Decisions, decisions, where to stay in retirement?

[Presnock]

41 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

I live in Thailand and I walk, swim cycle and go fishing in my spare time. It's true you have do something with your spare time. I am married to a Thai and have a daughter in school but if I wasn't I would give Vietnam a serious look. It has fantastic scenery and the North and central areas are noticeably cooler and less humid. You have to look at visa requirements and areas where expats live as you will need some company. It s not seedy either. And despite what you may hear it's not full of Chinese tourists or Russians. Da Nang would be a good place to start.

just read this week that the Thais are worried because the Chinese toursists have ceased to flock here to Thailand and instead are going to Vietnam.  Not sure that will continue as the Viets have already gotten approval on the tariff bit from Trump so the Chinese govt may want their peopel to go elsewhere.

[georgegeorgia]

On 4/25/2025 at 10:35 PM, Magictoad said:

Retire in Pattaya and spend my time travelling round NE Thailand.

Oh don't be prejudice,what about other countries such as Philippines and Vietnam 

[Scouse123]

On 4/25/2025 at 8:13 PM, Will B Good said:

Not Isaan

 

 

Nothing wrong with Isaarn, mind you, even better if not many come here.

 

We don't want the old, miserable faces of pensioners who can no longer afford Pattaya.

 

There's already a noticeable few drifting up this way.

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, simon43 said:

Hi, thanks for your advice.  Sadly, this is not going to happen, due to the air pollution and my pathetic lungs, which are unable to cope with anything but the cleanest air.  I am in Luang Prabang right now, offered a job at the international school, but unable to accept the job because I have chronic bronchitis within 2 days of arriving in town.  I fly back to Thailand in a few hours from now. The coastal air in Jomtien or south Thailand is fine for me.

 

For me, who really wants to live and teach in Myanmar or Laos, it is hugely frustrating that my lungs let me down, but realistically I can't see the situation improving with age...

 

Very sorry to read of your current breathing problems and I wish you well for the future in an air pollution free environment.

 

Coincidentally, 5 days ago I returned to Siem Reap from a hospital visit in Khon Kaen, Thailand. During many recent years, including the Covid period, I never experienced a bad cold/flu, until now! A cold started developing whilst I was in KK and it has now turned into full blown bronchitis and sneezing - tissues galore!  No such symptoms before leaving Cambodia. My ex-pat pals in KK were also suffering. Now feeling better after taking medication to ease the symptoms.

[VBF]

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Very sorry to read of your current breathing problems and I wish you well for the future in an air pollution free environment.

 

Coincidentally, 5 days ago I returned to Siem Reap from a hospital visit in Khon Kaen, Thailand. During many recent years, including the Covid period, I never experienced a bad cold/flu, until now! A cold started developing whilst I was in KK and it has now turned into full blown bronchitis and sneezing - tissues galore!  No such symptoms before leaving Cambodia. My ex-pat pals in KK were also suffering. Now feeling better after taking medication to ease the symptoms.

I can sympathise there. As much as I love my annual or more trips to Pattaya, I always seem to get a persistent cough there, whereas when I'm home (UK) I'm usually pretty healthy. (Well healthy, if not pretty 😊)

Whilst in Patts, this last trip, I met up with a friend from CM  who confirmed that Patts air quality was far better than CM, and I know that Jomtien is marginally better than Patts. Reading this thread, I'm surmising that pretty much everywhere on the CM latitude has similar air quality issues (?)

 

@simon43 Excuse the impertinence but  If I was trying to make the decision that you're trying to make, having read this thread, I honestly think I'd stay put.

My logic is that nowhere is better on all fronts than where you are now - everywhere has plusses and minuses and you're familiar with your current location.

 

You said that "What I don't want to do in my retirement is simply do nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman." IMO that's simple - don't! There are opportunities in the Pattaya / Jomtien areas to widen your horizons plus if you need to do something in the big city, Bangkok isn't far away. and it's very accessible.

 

From everything that's been said here, I honestly feel that that is how I'd look at it, plus it's the cheapest option.  Your "7,000 baht a month for a modern studio condo that's 300 metres from the beach" and assuming your neighbours aren't too intrusive, doesn't sound too bad to me. (Some years ago I stayed in Pattaya Beach Condo on Second Road for 5 months and found the location very likeable)

 

As I say excuse the impertinence, but you did ask for opinions, and as they say, "opinions are like a-holes - we've all got one and some stink more than others"

Chock-di.

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Very sorry to read of your current breathing problems and I wish you well for the future in an air pollution free environment.

 

Coincidentally, 5 days ago I returned to Siem Reap from a hospital visit in Khon Kaen, Thailand. During many recent years, including the Covid period, I never experienced a bad cold/flu, until now! A cold started developing whilst I was in KK and it has now turned into full blown bronchitis and sneezing - tissues galore!  No such symptoms before leaving Cambodia. My ex-pat pals in KK were also suffering. Now feeling better after taking medication to ease the symptoms.

strange.  We moved from BKK to CM 12 years ago.  In BKK daughter suffered allergies every year at different times.  After settling in CM, he allergies went away and haven't returned until she began college in BKK and pollution her gives her ey infections regularly.  I have execised my whole life in polluted cities, running outside if not a/c gym with treadmills.  Visiting doctors from the US always advised if I had to exercise outside, to wear a quality N95 or N99 mask which i have done.  I am 78+ now, still exercise but mostly inside now with an air purifier in the room.  When we do go outside we wear masks and ignore the questioning looks of folks.  I have my own 2.5micron meter and check the air daily.  If below 25, then when I bring the dog out for his needs, I don't wear a mask but most days it is at a higher level than that here in BKK too, yet I see Thai and foreigners exercising (jogging, walking) daily with no masks.  Their choice as well as ours.  My wife and I have discussed the future in CM, possibly needing to travel elsewhere duirng the burning months.  But until then we will wear our masks.

[Stocky]

On 4/26/2025 at 1:22 PM, simon43 said:

I'll drive down to KP next week to check it out. Yes, it's still in Thailand, but trying to find clean air, nice beaches, safe region etc in south-east Asia is getting more and more difficult.

I know it's in Thailand but Songkhla is a pleasant town to do nothing much of anything

[Harrisfan]

4 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I know it's in Thailand but Songkhla is a pleasant town to do nothing much of anything

Old town there is really nice plus you have decent beaches.

[simon43]

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

I know it's in Thailand but Songkhla is a pleasant town to do nothing much of anything

 

I recall my first Thai GF was from Songkhla, and she was also the first MAD Thai GF that I had - started talking loudly to herself as we were driving along.  Finally had to physically flee from her in BKK Saladaeng Road, jumped in a taxi with her screaming and running after the car!!  Well, welcome to Thailand 🙂

 

I'm back in Jomtien an hour ago.  My throat/bronchitis is easing up..

 

My comment "What I don't want to do in my retirement is simply do nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman."

 

was actually a joke! I rarely drink beer and never socialise with ladies of the night 🙂  I'm not fat either and intend things to stay that way...

 

My studio near the beach is absolutely fine on almost all points except 1.  That is concerning my rather eccentric hobby of shortwave amateur radio which necessitates me to have several large erections (of the antenna kind).  I can get away with these large erections in rural regions, but the moment I start extending my telescopic antenna tool in urban areas, people start to point and whisper!

 

When I lived on Phangan Island a few years ago, no-one was concerned because I could throw my erection over a palm tree....

 

Also, there is another (small but important) reason why KP comes up as a good destination. Last time when I lived there, I was the volunteer English and written Thai teacher for the Burmese community school at Chaloklam.  Some of these young kids spoke no Burmese but could speak some Thai, (but not write it).  Some were vice-versa, and most could manage some simple spoken English. 

 

As someone with more than a little experience in teaching primary grades in Myanmar, I could 'run' the class with a mixture of spoken/written Burmese, Thai and English.  I know that the school misses my help, so that's a good way to keep busy in the daytime for a few hours.

[swissie]

On 4/27/2025 at 12:35 PM, simon43 said:

 

I recall my first Thai GF was from Songkhla, and she was also the first MAD Thai GF that I had - started talking loudly to herself as we were driving along.  Finally had to physically flee from her in BKK Saladaeng Road, jumped in a taxi with her screaming and running after the car!!  Well, welcome to Thailand 🙂

 

I'm back in Jomtien an hour ago.  My throat/bronchitis is easing up..

 

My comment "What I don't want to do in my retirement is simply do nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman."

 

was actually a joke! I rarely drink beer and never socialise with ladies of the night 🙂  I'm not fat either and intend things to stay that way...

 

My studio near the beach is absolutely fine on almost all points except 1.  That is concerning my rather eccentric hobby of shortwave amateur radio which necessitates me to have several large erections (of the antenna kind).  I can get away with these large erections in rural regions, but the moment I start extending my telescopic antenna tool in urban areas, people start to point and whisper!

 

When I lived on Phangan Island a few years ago, no-one was concerned because I could throw my erection over a palm tree....

 

Also, there is another (small but important) reason why KP comes up as a good destination. Last time when I lived there, I was the volunteer English and written Thai teacher for the Burmese community school at Chaloklam.  Some of these young kids spoke no Burmese but could speak some Thai, (but not write it).  Some were vice-versa, and most could manage some simple spoken English. 

 

As someone with more than a little experience in teaching primary grades in Myanmar, I could 'run' the class with a mixture of spoken/written Burmese, Thai and English.  I know that the school misses my help, so that's a good way to keep busy in the daytime for a few hours.

As suggested before: Why not use a Visa Agent in Pattaya. One on every street corner. Between 20 to 30K Baht per year.

 

Your bronchitis. In combination with COPD? What are the medics saying?

[georgegeorgia]

3 minutes ago, swissie said:

On 4/27/2025 at 8:35 PM, simon43 said:

Expand  

As suggested before: Why not use a Visa Agent in Pattaya. One on every street corner. Between 20 to 30K Baht per year.

That's a whole month income for someone on a Australian old age pension!

Too much , I would haggle ,my mother was Jewish 

 

[swissie]

1 minute ago, georgegeorgia said:

That's a whole month income for someone on a Australian old age pension!

Too much , I would haggle ,my mother was Jewish 

 

As an alternative. The OP mentioned that he does not have 800'000 Bht for a long term visa.

[simon43]

20 minutes ago, swissie said:

As suggested before: Why not use a Visa Agent in Pattaya. One on every street corner. Between 20 to 30K Baht per year.

 

Your bronchitis. In combination with COPD? What are the medics saying?

When I'm not in Myanmar or Laos, I stay in Thailand on a 'retirement' visa.  Always used an agent for yonks, no issues 🙂

 

I don't have 800k because I spend it on my charity work.  But if there were no visa agent option, then I would keep this money available.  The bottom line with my income is that I can't take it with me when I die, and I certainly don't want to leave a single penny to my ungrateful relatives.  So I spend it on more deserving causes 🙂

 

As for my lungs, I acquired this problem 25 years ago after working in a damp, unheated office in London in winter - an office that had been empty for yonks.  This medical problem led to many cases of pneumonia, chronic bronchitis etc, including hospital stay in both the UK and Thailand.  The diagnosis of UK and Thai doctors?  All who have taken sputum tests, x-rays, lung capacity etc say that there in nothing wrong with my lungs...  (thanks guys).  So I've soldiered on. I guess it is some sort of throat irritation.

 

I got back from Laos about 24 hours ago, after cutting short my trip because of acute bronchitis.  Tonight and last night I have to lie on my bed on my front, with my head hanging over the end of the bed to let the phlegm drain more easily out of my lungs.... yep - nothing wrong with them at all 🙂

 

I've got a humidifier, so my room is like a sauna, but it helps 🙂  I had to abandon my online lesson tonight mid-lesson after I couldn't stop coughing lol.  Really, it's more frustrating than a major medical issue, because it stops me returning to Myanmar/Laos to help with much-needed education.

[swissie]

37 minutes ago, simon43 said:

When I'm not in Myanmar or Laos, I stay in Thailand on a 'retirement' visa.  Always used an agent for yonks, no issues 🙂

 

I don't have 800k because I spend it on my charity work.  But if there were no visa agent option, then I would keep this money available.  The bottom line with my income is that I can't take it with me when I die, and I certainly don't want to leave a single penny to my ungrateful relatives.  So I spend it on more deserving causes 🙂

 

As for my lungs, I acquired this problem 25 years ago after working in a damp, unheated office in London in winter - an office that had been empty for yonks.  This medical problem led to many cases of pneumonia, chronic bronchitis etc, including hospital stay in both the UK and Thailand.  The diagnosis of UK and Thai doctors?  All who have taken sputum tests, x-rays, lung capacity etc say that there in nothing wrong with my lungs...  (thanks guys).  So I've soldiered on. I guess it is some sort of throat irritation.

 

I got back from Laos about 24 hours ago, after cutting short my trip because of acute bronchitis.  Tonight and last night I have to lie on my bed on my front, with my head hanging over the end of the bed to let the phlegm drain more easily out of my lungs.... yep - nothing wrong with them at all 🙂

 

I've got a humidifier, so my room is like a sauna, but it helps 🙂  I had to abandon my online lesson tonight mid-lesson after I couldn't stop coughing lol.  Really, it's more frustrating than a major medical issue, because it stops me returning to Myanmar/Laos to help with much-needed education.

Dear Simon, how long ago were those "lung-tests" that you mention? The symptoms you descibe are beyond a run of the mill "bronchitis". I too suffer from chronic bronchitis plus COPD for many years but what you decribe is simply "alarming".

 

I mentioned before, that unlike so many old Farangs, you have job-options left. But all of this is of no use, if your health fails. Before you engage in any occupation "in the sticks", you should have your lungs examined anew. In Bangkok or Pattaya. Not possible in "the sticks" of Thailand, Myanmar or Cambodia.

 

PS: It is not unusual that people that have devoted their live to helping other people in need end up pennyless in old age. Sadly.

[simon43]

Swissie, thanks for your concern.  My last medical tests were only 2 years ago, performed in the UK.  Nothing untoward found ha ha!!

 

Happily, my symptoms have not got any worse in the past 20 years, (meaning that 20 years ago I was also reduced to explosive coughing and litres of phlegm). I've learned to live with it.

 

Being penniless in old age is a choice for me (I could spend my earnings only on myself, but I think that's a waste of the money).  The only sad part is the attitude of my close family (ex-wives and UK kids), but that's life.

 

It's 5am and I had a terrible night of coughing, but I'll go for a long walk along Jomtien Beach when it gets light - that should help to clear my lungs 🙂

[Cameroni]

On 4/26/2025 at 8:47 AM, NorthernRyland said:

 

Chiang Mai's popularity speaks for itself. You're an army of one regarding the pollution though.

 

For me and others like me that like the unique things about Northern Thailand, we don't want to live in gated housing projects and get stuck in traffic lights on busy roads, fight for parking or spend our days in shopping malls. Too much of that city is just ugly urban sprawl and headaches at this point but obviously that comes with benefits and more modern living.

 

It does come with quite a lot of beneifts. I woudl not mind if they put up a few more shopping malls, though with Central Fesival and Maya there are two good options already.

 

You can still go to organic neighbourhoods, Sanpakoi springs to mind. The centre still has its charm with the river walk.

 

The congestion in San Kamphaeng is being dealt with now as they build new bypass options.

 

All the tourists I date, I had another date with a Russian woman this weekend, they all love it here.

[NorthernRyland]

19 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

It does come with quite a lot of beneifts. I woudl not mind if they put up a few more shopping malls, though with Central Fesival and Maya there are two good options already.

 

You want MORE malls? Two of them already shut down due to lack of customers. There were 2 McDonalds (maybe 3 but I can't find proof) when I first came to Chiang Mai and now there are 9. If I wanted car culture and to eat processed food in shopping malls I would have stayed in America. Makes me depressed just thinking about it but people keep piling in so what do I know.

 

 

[Cameroni]

5 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

You want MORE malls? Two of them already shut down due to lack of customers. There were 2 McDonalds (maybe 3 but I can't find proof) when I first came to Chiang Mai and now there are 9. If I wanted car culture and to eat processed food in shopping malls I would have stayed in America. Makes me depressed just thinking about it but people keep piling in so what do I know.

 

 

 

Yes, Promenda closed. It wasn't because of Covid. It was just not a vey good mall. Even before Covid almost nobody went there. Same with Kad Suan Kaew., just not very good.

 

However, good malls like Central Festival and Maya are overrun with customers.  Sure, an Icon Siam would not be bad to have here, I think Chiang Mai could do with one more mall, at least, especially now that Promenada is gone.

 

The weather these days is 40 degrees now, as nice as organic neighbourhoods are, malls air conditioned numerous dining and entertainment options have a lot of advantages.

 

 

[hotsun]

15 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

You want MORE malls? Two of them already shut down due to lack of customers. There were 2 McDonalds (maybe 3 but I can't find proof) when I first came to Chiang Mai and now there are 9. If I wanted car culture and to eat processed food in shopping malls I would have stayed in America. Makes me depressed just thinking about it but people keep piling in so what do I know.

 

 

Be glad that is the greatest form of flattery for americans, is that thais like american stuff. Their money doesnt lie

[georgegeorgia]

11 hours ago, simon43 said:

When I'm not in Myanmar or Laos, I stay in Thailand on a 'retirement' visa.  Always used an agent for yonks, no issues 🙂

 

I don't have 800k because I spend it on my charity work.  But if there were no visa agent option, then I would keep this money available.  The bottom line with my income is that I can't take it with me when I die, and I certainly don't want to leave a single penny to my ungrateful relatives.  So I spend it on more deserving causes 🙂

 

As for my lungs, I acquired this problem 25 years ago after working in a damp, unheated office in London in winter - an office that had been empty for yonks.  This medical problem led to many cases of pneumonia, chronic bronchitis etc, including hospital stay in both the UK and Thailand.  The diagnosis of UK and Thai doctors?  All who have taken sputum tests, x-rays, lung capacity etc say that there in nothing wrong with my lungs...  (thanks guys).  So I've soldiered on. I guess it is some sort of throat irritation.

 

I got back from Laos about 24 hours ago, after cutting short my trip because of acute bronchitis.  Tonight and last night I have to lie on my bed on my front, with my head hanging over the end of the bed to let the phlegm drain more easily out of my lungs.... yep - nothing wrong with them at all 🙂

 

I've got a humidifier, so my room is like a sauna, but it helps 🙂  I had to abandon my online lesson tonight mid-lesson after I couldn't stop coughing lol.  Really, it's more frustrating than a major medical issue, because it stops me returning to Myanmar/Laos to help with much-needed education.

Probably more than likely you are going to end up back in the UK with your health in all probability one day 

 

Your a good man ,I feel for you 

I have no suggestions though , 

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

33 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Be glad that is the greatest form of flattery for americans, is that thais like american stuff. Their money doesnt lie

 

Malls were last cool in the 80s and 90s but people are sick of them now. The mall in my hometown was torn down and replaced with an outside walking mall.  There's still some in the suburbs and they're depressing as ever. They make poor working class people feel glamorous for a day because of all the shiny stuffs inside but they're a mirage. Man I really hate malls. 😂

[NorthernRyland]

47 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Yes, Promenda closed. It wasn't because of Covid. It was just not a vey good mall. Even before Covid almost nobody went there. Same with Kad Suan Kaew., just not very good.

 

However, good malls like Central Festival and Maya are overrun with customers.  Sure, an Icon Siam would not be bad to have here, I think Chiang Mai could do with one more mall, at least, especially now that Promenada is gone.

 

 

Maya killed Kad Suan Kaew I think. They were too close to each other and obviously one old and broken down.

 

That's 3 solid malls (including Airport). I question if CM really has customers to make another one profitable.  Are malls even still popular as ever? I hate going to those things and finding parking then walking around in circles to get to one shop. Such a pain in the ass. For kids and families it's a fun way to kill time but not a good experience for actual shopping.

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Maya killed Kad Suan Kaew I think. They were too close to each other and obviously one old and broken down.

 

That's 3 solid malls (including Airport). I question if CM really has customers to make another one profitable.  Are malls even still popular as ever? I hate going to those things and finding parking then walking around in circles to get to one shop. Such a pain in the ass. For kids and families it's a fun way to kill time but not a good experience for actual shopping.

Hotel at Kad Suan was great. Large rooms with pool and gym.

[Cameroni]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Maya killed Kad Suan Kaew I think. They were too close to each other and obviously one old and broken down.

 

That's 3 solid malls (including Airport). I question if CM really has customers to make another one profitable.  Are malls even still popular as ever? I hate going to those things and finding parking then walking around in circles to get to one shop. Such a pain in the ass. For kids and families it's a fun way to kill time but not a good experience for actual shopping.

 

The Airport mall is under refurbishment at the moment, you can't really go there. Hopefully it will be a lot better, it's also showing its age. Chiang Mai needs a new spanking modern mall like Icon Siam. The population is there to sustain it as the overcrowding of Central Festival and Maya shows.

 

But yes, parking there at the weekends is a pain, mostly because these malls decided to close off entire areas to "sponsors" like banks, or condos.

[Harrisfan]

Just now, Cameroni said:

 

The Airport mall is under refurbishment at the moment, you can't really go there. Hopefully it will be a lot better, it's also showing its age. Chiang Mai needs a new spanking modern mall like Icon Siam. The population is there to sustain it as the overcrowding of Central Festival and Maya shows.

 

But yes, parking there at the weekends is a pain, mostly because these malls decided to close off entire areas to "sponsors" like banks, or condos.

Airport mall has the best food court Ive been to.

[NorthernRyland]

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

The Airport mall is under refurbishment at the moment, you can't really go there. Hopefully it will be a lot better, it's also showing its age. Chiang Mai needs a new spanking modern mall like Icon Siam. The population is there to sustain it as the overcrowding of Central Festival and Maya shows.

 

 

There's the Maya mall intersection in 2011 (the earliest photo on google). There's been an explosion of malls since that time and one of them already died. People that want malls are probably already in Bangkok I would guess.

 

 

[save the frogs]

On 4/27/2025 at 12:21 AM, Scouse123 said:

 

 

Nothing wrong with Isaarn, mind you, even better if not many come here.

 

We don't want the old, miserable faces of pensioners who can no longer afford Pattaya.

 

There's already a noticeable few drifting up this way.

 

Yeah, because you own the joint. 

 

[Cameroni]

15 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

There's the Maya mall intersection in 2011 (the earliest photo on google). There's been an explosion of malls since that time and one of them already died. People that want malls are probably already in Bangkok I would guess.

 

 

 

Yah, that intersection is a traffic nightmare  at some times of the day now.. Mostly because of the popularity of the Maya mall and the Nimman area generally. But also Doi  Suthep, University etc branch off of there.

 

People that want malls are in Chiang Mai too, you can telll by how busy Central Festival and Maya are. On weekends you can hardly park there.

 

A nice modern mall would hit the spot. But Promenada's failure probably put an end to that.

[Cameroni]

23 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Airport mall has the best food court Ive been to.

 

People do rate it highly. I prefer Central Festival now. If I want really authentic I: go to San Kamphaeng market, which is better than even Saturday Market in some ways.

 

But yeah, Chiang Mai is blessed with markets and food options.

[NorthernRyland]

22 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Yah, that intersection is a traffic nightmare  at some times of the day now.. Mostly because of the popularity of the Maya mall and the Nimman area generally. But also Doi  Suthep, University etc branch off of there.

 

The problem in CM is urban sprawl and housing projects. They have the north, central and south covered with a mall and the east HAD Promenada which failed but that's the most logical place to put one now. There's endless housing projects now in all directions but you need to fight traffics inwards towards the city and infrastructure is not there.