Sorry Chine. I haven't noticed the difference in Coke quality. Mine seems to still mix well with my cheap rot gut bourbon so I'm happy.
I can still get a good bottle of Aussie wine for not much more than back home. I can get a case of my beer of choice for a 100 dibs, and scotch and bourbon are the same price as back home, so a happy camper here.
As far as getting an appointment with the doc. ????? Never had a problem, but again I live in Abu Dhabi so maybe there are less sick people here, or more doctors, or both. Either way it costs me a grand total of 13 dh's out of pocket to go see him, and then stuff all to get my prescription filled if need be.
Sorry, how it is for me is obviously different to how it is for you.