Other expat countries India

[Presnock]

On 4/14/2025 at 1:22 AM, Jingthing said:

Way off topic but I like to suggest another option for people looking for low cost, friendly people, beautiful scenery. affordable and high quality health care via a hybrid private/national health care scheme actually required for expats, very low retirement visa qualifications, modern infrastructure (you can drink the water), no need for a car (buses and cheap taxis), excellent climate year round "spring" like weather, and safe enough if you're not looking for trouble -- the coffee region of Colombia (specifically Armenia). Housing for expats mostly in a wide choice of modern condos with the expected amenities as Armenia is a top choice for retirement for Colombians from Bogota. No it's not perfect. Not as safe as Thailand but safer than U.S. big cities and Colombian food is bland as they don't like spicy food, limited Asian food,. etc. That's where I would be checking out first IF I wasn't so invested and settled in Thailand already.

 

Condo examples:

 

Nomad Capitalist I blv says that Colombia is really great for the rich and richest.  Plenty of positives if you have the money!

 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Presnock said:

Nomad Capitalist I blv says that Colombia is really great for the rich and richest.  Plenty of positives if you have the money!

 

That's distorted.

They specifically say do not become a tax resident there if you're wealthy. I agree. So only 6 months a year

 

[tjintx]

BTW, GG, if you are serious in your OP, the closest equivalent to AN in India is IndiaMike.com.    Excellent resource.

[Mahseer]

17 hours ago, Sierra Tango said:

Which airport are you flying out from?

Until recently, I had been flying in and out of Mumbai, quite regularly for the last 20 years or so.

Business class check in was always ok. 

Delhi T3 which is excellent it's just that Air India are renowned for incompetence. I've flown out of Delhi plenty of times with different airlines but this trip AI had the most appropriate timing so I booked it. It's an early morning flight, 0825, so maybe the mayhem will not have materialised but I'll be there before 6 and do what I have to do but I know when it comes to queueing local folk are mightily hopeless. 

[KhunLA]

On 4/13/2025 at 10:42 PM, georgegeorgia said:

Well today at work I was partnered with a beautiful man who originally came from India ,the Punjab area ..I must say I was shocked when he told me India is part of Asia ,really I shouted 

Really ... I am amazed you didn't know, if true, and that you admit such ignorance on a forum.   That does explain quite a bit ... of your posts.

 

What continent do you think Israel, Egypt or Syria on in ?  

Hold on to your hat, as there's a few more (48), that might surprise you 🙄

 

🙄

https://www.worldometers.info/geography/how-many-countries-in-asia/

 

[Jingthing]

29 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Really ... I am amazed you didn't know, if true, and that you admit such ignorance on a forum.   That does explain quite a bit ... of your posts.

 

What continent do you think Israel, Egypt or Syria on in ?  

Hold on to your hat, as there's a few more (48), that might surprise you 🙄

 

🙄

https://www.worldometers.info/geography/how-many-countries-in-asia/

 

Yeah growing up in the U.S. never heard of South Asia but lots about Southeast Asia. India was viewed as it's own thing. Probably a racial thing as well seeing Indians as very different than Chinese. etc. I was well into advanced adulthood before I learned that Israel was part of Asia! Not to mention all the different "countries" in the UK (ha ha). 

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah growing up in the U.S. never heard of South Asia but lots about Southeast Asia. India was viewed as it's own thing. Probably a racial thing as well seeing Indians as very different than Chinese. etc. I was well into advanced adulthood before I learned that Israel was part of Asia! Not to mention all the different "countries" in the UK (ha ha). 

 

   Didn't you ever look at a map of the World ?

[KhunLA]

35 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah growing up in the U.S. never heard of South Asia but lots about Southeast Asia. India was viewed as it's own thing. Probably a racial thing as well seeing Indians as very different than Chinese. etc. I was well into advanced adulthood before I learned that Israel was part of Asia! Not to mention all the different "countries" in the UK (ha ha). 

I must have went to a good school.  Besides learning and knowing all the states & capitals, and where on a map, learned all the countries & capitals, and where an a map.

 

We also learned how out of whack the countries are shown on a map, and the real size of things.   Here's a great site for that ...

 

https://thetruesize.com/#?borders=1~!MTUxMDQ0MzA.NTcyMDY5MA*MzA5MDEzMzg(NjU5MDc5MQ~!CONTIGUOUS_US*MTAwMjQwNzU.MjUwMjM1MTc(MTc1)MA~!IN*NTI2NDA1MQ.Nzg2MzQyMQ)Mg~!CN*OTkyMTY5Nw.NzMxNDcwNQ(MjI1)MQ

[Jingthing]

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I must have went to a good school.  Besides learning and knowing all the states & capitals, and where on a map, learned all the countries & capitals, and where an a map.

 

We also learned out of whack the countries are shown on a map, and the real size of things.   Here's a great site for that ...

https://thetruesize.com/#?borders=1~!MTUxMDQ0MzA.NTcyMDY5MA*MzA5MDEzMzg(NjU5MDc5MQ~!CONTIGUOUS_US*MTAwMjQwNzU.MjUwMjM1MTc(MTc1)MA~!IN*NTI2NDA1MQ.Nzg2MzQyMQ)Mg~!CN*OTkyMTY5Nw.NzMxNDcwNQ(MjI1)MQ

Actually, I felt my grade school geography curriculum was good but at that time Indian migrants weren't on the U.S. radar like they would have been in the U.K. with the huge South Asian demographic. Plenty about India and Pakistan was taught but in my case anyway classifying them as part of Asia was missing.

As they are so distinct not sure that's such a big deal.

Consider Israel. Most people think Middle East. That fact that it's geographically in Asia changes what exactly, except to win the prize in a quiz game.

[KhaoHom]

The trick with India is that you need to ride above the fray $$

 

Have a hard stomach

 

 Maybe not patience, but enough of a jaundiced eye you don't jump at convenience

 

Eat vegetarian not bc you are but bc they can't be trusted to handle meat

 

Understand people will endlessly waste your time over a tiny sum of money

 

** India is nowhere to live or retire

 

* Not been since 2007 but want to bring wife to Ladakh this summer

[KhunLA]

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Actually, I felt my grade school geography curriculum was good but at that time Indian migrants weren't on the U.S. radar like they would have been in the U.K. with the huge South Asian demographic. Plenty about India and Pakistan was taught but in my case anyway classifying them as part of Asia was missing.

As they are so distinct not sure that's such a big deal.

Consider Israel. Most people think Middle East. That fact that it's geographically in Asia changes what exactly, except to win the prize in a quiz game.

I get that most of what we learn, is totally useless, but I do like that I know those things.  Surprised me someone didn't realize, that India was part of Asia.   Especially, since India is such a large part of the world's population.  Not like it's really small country in middle east that rarely made the news.

 

One thing that does get under my skin, USA citizens being call 'Americans', when there's 35 countries in N & S America.

 

Must admit, if I home schooled kids, I'd probably just teach the 3 R's, physics, chemistry & biology as main subjects.  Geography, but probably not literature & the arts, all the stuff that was totally useless to know.  After knowing the basics, my basics, then economics & inverting.  

 

Unlike the USA public school system, teaches you hoe to be an employee.  I'd teach them how to be independent.  That or a hobby and or a trade that would earn money, while investing.

 

On topic, where to retire, other than TH, probably just back in the ol' USA.  Got to go with what I know, as rest of the world seems a bit off at the moment.   That and no visa issues, can own land, housing, though probably have to play slumlord again, for a bit of extra income.  If younger, or for the wife.  If single, just do the nomadic lifestyle that I yak about all the time 🙄

[quake]

On 4/13/2025 at 10:42 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I doubt after all my study I will NOT retire to Thailand 

I have been locked up there, assaulted etc so it becomes too traumatic for me 

 

Excellent.

Finally a good news thread. 

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I get that most of what we learn, is totally useless, but I do like that I know those things.  Surprised me someone didn't realize, that India was part of Asia.   Especially, since India is such a large part of the world's population.  Not like it's really small country in middle east that rarely made the news.

 

One thing that does get under my skin, USA citizens being call 'Americans', when there's 35 countries in N & S America.

 

Must admit, if I home schooled kids, I'd probably just teach the 3 R's, physics, chemistry & biology as main subjects.  Geography, but probably not literature & the arts, all the stuff that was totally useless to know.  After knowing the basics, my basics, then economics & inverting.  

 

Unlike the USA public school system, teaches you hoe to be an employee.  I'd teach them how to be independent.  That or a hobby and or a trade that would earn money, while investing.

 

On topic, where to retire, other than TH, probably just back in the ol' USA.  Got to go with what I know, as rest of the world seems a bit off at the moment.   That and no visa issues, can own land, housing, though probably have to play slumlord again, for a bit of extra income.  If younger, or for the wife.  If single, just do the nomadic lifestyle that I yak about all the time 🙄

I wasn’t taught that they weren't part of Asia either. It was referred to as the Indian subcontinent instead of South Asia. Just a different emphasis.

[FriscoKid]

On 4/13/2025 at 8:22 PM, Jingthing said:

Way off topic but I like to suggest another option for people looking for low cost, friendly people, beautiful scenery. affordable and high quality health care via a hybrid private/national health care scheme actually required for expats, very low retirement visa qualifications, modern infrastructure (you can drink the water), no need for a car (buses and cheap taxis), excellent climate year round "spring" like weather, and safe enough if you're not looking for trouble -- the coffee region of Colombia (specifically Armenia). Housing for expats mostly in a wide choice of modern condos with the expected amenities as Armenia is a top choice for retirement for Colombians from Bogota. No it's not perfect. Not as safe as Thailand but safer than U.S. big cities and Colombian food is bland as they don't like spicy food, limited Asian food,. etc. That's where I would be checking out first IF I wasn't so invested and settled in Thailand already.

 

Condo examples:

 

I've seen street-walking footage of the down town area of Armenia. Looks pretty run down and dangerous in some parts. It's all yours. But do send us a postcard when you move there. 

[BangkokHank]

7 hours ago, tjintx said:

 

Try the Tip Top Tea House near St. Paul's in Landour,  lovely food.    You are right about a lack of what Westerns consider supermarkets, lots of family run grocers though, even in Mussoorie.

 

Thanks for that tip top tip. I'll be heading up to Landour tomorrow, so I'll try your recommendation for lunch.

[Sierra Tango]

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I get that most of what we learn, is totally useless, but I do like that I know those things.  Surprised me someone didn't realize, that India was part of Asia.   Especially, since India is such a large part of the world's population.  Not like it's really small country in middle east that rarely made the news.

 

One thing that does get under my skin, USA citizens being call 'Americans', when there's 35 countries in N & S America.

 

Must admit, if I home schooled kids, I'd probably just teach the 3 R's, physics, chemistry & biology as main subjects.  Geography, but probably not literature & the arts, all the stuff that was totally useless to know.  After knowing the basics, my basics, then economics & inverting.  

 

Unlike the USA public school system, teaches you hoe to be an employee.  I'd teach them how to be independent.  That or a hobby and or a trade that would earn money, while investing.

 

On topic, where to retire, other than TH, probably just back in the ol' USA.  Got to go with what I know, as rest of the world seems a bit off at the moment.   That and no visa issues, can own land, housing, though probably have to play slumlord again, for a bit of extra income.  If younger, or for the wife.  If single, just do the nomadic lifestyle that I yak about all the time 🙄

 

Unlike the USA public school system, teaches you hoe to be an employee.  I'd teach them how to be independent.  That or a hobby and or a trade that would earn money, while investing.

 

I ain't teached my hoe to be an employee. In fact, she done just got made up to HOTUS! 

 

Seriously KhunLA, I am not from the USA or "America" however, I have many past and present, colleagues, friends and aquaintences who have not, in my self professed, possibly faded recollection, of any of our converstaions ever once heard any one of them complain about being called an American. 

If my memory does still serve me right, they do take exception to the "Yank" and "Septic Tank" tags, maybe, possibly, understandably. 

I do, however, having been in several allied operations with your military, owe  gratitude and maitain a deep brother hood with them, what ever they are refered to as.

Good luck and may God ride with you.

[RSD1]

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

If I had been there, I would have said that.

Yes I've been researching Colombia for many years and am very familiar with all the better known youtubers.

I like Life With David but it's obvious he's one of those "seek danger" types.

He goes places and does things no normal tourist or expat would intentionally do for clicks.

Your post is rather distorted as to what I said.

I wasn't suggesting Colombia.

I was suggesting looking specifically into ARMENIA Colombia.

I would also suggest looking into MANIZALES and BUCARAMUNGA.

But Armenia is big enough with a population of 400K not a small town.

Manizales in the same coffee region has a much better variety international restaurants.

Bigger shopping available in Pereira the biggest coffee region city but I wouldn't suggest living there.

The latter two are bigger more sophisticated cities than Armenia but all three are relative safe for Colombia.

Armenia has an airport but bigger one in Pereira.

Would not suggest Medellin, Bogota, or coastal cities.

At home would you go into a dodgy neighborhood alone at night?

It's more like that. You learn what's bad.

In Armenia the entire North Side is richer and safer vs. the less so South Side.

So you live in and hang out on the North Side. Not rocket science.

Think Chicago.

Yes short of going there, I've gone as deep as possible.

If you want to PM me for research suggestions about it, you're welcome.

Colombia has great advantages over those other places you mentioned:

Very low financial requirements. Path to citizenship. The best health care scheme I have ever heard of for expats in a lower cost country. No issue with preexisting conditions. France is also great for that but not a lower cost country. 

Do whatever you want.

I am only saying IF I wasn't basically more or less "stuck" in Thailand and I was new to expatriation, the first place I would go to for boots on the ground exploration is the coffee region of Colombia, specifically Armenia.

 

That’s all good, but it still comes across as Google Scholar and YouTube PhD info. I’m not saying any of your points are wrong, but it’s hard to take third-hand information too seriously. Even second-hand insights are often unreliable because they’re based on someone’s personal interpretation. You seem pretty keen on Colombia, and that’s fine, I’m just not. Sure, it has a few upsides, but there are too many downsides for me. It just feels far less balanced than a place like Thailand when you weigh the pros and cons. Like I said before, even a place like Spain would make more sense. Or spending part of the year in some of the more developed countries in Asia.

 

For me, the ideal setup is to base yourself in a country that checks the most boxes, knowing no place is perfect, and then travel a few times a year to change the wallpaper. There’s no perfect country, and even if one came close, its climate wouldn’t be ideal year-round. That’s one of the main reasons I travel to escape the worst weather in the country I’m based in. Take Thailand for example: April and May are brutal in terms of heat, at least in my opinion. The rest of the year is mostly fine, apart from periods of extreme rain or awful air pollution.

 

Anyway, to sum it up, anyone seriously considering Colombia really just needs to go and see it for themselves. No amount of research or advice can prepare someone for how they’ll actually feel in a place once they’re there. I’ve been to places people hated and I really liked, and the opposite has happened too. Personal preference plays a huge role in all of this. There are people who visit Thailand or Bangkok and can’t imagine living there, and yet for others, they’d rather live nowhere else.

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, RSD1 said:

 

That’s all good, but it still comes across as Google Scholar and YouTube PhD info. I’m not saying any of your points are wrong, but it’s hard to take third-hand information too seriously. Even second-hand insights are often unreliable because they’re based on someone’s personal interpretation. You seem pretty keen on Colombia, and that’s fine, I’m just not. Sure, it has a few upsides, but there are too many downsides for me. It just feels far less balanced than a place like Thailand when you weigh the pros and cons. Like I said before, even a place like Spain would make more sense. Or spending part of the year in some of the more developed countries in Asia.

 

For me, the ideal setup is to base yourself in a country that checks the most boxes, knowing no place is perfect, and then travel a few times a year to change the wallpaper. There’s no perfect country, and even if one came close, its climate wouldn’t be ideal year-round. That’s one of the main reasons I travel to escape the worst weather in the country I’m based in. Take Thailand for example: April and May are brutal in terms of heat, at least in my opinion. The rest of the year is mostly fine, apart from periods of extreme rain or awful air pollution.

 

Anyway, to sum it up, anyone seriously considering Colombia really just needs to go and see it for themselves. No amount of research or advice can prepare someone for how they’ll actually feel in a place once they’re there. I’ve been to places people hated and I really liked, and the opposite has happened too. Personal preference plays a huge role in all of this. There are people who visit Thailand or Bangkok and can’t imagine living there, and yet for others, they’d rather live nowhere else.

Oh geez man where did I ever suggest moving anywhere without boots on the ground?!?

 

I'm suggesting worth checking out for many.

 

The advantages of the Colombia retirement visa offer are dramatic over Thailand and Spain.

 

Much lower financial requirements.

Can buy real estate without onerous foreigner penalties. 

5 year path to perm residence or citizenship.

Instant entry into a world class rated health care system for a very low cost and covering all conditions. 

 

As said based on my research I think Armenia Colombia might be a particularly attractive choice as far as balance of lower cost and amenities. But obviously different people have different personal tastes and priorities.

 

For a detailed view of Armenia there is the Gran Colombia channel sample posted previously with hundreds of videos. He does a weekly live Q and A called Coffee Time.

 

A positive first impression from an expat who was living in Manizales at the time and previously Medellin.