Would you ever seriously think about moving to Cambodia or Laos?

[Fairynuff]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

wokeness

The newest “insult “ used by the right wing. It sounds as daft as it’s meaning.

[BenDeCosta]

If one day I decide or am forced to leave Thailand, I'd have no problem moving to Siem Reap. It's definitely visibly poorer than Thailand with more beggars and even a bit dirtier, but then the cost of living is noticeably lower, especially if you're a drinker. I'd be a bit more concerned about petty crime, but the visa situation is a lot better. Horses for courses I suppose.

 

Laos is nice for a bit, but no beaches and no girls is a major negative.

Edited March 26, 2021 by BenDeCosta

[polpott]

On 3/24/2021 at 4:44 AM, WineOh said:

Cambodia will be the new frontier post covid, they will become what Thailand was 40/50 years ago.

they have everything that Thailand has just cheaper.

You've obviously not been lately. Sihanoukville used to be that sleepy backwater. Now 70+ mega Chinese casinos there and the best beaches privatized for development. Far more than Thailand.

 

I lived in Phnom Penh 8 years ago. Went back last year. Skyline is now a sea of high rise condos and more Chinese casinos. Before there were none.

 

No longer a frontier post, little China.

 

 

[moontang]

Considered Cambo until I stayed for a month in 2013, but more and more the desperate Thais, especially around Patts, remind me of the Cambodians.  Except beer is a lot more, and you sure as heck aint gonna light up right in front of a cop.  Then there is the China Syndrome...heard most of them abandoned Sihanoukeville after Beijing made them pull the plug on online gambling.  A Brit I met there, worked at a hotel for 200 per month usd, and said if you see the Khmer doing anything except shuffling their feet, it is because they have just stolen...more and more true in Thailand, every year, except for government workers still shuffle their feet after stealing.

[polpott]

3 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Laos is nice for a bit, but no beaches and no girls is a major negative.

Mega no girls. You can't book a hotel room with a Laotian girl unless you are married to them.

[moontang]

2 minutes ago, polpott said:

Mega no girls. You can't book a hotel room with a Laotian girl unless you are married to them.

yeah, if you  want a lao girl, go to Udon..if you want an Udon girl, go to Pattaya.

[polpott]

2 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The Vietnam girls pass as Khymer and are  often mixed heritage but usually refugees. Many massage parlors are respectable despite  what the LPG might say. Young floosies in bars are often operating a scam with the police. There are two streets dedicated to girly bars but there is no comparison on any level to Thailand regards, food, fun, entertainment,  events, restaurants etc. Thailand is different.

The girls are Khmer. I lived with one for the best part of a year. Have you ever been to Cambodia? Doesn't sound like it.

[moontang]

2 minutes ago, polpott said:

The girls are Khmer. I lived with one for the best part of a year. Have you ever been to Cambodia? Doesn't sound like it.

There was a pretty big South Vietnam influence in PP.  They will always say Saigon...

[BenDeCosta]

Actually I found it easy to get good western food like burgers and pizzas in Cambodia at very good prices, better than Thailand. Also, I found the Cambodians to have a much better command of English than the Thais. And there are lots of pretty girls who want to meet you. It definitely has a much more third-world feel, but at least they don't put mayonnaise on their pizzas.

[holy cow cm]

If it is out of necessity or forced out having to move out then Cambodia or Laos might be fine for awhile. Siem Reap is quaint and I could be open to it, but not sure ongoing. From there is also easy to visit Thailand as well. But ultimately if VN was more open than their current hoop jumping then that would be fun. Gals are super hot there and now more receptive to lady visitors than in the past. Ultimately coming from CM for way too many years I would ultimately tend to want to be by the ocean, so that is actually more pointing towards either Vietnam or the Philippines. Problem with the PI is you really need to watch your P's and Q's when smoking the fun stuff there. If the stories I hear are better than stated being blown out bad, maybe even a go at Sihanoukville or vicinity.

 

Reasons to stay here are, I am comfortable and have family and kids I am a bit attached to my life. 

 

 

[holy cow cm]

43 minutes ago, polpott said:

You've obviously not been lately. Sihanoukville used to be that sleepy backwater. Now 70+ mega Chinese casinos there and the best beaches privatized for development. Far more than Thailand.

 

I lived in Phnom Penh 8 years ago. Went back last year. Skyline is now a sea of high rise condos and more Chinese casinos. Before there were none.

 

No longer a frontier post, little China.

 

 

Well that just spoiled every thought I had for that place. Exactly what I avoid. 

[Destiny1990]

All of the above mentioned countries have easier visa deals/procedures then here. That’s the main reason so-many longterm stayers have relocated. 10 years ago if you would mention on tvf Cambodia you be ridiculed here however nowadays its considered a serious option. 

[BenDeCosta]

18 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

All of the above mentioned countries have easier visa deals/procedures then here. That’s the main reason so-many longterm stayers have relocated. 10 years ago if you would mention on tvf Cambodia you be ridiculed here however nowadays its considered a serious option. 

Having to repeatedly keep producing dozens upon dozens of sheets of paper to stay here when they had exactly the same stuff last year, in this age of technology is extremely tiring. In Mexico they give you a no questions asked 6 month visa on arrival with one piece of paper. And you can renew as many times as possible without hassle.

 

Actually the more I think about it, Cambodia seems like a great alternative to this never-ending beauracracy. I'm pretty sure I'll end up there one day when an immigration official tries to castigate me for using the wrong colour ink or for offering a document with a crease in it.

Edited March 26, 2021 by BenDeCosta

[simon43]

2 hours ago, polpott said:

Mega no girls. You can't book a hotel room with a Laotian girl unless you are married to them.

Well, I managed it loads of times even way back in 2013..... you just need to chose the right hotel! ????

[BenDeCosta]

30 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Well, I managed it loads of times even way back in 2013..... you just need to chose the right hotel! ????

Yes, I've met ex-pats there who seem to have plenty of fanny on tap. It's just a bit more complicated than in Thailand, or Cambodia. Plus there's always that niggling thought that you're being set up and the police will turn up whilst doing the deed and try and extort you. For me it's a no.

 

Not being able to kiss a girl or have sex with her for fear of being detained, extorted and then deported just seems so wrong. Of course when my johnson stops working, that will be irrelevant to me and Laos might hold more appeal.

Edited March 26, 2021 by BenDeCosta

[hanuman2543]

On 3/25/2021 at 9:12 AM, Pravda said:

 

You don't use aircon overnight? 

In the bathroom?

[Destiny1990]

1 hour ago, BenDeCosta said:

Having to repeatedly keep producing dozens upon dozens of sheets of paper to stay here when they had exactly the same stuff last year, in this age of technology is extremely tiring. In Mexico they give you a no questions asked 6 month visa on arrival with one piece of paper. And you can renew as many times as possible without hassle.

 

Actually the more I think about it, Cambodia seems like a great alternative to this never-ending beauracracy. I'm pretty sure I'll end up there one day when an immigration official tries to castigate me for using the wrong colour ink or for offering a document with a crease in it.

 One time all my documents declared  invalid because the signed copy of my passport printed out on A4 paper showed on the far side the tip of my thumb nail. ???????? In Phillipines i never go to immigration offices at all. Simply pay the travel agency  in the SM mall the immigration fee + his commission of 1000 pesos and the next day back to the shopping mall to collect my stamped passport. 

[BenDeCosta]

1 minute ago, Destiny1990 said:

 One time all my documents declared  invalid because the signed copy of my passport printed out on A4 paper showed on the far side the tip of my thumb nail. ???????? In Phillipines i never go to immigration offices at all. Simply pay the travel agency  in the SM mall the immigration fee + his commission of 1000 pesos and the next day back to the shopping mall to collect my stamped passport. 

I've had immigration officers bring out a ruler to measure my photos, complain about documents that had been folded in half, and say that they can't read my handwriting when I wrote it carefully in all caps. I've also had officers insist that I annotate my hand drawn map with distances in metres. Sometimes it feels like they are doing anything they can to either deny you or simply annoy you and make sure that you have a bad day. But, being the pessimist that I am, I can't help but feel that they are fishing for a "fee" or trying to make you use an agent, who happens to be the sister of their cousin, conveniently.  

[Leaver]

 

For the region:

 

Vietnam is my Plan B.

 

Plan C would be Malaysia.

 

Plan D possibly Bali.

 

Nothing stopping anyone from taking some cheap flights to Thailand on a 30 day stamp or 60 day tourist visa, several times a year, and taking a Thai girl back with you to any South East Asian country.  

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Leaver

[tinca tinca]

no o own 2 room condo here with great views.....of the beach and sea !!!

why move???

[Destiny1990]

41 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

I've had immigration officers bring out a ruler to measure my photos, complain about documents that had been folded in half, and say that they can't read my handwriting when I wrote it carefully in all caps. I've also had officers insist that I annotate my hand drawn map with distances in metres. Sometimes it feels like they are doing anything they can to either deny you or simply annoy you and make sure that you have a bad day. But, being the pessimist that I am, I can't help but feel that they are fishing for a "fee" or trying to make you use an agent, who happens to be the sister of their cousin, conveniently.  

All together the process is an hassle many have left because of it and somehow I suspect that was their desired outcome. They want short staying visitors. Don’t understand  why, neither do i care.

[BenDeCosta]

28 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

For the region:

 

Vietnam is my Plan B.

 

Plan C would be Malaysia.

 

Plan D possibly Bali.

 

Nothing stopping anyone from taking some cheap flights to Thailand on a 30 day stamp or 60 day tourist visa, several times a year, and taking a Thai girl back with you to any South East Asian country.  

 

Vietnam is amazing but now has silly visa requirements. Malaysia is very welcoming, good food and lovely people but girls are generally not available and boozing is frowned upon. Bali is beautiful but again, it's a Muslim country so for me I'd rather avoid it. Cambodia is the least bad option.

[moontang]

Mexico may be calling, but jusy yesterday an old GF from high school said she took her college age girls to Cancun and Cozumel, and was really concerned about their safety.  Cancun was always suppose to be a safe Oasis, complete with a Costco, but apparently all bets are off.

[Jingthing]

8 minutes ago, moontang said:

Mexico may be calling, but jusy yesterday an old GF from high school said she took her college age girls to Cancun and Cozumel, and was really concerned about their safety.  Cancun was always suppose to be a safe Oasis, complete with a Costco, but apparently all bets are off.

This isn't news. Try Merida or Queretaro. 

[Jingthing]

13 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Vietnam is amazing but now has silly visa requirements. Malaysia is very welcoming, good food and lovely people but girls are generally not available and boozing is frowned upon. Bali is beautiful but again, it's a Muslim country so for me I'd rather avoid it. Cambodia is the least bad option.

Malaysia's financial requirements for retirement are quite high compared to Thailand.

[holy cow cm]

13 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Vietnam is amazing but now has silly visa requirements. Malaysia is very welcoming, good food and lovely people but girls are generally not available and boozing is frowned upon. Bali is beautiful but again, it's a Muslim country so for me I'd rather avoid it. Cambodia is the least bad option.

Bali is an exception to full Muslim rule. I used to semi like Penang as had some uncensored stuff going on. But i really love VN but as for learning another language at my age am not sure would want to do it as it seems a bit difficult to me. But to live there absolutely if I had to and if they became better on the welcoming foreigners.  

[Leaver]

21 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Malaysia is very welcoming, good food and lovely people

 

21 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Bali is beautiful but again, it's a Muslim country so for me I'd rather avoid it.

 

Malaysia is also an Islamic country.  ????

 

21 minutes ago, BenDeCosta said:

Cambodia is the least bad option.

 

Cambodia is also the least developed country.  

 

I've been there many times, and enjoy my short stays there, but would not consider living there full time.  

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by Leaver

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, BenDeCosta said:

Having to repeatedly keep producing dozens upon dozens of sheets of paper to stay here when they had exactly the same stuff last year, in this age of technology is extremely tiring. In Mexico they give you a no questions asked 6 month visa on arrival with one piece of paper. And you can renew as many times as possible without hassle.

 

Actually the more I think about it, Cambodia seems like a great alternative to this never-ending beauracracy. I'm pretty sure I'll end up there one day when an immigration official tries to castigate me for using the wrong colour ink or for offering a document with a crease in it.

You could just use an agent and avoid all the hassle for 12,500 baht \$400 a year, a little more than Cambodia by the sound of it

[bermondburi]

12 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Malaysia's financial requirements for retirement are quite high compared to Thailand.

Good. Keeps out the riffraff. A price worth paying.

[moontang]

Just now, bermondburi said:

Good. Keeps out the riffraff. A price worth paying.

They dont allow AW to sell Root Beer, it was renamed RB to not a

offend Mohamed.  I heard drink prices are outrageous.