Asia's Endangered Species: The Expat

[weegee]

PIG IRON BOB.....does that ring a bell????

[HardenedSoul]

During the 1st and 2nd industrial revolutions and at the height of the Empire, poverty was widespread in Britain.

The post I responded to seemed to imply that sidewalks and smoothly paved roads are somehow indicative of a nation's economic ascension so I used the UK as an example of how the two have little bearing on the other.

Should I dumb it down a little more for you?

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Thaivisa Connect App

???

Surreal..........just surreal.

Are you saying this is inaccurate?

[cdnvic]

Nevermind, just discuss the topic and resist having a go at each other.

[wamberal]

Interesting question. Given the choice of same size homes and income I would prefer to live in Hong Kong over Sydney. Since I think it is only a matter of time before China buys Australia it's really a moot point anyway isn't it?

You must really like pollution. Of course, if you could buy a home in Hong Kong for the same price as you could buy a similar home in Sydney, a lot more Hong Kong people who have emigrated over the years might be interested in moving back.

As for China buying Australia, that is almost as laughable as the idea of affordable real estate in Hong Kong.

I could have retired in Hong Kong, but I have not even been back to the place since I retired.

[GuestHouse]

Interesting question. Given the choice of same size homes and income I would prefer to live in Hong Kong over Sydney. Since I think it is only a matter of time before China buys Australia it's really a moot point anyway isn't it?

You perhaps missed the point that Britain handed Hong Kong back to China and since then the people of HK have been fighting tooth and nail to maintain liberties the Chinese agreed to but are keen to recind.

[chiangmaikelly]

Interesting question. Given the choice of same size homes and income I would prefer to live in Hong Kong over Sydney. Since I think it is only a matter of time before China buys Australia it's really a moot point anyway isn't it?

You perhaps missed the point that Britain handed Hong Kong back to China and since then the people of HK have been fighting tooth and nail to maintain liberties the Chinese agreed to but are keen to recind.

Not really. I was among the folks that thought China was handed over to Hong Kong in 1997.

I was only talking about someone giving me an equal place to live in Sydney or Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong is one of the driving economic forces in the world. There is not really a city in Australia to compare to it. Plus I have great memories.

[wamberal]

Hong Kong is over-built and ugly. A dreadful place to live in, compared to many cities and towns in Australia.

If you prefer high rise buildings to beaches, pollution to fresh air, imported fruit, vegetables, seafood, and other comestibles rather than local produce, over-crowding to open spaces, then maybe Hong Kong is for you.

For me, I like to see the stars at night, and hear the birds sing in the morning, before wandering down to the beach for a few sparkling waves before breakfast. Real waves on a real beach. Try finding that in Hong Kong.

As Robert Hughes wrote - "Borrowed place, borrowed time" - that sums Hong Kong up perfectly for me. I used to think of it as the biggest refugee camp in the world, although to be scrupulously fair it does seem to be a better place to live in than most of the PRC.

[StreetCowboy]

Hong Kong is over-built and ugly. A dreadful place to live in, compared to many cities and towns in Australia.

If you prefer high rise buildings to beaches, pollution to fresh air, imported fruit, vegetables, seafood, and other comestibles rather than local produce, over-crowding to open spaces, then maybe Hong Kong is for you.

For me, I like to see the stars at night, and hear the birds sing in the morning, before wandering down to the beach for a few sparkling waves before breakfast. Real waves on a real beach. Try finding that in Hong Kong.

As Robert Hughes wrote - "Borrowed place, borrowed time" - that sums Hong Kong up perfectly for me. I used to think of it as the biggest refugee camp in the world, although to be scrupulously fair it does seem to be a better place to live in than most of the PRC.

I suppose if you can't be bothered travelling out to the islands, or up to the rural New Territories, you could form that opinion. And, sure enough,there is not a lot of surf in Hong Kong. Personally, I enjoyed my time in Hong Kong, where I probably had one of the best views of any apartment I've ever lived in. Perhaps Onionluke could tell us more about living on the Southside.

In HK now, the salaries are such that local salaries are attractive to the likes of me; and, as I have posted earlier on this thread, the talent pool is such that the HK Chinese now form a major pool of 'expatriate' workers overseas

SC

[wamberal]

Hong Kong is over-built and ugly. A dreadful place to live in, compared to many cities and towns in Australia.

If you prefer high rise buildings to beaches, pollution to fresh air, imported fruit, vegetables, seafood, and other comestibles rather than local produce, over-crowding to open spaces, then maybe Hong Kong is for you.

For me, I like to see the stars at night, and hear the birds sing in the morning, before wandering down to the beach for a few sparkling waves before breakfast. Real waves on a real beach. Try finding that in Hong Kong.

As Robert Hughes wrote - "Borrowed place, borrowed time" - that sums Hong Kong up perfectly for me. I used to think of it as the biggest refugee camp in the world, although to be scrupulously fair it does seem to be a better place to live in than most of the PRC.

I suppose if you can't be bothered travelling out to the islands, or up to the rural New Territories, you could form that opinion. And, sure enough,there is not a lot of surf in Hong Kong. Personally, I enjoyed my time in Hong Kong, where I probably had one of the best views of any apartment I've ever lived in. Perhaps Onionluke could tell us more about living on the Southside.

In HK now, the salaries are such that local salaries are attractive to the likes of me; and, as I have posted earlier on this thread, the talent pool is such that the HK Chinese now form a major pool of 'expatriate' workers overseas

SC

I lived and worked in Hong Kong for a bit over ten years, the first few years in the late seventies, the second time was late eighties to mid-nineties. Of course there are some areas of natural beauty, and in my first stint there I had some wonderful times, I was able to get into the restricted areas for hiking because a friend had the special pass that was needed, and I went on junk trips throughout the outlying islands on Sundays. Also, Hong Kong was still an exotic destination, I still remember some of the restaurants in Lockhart Road washing their dishes outside in the street.

The second time around the place had changed a lot. I was there during the Tienanmen catastrophe, and those few years were pretty horrible, I have to say, with most of my local friends and colleagues focusing on getting out of the place, if it was at all possible.

Yes, there are still pockets of charm, or there were when I was last there, but they are increasingly submerged by the pollution, the commercialism, and the concrete jungle.

Incidentally, I can remember when there was actually a harbour, not only that, there was a cross-harbour swim race every year. Believe it, or not.

[JurgenG]

I lived and worked in Hong Kong for a bit over ten years, the first few years in the late seventies, the second time was late eighties to mid-nineties. Of course there are some areas of natural beauty, and in my first stint there I had some wonderful times, I was able to get into the restricted areas for hiking because a friend had the special pass that was needed, and I went on junk trips throughout the outlying islands on Sundays. Also, Hong Kong was still an exotic destination, I still remember some of the restaurants in Lockhart Road washing their dishes outside in the street.

The second time around the place had changed a lot. I was there during the Tienanmen catastrophe, and those few years were pretty horrible, I have to say, with most of my local friends and colleagues focusing on getting out of the place, if it was at all possible.

Yes, there are still pockets of charm, or there were when I was last there, but they are increasingly submerged by the pollution, the commercialism, and the concrete jungle.

Incidentally, I can remember when there was actually a harbour, not only that, there was a cross-harbour swim race every year. Believe it, or not.

The cross-harbour swim race is back.

It's difficult to escape the pollution in HK but there is still nice places where to live far from the crowd.

Before the handover (1997), a lot of people fled the places. Those who couldn't were considered the unlucky. A few years later it was the opposite, people were returning "en masse" with the deep feeling of having wasted their time abroad.

If you're young, carrier oriented, have a good job with a decent salary, Hong Kong is definitively not a bad place to spend a few years.

[Tolley]

Interesting question. Given the choice of same size homes and income I would prefer to live in Hong Kong over Sydney. Since I think it is only a matter of time before China buys Australia it's really a moot point anyway isn't it?

You perhaps missed the point that Britain handed Hong Kong back to China and since then the people of HK have been fighting tooth and nail to maintain liberties the Chinese agreed to but are keen to recind.

Not really. I was among the folks that thought China was handed over to Hong Kong in 1997.

I was only talking about someone giving me an equal place to live in Sydney or Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong is one of the driving economic forces in the world. There is not really a city in Australia to compare to it. Plus I have great memories.

Thank god there is not an Australian city to compare to it.

HK is a dump compared to any of the capital cities in Australia.

Overcrowded , pushy, dirty, etc

One of the driving forces of the world where the majority of people live a dogs life existence.

Good for a couple of days sightseeing but that is about it.

You are welcome to it.

[SteeleJoe]

Interesting question. Given the choice of same size homes and income I would prefer to live in Hong Kong over Sydney. Since I think it is only a matter of time before China buys Australia it's really a moot point anyway isn't it?

You perhaps missed the point that Britain handed Hong Kong back to China and since then the people of HK have been fighting tooth and nail to maintain liberties the Chinese agreed to but are keen to recind.

Not really. I was among the folks that thought China was handed over to Hong Kong in 1997.

I was only talking about someone giving me an equal place to live in Sydney or Hong Kong. I think Hong Kong is one of the driving economic forces in the world. There is not really a city in Australia to compare to it. Plus I have great memories.

Thank god there is not an Australian city to compare to it.

HK is a dump compared to any of the capital cities in Australia.

Overcrowded , pushy, dirty, etc

One of the driving forces of the world where the majority of people live a dogs life existence.

Good for a couple of days sightseeing but that is about it.

You are welcome to it.

Errr...how many capitals has Australia got?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Edit: never mind - I think I figured it out.

[andrew]

Errr...how many capitals has Australia got?

8.

http://en.wikipedia...._capital_cities

EDIT. Sorry, I overlooked your edit.

[SteeleJoe]

Errr...how many capitals has Australia got?

8.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_capital_cities

Yeah, as I said in previous post - I figured it out after a moment's thought. Bit slow on the uptake...last night was NYE.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[weegee]

If you look again there is only 1 capital in... Australia.......Happy New year all, the head is coming good, although slowely. Must be the age thing.

[Tolley]

If you look again there is only 1 capital in... Australia.......Happy New year all, the head is coming good, although slowely. Must be the age thing.

List of Australian capital cities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

There are eight capital cities in Australia, all of which function at a sub-national level. Melbourne was the national capital from the Federation of Australia in 1901 until 1927, when the seat of national government was moved to the newly created city of Canberra which currently serves as the national capital.

[rott]

Take a walk into Jools bar in Suk soi 4.

All the "this place would fall apart if we werent here" types have long since departed these shores.

Replaced by, Thais who are better educated and qualified, plus can speak two languages and are versed in local etiquette.

I remember hearing the old, "I dont need this job they can stick it up their effin ass", its quite embarrassing to watch a grown man cry and grovel for any position once he is told, "theres the runway, have a nice flight home".

Interesting example. I don't know if what you say is true or not but the last time I went to Jools was when it was still relatively new (20+ years ago?) and it was always full of the sort of Expat I was speaking of...

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Thats why I used it as an example, who would have believed that after all these years Stan would be the last man standing.

KF as you know fled to Pattaya years ago, I believe Mattie has since relocated to the PI.

No rgs, mattie still owns the place but does go working away when the call comes.

Spot on about Stan though, LMAO at that one.

[IMA_FARANG]

Quite possibly true ... but those with the required experience and background can still compete for the top jobs,

Take my friend, Mike, who the last time I talked to him (several years ago) was Southeast Asia Marketing Manager for a large Taiwanese Company.

Mike is an American whose father worked in Bangkok for many years,

Mike lived and went to school in Thailand and speaks fluent Thai.

He has a Master's degree in Business and a minor in Asian History.

He also speaks enough Chinese (Mandarin) to speak to Chinese customers.

He was originally hired by a headhunter who came from Taiwan to offer him a job in that company's international sales group.

Last time I talked to him he was married to a Taiwanese Chinese woman and they have two children,

He lives in Taiwan now.

[weegee]

If you look again there is only 1 capital in... Australia.......Happy New year all, the head is coming good, although slowely. Must be the age thing.

List of Australian capital cities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

There are eight capital cities in Australia, all of which function at a sub-national level. Melbourne was the national capital from the Federation of Australia in 1901 until 1927, when the seat of national government was moved to the newly created city of Canberra which currently serves as the national capital.

Hi Tolly,

Read my quote again slowely....It was humour, on the first day of the year....

[Tolley]

If you look again there is only 1 capital in... Australia.......Happy New year all, the head is coming good, although slowely. Must be the age thing.

List of Australian capital cities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

There are eight capital cities in Australia, all of which function at a sub-national level. Melbourne was the national capital from the Federation of Australia in 1901 until 1927, when the seat of national government was moved to the newly created city of Canberra which currently serves as the national capital.

Hi Tolly,

Read my quote again slowely....It was humour, on the first day of the year....

a bit too subtle for a hungover new years day.....capital letter....

[theblether]

During the 1st and 2nd industrial revolutions and at the height of the Empire, poverty was widespread in Britain.

The post I responded to seemed to imply that sidewalks and smoothly paved roads are somehow indicative of a nation's economic ascension so I used the UK as an example of how the two have little bearing on the other.

Should I dumb it down a little more for you?

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Thaivisa Connect App

???

Surreal..........just surreal.

Are you saying this is inaccurate?

I'm saying that it's selective beyond belief, however It's New Years Day and I can't be bothered getting involved in an argument.

[andrew]

If you look again there is only 1 capital in... Australia.......Happy New year all, the head is coming good, although slowely. Must be the age thing.

List of Australian capital cities

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

There are eight capital cities in Australia, all of which function at a sub-national level. Melbourne was the national capital from the Federation of Australia in 1901 until 1927, when the seat of national government was moved to the newly created city of Canberra which currently serves as the national capital.

Hi Tolly,

Read my quote again slowely....It was humour, on the first day of the year....

a bit too subtle for a hungover new years day.....capital letter....

The guy fooled me too. For about ........... 20 seconds.

Then again, I'm still on the piss.