Which country in SE-Asia would you like to live in and why?

[World traveller]

After living 25 years in Thailand, I returned to Europe (Spain) for a health checkup and to be entitled to the health care benefits of Europe.

I plan to return to SE-Asia for a trip and on this occassion I would like to explore other SE-Asian countries.

I have been during these 25 years on trips to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. I dreamed always to visit Vietnam, Japan, Korea, etc., but never made it.

If you had the choice to live in one of the SE-Asian countries, which country would be your favourite and why?

[taxexile]

lived full time in thailand for 3 or 4 years in the '80s and again from 2003-20016.

i have visited laos, cambodia, indonesia, china and malaysia but had no desire to live in any of them. (especially indonesia. awful place.) laos and cambodia were too primitive although that probably has changed now. china had the friendliest people, malaysia the best food, but thailand is hard to beat.

now we divide our time more or less equally between the uk and thailand and we are happy in either place, but after 6 months in the uk we are happy to get back to thailand, and after 6 months in thailand we are equally happy to return to the uk. we enjoy the best of both worlds.

[david44]

Oddly agree entirely with tax

[cyrille]

Switzerland.

I love cheese fondue, and I enjoyed watching Lloyd Cole there.

'Read Norman Mailer.

Or get a new tailor'

HaHa - splendid.

[Edmond]

I returned to Europe (Spain) for a health checkup and to be entitled to the health care benefits of Europe.

I plan to return to SE-Asia for a trip and on this occassion I would like to explore other SE-Asian countries.

Spain is close to Australia for natural beauty and an amazing place to live. I was lucky enough to spend 2 months touring the country on a mountain biking and rock climbing van tour with my dad in my mid-teens. After Covid Chiang Mai was flooded with Spiks, mainly couples in the 25-35 yr old age range. Which I remarked to as being odd since they have the sunshine, the beaches, the mountains, from what I gather it's pretty cheap/affordable. I would guess that there was a big TAT campaign there and they really were here for the food and temples.

What 'health care benefits of Europe' are you 'entitled to' Smeg?

Cheers.

[Joe 90]

Switzerland

Spain

Geography isn't your strongest subject.

[hallelujah]

It will most likely be Malaysia (that's always been the plan anyway).

But itchy feet persist...

[Edmond]

china had the friendliest people

agree entirely with tax

I was based in Yiwu for one year and wouldn't agree with that.

Though it is an outstandingly beautiful country, I spent around a month traveling around the country by train after arriving, before the HSR really came into action, and would love to do it again. Possibly will, if I don't follow the kid back to Europe when it's time for uni. Outstanding restaurants as well, puts the west to shame in that regard. Probably the best aspect of living there was the daily restaurant dining. Followed quickly by the nature. Can't recall the friendliness of the local populace being too high up to be honest though.

[david44]

Well the OP did say Europe?

If did not have family here I like the Bohemian-Moravian Hills between Vienna and Prague/Navarra and Denmark different but lovely for me May to Spetember

I've enjoyed living in the French and Spanish sides of the Basque Country and Catlaunya Oz Wales, France, Finland, Hunter Valley USA and Portugal
and holidays in lovely Canada , delicatessen Japan, sailing off Sweden NZ and "HOE NO LULU "Hawaii.

If it were not for the regimes , instability violence there's lots to like in Colombia Iran , Turkey USA and the Maghreb of N Africa, The Western Isles of Scotlandare stunning but during the only decent summer week all the midges wish to share yer space.

If I were young single and starting over New Zealand is a great place to start a family safe, clean and democratic with like Basque Country great lamb wine and RUGBY.

Old and cluless I am applying for a summer exchange internship as an unpaid trainee janitor at the Loose Hakka Insitute for the dentally Andy Capped Zumbumbway. It'll look good on my CV/ReZoomed , luckily the head honcho Dr O'Tool i a top goy is a TD mumbleress

[Neverna]

I plan to return to SE-Asia for a trip and on this occassion I would like to explore other SE-Asian countries.

I have been during these 25 years on trips to the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. I dreamed always to visit Vietnam, Japan, Korea, etc., but never made it.

If you had the choice to live in one of the SE-Asian countries, which country would be your favourite and why?

In southeast Asia, probably Vietnam as I have visited there before and liked it. The other countries I've visited in SE Asia were OK for visits but I'm not sure if I'd want to live in any of them.

Further east, Japan interests me but I'm not sure why.

[Edmond]

If it were not for the regimes , instability violence there's lots to like in Colombia Iran , Turkey USA and the Maghreb of N Africa, The Western Isles of Scotlandare stunning but during the only decent summer week all the midges wish to share yer space.

If I were young single and starting over New Zealand is a great place to start a family safe, clean and democratic with like Basque Country great lamb wine and RUGBY.

One of my first serious teenage GFs (both of us were teenagers ) moved to NZ after the normal year in Oz early/mid 20s. She fell in love, went to NZ, married and kids with a half-Maori bloke she never did show anybody pics of. Lovely place but if having family ties in Europe it was apparent that it was a nightmare. Even once a year trips for either side quickly became once every 5 years or so.

Loved the north of Africa, and was lucky enough to be based in Israel and Egypt for one year. I believe that Lulu koont did similar and has a great photo thread titled something like 'Lu's year in the middle-Eastio' or some such nonsense, if anyNev can lu-cate it please link, probably in Members.

[Edmond]

Further east, Japan interests me but I'm not sure why.

James May does a very good 4 or 5 episode tour from the north to south. Quite slow paced and typical JM. Worth a watch over a lazy few afternoons.

[Reg Dingle]

Loved the north of Africa, and was lucky enough to be based in Israel and Egypt for one year. I believe that Lulu koont did similar and has a great photo thread titled something like 'Lu's year in the middle-Eastio' or some such nonsense, if anyNev can lu-cate it please link, probably in Members.

Dunno where the thread is but I'm sure i have a photo shop of you topless smoking a Turkish penis on my other phone

[Edmond]

Dunno where the thread is but I'm sure i have a photo shop of Lu topless smoking a Turkish penis on my other phone

That would be the one.

[World traveller]

What 'health care benefits of Europe' are you 'entitled to' Smeg?
Cheers.

I am a Belgian citizen and I am entitled to (almost) free healthcare while in Belgium (I have been contributing over 40 years in the healthcare system).
I can apply to the repatriation to Belgium in case of an accident or a hospitalisation (Europ Assistance).
Spain, being a member of the EU, allows me to have the same healthcare benefits as Belgium while living in Spain.

Caveeat: to benefit the European healthcare and assistance, my trips to SE-Asia and any country outside Europe need to be a "Tourist vacation" (< 3 months).

[World traveller]

It will most likely be Malaysia (that's always been the plan anyway).

Maleysia would not be the country I would like to live in, but Penang would be in my top-3 places.

[World traveller]

Further east, Japan interests me but I'm not sure why.

I wanted always to visit Japan, mainly Osaka and Nagasaki.
The 2 places where the USA dropped their nuclear bombs.
But now I am too old for that.

[Neverna]

Loved the north of Africa, and was lucky enough to be based in Israel and Egypt for one year. I believe that Lulu koont did similar and has a great photo thread titled something like 'Lu's year in the middle-Eastio' or some such nonsense, if anyNev can lu-cate it please link, probably in Members.

This one?

Luigi's 1 Year in the M.E. Travel Thread Fantastico.

[Edmond]

This one?

Luigi's 1 Year in the M.E. Travel Thread Fantastico.

There ya go, the master has arrived.

And the pics are still there n'all.

Just don't call the fashion police.

[BLD]

For me my current plan once the kids are squared away with d schooling in another 4 or 5 years it will be a mixture of Laos,30% Thailand,20% Philippines 25% Australia the rest. Don't wanna get bored, probably a few days in Malaysia here and there or in transit. Malaysia is ok but it's not my fave.

[BLD]

This one?

Luigi's 1 Year in the M.E. Travel Thread Fantastico.

Whatever happened to that luigi fucko? Posted up some good travel Fred's and funny shiz.

[Stumpy]

Tough call for me. Having been to nearly all of them, Northern Thailand or South Vietnam. Although taking up camp in a remote prefecture in Japan could work.

[BLD]

Yeah, will throw some Vietnam in also. It's all close and accessible and cheap.

[david44]

Osaka and Nagasaki.
The 2 places where the USA dropped their nuclear bombs.

It was Hiroshima not Osaka.

I liked Japan but as a tourist not to live to regimented, the chaos here suits me fine.
For scenery hard to beatCaspian Iran, S Turkey Afghanistan and Finland N Russia/Canada if you like snow.

Cities Prague Copenhagen Sydney C Mai and Dresden

[Edmond]

For me my current plan once the kids are squared away with d schooling in another 4 or 5 years it will be a mixture of Laos,30% Thailand,20% Philippines 25% Australia the rest. Don't wanna get bored, probably a few days in Malaysia here and there or in transit. Malaysia is ok but it's not my fave.

I'll have some decisions to make a few short years after you when the kid goes to Europe for uni. Either go back too, if my mother is still with us I would like to go back and be her carer, same for my dad. 4 years after that the kid'll have finished uni and I'll be fokin' 55 years old, and where to go what to do. Probably back here for my property development biz, but I can't see Thailand being any better than it is now in another 10 years and suspect one of the regional neighbours will be a nicer place to kickback and enjoy the final 20 or so years of me Lulu.

Life's a ride and the world is fun, enjoy it boys.

Take memories to the grave not regrets.

YOLO.

*fist bumps*

Whatever happened to that luigi fucko?

Arrested as far as I know. Winding people up too much? Who da fudge knows.