seasia

11 hours ago, moontang said:

On paper, Vietnam looks like a winner, especially pub prices.  However, I just don't see the photos floating around of cheap food and hot ladies.  I have watched too many of the videos..something is missing.  Seen a number of teachers go there with high hopes, only to be back in LOS within a few months working illegally for some dodgy agent.  Heard stories of slow pay, no pay in VN, too.

Food is cheap,found it better than Thailand in that respect.

Ladies, more subtle.

7 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Yeah? Can you show me an immigration entry stamp that says "Retirement"? As the ones I've seen are the box stamps with "admitted until" and visa class handwritten in it, i.e. Non O or O-A. Nothing to do with retired or not, just that you pass the rules set for a certain visa class. 

I have an immigration entry stamp in my passport that says retirement.

Just now, sekmet said:

Belize

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk
 

Former British Honduras. Glanced at it as a possibility, seemed not difficult for a UK passport holder to stay there long term.

English widely spoken as it is the official language. Not for me.

"Fiction writer and retired beach bum Ray Auxillou says he and his wife, who live in Santa Elena in Cayo District, get by on less than US$600. a month, though they own their own home and so don’t have to pay rent. Ray however lives in a back of town low income housing area with dirt or mud roads depending on the season. A middle-aged expat in Corozal says she rents a nice small house for US$250. a month. A couple in Caye Caulker, who own their own home, say their monthly budget is around US$1,000.

Combining some elements of both North American and Belizean lifestyles, you can live well for less than you would pay back home. Health care, the cost of renting, buying or building a home in most areas, personal and auto insurance, property taxes, household labor and most products produced in Belize are less expensive than what you’re used to paying....."

Website with some details of costs etc.

https://belize.com/living-in-belize/

Argentina has just got even cheaper. Peso down v. US% about 15 % after falling as low as 30 % down.

"Argentine President Mauricio Macri vowed on Monday to win a second term despite a surprisingly strong performance by the opposition in the primary election that set off a shockwave through markets, crashing the peso currency and sending stocks and bonds tumbling.

Macri said he would "reverse" the result of Sunday's primary, but acknowledged that a weaker peso triggered by the surge in support for Peronist opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez and his running mate former President Cristina Fernandez would fuel inflation.

The peso closed 15% weaker at 53.5 per U.S. dollar after plunging some 30% to a record low earlier in the day after the primary election prompted market fears over Argentina's potential return to the interventionist economics of the previous government.

Refinitiv data showed Argentine stocks, bonds and the peso had not recorded this kind of simultaneous fall since the South American country's 2001 economic crisis and debt default."

Source reuters, via IG Index,

Steak chips and wine for dinner everyday ?

Could suit a young nomad with a high risk tolerance.

13 hours ago, Inn Between said:

I'm interested in Vietnam and assume you're comparing it to Thailand. I have about 17 years experience living in Thailand and none in Vietnam, so please tell me how the place is inferior. I'm not asking for an exhaustive list -- just the top 5 or so aspects of Vietnam that make it worse.

 

I'm not looking to challenge you -- just interested in your perspective. As I've never been to Vietnam, I can't really challenge anything that's said about it, but can you give a little background -- where you stayed...how long, etc.  

 

 

Hi

Although the question not asked of me, I will give a view, from a Thailand resident POV. v. VN tourist

In VN talking of Saigon and Vung Tau.

Saigon, plenty of choices of restaurants/bars.

Meals out ( western type )  cheaper. Service levels, way higher.

Beer/wine cheaper.

Roads safer.

Better communication skills.

Transport, only used taxis, they were OK.

Accomodation, hotels seemed a touch cheaper.

No idea on medical costs/standards, fortunately never had to find out.

I found the people there to be generally nice.

Worth a visit 

IMO

On 7/29/2019 at 4:08 PM, bkk6060 said:

No.

Mostly over 20k now.

nope.

On 7/23/2019 at 7:35 AM, tingtongtourist said:

Salami (Italian)  definately number 1. 

 

Imports i seen here 2-3,000 baht/kg.

 

local made, over 1,000kg

to much fat, not enough spice/pepper.

horrible

 

 

Good idea.

Am in Italy know and buying good quality salami at between 500 to 600 a kilo ( converted from Euro Price )

Big difference to Thai price. Might have to pack some when leaving  here to go back.

Hi kellers

If you have not seen this TVF topic you may well find it interesting. Started some time ago with Latin America as a possible alternative for expats.

Plenty of useful info on it.

Just now, lkv said:

Coincidentally, threads from months ago are being revived, all about denials. By "new members". So when anybody looks at the main page, sees denial, denial, denial.

 

Yes, it has all the elements of a TV drama. I am scared. What can I do. Will they abuse me in here....etc.

 

Nevertheless, I think we answered the abuse thing. The OP posted further, which proves that no abuse took place.

 

I wish the OP good luck and maybe time to close the thread?

Why close the thread?  Outcome is not yet known.

Hopefully OP on a plane to KL and maybe will update us.

The Sun

The gutter press of the UK.  Yes I am British born.

How many tourists killed ?

Probably none or extremely few.

How many killed everyday on Thailand s roads.

Officially  66 or so, real figure more likely 100.

Sun newspaper, they pay for sensation.They pay for their stories.

It appeals to Brit readers with extremely low IQ levels.

Good business model unfortunately.

7 hours ago, JamJar said:

 

So because you paid more, you imagine that mine isn't of a good quality. ????

LIDL discounts selected products on weekends.

First on the list is 500ml of Greek Extra Virgin olive oil. 77 baht

Second is Italian. Same 77 baht.

Not the cheaper ubiquitous Spanish olive oil you will find everywhere in Thailand or fake olive oil imported via the USA.

 

I don't think you can favourably compare the quality of the grapes you buy in Thailand with the grapes you buy in Europe. When was the last time you saw a Muscat variety in Thailand?

 

Salt your own crisps, 25 baht for 6 packs

 

Antipasti 120 grs of Proscuitto Crudo, Coppa and Milano salami. The cost in Thailand is 420 baht. I paid 40 baht.

 

200 gr of Smoked Salmon. 147 baht

 

200 grs of mixed unsalted nuts 50 baht

 

Stone baked sourdough roll with olives 11 baht

 

I'm sure that my diet is more healthy than yours and likely my weight. Did 50 km of hill training on my bike this morning.

I don't need to eat out often, as the foodstuffs available in the shops here far surpasses the quality of food in Thailand.

Do you love the chlorinated smell of the chicken there?

Even when I do eat out, I choose carefully. 

I haven't stepped into a Greggs since I was at school.

 

In conclusion, I'm happy spending my summers in the UK and my winters in Thailand. But only because of the weather. My quality of life is relatively good in both places.

It's not just about what is the cheapest.

You are treated much as a second class citizen in Thailand. You cannot own land and can be blocked almost arbitrarily.

 

So no, I'm not burning my bridges or slagging off the U.K from afar. For all of it's fault, it is ours. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi JamJar

I like your shopping list, especially the antipasti. Yes you are right, many food items in the UK are of higher quality and cheaper than Thailand.

Good price on the EV Olive oil.

I am currently in Italy and the price of it here is only fractionally cheaper, so the hard discounters in the UK are using their bulk buying power to obtain good prices then working on tight margin.

1 litre EV  Olive Oil is roughly around the 4 Euro mark ( 140 baht ), sometimes a bit more sometimes a bit less.

Pasta is incredibly cheap. 1 kg on promo is 61 Euro cents, about 21 baht.

That is at a hypermarket though with heavy discounting.

Usual price more like 50/60 cents for 500gm.

You seem to have found a good balance, spend some of your time in the UK, some of your time in Thailand.

All the Best

On 6/29/2019 at 11:30 AM, garyk said:

The locals here say it is crime ridden, I haven't seen any yet.

Haven't had issues with breathing, or health issues. 

The only serious issues I have had with breathing is when I was in Asia. That is the reason I left. Since I left Thailand my coughing and breathing issues have cleared up thank goodness. It was killing me. 

 

Hi garyk

Firstly thanks for your interesting posts and the pics. Yes does sound quite cheap there. I have been to Mexico once but so many years ago I have almost forgotten what it was like. Colombia I have never been to, it started to take my interest as a result of this thread and JT s posts.

As to the coughing and sneezing I noticed that since early this year and perhaps even from last year I was coughing and sneezing excessively ( living in naklua/pattaya)

I am just about 3 weeks  into  a 4 month stay away from Thailand in what is a clean air town.( European rather than LATAM though)

My coughing and sneezing has stopped, with very rare exceptions.

So I have to conclude that the air quality in naklua/pattaya as well as many other parts of Thailand is indeed very poor.

On a long term basis that must be bad for one s health.

All the Best.

Hi

I came across a website giving guidance to rentals in Pereira ( Colombia ), prices and areas.

The article is about 3 years old. Total inflation in the last 3 years appears to be about 12 % ( total, not annual ) so add that to prices.

They seem somewhat cheaper than I would have expected.

Pereira to Salento, a very pretty small town is 1 hour away by bus.

http://www.pereiracityguide.com/cost-rent-pereira-colombia/

Here is a youtube walking tour of Pereira, quality not too good, whoever did the video must have been shaking a lot.

Just now, yogi100 said:

How many Latin Americans read this forum.

 

Most English speaking falang visitors to the LOS and who read TV are British and Australian. 

 

Most other posters quote in baht out of courtesy to those who may be unfamiliar with the GBP or Australian Dollar. When do you see a condo advertised for rent in the LOS, or a house or car for sale in US $s

I think it might be British followed by Americans but could be wrong. A lot of Aussies here.

The topic is about Latin America as opposed to Thailand so it would seem fairly reasonable to mention prices in US $.

Like it or not the US $ is the number 1 currency in the world.

I use it for price comparisons/trades.

Sorry I am off topic here really.

3 hours ago, Apache704 said:

Sir, I am 73 years old and I also have to leave Thailand due to the ever increasing changes with Immigration and with no health insurance which I did have before the Army took over. Ecuador is my next destination with a minimal amount of money per month($800) US and for each dependent $100 more plus they have health care for less than $100 per month for a couple and a Senior have discounts on everything. The rents are cheap, also the food, the climate is better. Also you can own land there as a foreigner but they are a lot more expensive than Thailand. Cuenco has the largest expat population (up to 8000) with English being spoken almost everywhere compared to none elsewhere. There are plenty of restaurants that can cater to whomever. I'll be going there from Canada in November and staying 60 days in Cuenca. I'm sure that I can pick up Spanish a lot easier than Thai. Take a good look at getting a Pension Visa from Ecuador you won't have to go back to England for Health care. If you would like to e-mail me for more information I will gladly send it to you.

Hello

Interesting post, thanks.

Are you aware there is a topic on this forum re. considering moving to Latin America, including Ecuador?

I wish you well with the move.

Here is the link to the topic.Might be of interest and I am sure the topic starter there would be interested in your planned move.

I think that average Thai food is amongst the worst in the world.

Rules and standards are overlooked.

All about money, as with everything.

Hi

I came across a "world climates " site. Many about I am sure.

I thought this was good with regard to various areas/cities in Colombia, fair amount of detail.

On a personal basis I like warmth, sunshine and not too much rain whether visiting somewhere or hanging my hat for a while.Not high humidity though.

https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/colombia

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Thailand vs. Colombia?

 

I'm posting this because it's both on topic and for entertainment value. I find both the interviewer and interviewee rather unpleasant (they're probably Thaivisa members, ha ha) but the guy eating the mush has spent time in both Thailand and Colombia. So he gives his subjective opinions.

 

I don't think they need to worry about being contacted by the Colombia tourism authority to do their next promo. 

 

Reading the comments on this video is probably the best part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj2KqT-m-H8

 

 

 

 

I watched it. Also took a fairly quick dislike to the interviewee, was going to give up just 3 minutes thru but did manage to watch to the end. He comes across as rather "full of himself "

Yes, the comments were good , as was your dry wit with your own post comments.

Yes entertaining.

Is anyone interested in music ?

Latin American music is quite nice IMO and listening to music a hobby of mine.

I am not interested in sports, other than major bicycle racing, far prefer listening to music, watching music videos etc.

Link to a site describing the different styles of Latin America music.

https://www.liveabout.com/traditional-latin-american-music-2141072