Anybody Else Considering A Move To Cambodia?

[poanoi]

Well actually you are touching perhaps the last reason to stay here,

thai food is tasty, i know what stuff i like, and i know what to expect whenever i order.

On the contrary i have yet to find a single dish of khmer food that i finished the plate

Edited September 9, 2013 by poanoi

[phuketrichard]

one is teaching at yis ( the expensive international school ) as the IT teacher.

the other is married an his wife in on a 2 year contract with Carlsberg beer

Permanent residence??

i doubt it but one within 1 month one had work permit, ,( the other a 1 year visa as spouse) relevant visas, Burmese driving licenses and cars

and what does that have to do with safety there?

my ironic question was not about safety but about living in Myanmar. the average chaps living in Thailand have no chance to move to Yangon because they are neither qualified to teach nor do they have wives working in Myanmar nor does Myanmar have a provision for retirees.

BUT with Burma opening up they do have a chance of finding a job in the country as i am sure they will need all the professionals they can find

[phuketrichard]

Well actually you are touching perhaps the last reason to stay here,

thai food is tasty, i know what stuff i like, and i know what to expect whenever i order.

On the contrary i have yet to find a single dish of khmer food that i finished the plate

lok lak & seafood/fish amok are both great Cambodia dishes

but thats about it

[Rumpole]

Visa rules can be changed on a government whim and businesses can be taken over by mafia thugs if you are obviously successful so not sure that either are great reasons to move to Cambodia... ten year ago I thought PP much safer than anywhere in PI but food quite expensive to same standard as Thailand but there were an awful lot of ex-brothel gals in the foreign biased nightclubs who were too dangerous (HIV etc) to play with and now seem be pricing themselves out of the market as per Thais so have not bothered with a new visit yet.

The Cambo government is to be congratulated on the protecting over-50 foreigners from the predatory young ladies of the night, though.

Lol....the idea was to protect young khmer women from older barang.

It was actually mostly intended to protect Khmer women from older KOREAN men, many of whom had proved to be far more abusive and exploitative than any Westerner. Barang were just caught up in the fallout, as the government implemented a total ban.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Rumpole

[Sheryl]

I am fortunate to be able to divide my time pretty much evenly between both LOS and Camb, and have donefor most of my adult life. So I get the best of boith worlds.

Both places have their pros and cons and different people will weight them differently.

It also makes a big difference whether you are comparing capital city to capital city or life in the countryside or what.

For me, I would take Phnom Penh or Siem Reap (but preferrably the former) over Bkk for everything except medical care, which is still a big problem/gap in Camb (dental is good tho).

But for living in the countryside (as I do in Thailand), Cambodia can't begin to compete, still very poor quality of life though better than before. It is possible to have the crystal clean air, untouched nature and still have reliable electricity and decent roads in Thailand, not yet in Camb.

I would agree though that throughout the country, a much friendlier attitude towards foreigners in Camb. (So please if you move here, avoid doing anything to spoil it! )

And visa as well as regs on working/running a business, it's hands down better in Camb. However, not advisable to buy property here, even though there is no a law on the books allowing foreign ownership of condos/apts . If you live here, rent. If you want tyo be able to own, look elsewhere.

[balo]

What I like about PP is the big selection of restaurants, especially French and other western dishes ,much cheaper prices than in Bangkok. Also Khmer food is good

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Asiantravel]

I don't think anybody should seriously be considering a move there right now until the political situation has been sorted out. Today, there has been shooting in the streets in PP by the army using live rounds and teargas was fired . Things are only starting apparently and many streets are cut off.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Asiantravel

[Sheryl]

I don't think anybody should seriously be considering a move there right now until the political situation has been sorted out. Today, there has been shooting in the streets in PP by the army using live rounds and teargas was fired . Things are only starting apparently and many streets are cut off.

Same thing could have been said about Thailand a year or two back, and that situation is far from over.

BTW 1 fatality in Phnom Penh known, man about 30 years shot in the head by police around 10 PM. I'm there now and while situation is bad, nothing to rival Bangkok after the big Red demonstrations (knock on wood)

Frankly if political stability and lack of demonstrations that turn violent is a criteria, neither country qualifies. But in neither is it at a level where you can't live safely. Majority of the time nothing going on and business as usual, every so often flare ups/demonstrations which render specific locations unsafe.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I stayed in PP last year and quite liked it.... although I also still like BKK after a number of years living here.

The western food offerings and availability was really nice and refreshing, Cambo beer beats Thai beer by miles, Guinness import is there, the people generally speak English in PP, you use U.S. $ currency, their versions of tuk tuks seem much safer and relatively cheap, agree about a generally more friendly feeling toward farangs from the locals, easier visa/extension setup but also a bit more expensive depending on one's circumstances.

Internet is supposed to be decent and getting better. The mobile 3G service there probably is better, at least in PP, compared to BKK. Probably not the same range of shopping and grocery options there compared to BKK especially if you're used to Foodlands and Villas, and Tesco's and Big Cs... But I think enough to get by..

After my visit and research and checking, the one big question mark -- apart from the current politican instability, and LOS certainly has it share of that -- is the medical care situation. It should get better over time, but I couldn't get much of a feel of at what rate a place like PP is making progress on that score.

Sheryl, if you have any more specific thoughts on that item, I'd love to hear them.

For me, for now, I put PP down as my current 2nd choice home should something go seriously wrong here... And for the future, who knows.... It might someday move into 1st place.

But, it's really hard to realistically compared someplace you've spent years living full time with another place where you've only visited for the short term, even though I spent my visiting time specifically oriented to residency issues. If I knew as much today about PP as I do about Thailand and BKK now, I might have an entirely different idea!

[rnw]

you should consider countryside of sri lanka, uphill country part, more nature , wildlife than thailand....whenever there's tea plantation, there;s good road in that village area...

thailand contryside , they adopted to GM farming,

But for living in the countryside (as I do in Thailand), Cambodia can't begin to compete, still very poor quality of life though better than before. It is possible to have the crystal clean air, untouched nature and still have reliable electricity and decent roads in Thailand, not yet in Camb.

[Sheryl]

I stayed in PP last year and quite liked it.... although I also still like BKK after a number of years living here.

The western food offerings and availability was really nice and refreshing, Cambo beer beats Thai beer by miles, Guinness import is there, the people generally speak English in PP, you use U.S. $ currency, their versions of tuk tuks seem much safer and relatively cheap, agree about a generally more friendly feeling toward farangs from the locals, easier visa/extension setup but also a bit more expensive depending on one's circumstances.

Internet is supposed to be decent and getting better. The mobile 3G service there probably is better, at least in PP, compared to BKK. Probably not the same range of shopping and grocery options there compared to BKK especially if you're used to Foodlands and Villas, and Tesco's and Big Cs... But I think enough to get by..

After my visit and research and checking, the one big question mark -- apart from the current politican instability, and LOS certainly has it share of that -- is the medical care situation. It should get better over time, but I couldn't get much of a feel of at what rate a place like PP is making progress on that score.

Sheryl, if you have any more specific thoughts on that item, I'd love to hear them.

For me, for now, I put PP down as my current 2nd choice home should something go seriously wrong here... And for the future, who knows.... It might someday move into 1st place.

But, it's really hard to realistically compared someplace you've spent years living full time with another place where you've only visited for the short term, even though I spent my visiting time specifically oriented to residency issues. If I knew as much today about PP as I do about Thailand and BKK now, I might have an entirely different idea!

Internet situation is fine, Wifi everywhere even in tiny guesthouses up country. Grocery shopping IMO better than Bangkok for imported western foods, in fact I usually bring things back to Thailand from here.

But you are correct re medical care, still substandard, especially if hospitalization is required. Dentistry for some reason has taken off (PP in fact id a dental tourism center and their top dental hospital puts anything in Bkk to shame) but meedical care is still pretty bad. Not an advisable destination for anyone elderly or ewith chronic health problems, and anyone else should expect to have to fly to Singapore or Thailand for medical care and arrange finances and insurance (including med-evac cover) accordingly.

Agree re the restaurant.s While i am not a fan of Khmer cuisine, the western and other international food available in PP and Siem Reap is fabulous, authentic and cheap. Lots of foreigners running restaurants here.

[jaideeguy]

Thanks for the info Sheryl......

I would consider Cambodia as a change from 'the land of smiles' [555] in a flash, except for the more extreme heat and the health issues you mentioned. Looks like [some] infrastructure is catching up and maybe even surpass LOS in the near future.

The area that I would possibly choose to live would be north of Seam Reap towards the Thai border for easy access to the amenities of LOS if needed [and there are no border conflicts going on]. Can anyone comment on that area?? Would it be livable for falangs?? Is it safe??

My Thai wife is Khmer and speaks the language, which would make it somewhat easier and her family is from Surin, where the border crossing is.

[phuketrichard]

There is NOWHERE north of sr, closer to Thailand, you would choose to live!!! I have been all over the area up there.

I drove Surin (O'smach is where u cross) -SR last July in less than 4 hours

I lived in Camboida in 2008-09 an often return as my gf is Cambodian. Cambodia is nice change from Thailand but..... still prefer to live here for now.

Khymer food, luk lak, amok an that's it. Even their chicken and rice sucks ( they give ya the bones not just chicken) and it is NOT cheaper to live there an not as many choices for accomodations an very very little out of the main cities

I find the western food in SR, PP an snooky eatable but, in no way Fabulous... You wont starve.

[scobie redux]

I stayed in PP last year and quite liked it.... although I also still like BKK after a number of years living here.

The western food offerings and availability was really nice and refreshing, Cambo beer beats Thai beer by miles, Guinness import is there, the people generally speak English in PP, you use U.S. $ currency, their versions of tuk tuks seem much safer and relatively cheap, agree about a generally more friendly feeling toward farangs from the locals, easier visa/extension setup but also a bit more expensive depending on one's circumstances.

Internet is supposed to be decent and getting better. The mobile 3G service there probably is better, at least in PP, compared to BKK. Probably not the same range of shopping and grocery options there compared to BKK especially if you're used to Foodlands and Villas, and Tesco's and Big Cs... But I think enough to get by..

After my visit and research and checking, the one big question mark -- apart from the current politican instability, and LOS certainly has it share of that -- is the medical care situation. It should get better over time, but I couldn't get much of a feel of at what rate a place like PP is making progress on that score.

Sheryl, if you have any more specific thoughts on that item, I'd love to hear them.

For me, for now, I put PP down as my current 2nd choice home should something go seriously wrong here... And for the future, who knows.... It might someday move into 1st place.

But, it's really hard to realistically compared someplace you've spent years living full time with another place where you've only visited for the short term, even though I spent my visiting time specifically oriented to residency issues. If I knew as much today about PP as I do about Thailand and BKK now, I might have an entirely different idea!

Internet situation is fine, Wifi everywhere even in tiny guesthouses up country. Grocery shopping IMO better than Bangkok for imported western foods, in fact I usually bring things back to Thailand from here.

But you are correct re medical care, still substandard, especially if hospitalization is required. Dentistry for some reason has taken off (PP in fact id a dental tourism center and their top dental hospital puts anything in Bkk to shame) but meedical care is still pretty bad. Not an advisable destination for anyone elderly or ewith chronic health problems, and anyone else should expect to have to fly to Singapore or Thailand for medical care and arrange finances and insurance (including med-evac cover) accordingly.

Agree re the restaurant.s While i am not a fan of Khmer cuisine, the western and other international food available in PP and Siem Reap is fabulous, authentic and cheap. Lots of foreigners running restaurants here.

Im currently working in PP on a six month project, and I've lived before in Bangkok, HK and other parts of Asia. I'm really enjoying it and am very impressed by most things. I've been here a few times over the years, and it's progressed massively in the last 2-3 years. I'm living in a part of town called BKK 1 and it's like being in Paris, with boulevards, nice apartment bulding and massive mansions, dotted with western style coffee shops, stores, boutiques, street food and foreign restaurants.

I also like the weather. Hot in the daytime, but falls to around 26-27 in the evening. Perfect pavement café weather.

A few specifics. Tonight I will head out to a little bar I know and watch the world go buy while I make my way through a jug of local beer - $2. After that we might go and grab a French meal in a fine dining place and we'll expect to pay around $30 for the two, incuding wine. We might finish the night off with a $5 shisha.

My 3G data package for my phone costs $5 for 2GB which lasts a month. Local calls cost cents, and I called Bangkok last night for 6 cents a minute. I have a huge three bedroom apartment in BKK1 which costs 800 bucks. I could get cheaper of course, but it's worth it. A 500g jar of my beloved marmite is available in the local supermarket for $7.95, almost exactly the GBP5 it cost back in the UK when I was there last month.

Clothes shopping will be an issue, I grant that.

Medical . they're currently building a PP branch of one of the major Thai chains . . Bumrungrad I think . . on Russian Boulevard. That will be a major development. It's scheduled to open later this year.

[Sheryl]

I haven't heard anything about Bumrungrad opening anything here and it would surprise me. Phnom Penh already has a "sister affiliate" to the Bangkok Hospital chain, Royal Ratatanak, but it has largely proved a disappointment in terms of quality. It is also not attracted much utilization, partly for that reason and partly because of cost.

The Vietnamese , in a partnership with Sokimex, are constructing an affiliate to its Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC (currently the most common out-of-country hospital destinatiion for Khmers). Its expected to open next year. Cho Ray in HCMC is far more affordable than the large Thai private hospitals so presumably the PP branch will be affordable for at least the middle class. Hopes are high in terms of quality (it is fine in HCMC) but time will tell.

In the meantime if you should need hospital care, currently the best place is Sen Sok University hospital http://www.sensokiuh.com/. Not all specialties represented there (e.g. no orthopedics, no neurology) , but what they have, is usually OK.

[balo]

I stayed in PP last year and quite liked it.... although I also still like BKK after a number of years living here.

The western food offerings and availability was really nice and refreshing, Cambo beer beats Thai beer by miles, Guinness import is there, the people generally speak English in PP, you use U.S. $ currency, their versions of tuk tuks seem much safer and relatively cheap, agree about a generally more friendly feeling toward farangs from the locals, easier visa/extension setup but also a bit more expensive depending on one's circumstances.

Internet is supposed to be decent and getting better. The mobile 3G service there probably is better, at least in PP, compared to BKK. Probably not the same range of shopping and grocery options there compared to BKK especially if you're used to Foodlands and Villas, and Tesco's and Big Cs... But I think enough to get by..

After my visit and research and checking, the one big question mark -- apart from the current politican instability, and LOS certainly has it share of that -- is the medical care situation. It should get better over time, but I couldn't get much of a feel of at what rate a place like PP is making progress on that score.

Sheryl, if you have any more specific thoughts on that item, I'd love to hear them.

For me, for now, I put PP down as my current 2nd choice home should something go seriously wrong here... And for the future, who knows.... It might someday move into 1st place.

But, it's really hard to realistically compared someplace you've spent years living full time with another place where you've only visited for the short term, even though I spent my visiting time specifically oriented to residency issues. If I knew as much today about PP as I do about Thailand and BKK now, I might have an entirely different idea!

Internet situation is fine, Wifi everywhere even in tiny guesthouses up country. Grocery shopping IMO better than Bangkok for imported western foods, in fact I usually bring things back to Thailand from here.

But you are correct re medical care, still substandard, especially if hospitalization is required. Dentistry for some reason has taken off (PP in fact id a dental tourism center and their top dental hospital puts anything in Bkk to shame) but meedical care is still pretty bad. Not an advisable destination for anyone elderly or ewith chronic health problems, and anyone else should expect to have to fly to Singapore or Thailand for medical care and arrange finances and insurance (including med-evac cover) accordingly.

Agree re the restaurant.s While i am not a fan of Khmer cuisine, the western and other international food available in PP and Siem Reap is fabulous, authentic and cheap. Lots of foreigners running restaurants here.

Im currently working in PP on a six month project, and I've lived before in Bangkok, HK and other parts of Asia. I'm really enjoying it and am very impressed by most things. I've been here a few times over the years, and it's progressed massively in the last 2-3 years. I'm living in a part of town called BKK 1 and it's like being in Paris, with boulevards, nice apartment bulding and massive mansions, dotted with western style coffee shops, stores, boutiques, street food and foreign restaurants.

I also like the weather. Hot in the daytime, but falls to around 26-27 in the evening. Perfect pavement café weather.

A few specifics. Tonight I will head out to a little bar I know and watch the world go buy while I make my way through a jug of local beer - $2. After that we might go and grab a French meal in a fine dining place and we'll expect to pay around $30 for the two, incuding wine. We might finish the night off with a $5 shisha.

My 3G data package for my phone costs $5 for 2GB which lasts a month. Local calls cost cents, and I called Bangkok last night for 6 cents a minute. I have a huge three bedroom apartment in BKK1 which costs 800 bucks. I could get cheaper of course, but it's worth it. A 500g jar of my beloved marmite is available in the local supermarket for $7.95, almost exactly the GBP5 it cost back in the UK when I was there last month.

Clothes shopping will be an issue, I grant that.

Medical . they're currently building a PP branch of one of the major Thai chains . . Bumrungrad I think . . on Russian Boulevard. That will be a major development. It's scheduled to open later this year.

So you pay $800 for a three br apartment ? Is it western standard with euro kitchen ? Where is BKK1, near riverside ?

[scobie redux]

I haven't heard anything about Bumrungrad opening anything here and it would surprise me. Phnom Penh already has a "sister affiliate" to the Bangkok Hospital chain, Royal Ratatanak, but it has largely proved a disappointment in terms of quality. It is also not attracted much utilization, partly for that reason and partly because of cost.

The Vietnamese , in a partnership with Sokimex, are constructing an affiliate to its Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC (currently the most common out-of-country hospital destinatiion for Khmers). Its expected to open next year. Cho Ray in HCMC is far more affordable than the large Thai private hospitals so presumably the PP branch will be affordable for at least the middle class. Hopes are high in terms of quality (it is fine in HCMC) but time will tell.

In the meantime if you should need hospital care, currently the best place is Sen Sok University hospital http://www.sensokiuh.com/. Not all specialties represented there (e.g. no orthopedics, no neurology) , but what they have, is usually OK.

Apologies. It's not Bumrungrad.

It's the big development on the right hand side of Russian Boulevard coming in from the airport. Definitely linked to a large Thai hospital of some kind though.

[scobie redux]

So you pay $800 for a three br apartment ? Is it western standard with euro kitchen ? Where is BKK1, near riverside ?

Very western standard, yes. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One super large bedroom with ensuite (separate shower cubicle and bath). Two more regular sized bedrooms with one additional small bathroom. Large open plan lounge area, with separated kitchen attached, including western stuff like gas cooker, large oven, rangehood etc. It is a ten storey building with rooftop gym and swimming pool.

BKK1 is Boueng Keng Kang 1, a subdistrict of Phnom Penh. It's become very popular with westerners and the NGO community, so it's spawned dozens of western shops, bars, cafes, restaurants etc. It is basically the small square km of streets bordered by Independence Monument, Sihanouk Boulevard, Norodom and Monivong. A great little area. Totally self-contained, but easy to walk to the riverside if you want (or a $1 tuk tuk fare) and stroll along Street 51 to the bar area, Sorya Mall and Central Market.

Can't beat it.

[oMega69]

I will do my first visit to PP this new year, If i like it i will move over from TH .

Getting a bit bored here after 7yrs in TH.

Was in Cebu last year and hate it so i hope PP has more to offer .

[rnw]

cebu nearby islands 're nice, such as san carlos which's just ferry crossing away.

plus davos(in deep south south) outshirts.......

cebu's mainly occupied by korean and amoi, expensive,polluted, no more charms left.

why don't you wait till new year for visiting PP?

I will do my first visit to PP this new year, If i like it i will move over from TH .

Getting a bit bored here after 7yrs in TH.

Was in Cebu last year and hate it so i hope PP has more to offer .

[oMega69]

Yes. Cebu got millions of Koreans.

Nightlife was okey there but overall life was a bit boring.

My TR visa will end here in TH in December so then its time for PP

3 month i think will be enof to get to know the area. .

1600 THB with airasia fair price cant turn that down .

cebu nearby islands 're nice, such as san carlos which's just ferry crossing away.

plus davos(in deep south south) outshirts.......

cebu's mainly occupied by korean and amoi, expensive,polluted, no more charms left.

why don't you wait till new year for visiting PP?

I will do my first visit to PP this new year, If i like it i will move over from TH .

Getting a bit bored here after 7yrs in TH.

Was in Cebu last year and hate it so i hope PP has more to offer .

[rnw]

3 months that's not enough for cambodia...cam bodia is a country you should visit many many times...better obtain business visa then extend to one year multiple entry visa......

thai visa system's not flexible anyway...

if you travel by overland bus to palin entering cambodia from chanthabury.,it;s more cheaper than airaisa

[phuketrichard]

3 months is plenty to see all of Cambodia and decide if its for you.

There are only a few places that anyone would wish to live in the country

Siem Rep, Battamabang, Kampot, Shianokville & Phnom Penh. Each offers something diferent depedning on ur life style

I have been thru Pailin a few times and i don't hink it is accessable via bus from Chantaburi via Pong Nam rong, ( i always had my own car)

Easy though from Palin to Battamabang ( 1 hour) an than on to sr ( 3 hours) or Phnom Penh ( 4-5)

Edited October 7, 2013 by phuketrichard

[rnw]

from Chantaburi market, there's songthaew every hour in morning to Ban Pakkard-pailin border(takes about one hour),60 to 100Baht. from pailin border checkpoint.after geting your visa on arrival, catch 2-3$ motodopo to pailin town, shared taxi 's available at 5$ to batambang.

you can stay one night to explore pailin.

in early morning there's direct aircon bus to phnom penh and battambang.

Edited October 7, 2013 by rnw

[oMega69]

Sounds nice.. thanks ^^

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

We might finish the night off with a $5 shisha.

<snip>

Is that legal?

[vincent13]

Well the OP has dreams of a cheaper life with cheaper women in a cheaper country in a cheaper hovel with cheaper food. He is just living the dream of cheapness, a pentultimate objective in a fulfilling life if ever there was.

Where did the OP say anything of the kind? What drugs are you on?

[watcharacters]

I think the only way to find out is to visit for a week or three - I will go back in 2014 to see what changes have occurred since my last visit in 2010, but I have no plans to move there. Forum chatter has it that there is a lack of affordable longterm accommodation and that break-ins are very common, but there is no substitute for spending a few weeks in PP (or wherever you plan to live) and talking to Barang who actually live there.

BKS22, are you familiar with the Indonesian visa system ? Much worse than Thailand. I'm just going to pay an agent in Singapore and be done with it.

.

Your information may be suspect.

.

[watcharacters]

I see this is still going on. One more time. Before someone makes a permanent move to Cambodia, I really suggest he at least visit and check things out.

I came to the conclusion that it would cost me 50% more to live in PP than in Chiang Mai, with the same lifestyle - food, housing, etc. etc.

Anything alcoholic, cigarettes, clothes, go go girls and a few other items are cheaper. But lacking the building boom of Chiang Mai, rents are double. Ditto with utilities including internet, electricity, etc. Groceries are quite a bit more. A decent restaurant is more. Even though food costs more, IMHO it isn't as good.

Vehicles cost more and there isn't the selection. Good used cars are hard to find and more expensive than Thailand. Fuel is more.

Seriously. Check it out. Look at rentals. Look at food costs. Ask about utilities. Look for a new or used car, remembering that they are all imported.

For someone who drinks a lot and buys hard liquor and wine, who perhaps smokes, and who uses the professional girls quite a bit it might average out. The girls cost about 1/2, they tell me. I don't drink much or go with bar girls so that has no affect on me.

I agree with those who say that much more English is spoken and that the people seem more genuinely friendly, but I'm just talking about costs.

It didn't take me 2 weeks to want to be back in Thailand.

Some people prefer one location over another because of its lawlessness. The balance between recourse to the law and subjective freedom does not pivot on the same fulcrum for all.

I don't understand. I consider Thailand quite lawless, but I suppose that is subjective. In either country you can get into trouble with the law and find yourself with no rights. Neither country runs its police or courts in a Western fashion. Thailand doesn't enforce driving laws, or stop scams at the beach and elsewhere. It is corrupt, turns a blind eye to rip offs, and you have to watch yourself. Thailand is much more dangerous for being robbed or murdered or attacked and that I have posted proof many times.

If you like the idea of paying a reasonable fee for a year's stay (almost $300 US) and just walking in, I like that.

I guess I just see both as lawless in the Western thinking. I don't like the Thai method of Retirement extensions with reporting, or making border runs for some etc. That's a pain.

I think for anything lawless I see in Cambo, I can find something just as lawless in LOS.

If the subject is drugs including mj, yes it's more prevalent and cheap, but don't get caught. Who wants to go to a Cambo prison? They do have snitches who will pull you in.

.

By saying "Lawless", do you mean corrupt?

Edited November 14, 2013 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[watcharacters]

lack of affordable longterm accommodation and that break-ins are very common

I have a number of friends who moved there from Thailand some 5-6 years back, they have never mentioned problems with accommodation but they have about crime. When I go away for a couple of months I just lock my door and head off but they put all their goods into storage. That says it all to me.

Thanks for that information. I would not like those conditions. However my recent attempt to visit TV was/is confusing b/c of this notice I get:

Fetching of original content failed with the following error: Proxy Publisher Failure - NO RESPONSE. If you own this domain, please consult [/size]this FAQ.[/size]

Is this a glitch in the system or has the govt. done something to censor this forum. It that is the case then a move would certainly be entertained by many X pats living here. Please advise if you can.

It was just a glitch and this is off topic.

.

Not at all off topic and it is germane to the conversation at hand.

But thanks anyway for your opinion.