1 hour ago, jimn said:

I suggest Iran

Or Russia with the shared values visa.

On 4/19/2026 at 10:00 AM, spidermike007 said:

You could end up spending a lot of money being with a Filipino or Thai gal

He's a homo. Might as well try selling pork in the Middle East.

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The deposit levels for the SRRV (retirement visa) have recently gone up.

Specifics depend on the category.

For example from 10K to 15K USD for a standard category if you have a pension.

As the SRRV gives permanent residence, compared to Thailand's 800K baht, 15K no big deal.

But someone said the levels have gond down. NO.

You can currently live there on tourist visa extensions up to three years at a time and then a visa run. But they've cracked down on that in the past and may again.

If you're a military veteran the SRRV level is a bargain. Used to be 1500 USD. Maybe it went up but if so not by much.

Also, for those who might struggle to get private health insurance, the SRRV allows you to enrol in PhilHealth which helps cover the costs in public hospitals.

1 minute ago, SamSpade said:

Also, for those who might struggle to get private health insurance, the SRRV allows you to enrol in PhilHealth which helps cover the costs in public hospitals.

Covid was a nightmare and there was an even bigger visa problem for expats there during that time. Those using the "endless" tourist visa in country extensions with a 3 year reset with a vida run were totally screwed. They could leave for a visa run but not get back in.

On 4/19/2026 at 9:40 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Cebu in the Philippines is the place to be and of course passing that is Da Nang in Vietnam

Interestedly BALI is now riding again as a expat community,

Do we have any expats here in BALI ,they say cheaper and more beautiful than Phuket

Philippines is where I'm looking at next in Cebu and please don't try to talk me out of it !!!!

Definitely been watching to many foreigner tourism videos. All those places have been hyped by YouTubers for the past year or two.

Then the flaw in our brains to try to simplify, make things easier to understand, form a yes or no conclusion and then the Bias when the YouTuber trying to get views sells X city as the Best city to "X" in.

Traveled most places spending time to experience the lifestyle, culture and what I like and don't like.

It's Not simple. A lot of things to factor before making the decision. Then the honeymoon period when you move somewhere and things are new, interesting and exciting.

I get the appeal of Cebu City to people who want the big city thing but not Manila or a variation of a BGC Manila bubble available now in Cebu but based on my visit there, I didn't like the vibe.

Then there is also Mactan Newtown.

You don't move to a country. You move to a specific place in a country.

23 hours ago, Jingthing said:

...

If you're a military veteran the SRRV level is a bargain. Used to be 1500 USD. Maybe it went up but if so not by much.

Also $1,500 for scientists. I was accepted a few months ago by the PI Retirement Authority on this basis, but decided (and you'll think I'm perhaps mad!!), that given the choice between living in the PI and living in Myanmar, I prefer Myanmar...... lol

37 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Also $1,500 for scientists. I was accepted a few months ago by the PI Retirement Authority on this basis, but decided (and you'll think I'm perhaps mad!!), that given the choice between living in the PI and living in Myanmar, I prefer Myanmar...... lol

Not mad.

Unusual.

15 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Seems your another one who doesn't have any empathy for victims of crime

I was attacked twice in 2025 once by a monkey on March 2025 and in September 2025 by a ladyboy up at therapist road near the supalai condo in Pattaya

I had to see psychologist to get over my attacks so please don't treat this as something to make a joke of

Oh, i'm so sorry I offended you. 😂

Sadly I'm attacked daily by forum members but I don't broadcast it, I ManUp and move on.

Please don't take my comments as a negative. Without your Pub Forum's posts AN forum would be very boring, we need characters like yourself here to cheers us all up, life is stressful and we need a vent at times, a laugh.

I get it you are upset because I posted your Thai Friendly profile, sorry mate, I had to 😜

Therapist Road in Jomtien?

Does that compare well to Head Shrink Boulevard in Pattaya?

19 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Absolutely Georgeenta.

Very serious case.

This is exactly the kind of incident that gets overlooked far too often in SE Asia.

Unprovoked physical contact on a foreign national in Lopburi by a primate is not something that should just be quietly brushed off as “wildlife behaviour”.

A full review is clearly needed.

The monkey should have been immediately detained pending investigation, not left roaming the wild.

Standard procedure should have been:

Immediate arrest

Intensive questioning

Formal charging for assault and battery

Transfer to holding facility with restricted banana access

Then of course a proper sentencing phase.

Minimum ten years hard labor, ideally somewhere remote where reflective thinking is possible and no access to climbing or swinging from trees.

Followed by a mandatory behavioral rehabilitation program.

Anger management

Impulse control therapy

Group counselling with other repeat offenders

Financial restitution for emotional distress and disrupted travel itinerary

And finally an extended stay at an attitude adjustment facility before any consideration of reintegration into primate society.

The fact this was only escalated by the local authorities after intervention via your local MP in Australia is frankly alarming.

Lucky you were there to push for proper accountability.

Otherwise it is easy to imagine this kind of thing being swept under the carpet and repeated elsewhere.

Hopefully lessons have now been learned at all levels in the wild animal kingdom and it wont ever happen again.

Love the Bots on here ...no need for staff or even forum members

16 hours ago, SamSpade said:

Also, for those who might struggle to get private health insurance, the SRRV allows you to enrol in PhilHealth which helps cover the costs in public hospitals.

Aren't those the doctors who operate without incisions and pull tumors out of people's bodies? It would be nice to be buried without addional scars.