If you were to move out of Thailand, where would you go?

[anon676545345]

I'm going to try Ho Chi Mihn in Vietnam I've been for a couple of short trips it's an interesting city, clean and nice coffee shops.

[Sortapundit]

Probably Mongolia. The weather is awful for 9 months of the year (-40 degree winters) and Ulaanbaatar is one of the most polluted cities on the planet, but I have lots of friends there.

Other than that, I spent a little time in Prague recently and found it lovely. Lots of cheerful expats, friendly locals and a low cost of living, with easy access to western Europe.

[KhnomKhnom]

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

[kennypowers]

I'd go home. New Zealand. it's a great country that offers a great way of life. I'm thinking about leaving Thailand anyway. The Thai charm has largely worn off me, although there are still many things I love about the country. Having said that, perhaps this coup could finally bring about much needed change and renew my passion for the country.

I would also consider certain parts of the USA, Central & South America, and the UK.

I'm not one of these people who whinges about how crap this place or the other is. Life is generally what you make of it, and in my experience it's usually losers who complain the loudest.

I feel sort of same same but different.

It's the coup (junta rule) and the general back-peddling toward even deeper elitist-feudal-non-democratic rule that makes me think twice about staying.

[ATF]

Azores. Good climate year round, stunning scenery and clean. Good food too!

Would be best to do 6 month Thailand (Oct-March) and 6 month Azores (Apr-Sept).

Have you ever been there? May as well go to the Falklands.

[Jingthing]

I've become more interested in Colombia. Specifically Medellin. But there are downsides ... recently they made the visas harder, it is getting more expensive because Colombia is growing well economically, you have no choice but to learn Spanish, and they don't like spicy food ...

Plan to keep an eye on how their visa changes shake out ... they just happened this year.

If I did leave Thailand, I would likely go back to the USA though. Not interested in moving to any other Asian country than Thailand anymore.

[sanuk711]

I'm staying and watching the entire economic melt down of Thailand, when the Thai's find out that they just can not do without

the Visa Dodgers, who pour so much wealth into the country, but cant afford to invest a little of it & stay here......shouldn't be long now.....any day

.

Can we start another Thread--- What will Thai Visa be like when they have gone---- Prediction 1/ First stage --send lots of mail telling everyone how great it is back in the west & how very happy they are that they have gone back, with lots more predictions of how Thailand will completely sink now that they are no longer here to hold it afloat--yes its just wonderful walking around looking at the 44 inch bottoms on the women, & being invisible to the others ---Second Stage Return--its time to change my name on Thai Visa..........................................................

.

** Oh yes where would I relocate to---Pitcairn islands... I was there in the 60s dropping some boffins off who had to monitor the French Nuk tests....its 45 Klm of nothingness ,67 people- its where the Bounty crew ended up....everyone is name Fletcher & they have all interbred........& guess who I want to take with me, there will be free Visa's for everyone....that should entice them.

.

My rant for the day is now officially over....

Edited August 7, 2014 by sanuk711

[IAMSOBAD]

I would go where I am appreciated...welcomed... treated with dignity...respected and not called an alien. Where I would not be required to CHECK IN every 90 days like a criminal and where my rights were equal to others. Maybe Cuba or N. Korea would be better.

These are big IFS.

[jaywalker]

I lived in Thailand for 8 years, and yeah, it finally got to me.

I'm looking into moving to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, as they speak English & I can get a passport from there after buying a house.

Then again, I've been a bit of a gypsy since 1998. I'm back in the USA now (southern, rural Georgia). Bit of a culture shock really, but at least I speak Southern (born in Florida).

I got pulled over at 11:15 PM the other night. I was driving my flip-flops (walking), under a street lamp, next to the Montgomery county courthouse, right next door to the Sheriff's Department main office, and some fat lard-ass redneck cop asked (TOLD) me in a very Gestapo-like manner "Show me your papers".

I'd had a few beers, so decided to walk to the store to grab some beer & ciggies.

Pissed him off because I asked him "WHY?" He said I looked suspicious. He ran my ID and it came back "No Wants, No Warrants". He looked like some 9 year old kid that just found out there's no such thing as Santa Claus.

I've spent the night in 45 countries & speak passable Spanish.

One of the primary beefs I have with Asia is the mindset of overcrowding. Taiwan (mentioned previously) is SUPER over crowded & I hate Chinese food.

I loved Mexico. Puerta Vallarta & San Felipe are beach towns. It was 2000, and I passed out drunk on the seawall in San Felipe & woke to a nice sunrise. Not the smartest thing I've ever done, but, it happened & I was OK.

Argentina would be nice. I spent 3 weeks in Buenos Aires in 2001, and a week in Bahia Blanca.

Panama & Costa Rica would be other places to consider, but traffic is mayhem (much like Thailand).

[Sarana]

Yes, Australia is a fabulous destination if you can afford it, have a job, a working spouse or five friends to share with otherwise forget retirement unless you can afford to buy your own home.

[Kerryd]

Should I have to move for some reason in the future, I'd probably consider Myanmar first (before the rush of "speculators" ruins the place like they're doing in Cambodia, and have already done in Costa Rica and Belize (Costa Rica was already over-priced when I first looked at it 20 years ago).

I've heard nice things about Nicaragua and Panama, but if I'm hearing them now it means what I'm hearing is probably already 5-10 years out of date. I had looked at the Philippines, Peru, Uruguay/Paraguay/Bolivia 20 years ago as well (before eventually deciding that Thailand was the better overall option back then). I'd seriously avoid anywhere in the M.E. or Africa as they are just powder kegs ready to explode, and my ruggedly handsome Caucasian features would make an ideal target in most of those places (and that is coming from someone who has lived/worked in the M.E. for the last 11 years).

The "home" country is still far too cold most of the year, and the every rising cost of living isn't going to get any better as my age increases ! Not too mention that the ways things are going, soon I won't have any rights at all back there (but at least all the hard-core criminals will be allowed to do whatever they want, while the "lesser" ones get to live off my tax dollars). The more I read the news and politics from back home, the happier I am that I don't live there anymore.

I'd actually consider Nepal as well. Parts of it are quite temperate, cost of living is cheap (but so is the value of life, and their infrastructure is somewhat........lacking). Getting better though. The mechanic I used to have working for me bought a hunk of dirt in Kathmandu and built/furnished a new house while supporting his family (including 2 teenagers who need all the latest electronic gadgets of course), and did all that over the course of 3 years earning about $1,200 USD a month.

It would be a major PITA to have to relocate anywhere (again) so I'm really hoping things here stay settled (for at least the next 30-40 years or so) !

[hanssna]

Surely to Indonesia, preferably Bali and east Java. People more friendly than Thais, good sense of humour, pretty good food and pretty lovely ladies, better diving then here in Thailand, a pure asian style, nice roads to drive around ( although a bit too much traffic here and there, but the north and central Bali still ok) , reasonable western food options, exept a bit of a hard and expensive place to get residence, but I have quite a few friends there who managed this, just have to pay the kita's every year, but worth it. if I would be kicked out of Thailand, would surely go back there again !

[sgtsabai]

Cambodia, Philippines, Malasia, Vietnam. Not to sure about VN, been there once, wasn't much fun and nobody liked us. I like Asia and the women. Hong Kong much too expensive, wasn't in 1967. Some places in South America come to mind, but not sure about the prices to live. I'm not a 2 week millionaire anymore, full time ex-pat. It'll be a cold day in hell before I return to the Corporate Police State of Amerika.

[Smurkster]

Laos, South Korea or Canada

[thejcb]

Just go back home, that is where you belong, it's where you come from.

Sod anywhere in the Far East, East is East and West is West etc.

Get out of it and go home

[softail]

After nine years in Thailand, I moved to Hong Kong.

A new life...no thainess, friendly educated people and not so many sad farangs !

Voila !!!!

[Tony125]

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

Really? The OP asked a viable good question, Thailand the greatest place on Earth--guess you don't get around much. If I left Thailand Uruguay, Panama or Costa Rica might be good alternatives in the Americas. Several Internation Living sites (can Google them) have info on those and other countries, low cost of living and easy visa requirements and good living conditions. In Asia I would consider Viet-nam or Mynamar as Cambodia, Laos a little too 3rd world for me although cheap. If you have sufficient funds Singapore or Malaysia modern conviences, great infrastucture .Just my opinion and personal choices.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Tony125

[Smurkster]

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

Really? The OP asked a viable good question, Thailand the greatest place on Earth--guess you don't get around much. If I left Thailand Uruguay, Panama or Costa Rica might be good alternatives in the Americas. Several Internation Living sites (can Google them) have info on those and other countries, low cost of living and easy visa requirements and good living conditions. In Asia I would consider Viet-nam or Mynamar as Cambodia, Laos a little too 3rd world for me although cheap. If you have sufficient funds Singapore or Malaysia modern conviences, great infrastucture .Just my opinion and personal choices.

how is Laos too third world but Cambodia and Myanmar are viable options....I always thought they were even more third world from my experiences

[Rorri]

KhnomKhnom, on 07 Aug 2014 - 18:22, said:

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

Best place in the world...I do believe you have a problem. I guess you have visited EVERY country, or do you just make stupid comments that you can't back up.

[Smurkster]

Azores. Good climate year round, stunning scenery and clean. Good food too!

Would be best to do 6 month Thailand (Oct-March) and 6 month Azores (Apr-Sept).

A lot of people where I come from (Rhode Island) are from the Azores, we even have a direct flight from the Providence Airport to the main Island, I have been interested in going for some time now, but I don't know much about it except the weather is beautiful and i love PORTUGUESE FOOD!

[Smurkster]

KhnomKhnom, on 07 Aug 2014 - 18:22, said:

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

Best place in the world...I do believe you have a problem. I guess you have visited EVERY country, or do you just make stupid comments that you can't back up.

Romanticized version of Thailand, or else he is just one of the lucky one's who truly enjoys this place, honest good luck to him if he can maintain that feeling

[Albertosez]

The N.Z climate and the fact that it is an English speaking country sounds attractive - but not sure about the costs involved. Philippines is also an option. I hope to be able to do another 5 years in Thailand, but that is far from nailed on with the " anti- Farangs " feeling.

What will be will be.

[nervona1732]

gr8fldanille, You hit it right on the button. You have been doing your home work. KUDOS to you. You were absolutely right with your info. That country is the place to go. I,m right on the cusp of doing that myself. Wanted to make Thailand my home 4 ever and ever. Just is not working. Been here 4 5 years now and it is starting to rub me the wrong way. No matter what we falangs do or how much we do we will always be 2nd class 3rd class citizens. Back to America is OUT OUT OUT, My heart places a bet on URAGUAY YEA. See You there. Namast'e

[Smurkster]

.

One of the things long-term expatriation here teaches you is that it isn't so bad in the West, you get a lot more perspective on things.

AMEN

[Smurkster]

gr8fldanille, You hit it right on the button. You have been doing your home work. KUDOS to you. You were absolutely right with your info. That country is the place to go. I,m right on the cusp of doing that myself. Wanted to make Thailand my home 4 ever and ever. Just is not working. Been here 4 5 years now and it is starting to rub me the wrong way. No matter what we falangs do or how much we do we will always be 2nd class 3rd class citizens. Back to America is OUT OUT OUT, My heart places a bet on URAGUAY YEA. See You there. Namast'e

you have been here 45 years or do you mean about 4 or 5 years, if it was the former, damn that is a loooong time

[jaywalker]

Yes, Australia is a fabulous destination if you can afford it, have a job, a working spouse or five friends to share with otherwise forget retirement unless you can afford to buy your own home.

Yes. I spent a couple weeks in Darwin once & really liked it. I only had one day in Sydney, but it seemed nice enough.

I've heard nice things about Perth, though I've never been there.

I'm not much on big cities....Can't stand BKK nor Atlanta for that matter. I was in Atlanta last weekend. If I never go back it will be too soon!

Also, I've GOT to be someplace TROPICAL. It's flippin' August here & gets down to 68F (20C) at night, then shoots up to 98F (37C) during the day. Also rural Georgia has the most annoying bugs (knats) of anywhere I've been.......Well the flies in the Kuwaiti desert in the winters are exceptionally annoying as well....

Then again, as I mentioned above, the Police State is alive and well in most every "Developed" nation, which is something I prefer to avoid.

Big Brother is WATCHING You!

Show me your papers!

If you see something, say something!

That last line is remeniscent of what I've read about Saudi Arabia & East Germany, where neighbors were urged to spy on each other.

I would urge the original poster of this question to do a Google search for "Sovreign Man Simon Black" and sign up for his newsletter.

Edited August 7, 2014 by jaywalker

[ggt]

I would go to hell...that would be any country in the Middle East...no booze...women covered from head to toe...instant conversion to Islam...all the goat you can eat and sheep you can...bleep!

[Tony125]

This is so funny. Typists who live in the best place on Earth, Thailand, speculating about going to communist countries, cesspool nations, foreigner-hating countries, and more expensive places.

Thanks for the laughs.

P.S., please move out soon, bye!

Really? The OP asked a viable good question, Thailand the greatest place on Earth--guess you don't get around much. If I left Thailand Uruguay, Panama or Costa Rica might be good alternatives in the Americas. Several Internation Living sites (can Google them) have info on those and other countries, low cost of living and easy visa requirements and good living conditions. In Asia I would consider Viet-nam or Mynamar as Cambodia, Laos a little too 3rd world for me although cheap. If you have sufficient funds Singapore or Malaysia modern conviences, great infrastucture .Just my opinion and personal choices.

how is Laos too third world but Cambodia and Myanmar are viable options....I always thought they were even more third world from my experiences

"Smurkster" Re-read my post , I said I would consider Viet-nam or Myanmar the reason is Viet-nam has realations with USA and thier econmy is immproving rapdily. Same with Burma (Myanmar) since embrcaing Democracy resently ( Aung San Suu Kyi thier former jailed Pres is now today poised to run for Pres in new elections) has had sanctions dropped and econmy is poised to boom. China and India are planing on building a road from China thru Burma into India and on to Europe wich will really open up oportunities and economy in the region so I could see it as a good place for rapidly rising cities like thier new capital currently sparsley settled but due to boom.

[Smurkster]

Anyone who believes they are avoiding living in a police state by living in Thailand are dreadfully ill informed....how much more of a police state can you get then getting arrested for reading in public, I mean isn't that the quinessential "Police State"???...not sure if those are the rules anymore, but anyone yapping about how much a police state the UK or US has become, just remember, no one ever has been arrested or prosecuted in either of these countries for freely speaking about government officials or reading books in public!

In many ways, European countries and America enjoy A WHOLE LOT greater freedom than Thailand, and I never really understand exactly what people are getting at when they claim encroachment of civil liberties by the government, after all we haved faced and continue to face a serious threat from Islamic fundamentalism and if listening to phone calls is going to play some effort in preventing another tragedy from happening, I say go for...it.

As I said, at least at the end of the day, I can walk down the street in London or Washington DC, saying whatever I feel like about Her Majesty or Mr Obama, without worrying about any sort of criminal consequences.....

And when you see an army general breaking broadcasts on friday to give an "update" to the country, I don't know how you can get anymore BIG BROTHER than that

Edited August 7, 2014 by Smurkster

[jaywalker]

I would go to hell...that would be any country in the Middle East...no booze...women covered from head to toe...instant conversion to Islam...all the goat you can eat and sheep you can...bleep!

I drank more booze in Kuwait than you could shake a stick at.

I had my wife & daughter with me, so it was cool. I DID, however, hire a full time driver/bodyguard for my wife so she could go shopping while I was at work.

I actually miss Arabic food. Never ate any goat, but the lamb & chicken were pretty damned good with some moutabal & fresh pita bread!

Oh Yeah, Kuwait & Saudi are the only countries I know of where booze is illegal.

I've been to:

Kuwait

UAE

Qatar

Yemen

Oman

Egypt

Jordan

Iraq

Afghanistan

Bahrain

Never been to Saudi, but I hear it's dry.

All the others, well, they have bars you can belly up to.

Edited August 7, 2014 by jaywalker