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[QUOTE=1Ball]well, I am looking ofr a place to hang my hat, and so far have come up empty handed. Suggestions? Warm, good healthcare, value for money, good food, good diving, affordable....
Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I'm waiting for OTH or someone else to convince me that somewhere else is better, all things considered -- especially the easy availablility of great sex.
[QUOTE=1Ball]well, I am looking ofr a place to hang my hat, and so far have come up empty handed. Suggestions? Warm, good healthcare, value for money, good food, good diving, affordable....
Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]
Just that though Thailand is a shadow of its former self, and gets worse every day, it is still better than everywhere else (and everywhere else is getting worse every day).
[QUOTE=Daddy07]Yeah, I'm waiting for OTH or someone else to convince me that somewhere else is better, all things considered -- especially the easy availablility of great sex.[/QUOTE]
So many places fit in that category (easy availability of great sex), and by the time I am ready to hang my hat, I won't even remember what sex is :(
So it is not really one of the important criteria.
Still looking for Nirvana............
[QUOTE=1Ball]well, I am looking ofr a place to hang my hat, and so far have come up empty handed. Suggestions? Warm, good healthcare, value for money, good food, good diving, affordable....
Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]
Check out Okinawa, Japan
Warm - yes, subtropical climate (typhoons come often though)
Healthcare - excellent, as long as you pay, not an arm and a leg though
Value for money - yes, you know that
Good food - yes, you know this too
Good diving - yes, beautiful seas, beautiful islands
Affordable - if you can afford BKK at frang standard, then yes.
People - trust worthy, no frang prices,
Mongering - refer to Japan threads
Find a job at US base or Uni there to cover daily living cost.
(Don't tell anyone)
[QUOTE=Daddy07]Yeah, I'm waiting for OTH or someone else to convince me that somewhere else is better, all things considered -- especially the easy availablility of great sex.[/QUOTE]
Well, obviously we each have a different perspective. You're living in lala-land and have no worries except who'll you screw next.
I, on the other hand work for a living. And, in that regard this place is a shit-hole. The working conditions suck, the salaries suck and most of all, the Thais with whom and for whom one has to work suck, Big Time!
If I manage to be able to retire, I'll probably do it here when I have a carefree life like you.
But until then, there are many better places to hang one's hat in order to make a decent living, have a decent life and be treated with the respect, one deserves.
#1 on my list is the UAE.
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]
But, I really have had enough of Thais and Thailand. Maybe being surrounded by the absolutely disgusting HiSo crowd for the last 3 years has done me in. Fortunately, my GF has had her eyes opened to the world at large and now feels as I do. She often complains about how narrow, small, bigoted and selfish Thais are. And lest someone says she got this from me, I've always been very careful not to express negative opinions about anything Thai to her. So I was surprised when she came to the decision on her own that she doesn't like it here anymore and wants to leave.
All I know us that it used to be fun here and now it isn't.[/QUOTE]
I understand having enough of Thai's and Thailand, especially the HiSo kind. But screw them! It's the middle class Thais that I know and respect so much. My wife, like your GF also decided she's had enough of Thailand.
Now, I am very curious, OTH. Why on earth UAE? A muslim country would be my last choice.
[QUOTE=Old Thai Hand]...If I manage to be able to retire, I'll probably do it here when I have a carefree life like you...[/QUOTE]
There, he said it … THAILAND – ESPECIALLY THE PROVINCE OF LALA LAND WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW -- IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IF ONE WANTS THE CAREFREE LIFE OF A HAPPY SEX MONGER!!! That’s it! Discussion closed. Stick a fork in the argument, it’s done. The best value, all things considered, is right here in Thailand. Other places have their good points, but Thailand has it all. OTH is going to retire here as soon as he can afford the carefree life, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me.
Hey, I agree about all the negative aspects of having to work for Thais. I wouldn’t want to do it either. Wouldn’t particularly want to work for Arabs either, though, or anyone else for that matter, having been my own boss all my adult life; and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live and work in a place where my life might be governed by Sharia law, or some such mindless system like that. Isn’t the UAE one of those horrible places where girls can’t be seen on the streets talking to a man not her relative, lest she risk being whipped in public? Is your girlfriend, who you say now also despises Thailand going to go with you? She had better, or OTH ain’t gonna get any pussy. Are you sure you know what you’re doing? :)
[QUOTE=1Ball]well, I am looking ofr a place to hang my hat, and so far have come up empty handed. Suggestions? Warm, good healthcare, value for money, good food, good diving, affordable....
Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]No question, [b]Livingstone's Lodge[/b]!!!
Emmy takes over the healthcare part.
Giotto
[QUOTE=Oosik1]Now, I am very curious, OTH. Why on earth UAE? A muslim country would be my last choice.[/QUOTE]
UAE isn't that bad. It's fairly modern, Westernized and moderate. Only bad thing, besides the heat, humidity and dust, are the visitors from a certain neignboring country that flock to Abu Dahbi on Thursday night to party, chase women and act like idiots. But, wait... that also happen on Sukhumvit Soi-3? As for women there are a lot of Phlippers...
[QUOTE=Oosik1]Now, I am very curious, OTH. Why on earth UAE? A muslim country would be my last choice.[/QUOTE]
In a word, MONEY! The best Expat packages in the world. I've known several people who've gone there on a 3 year contract and saved $100,000.
It isn't Saudi Arabia for gawd's sake. There are plenty of hookers. Read the forum. I've been to Dubai and it's very modern and cosmopolitan. The locals only make up about 25% of the population. There are people from all over, including a large population of Filipinas.
Piper 1 swears by the place.
Daddy07
Yes, if I get a job there, my GF will be going with me, after we get married.
It's true that I may retire here, preferably in Hua Hin or Pranburi. It's unlikely I'd ever retire to Pattaya, although I have considered it. That's not really Thailand (which could actually be a good thing, I suppose). But, there are too many low-lifes on both sides of the equation which make it less than desirable (not meaning you, of course :)). I will say, though that's it's the most reasonably priced place to live around, which is an attraction. Condo prices there are at least bordering on sane. You can still get something for a million baht or even less, in some cases. That wouldn't get you a cardboard box in Hua Hin, or anything at all in BKK, unless you want to live way out in Bagna near the airport.
Anyway, Nirvana is anywhere you find that makes you happy. Reading your posts, it's obvious that you've found yours.
It's more than money. It's all about enjoying life wherever you are. I make a good living in Dubai, but I could make at least the same or more in the west. Dubai is a crazy place - I love it.
Oosik - my wife is Moslem (and cute) and I'm athiest (and not so cute). UAE/Dubai is not as conservative as you think.
According to a report written by Mercer consulting, published by Business Week, the best places to live in the world are
1. Zurich
2. Geneva and Vienna (tie)
4. Vancouver
5. Aukland NZ
6. Dusseldorf
7. Munich and Frankfurt (tie)
9. Bern
10. Sydney
Seems like you folks in Switzerland and Germany have already found your Nirvana. ;) What I find interesting is 8 out of 10 are cold climates (vs tropical or sub tropical), and Vancouver is known for it's bad weather.
Does this mean that Harare, Riyadh, or Kuwait city are not on the list ?
On a serious note, I often wonder why places like Zanzibar, Mauritius, Bali, Santorini, Na Trang, or even Penang, etc, never make it on a list of best places to live.....
[QUOTE=Piper1]It's more than money. It's all about enjoying life wherever you are. I make a good living in Dubai, but I could make at least the same or more in the west. Dubai is a crazy place - I love it.
Oosik - my wife is Moslem (and cute) and I'm athiest (and not so cute). UAE/Dubai is not as conservative as you think.[/QUOTE]
Your wife is not cute Piper, she is sssssssssssmokin hot.
:p
[QUOTE=1Ball]Seems like you folks in Switzerland and Germany have already found your Nirvana. ;) What I find interesting is 8 out of 10 are cold climates (vs tropical or sub tropical), and Vancouver is known for it's bad weather.[/QUOTE]
These reports are very relative. What criterias did they use to score?
Sure most the cities in the top 10 are safe, but also very expensive and not so great to visit IMHO. It's all a matter of what one looks for when deciding which city's (or country) is best. We all have different tastes adn opinions (thank fuck for that, LOL).
As an example, I can tell you I will never again live in a muslim country (lived in North Africa for a year), I have my reasons that others might not share but on the other hand I really see myself going back to the USA (I like the life there).