Who of the Phuket regulars are leaving?

[phuketrichard]

i'd like to know where he got a great 2 story apt for 10,000 baht .($290 or so)  assume somewhere in shv.

got one friend lives above the port in shitty area,  sea views, 3 story, semi furnished for $350/

[madmax2]

People who cannot afford the visa requirements( money in bank) or to run their own businesses are coming and going all the time, anyone can get a visa if they really want to but it costs

[NamKangMan]

24 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

People who cannot afford the visa requirements( money in bank) or to run their own businesses are coming and going all the time, anyone can get a visa if they really want to but it costs

 

I can meet all the required financials for a long term visa, but I am under 50 years of age.  That only leaves the Elite Visa for me, and whilst I can afford one, I refuse to be pushed onto it, especially given how unstable Thailand is.

 

My point being, for many, it's not about the money requirements, it's about the 50 years of age limitation. 

 

If I am ever refused entry, it's not a big deal for me.  I have things in place for that day.  Plenty of other great places in South East Asia that will gladly accept me and my money. 

 

Thailand has already pushed quite a few of these people out.  Eg. offshore oil workers and miners.  I guess it was too hard for the Thai authorities to understand the "1 month on - 1 month off" employment contracts.  Some of these people may have posted here, but not anymore. 

Edited February 13, 2017 by NamKangMan

[Bulldozer Dawn]

22 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

i'd like to know where he got a great 2 story apt for 10,000 baht .($290 or so)  assume somewhere in shv.

got one friend lives above the port in shitty area,  sea views, 3 story, semi furnished for $350/

His place is in shv.  I am not sure of the exact location but I can find out for you.  I have only had a tour of it via a skype conference.  Lovely white tiling throughout and brand new build.  During the conference I could see the ocean from his balcony.  Good kitchen, big flat screen, free wifi.  He told me the wifi was fast, but he wasn't there long enough to get a feel for how reliable it was....ie black outs and brownouts.

 

Place was unfurnished save for the flat screen.

Edited February 13, 2017 by Bulldozer Dawn

[madmax2]

I have talked to a few fly in fly out workers who had made Phuket their base and the reason they are all leaving is lack of regular work, nothing else 

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, madmax2 said:

I have talked to a few fly in fly out workers who had made Phuket their base and the reason they are all leaving is lack of regular work, nothing else 

 

I personally know three guys who have kept their permanent employment during the downturn, with two of them now doing their one month in Vietnam, and the another guy goes to Sihanoukville. 

 

They used to all do their one month off here.

 

Then, there were guys that I would see around occasionally that I do not see anymore, so yes, it's possible they may have has some employment issues. 

Edited February 13, 2017 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

4 hours ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

His place is in shv.  I am not sure of the exact location but I can find out for you.  I have only had a tour of it via a skype conference.  Lovely white tiling throughout and brand new build.  During the conference I could see the ocean from his balcony.  Good kitchen, big flat screen, free wifi.  He told me the wifi was fast, but he wasn't there long enough to get a feel for how reliable it was....ie black outs and brownouts.

 

Place was unfurnished save for the flat screen.

 

A little over a year ago I did a visa run to PP and thought I would head down to SHV and check in on the place.

 

In my opinion, it was nowhere near as seedy as it used to be.  There were large hotels being built everywhere.  There were several casinos already established.  There was a large area on the main beach road that had Thai style beer bars with hookers.  There were different restaurants offering a particular country's cuisine.  Eg.  Italian, Greek, Mexican etc.  There were a lot of backpackers around, but at $1USD a beer, even they could afford to party.  Drugs were readily available and being consumed down on the beach, with one backpacker showing me a decent size bag of grass that he said he bought for $5USD.  The roads were terrible and the airport was not international, although I was told the runway was long enough and they were looking at opening it up to international flights in the future.  Victory Hill was still very seedy.  Internet was very fast and stable.  There were a lot of blackouts.  There was some bag snatching from drunk backpackers going on at the time.

 

I also noticed a lot of apartments and houses being built, and I guess your friend is in one of them.

 

There was no decent hospital there, and that would be a deal breaker for many expats, but I was told an international hospital was being built with foreign aid money.

 

I asked some expat business owners about "tea money" and they said they don't pay it. They could open and close when they wanted to. I asked about "shake downs" for music license etc etc etc etc.  Basically, all the BS to owning a business here, did not exist there.  I remember coming away from the place thinking SHV makes Phuket look like a Nanny State.  Of course, the BiB here don't care, but are just constantly looking to extort a foreigner. 

 

A huge difference was Cambodia offer a 1 year multi-entry business visa for $300USD which lets you do any work you like, including serving customers in your own bar.  I remember how strange it felt to be able to order a beer from a foreigner, and to be served by a foreigner. 

 

SHV was very cheap, and I suppose that includes the property market.  I spoke to one expat that mentioned there were going to be some changes to foreign ownership of property laws in Cambodia, but did not explore this with him.  Perhaps you can ask of your friend. 

[Bulldozer Dawn]

My friend already has the one year visa in place.  He got it when he did the reccy before Christmas (along with the lease on the new apartment)  But it cost less than 300 USD all up, including using an agent.  About 280 USD?  His long term girlfriend can now also stay with him (she is over the moon about relocating to Cambo).  Because of her nationality, visa options for her also dried up in Thailand.  She now also has the 12 month visa in Cambo, and from an email this morning, she is out and about today looking for a job.

 

His girlfriend loves to cook (like me) and we often went to the fresh markets here together to buy seafood, fresh vegies and such.  She has told me the prawns and crabs in the fresh markets there are significantly cheaper than here.  One example, larger prawns that sell here now for circa 300thb a kg (and up) are around the equivalent of 180thb a kg.  Crabs are about half the price they are in Thailand.  I am waiting for a report from her regarding premium fresh fish such as Spanish mackerel etc.

 

My friend is smoker.  He told me cigarettes are just $1 a pack in Cambo.  Which I assume is much cheaper than here in Thailand? (I don't smoke).

 

I have nothing to report on the bar girl side of things because I don't rent girls and neither does my friend who has just relocated.

 

I have read here on the forums reports of pay for play being much cheaper in Camdodia.  Anyone care to confirm that?

Edited February 14, 2017 by Bulldozer Dawn

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Phuket Richard.  I just also remembered something that is perhaps worth mentioning.  My friend previously did a reccy to Cambo some 3 years back...but did not elect to relocate back then...mostly because the visa options here in Thailand were still workable.

 

A few days ago he did tell me that since then and now, in his opinion, it appears that the rental prices for properties have come down a fair bit.

 

He also told me that travelling on the road from PP to SHV still sucks big time...

[Bulldozer Dawn]

NKM

 

My friend has no interest in buying property in Cambodia.  We are good friends because he shares the same values as me.  He has money, but lives a simple lifestyle that is entirely portable to another country if he chooses.  With his net worth and salary he could afford to rent the best place on offer in Thailand or Cambodia.  But like me, he chooses places that are comfortable, clean, secure and with reasonable rent.

 

There is a lot of merit in maintaining a low profile as an expat in South East Asia.

Edited February 14, 2017 by Bulldozer Dawn

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Oh...and with the 12 month Cambo visa there are no 90 day reports, or re-entry permit BS.

 

And the Cambo Government has just done away with the requirement for a license to ride a motorbike under 150cc.  I am waiting for my friends update regarding that.

[phuketrichard]

fyi;

 

I have ( in GF name) land and  a house in Kep and we  own land in Svay Rieng that produces rice
BOTH of us prefer to live here in Phuket and for most things ( we dont drink or smoke) 90% of everything w buy is cheaper here.

 

I personally cant stand SHV , good friend lives there and hates it,only there cause he charters his sailboat out of there.

 

IF u have a BUSINESS extension u NEED a wp (not a big deal total cost about $150) u can get  a retirement extension if u dont want to work.

There are more deaths and suicides in SHV from drugs and drinking them most places in Thailand as it attracts lots of bottom feeders

just cause its cheap to drink and plenty of $100-150 places to stay  u would not catch me living in one of them)

 

Living in Cambodia u are constantly reminded how poor everyone is and how much that affects society, beggars everywhere and lots of meth heads an petty stealing It is NOT safe to walk or ride a bike out late at night in shv

 

Dont know here u heard that no one pays tea money or bribes as i know bar owners, hotel owners, sailboat charter and all end up paying extras a few times/year. High season is very short and money is tight

 

Happy traveling

 

P4P is about the same as all the guys from Pattaya do their via runs there so the girls are clued into costs  ST $20-40,all night $$30-UP<

There are chicken farms in shv where u can get laid for $10 thou

Medical care... forget it ,even dental( i had 2 teeth removed in shv 2 years ago ) was more than i pay here in Phuket

I lived in PP 2008-2009 and go back with my thai registered car 1,2 times /year as gf is Khmer.

 

For now i am more than happy here. Kep is my bolt  hole but its a huge step back from Phuket for just about everything
 

Quote

for a license to ride a motorbike under 150cc.  I am waiting for my friends update regarding that.

 

125cc 
but try and tell that to a cop when they stop u if ur white,  ur still going to pay $1-5 LOL

Edited February 14, 2017 by phuketrichard

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Thanks for you information Richard.

 

What the hell is a chicken farm?

[phuketrichard]

1 minute ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

Thanks for you information Richard.

 

What the hell is a chicken farm?

u serious???? LOL:
think OLD time mamasan baan homes in thailand  :-)

[Bulldozer Dawn]

So for the total cost of $280 for ordinary visa plus $150 for work permit you are good to go for 12 months with no 90 day reporting, no reporting if you move location, and no requirement for a re-entry permit if you want to fly in and out.

 

Is that correct.

 

Sounds like heaven compared to the costs and paper work required here.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

10 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

u serious???? LOL:
think OLD time mamasan baan homes in thailand  :-)

I refer to those as fish tanks.  Like the business along soi 11 in Phuket town.  Honesty, I have never heard the term chicken farm.  I don't have any older expat American friends though, just a couple of younger ones.

[Bulldozer Dawn]

What is a house in Kep worth?

[phuketrichard]

fish tanks are more massage parlors

House cost less than it cost to build my house in Kamala  55555

gf sister brought a small house 4kms outside kep on main road on  125 sq m of land for $20,000 2 years ago and the plot next door ( same size) without house was only $15,000

[Bulldozer Dawn]

12 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

fish tanks are more massage parlors

House cost less than it cost to build my house in Kamala  55555

gf sister brought a small house 4kms outside kep on main road on  125 sq m of land for $20,000 2 years ago and the plot next door ( same size) without house was only $15,000

Real title deed, or is it a Sor Bor Kor kinda deal?

[NamKangMan]

3 hours ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

My friend already has the one year visa in place.  He got it when he did the reccy before Christmas (along with the lease on the new apartment)  But it cost less than 300 USD all up, including using an agent.  About 280 USD?  His long term girlfriend can now also stay with him (she is over the moon about relocating to Cambo).  Because of her nationality, visa options for her also dried up in Thailand.  She now also has the 12 month visa in Cambo, and from an email this morning, she is out and about today looking for a job.

 

His girlfriend loves to cook (like me) and we often went to the fresh markets here together to buy seafood, fresh vegies and such.  She has told me the prawns and crabs in the fresh markets there are significantly cheaper than here.  One example, larger prawns that sell here now for circa 300thb a kg (and up) are around the equivalent of 180thb a kg.  Crabs are about half the price they are in Thailand.  I am waiting for a report from her regarding premium fresh fish such as Spanish mackerel etc.

 

My friend is smoker.  He told me cigarettes are just $1 a pack in Cambo.  Which I assume is much cheaper than here in Thailand? (I don't smoke).

 

I have nothing to report on the bar girl side of things because I don't rent girls and neither does my friend who has just relocated.

 

I have read here on the forums reports of pay for play being much cheaper in Camdodia.  Anyone care to confirm that?

 

 

"He told me cigarettes are just $1 a pack in Cambo." - I don't smoke either, but this would explain why I saw complementary cigarettes in most bars.  They had them in a bill "bin" and they were free for the customers to smoke, so long as they were in the bar drinking.

 

The girls were $20USD to $25USD for long time when I was there.

 

With a 1 year multi-entry business visa for around $300USD, that allows you to perform any work you like, and extend within the country after the 1 year, Cambodia has to be the most visa friendly country for foreigners in the region. 

[NamKangMan]

3 hours ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

NKM

 

My friend has no interest in buying property in Cambodia.  We are good friends because he shares the same values as me.  He has money, but lives a simple lifestyle that is entirely portable to another country if he chooses.  With his net worth and salary he could afford to rent the best place on offer in Thailand or Cambodia.  But like me, he chooses places that are comfortable, clean, secure and with reasonable rent.

 

There is a lot of merit in maintaining a low profile as an expat in South East Asia.

 

 

"There is a lot of merit in maintaining a low profile as an expat in South East Asia." - but if you keep a low profile other expats will think you are poor.  

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

fyi;

 

I have ( in GF name) land and  a house in Kep and we  own land in Svay Rieng that produces rice
BOTH of us prefer to live here in Phuket and for most things ( we dont drink or smoke) 90% of everything w buy is cheaper here.

 

I personally cant stand SHV , good friend lives there and hates it,only there cause he charters his sailboat out of there.

 

IF u have a BUSINESS extension u NEED a wp (not a big deal total cost about $150) u can get  a retirement extension if u dont want to work.

There are more deaths and suicides in SHV from drugs and drinking them most places in Thailand as it attracts lots of bottom feeders

just cause its cheap to drink and plenty of $100-150 places to stay  u would not catch me living in one of them)

 

Living in Cambodia u are constantly reminded how poor everyone is and how much that affects society, beggars everywhere and lots of meth heads an petty stealing It is NOT safe to walk or ride a bike out late at night in shv

 

Dont know here u heard that no one pays tea money or bribes as i know bar owners, hotel owners, sailboat charter and all end up paying extras a few times/year. High season is very short and money is tight

 

Happy traveling

 

P4P is about the same as all the guys from Pattaya do their via runs there so the girls are clued into costs  ST $20-40,all night $$30-UP<

There are chicken farms in shv where u can get laid for $10 thou

Medical care... forget it ,even dental( i had 2 teeth removed in shv 2 years ago ) was more than i pay here in Phuket

I lived in PP 2008-2009 and go back with my thai registered car 1,2 times /year as gf is Khmer.

 

For now i am more than happy here. Kep is my bolt  hole but its a huge step back from Phuket for just about everything
 

125cc 
but try and tell that to a cop when they stop u if ur white,  ur still going to pay $1-5 LOL

 

 

The bar and restaurant owners I spoke to told  me they did not make regular monthly payments to police.

 

You are correct with the traffic police bribes.  I was told it was not uncommon to be pulled over at a check point and told you did something wrong, or something is wrong with your bike, and asked for money, but as you say, it's negligible.

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, Bulldozer Dawn said:

So for the total cost of $280 for ordinary visa plus $150 for work permit you are good to go for 12 months with no 90 day reporting, no reporting if you move location, and no requirement for a re-entry permit if you want to fly in and out.

 

Is that correct.

 

Sounds like heaven compared to the costs and paper work required here.

 

 

Don't forget, that business visa and work permit allows you to work in your own bar.  Yes, I know it's unbelievable, but it's true. 

[phuketrichard]

when ur bar is only making enough to pay the rent and electric its good as u cant afford staff so u  have to work  10 hours/day 7 days a week... or u cant find staff u can trust

no thanks

Cambodia has hard title and soft title

sorta like the dif between a nor sor sam and a chanote

my/her land in Kep and svay rieng is hard title, makes it harder for the rich guys to just take it although in Cambodia if u own land and someone connected wants it, its gone...has happened to a few people i know.
 

Quote

 

The girls were $20USD to $25USD for long time when I was there.

 

not out of a Hostess bar they weren't LOL 

Edited February 14, 2017 by phuketrichard

[Bulldozer Dawn]

19 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

when ur bar is only making enough to pay the rent and electric its good as u cant afford staff so u  have to work  10 hours/day 7 days a week... or u cant find staff u can trust

no thanks

Cambodia has hard title and soft title

sorta like the dif between a nor sor sam and a chanote

my/her land in Kep and svay rieng is hard title, makes it harder for the rich guys to just take it although in Cambodia if u own land and someone connected wants it, its gone...has happened to a few people i know.
 

not out of a Hostess bar they weren't LOL 

 

if u own land and someone connected wants it, its gone..

 

No different to Phuket then.

[NamKangMan]

On 14/02/2017 at 9:53 PM, phuketrichard said:

when ur bar is only making enough to pay the rent and electric its good as u cant afford staff so u  have to work  10 hours/day 7 days a week... or u cant find staff u can trust

no thanks

Cambodia has hard title and soft title

sorta like the dif between a nor sor sam and a chanote

my/her land in Kep and svay rieng is hard title, makes it harder for the rich guys to just take it although in Cambodia if u own land and someone connected wants it, its gone...has happened to a few people i know.
 

not out of a Hostess bar they weren't LOL 

 

 

Quoted price to me from a freelancer out of one of the beach bars.  

[madmax2]

In the time i have made Phuket my home (12 years) The only Expats i know Who have left Thailand and i am talking about people living here on retirement visas and are self funded

Have left because they have serious medical problems they want to have treated in their home countries, one returned and one has gone to meet his maker

 

I know of a few other people i consider expats who return to their home countries to work and top up their funds to continue their retirement in Thailand

I do not know anyone who has left Thailand permanently for the reasons of lack of public transport or the cost of living in Phuket, which is not expensive compared to their home countries

 

All the people i have met with their own businesses in Phuket are still here and have no intention of leaving even if their business is quite, so what expats are actually leaving 

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, madmax2 said:

In the time i have made Phuket my home (12 years) The only Expats i know Who have left Thailand and i am talking about people living here on retirement visas and are self funded

Have left because they have serious medical problems they want to have treated in their home countries, one returned and one has gone to meet his maker

 

I know of a few other people i consider expats who return to their home countries to work and top up their funds to continue their retirement in Thailand

I do not know anyone who has left Thailand permanently for the reasons of lack of public transport or the cost of living in Phuket, which is not expensive compared to their home countries

 

All the people i have met with their own businesses in Phuket are still here and have no intention of leaving even if their business is quite, so what expats are actually leaving 

 

 

Do you know of any expats who have left Phuket, but not left Thailand? 

 

I know around half dozen, and no, they did not leave for financial reasons. 

Edited February 18, 2017 by NamKangMan

[madmax2]

 I have met a few Expats who have left Phuket but not left Thailand but do not know them personally

The majority of them were speculating in Real estate in Phuket and left to go to other provinces because they had stopped making money here and thought they could do better elsewhere especially Chang Mai but the majority of these speculators have returned to their home countries

There are a lot less gullible newbies around nowadays that believe the lies told to them about property values here, A few Russians but other Russians are looking after their own and a lot of these Russians are now trying to sell their overpriced property in Phuket with no luck in doing it

 

I do not know anyone living here on Tourist visas at present who call themselves expats

The one i did Know who in my opinion qualified as a expat had a salmon fishing business in Alaska but he has not been around for about 18 months, used to spend at least 6 months every year here 

[xylophone]

27 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

The one i did Know who in my opinion qualified as a expat had a salmon fishing business in Alaska but he has not been around for about 18 months, used to spend at least 6 months every year here 

I may have known him??? Did he also spend some time up north here?