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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!
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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.Comment
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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...€¦€¦..Last edited by George Pill; 09-04-2019, 01:44 AM.Comment
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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.Comment
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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.
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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.
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.
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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
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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.Comment
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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
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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/Comment
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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.Comment
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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.Comment
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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.Comment
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You are right. Hong Kong is nice and the culture is interesting.
However Vancouver is fantastic and blows Hong Kong away.
If you have money Vancouver area is probably one of the best places to live on earth.
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Love that sky ride ride up Grouse Mountain. Such a steep ride straight up. What a view of the coast. Matches the ride up Pao de Azucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) in Rio. Didn't have a GoPro then as it was yet to be invented. Would love to go up the gondola in South Africa. Forgot the town's name. Also would love to ride up June Fil Brun mountains wherever it is. Saw it on a travel channel. Long ride up the train and then a long ride up an elevator. Whew! Always loved the gondolas when I first rode them in Squaw Valley and Heavenly Valley ski mountains back in 1969. Lived in Lake Tahoe for whole winter. So cold early in the morning and I would be the only one going up the chair lifts. A season pass was only $125 for the entire winter. After a day of skiing I would clean up and drive over to Harrah's Casino for free food and bus the tables. Gamblers are good tippers. Lucky year.Comment
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