the pleiadian

February 6, 2007

th bank in tailande give at most 4.5%(minus 15% of it tax), the mutual fund fixed income type give about 4.0-4.8% net. I personally bought some fixed income instrument at ING tailand, but I put my most chunks of my money in Abeerden in Singapore. I do not trust Tailande this country, after all its just a third world and very very backward in international monetary policies. I was introduced the Aberdden China Opportunity fund in 2002, and my money more than doubled by 2006, and in 2003, I was introduced Abeerden Pacific equity fund, so I bought more and it has risen up to now about 50% of my original investment in 2 years or so.

I always thank Singapore and its financial institutions for ginving me the chance to live in luxury for life.

January 17, 2007

quote<<<Well that is percieved freeness by someone sitting in New York.

It certainly seems a lot more free here than when I walk the streets of london.

Jingthing Posted Today, 2007-01-17 11:44:02 >>>

Thats the problem with lots of foriegn outcasts in SE Asia, many of them have very serious problem in forming thoughts, in analytical ability, in conscious awareness, they will say anything that has no academic meaning that come out of their mouth.

Do Thais have freedom of thoughts?? NO, no, there is still such thing as thought crime in Thailand, I cannot even get into it on this website, thats how free is Thailand.

Do they have freedom of press? do they have the worst censorship even in third word nations? do they have freedom of access to information and knowledge even to their own true history? do they have freedom of conducting business? the list of freedoms that we foreigners take for granted just contnue on.

Really sad that Thailand is heading the wrong direction for the gains of the hiarchy.

January 11, 2007

Last time was ATM debit, but never used besides ATM machines. Last time, the customer service told me someone stole my money by 5 transfers from ATM machines at Top supermarket at RCA, apparently card was copied somehow, they returened me the money after lots of checking and hassels, they cancelled this card.

I asked them can this be a inside thief, they cannot tell me, because I always looked at machines that look suspicious, but the UOB ATM at Tops RCA, look normal, and who would dare to install the reader in front of all the shoppers and store staff at a busy super market.

I paid for another regular ATM after that, not free, then I avoided the stand-alone ATM or ATM at dark alleys, but still happened to me again, the UOB ATM are dangerous and full of theif's readers or scanners, either insiders or outsiders, this never happened to me before when bank of Asia/ABM amro, and this never happened to me at my other account at Bangkok Bank. Only at UOB ATM in Thailand, After the first UOB incident, I always checked for anomaly at UOB ATM, but still happened to me.

I definitely think UOB thailand is either lousy terrible in scam prevention of their ATM machines or there are insiders doing it. Its so stressful waiting to see if the safest place to put your money can replace your money. I think in Thailand generally maybe better to put your money in a safe at your apartment.

January 11, 2007

Last Sep some one stole all my money from my UOB Thailand account, over 200000, and finally the bank returned me in a few days, said some one make withdraw from ATM, apparently my card info was read and copied probably inside thief. But the bank would not tell me the details.

Again yesterday, my account was drained again for 100000 by some thief again. I strongly believe its inside thief again. The customer service is still checking for me, hope to get the money back, its so stessing that a bank has so many inside thieves. It happened to 2 times at the same bank in Thailand.

I will definitely cancel my account at UOB Thailand, if the thief did not steal big amount like this, I probably would not realized it. Just be aware of this UOB bank , when it was bank Asia never had this problem.

UOB Thailand is dangerous bank.

January 8, 2007

Try ING Thailand. Have very safe low risk funds at 4.5-5 % annual. I still keep some money there in the 3 month role over fund at 4.7%.

November 18, 2006

According to World Tourism Organization, Thailand being the 19th of the top 20 countries in number of tourists, and it is the only one that do not offer visa free at least 90 days along with China.

Because Thailand wants to make profits on the visa like any third world nations like China as well, but at the same times they are losing lots of longer term tourists as well. For lots of people like me and others who are younger and financially very stable and like to hang out in Thailand or use thailand as base for longer Asian adventure, basically its troublesome for a long stay, so most of us in this group hang out other locations like Latin America, Latin Europe, where we can hang out indefinitely without any worrys. Other Asian destinations like Filippines, or Cambo can also be indefinite stay if you pay the extension indefinitely. Most important of all, in Latin America and Latin Europe, also Filippines as well, we feel we are so welcomed to stay there as long as we like.

I spend about 5-6 months a year hanging out in Asia, other months in Brasil, use BKK as the Asian base for Asia adventure. I know many people like me who are young but have finance to hang out extended periods Asia, but we more and more feel the Thai goverment has no direction in their governance, still quite immature in their policy makings, they are scaring away more and more money spending tourists and also scaring away lots of businessmen as well on their very fuzzy investment laws.

I was on a plane from Tokyo back to BKK a few weeks ago and met a German business man, he said he is coming to Thailand to cancel their company's contract of setting up a manufacture here, because the country's foreign 49% owenership law, which he said is absurd, how can a government expect foreigners to bring lots of money here and let the Thais just run the whole show, thats the absurdity and thats why up to now even the past government know its absurd and they aknowledge the Thai nominee practices up to now without problem. Now the new junta wants to screw up even the nominee practice and enforce the 49% owership law, the junta obviously have no experiences in international business and have no direction of governance for international investments, then he said that will be the total end of international investment for this country. Something so illogical in this competitive business world should be quickly removed, like in Vietnam and China, both countries considered late arrivals than thailand in international investments, but both countries have corrected their owership law, and allowed 100% foriegn own enterprises now. Vietnam even has now 1 stop window service for international investment while thailand is still going through seas of bureacracy to get any business enterprise license.

I recently have deeply feel the Thai economy also include tourism will take a steep down fall from next year, after reading many many articles recently from many sources, from the visa situation worst of all to the investment situation, the policy making is so immature and have no sense of direction, the government all seem to act on impulses instead of analytical reasoning.

Hope all the long stayers turn out to be okay next year. I am moving on to long stay in Brasil in Jan to Sep 07, and plan to come back Asia in Sep, and if Thailand no longer appreciate tourist to spend the precious money for their economy, I guess i will just switch my asia base to KL or Manila. Thailand need to realize that almost all the long stayers are interested in hanging out pouring money into their poor economy, we are absolutely not interested to make these pennies and nickels in Thailand, Do not kill an elephant just to scare away an ant, better join the rest of the world, at least join the the rest of the top 20 tourism nations give out free 90 days visa exempt, and do not forever squeeze in the same third world category with China trying to sqeeze money on visa, I guarantee people will spend more money stay longer just like all the top world destinations with at least 90 days visa exempt.

November 17, 2006

I remembered I accompanied a trip with another Swedish friend to Yangon and he went to Thai Yangon embassy try to get double visa, it was about 3 months ago. And they told them Yangon embassy is for Myanmar people to go to Thailand and not for the purpose of issuing visa to other foreigners. My friend asked for this time a single visa, but they refused him as well repeating that Yangon embassy is for people of Myanmar only. They told them to get else where.

About the foreign exodus, i think it has already begun. My Bangkok sevice apartment is very empty. The manager said it has never been like this slow in his memory. He said maybe due to the military coup and also became confusing and troublesome for long stay in Thailand. I am leaving in Jan as well and be back to Asia in sep 2007 and i hope not to see deserted Sukumvit, Silom, Pattaya, with all the neon signs turned off.

November 16, 2006

The title should be "why the poor black southeast asian women prefer anything but their own kind". Because the white skin high society southeast asian guys treat them like third class citizen or bunch of house maids, and the poor black skin southeast asian guys see them like bunch of whores. So of course they still prefer these old poor old farang guys due to the lack of choices.

On the other hand, these white southeast asian high-so girls will have nothing to do with any farangs, many of them even ashamed of being in presence of farang men, unless they know you are also loaded with gold and diamond and willing to splurge for them. Girls in this part of southeast asia, very simple-minded, very predictable, no matter how poor or how rich they are, they are always on the look out for a walking ATM.

November 11, 2006

Those girls working at BKK airport immigration counters are mostly just young little girls. My friend knows one little girlfriend working at BKK airport very well. They are basically very low pay clerks. They make from 6500 as trainees to normal from 8000 to just over 10000 bahts a month for more seniors.

They are mostly from secondary colleges or technical colleges. So don't trust their working ability too much. They will make lots of mistakes like any low level Thai workers do, interchanging 15 day, 30 days, 60 day, 90 day stamps the whole day, they surely mess up all the time. So have to remember to check your dates if properly stamped. Remenber lots of these little girls work all night or from 5 in the morning, i am sure they are very sleepy when they are stamping.

Also as a little inside story, I and my German friend and his little BKK immigration girl and another young but fat colleague met up at the Slim RCA some nights ago. My friend's little immigration girlfriend said they were told about the new rules of 90 days in 180 days rule, but were not told anything about enforcement or how to enforce. So most of them do nothing, and some of them use their own creative method like use marker or make number ect on the new stamps, but she said there is no any tool to count the days at all in the future. And there is no auto counting program in the any computer. Her opinion seems its meaningless rule because there is no tool to enforce it or any serious intention to enforce it by immigration.

Hope this is good and comforting news for you visa trippers. Some direct stories from airport counter staff themselves. So it seems like all the worries about long stay or frequent stay on 30 day visa a little blown out of proportion on this forum. We will see if her prediction to come true next Jan. I personally think it will be defunct very soon. But It won't effect me anyways because I am in and out of Thailand every week, so too many stamps in passport to count anyways . And I am finishing my 6 months stay in Asia in Jan and moving on to my next 6 month in Brazil.

(by the way, my most familiar Brasil also has some similar rule as tourists can stay 180 days out of a year rule, but its never enforced, unless you are Bolivian, Peruvian, Argentinian, Colombian, Paraguyan or some other south Americans get caught in illegally working in Brasil)

My friend has invited his little airport cutie to bring a few more cute collegues to RCA later this week. Hope she brings some cuter ones this time, not like last time brought a fat collegue for me.

By the way, I was in Yanhee hospital fixing my teeth yesterday, and also did some face botox, many of these young nurses are so cute, I was amazed, and I find them very fond of meeting "nice" foriegn guys, easy to get numbers, I think i will make Yanhee my regular pick up points. . I am not too willing to share my personal findings on visa and Yanhee, but I will be gone from Asia in over a month, I won't need them anymore anyways, so I share them with you.

November 8, 2006

Quote Overman<<Get a tourist visa and don't worry about it. Truth is, I don't think anybody knows for sure how the counting is being done, least of all Thai immigrations.>>

First of all to get tourist visa every time to enter Thailand is too ridiculous and not plausible for my group of tourists who come and go too often and too short that we don't even know how often, don't even mention how to count the days ourselves. Very funny, I check my passport, some exit stamps are on totally different pages to entry stamps, i cannot even match them, good job done.

In my group of tourists we will not go through the trouble to get a visa for a few days stay, if the law is strictly enforced, very bad for Thailand, we this group of money splashing tourist will be forever lost.

But if the Thai authority piss off our group who is definitely the biggest spenders in thailand, i have no hesitation to move my Asia stay base to other cities like KL,where lots of cheap flights to all over asia. I don't stay long in stay base anyways, just for relaxing and planning for next Asia little trip.

Thais always pass laws on their whim not through reasoning, and without knowing how to enforce it, or without knowing how many negative effects they will get. This is typical Thailand. Do not ask Thais to reason with you, you will be disappointed. I have lots of experiences in field with thais.

Even the immigration itself do not know how to count days. I have a German friend and he has a little lady friend works at the airport immigration counter. She said there is no such thing as automatic computer system. She said they were briefed by thier superior about all the new changes, but they have no tool of counting days nor were told to enforce the law. She said they only were told one time to look for suspicious person and look at his entry records. Some use the markers to show its new stamps but most of them still do not use, because there is no point to use the markers since no tool of counting days. Thats all was briefed by thier superintendent about this new rules.

So basically according to my German friend's little immigration girlfriend, there won't be any serious enforcement in the BKK airport because simply there is no tool to implement it, unless you look like total scummy and filthy,, then they may check your stamps. I will be around in Asia till Jan or Feb then off to Brasil for next 6 months, if my German friend's little immigration girl have something new to say about the system before then, I will report it here.

November 7, 2006

I am not the year visa holder. But I spend about 5-6 months in Asia a year, make base in Bangkok, and other 6-7 months in Brasil. I love these side trips from BKK. I go for a 3-4 day trips and then come back to my service apt in BKK for a week or less and then can't wait to make next little trip.

Currently I go to Yangon more often. Very nice scenery. Very nice different kind of nightlife too, the less spoiled kind, you know what I mean. I used to go Phnom Penh a lot too, but tired of the riding motodops everywhere and tired of the same same Martini, Sharky, but some new places like Mikado, Le Cyrcee are quite fun. If you male visa tripers make it to PP, don't forget to try Sophi's bar.

Other short good little visa trips without wifes or TGs are Manila, Vientiane, Macau, and a bit longer Chengdu, Shenzen in China. I recently discovered night China. Kind of addicted to it. I will go to Chengdu with a friend next week for some China nights. At first when I discovered China, I was surprised what it has to offer. It makes very good little visa trip away from wifes. Ok, small visa trips with wifies, take them HK or Singapore. If you have kids, HK disneyland.

November 7, 2006

Myanmar, Cambo, Laos, Vietnam, ect all have some sort of long term volunteer visa for NGO workers. These countries really appreciate the work NGO guys do. There are also lots of NGO people that are sacrifying their times and money in Thailand taking care of kids with AIDS, helping people of poverty all over Thailand, and also political NGO's also observe the human rights, and it's violations in Thailand. These people are really the patrant saints of Thailand.

But Thailand government do not in any way give out NGO/volunteer visa at all. Actually on the contrary, the government has always dislike NGO in thier country and has always threaten them with detaintion and deportation. There was an article by Human Right Watch sometimes ago, that says Thai government hates the NGO because they think these guys bring bad publicity of their country to the world, and show the world the nasty problems in Thailand, and also reveal Thais' inability to solve their own problem. And also thai authority abhor the most the human rights NGO in their country. These the main reasons Thais authority do not issue such thing as NGO volunteer visa to any international NGO organizations.

I also remember when the Phuket tsunami hit, there were lots of foriegners sacrified their time and money to help the dead and help rebiulding the hard hit areas, but again the Thai government showed absolutely no appreciation for their sacrifice, detained and threaten many volunteers with illegal working, rediculously demanding them with working permit that does not exit in this field of work in their governance in the first place.

All Thai government worrys is not to help all the people in need in their own country, but only worrys their country's shameful problems and situations will be known to the outside world, by treating all NGO guys as enemy of the state.

November 6, 2006

<<Are you on a multi-entry Visa or simply getting 30 day "exempt" stamps? From what's been said, it does make a difference.>>

I came in on 30 day visa free.

November 6, 2006

Came back to BKK from weekend trip to Yangon. This was 5th trip into BKK new airport since Oct 1. Still no marker or highlighter whatsoever on my visa stamps in or out. So far still have not gotten the highlighter thing that members talk about.

November 3, 2006

If you say you want to open USD fixed term, HSBC in Singapore or HK do not have good rates as other banks. UOB Singapore or DBS Singapore have much better rates, over 4.6% annual for a 6 month term deposit. I have a fixed USD account in HK at Wing Hang Bank, also high interest at over 4.6%.

I heard in Thailand's Bangkok Bank also have USD and other foreign accounts now. The minimum for USD fixed term is only 10000USD. But the rate is terribel at 4.something% for 6 months term then minus 15% tax on interests so its only 3something %.

To open bank account in HK, generally all you need is your passport. I opened my accounts at Wing Hang bank, Hang Seng bank and also Standard Chartered bank in HK with only passports about 5-7 years ago. In Singapore, UOB and DBS want a letter of referal from your current bank, they did not ask me for proof of adress, but this is also up to the discrcetion of each branch.

October 29, 2006

For those people interested in the cheapest and easiest way to get PR in Brasil. Get some Brasilian lady pregnant and have a Brasilian baby, no need to get married, then you are automatically given permanent residency immediately with application cost of mere 20USD or so. Ha ha. It even worked for Ronnie Biggs,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Biggs

So Dr. Naam, after spending lots of money and still can not get the PR, maybe better investing few hundred dollars getting a Brasilian garota pregnant and have a little nice kid running around, then you will be entitled free PR in no times and no money.

As for me I choose the Sao Paulo attorney route.

October 29, 2006

Dr. Naam , I am not sure all the details of your Brasil's PR application. Did you do all the steps correectly? like open the company account specically for the wiring of money specically towards the PR program? There are lots of details involved in getting quick PR in Brasil through investing in a condo or holiday villa.

My brother went through the PR process from the very beginning through immigration lawyer in Sao Paulo. They lead him through all the legal processes smoothly. I know there are many very good and powerful immigration lawyers in the Paulista and Itaim areas in Sao Paulo. I believe there is no bribing involved or anything under tables but some of the immigration lawyers in Sao Paulo are actually ex or current immigration department officials or consultants or someone very well connected to the department. The one my brother used was a Japanese Brasilian attorney, I believe named Sergio Kobayashi, in Paulista areas, very high consultanting fees, but very efficient. But you need to appoint him from the very beginning of the process in order to go smoothly.

I will do my Brasil PR program next year, I will find another lawyer and appoint him in Sao Paulo, hopefully a cheaper one than my brother's, to guide me from the beggining.

October 28, 2006

I chatted with my brother on the MSN just now. The key to quick PR in Brasil through investing a condo or other investments is use of immigration lawyers from the begining of the process. They will do all the procedures for you including setting up a paper company account that your money will be wired into from overseas, then use the amount in buying a condo or holiday apartment. You do not need to hire any Brasilians. Immigration lawyers will be able to get you PR in less than 3 months. If you try to wade throgh all the burecratic process itself may take 5 yeras or end up nada.

October 28, 2006

I have made 4 entries into Thailand already after Oct 1, all came in through Bangkok new airport. I did not get any marker or highlighter on all my 4 entries 30 day stamps. They all looked the same as before, only the stamp seals have the new name of the airport. It seems like they only enforce the marking on land crossing. I still don't know how they will count the 90days out of 180 day period by looking, it takes a very advanced computer program that is connected to every computer at every immigration point to work out the date. But so far I know they do not have the systems in computers. I know this because I know a young German guy who has a gik friend that he has fun with sometimes that works as one of the immigration check in staff. The check in check out staff are the lowest ranking staff, she is 23 and only has salary of 8000 bahts or so plus some OT bonuses. Sometimes these girls works from 5 in the morning or sometimes all night. She said there is no such automatic computer counting systems yet as now. It will be fun to watch them really count people with hundreds of stamps. Ha ha. But I really doubt they will do that in the airport even next year.

October 28, 2006

Quote from Tropo: The main problem I forsee with Brazil is that it's a huge country and it could take some time to decide where to settle.

Could you offer a suggestion on where to start exploring such a huge country.

Do you travel between cities by rail, road or air? Is air travel expensive

answer: yes the tremendous size of the country and the hundreds of cities to choose from is a problem.

I reccommend some cities to visit for beginners. Brasil is difficult for beginners. But the fun will begin once you settle down, get a condo, learn some basic language skills, know your way around, then get a car, then Brasil is paradise.

Some of the very popular destinations, start from the Northeast: Fortaleza, Maceio, Natal, Vitoria, are all very safe and easy to navigate, all year round warm weather, beautiful beaches, and cheap living cost. Or you like smaller beach towns, Olinda, Porto Seguro are perfect.

Then the Sao Paulo coast, there are hundreds of beautiful towns on the Sao Paulo coast, but I reccommend Santos, Guaruja, Sao Vicente, Bertioga, all are nice beach cities, but somewhat seasonal, get cold in the winter, but packed from Oct to march. If you have a car, very nice to move around the SP coast. Summer times packed with t-string babes on all the SP coastal beaches. My brother stays in Guaruja and he owns a car and so nice to visit all the coastal cities in SP state. The sheer number of nice babes is astonishing in SP.

Rio de Janeiro coast: some really beautiful cities on the Rio coast, Angras dos Reis, Cabo Frio, and Buzios. All 3 are full of long stayers.

And the south: My favorite Florianopolis. A beautiful city with metro population of 500000, and with hundreds of beautiful beaches in it's city municipality. Very safe city. Also famous for water sports and the beautiful women.

Also some non beach cities that worth mention, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, are both very modern and very advanced cities with very high living standards. Many world class super models come from this region like Gisele Bundchen. Also Blumenau and Joinville the 2 Germanic cities also very attractive for long stay. Blumenau has the world largest Octoberfest outside of Munich.

So the choices are so wide, a person who wants to relocate to Brasil often rent a car and explore the north to south to look for his favorite location. Or at least try a few of the main areas that I mentioned by air, Brasil has lots of budget airlines as well.

October 28, 2006

my quote: Or you can invest in Brasil PR program for 50,000USD. Buy a condo or house or open any business that you like and you can work there to make money and receive PR for all your family. My brother got his PR from buying a beach condo in Guaruja, a beach resort in coastal Sao Paulo."

-------

quote from Dr. Naam: "= incorrect information! i bought two building plots in Brazil (Itaipava/Petropolis, 80 km north of Rio) and planned to settle in Brazil. investment in real estate property does NOT entitle you to obtain a residence permit. you need to invest $ 50k in an existing company or form a company and proof that you are providing new employment opportunities for brazilians."

Dr Naam if you buy a condo first, then apply for PR , best to apply through a immigration lawyer in Sao Paulo, fees about 2000USD, fast and easy, then after you get PR, then you will be able to invest in more lands, farn estates, ect. You may have the order messed up.

My info is correct, you can invest in a condo and receive permanent residency absolutely. My brother and also his friends have done it. I got something from the website:

please read it. It works as following:

BRAZILIAN RESIDENT INVESTOR STATUS PROGRAM

A law was passed on October 6th, 2004 in Brazil whereby the fee for obtaining a permanent residency was lowered from $200,000 to only $50,000 USD. This money does not have to be spent but can sit in the Brazilian company bank account collecting interest. The funds can even be borrowed from family and friends as the $50,000 can be bank wired back out of Brazil once the applicant receives permanent residency. A Brazilian company must be formed and the bank account of that Brazilian company must be registered with the Central Bank of Brazil. The $50,000 USD must pass through the Central Bank into the investor's Brazilian company bank account which remains under the investor's control at all times.

You can obtain a permanent residency, by investing in a business - for example it could be in real estate such a rental apartment or it could be in an investment in a fish farm which is a fast growing industry here.

.

Money transfer - It is worth mentioning that when you transfer the money legally, from your bank through the Central Bank of Brazil (Banco Central) to your own bank account in Brazil, that the money remains yours and stays with you at your disposal at all times and under your sole control.

Comparison to Central America Residency Investor Programs - There simply is no comparison. Central American countries like Costa Rica charge $50,000 USD to obtain a second residency, but the investment goes to government tree planting projects that you have no control over and it is doubtful that you will ever receive a penny of profit. Consider it a donation.

Choosing the investment - You can choose your own investment and may use our help on that. If you buy an apartment, or any other real property, it will be registered in your name and the system of registration in Brazil is 100% fool proof and has been operating for many years successfully for our overseas investors. We have clients from all over the world including Asia, Europe and North America.

Holiday apartment - It might be an excellent idea for you to invest your money here in a holiday apartment, where you could spend your vacations in the wonderful environment of Fortaleza, and enjoy the 5 star shopping center "Iguatemi" and the largest waterpark in South America, "Beach Park".

We would propose for a number of reasons you consider our Brazilian Resident Investor Status program.

Some of the reasons for this are:

1. The ability for applicant to work in their own business.

2. Minimum amount of time required per year to be there

3. The fact that the program is pre-approved by the government

4. Unrestricted. Applicant and family members may work at any endeavor.

5. Includes entire family including spouse and children up to 18 years.

6. Brazilian Citizenship and Passport possible in only 4 years time.

7. Cost as little as $50,000 per family.

8. Favorable Tax and Extradition laws.

"Resident Investor Status" through this Program.

No personal appearance in Brazil is required for processing. All your documents can be sent to our offices and the process can be completed in 45 to 60 days. You will pick up the Permanent Visa at the Brazilian embassy or consulate in your home country and then you will enter Brazil with the "Resident Investor Status".

Unlike former Brazilian residency programs which restrict you and your family to certain areas of Brazil, our program offers residency anywhere in Brazil for applicant and family. You choose when, where and how you live and work in Brazil. After 4 years you and your family can apply for citizenship and passport/s. In addition you do NOT have to remain in Brazil during your residency. You can visit for as little as a few days every two years.

An interesting note is that if you are single, a Brazilian Citizenship and Passport is possible after only one year of marriage to a Brazilian citizen.

A Resident Investor has most of the rights of a Brazilian Citizen except political. They can not vote or get politically involved.

Requirements to become a citizen are time in country as stated above and must be able to speak a reasonable amount of Portuguese. There are no further requirements.

Dr Naam if you buy a condo first, then apply for PR , best to apply through a immigration lawyer in Sao Paulo, fees about 2000USD, then after you get PR, then you will be able to invest in more lands, farn estates, ect. You may have the order messed up.

October 27, 2006

Quote from Tropo: How easy can you get by with only English? What about TV, movies, newspapers, DVD's...are there any in English?

What is the cheapest way to fly from Thailand to Brazil?

You mentioned that a tourist will get 90 days free upon arrival, which can be extended. After the extension (180 days total), must one leave? If so, can one come straight back, or must one stay away for a certain period of time?

answer: Brasil is a country that you need some basic Brasilian Portuguese to get by. Most long stayers learn some basic conversation. It is also more fun to know some basic in order for lady hunt. As for DVD, TV, movies, newspapers, everything you can think of have in English. Lots lots of DVD rentals 24 hours too.

There are so many ways to fly to Brasil mostly into Sao Paulo or Rio from Thailand. The most direct way is from Tokyo to Sao Paulo direct flight on Japan Airlies. or Kuala Lumpur to Buenos Aires then unto Sao Paulo on Malaysian Airlines, or many other connections through cities like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris, Zurich, ect, or fly through USA but it takes longer.

The ticket from BKK to Sao Paulo cost about 50000 up to 65000 roundtrip. Then if you have connection in Brasil to other Brasilian cities then plus another 4000-8000.

You can get in no visa for 90 days plus free extension at the policia federal for another 90 days, then you can further extend it if you have some reasons to, or leave Brasil from one second onwards, then you can come back for another 180 days visa free. Lots of long stayers go to Iguacu fall for a vacation and walk out to Argentina side or Paraguay side to see the fall and walk back to Brasil for another 180 days visa free.

Or you can invest in Brasil PR program for 50,000USD. Buy a condo or house or open any business that you like and you can work there to make money and receive PR for all your family. My brother got his PR from buying a beach condo in Guaruja, a beach resort in coastal Sao Paulo. After receiveing PR, you have the same business rights as Brasilians. Can do any business, buy lands, buy houses, everything excepy running for polical offices and voting for elections.

Another easy way is to marry Brasilian garota, then you automatically get Brasil PR with all the rights as Brasilians except political rights. You have to wait 3-4 years to get naturalization for political rights.

Its misconception that Brasil is dangerous. Brasil is safe outside the megapolis of Sao Paulo and Rio. All the coastal cities in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio and all other coastal cities all over the country, are definitely safer than Pattaya or BKK. Lots of these beautiful beach cities like Floripa, Guaruja, Bertioga, Ubatuba, Sao Vicente, Angras dos Reis, Buzios, Cabo Frio, and hundreds more are almost crime free. Coastal cities up north like Fortaleza, Maceio, Natal, Vitoria, Aracaju ect ect are also very safe, violent crimes are much more rare than Patttaya or BKK as well.

October 27, 2006

Brasil, Brasil, Brasil, muito SAUDADE. I have post this in the general section already and I post this again for people with interest for relocation.

Actually Tailande is my secondary subsititute to my main stay of Brasil. The living expenses in Brasil and Tailand are very similar, but the beauty, nature, the foods, the culture, variety of locations, thousands miles of beaches, music, ect ect, are uncomparable between Brasil and Tailande. Brasil is now probably the most favoraite long stay or relocation for foreigners.

First most foreigners can stay 90 days visa free plus free extension of further 90 days. For US citizens is 100USD for a 5 year visa that works the same as all other visa free nations. For people who likes to relocate and work, you can invest 50,000USD in Brasil to open any business, and your whole family can work and receive permanent residency. If you don't wish to work, you can just invest 50000USD in a condo or anything else and receive permanent residency for your whole family. My brother age 44 has received permanent residency of Brasil through buying a condo of 100,000USD, but the minimum is only 50,000USD. I will do this next yera as well to buy a house in most beautiful city Florianopolis in southern state of Santa Catarina to obtain permanent residency so I can receive rights to buy lands in Brasil. The process takes less than 3 months to receive PR.

After 4 yeras of PR, you can get naturalized as Brasilian citizens. But for me PR is enough because I won't care about voting rights or running for political offices. I like to buy a nice beach front house in Florianopolis and then buy another a huge farm estate in Santa Catarina with horses, swimming pools, tennis courts, and party facilities. My brother bought a farm estate in interior state Sao Paulo near Campinas, a large developed industrial suburbant city 2 hours drive from capital Sao Paulo, with 3 tennis courts, 2 huge swimming pools, 10 horses, have 2 farm hands to take care, a huge house with 8 rooms, plus movie room, party room, a huge back patio for churrasco(Brasilian barbeque), the estate is 15 min to main freeway to capital Sao Paulo, all for 80,000USD.

The price of estates in northeast and southern Brasil are much cheaper than Sao Paulo or Rio. In my favorite state of Santa Catarina, I can get a big farm estate with tennis courts, swimming pool, a big house, horses, and maybe 1-2 hours from Florianopolis for 40k or 50k. Of course you can even buy a fram eatste for holiday also get your PR at the same time.

So thats my plan from next year, to own a peice of beautiful beach and also to own a peice of beautiful mountain in the paradise of Brasil.

Some cities that atrract big expacts population, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and all the hundreds of sea shores cities of both of the 2 states , also Fortaleza, Natal, Maceio, Recife, Salvador, Vitoria, Aracaju, ect in the warm and beautiful northeast, things are cheap here and most beach cities are very safe as well. Huge foreign populations in all these beach shore cities. Then in the south, my favorite beach city Floripa, plus many other major cities like Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Blumenau, Joinville, ectect. The South has the living standard very high as comparable to Spain, Portugal, Czech, Hungary ect.

To me, to relocate with all attractive elements, Brasil is the top of top for me and for many others. Thanks to Lula, the great leftist president of Republic who made the rules so easy for foriegners to relocate and settle and do business, Viva Lula.

If the sound of bossa nova, the beat of samba, the chant of capoeira, the smell of charrasco, the scenes of millions of t-string bikinis, and the thousands of miles of city beaches to pristine white sand beaches are unkown to you, then you should take a long holiday to get a little taste of Brasil. Brasil is so popular with non-English speaking nationals from Europe and from all over the world in term of long stay, but it is pretty much a virgin land for most English speakers for some unknown reason. This is a mostly English speaker forum, so I think I will reccommend the forum members here that if you don't know Brasil, you are missing out a lot.

PS: By the way, Brasil outside the megapolis of Sao Paulo and Rio is a very safe nation. Even just one hour drive to the beach towns from the city Sao Paulo to all the coatal beaches cities in Sao Paulo state, the crime rate becomes almost insignificant. Same as Rio, when you get out of the city and head to the other coastal cities in the same state like Angras dos Reis, Buzios, Cabo Frio ect all these astonishing beautiful beach cities, the crime is almost non-existant, you can fully concentrate on the t-string babes all day, no problem. And in my favorite city of Florianopolis(Floripa), the crime rate is also almost non-existant. I can gurantee Floripa is 100 times safer than BKK or Pattaya. And the sceneries are also 100 times better than Phuket or Samui. Not to mention about the most incredible girls in the entire world and the most variety of cultures existed in one single nation. If you are single then Brasil is the paradise of paradise. Thats why everyday hundreds of flights from Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland, France and all over the world packed with men are bound to Sao Paulo, Rio, Fortaleza, Salvador, Recife, and all over to Brasil. You can easily meet a nice lady, a true love there, unlike Thai girls that almost likely to get something out of all foreigners. My brother and I fell in love with Brasil when we were teens, so about 20 yeras now, we grow so attached to this one country more than out home country. You will know if you take some times to see this incerdible country. Brasil saudade. muito saudade.

October 26, 2006