@Graham *****

Agree that the animals (especially multiples) can be a significant problem when traveling inside Thailand. Especially if you are thinking the extensive transportation infrastructure means you can avoid buying or renting a car. If you DO plan to drive a car, be sure to get an international drivers license BEFORE leaving Canada.

Only disagreement is about electric stuff. Check the labels and you’ll find that many/most items sold in Canada are VAC, Hz. These will all work just fine in Thailand.

@Nick ***************

Err. . .true for some low cost commodity electronics, but the more sophisticated stuff can be more expensive here.

@Jay *********

Nah. I spent a year selling everything and studying youtube videos carefully.

Came here sight unseen nearly four years ago.

My only regret? Not doing it sooner.

Admittedly, I grew up in the mideast and traveled extensively throughout my working years. But I never visited any SE Asia country before moving here permanently.

@Bruce ************

Central department stores have individual top sheets. I would say that proper down pillows are extraordinarily expensive here.

High thread count is available here. But Thais like thin, soft sheets. If your tastes run to stiff percale, that can harder to find here.

@Don *****

Why would you pay for a taxi when you have two perfectly good legs for walking? Why would you pay to have someone cook your food in a restaurant when you have a microwave in the condo? Why pay somebody to do your laundry? Wash your car? Do your taxes? Paint your walls? Fix the hole in your roof? Unclog your drains? Change your motorbike oil or tighten the chain? Water and cut your lawn?

Don’t be daft man. Each of us decides which services we wish to hire out, and which we do ourselves. Those choices others make are quite literally none of your business. Let it go.

@Adam *****

You can do bill pay and Promptpay from Revolut bank?

Kasikorn and Bangkok Bank are very popular. I’ve had good luck with Bangkok Bank over 3+ years.

Keep in mind that “easy” varies from branch to branch.

Personally, I think it’s worth using an agent, but others will disagree.

Make sure you get a debit card and have the branch set up and test the ap on your phone before you leave.

@Tohksic *****

I will be using your answer many times in the future. Brilliant!

@Michael ******

Well said.

@Ally ***********

This explanation while it has some merit, reminds me of the old saying, “don’t let your search for perfection prevent you from achieving the merely good.”

Even with alleged corruption issues, Thailand is a far better place to live than the alternatives.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Don’t try to boil the ocean. Thailand is here for us to take or leave as it is. More than many other places, foreigners meddling in politics here is more than frowned upon.