Walking to work this morning I had this odd thought- I haven’t had a cold, the flu or been sick once in the year since I moved here. This was a shock to me- coming from San Francisco I had trouble adjusting to being in air-conditioning all the time. In San Francisco I didn’t have air-conditioning in my home and rarely- like three times a year- turned on the air conditioning in my car. I thought my body would struggle with the shock of constantly going from the hot and humid Thailand temperatures to the cool air-conditioning.
But, it hasn’t. I haven’t had one head or chest cold or the flu.
As a tribute to Thai food, I have never once been sick to my stomach or even had a stomach upset. This is amazing as I eat street food at least 4-5 times each week, and I eat it spicy and I have eaten things I had never tried in my life. I am sure this has much to do with the “farm to table” freshness of Thai food, the lack of preservatives in the food and hopefully that much of the food is grown without many pesticides. As I have detailed previously, it also has to do with care with which the food is prepared, Thais love their food and prepare it as if they are cooking for themselves.
Year one was a remarkably healthy year, especially when I consider the massive change in climates from San Francisco to Bangkok and the general lack of effort on my part to make it healthy.
Farang ( ฝรั่ง) In Bangkok 
Hello, I found your post and would appreciate if you can provide some information. I live in San Francisco (your hometown) and I am moving to Bangkok next year. Can you provide some useful list of mover or agent to use for shipping household goods? A good heath care insurance agent? A good contracter, you need help with remodel of a condo. A good electrician. I read all the requirements and I understand what is required but to get a good referral for service providers is important and will save us a lot of time. Thx much.
Hello Amie- best wishes for the move. I apologize, but my move was handled by my company so I don’t have any information about shipping agents for household goods. My healthcare is through AIA (http://www.aia.co.th/)- note, you will need a work permit or long term visa in order to have “local” insurance.
For condo remodel- usually the building where you will live has a list of approved contractors; many of these contractors did the first buildout of the units. I have found them to be very good- so I would ask the building where you are going to live (the building where I live has maintenance on staff, but they don’t do a lot of outside work).
Sorry I cannot be of more help…..