improve themselves by pointing them out.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    but tbh if you couldn't do it in the US, it will be much harder to do it here in Thailand, even if you are retired.
    Not initially, but once he moves to a permanent home.

    Make sure you have a garden large enough to grow something. The natural growth/maintenance cycles forces one to do chores to their schedule.

    Working on it will soon reduce any extra Kg. No need for a pond tough.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    To be fair, I'm considerate enough to help them improve themselves by pointing them out
    ...one way to keep busy, I suppose...

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    Yes, learn Thai, definitely to the point of not being illiterate. The amount of Westerners that have lived here for a decade and cannot read a simple menu or road sign is embarrassing, to be honest. Plus afternoon classes 3 times a week is good socially, and the teachers usually cute and fun.


    Though, you could well enjoy living here more when you don't know what they're saying.

    Th amount of Thais that have... and cant read an atm...

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    Yes, learn Thai, definitely to the point of not being illiterate. The amount of Westerners that have lived here for a decade and cannot read a simple menu or road sign is embarrassing, to be honest. Plus afternoon classes 3 times a week is good socially, and the teachers usually cute and fun.


    Though, you could well enjoy living here more when you don't know what they're saying.
    I don't see many road signs just in Thai.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Looking at renting in either the Pratumnak area or maybe Jomtien.
    Great choices, they're the 2 areas I'd certainly recommend. You've probably got half a dozen local real estate websites bookmarked but if case you don't have it, save this site too Properties | Coastal Real Estate as it's got a good search function where you can specify the type of dwelling, rent/buy, search area, price, and so on. I have no idea if they're a good agency to deal with however..

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    You heard it here first … setting a goal to lose 100 pounds so looking to be super close to a gym
    Yeah you'll need to be super close, wouldn't want to have to walk more than 100 yards getting there You already mentioned Muscle Factory and that is indeed as good of a gym as you'll find or could want, there's people ranging from professional competitive body-builders to fatties who need to drop 100 pounds who work out there The boss's name is Bart, a rather large and scary looking but very nice Australian chap who will make it his life's mission to help get you into shape should you request his personal training services to give you a workout and nutrition regime that will definitely work.

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    rent a place with a good size communal swimming pool and will probably be doing a lot of walking.
    I'd like a dollar for every klm I've walked between Pratumnak and the end of Jomtien Beach Rd over the years, it's a very popular and flat route with pleasant scenery. Plenty of 7-11's if you need refreshments along the way and there's toilets you can use if you find yourself 10+ k's from home and touching cloth (it happens )

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Anything you have to share would be appreciated … health care, dental care, banking, money transfers, immigration, fitness, vehicles, anything … nothing is off limits.
    Health care: Dr Olivier Dr. Olivier Clinic | Your Multilingual Doctor in Pattaya, Thailand is a Swiss GP treating Expats and locals (he's fluent in Thai) here since forever and if he thinks you need specialist treatment, he'll recommend a Dr at one of the private Hospitals.
    Dental Care: Dr Ramin http://www.travel-dental.com/en/welcome-to-the-deutscjhe-dental-clinic-in-pattaya-thailand/ is a fully licenced German dentist with a clinic as good as you'll find. He's also fluent in Thai and his practice is almost next door to Dr Olivier. I mention the language skills of these guys as you'll find your wife will be far more comfortable being able to converse in Thai vs English when it comes to talking medical terms, my partner certainly is and she's always amazed at how well these guys understand when she's explaining her ailments in Thai to them or they're explaining what treatment they will be administering.
    Banking: Kasikorn works great for me, their online and App banking is a breeze. You might have trouble opening an account on a tourist visa but agencies like Mott's Mots-Services | เมืองพัทยา | Pattaya - Thai Driving Licence & Banks can sort that out. They can also make things like getting a local driver's licence less of a pain in the ass.
    Money transfers: Wise (formerly Transferwise) is what most people I know use but there's half a dozen companies that do the same thing, do your own comparisons when the time comes. Of course you can do your own bank-2-bank TT's as well if the forex and fees numbers stack up.
    Immigration: See Darren at Key Visa Travel Visas For Thais & Expat Visa Services In Thailand and you'll never set foot in an Immigration office or get fucked around by some public servant for the rest of your life here.
    Vehicles: That'll be John Fox at Qcars http://www.qcars.net/ you need to talk to about renting a car for a month or three to see if you're insane enough to adapt to driving here. Should you not be it doesn't matter, download the Bolt and inDriver apps and be amazed at what cheap and efficient services they are. The 10 to 15 minute ride from Jomtien to Central Pattaya is about 70 Baht (less than 2 bucks FFS!) and drivers will be fighting to get that fare as an example.
    Anything … nothing is off limits. Well you'll need to know Jack at McCallum https://macallanbroker.com/ for all your insurance needs for starters, he's another one of the guys that's been here forever that's part of the network who everyone trusts. There's trusted Expats and Thai's in this network who we all tend to use, name your problem there'll be a trusted guy/girl here with a solution. Anything from needing a Lawyer to a Handyman, it's covered.

    You mentioned food, I can recommend a hundred places ranging from Cajun to Thai and anything in between if I know what you're looking for. The range of restaraunts and grocery shopping options is simply ridiculous here, you can literally get anything and because it's so competitive, price gougers and 2nd rate places simply don't last long.

    Good luck!

  18. #18
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by armstrong View Post
    I don't see many road signs just in Thai.
    Not tempted to take the electric chopper off the Suburban house - Suburban school - Suburban McDonald's route?

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    Nope.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    Thanks for the responses.

    I’ve been thinking about a dog for quite a while now. A Doberman actually. Have even found a breeder not far from Pattaya. Them European Doberman look like tanks compared to the sleeker American version.

    Don’t really anticipate the weight loss goal being much of a problem. Truth is I’ve made little to no effort here. But when I lived in Thailand before I lost 60 pounds without even trying. It’s just a different lifestyle there for me. I know there are donuts, candy bars and tater chips there too but, same-same but different.

    May very well sign up for Thai lessons. Have thought about that in the past. Twice a week for 1-2 hours would be time well spent. Thanks for the reminder. Will put it on the “To Do” list.

    Thanks for the recommendation to see Darren for immigration/visa concerns. I like the idea of never stepping foot in an immigration office. The first two things on my “To Do” list upon arrival are to get a bank account set up and money transferred in. I want to set the bank account up also as the one I’ll be using for my social security to be deposited into come 2024.

    Regarding driving. I lived there before and have an expired 5 year Thai license. But, not planning to buy a vehicle until after 2024.

    The first 14-15 months will be spent living kinda sorta like tourists.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    I’ve been thinking about a dog for quite a while now. A Doberman actually. Have even found a breeder not far from Pattaya. Them European Doberman look like tanks compared to the sleeker American version.
    SK, you are getting a fighting dog, from who knows what parentage to walk in Thailand

    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    But when I lived in Thailand before I lost 60 pounds without even trying.
    Any late night stall will help

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat armstrong's Avatar
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    If you live like a tourist for over a year it's gonna be fucking difficult to get out of that habit.

    I've had 7 weeks off and I'm fucked

  23. #23
    A Cockless Wonder
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    Quote Originally Posted by Neverna View Post
    if you couldn't do it in the US, it will be much harder to do it here in Thailand, even if you are retired
    Don't listen to Nana Storey.

    It is all in the diet. Nothing to do with the gym. Exercise is for endorphins, not weight loss. Just cut out breakfast or carbs.

  24. #24
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    May very well sign up for Thai lessons. Have thought about that in the past. Twice a week for 1-2 hours would be time well spent. Thanks for the reminder. Will put it on the “To Do” list.
    Welcome, it's beneficial (and a great feeling of achievement) in many ways.



    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    Thanks for the recommendation to see Darren for immigration/visa concerns. I like the idea of never stepping foot in an immigration office.
    Not a bad way of thinking. Just make sure it's above board.

    If you have serious visa issues, gimme a bell, I saved Bendy-Bear-Mendy a lot of pain and fluffering with a few messages when he had issues.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by reinvented View Post
    Th amount of Thais that have... and cant read an atm..
    Many Thais live in a cash economy.

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