8 hours ago, maesariang said:

Ballooning in Siem Reap. Thats my next trip.

Is that similar to balloon chasing?

On 9/3/2024 at 11:39 AM, StandardIssue said:

I've been living on and off in Thailand for 12 years. This year is looking to be the last for me. With the over tourism, rising cost of living, crowded streets and traffic and immigration policies tougher to track than picking a winning lottery number where to now?

 

Expats fed up with Thailand where are you planning to live next?

You are fed up.

More visas to choose from when you have money.

Too crowded, move to a less crowded part of the country.

Rising cost of living.            That is probably your biggest problem.

1 hour ago, JimTripper said:

Be careful if you walk up that sidewalk or trail along the canal late at night that leads to angkor wat. A bunch of prostitutes came out of the bushes/trees at me in the dark. They seemed predatory, just moving towards me without saying anything.

Cool I'll head over there sounds exciting. Hopefully their lady boys

11 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I live in Chiang Mai now which is a much bigger city then Siem Reap.

I pretty much do what I did in Siem Reap, there are just many more venues to do those things in and they stay open later. When I'm not going to the same places every day life is more interesting because there is more variety, even if I am doing the same activities in those places. There are also more people around so it's easier to meet people.

By venues I am guessing you mean bars or music bars. I don't like to hang in bars and talk with drunk people and I am definitely not into local music bars which in SE Asia rarely if ever have good musicians. So, Siem Reap might be worth a look for me.

How are the girls? If there is a selection of women there that could be possible girlfriends I might like it.

 

One thing, Having Angkor Wat nearby means a pretty big influx of tourists though. That's one thing I don't like.

13 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

By venues I am guessing you mean bars or music bars. I don't like to hang in bars and talk with drunk people and I am definitely not into local music bars which in SE Asia rarely if ever have good musicians. So, Siem Reap might be worth a look for me.

How are the girls? If there is a selection of women there that could be possible girlfriends I might like it.

 

One thing, Having Angkor Wat nearby means a pretty big influx of tourists though. That's one thing I don't like.

Well, I'm assuming you have some free time. Stay a couple months in each and report back. It's a pretty short flight and monthly Airbb are cheap. If it does not work out you have not lost anything.

21 minutes ago, StandardIssue said:

By venues I am guessing you mean bars or music bars. I don't like to hang in bars and talk with drunk people and I am definitely not into local music bars which in SE Asia rarely if ever have good musicians. So, Siem Reap might be worth a look for me.

How are the girls? If there is a selection of women there that could be possible girlfriends I might like it.

 

One thing, Having Angkor Wat nearby means a pretty big influx of tourists though. That's one thing I don't like.

Pick 6 places spend a month in each. At the very least you get to see a lot.

1 minute ago, maesariang said:

Pick 6 places spend a month in each. At the very least you get to see a lot.

...and find out quickly you want to keep moving around because something is never ideal 🤣

2 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

...and find out quickly you want to keep moving around because something is never ideal 🤣

Yes well visit 80 cities. Extended travel.

35 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

...and find out quickly you want to keep moving around because something is never ideal 🤣

I feel you talk about me.... 🙂

When I didn't have much money I was more happy to be in many places.... now it's search after search to find The Place that satisfy all my needs.

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

I feel you talk about me.... 🙂

When I didn't have much money I was more happy to be in many places.... now it's search after search to find The Place that satisfy all my needs.

Yes, but...if you're from a more affulent country it's hard to be satified with less. Living in a small 10k room may sound like a great deal, but when you actually live there it's not so great. You can deny it for awhile, but eventually you feel like moving, but find the same situation in the new chosen location (if it's in a cheap country).

 

You were not really happy in those cheap guesthouses, just justifying it by saying you were traveling or a backpacker.

1 minute ago, JimTripper said:

Yes, but...if you're from a more affulent country it's hard to be satified with less. Living in a small 10k room may sound like a great deal, but when you actually live there it's not so great. You can deny it for awhile, but eventually you feel like moving, but find the same situation in the new chosen location (if it's in a cheap country).

 

You were not really happy in those cheap guesthouses, just justifying it by saying you were traveling or a backpacker.

There is a hotel in Udon that I loved. 55sqm. Included breakfast. Gym and pool. Location was poor. Nong Khai has a great little hotel good location no breakfast or ammenitiesm

Negativity against tourists increasing in Spain;

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/sep/13/third-spanish-people-local-area-too-many-foreign-tourists-survey

 

Spain has always been one of my favorite places.

I understand people being angry when B&B places raise rents for locals and less and less can buy a place.

 

3 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Negativity against tourists increasing in Spain;

 

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/sep/13/third-spanish-people-local-area-too-many-foreign-tourists-survey

 

Spain has always been one of my favorite places.

I understand people being angry when B&B places raise rents for locals and less and less can buy a place.

 

Just imagine the same scenario when the Thai baht continue to be strengthened for the next decades? But this is not Europe, this is Asia, and you are a western

On 9/10/2024 at 7:49 AM, maesariang said:

There is a hotel in Udon that I loved. 55sqm. Included breakfast. Gym and pool. Location was poor. Nong Khai has a great little hotel good location no breakfast or ammenitiesm

Udon is best as a pit stop during a round trip. A few italian restaurants, thats it that was worth dining at. 

 

and forgot, they got an Irish bar as well, thumbs up

 

Edit not, sorry pub, Irish Pub

This year looks not looking.  You can't use a stative verb in continuous aspect.

I was going to go somewhere else for my 6 month winter this year until Thailand came out with the DTV.  A tourist visa was just too much hassle having to border bounce or extend every 60 days,  but the DTV got rid of all those pain points for me.

Maybe I should go home to US? If "My Girl" wins, maybe then...

West Coast is getting cheaper;

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/21-west-coast-cities-where-170029558.html

 

6 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Maybe I should go home to US? If "My Girl" wins, maybe then...

West Coast is getting cheaper;

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/21-west-coast-cities-where-170029558.html

I've been to many dead desert cities like that.

But all are not that depressing at all, like Slab City, CA, Close to Mexico.

I stayed there many times when racing on nearby Holtville Airport Raceway.

For night fun we went to lawless, wild and dangerous Mexicali... and skinny dipping at desert hot springs with hippies. All naked.

"Slab City" was on sad, good movie "Into the Wild".

 

If was younger I could live there! Jesus lives there too 🙂 Next to Salvation Mountain.

What's better than that?

 

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=where+is+slap+city+california

 

On 9/5/2024 at 2:10 PM, JimTripper said:

I'm getting that same feeling. I feel like I just don't belong here anymore (just a personal thing, not Thailand's fault).

 

I have been getting strong inclinations to go back to Mexico. I can get residency there and it's close to the Usa where I'm from.

 

What happens if I get much older and something happens in Thailand with the visa, some stupid reporting issue, etc. It just does not feel like a stable option for older people.

 

Mexico is a dangerous violent place. Every problem in Thailand is much worse in Mexico. I am as safe in Thailand as I am in many western countries. Unfortunately, the pollution, particularly toxic air quality at times of the  year is what will drive me away. There are always magical places to live in parts of the USA, Spain, Portugal, and France. It's all about law and order, food and access to emergency medical care for me.

43 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

 

Mexico is a dangerous violent place. Every problem in Thailand is much worse in Mexico. I am as safe in Thailand as I am in many western countries. Unfortunately, the pollution, particularly toxic air quality at times of the  year is what will drive me away. There are always magical places to live in parts of the USA, Spain, Portugal, and France. It's all about law and order, food and access to emergency medical care for me.

It may seem that way from watching the news and never going there.  However, I know lots of people who live in Mexico or go there for winters.  People far more risk-averse than I am who are too scared or not adventurous enough to go to Thailand.  They have zero concerns for safety. 

8 hours ago, shdmn said:

It may seem that way from watching the news and never going there.  However, I know lots of people who live in Mexico or go there for winters.  People far more risk-averse than I am who are too scared or not adventurous enough to go to Thailand.  They have zero concerns for safety. 

I have a friend from college who has lived there half the year in Colima for many years. He says the violence concerns are BS, less then many metro areas in the USA these days. He lives locally around other Mexicans, not in a gringo ghetto. He also wanders a good bit around the country, etc, wandering around, but he is always with locals who know the area, not just out on his own so it's hard to judge how dangerous it really is as a solo traveler. He also speaks fluent spanish if any problems arise.

Americans could improve safety overnight in Mexico by stopping to use & buy coke....

 

On 9/3/2024 at 12:12 PM, Cameroni said:

 

Tough immigration? They just made everything easier than ever. 

 

If you don't like overcrowding don't move to Philippines or Europe.

 

Where else will you find a massage for 5 USD, a 4 bedroom house with share pool for 500 USD, lunch for 1.60 USD, polite and civilised people who can get you internet faster than people in the UK?

 

Or where you can get your lunch delivered by a scooter guy for 25 cents?

 

Or where you can enjoy a food culture of authentic Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, Italian, French, German, Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai food?

 

This is paradise buddy

"They just made everything easier than ever."  What????? 90 day reports???? treated like criminals. What other country treats it's retiree's like this? 

 

On 10/3/2024 at 9:46 AM, JimTripper said:

I have a friend from college who has lived there half the year in Colima for many years. He says the violence concerns are BS, less then many metro areas in the USA these days. He lives locally around other Mexicans, not in a gringo ghetto. He also wanders a good bit around the country, etc, wandering around, but he is always with locals who know the area, not just out on his own so it's hard to judge how dangerous it really is as a solo traveler. He also speaks fluent spanish if any problems arise.

I absolutely believe this. Sure there is violence in certain areas, and in any city in the world. Yes some are worse than others but you just have to be smart.

 

People watch and believe TV news too much. USA so called news is the worst. You'd think the world is on fire if there happens to be a fire anywhere near your general vicinity in the USA. Most of it is exaggerated BS to keep you scared, consuming and glued to the programs. Scared people consume more and are susceptible to scare tactics crazy talk like what's coming out of old 45 etc..

1 hour ago, StandardIssue said:

I absolutely believe this. Sure there is violence in certain areas, and in any city in the world. Yes some are worse than others but you just have to be smart.

 

People watch and believe TV news too much. USA so called news is the worst. You'd think the world is on fire if there happens to be a fire anywhere near your general vicinity in the USA. Most of it is exaggerated BS to keep you scared, consuming and glued to the programs. Scared people consume more and are susceptible to scare tactics crazy talk like what's coming out of old 45 etc..

It's also kind of about you. Certain people tend to have a natural talent at repelling danger and never have problems and it's not because they are scared, hiding in their rooms or overly cautious. In fact, in my experience they tend to be outgoing and carefree in a way. Somehow they just don't get into those situations. The guy I referred to is better at that then I would ever be even though I have much more travel experience in foreign lands.