Glad I don't live there.

[bigmtsl]

George, Vancouver is now known as Hongcouver. All the mass chinese immigration drove property values through the roof making it the most expensive city in canada, along with Toronto, to buy real estate. I have been to Hongcouver a few times over the years, January this year to se KISS kickoff their world tour, and was never impressed by it. Everything is overpriced and over rated, homeless people sleeping everywhere.

Hongcouver is just an over rated, over blown crappy seaport city. To put it simply....it sucks big time.

[bigmtsl]

Yes the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia have their issues too. What I was saying is that they are more friendlier to retirees than Thailand has been the past few years. Been to the Philippines and i like Thailand better. Just the bullshit immigration rules. I understand the reasons why the Thais are doing what they are doing. Just a really stupid way of going about it by making life harder for everyone vice the assholes causing the problems. Thailand did transition back to a ‘civilian’ government this summer however, a lot of key ministers, including the PM if I recall correctly, are ex army generals. So, it ain't gonna change any time soon. I suspect it will be 5-10 years before they change all the retiree visa reporting. They don’t seem to care about moving fast to make changes. Besides it keeps a lot of government bureaucrats gainfully employed and loyal to the government.

[Rockheart]

The streets of Bangkok were full of water for many years just like Venice. A series of dams and canals has allowed them to dry out most of the city.

[George Pill]

What an unbeliveable mess Bangkok is. I did notice way back in 1972 how high the river's water level was. Great place to grow rice.

https://www.pattayaone.news/is-movin...oding-problem/

[George Pill]

Ever heard of Tulagi Island in the Solomons?

https://www.ibtimes.com/china-signs-...lomons-2847869

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/1...-chinese-firm/

https://news.yahoo.com/china-signs-d...064813017.html

https://www.bing.com/search?q=chines...US&setlang=en-

https://www.bing.com/search?q=chines...lvar=0&PC=ASTS

https://www.bing.com/search?q=chinese+tulagi+lease&form=EDGEAR&qs=PF&cvid=9ad1c5dcc9314efbbf23f452d03bdce0&cc=US&setlang=en-US&elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfO*hB60uHAbUwEcHUcRlJzJ1HEuT9SC3rCpWe8pvW6*TDQpoFUNPFQ8C12ijNxV*FaabX4xXHOth2IlqFTMmizU&plvar=0&PC=ASTS

[George Pill]

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/10/31/breaking-news/hong-kong-in-recession-as-protests-slam-retailers-tourism/

Poor poor Hong Kong. Actually I would stay away from that place. I went in 1972 and met the RUDEST people in Asia. They actually DEMAND a bigger tip and will scream at you. Hong Kongers laugh and say it's worse in Mainland China. Then it should be no surprise the Chinese Communists crack down severely and kill people who disobey. Then they charge the family for the bullet. Never buy anything expensive there. I have bought a tape player and the rubber capstan was used and eating up my tapes. Cheap fuckers. A classmate who wouldn't listen to me bought a tape player and it plays okay but doesn't record. I have read in '72 a store owner beat up a Brit just because he threw his calling card onto the floor. Once I walked into a camera store and asked to see a Nikon. The snotty schmuck just kept his arms folded and looked outside the door. I repeated myself twice then he said, "You can see it from there." I'm glad the Chinamen did not move to Hawaii after the British surrendered HK to the Communists. They moved to Vancouver. They are still snotty selfish people. Don't even acknowledge your presence in their business. Canada can have them. Now I read they are moving their money into Bangkok and buying up expensive condos and properties. I guess they must be desperate and forgot that BKK is sinking and may have to move the capital elsewhere. This is because they are sucking out too much underground water and the land is sinking. Same thing is happening with the Oglala Aquifer in the USA Midwest. Too much water sucked out to irrigate the crops. This is water form from millions of years from the melting glaciers.

Wonder if another Tiananmen Square will happen in HK and then the financial capital will move to Shanghai. Remember NYC used to be the shipping capital of the East Coast. Now no more shipping docks. Shipping is done elsewhere in many East Coast docks. Still the financial capital of the USA while California and the West Coast is competing for domination (Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, etc.). In the meantime Trump is giving them fits with the trade war which China doesn't need now. All that money China should have been spending on USA products in return was being used to finance their military machine and Commie government plus investments in infrastructures in foreign locations around the world with huge monster IOU's. Like invading countries without firing a shot. They will be forever in debt. Imagine if a Pacific island like Samoa defaults. Then the Chinese can confiscate lands and establish a military outpost closer to the USA. Sneaky folks. I like to keep interested in the HK events. It may be a turning point like former USSR's failure. They couldn't do anything right. Have to laugh that Cuba lost it's sugar daddy. Now Trump is making them miserable by shutting down all airlines flying between Havana and the USA. So now the Europeans have to fly to a banana republic like Mexico or directly to get to Cuba. If ya wanna fly to the USA from Havana gotta fly to Mexico or a carribean island. Humbug.

[George Pill]

Phnom Penh

? Eh? Might take a trip there. What's a good 3-star hotel near the action or entertainment area? Where exactly is it? I do hate looooong van rides and prefer airplanes. should be interesting to see the temple ruins Angor Wat nearby.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...area&FORM=IGRE

https://www.cambodiaredcat.com/ladyboys-in-phnom-penh/

https://www.cambodiaredcat.com/hotels-with-ladyboys-in-phnom-penh/

https://ladyboyreports.com/ladyboys-in-cambodia/where-are-the-ladyboys-in-phnom-penh-cambodia/

https://guysnightlife.com/finding-ladyboys-cambodia

https://www.cambodiaredcat.com/red-light-districts-in-phnom-penh/

https://www.bing.com/search?q=phnom+penh+ladyboys+area&form=EDGEAR&qs=PF&cvid=31427f065628414baa02d9de12aa3289&cc=US&setlang=en-US&elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfO*hB60uHAbUwEcHUcRlJzJLSyOp2bkrv49J2Vo8RLO2gWAlOTPCGCHhP95pWUZpExEGWSB%21mBzkPDRdvdyeN0P&plvar=0&PC=ASTS

[Rockheart]

There may be other stuff too. In Philippines there is far more chance of getting robbed, scammed, kidnapped or killed. Thailand is very safe in those regards and much less third world. Plus my buddy retired there but he has to apply for permission to leave the country. There isn't really anything like that in Thailand.

Cambodia there is no sexy dancing allowed so this may cramp my style.

Malaysia has to have way more issues for retiring especially if you are Christian.
They have great beaches but way less ladyboys than Thailand and Cambodia.
Someone said Phenom Penh is great for ladyboys so may have to check it out, but probably wouldn't live there.

I have been to Thaiand a lot and I was looking to maybe rent a condo or apartment in the Jomtien area.
The beach is nice and there is super cheap places right near the beach starting at $200 a month and up.
You have a nice clean beach and close access to Pattaya without all the smog, dirty beaches and general busy stuff.
Pattaya is only a baht bus away.

https://www.thailand-property.com/properties-for-rent/chonburi/pattaya/jomtien?types=condo,townhouse,villa,apartment,serviced-apartment

I rented this apartment in Bangkok at Elio del ray for 8500 baht a month and it was very close to the BTS plus had the biggest pool ever.
Actually it had like 3 or 4 pools. It was well worth the price of about $300 USD. I'd like to live in Bangkok but Pattaya is cheaper and has more ladyboys.

https://www.thailand-property.com/1-bedroom-condo-for-rent-in-elio-del-ray-bang-chak-bangkok-near-bts-punnawithi_3973318

[Rockheart]

Well Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia all have their own issues, mainly being less permissive than Thailand.

All the reporting in Thailand is somewhat ridiculous but will probably crumble over time.
More paper work will be hard to keep up with I think.
If someday they bring in a civilian government, Thailand may not do this as fervently.

They were just embarrassed by some terrorist and human trafficking issues and their standing in the world over this.

If they screened people better at immigration they wouldn't have to track people so much.
But like you say it seems mostly geared towards tourists so they want to make breezy easy to come for 30 spend all your money and leave.
As such there is almost no customs so tourists can just go.

[bigmtsl]

Tx George for stickmans article. I spent all of July in Thailand specifically, BKK, Chaing Rai and Koh Chan. Quite enjoyed my time there. Met up with Warren and two other expats living there one of which is a canadian. After speaking with them, binge watching Warren’s video, which are very good to watch and highly informative, and reading all of the ridiculous rules for retiree immigrants I decided Thailand is not worth it. Nice place to visit for a month or so but don't want to live there.

The expats I met have relationships with Thai gals so that is their primary reason for moving there. But, even they complain about the 90 day checkin, reporting to Immigration anytime they go somewhere just for one night. Fucking ridiculous. I commented to one of them that living there is like being on endless parole because you have to report to your probation/immigration officer every 90 days. Watching Warren’s vids the Thai government changed the rules a month ago that you have to deal with a Thai bank and not a subsidiary of a non-Thai bank. As a result Warren had to close his CITI account and open an account with a Thai bank.

I read on the SCMP this month that expats will now have to have health insurance if they want to live there. Apparently expats not paying hospital bills was costing the Thai government $16 million USD each year. Stickman commented that some expats just have a special fund set aside for hospital visits, Warren has a video about health costs and has a fund set aside. However, I guess that will change immediately for him and other expats.

It became quite obvious to me that the Thai government likes you showing up as a tourist and spending your money. After that, get the hell out and don't retire here as we really don't want you and will make it as bureaucratic as possible if you stay here.

Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia all have similar retirement visas and are a heck of alot more welcoming of retirees in all areas. Thailand, not so.

Thailand, nice place to visit, don't want to live there.

[George Pill]

Even though the increased medical charges are tiny, it does signify a nasty trend. The Thais are extorting us through little cuts to bleed us dry. They do like us for our money and are grateful for our patronage. But they like moooooooore money with a big smile. Like ladyboys demanding extra tip or they will beat us up.

https://pattayatoday.net/thai-hospit...higher-fees-2/

Interesting that "

The fourth group consists of tourists and retirees." They are all WHITES.

Sounds like reverse white supremacy. Do expect to read further increases maybe up another 100% next year. And the year after that...........

[George Pill]

https://pattayatoday.net/thailand-immigration-controls-getting-tough-with-guests/

Boy, they really hate us over there. I think this is just a scam to make more money from fines plus there's no better victim that the money-rich tourists. That's us.

[northernguy222]

Thanks Rxpharm and Outlander for your thoughts...yes, I will be going into this with an open mind and my attitude is to see for myself. I will watch that video later RX...I've seen that couple do others, but have never seen this one. Chanya is quite the looker and entertainer!

[outlander5]

Stickman Bangkok article really only hit on the negatives of full time retirement in Thailand and with weak unbacked comparisons , most northerners like being home during the warmer seasons a Canadian living in Florida more than 6 months pays taxes in the US thus they flock home every spring. I don't think you can even compare life styles of retirement in Florida to that of Thailand and I've yet to meet a Farang who said damn I'd made a mistake coming to Thailand it would be so much cheaper in Guatemala or lets fly back to Edmonton its too expensive here !! Everyone i've talked to likes it there and dreads it when they have to go home!!

[rxpharm]

You need to keep in mind what standard of living he is writing about. Stickman Bangkok was not living "Thai style", but close to the level of a western standard of living. Of course that will cost more - but if you cannot adjust to a "Thai style of living", then it is not a place where you should consider retiring.

I posted another video earlier where an Australian man retired early, is on a retirement visa and is living with his Thai postop lb partner. They've been together for more than 10 years. Here's a link to one of his videos covering the cost of living in Bangkok (suburbs) and it is not as much as Stickman's estimates. Warren Gerdes - cost of living in Bangkok.