Can't you use google translate? I do that in thailand and just show people the phone or have it speak out loud.
thrre is even an audio feature to have convo back and forth.
In Thailand a guy is expected to pay when a couple goes out.
So your getting fed for free (or going dutch at 50% on the groceries) lucky you, but unusual in Thailand ????
You would also be saving 50% on all food & drinks. Otherwise, its probably about the same as you would pay eating solo in your home country. That can really add up over time, 3x meals and drinks a day times 30 a month etc.
Land ownershiip is a big hurdle for me also. I dont want to retire in a condo or a rental. That rules Thailand out altogether for me as a permanent residence.
When I dont own I also keep moving around and it never feels like I'm settled in one place, but it's more of a James Bond situation where I'm always on the move. This feeling persists even with annual leases.
It opens up the possibility of freezing accounts as well. Many people may ignore the rules but the retirement account gets frozen one day after years of not filing taxes for arrears amounts due or not understanding how to file at all. Since the money is in country funds are easily frozen or debited out.
Could be one reason they require retirement funds in a Thai bank, and not just any bank.
imagine getting audited and trying to explain your tax return to people with limited english ????.
even pointing to a menu at a restaurant has problems.
i guess hiring a lawyer or agent would be recommended for that just like going to immigration is now.
in most systems you self file and pay whats owed. theres no reason why it would have to be through a thai account.
they track you down later for an audit if needed.
sounds like money has to be transfered into a thai account to be taxed. maybe atm withdrawls are exempt from tax.
i wonder what the reporting requirements are if im just taking money from the atm? do i need to file a return?
the place appears just as you said. i dont see a big high season revival in the future. attitudes have changed as well, not just numbers.
the question is, where is the new place to visit?
I went to the horse races in CM. My friend got a tip from a thai guy sitting at the next table. He mentioned the winning horse, my friend put money on it and won.
It was probably rigged.
Phillippines is great for down and out stories. cambodia does not seem to vlog as much.
my favorite channel years ago was "my phillippines interest" with frank battaglia. i think its gone now.
cambodia gets worse then phillipines i think with more addict stuff and "deathpats". phillippines seems to be more just destitute types.