Asia Expats Forum

merkoz1 · Joined: 05 Dec 2007 Posts: 1 Location:

Hi, I'm from Europe, and the costs of living are killing me here. I work online, so is my girlfriend, so we wanted to move somewhere with cheaper costs of living, nicer weather and so on.

The few things I need are:

1. High speed internet, i know it can be a problem, but I really need it. 1Mbps is minimum, I have 6Mbps right now with very low pings all over the world. I know it won't be so good in SE Asia (not talking about Japan, Korea, Singapore etc.. )

2. Close to ocean smile.gif so cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and so on - no point in staying there if I work online anyways.

3. Low costs of food and probably alcohol Wink

maybe also not very high crime rate and some shopping mall anywhere near...

I know those are a lot of things I 'want' but maybe there is such place Wink

So far I've considered:

Malaysia - Penang - good, but no cheap alcohol
Malaysia - Langkawi - I think it's so touristy that everything is overpriced there, but duty free alcohol seems nice. but if I'm wrong and there is ADSL there and some not so pricey accommodation, please tell me

Thailand - Phuket - everything in order here but I have a girlfriend that I already love wink.gif and it seems it's also 20% more expensive than Bangkok with everyone thinking you are a tourist with lot's of money
Thailand - Pattaya - no really, I SAID i have a girlfriend already wink.gif besides heard it's getting more dangerous every year (even more and more sexpats, local watch-sellers beating people and such)

Indonesia - Bali - I think internet is a problem here. No ADSL, or limited options and I'm afraid it's a must.

Philippines - everything seemed in order, but then again - bombings in the south, pretty high crime rate, overpopulated, high pollutions in some areas, some other problems in other areas (like water shortage in Cebu I think, I won't even mention Manila...)

Maybe there are SAFE, pretty modern (with at least 1-2 modern shopping malls) cities in Philippines, that wont be overpopulated? it seemed cheap and nice, with best visa option out there

Vietnam - internet not really good and not many good cheap properties for rental.

I'm sorry if I'm picky, I also don't want to tell that any place I listed here are really BAD, they just have some problems I listed and maybe you know a better place? Maybe kota kinabalu in Malaysia? but then again, since it's the other side of Malaysia, does it have any decent ADSL...

Don't know any other cheap-pretty modern countries. Uruguay seems great but I don't know Spanish and electronics there seems so expensive. (I was so tempted to buy few gadgets in KL when I saw those prices)

To sum up - ocean, ADSL, and at least pretty cheap living (meals+some beers from time to time)

P.S. my country sucks BIG, so if you felt offended, please don't. I'm just trying to find a nice place on earth with warmer climate, where I could settle... of course I will come to visit it first, for few weeks, but I can't afford to live in every of these places, also I don't like to move every 2 weeks. would like to just come somewhere for like 1 month, then if I like it, come back to my country, settle some things (sell car, rent apartment) and move for longer, like 6 months or 1 year, and then see.

Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

have u thought about hua hin--thailand??
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Alan Stepney · Centurion Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 853 Location:

My choice would be The Philippines.

Whilst it doesnt score highly on some of the items on your list, it has many advantages over other places.
I would ignore Manila. Too crowded.

Cebu would be my choice, perhaps living outside of the city.
Decent shops with some carrying Western goods (and you WILL find that you miss some things from your home country) in Cebu city and living a few miles away would put you closer to the sea with less crowds and pollution.

There are other cities that might also suit you.

Dont worry about the bombings, most of the troubles are in Mindanao, and Sulu areas, and even there, there are some nice places with ex-past living happily.

Crime IS high, but it is rare for violent crime to affect foreigners.
However, petty theft is more common, so reasonable precautions make sense.

Living is cheap, especially if you exclude Manila and the middle of the larger cities.

Also, and a vital point, the Visa situation isnt a problem unlike some places.
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The Middle Eastern states aren't nations; they're quarrels with borders.- P. J. O'Rourke

toopeekaa 1 · Scribe Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1934 Location:

I know you want what you want, but I also would throw in the word compromise.

Re the place you want, God kicked u no hoo [Adam & Lillith] out of some time back.

I think there are many places where you can find some of what you want, but any place you will find all of what you want is going to be already "found" and would have become too expensive.

good luck
T1

and send us all pm's before you post the new location so we can get there before the costs go up

Alan Stepney · Centurion Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 853 Location:

I see that merkoz posted his question on December 5th.

Although he might have read some of the responses, he hasnt posted since, so it is equally as likely that he has never been back, and wont have read the pearls of wisdom that other members have posted.

Seems odd to me.
Why ask a question and not look for / listen to, the replies?
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The Middle Eastern states aren't nations; they're quarrels with borders.- P. J. O'Rourke

toopeekaa 1 · Scribe Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1934 Location:

Maybe he is a slow reader like me.

Well 3 - 4 months is pretty fast for me..

How're you doing Alan ?

When's your big retirement day coming up? And of course the big move to PI.

T1

Alan Stepney · Centurion Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 853 Location:

I sort-of retired last year.
I should have retired at the beginning of the year, but carried on working.
That stopped when I was rushed in to hospital.
A couple of operations and a heart pacemaker later, and I am now back working again, albeit only when I feel like it.

The worst thing is that it delayed my going to the Philippines.
All being well, it should now be about the middle of this year.
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The Middle Eastern states aren't nations; they're quarrels with borders.- P. J. O'Rourke

toopeekaa 1 · Scribe Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1934 Location:

Sounds like things are looking pertty good now Alan

Stop by Chiang Mai, on the way thru and we can drink up a few of those drinks with the umbrellas in them..... Banana Shakes that iz

T1

Alan Stepney · Centurion Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 853 Location:

Once I am in the Philippines, I will be going to Thailand occasionally.
Apart from anything else, the clothing there is better than in the Philippines, as are some of the other shops.

Anyway, I quite like BKK. Havent had the chance to see anywhere else in Thailand though, but might be able to remedy that.
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The Middle Eastern states aren't nations; they're quarrels with borders.- P. J. O'Rourke