India alternative

[Mahseer]

The 2 months out rule was abolished couple of years back. These days most travellers enter on an e visa which is good for a year and continuous stay of 90 or 180 days depending on nationality and straight forward to secure. You can just nip across the border in Nepal and return straight away but there are no retirement visas as such and you will get queried at immigration if trying to live in India on back to back visas, sound familiar?

 

Brits can get a 5 year visa from their home country ( I managed to get one in Chiang Mai several years back but refused a second) and Americans 10 years but the maximum continuous stay is still 180 days.

 

Where to live? Well if it was me I would spend the summers in the Himalayas and winters down on the plains but tough to recommend in either place without knowing what the OP is looking for. 

 

I love India but in can be overpowering. Cities like Delhi and Calcutta will really test your commitment but recommend avoiding the former as they suffer from 'world leading' pollution levels for months on end.

 

My personal favourites? Love Leh in the summer, Spiti area for exploring and Kashmir for trout fishing but all are seriously cold in winter. Cochin in Kerala is not a bad spot for winters and I guess Goa will appeal to some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

I can't make it here either.  Wife just threw me out and no way in hell I'm buying the elite visa.  The sick part of it is I married her because I really love her... I'm fed up with thailand.  Sick joke of a country for me anyways sorry to offend anyone ???? please understand all my involvement with this country is bad and my wife gave me an std that made me unable to walk now..unreal

You gotta look on the bright side, no worries about her VISA to the USA now.

[Lacessit]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Is that a misshapen nipple or some ugly birthmark?

I think she got the bikini size wrong when she went shopping.

[Naam]

12 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

However, you can just get a five year multiple entry tourism visa and go home for two months once a year to avoid overstays.

and what will you say at the airport when leaving when asked for your income tax certificate because you spent more than 183 days in a calendar year?

[Naam]

7 hours ago, Bang Bang said:

Indians on the other would be flattered by a farang wanting to stay long-term because there's very few such (well, with good reason). So, the local people, police and FRRO's would likely be as helpful as they could to help out (yep, complete opposite:-)

sorry mate... i agree with most of your comments but pertaining to residence you misjudge the situation. i (we) have residence permits, own propery in India and gave it a try to live there after spending 15 years in Florida and before the now 14 years in Thailand. i liked it (kinda... sort of...) but my wife could not cope. but then she doesn't really like Thailand either.

[Naam]

7 hours ago, sandrabbit said:

from what I've been told/heard one of the nicest places to live/holiday go to Kerala on SW coast in India.

bingo! as is Karnataka north of Kerala.

[Naam]

12 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Have you ever lived in India?  I have.  Would not do again by choice.

Mrs. Naam agrees, i don't. 

[Naam]

12 hours ago, AlexRich said:

The question is where to stay in India? And would you be caught up in their tax system? 

 

I’ve been to Delhi several times, on business trips, nice hotels, driver, etc. I’m not sure I’d like to do it as a backpacker type. 

 

yes you would.

[Naam]

11 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

Apparently Americans who aren't of Indian origin may apply for the ten year visa but if you are of Indian descent you must apply for the ten year.  Confusing.

void story. any citizen with Indian roots can apply for an OCI card (which looks like a passport) and is valid for life.

 

Quote

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is an immigration status permitting a foreign citizen of Indian origin to live and work in the Republic of India indefinitely.

 

[wisperone]

11 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

Travelling just for women is very shallow

Welcome to Thailand

[lopburi3]

47 minutes ago, Naam said:

Mrs. Naam agrees, i don't. 

For me Delhi belly was a constant during the 18 months I lived there - but in fairness suspect half was due to local preparation of western food - just the sickest time of my life and that included Calcutta and Madras (where you needed to declare yourself an alcoholic to buy a drink).  That said also spent 2 years in Dacca EP/Bangladesh and had no such issues (but would not make a choice to live there).  

[CharlieH]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Is that a misshapen nipple or some ugly birthmark?

Nothing mishapen there !! thats what happens when you try to get a quart into a pint glass mate !????

[giddyup]

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Really ?......I beg to differ.....

 

 

That's about as good as it gets.

[Lacessit]

12 minutes ago, giddyup said:

That's about as good as it gets.

Visually, maybe. My observations based on multiple experiences are there seems to be an inverse relationship between beauty and sexuality in the sack. The plainer ones are actually more enthusiastic about laying me, and getting laid.

[bobbin]

Ah..the internet.  The unknown becomes the known..

 

As a young man I lived in India for several years. No visa problems for Commonwealth citizens at that time. Unlimited stay possible. The tax clearance certificate was a simple visit to the office. At that time I was not rich enough to be of interest to them. I would not see that as a problem but then again, I'm still not rich.

 

As already noted, India is a huge country. It has almost any climate you would prefer. English widely spoken. Excellent medical available and much less expensive than Thailand. Great food.

 

Much richer culture and history than Thailand.

 

The new visa options of 5 and 10 years are very good.. Calcutta/Kolkatta is a 2 hour flight from Bangkok. As mentioned also, the 2 month absence is no more, fly out one day return the next.

 

The Indian government don't advertise "Retirement" visas but their "Tourist" visa can function like one. Get the 5 or 10 year version. 6 months on arrival. Fly out. Return. Repeat.

 

No financial requirement. No reporting every 90 days. No contact with Immigration except at the airport.

 

I have just renewed my Retirement extension here for the 17th time. Like many, I feel that Thailand is moving the goalposts and as I get older that is an issue.

[Jingthing]

So India is a large country.

 

Surely there are some specific areas that would be great expat havens?

 

Or not?

 

Any India hands have thoughts on these places?

 

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-places-to-retire-in-india-456793/

 

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by Jingthing

[JimmyTheMook]

18 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

 

I am dynamically opposed to the bar scene in thailand.  If it were up to me nana, soi cowboy, walking street, all of it would be overpriced hotels for Chinese tourists and condos etc.  I can't stand bar girls and I can't drink alcohol anymore due to poor health.

 

 

 

Maybe you can pitch a good turd?

 

 

 

 

[SenorJorge]

6 minutes ago, JimmyTheMook said:

 

Maybe you can pitch a good turd?

 

 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, JimmyTheMook said:

 

Maybe you can pitch a good turd?

 

 

 

 

Hey its SE Asia man and nothing surprises me.

 

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/780582/monkey-killer-rampage-deaths-india

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

So India is a large country.

 

Surely there are some specific areas that would be great expat havens?

 

Or not?

 

Any India hands have thoughts on these places?

 

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-places-to-retire-in-india-456793/

 

 

 

I have never lived in India but I have visited about 10 times, 2 days to 2 weeks, on work projects New Delhi and Mumbai.

 

On every visit I met / had to try to work with so many very very tricky, dishonest and arrogant people, managers and staff of the client companies I was working with, their suppliers and their local clients. One of my Thai senior colleagues was instructed by the Indian Admin. manager dragon to clean the room we were working in. I insisted it was not his job to clean the office, she withdrew her demand and giggled and made a nasty comment about low class Thai people. She twice slapped the face of the pleasant, polite and focused young 15 yo boy who was tasked to provide us with coffee etc. Madam's rule was 2 minutes to put the coffee on the table regardless of what other tasks he had been given or how many coffee orders. She watched her watch, 1 second over and she slapped his face hard. And somehow she thought this would impress us. 

 

Also 4 star / 5 star hotels, both in terms of rooms booked and confirmed but not available on arrival so downgraded but the bill was for the higher room. Ask a couple of idle questions and discover the rooms were available all the time. Double charging of meals in the dining room.

 

Somehow charges for car pick up got doubled plus on one visit an outside taxi also turned up at the airport and demanded we use their service, fortunately I had a printed copy of the hotel booking which specifically mentioned the hotel car and river would greet us on arrival. And lots more. 

 

I also comment that the poverty in the streets was hard to come to grips with, but perhaps other folks can push this aside, personal choice on this point. 

 

I freely admit I haven't visited other beach areas or whatever.

 

Seems to me anybody considering India, should visit long-term a couple of times, before making any decisions. 

[SenorJorge]

I've never been to Goa.  Now I want to go.  Is there anywhere for my wife to buy what she needs to cook esan food?  Obviously young papaya would be easy to come by.  What about the rest?

[SenorJorge]

6 hours ago, Naam said:

void story. any citizen with Indian roots can apply for an OCI card (which looks like a passport) and is valid for life.

 

 

Why on earth did they pass the other mundane law then?  The fortuitness of government never ceases to amaze me.

Edited May 23, 2019 by SenorJorge
Unable to spell

[Mahseer]

17 minutes ago, SenorJorge said:

I've never been to Goa.  Now I want to go.  Is there anywhere for my wife to buy what she needs to cook esan food?  Obviously young papaya would be easy to come by.  What about the rest?

Well India is renowned for spices so no issues there but you have to expect differences when comparing market produce from a land locked area to one that is a coastal city especially so when they are 5-6,000kms apart.

 

Generally speaking she'll be able to find the majority of produce and for those she can't then improvisation is the key and that's one of the joys of travelling. One major plus for Goa........fresh seafood!

[SenorJorge]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

On every visit I met / had to try to work with so many very very tricky, dishonest and arrogant people, 

....

 

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Seems to me anybody considering India, should visit long-term a couple of times, before making any decisions. 

I'm going to be straight forward and say that not a year has passed for me in Thailand where I wasn't dirty dealed by hotels, businesses, taxis, you name it, it's happened.  I booked a hotel once in bangkok that had good reviews on it.  I won't mention the name here because it's a waste of breath anyway.  I'd stayed there before (decades ago, granted).  When I arrived, I paid cash for the room, and the hotel was 75 percent torn down, dust everywhere.  Literally, entire portions of the hotel was torn down.  Jackhammers and everything going off.  The room was a dilapidated mess.  1200 baht per night.  I went to the counter and said I'd like my money back, this place isnt being renovated, it's being demolished.  She took 600 baht and told me that there was a cancelation fee and if I didn't leave she was going to call the police!  Unreal..  Still not as bad as when I was drunk in a bar in Phnom Pehn and two "taxi drivers" tried to outmuscle me into their car to "take me to my hotel" (atm cruise probably) because "the bar close now".  However I can't think of a single trip or year in thailand when I haven't had issues.  Things are better now that I'm married.  A lot less issues.  The bad news is I won't have a spouse who understands the culture in India the way I do here.  I think if you're a farang and you make SE Asia your home there's just inherent risks and if you're not willing to take them on this just isn't the place for you.  Never had any issues across all of Europe except for exhoribitant prices.

[Isaanbiker]

22 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Have you ever lived in India?  I have.  Would not do again by choice.

I was there many moons ago and travelled to India for seven months. 

 

  The beaches in Goa were nice, food was okay, but people can drive you crazy. The citizens in Tamil Nadu in the south nod with their head when they say no, and vice versa.

 

But please never go into a kitchen where they prepare your food. When you see people eating with the left hand on the floor, you definitely know what they do with it. 

 

I made the mistake once and almost threw up right inside. Plenty of nice girls in a bigger city for short time.

 

   But you'll always miss your " I love you too much." 

[Isaanbiker]

3 hours ago, SenorJorge said:

I've never been to Goa.  Now I want to go.  Is there anywhere for my wife to buy what she needs to cook esan food?  Obviously young papaya would be easy to come by.  What about the rest?

I can only give you an idea of how it had been a long time ago. Nice beaches in Goa, decent food, also for foreigners. Fruits cheap and plenty of them. 

 

  Your wife will find all to make her Somtham, fish is great there. My special dish was shark steak. 

 

   I'll definitely come back one day. 

[puchooay]

11 hours ago, Naam said:

bingo! as is Karnataka north of Kerala.

Agreed. Recently holidayed in Kochi. Vepin island, Forth Kochi. Great places. Fantastic food too.

[Naam]

8 hours ago, DonDoRondo said:

The accommodations are inferior and nothing like the value and service you can get in Thailand.  Many more street dogs.

Feces on the street.  They've abolished the 1000 rupee note for the 2000 - try paying for a 100 rupee lunch with a large note - good luck.

inferior accomodations are in line with restaurants serving 100 Rupee ($1.40) lunches.

[roo860]

I believe it's even harder for Brits, they haven't forgiven us for civilising them yet.

In the two and a half years I was there never came across any problem where my nationality was questioned, in fact it was a bonus. I travelled extensively by train, if trains were full I would go and speak to the Station Master, who'd always ask where I came from, have a chat, next minute I would have a sleeping berth on the train.

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[Destiny1990]

I lost all interest after i read that going to India is automatically means signing up for lengthy diarrhea’s.

What ever marvelous Visa offer they might have i will only see that Country from whatever the television is showing.  

[SenorJorge]

13 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

I lost all interest after i read that going to India is automatically means signing up for lengthy diarrhea’s.

What ever marvelous Visa offer they might have i will only see that Country from whatever the television is showing.  

I had the same problem with thailand initially.  Your body will adjust it just takes time.  Loperamide works wonders.  The only time you need to get real concerned is when you get Ameobas and parasites etc.