torrzent

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'm probably 5-10 years behind current events in Sri Lanka. I was not aware that was a capital crime. So update me if you know so much about it.

At least you are honest.  Unfortunately, in this day and age, it is a capital crime(whatever that means) not to be informed.  Sorry but I have now time to educate you and I doubt you could afford it anyway.  The internet provides all the tools you need. Go get 'em grasshopper!

9 hours ago, Dibbler said:

I think perhaps you've not been to Sri Lanka recently, would that be correct Mr Google expert?  No photoshop required to show the natural beauty of Sri Lanka.  Attached more genuine photos from my recent trip to watch blue whales off the coast of Mirissa.  Incredible to watch these amazing animals just a few hours sail off the south coast.  From Colombo one can be out watching whales within half a day.  

You seem like a typical tourist.  Most expats avoid people like you. The discussion here is more about serious long term living.

2 minutes ago, Dibbler said:

Not now, there is a 4 lane major highway linking Colombo and the south coast. It's a fast road and I have driven it many times in the last year. Road was built with government money for post-war reparations.  I've not visited the slums you show photos of but that's not the coastline I am familiar with.  Looks like you just copied photos from the internet.  I could do that too but chose to use photos of my own. 

Thank you for confirming that my information was from an independent verifiable 3rd party and not subjective photoshop such as your own!

41 minutes ago, Dibbler said:

Colombo is liveable and more interesting is that it is 2 hrs drive from the south coast and some of the best beaches in the Indian Ocean.  This is what it looks like.  Clean water, clean beaches and great surf!

That 2 hour drive you describe is a poor quality white knuckle 2 lane road with high speed head on collisions on a regular basis.  The picture you provide does not portray Colombo but more likely Hikkaduwa.  The Colombo beachfront is more like this,

On 5/4/2018 at 5:12 AM, balo said:

he worked as an English teacher since 2012 , up in the north of Isaan .   Before that Mr. Johnn Edward Charles Toms worked as an engineer back in Wales, his home country .

Imagine an entire village in Issan speaking with Welsh accents. The Welsh are great singers.  I wonder if he also provided karaoke lessons.

On 5/2/2018 at 3:54 PM, Expatthailover said:

as she is more happy getting some money rather than looking for happiness together.

Happiness is an individual feeling in one's mind, so not sure how it could be found "together".  It could be felt separately by both through shared experiences.

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

True that but it sounds like a great place to visit for the food alone. 

Exactly, which is why it is odd that the other guy mentioned the primary attractions as a skyscraper and a museum.  The food, hotsprings, mountains, and seaside are all alot more interesting.

9 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

a moody Bajan man is much scarier than a moody Thai man! Picture an extremely p'd off Usain Bolt in your face...

wouldn't that mean he is going to run away, at world record speed?

7 hours ago, The manic said:

In Hanoi bars shut at 10 30

Why do people insist on spreading fake news?

http://www.vietnam-guide.com/hanoi/nightlife/

It clearly states that Hanoi bars close at midnight and some later, depending on the authorities....even a google of "Hanoi bars" show many that list as closing 2-3 am.

1 hour ago, bwpage3 said:

The Taipei 101 building and the National Museum are really cool things to see.

How many times per year would you visit each?????Maybe once every 10 years?  So totally irrelevant info!

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Are the Tamil Tigers still active?

You seem to have an internet connection but are 5-10 years behind on current events?

3 hours ago, Dibbler said:

Good question, here's my opinions having worked in Bangkok and Colombo, and lived in Bangkok

 

quality of housing  BKK >  CMB

cost of utilities and level of infrastructure  BKK >  CMB (also see details below)

cost and quality of internet  BKK > CMB (Bangkok better quality internet but more expensive)

quality and price of food  BKK < CMB  (comparing local food, Sri Lanka food is fantastic, as is Thai foo, Colombo cheaper)

level of safety BKK = CMB (both reasonably safe for law abiding expats who mind their own business)

level of corruption (large and petty)  BKK = CMB (both countries have entrenched patronage systems that breed greed and corruption, petty crime probably more in Colombo)

friendliness of locals  BKK = CMB, I find them both friendly sorts

ease of visas BKK < CMB (Thai visas take the prize for difficulty and complication, for short or long visas, longer queues in BKK to get visas at immigration and airports)

cost of transportation (own car and taxis)  BKK < CMB (local transport in Colombo very cheap, especially tuk tuks and local taxis)

mating opportunities - very good in both places

scenic beauty - BKK < CMB (Colombo is by the sea but Bangkok has the majestic Chaophya river flowing through it)

cultural appeal - very good in both places

ease of day to day affairs - easy in both for unfussed expat that can tolerate disorder 

cost and quality of healthcare - BKK > CMB (cost and quality)

 

More comparisons about costs, comparing Bangkok and Colombo, Colombo generally much cheaper than Bangkok in most areas

 

Further details here.  https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Sri+Lanka&country2=Thailand&city1=Colombo&city2=Bangkok&tracking=getDispatchComparison

 

 

Colombo is terrible, but maybe you like Karachi as well?

3 hours ago, midas said:

" With no solutions on the table, Anan simply ordered the sanitation department to accurately calculate how much trash is piling up per day so a new online bid can be started for a new contractor and calculate a new budget to solve the problem, even though no one can say what the money will be spent on." 

 

But at this rate by the time they calculate a new budget will be even more trash

Use a logarithmic formula along with a simulation.

22 minutes ago, tropo said:

Watching football and playing chess after 68... to live for... Now I'm even more depressed.

Depends on the team!

20 minutes ago, swissie said:

To blow ones life savings on a "Lady" is one thing, but to borrow 50'000£ from family and friends and then make a fast exit? He was fully aware, that he would never be able to repay the loans.
Something like this I call despicable behaviour.

Surely, his creditors will join in the RIP chorus, but from their point of view the RIP probably stands for
"Rot In Purgatory".
Cheers.

Nasty!  Were you a Swiss banker by any chance?

5 minutes ago, tropo said:

He was living in a huge hole with no way out.

Where there's a will, there's a way.  Think positive.

RIP but I do not have any sympathy for people lacking common sense!

6 hours ago, torrzent said:

what about Cascais....beautiful beachtown just outside Lisbon, but close enough for visit if needed.

Why not bring your own?

1 hour ago, tifino said:

 ... and Portugal just like LOS has the good and the not so good places to be at... ie stay away from Lisbon; instead go and enjoy Porto ☺ which is very much like Prague! 

what about Cascais....beautiful beachtown just outside Lisbon, but close enough for visit if needed.

Same as it ever was, an award winning paradise!

2 hours ago, morrobay said:

decrepit scandanavians

I thought Vikings were healthy people?  Also is there any hotel on the waterfront in Jomtien.....I thought they were all on the other side of Jomtien beach road

Never seen sour cherries, but deal with alot of sour grapes everyday!

3 hours ago, MaeJoMTB said:

The hotel I stayed at said the past 2 years had been an intensive clean up campaign, previously dirty, now clean.

I would go to the (back) beach at 5:30am, and there were people cleaning the beach, the sand and water quality was great.

Beach covered in sea shells, and pretty Viet girls, I thought it was great.

If you want to be surrounded by elderly white folk, it's probably not for you.

 

 

Not sure what this has to do with elderly white folk, unless your meds or alzheimers are causing confusional issues for you.  The point made is Vung Tau is a crap beach.  There are tons of way better beaches there, incl. Mui Ne, China Beach, Nha Trang and Lang Co to name but a few.

40 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

Vietnam is quite nice, 1 year VISA about $250, cost of living cheaper than Thailand.

Saigon Green beer around 20bht /450ml bottle in a bar, tastes similar to Tiger (also available at 30bht/33ml bottle).

This is Vung Tau beach (near Saigon) early one morning.

 

Vung Tau is definitely NOT one of the better beaches in Vietnam....it may be amongst the worst!