@sonhouse saidI've never come across that. They may be more political in Jakarta, I suppose, but where we live people are more concerned with putting rice on the table than worrying too much about what the government's doing.
Isn't Indonesia a country that if you criticize the government you go to jail?
@Indonesia-Phil saidPretty much exactly what I saw living way up north away from Bangkok. (Chiaing Mai area) the town is called Nakhon Phanom. Right on the border of Laos, I visited Thakhek in Laos once.
I've never come across that. They may be more political in Jakarta, I suppose, but where we live people are more concerned with putting rice on the table than worrying too much about what the government's doing.
@Arkturos saidChina's likely going to attack Taiwan in the next few years.
Of course each country would involve different considerations.
However, I am already 65 and it's possible that my Social Security benefits and state pension might get cut off, and that therefore each would consider me to be an additional burden to their society.
BTW, I am not mono-lingual.
@AThousandYoung saidPretty much a given.
China's likely going to attack Taiwan in the next few years.
I think this insane tariff war BS could cause China to up the date of that attack, my opinion only of course.
@Arkturos saidInteresting information, thank you. I hope you the best in your endeavors.
I had the misfortune of having to deal with a couple of rabid psycho-egocentric pyramid-climbers in an academic setting. (To be fair, I have also met some nice and reasonable Koreans, and also some time has passed since then).
Also, I just don't feel any cultural affinity with Korea as I do with the three other countries* I mentioned (if there's such a thing as past lives ...[text shortened]... at if?"
_____
* I hope I'm not causing trouble for my Taiwanese friends by writing it that way. 😉
And I understand not feeling some sort of affinity with Korea. This is entirely possible and acceptable. Of course, I feel like... maybe you should give it another chance, but I do not want to pressure people into anything that is super expensive, particularly when I trust that their judgment.
Also, I hope that you have a long, beautiful life, and get to go where will make you most happy.
Your assessment about heating is also something that I have heard to be true from people who have lived in Japan.
@Indonesia-Phil
Sorry for the late reply. Great information.
I do intend to visit Indonesia before too long, but you know how that can be. Money - not as much as I want, and familial obligations to visit that have delayed many a vacation...
But yeah, I feel more open to the idea now! THanks. Especially relieved to hear about the healthcare.
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@Arkturos saidMy friend says Thailand is the place to be. He is moving there in September.
Of course each country would involve different considerations.
However, I am already 65 and it's possible that my Social Security benefits and state pension might get cut off, and that therefore each would consider me to be an additional burden to their society.
BTW, I am not mono-lingual.
@Philokalia saidI sort of think of Indonesia as the Elephant in the room in terms of SE Asia, it's (I think) the 4th most populous country in the world, everyone's heard of Bali, of course, but the rest of it hardly gets a mention in world affairs, which suits us just fine. In town we play 'spot the bule' (white person) , a point for the first person to spot one, and usually we come home with no points at all....
@Indonesia-Phil
Sorry for the late reply. Great information.
I do intend to visit Indonesia before too long, but you know how that can be. Money - not as much as I want, and familial obligations to visit that have delayed many a vacation...
But yeah, I feel more open to the idea now! THanks. Especially relieved to hear about the healthcare.
@Indonesia-Phil saidThat is hilarious.
I sort of think of Indonesia as the Elephant in the room in terms of SE Asia, it's (I think) the 4th most populous country in the world, everyone's heard of Bali, of course, but the rest of it hardly gets a mention in world affairs, which suits us just fine. In town we play 'spot the bule' (white person) , a point for the first person to spot one, and usually we come home with no points at all....
Seoul has really changed... When I first came twenty years ago, you generally had to go to Itaewon, Gangnam, or Hongdae to see a non-Asian frequently. In some parts of downtown Seoul you would spot a few people here and there... But in other areas? You really felt like an alien.
It has changed a lot.
I can think of two neighborhoods I recently lived in where it was very odd to see non-Asians, but where I live now feels like an airport terminal. It is also the case that just bopping around even satellite cities like Suwon or Ilsan has you running into whites anywhere & everywhere.
Globalization may soon hit Indonesia like this! I thought it wouldn't happen here, but it eventually did. ^^
@Philokalia saidIt was sort of a leap of faith moving here, we invested quite a lot of money, energy and emotion in building our lodge, gave up our safe jobs and life in England, and it nearly came to nothing. (We were almost taken to the cleaners, and had to fight off the Chinese to keep our land) Still, twenty years on we don't regret any of it, and we wrote a book about our experiences, which has been serialized on English radio, 52 x 15 minute episodes. (Now available as a Podcast)
That is hilarious.
Seoul has really changed... When I first came twenty years ago, you generally had to go to Itaewon, Gangnam, or Hongdae to see a non-Asian frequently. In some parts of downtown Seoul you would spot a few people here and there... But in other areas? You really felt like an alien.
It has changed a lot.
I can think of two neighborhoods I recentl ...[text shortened]... ation may soon hit Indonesia like this! I thought it wouldn't happen here, but it eventually did. ^^
We haven't been back to the UK for about six years, mostly we holiday locally, Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea and so on, and of course other parts of Indonesia, of which there is quite a lot. Not so much Malaysia any more, people have gone a bit weird in Malaysia....
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@Indonesia-Phil saidIn what way do you think? I was there recently for the second time, first in 2017 I think, I didn't think it had changed that much. A big mixture in Malaysia, a lot of south Asians, Chinese etc.
Not so much Malaysia any more, people have gone a bit weird in Malaysia....
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@boonon saidIt's going downhill fast.
My friend says Thailand is the place to be. He is moving there in September.
@The-only-Mr-T saidOkay, please forgive my mass generalization...It was Malaysia, and in particular the rainforests of Sabah and Sarawak, which first inspired us to move to SE Asia, we had some life - changing holidays there, staying with the Iban people and so on.
In what way do you think? I was there recently for the second time, first in 2017 I think, I didn't think it had changed that much. A big mixture in Malaysia, a lot of south Asians, Chinese etc.
On recent trips there, however, we found that the people had on the whole become less friendly and welcoming, and we were glad to return home to the warmer embrace of the Indonesians. Of course, everyone will have differing experiences, but we found that the general 'vibe' wasn't so nice anymore.
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@Indonesia-Phil saidI understand, in some ways I think the world in general has become less friendly. Can we blame COVID for everything?
Okay, please forgive my mass generalization...It was Malaysia, and in particular the rainforests of Sabah and Sarawak, which first inspired us to move to SE Asia, we had some life - changing holidays there, staying with the Iban people and so on.
On recent trips there, however, we found that the people had on the whole become less friendly and welcoming, and we wer ...[text shortened]... eryone will have differing experiences, but we found that the general 'vibe' wasn't so nice anymore.
I'll have to give Indonesia a visit sometime, not Bali, can't think of anything worse. Sometimes I meet people while travelling and you get into the same old conversations, where have you been... So many say, Thailand, Vietnam etc and Bali. Like it's a country.
@The-only-Mr-T saidYes, well Bali is like nowhere else in Indonesia. During the worst days of COVID we were able to travel within Indonesia, and saw Bali as it was before the tourists came...Not so good for the natives, though, I think about 80% of their economy is tourist - related. Our small fishing village in Sulawesi did without money for a couple of years, (during COVID) made their own coconut oil and lived off the forest and the sea, using a barter system within the village, it was fascinating to witness, and nobody went hungry. Nobody caught COVID, either, and the government vaccination system was scarily efficient in the villages. I confess we had a good virus whilst others suffered...
I understand, in some ways I think the world in general has become less friendly. Can we blame COVID for everything?
I'll have to give Indonesia a visit sometime, not Bali, can't think of anything worse. Sometimes I meet people while travelling and you get into the same old conversations, where have you been... So many say, Thailand, Vietnam etc and Bali. Like it's a country.