1 minute ago, holy cow cm said:

The actual answer from this expat is yes. I am not moving back to the USA as this road here in SE Asia is more fun.

Much more fun than the UK. I need to go back for 3 months in a months time. Really dreading it.

I like Cambodia but medical care is big problem. You will have to go all the way to PP for a good hospital or Thailand. Roads are bad.  I went to hospital last time near Kampot. I was an international teaching hospital. It was terrible. The doctors were 20 years old and pretended to understand English.  I meet a lady who live at the border, Ko Kong, that would work because you could easily get to Trat for hospital or dental.

The other problem is season smog.

2 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Not only is alcohol readily available there, but it's ridiculously cheap also.  

It is a so different world than other Indo places. Used to be Hong Kong as well until the poo poo from mother came to hit their fan. 

6 minutes ago, polpott said:

Much more fun than the UK. I need to go back for 3 months in a months time. Really dreading it.

Until freedom of travel is approved back and forth, I am not doing anything. And yes I do international business sometimes. Seriously polpott, you aren't going anywhere yet. Funny thing is I could not wait to get back here every time and I would kiss the floor when back to my home in CM. AT SV airport, tickled and smiling like a Chesire cat. Home. 

Bottom line is I love this country, my life, my Thai family more than anything. Now you take it to who runs it now and then that is the exception of no love. 

11 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

It is a so different world than other Indo places. Used to be Hong Kong as well until the poo poo from mother came to hit their fan. 

 

I have had some crazy nights out in Jakata.  Mostly on the company's card at the time.  You would never think you were in an Islamic country, and the women were attractive, and very available.  

5 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

I have had some crazy nights out in Jakata.  Mostly on the company's card at the time.  You would never think you were in an Islamic country, and the women were attractive, and very available.  

Same for china . Somethings are greatly overlooked when on chaperoned business having the countries person take care. Now as American I would not touch China, but I fully agree with you on the odd fun that in other countries can be had. 

 

3 hours ago, BenDeCosta said:

Alcoholic drinks in Malaysia are very expensive. And there very few options. But even the worst Malaysian beer is nicer than Leo.  

but, it escapes me why farang refuse to drink Tiger, which is within 2% pricewise at the big box stores and many 711..brewed by Thai Asia Pacific, which also makes a decent Heineken.  

 

I did hear about the Duty Free island in MY, and that was interesting, but we had duty free booze in Arizona and smoke was about 1/20th of MY, but I never inhaled.

6 hours ago, simon43 said:

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

Agreed!

 

What happened to Philippines and Vietnam? Shouldn't that be on the list too?

2 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What happened to Philippines and Vietnam? Shouldn't that be on the list too?

I wont comment on the Phils because I dont like the Catholic Church, but yeah, Vietnam was the talk of the town a few years ago...still waiting to see some photos of spicy food and hot chicks.....but apparently, VN didnt want to become a trashpacker magnet and tightened the screws.  

On 3/25/2021 at 9:29 AM, BritManToo said:

I didn't find PP or SR like that, food was good, many restaurant choices, I was paying between $1-$2 for breakfast in a restaurant, and $5-$10 for an evening meal. I never eat street food so I don't care how good or bad it is.

 

here is the photo of the breakfast menu from a  classy restaurant I used to visit (March 2020) .......

The pancakes, Tuna rolls, and omelette/bacon/beans all good served with a pot of tea (3/4 cups) for an extra $1. 

 

 

 

 

My pal just moved from PP to Kampot, says it's very nice, restaurants and bars cheap with good quality food, no air pollution, but not many people around.

How come the menu is in USD?

21 minutes ago, EricTh said:

How come the menu is in USD?

Cambodia has a dollarized economy. 

24 minutes ago, EricTh said:

How come the menu is in USD?

 

Dual currency system. 

 

The locals do not have much faith in the Cambodian Riel.   

36 minutes ago, EricTh said:

What happened to Philippines and Vietnam? Shouldn't that be on the list too?

 

They are on a lot of people's list, and on the list of future expats as well.  

12 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

They are on a lot of people's list, and on the list of future expats as well.  

I understand the Philippines being on people's list but considering how Vietnam got super unfriendly on visas even before Covid I think VN will be mostly for working expats and I don’t mean digital nomads 

9 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I understand the Philippines being on people's list but considering how Vietnam got super unfriendly on visas even before Covid I think VN will be mostly for working expats and I don’t mean digital nomads 

 

5 year multiple entry marriage visas in Vietnam for around $50USD.

 

No money needed in a bank, no bank letters, no seasoning, no photos of you and your wife in the bedroom,. no hand drawn map of where you live, no photocopies upon photocopies, no international bank code for transfers etc etc etc etc, and yes, expats are doing sham marriages there for the marriage visa, and the authorities don't care.  

 

The writing is on the wall for Thailand.  Compete, or lose. 

 

Was nice to read but traveling not possible for some time.

Every Cambodian I know here (of mid-late working age) in the US has said they will never retire in Cambodia for a myriad of different reasons.   Reasons I have heard were Cambodia is corrupt, polluted, overly hot, lacking infrastructure, poor medical, and now overrun with Chinese.  However, I have heard many Vietnamese say they would go back and retire in their home country when they reach retirement age. 

 

Personally, I have been all over Vietnam (Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Da Lat) and I did enjoy it quite a bit, I can see why they like their country.  The biggest issue I had was general navigation due to a lack of English spoken amongst the older generation, although the youth seemed to have a better handle on it and were excited to practice with foreigners.  The food in Vietnam was equally wonderful and the people/service stood head and shoulders above Thailand. 

 

That said, all things considered, I still prefer the overall comfort level of Thailand as of present.  As my wife is Thai, if we leave the US at some point, it will most likely be to Thailand but we still have a long road ahead of us in which many things could change in any of these countries.

19 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

5 year multiple entry marriage visas in Vietnam for around $50USD.

 

No money needed in a bank, no bank letters, no seasoning, no photos of you and your wife in the bedroom,. no hand drawn map of where you live, no photocopies upon photocopies, no international bank code for transfers etc etc etc etc, and yes, expats are doing sham marriages there for the marriage visa, and the authorities don't care.  

 

The writing is on the wall for Thailand.  Compete, or lose. 

 

OK, marriage too. 

My focus is on retirement and more casual very long term visa run situations like the Philippines had before Covid and presumably will eventually be restored.

To add, I find the idea of entering into a sham marriage for a visa to be a really horrible idea, regardless of the country. 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Cambodia has a dollarized economy. 

But for how long? Quote:-

 

De-dollarisation is ultimate goal of the Royal Government 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50830306/de-dollarisation-is-ultimate-goal-of-the-royal-government-2/ (26th March 2021)

1 minute ago, Burma Bill said:

But for how long? Quote:-

 

De-dollarisation is ultimate goal of the Royal Government 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50830306/de-dollarisation-is-ultimate-goal-of-the-royal-government-2/ (26th March 2021)

I have no idea. A better question might be the pros and cons for expats of living in dollarized countries. 

I've been to Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia but they are just not as good as Thailand, I could probably live in all of them if I had to leave Thailand. Or maybe 6 months Thailand 6 months other would work

4 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

5 year multiple entry marriage visas in Vietnam for around $50USD.

 

No money needed in a bank, no bank letters, no seasoning, no photos of you and your wife in the bedroom,. no hand drawn map of where you live, no photocopies upon photocopies, no international bank code for transfers etc etc etc etc, and yes, expats are doing sham marriages there for the marriage visa, and the authorities don't care.  

 

The writing is on the wall for Thailand.  Compete, or lose. 

 

So it is a marriage visa or nowt then.? Pity. 

9 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Seriously polpott, you aren't going anywhere yet.

Seriously I am. Have my flight booked. Going back for the birth of my first grandchild, get my Covid shots and get some urgent medical treatment that I wouldn't trust to a Thai doctor. As soon as I've had my 2nd Covid shot, I'll be on the next plane back home to Thailand.

Just now, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Im assuming all these gals were with you  ????

Hard to take a photo in Vietnam without Chinese tourists in shot.

 

Cambodia -No chance. It's an absolute cesspit, just filthy. It's also full of the lowest dregs of Western society one can imagine. I went to PP a few years ago, the main area where the 'expats' drink was like a zombie movie. You just knew you were rubbing shoulders with paedos, crooks and god knows what other form of sub-human scum.

 

Laos - If it come to it then yes could live in Vientiane or LP. Okay, it's the 3rd world and communist, but it's a nice atmosphere, like going back in time, the land that time forgot, and some fantastic food/western restaurants/bakeries, etc.

3 minutes ago, Johnny Mac said:

Okay, it's the 3rd world and communist, but it's a nice atmosphere

Strange that the 2 SE Asian countries with the happiest populations are communist. Vietnamese people seem the happiest and most welcoming people in SE Asia. Maybe you should question what McCarthy taught you about communism?

I found in Cambo, if I changed a 20 USD into Riel, it worked out to an extra can of beer at the local market.  There was some decent banking there, as far as I wasable to use my capitalone atm card for free, and get usd..Canadia Bank or similar.

Simon43 makes a good case for Luang Prabang, I do think if I ever left here I would consider there very strongly.

 

This motion of it being boring, and Pattaya and BKK are so great? Well I live in BKK and I really don't have much to do, what do people do daytime that live in BKK that is so exciting? Please tell. It's a massive effort just to get somewhere and it's always hot and humid. As for Pattaya (or any beach area) well I lived in Pattaya for 4 years and hardly went to the beach, it's boring.

 

So, I feel that if I lived in say Luang Prabang, I wouldn't miss hardly anything in BKK, same as I don't miss anything in Pattaya. You always pretty much have want you want (unless you really do go rural) but just less options of the same things.

 

End of the day I consider the Western world way more interesting, civilised and exciting than anywhere in Asia, with a LOT more to do, and without the damned heat!