Is Thailand The Best Place To Retire Or Pristine Singapore?

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

I would like to thank everyone in advance for their opinions and recommendations on this forum topic, just incase this forum gets locked.

Thanks everyone

[RikDao]

re

 

It cost nothing to smile,gives joy to the receiver and happiness from the giver.Try going back to the west and walk down "main street" and see how many smiles you receive!

 

i was in camp coffee shop in maya last week playing with / learning my new tab s and i saw two girls of about 14 keep looking at me and talking about me from another table a few feet away

 

about 5 minits later one came over and said can you tell me what tablet that is please mister so i told her

 

she asked me a few questions about it and said can i show it to my friend i said yes and gave it to her

 

she went back to her friend and they played with it as all teens do swiping here and there with lots of laughs and giggles like schoolgirls and 5 minits later she bought it back with the biggest smile ive ever seen and lots of thank you mister thank you mister and said you like cats

 

so i said yes ... how they found my cat pics file iin that time ive no idea but it didnt matter coz theres nothing bad in my computers

 

my point .... two schoolgirls in the west would never talk to an old man like me but here its ok and seeing these two laughing and giggling while they played on my tablet made my day

 

dave2

 

Wow, nice post. Made me break out in a wide smile. My wife goes: What you smiling, Honey? You chat with girlfriend???

 

Haven't been to Singapore, but I know the main reason why I'm in Thailand: the people. And yeah, of course, by "people" I mean women! Lol. No-brainer there! 

 

Other reasons, too. 

 

 

 

 

[anto]

Penis envy and schoolgirls pictures.
 
Have I missed anything?

 
Yes ,you have missed the whole point of Dave 2 s nice story ;-)
 

[Pattszero]

Even Singaporeans don't like living in Singapore -  astronomical stress levels.  

 

vacation - woohoo, let's go - I love it.

 

Live there? no thanks.  

[mrtoad]

Even Singaporeans don't like living in Singapore -  astronomical stress levels.  
 
vacation - woohoo, let's go - I love it.
 
Live there? no thanks.  

Agreed its a great place for a 5-7 day vacation. The thing that I've noticed most that has changed in Singapore is that it is so much more crowded than it used to be 25 years ago.even going on the MRT used to be pretty relaxing, now people are crammed in. Not exactly sure how much more population there is now, but it isn't a big place, and it just seems more hemmed in.

[Pattszero]

 

Even Singaporeans don't like living in Singapore -  astronomical stress levels.  
 
vacation - woohoo, let's go - I love it.
 
Live there? no thanks.  

Agreed its a great place for a 5-7 day vacation. The thing that I've noticed most that has changed in Singapore is that it is so much more crowded than it used to be 25 years ago.even going on the MRT used to be pretty relaxing, now people are crammed in. Not exactly sure how much more population there is now, but it isn't a big place, and it just seems more hemmed in.

 

 

To me it's one of the greatest city breaks you could ever hope to do.  The Singapore Flyer at night,  the night-time view from the Marina Sands - the truly excellent national museum, Fort Canning (if you're a history buff in particular) the Battle Box, Old Ford factory - Friday night at the Singapore Turf club - Sentosa -

 

I could go on - magic place - as long as you don't have to live there.  

[Crazy chef 1]

 

visitors.

 
Then I vote Singapore.
 
Sick of hearing the "F" word twenty times a day.
 

do you mean <deleted> as if you would talking to an Australian or english bloke? oh can't be because than would it not be twenty times a day rather twenty times per sentence...

[mrtoad]

 

Even Singaporeans don't like living in Singapore -  astronomical stress levels.  
 
vacation - woohoo, let's go - I love it.
 
Live there? no thanks.  

Agreed its a great place for a 5-7 day vacation. The thing that I've noticed most that has changed in Singapore is that it is so much more crowded than it used to be 25 years ago.even going on the MRT used to be pretty relaxing, now people are crammed in. Not exactly sure how much more population there is now, but it isn't a big place, and it just seems more hemmed in.
 

 
To me it's one of the greatest city breaks you could ever hope to do.  The Singapore Flyer at night,  the night-time view from the Marina Sands - the truly excellent national museum, Fort Canning (if you're a history buff in particular) the Battle Box, Old Ford factory - Friday night at the Singapore Turf club - Sentosa -
 
I could go on - magic place - as long as you don't have to live there.  

Yep, and throw in Raffles, Cricket on The Padang, SCC , some if the excellent golf courses, and all the great places to eat food, especially Indian and Malay food. Sentosa, that place has changed over the years, remember it when there was hardly anything on the island, now a casino, hotels, sea world, etc etc

[Oceanbat]

 

Even Singaporeans don't like living in Singapore -  astronomical stress levels.  
 
vacation - woohoo, let's go - I love it.
 
Live there? no thanks.  

Agreed its a great place for a 5-7 day vacation. The thing that I've noticed most that has changed in Singapore is that it is so much more crowded than it used to be 25 years ago.even going on the MRT used to be pretty relaxing, now people are crammed in. Not exactly sure how much more population there is now, but it isn't a big place, and it just seems more hemmed in.
 

 
To me it's one of the greatest city breaks you could ever hope to do.  The Singapore Flyer at night,  the night-time view from the Marina Sands - the truly excellent national museum, Fort Canning (if you're a history buff in particular) the Battle Box, Old Ford factory - Friday night at the Singapore Turf club - Sentosa -
 
I could go on - magic place - as long as you don't have to live there.  

Yep, and throw in Raffles, Cricket on The Padang, SCC , some if the excellent golf courses, and all the great places to eat food, especially Indian and Malay food. Sentosa, that place has changed over the years, remember it when there was hardly anything on the island, now a casino, hotels, sea world, etc etc

I just lived there for quite a few years and just moved recently. The one massive difference and what I miss is the bureaucracy. MOM handles work permit and visa, all done online and usually takes no more than a week for approval. File your tax with a mouse click online and then pay it with another. There's no doubt it easier to manage a city state as opposed to a larger country, but damn they do manage it well.

OB


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[laolover88]

I miss Bugis Street,. Thank you Grandpa.

[thaibeachlovers]

If you have a disposable income of $20,000 a month then Singapore is a good place to base yourself. You can have the best of both worlds - live in a safe, organized, clean, non-corrupt, English speaking environment, and still go to Thailand each weekend to indulge in all your humanly sins cheaply. Money makes a happy person in Singapore, unfortunately.


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If you have the money- no contest for Singapore.

20 years ago I'd have said Thailand, but the smile has gone long ago. However, Thailand is Singapore for poor guys and the pretty girls compensate for a lot. 

[thaibeachlovers]

I miss Bugis Street,. Thank you Grandpa.

Oh yes. Spent many a happy night in Bugis St in the 70s. Zulu Warrior and the Dance of the Flaming A**holes on the toilet block roof- BRILLIANT.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Yup the casino was struggling when I was there two years ago and yes it is a nice place but the thing that changed my mind from living there was the snobby unfriendly people. I guess if you talking about the service sector (food shops, restaurants hotels.. Any place you pay for something) snowballs are friendly because they want your money but people outside the service sector were not friendly verses Thailand. Sure prostitution is legal and girls speak English but they more into themselves and when with them for more than a night they want to talk your ear off about the ethnic inequalities of the two main groups there. Nice place just boring people.

[thaibeachlovers]

 

If you have a disposable income of $20,000 a month then Singapore is a good place to base yourself. You can have the best of both worlds - live in a safe, organized, clean, non-corrupt, English speaking environment, and still go to Thailand each weekend to indulge in all your humanly sins cheaply. Money makes a happy person in Singapore, unfortunately.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

But they cane you for free!
 

 

Which is why Singapore isn't infested with ratbag hoodlums like my home country. Wish they'd introduce it back there.

I bet that American vandal isn't damaging cars anymore.

[thaibeachlovers]

Yup the casino was struggling when I was there two years ago and yes it is a nice place but the thing that changed my mind from living there was the snobby unfriendly people. I guess if you talking about the service sector (food shops, restaurants hotels.. Any place you pay for something) snowballs are friendly because they want your money but people outside the service sector were not friendly verses Thailand. Sure prostitution is legal and girls speak English but they more into themselves and when with them for more than a night they want to talk your ear off about the ethnic inequalities of the two main groups there. Nice place just boring people.

Girls were the same in the 70s, but I still absolutely loved the place.

[RikDao]

 

If you have a disposable income of $20,000 a month then Singapore is a good place to base yourself. You can have the best of both worlds - live in a safe, organized, clean, non-corrupt, English speaking environment, and still go to Thailand each weekend to indulge in all your humanly sins cheaply. Money makes a happy person in Singapore, unfortunately.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If you have the money- no contest for Singapore.

20 years ago I'd have said Thailand, but the smile has gone long ago. However, Thailand is Singapore for poor guys and the pretty girls compensate for a lot. 

 

 

"the smile has gone long ago?" Sadly from your face, perhaps, and that really is sad. I see 'em plenty, and I show 'em a lot, too. Connection, maybe?

[mesquite]

 

 

If you have a disposable income of $20,000 a month then Singapore is a good place to base yourself. You can have the best of both worlds - live in a safe, organized, clean, non-corrupt, English speaking environment, and still go to Thailand each weekend to indulge in all your humanly sins cheaply. Money makes a happy person in Singapore, unfortunately.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

But they cane you for free!
 

 

Which is why Singapore isn't infested with ratbag hoodlums like my home country. Wish they'd introduce it back there.

I bet that American vandal isn't damaging cars anymore.

 

 

Good idea.  Maybe they should do it in Thailand for things like no helmet, no license, visa overstay, infidelity, etc.  Stoning works, too.
 

[gerry1011]

What makes Thailand attractive to me is:

- The people.
- The organized chaos.
- The flexible rules.

These 3 are key to the kind of happiness I am looking for.

Singapore is far too "clean and organized" for me.

But no place is perfect, of course.

Hong Kong or Penang have yet another appeal than Thailand or Singapore.

This said, if Thailand gets one day regulated like Europe (or worse, the US), I may choose to move on.
I doubt this will happen during my lifetime though... :)

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[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

What makes Thailand attractive to me is:

- The people.
- The organized chaos.
- The flexible rules.

These 3 are key to the kind of happiness I am looking for.

Singapore is far too "clean and organized" for me.

But no place is perfect, of course.

Hong Kong or Penang have yet another appeal than Thailand or Singapore.

This said, if Thailand gets one day regulated like Europe (or worse, the US), I may choose to move on.
I doubt this will happen during my lifetime though... :)

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Short but sweet.

[GinBoy2]

I used to do a lot of work in Singapore. Nice place, clean (too clean maybe), extremely expensive to live, unlike here in Thailand, everything works as advertised and the workmen show up on time. It's a 'Can't Do' society, in other words assume any activity is illegal until specifically told it isn't!

 

That being said; it's sooooo boring after a while. The weather is exactly the same all years round, and remember it's a small island, island fever can certainly set in fast.

 

I always like the description of Singapore given by Chris Patton, the last British Governor of Hong Kong...."Disneyland with the Death Penalty" 

[FireMedic]

I live here in Bangkok, but my office is in Singapore. If and when I have a chance to leave Thailand and live in Singapore I will be outta here. 

[Naam]

Stay on topic please. My dick is bigger than your dick would be an assumption. My personals are none of your business. Nor is yours mine. For all you members that hate yourself and became a higher lifeforms then please don't join the discussion. If you want to compare dick and bankrolls then start your own forum.
Thank you.

the size of your dick is totally irrelevant. Singapore does not provide retirement visas, ergo... case closed.

[Time Traveller]

I live here in Bangkok, but my office is in Singapore. If and when I have a chance to leave Thailand and live in Singapore I will be outta here. 

Most people make their home near where they work. You put yours in a different country! Well good luck with your dream to reach Singapore, I hope you get there someday.

Oh wait it's Monday, you must be there for your work. Your chance has arrived, goodbye

[thaibeachlovers]

I used to do a lot of work in Singapore. Nice place, clean (too clean maybe), extremely expensive to live, unlike here in Thailand, everything works as advertised and the workmen show up on time. It's a 'Can't Do' society, in other words assume any activity is illegal until specifically told it isn't!

 

That being said; it's sooooo boring after a while. The weather is exactly the same all years round, and remember it's a small island, island fever can certainly set in fast.

 

I always like the description of Singapore given by Chris Patton, the last British Governor of Hong Kong...."Disneyland with the Death Penalty" 

<That being said; it's sooooo boring after a while>

I lived there for 2 years and was never bored- not even for one day. Saddest day of my life when I had to leave.

[Berkshire]

In some ways, I don't really get this thread.  If you're wealthy enough to retire (comfortably) in Singapore, then you're wealthy enough to retire pretty much anywhere in the world.  And if you could go anywhere, why on Earth would you go to Singapore?

[Albertosez]

In some ways, I don't really get this thread.  If you're wealthy enough to retire (comfortably) in Singapore, then you're wealthy enough to retire pretty much anywhere in the world.  And if you could go anywhere, why on Earth would you go to Singapore?

That could be a new thread altogether, but as you have mentioned it - " if you could afford to retire to any country " - which country would that be.... And why ?

[eppic]

I think a lot of you just don't get what it's like to live in Singapore.  I lived there 14 years (permanent residency card), but I will admit for the first few months I didn't really like it. I moved there from Manhattan, so I found the stress level to be actually a lot lower in Singapore, and over time I adjusted and began to love the place. In fact, when my company asked me to relocate back to the US (the midwest -- no thanks), I actually resigned to stay in Singapore and stayed there another 10 years. Only moved to BKK last year, and the jury is still out as to whether I will return to Singapore.

 

As for cost of living, there are really only a couple of things that make S'pore very expensive (1) cars; and (2) BUYING a home. IMO, renting is actually not that bad, my Singapore place on a prime Orchard Rd location wasn't that much more to rent than my similar place in Bangkok -- perhaps a 30-40% premium.  The condo buildings there are generally very well maintained, while in BKK they all look about 10 years old after two years thanks to poor construction and lousy maintenance. The only way I could find compararable quality in BKK was to rent and apartment that is attached to a hotel, therefore gets very well maintained (at a cost of higher rent).  Of course, this is for those that like urban life --- for those that like countryside there is really no comparison.

 

Other advantages to Singapore: 

• Women: They speak English, they dress sexy (no grandma panties, no VPL, and no lumpy shorts under dresses), and there is a real variety. I had countless flings/relationships with Indo Chinese, Malays, Singaporean Chinese, Filipinas, Indonesians, etc. etc. Many of this girls have GREAT bodies, something that I have personally found to be very rare in Thailand [note; skinny does not = great body by my definition].  If you don't like Singaporean women, you can always find plenty of choice there from countries, including Thais.  Personally, I have never dated a Thai girl or had much interest in them, but that's all up to taste. I can say for certain I was never lonely in Singapore, and I am no Brad Pitt.
• Food: food courts everywhere, clean with great variety. Better western food than Thailand...not even really close.
• Streets/Sidewalks: Don't need to worry about stepping in hole and breaking your ankle, don't have foul sewer stench and cracked/missing sidewalks. Don't have traffic jams that take 2 hours to go a coupe of km.
• Great nightlife variety. Everything from Clarke Quay bars to very upscale clubs to endless English pubs.
• Better quality of expats. No contest here. Yes, S'pore has a section of dregs, but far far fewer than the huge numbers around Thailand. The world's losers and sexpats can't just up and move to S'pore on a whim.
• Fantastic airport, so very very easy to escape to neighboring countries for short trips
• Taxi drivers that are honest, reliable, and can easily be called. More expensive than Thailand, but infinitely better experience.
• However, over the years I was there, congestion increased and Singapore started becoming more like Hong Kong -- a big negative in my opinion

 

Advantages of Bangkok:

• No "island fever" -- don't feel as though trapped. Plenty of interesting places within the country, although flying elsewhere is easier from Singapore.
• Owning/renting a car is much more practical, despite the BKK traffic jams. I keep one just for part time use given the low cost.
• Many more places to travel to overland (S'pore has only Malaysia, which I do not care for)
• Housing costs are lower, especially for buying (not a factor for me, I would never buy here)
• Generally more friendly, smiling people (but still plenty with very bad manners)
• Life on average is just more interesting.  In many ways, Singapore is TOO easy...which leads to complacency.

So, I would say I have very mixed feelings, but those that bash Singapore don't really get it. I had the wildest, craziest times of my life there, and that includes my 10+ years working n NYC...but obviously, the best comparison to Singapore is really Bangkok, not Thailand as a whole, since Singapore is far too small to offer the variety available here.  I moved here mostly because I felt I had stayed in Singapore too long, and felt a bit of boredom an complacency settling in, especially since I am now married...if I was still chasing skirts, for certain I would go back to Singapore, but we still often go there for a weekend of fun.  Coming up on nine months in Thailand, and so far still undecided about whether we will stay here or move on. I guess if you really want to "retire' (as in, sit around and do nothing), then Thailand is the no-brainer winner....but if you are very active, it's not so clear.

 

Anyway, just a different perspective for the Singapore haters...there are many many expats that LOVE it there (yes, they typically have money, but being "rich" is not required -- middle income by US/UK standards would be enough to do just fine).

Edited July 28, 2014 by eppic

[thaibeachlovers]

In some ways, I don't really get this thread.  If you're wealthy enough to retire (comfortably) in Singapore, then you're wealthy enough to retire pretty much anywhere in the world.  And if you could go anywhere, why on Earth would you go to Singapore?

If you have to ask, you don't really know Singapore.

I'd retire there in a flash if I could.

[thaibeachlovers]

 #57 <Many of this girls have GREAT bodies, something that I have personally found to be very rare in Thailand>

Either you haven't looked very hard, or you've never been up north.

[Berkshire]

 

In some ways, I don't really get this thread.  If you're wealthy enough to retire (comfortably) in Singapore, then you're wealthy enough to retire pretty much anywhere in the world.  And if you could go anywhere, why on Earth would you go to Singapore?

That could be a new thread altogether, but as you have mentioned it - " if you could afford to retire to any country " - which country would that be.... And why ?

 

 

Thailand, for many reasons, all of which have been covered ad nauseam.  Of course, many of the haters may disagree.