Note that the Thai Education visa disallows working. Generally note how simplfied the Malaysian visa system is around study, working, allowable business without a specifically business visa, etc, etc, etc. Bottom line is that the Malaysian system roughly fits with others in the region - eg Cambodia and Vietnam - whereas Thailand goes its own sweet way. Even volunteering is a no in Thailand, without a special volunteer visa, which don't seem to be much issued currently.

@Josh ***

You now have to pay - but it's just a few baht.

I think everyone here is forgetting back obligation from parents to daughters, not in terms of what they spent bringing the daughter up, which is regularly talked of, but in terms of look at the high number of children brought up by grandparents. Additionally to supporting parents women pay to granparents the costs related to the child/children - food and clothing, but often the big one is school fees. All told women often remit a very high percentage of their income back to parents. Generally men do not pay to support their parents. Equally, the fathers of those children long-since hit the middle distance, pay nothing toward the child/children's upkeep. And finally remember that even the most rudimentary birth control is often a "No".

Moving would be a pain in the butt, but I have no particular attachment to Thailand. My Plan A is Cambodia. My Plan B is Vietnam. The only real problem I see with either (and others) is medical facilities as against Thailand.

@Us ****

I think wet dream a more appropriate thought than fairytale.

I think the point with Rutnin, additional to quality is that it is not crazily expensive either. As I remember they have a separate Lasik unit, but still on Asoke. Easy to get to if Bangkok-based and relatively easy if coming in especially. I think Lasik is always just package pricing, readily advertised so you can shop around from computer monitor. Rutnin won't be as cheap as Bangkok's cheapest private hospitals, but normally way less than the corporates. I like compromises that aren't! In fact I have an appointment at Rutnin this coming Saturday.!

@Geraldine *************

So good! And my major comparative is Moorfields in London. I lived right by Moorfields but would've travelled serious distances to get to that place. Likewise, again London, Western Eye is great, a definite go-to.

Rutnin is THE specialist eye hospital in Thailand.

In Thailand concentrate on looking for hospitality jobs. Jobs aren't reserved for Thais only. In fact in tourism in general the controls are only over guides. You seem personable and with good English and that may be a cue to jobs in, say, hotel reception so long as you focus on hotels that aren't highly focused on Thai customers. Large hotels, though, often have balance across the staff group, some speaking Thai and some not.

@Jeffrey ******

Airlines that allow pre-purchase of excess baggage have a place too. Pre-purchase can be cheap enough, not the punitive excess out of unplanned carriage. Also look for max freebie offering.