Why are you in any other country other than Thailand?

[georgegeorgia]

As this is now a Asian based forum rather than just Thailand, I want to know what keeps you in the country your in .(except Thailand)

 

You guys retired in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia etc what keeps you there? Why ?

 

Granted this question is mostly for older guys over 60

 

You guys in other Asian countries,what keeps you there ,better life,work,cheap ?

Whatever , where are you and what keeps you there ?

 

What about you guys who have no intention of living in Asia ,the answer is why ?

What keeps you in Oz ,UK or America ? 

 

I mean there is some guys over 70 who prefer to Stay in the Western countries ,the question is why ?

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by georgegeorgia

[VinnieK]

Money interests keep me here.

If I leave, it will be out of Asia altogether 

 

 

[Celsius]

Maybe some people like to breathe clean air?

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

I mean there is some guys over 70 who prefer to Stay in the Western countries ,the question is why ?

Maybe they look at reality and what can go wrong.

Health coverage at home but not in another country is a very good reason not to live in another country. The language and culture are more good reasons. 

 

It seems to me that many people who come to Thailand when they are "old" look only at the good sides but ignore that living in Thailand is in many ways not like living at home. That's why we have so many posts here from people who basically complain that things are different in Thailand and not like home.

 

And even if people get used to Thailand's culture and weather, they leave their friends and social networks at home. That is a huge step with the hope that they somehow will make (good) friends wherever they go... 

[georgegeorgia]

Very true about social connections

 

I had a workmate back in 2019 retire to Pattaya 65yo ,had been talking about it for years in excitement

 

About a year later just before covid he was on the WhatsApp depressed in a video call to me .

 

He was living in a studio room in jomtien beach all by himself, the first few months were great then he was lonely, just getting by on paid  girls to visit him.

 

He ended up coming back to Australia and wanted his job back 

[terryofcrete]

Too many health issues as one gets older and these are treated free at home. The older you get the the more you pay for insurance, or are refused. It doesn't take me long to get tired of the heat, the food, the ladies and the broken or non existent footpaths, not in any particular order. Once I start losing tolerance on any given day it's time for me to go home , usually a month at a time is good but now with the expensive flights it's looking like less time in LOS  . 

[swm59nj]

I’m 67 years old.  I retired 5 years ago.  When I worked and took vacations I primarily traveled overseas.  I wanted to experience living overseas.  Thailand seemed popular so I moved here three years ago.  Living in Bangkok.  I have visited Huahin and Pattaya. 
I didn’t move here because of income or any other type of financial reasons.  Or because I disliked my home country .Strictly as an experience. 
To be honest it has become annoying for me to live here.  The only real positive thing I experienced here is healthcare.  But I have health insurance I pay for from my previous job discounted.  Which covers me both domestically and internationally.  
So I will be moving back to the USA next week.  It’s not perfect.  But I could never call Thailand home.  My retirement visa just makes me a glorified tourist. 

[Freddy42OZ]

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I mean there is some guys over 70 who prefer to Stay in the Western countries ,the question is why ?

I'm well under 70 and have lived in Asia all my life. 

I am working on being able to finally move to an English speaking country.  I'm sick and tired of living in an Expat bubble and only being able to enjoy interacting with 1% of the population.  
I've found myself a Farang GF who I will marry maybe next year and then within a few years hopefully I'll be able to afford for us leave Asia. 

I have no interest in learning Thai and my fiancee doesn't want to live here long term, we want to be able to put her daughter into a good school without paying millions of baht and when her daughter turn 21 we don't want the family to be split apart because she won't qualify for a dependant visa anymore. 

Options and choices are very different living here if you are a farang family.

I should point out that I love living here except that I don't find Thai women appealing as long term partners.

*IF* I was going to stay single (ie hadn't found a Farang GF) then I would stay until I die.  But now my situation has changed I am planning to one day leave.

Edited March 13, 2023 by Freddy42OZ
more info

[Mad mick]

Easy Philippines example upto 3 year tourist visa 1st month free entry 2 step move onto extension 2 months internally at your local immigration office 2 months = $60 US , Step 3 move onto 6 months inclusive of Tourist ID card open 12 months can pay 6 monthly Every year update ID Card local immigration office ! before or on 3 year max leave Philippines & go back following day upto you too example: Singapore or Thailand or Vietnam or other countries return Phili restart 3 year tourist visa all over again ! if you meet woman let's say filipina and marry stay on marriage visa no need do anything or leave 800k or 400k in Thai bank as you do in Thailand > no limit on your home country pension limit Thai rate everything on US Social security benefits $1500 per month ! As an Aussie Age pension is well below US Pension they don't care as long you are living life lawfully your welcome in Philippines ! Vietnam I'm based presently just try , however monthly visa runs HCMC to Moc Bai are a killer and  expensive cross over Cambodia rtn same day mini van ! l use visa run company Costly evisa = $127 US per month Vn.  Philippines = $30 per month Easy fast visas extension ! Only disadvantage infrastructure , wifi , quality food , however 7000+ Islands to visit ! l'm rtn in May 2023 bonus English widely spoken + Access to Visas ! 7 months prior lived in Philippines prior ! After 6 month Vietnam great food etc non drinker so bar scene not me language barrier,. Thailand over past decade visas got harder limit on crossing border per year and lm against putting money into Thai bank had my share of bad experiences with Thai banks + non stop changing laws ref: visa runs or probably go back Thailand! where in Vietnam unlimited entry per year by land or other , Cambodia is another option 3x3 monthly  or apply over 55 year old retirement visa dont have to prove or show amount  money you havevor how much your pension  is per month !, Philippines won out Easy access to visa no money restrictions or etc, I have lived in Thailand many times for long periods that's pre last coup to me it's like Thailand slowly strangling you with red tape it's obvious your not really welcome by Thai Government ! Not Thai people, Thai food great to say the least  ! Philippines is for me plenty nice people local woman ( not talking only bar girls ) local women are great friendly little bit shy at first no issues to go on dates etc,. Myself it's all about stress free life visas ( very little Gov red tape ) l like beach life & Easy access to visas good place retire..

Edited March 13, 2023 by Mad mick

[Photoguy21]

Do we win a prize if we give the correct answer?

[spidermike007]

25 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

I’m 67 years old.  I retired 5 years ago.  When I worked and took vacations I primarily traveled overseas.  I wanted to experience living overseas.  Thailand seemed popular so I moved here three years ago.  Living in Bangkok.  I have visited Huahin and Pattaya. 
I didn’t move here because of income or any other type of financial reasons.  Or because I disliked my home country .Strictly as an experience. 
To be honest it has become annoying for me to live here.  The only real positive thing I experienced here is healthcare.  But I have health insurance I pay for from my previous job discounted.  Which covers me both domestically and internationally.  
So I will be moving back to the USA next week.  It’s not perfect.  But I could never call Thailand home.  My retirement visa just makes me a glorified tourist. 

Fortunately for me, I have never felt the need to belong, and never really felt like the US was home, even though I lived there most of my life. Yes, the visas here are a pain. Yes, I have other issues. But, in general the quality of life here is high for those of us with decent, but limited incomes, and there are alot of advantages in living here. Been back to the US five times in the past 18 months. Thrilled to death not to be living there. 

 

No place else in SE Asia I would rather live. For me, the PI feels like one giant Tijuana. Malaysia is boring, and the people too conservative, and not much fun.  Would never even consider Vietnam, as I do not really care for most of the people. Where else? Cambodia and Laos? Have a dozen good reasons why neither of those would work. So, here I am, happy to say. Life is good. Every day here is a good day, as far as I am concerned. 

[bkk6060]

PI have gone several times before and just recently.   It has deteriorated greatly I think now it is by far the worst place in Asia would not live there for free.

At least Thailand seems to be trying infrastructure improvements and  many on going projects. Bangkok is nirvana compared to Manila what a dump

Anyway, I am here mostly for the cost of living, golf and women.  Don't like old saggy bad attitude stinky western women who rarely take showers. There are some sacrifices in Thailand, but minimal compared the the purgatory wokeness in the west now.  The air is bad here that is probably the biggest negative everything else is above tolerable for me.

 

 

[Thingamabob]

8 hours ago, Celsius said:

Maybe some people like to breathe clean air?

You mean like in London or New York.. ?

[jesimps]

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Very true about social connections

 

I had a workmate back in 2019 retire to Pattaya 65yo ,had been talking about it for years in excitement

 

About a year later just before covid he was on the WhatsApp depressed in a video call to me .

 

He was living in a studio room in jomtien beach all by himself, the first few months were great then he was lonely, just getting by on paid  girls to visit him.

 

He ended up coming back to Australia and wanted his job back 

Some people just can't get by with their own company. All they have to do is go to the local bar and within minutes they'll have a walt giving them their life history. That's what I found anyway, before I met the missus.

[georgegeorgia]

3 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Too many health issues as one gets older and these are treated free at home. The older you get the the more you pay for insurance, or are refused. It doesn't take me long to get tired of the heat, the food, the ladies and the broken or non existent footpaths, not in any particular order. Once I start losing tolerance on any given day it's time for me to go home , usually a month at a time is good but now with the expensive flights it's looking like less time in LOS  . 

Your in Crete??

Not a country you hear a lot about ,I bet many of you don't even know where it is ????

Edited March 13, 2023 by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

There are some nice places in the Philippines, Duamagette is apparently becoming a  farang city ,I think same Palawan 

 

Cebu I didn't like , Manila forget it ,Angeles City too much traffic 

[still kicking]

4 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Too many health issues as one gets older and these are treated free at home. The older you get the the more you pay for insurance, or are refused. It doesn't take me long to get tired of the heat, the food, the ladies and the broken or non existent footpaths, not in any particular order. Once I start losing tolerance on any given day it's time for me to go home , usually a month at a time is good but now with the expensive flights it's looking like less time in LOS  . 

Agree with everything you said 

[freedomnow]

4 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Too many health issues as one gets older and these are treated free at home. The older you get the the more you pay for insurance, or are refused. It doesn't take me long to get tired of the heat, the food, the ladies and the broken or non existent footpaths, not in any particular order. Once I start losing tolerance on any given day it's time for me to go home , usually a month at a time is good but now with the expensive flights it's looking like less time in LOS  . 

Agreed on some of the negatives. I can spy the old age health cover issues under 50 just now.

Am in UK right now, and enjoying being able to breathe vs pea soup air of Chiang Mai. No link to a long-term g/f and I'd be rolling up my relatively nice 10 years or so in Thailand on to fresh fields.

[still kicking]

Well as many posters said it is about security, I moved back to my home country after living in Thailand for a number of years, being an OAP I get free medical care, free hospital, cheap medication a good pension, subsidised rent, electricity, free bus or train rides, no need for me to do all the reports to the immigration, I never regret I moved back. 

[OneMoreFarang]

4 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Too many health issues as one gets older and these are treated free at home. The older you get the the more you pay for insurance, or are refused. It doesn't take me long to get tired of the heat, the food, the ladies and the broken or non existent footpaths, not in any particular order. Once I start losing tolerance on any given day it's time for me to go home , usually a month at a time is good but now with the expensive flights it's looking like less time in LOS  . 

But if you are all the time in Thailand then you are used to the food, the heat, the footpath, etc.

The "confusion" only happens if you compare A to B. 

[CygnusX1]

Face masks (sorry!).

Australia, Europe, Tahiti this year. Back to my Thai condo next year, I hope.

[Celsius]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

You mean like in London or New York.. ?

 

Zzzzzz

[OneMoreFarang]

13 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well as many posters said it is about security, I moved back to my home country after living in Thailand for a number of years, being an OAP I get free medical care, free hospital, cheap medication a good pension, subsidised rent, electricity, free bus or train rides, no need for me to do all the reports to the immigration, I never regret I moved back. 

Out of interest, why do you participate in this "Thai" forum?

[still kicking]

The reading in my city the pm2.5 was 7

[still kicking]

Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

Out of interest, why do you participate in this "Thai" forum?

Because I lived in Thailand for many years and still go to Thailand ones or twice a year

[CygnusX1]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

The reading in my city the pm2.5 was 7

0 in my city, so that’s another compensation.

[still kicking]

1 minute ago, CygnusX1 said:

0 in my city, so that’s another compensation.

you live in a city of 2 million like I do?

[Northstar1]

The bright lights of Asia wore of pretty quickly. I had free health care thru work, but realized I was in anything but a step backwards, back to Canada and live the snow bird dream, so many nice places to visit.

but nothing compares to waking up and breathing clean air, drinking clean tap water. Walking down a sidewalk that’s not broken, no hanging wires, no wild packs of feral dogs laying around, clean food and restaurants inspected by the health department, being able to cross the street and cars actually stop.

going fishing, hunting in my backyard! Didn’t realize how good I had it till I landed back home!

true paradise!

[CygnusX1]

6 minutes ago, still kicking said:

you live in a city of 2 million like I do?

Canberra (actually a NSW town next door, but effectively a suburb of Canberra). Population around 400,000. Only time air’s not so clean is on still winter nights when wood fuel stoves are being used.

[still kicking]

4 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Canberra (actually a NSW town next door, but effectively a suburb of Canberra). Population around 400,000. Only time air’s not so clean is on still winter nights when wood fuel stoves are being used.

We don't have wood stoves anymore well maybe a few but they have been banned years a go and yes, I live in OZ.

Edited March 13, 2023 by still kicking