gearbox

It is getting more difficult for folks who don't go back regularly to deal with the banks. The increased KYC requirements often require a copy of ID signed by an authorised person (like JP) which may cost time and money to obtain here. My advice is if going back make certified copies, there is a JP pretty much in every library, only little bit of time needed. One may also need Aussie phone number, easy to get ongoing prepaid number to receive SMS authentication. When talking with the banks I use Skype credit, it is way cheaper - an hour of talk could be as low as $3-4. Last time I spent on the phone with Ubank nearly an hour.

Oz is a nanny state with high cost of living. Nearly half of the population lives in the Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas, enslaved with high mortgages and rents, and spending hours daily in ever increasing traffic jams. Good place to make money, not so good at all to spend it.

Inevitable with aging. Strongly recommend the Atul Gawande's book "Being Mortal". After certain age at some moment the things can go downhill very fast. Carpe diem.

Fishing is not allowed in the marine parks, in theory all species are protected. So if it happened in the protected area he can be prosecuted. Otherwise not uncommon to see photos even with bigger catches: https://spearfishing.com.au/blogs/news/species-id-parrotfish

https://thailand.postsen.com/live-style/34002/Jagged-Foreign-tourists-show-off-Caught-a-bunch-of-parrotfish-in-Phi-Phi-Island-ignoring-Thai-law.html Looks like the fishing was done around Phi Phi, which AFAIK is a national park. Fishing is prohibited there. Otherwise the parrot fish is not protected and is quite common in the reefs, I vaguely remember being sold at Sydney's fish markets(rarely). Not a protected specie in Australia.

I'm going to be in the same boat less than 2 years ago, but have my own SMSF. If you are older than 60 the only thing to access the super AFAIK is to declare you are not working and don't intend to work anymore. However you can change your mind later???? This shouldn't require any complex documentation requiring notary, just a declaration. You can get all the money tax free (lump sum), or income stream (pension), your fund probably is going to charge you small yearly fee to handle the pension setup and payments. Be aware that once the money as a lump sum is out of super, if you invest it becomes "normal" investment where any profit is taxable. There are probably people in this forum who went already through this and can give better advice.

I use AliExpress all the time and never had problems. The issues you describe mean that they have control of your endpoint (your PC or phone). If you change your password they lose access, if they know your new password it means they have access to your keyboard (key logger). AliExpress can store the CVV, if you don't want that delete your payment method and put your card details by hand...but if your endpoint is hacked they'll get all the details and can shop anywhere.

It is a great country to visit, one of the most picturesque countries in the world. Drawback it is expensive and some of the trails are too much marketed and no match for the Himalayan options.

Still cheap.... https://www.bunnings.com.au/gas-exchange-8-5kg_p3180180 8.5kg $28 AUD

Try the Samui FB groups....just ask the question there. A lot of local businesses have members there, you may get more replies.

The Australian old age pension is means tested. However you don't need a single day of work in order to be eligible. Just turn up at Centrelink and ask for it. As long as one is below the assets threshold the pension is granted.

It is... depending who employs you. I knew an UK expat in executive position, Sydney Harbour house rent paid for by the company, other perks, total cost to the company nearly a million per year. From his point of view a great place to be in. For the retirees going back it would be massive increase of the cost of living, and massive decrease of the living standards.

https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/country-ranking-factors-40277 Look at the methodology....there were 12k respondents, 900 of them from Germany, most likely people working there. There is no apples to apples comparison, another pointless, self serving and misleading survey.

Meh..I haven't defined and shaped up myself today's divided class based society. https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/where-do-i-fall-in-the-american-economic-class-system

https://www.internations.org/expat-insider/ "In 2022, close to 12,000 respondents shared what it’s like living and working far from home. Together, they represent a total of 177 nationalities and live in 181 countries or territories." The survey mostly targets people working in foreign countries in senior positions, not low class retirees living on welfare. UAE would be quite attractive in this aspect, AFAIK the tax rate is zero there.

https://m.thaiwebsites.com/tourists-nationalities-Thailand.asp The bar stool detectives are not doing great work...in 2019 Thailand counted 4 mil Malaysians and almost 2 mil Laotians tourists out of 39 mil arrivals. The methods of counting seems to be consistent. Whether these are full blown tourists is questionable, but the proportions are mostly in line with the pre-covid times.

Why profiteering....this is how capitalism works. There is big demand for their products, and that's pushing up the prices, this is how the markets work. A few years ago some of the big Australian gas companies were at the brink of default due to low petrol/gas prices. Some had to raise extra capital to stay afloat. The view from the public was "they took the risks, they should bear the consequences". Now that the tables have turned, all the quasi capitalists became quasi communists and are demanding the companies share the profits.

Not sure what hoops the OP is talking about. Most tourists enter visa exempt only showing their passport, stay 1-3 weeks and go back. Can't be any easier.

Last time I travelled on the Southern line the train was late around 4 hours...to the point that I had to find a hotel willing to check me in after 12 am. It is what it is and it did the job but among the best in the world....lol.

"Michael Bridge" clearly hasn't travelled on the Thai trains and has no idea what he is talking about.

There are thousands doing remote work from Thailand and pretty much none is on working visa. All sorts of visas are used, pre-covid the usual visa run would do ok.

This ranking is a bit misleading - it is about the people doing remote work in their own country, not people moving to another country. I'm yet to see anyone moving to do remote work from the German beaches. In terms of people relocating to another country to do remote work for better lifestyle and low cost of living Thailand would rank very high.

Phuket and Samui attract different type of Indians - mostly families, not uncommon to see 3 generations travelling. Many are quite well off and spend way above the average tourists.

Quiet these days...but it has everything. Good place for beach lovers.

That sounds like Logan, Ipswich or any other wasteland west of Gold Coast. 48k baht would be pretty much only the rent in Gold coast or good Brisbane suburb.