From Laos to Turkey - A Christmas story :)

**Simon43** · 27-12-2021, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Panama?

I'm sure it's hot and humid, but I only really know Asia, and that's where I prefer to stay. I think the cold weather will continue here until at least March or April - so I need to stay wrapped up and not venture out much. I certainly won't be making a quick exit from Turkey, but probably will move on before the next winter season.

**katie23** · 27-12-2021, 03:27 PM

@Simon43 - I can recommend PH, but as always there are pros & cons. Pros: it's cheap (cheaper than TH, just ask Topper). As a single guy (without vices), you can live on 1,000 usd/ month budget if you live in a smaller city or town.

English is spoken widely. Your UK pension will be pro-rated? (or whatever the right word is), climate is tropical.

Cons: there are typhoons, earthquakes & volcanic eruptions. Many parts (6 regions) are now in a "state of calamity" due to a recent super typhoon. Visit the news section & Topper's thread for vids of the destruction. In some areas, there are power outages & slow internet connection (depends on your provider & how near/ far you are from a city). As for food, no comment. I'll let the others say tgeur piece. Lol.

Re: visa issues, there's a retirement visa (SRRV). You must be 50+. If you have pension, the deposit is 10k usd in bank. If no pension, 20k usd in bank. If you're a military veteran it's 1,500 usd in bank (special offer!).

The country is still closed for tourism. Pre-covid, tourists could come in via the 30 days visa exempt/ VOA then keep extending until 3 years. Some expats have been living here for 6 or even 10+ years on a tourist visa (with a visa run before they reach 3 years). There are rumours that the rules may change (become stricter) post-covid or when the country reopens to tourists.

If you want somewhere near the beach, I'd recommend Puerto Galera (it has an expat community), Iloilo city or Bacolod. (I have a pic tgread on Puerto Galera.) I won't recommend Cebu or Bohol now, since they were badly hit by the typhoon and it will take months to rehabilitate. If you want south, Davao city is a safe place - Pres Du30 is from there. His daughter Sara is current mayor but is now running for Vice Pres and is leading, accdg to surveys.

Take note that there are many cons to living in PH. In the news thread, a friend of another member (Switch) has recently arrived in Cebu via the retirement visa. The typhoon hit the area and things are difficult now with no power, internet/ cell signal and water, long lines for ATM, gasoline, water-refilling stations. Buyer beware.

Good luck!

**david44** · 27-12-2021, 03:30 PM

I too have health issues which make warm climate far better, I'd sooner live eh desert Oz Oman even Arizona but Mrs didnt like it .
I read good things about Costa Rica, Uruguay, if you have a higher budget of course the Caribean where teh Dutch isles are most developed leeast corrupt.I like Cuba speak Spanish but its pretty 3rd world away from the resorts, hard to settle without a local partner.

The Atalntic coast of Colombia has some great plces but its a violent society where I wouldn't wish to retire.
Of course if you have teh funds nowhere better than Atalntic coasts from Maine Cape Breton Isles Newfuondland Scotland W of Ireland for Summer , Adlaucia Madeira/Canary Islands Morocco for winter.

If I was really loaded I live in Australian Rain Forest their summer Daintree and Japan rest of year but need to send teh wife out to hustle or work more than a day a week on my portfolio.

As an aside an English pensioner friend is getting 4000 Euros of free drugs/treatments per month since settling (vitally PRE BREXIT) in Aquitaine with world class medicine if you have Irish Passport or residency via Carte Vittel Carte de Sejour , this now takes a lot longer time since Brexit if UK citizen!

Gib too claustrophobic , some like Malta but I think your original pick Cyprus ticks the food /culture boxes for me.

The Spanish enclves in N Africa have their attractions f you like kif with the lads and mosque music at all hours

Before settling here I lived in Andalucia and the Algarve S Portugal , I think the coldest winter of my life, having lived in Canada , Finland etc Uni on Denmark but all those places have heating! Of course if you rent a place with chmney or build its only really cool in January and lovely people , so so food cops and plonk.

**Simon43** · 27-12-2021, 04:30 PM

Thanks Katie and David for your useful comments! I now realise that it is my own fault for not checking more into the winter climate in Turkey. Additionally, many people are burning coal fires and so the air quality is currently tagged as 'unhealthy'... Ah well, you learn from your mistakes (well, I didn't after the 1st divorce!!).

At least I have the freedom to up sticks and go where I want, provided that the destination will have me. I had become rather complacent about my lung illness, but this recent cold weather has been a hard reminder that one's health should come first.

If I am brutally honest about a long-term location, my preferences would be:

- Never cold, always warm to hot
- minimal risk of natural disasters, cyclones, earthquakes etc
- good air quality (often the case by the sea)
- nice beach, clean, warm sea
- cheapish accommodation and good choice of food
- easy visa
- access to reasonable healthcare (I have $$$ medical insurance)
- access to loose women

Now what country fits all those? Thailand ticks most criteria, except for the visa. I have also recently considered Sri Lanka, Reunion Island (easy access for EU citizens - I get my Irish passport soon), and Mauritius.

**happynz** · 27-12-2021, 04:50 PM

Tanzania or Kenya? They may tick a few boxes. I've never been, but the pictures look nice.

**david44** · 27-12-2021, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Simon43

- minimal risk of natural disasters, cyclones, earthquakes etc
- good air quality (often the case by the sea)
- nice beach, clean, warm sea
- cheapish accommodation and good choice of food
- easy visa
- access to reasonable healthcare (I have $$$ medical insurance)
- access to loose wo

Bournemouth awaits your pleasure been healing old duffers since the railway arrived, plenty of 'recycled" Thai slappers if you like that sort of thing.
Winter warmer I used to rub up alongside Miss Appropriate from the Snakecharmer at Brockenhurst, possibly the snootiest pace this side of Vaucluse, but loads gagging for a man with a big pension/antenna.

Don't believe me

For teh loaded its own ilsand /yacht or a safe rUL riled bits of Caribean Bermuda Bahamas Caymans but not cheap Bermuda away from worst hurricanes.

Azores wet windy , Cabo Verde Dodge Asencion or Tristan da Cuhnha your hamming might come in handy

Francophone Isles off Africa like Reunion where some things are more than France Nouvelle Caldonie or Marquesas

Cook Islands limited variety but reliable pussy

On my budget Sarawak, Vietnam all attractive , Sri Lanka is really grotty unstable and while I had happy months in the hills not for me same Maldives Zanzibar.
With Paddy Passport Cyprus Greek half seems grand and could always cruise to the Holy Ground or the Gypos for Christmas

I knew wealthy French bloke who swore by Tunisia but lived on Bora Bora which is hellish expensive if you live a French lifestyle full of taxed imported goodies

Of course really bright people like Ant Cy and Harold favour Smoggy Hollow which if you smoke you'd hardly know the difference.

Oh and madeira for teh terminally old part of Portugal, very hilly on the levadas, but more expensive during to tourism.

Good luck mate tehre's always teh last resort where teh scum end up LOS

**katie23** · 28-12-2021, 08:15 AM

@Simon43 - Sri Lanka sounds good. From vids, I've seen that it's cheap too. However, some areas may be too provincial or underdeveloped for you? I have a colleague who visited SL. He said that it's still underdeveloped and that the beaches in PH are much nicer (yes, he may be biased). But his statements seem to be similar to David's (that SL is grotty).

Have you looked into Bali or other parts of Indonesia? There are volcanoes in Bali and there was a recent eruption. So maybe it won't blow off in the next few years.

Good luck in your search!

**DrWilly** · 28-12-2021, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by katie23

Have you looked into Bali or other parts of Indonesia? There are volcanoes in Bali and there was a recent eruption. So maybe it won't blow off in the next few years.

Visa can be a challenge. Though not impossible.

**malmomike77** · 28-12-2021, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Simon43

I have also recently considered Sri Lanka

I was going to suggest that or Goa in India, lots of long term UK olds living there through winter or what about Bali, Switch seems happy there.

**katie23** · 28-12-2021, 08:58 AM

^switch is on a retirement visa in Bali, but I don't know the details.

@Simon - have you looked into the retirement visa of Sarawak (in Borneo part of Malaysia)? I've heard that the $$ requirements are lower than that of the regular MM2H program, but I also don't know the details

Re: Vietnam (as mentioned by David44), it doesn't have a retirement visa. Those married to a Viet national can get a 1-year visa (renewable). From vlogs, I've seen that VN has become stricter for the business visa. Many long term tourists had to leave VN in recent months due to visa restrictions. In recent months, many guys also got married to their GFs to be eligible for the marriage visa (similar cases in PH, because of the pandemic & country is still closed) - also got that from vlogs.

**david44** · 28-12-2021, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Switch seems happy there.

Indeed he used to be a knob before he switched.
I like Indonesia , food the calm high level Batak people in Sumatera always welcoming, it's just escaping the blaring mosques and the saudi funded madness is the issue for long term on most of the islands were the deaf pedo is worshipped

**Norton** · 28-12-2021, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by katie23

Have you looked into Bali or other parts of Indonesia? There are volcanoes in Bali and there was a recent eruption. So maybe it won't blow off in the next few years.

Then there is this. The volcano blew her lid about 25 years ago so you should be fine for at least 25 more. Olongapo City. Fits all your criteria with one huge advantage.

From Laos to Turkey - A Christmas story :)-z610-jpeg

Olongapo - Wikipedia

**DrWilly** · 28-12-2021, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by katie23

@Simon - have you looked into the retirement visa of Sarawak (in Borneo part of Malaysia)? I've heard that the $$ requirements are lower than that of the regular MM2H program, but I also don't know the details

Kota Kinabalu is a lovely place.

**malmomike77** · 28-12-2021, 11:05 AM

But what about xmas and easter

**katie23** · 28-12-2021, 03:35 PM

@norton - Mt Pinatubo eruption was in June 1991, so 30 years ago. Gosh! I still remember it, though I was still young. The ashfall reached our town. We went outside in the morning and I thought that our plants were covered with snow. Turned out to be ash. I have a pic thread about my Mt Pinatubo hike somewhere. I guess Mr Norton must have fond memories of Subic/ Olongapo.

@Simon43 - Subic in PH, specifically Barrio Baretto has a beach and has an expat community. AFAIK there bar restos, bars and "loose women" (one of your requirements). I've seen vlogs of "Overstay Road". He lived in a 1 BR apartment (with a/c & balcony) - cost was 10k pesos or 200 usd/ month. You can get cheaper places if it's catered for locals (but no a/c). It's also a short distance from Angeles City where there are more bars and ladies of the night. However, due to the pandemic many bars have closed and turned into restos or Korean grocery stores. Lots of Koreans in Angeles - they even have a "Korea-town". Another area along that coast is the town of San Juan in La Union province. In recent years, it's been developed as a tourism/ surfing area, so there are restos along the beach.

Take note, it's PH so typhoons & earthquakes (usually minor) are regular occurrences. We get ~20 typhoons per year. That area (northwest coast of Luzon) gets its fair share of storms, but usually they have dissipated by that time. The eastern part of the country gets the brunt of the typhoons from the Pacific. Again, for now PH is still closed to foreign tourists.

@DrWilly - I liked Kota Kinabalu too. There are nearby islands for island hopping. Based on my experience, food was cheap and the whole area was clean.

Btw, I've no idea if these places mentioned allow ham radios, nor the long term visa choices for Malaysia. From what I've read, Malaysia plans to open for tourism by Jan 1, but I don't know if they've changed that due to Omicron.

**baldrick** · 28-12-2021, 03:54 PM

Mauritius and Reunion do get cyclones - Maurice might be the pick of the 2 as it is less francophone

**Switch** · 29-12-2021, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Visa can be a challenge. Though not impossible.

Visa basics are not really a problem. No VOA at the moment cos, pandemic.
The business visa converted to tourism can be expensive and gives you 6 months to get your essentials together.
Basic requirements for retirement visa are GBP1300 in local bank and health insurance.

If anyone is interested in more detail, message me and I will oblige. You will need a local Indo sponsor for business (tourism) visa and bank accounts, plus the visa agents fee. They are legal and encouraged, but they do charge for their services. (Mine is about GBP 500 for initial application).

In the last 4 years I have only experienced mild shaking once, due to earthquakes. Other than that, it’s worth remembering that Bali is 90% Hindu, so very easy going. Indonesia is also a bloody big country geographically. Bali is just an Island at one end of the country.

**katie23** · 29-12-2021, 08:33 AM

^very good info there, switch.

@Simon - I remembered another type of visa in PH to get PR, the "quota immigrant visa" . It doesn't require a bank deposit but requires time & effort. That's aside from the retirement (SRRV) or marriage (13A) visas. The 13A is non-quota immigrant visa.

From what I understand, PH allows a certain number of foreigners from each country to apply for the quota visa, but the requirements are stringent. I know of vloggers Finn Snow (from Iceland or Norway?) and the couple from "Making It Happen" (from Austria) who have this visa. I've also read about another guy (from USA) who's not a vlogger but has stayed in PH for a long time & was involved in volunteer education & charity work.

There are stringent requirements & background checks. I think you have to prove to Immigration that you're a good foreigner & have done positive things for the country (example, vlogs showcasing the beauty of PH or charitable work). Your country of origin also matters, since they only accept few people from each country (i.e. if you're American, you're competing with other Americans). I don't know the minimum time to have stayed in PH - maybe 2 or 3 years? One must also provide documentary evidence like vids, pics, receipts of donations, etc.

Finn Snow received his PR before the pandemic (2019?) & the Austrian couple got theirs only few months ago (their vid came up in my YT feed). These travel youtubers are somewhat brown nosers, but it works for them. They get subscribers, views and $$$.

The quota visa in PH is not for everyone, but it's there if anyone's interested.

**beerlaodrinker** · 29-12-2021, 10:31 AM

I used to enjoy the Finn snow vlogs but find him a bit smug and over impressed with himself these days. Likewise his hotrod gf is getting a bit cringy lately,way to much giggling going on , pretty sure the constant cleavage camera pan ins and the poo et close ups aare clickbait( works) having said all that the blokes deinately very very positive about the philippines.

**Simon43** · 29-12-2021, 10:59 AM

Again, thanks for all the good advice and suggestions. I had previously looked at the Sarawak MM2H program, and that's interesting, because no lump sum deposit is required, unlike the program on the mainland.

I've been chatting with expats on a Sri Lanka FB group. The west coast beaches are much more popular with expats coming from EU and USA, and therefore not used to living 'downmarket' as I have done in Myanmar and Laos. That's where the east coast beaches are interesting, because they are generally unspoilt and more laid back. Fibre internet is a must, but this is feasible if one isn't too remote. (One online teacher sent me his speedtest results, which were 100 down, 50 up). A colonial style villa near the east coast beaches rent out from $500 USD - some interesting properties on the rental website. One has to deposit $15,000 and then $1,500 income per month.

India is not feasible - no long-term visas for foreigners if you have no Indian family.

I had to cancel all my online classes yesterday - too ill with my poxy lungs. Hopefully the temperature will improve soon, but I think there are a few more months of cold weather here. I will just stay at home with the heating turned up

**Norton** · 29-12-2021, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by katie23

The 13A is non-quota immigrant visa. It doesn't require a bank deposit but requires time & effort.

Not to mention a valid marriage to a Philippine citizen.

**katie23** · 29-12-2021, 12:11 PM

@norton - some say that marriage is even more expensive than the amount needed for a retirement (SRRV) visa.

Also, if your marriage goes south, your wife can go to Immigration and ask to cancel your 13A visa. (@topper - beware! Lol)

The quota immigrant visa (to get PR in Phils) doesn't require a bank deposit or marriage but you need to prove that you've done good for the country (like Finn Snow & the Austrian couple).

@BLD - I don't follow Finn Snow, his GF, the Austrian couple or Juicy Vlog (UK couple). I find them too brown nosey (in Tagalog, sipsip).

Apparently, it's well known among travel vloggers that if you go to PH or India (and you do brown nosing vids), your subscriber base & views will skyrocket. More views = more income. If they have more subs, they also have more leverage to get ads, sponsorships or deals, example, sponsored stay in nice/ exclusive resorts or hotels.

The Brazilian couple "Jumping Places" had a helicopter ride in Palawan, sponsored by the heli/ travel company. I followed Jumping Places last year, during the lockdown & they were in Palawan. I also backtracked & watched their vids from India & Sri Lanka. The girl was sexually harassed when they were in India. (scary)

******
In Bali, I've seen shared pool villas (own bedroom but shared kitchen, dining, living areas + pool) which rent for 300 to 400 usd/ month.

******
@Simon - good luck in your search & research!

**DrWilly** · 29-12-2021, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by katie23

some say that marriage is even more expensive than the amount needed for a retirement (SRRV) visa

that would be a hell yes!

**Bonecollector** · 29-12-2021, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Joe 90

I have trouble understanding Geordies and I'm from Manchester .
The weirdest accent I've heard is a Pakistani Glaswegian.

I was lucky to visit Beirut when I was 16. Growing up in London I had a lot of Lebanese friends and this one girl and her brother took me Beirut for my 16th birthday. Had an amazing time, went all over Beirut and up into the mountains. Amazing people, wicked place, shame they are always being shafted by their wankstain neighbors.

**Bonecollector** · 29-12-2021, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by david44

Indeed he used to be a knob before he switched.
I like Indonesia , food the calm high level Batak people in Sumatera always welcoming, it's just escaping the blaring mosques and the saudi funded madness is the issue for long term on most of the islands were the deaf pedo is worshipped

Yeah i had a nice time in Java, just did Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung. Nice people and great food. I would like to see Borneo as I love a jungle hike.

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