So here is the dilemma, if not Thailand then where?

[mogandave]

There is some merit in what you say, but there is alot more to crime than murder.  Willing to bet that ATM kidnappings (secuestro expreso ) are way higher in Merida (and almost non-existent in Orlando)

Yeah, it’s a good bet most murder in Orlando is criminals killing criminals.

[Hummin]

9 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

“Land of the Free” is not supposed to mean you get a lot of free things.

 

I got that that, but what freedom do you really have? Land of freedom is Europe if you compare. 

[Hummin]

9 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

“Land of the Free” is not supposed to mean you get a lot of free things.

 

I got that that, but what freedom do you really have? Land of freedom is Europe if you compare. 

[mokwit]

On 5/2/2018 at 5:03 PM, AsiaHand said:

Try Brazil and their hot blooded women.

Brazilian women regard it as their duty to protect you from people who try to scam you. This is a bit different from certain other places where it is their patriotic duty to help.

[mokwit]

Did a lot of internet research in that year when instead of a rainy season we had an extension of the hot season. Came to the conclusion that Thailand was probably the best place with the best balance of things when all things considered. What will drive me away from here maybe is the fact that it is too hot to be really retired, unless you spend all day inside  rather than wanting to be out and about.

 

Bali

Indonesia revamped their visa laws and their retirement visa requirements include that you rent a house of a certain value and employ household staff. Application has to be done through a Lawyer. Apparently applications for the visa with the new requirements have been "slow".

 

Aeriquipa

Nice view of the volcano but when I was there years ago there did not seem to be much to do unless you were a keen churchgoer. Restaurants around the plaza, but that is about it.

[mokwit]

Portugal

Tax free is apparently an illusion, it is only for a fixed period and then they clobber you.

 

Lima.

Seriously, why would you? I suggest you go there for a visit (preferably in the foggy season) before making a decision.

[mokwit]

Fortaleza

Good vibe, good nighttime beach scene, able to hook up with ordinary women (e.g Law student at local university). Same disadvantage as all Brazilian cities. The locals will tell you "Don't walk" - what they mean is that you can walk around after dark and maybe not have any problems but they mean if you do have a problem it might be a serious one - especially if you do not know the local procedure as outlined by another poster - hand over small stuff and treat it as informal wealth redistribution.

[JAZZDOG]

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

But who really wants to retire in Orlando, Tampa or Daytona? Florida is out of question. By the way the only place I have been at gunpoint in my life, and it was a police officer after speeding. 

Quite true, the I-4 corridor is insanity. 

 

3 hours ago, torrzent said:

Unless you spent time at the Hotel Del Rey, then you do not know CR.  That's where all the movers and shakers hang out.  Quepos is mainly a sport fishing town and there is no decent surf in Quepos.  Either spend some time in Guanacaste or if you are an adventurer surf the Salsa Brava south of Limon.....that's where the real surf action takes place.

 

The real money to be made in real estate in CR was in the 80s and 90s, so you missed the glory days there as well.

-Movers & Shakers, LOL! So in your ultimate wisdom you don't know CR until you reside in a huge brothel. Barrio Amon is called Gringo gulch, a cesspool of old perverts who regularly get pummeled by lady boys in Morozon park. So I guess you maybe are correct, they most likely were moving and shaking while being chased down in the park.

-You obviously don't surf either, Tons of breaks on the central pacific from Pavones, Dominical, El Rey, Playita, Damas rivermouth, Esterillos Oeste, Tree, Corners, Hermosa, Escondito, Boca Barranca (along with Pavones the longest left in the country), "Real surf action" what exactly is that?

-Wrong again, the 80s-90s is when the California crowd came down spending way to much on property around Dominical, Nosara and Tamarindo to the north. Our money was made buying farms from older Ticos moving from the mountains to be closer to family. We seldom paid more than 15-20 cents per m/2 for larger farms and did quite well.

My question, is this first hand information, were you an investor in CR in the 80's. It's obvious you never surfed.

 

St. Augustine 74'

[torrzent]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Brazilian women regard it as their duty to protect you from people who try to scam you. This is a bit different from certain other places where it is their patriotic duty to help.

yes but if you split up with them after having a kid, they can effectively hold you hostage in the country indefinitely

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Portugal

Tax free is apparently an illusion, it is only for a fixed period and then they clobber you.

 

Lima.

Seriously, why would you? I suggest you go there for a visit (preferably in the foggy season) before making a decision.

Still, Portugal might make sense for E.U. people. Non-E.U. people, mostly not so much.

I totally agree about Lima. Depressing place because of the weather. Makes rainy Seattle look like Happy Town. 

Edited May 11, 2018 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, mokwit said:

Did a lot of internet research in that year when instead of a rainy season we had an extension of the hot season. Came to the conclusion that Thailand was probably the best place with the best balance of things when all things considered. What will drive me away from here maybe is the fact that it is too hot to be really retired, unless you spend all day inside  rather than wanting to be out and about.

 

Bali

Indonesia revamped their visa laws and their retirement visa requirements include that you rent a house of a certain value and employ household staff. Application has to be done through a Lawyer. Apparently applications for the visa with the new requirements have been "slow".

 

Aeriquipa

Nice view of the volcano but when I was there years ago there did not seem to be much to do unless you were a keen churchgoer. Restaurants around the plaza, but that is about it.

Yeah, I got that impression too. Isolated city in the middle of nowhere. I hadn't realized before that it is very high altitude, similar to Quito. That's a negative. Is chewing coca leaves legal there like in Bolivia (good for the altitude). 

[mokwit]

9 minutes ago, torrzent said:

yes but if you split up with them after having a kid, they can effectively hold you hostage in the country indefinitely

Useful for avoiding extradition though

[torrzent]

1 hour ago, JAZZDOG said:

-You obviously don't surf either, Tons of breaks on the central pacific from Pavones, Dominical, El Rey, Playita, Damas rivermouth, Esterillos Oeste, Tree, Corners, Hermosa, Escondito, Boca Barranca (along with Pavones the longest left in the country), "Real surf action" what exactly is that?

Never said there wasn't.  I only mentioned Quepos, not every single surf spot in the country.  If you look at the list here, you will see most of the spots are in Guanacaste, (exceptions Salsa Brava at No 5 and your Pavones at No. 6.)

https://www.escapehere.com/destination/the-10-best-surfing-spots-in-costa-rica/

I am guessing you were one of these typical california 1 foot wave guys.

I prefer Puerto Escondido in Mexico, that's more my style.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, JAZZDOG said:

So in your ultimate wisdom you don't know CR until you reside in a huge brothel.

who said reside?

1 hour ago, JAZZDOG said:

Gringo gulch, a cesspool of old perverts who regularly get pummeled by lady boys in Morozon park.

You can hang out in parks if you want to.  You'll find me more likely at the Blue Marlin bar.

 

BTW you look great in a bikini!

Edited May 11, 2018 by torrzent

[mogandave]

I got that that, but what freedom do you really have? Land of freedom is Europe if you compare. 

Can you have a radio talk show?

You guys crack me up.

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Still, Portugal might make sense for E.U. people. Non-E.U. people, mostly not so much.

I totally agree about Lima. Depressing place because of the weather. Makes rainy Seattle look like Happy Town. 

Pizzarro apparently asked the locals he had just conquered, and who therefore didn't especially like him, where would be a good place for the Capital city. Hence the site of Lima with its dreary fog for months of the year. Pizzarro must have felt as happy as a Californian in the UK.

[torrzent]

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

Useful for avoiding extradition though

LOL, just ask Ronnie Biggs! 

[mokwit]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah, I got that impression too. Isolated city in the middle of nowhere. I hadn't realized before that it is very high altitude, similar to Quito. That's a negative. Is chewing coca leaves legal there like in Bolivia (good for the altitude). 

Altitude is not an issue in Aeriquipa, it is not quite high enough - more foothills (other than volcano). Coca as leaves legal.

[torrzent]

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Still, Portugal might make sense for E.U. people. Non-E.U. people, mostly not so much.

I totally agree about Lima. Depressing place because of the weather. Makes rainy Seattle look like Happy Town. 

You got that right.  I think that pea soup Lima fog is called La Grua or something and it obliterates the sun for weeks on end.

The beach of Miraflores is so polluted and dirty that the water is almost a copper brown reddish colour.  It would take alot of Pisco Sours to be able to put up with that.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

Altitude is not an issue in Aeriquipa, it is not quite high enough - more foothills (other than volcano). Coca as leaves legal.

Not so sure about that --

 

Arequipa

Elevation	2,335 m (7,661 ft)

 

Quito

Elevation	2,850 m (9,350 ft)

 

Cuenca

Elevation	2,560 m (8,400 ft)

[mokwit]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Not so sure about that --

 

Arequipa

Elevation	2,335 m (7,661 ft)

 

Quito

Elevation	2,850 m (9,350 ft)

 

Cuenca

Elevation	2,560 m (8,400 ft)

For altitude sickness symptoms to be unpleasant has to be around 3000-3500mm plus e.g Cuzco, Huancayo. Don't recall any symptoms in Aerequipa but definitely in last two. First night in Huancayo was downright unpleasant, as was 4800m pass on railway - felt like head pumped full of compressed air.

[JAZZDOG]

20 minutes ago, torrzent said:

Never said there wasn't.  I only mentioned Quepos, not every single surf spot in the country.  If you look at the list here, you will see most of the spots are in Guanacaste, (exceptions Salsa Brava at No 5 and your Pavones at No. 6.)

https://www.escapehere.com/destination/the-10-best-surfing-spots-in-costa-rica/

I am guessing you were one of these typical california 1 foot wave guys.

I prefer Puerto Escondido in Mexico, that's more my style.

 

 

 

who said reside?

You can hang out in parks if you want to.  You'll find me more likely at the Blue Marlin bar.

 

BTW you look great in a bikini!

Don't need a list, I surfed the majority of those spots before you were born and during the time you were P4P at the Rey. The suspect part is you "shaking & moving" to the 'Surf action" at 3X overhead in Baja. Google "Kook"

[torrzent]

14 minutes ago, mokwit said:

For altitude sickness symptoms to be unpleasant has to be around 3000-3500mm plus e.g Cuzco, Huancayo. Don't recall any symptoms in Aerequipa but definitely in last two. First night in Huancayo was downright unpleasant, as was 4800m pass on railway - felt like head pumped full of compressed air.

Not true.  Lots of people feel the effects even in CDMX which is around 2300m.  It also compounds the effects of dehydration, stamina and others.  Ask any of the foreign football teams regularly getting trounced at the Aztec Stadium by the locals.

[torrzent]

5 minutes ago, JAZZDOG said:

Don't need a list, I surfed the majority of those spots before you were born and during the time you were P4P at the Rey. The suspect part is you "shaking & moving" to the 'Surf action" at 3X overhead in Baja. Google "Kook"

The local surf punks like yourself usually step aside when they see the circuit quality pros arrive.  Its etiquette and never had a problem.

[Jingthing]

Obviously the higher it is the more potential impact but I still think Arequipa is sufficiently high to see that as a factor.

 

Quote

 But any elevations 6,500 feet and above are considered high altitude.

https://www.thealternativedaily.com/pros-cons-living-high-altitudes/

[Hummin]

34 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

Can you have a radio talk show?

You guys crack me up.

 

Didnt take much, to crack you up I mean

[torrzent]

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Didnt take much, to crack you up I mean

That's egg-zactly what he meant!

[mogandave]

Didnt take much, to crack you up I mean

No, I’m pretty easily amused.

You?

[JLCrab]

17 minutes ago, JAZZDOG said:

Don't need a list, I surfed the majority of those spots before you were born and during the time you were P4P at the Rey. The suspect part is you "shaking & moving" to the 'Surf action" at 3X overhead in Baja. Google "Kook"

Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. (Han Solo)

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

 

No, I’m pretty easily amused.

You?

 

Yes, Im quite amuzed when someone claim USA is the land of free ;-) 

 

Except that, no

[torrzent]

4 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. (Han Solo)

LOL, that bar at the Del Rey is alot like the Star Wars bar, with a zany cast of characters.

Edited May 11, 2018 by torrzent