I lived in the Philippines for 16 years as an expat, and just moved to Thailand earlier this year. Hands-down it’s the best decision I have ever made. The infrastructure here is fantastic, the food is amazing, the healthcare is world-class, the cost-of-living is low, I have gigabit Internet for $25 per month, and the people are incredibly friendly. I wasted a lot of my time in the Philippines, dealing with low infrastructure, typhoons, earthquakes, expensive and slow Internet, and bad food. For me, it’s been no comparison… Thailand wins in every category, hands-down.
@@jspbiproTranslator available to $99 that instantly translates Thai to. English and then English to Thai. You just pass the translator back and forth and just change the setting and you can carry on a perfect conversation.
Paul you can travel just like Dan and take a plane once into Europe and then travel the countries throughout Europe by train. You could enjoy the beauty of Portugal that is Very cheap. The same with many other countries. By clogging from every country You and Mae would expand your subscriber base.
I concur, the main/only thing the Philippines has over Thailand is most speak some English. Thailand is miles better in every other regard. If your trying to decided between the two Thailand is a no brainer. IMHO
That being said the food is so much more fresh and vibrant in Thailand than the Philippines. Not to mention almost nothing in Thailand is fried where everything on the street and in little shops in the Philippines is fried food in high temperature reused seed oils. Also how Thailand handled flooding is something that she was easily able to observe. I love the Philippines due to the people but the terrible internet infrastructure and lack of healthy food options is a big con.
im a Filipino ,who used to be a travel guide in the 80s ,before migrating to the US .I never took any tourist to Duma . Popular then and now were Baguio ,Tagaytay ,Palawan ,Boracay ,Bohol,Banaue ,Puerto Galera Cebu etc . I was in Dumaguete last year for 4 days .Sad to say ,I hated it .I couldnt find any good and decent Filipino Restaurant,not even a single one .When middle class and rich Filipinos want to travel domestically ,Duma is not one of them . Old Dog and some of his cohorts advertise DUMA as the entire Philippines .Nope and never will be ! His wife came from a poor family, and possibly has never been in Metro Manila or Cebu and just eat plain rice everyday . I dont even think of going back there again in Duma .Beach was dirty and undesirable in Dauin . No famous Filipino vloggers have ever presented Duma in their channels . There is nothing there that will attract them . Ive been to 52 countries .Just visited last month ,Norway,Finland and Estonia . We are planning to retire in either Mexico or the Philippines . for old dog to leave the Phils is a good riddance .Look how many foreigners he has indirectly 'duped' .They visited Duma and were horrified to find out that it was Dump -aguete.They thought Philippines was like Duma everywhere .So they left as fast as they could ,and flew to other countries .
I can tell you from personal experience that the people of Dumaguete and surrounding areas are generally SUPER NICE, very friendly people. Now I’ve lived in Cebu as well. Dumaguete has more of that small town vibe. It reminded me of Wilmington NC when I first arrived. Of course, Cebu is good in other ways. It has the city vibe.
@@AForeignerAskingQuestions They kept on stating that One cannot find USDA Steaks in the Philippines ,based on the restos in Duma . They forgot that Manila is part of the Philippines .Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck have Steakhouses in Manila .There is also Ruth's Chris ,Texas Roadhouse ,which has several branches and many other restos where meat are imported from Japan,Australia , US ,Latin American countries etc . They just couldnt afford to live in Metro Manila or Cebu !
Agree Duma is a dump. It became popular among expats after Cebu became more expensive outpriced expats drifted down to Duma. And there are a lot of college girls there too that's why they all started going there. But again: Thailand is better than anywhere in PH.
Absolutely. One only needs to visit places like Makati, BGC or Greenbelt to find fantastic food. To only talk about places like Duma when there are so many great places and restaurants in The Philippines is an apples and oranges comparison.
sounds like Paul should see other places in the Philippines. He for the most part spend the majority of time only in Dumaguete. Exploring other places of other than Dumaguete might be the shot in the arm that he is looking for.
Yes living in different parts of the Philippines has different results. I lived in Lipa Batangas in a small Barangay and we had a hard time with supplies and brownouts along with Karaoke..but now live in a Barangay near San Pablo Laguna and I have not had any brownouts and Karaoke.. supply is not a problem either. The trick is to pick a good spot with good neighbours
Infrastructure doesn't makes you happy it's the warmest and the hospitality of the locals. Watching u from Cairo, Egypt originally from Davao City the Philippines. 💖🇵🇭🇪🇬
One of the things that strikes me with a lot of different vloggers is that they seem to get bored pretty quickly but what they all seem to have in common is that none of them actually has anything but vlogging to do, those that actually work or have projects to complete seem happy enough but others seem to be not much different to tourists continually looking for something but not quite sure what, it all makes me think that it is so important to have a hobby, some aim in life, something to get up for and try to achieve, the British explorer Fiennes once said that the secret to a long life was to plan to do something for the next day, even if you dont achieve it its something to look forward to.
Bingo. They are blogging and being drama queens otherwise they'd die of boredom. There is nothing for retired gringos to do in these countries except consume, drink, chase girls or be chased by girls. You can only enjoy so many beaches then it all becomes common.
I am an American expat living in Thailand and I’m a Buddhist. So Thailand is very comfortable for me. What is being said about language is true. Only in the major cities is English widely spoken. Many speak a little English and few are fluent. The notion of using a translator app as the principle means of communication is ridiculous. I tried it and the translations are poor and often miscommunicate what is trying to be said. Not to mention that Thai has many regional dialects that are totally different than mainstream Thai. Learning Thai is extremely difficult due to the tonality of the language. Sometimes it’s easy to feel isolated and that’s true even with a Thai partner. My partner speaks decent English but carrying a conversation with her is not the same as a native English speaker. All that being said, I love living in Thailand as the pros greatly exceed the cons. Is there adjustments that need to be made, yes, but the beautiful, kind and empathetic people, amazing culture, phenomenal food and breath taking scenery make Thailand one of the best countries to live in IMO.
Learning thai is not at all "extremely difficult" : compared to learning mandarin or cantonese (China languages) it is even relatively easy to study thai !
9:45 mark. That's the ticket! I'm married now for 16 years to my Filipina. First time I took my wife to Thailand she fell in love and we haven't visited Phils ever since. She adores Thailand and we'll retire there in 3 years at her request. Thailand did a smart thing 10 or so years ago. Now much of the restaurants, cafes, bars, shops are geared to women. Everything is an Instagram moment and they eat it up. The Thai's really try to quality meal with good presentation. It's very alluring to them. They feel safe, it's inexpensive and it's fun. Lots to like about Thailand. But Paul is right, the people aren't quite as friendly. So there are some definite trade offs. But Paul, marrying a Filipina and living in Thailand is a darned sweet idea.
Thailand going to tax your ass!! What is the new tax law in Thailand 2024? From 1 January B.E. 2567 (2024) onwards, any income brought into Thailand shall be subject to income tax, according to instruction No. P 161/2566 under Section 41 paragraph 2 of the Revenue Cod
Great interview! Great subject! Thanks for sharing. I am 75 living in Virginia, I lived in the Philippines for a while. Travel more than most! Europe, Asia, South America (I really liked the people in Ecuador). What I saw in Ecuador was similar to the Philippines. Rain, mud slides. I like all the things Paul likes about the USA! Plus, there’s no place like home! Happy trails gentleman!
For me when I am looking for a country to retire, I don't look at infrastructures, I look at how the people of that country will welcome me, how friendly they are. What brings joy to a person,s heart is when you are connected with the people and your interaction with them. Infrastructures, material things don't bring happiness it's people that bring you happiness
@@jimmy999-z2j I lived in Lapu Lapu for 2 years, then moved to Pattaya Thailand for 5 years. When Covid struck, I had to make a choice and I've been in Bacolod ever March 2020. It's a good life for me here but I'm a monger. I do miss the socialization with other expats in Thailand primarily because of pool league and pool tournaments at world class pool halls. I wish pool leagues existed here. Everything Old Dog says is pretty much true.
Right on the button regarding Thailand.I have lived here for 7 years.Everything great apart from the distance there will always be with Thai people.A lot to do with culture,religion ect.Sometimes you feel like your on another planet.Had many friendships with Thai males and females.Not many have endured..harping back to those differences.Have had a couple of trips to the Philippines.Yes Philippinos are worlds apart from Thai's.I am sure the Christian religion helps.
me too, holidayed in Thailand for 20 odd years, moved there to live, but the culture is so different and the way Thai's think is so different, talk about infrastructure inThailand, well it breaks down and takes ages to fix, then throw in the constant 90 day reports, yearly renewals, you never feel you are accepted, always different on a holiday. Food is great, but dont eat in the tourist areas, as it is expensive, beaches just as good in the Phillipines.
Remember this Paul, " if" this is your wife's first experience abroad, everything new will be exciting for her including the food. She might have reacted the same way even if you brought her to Malaysia, Vietnam, Ecuador, etc. I have traveled to 6 countries myself and find some foods there good but not to the point to say their food is better than in my country. Because obviously I have an acquired taste for my country's food and saying that their food is better than ours is too much to say. Just saying.
Paul, I believe you should leave Dumagette. There are better places in PI with better infrastructure. One other option will be 6 months there and 6 months in another country. I hear Ecuador has government problems
My brother married a woman from Ecudor. They were married for over 50 years, and they died only three weeks apart from each other from COVID-19. They made many trips to Ecudor and loved every minute of it. 🙂
There's honestly no comparison these days between Thailand and the Philippines, Thailand is objectively the clear winner in almost every category. HOWEVER there are a couple important categories where the Philippines is the obvious the winner and those categories may be the most important for you. So one would be English being spoken everywhere which is obviously huge for many people, especially people who are looking to date or get married where there is going to be much less of a culture barrier if she's Filpina as it's an English speaking ( after Tagalog obviously) Christian country. The 2nd big winner is the visa situation. 3 years no questions asked on arrival and then easily extendable. Thailand it's MUCH less generous and constantly evolving. Even if you pay through the nose with elite visa you STILL have to do 90 day reporting. All expats do not matter which visa they are on. HOWEVER, for everything else Thailand wins I think. Food in restaurants both local and international options - much better and better priced. Groceries and markets - much better selection at better prices. Accommodation - much higher quality at a much lower price point. Transportation and infrastructure - no comparison Regional and long haul flight options/ price - no comparison Culture, temples etc - no comparison Hotel accommodation and quality - no comparison ( Thailand is best in world not just Asia) Electronics and consumer goods prices and quality - no comparison Luxury shipping malls - Thailand clear winner And on and on
A little update for you - the 10 year pensioner LTR visa does not require 90 day reports. We report if we stay inside Thailand 1 year. Also, the most common visa used by retirees is the nonimmigrant O visa and nothing has changed about that visa for the 7 years I’ve been in Thailand.
@@martypollGood to hear about the increase from 90 days to a year of course - but it's still pretty uncompetitive compared to most SE Asian countries and certainly the Philippines l. Also I'd encourage people to read through the exact financial terms of that LTR visa as they'll need deepish pockets. Finally, I get my information from Thai Embassy website directly as well as news sources like The Thaiger. The Thaiger has talked many times in the past few years about the number of changes ( mostly unhelpful) on visa conditions and its effect on would be expats/ retirees. Maybe Tim is illinformed or just a liar but I've met him more than once and he seemed a genuine guy to me. Overall I think Thailand is a great option as I thought my comment made clear and was expecting the Philippines folk to come for me - not Thai expats defending the visa program 😂 For me if and when I leave HK finally after more than 30 years it'll likely be for Malaysia which edges Thailand for me in a few areas and particularly on visa situation. But I'll still visit the kingdom regularly from there so best of both worlds
You have to explore while you can. Luckily, Paul can watch the new experiences through Baby Mae's eyes. That sense of amazement is very interesting to watch. Many places usually have something special but you will never know until you go and try it out.
I am married to a Filipina, but live in Thailand. Filipina wife is incredible, facilities in Thailand are great. Lao is the best part of Asia to live in, I lived there for 14 years and lived in Cambodia for 13 years before that, very good in Cambodia, but Lao was better. My son still lives in Lao and is married to a Lao lady who is just a great wife and mother. Thailand is the best when it comes to medical matters, which is why I now live in Thailand. I am now 79 and my wife is 51 and life has never been better.
Old dog you are such a charismatic and delightful man, and your laughter is contagious. 😊 What ever you and Mae decide to do in life, I wish only the best for both of you. God Speed
I can't leave. I need to teach all the customers at my local Robinsons how to check out efficiently. It is like herding cats. I live in Metro Manila, I have none of the issues discussed.
This is an important video as Paul succinctly explains the good and bad of PH. Firstly the people are lovely and welcoming. The country is beautiful with volcanoes, mountains, beaches and lush tropical vegetation. It can be an easygoing lifestyle for holiday or to live. Now some problems- Paul’s wife Mae gives us an insight into perhaps the biggest problem - Food - In Mae’s own words she was amazed at how much better the food is in Thailand- She’s Filipino and not a complaining foreigner. The other issues infrastructure and brownouts. I found the internet to be tolerable.
I have lived now for 14 years in Thailand. Sadly I have never been to the Philippines. Before I go any further I am only going to mention food. I have been to Vietnam and Malaysia. To me both these countries beat Thailand hands down for the food in many ways. Goodluck Paul and Mae. Perhaps and I really hope we meet up. I will keep a eye on where you are. I think you are correct about the women/wives.
Hello Paul and Paul: I wish you both the best in your adventures. I have lived in several countries before settling in the US. With humility, I admit that my wife and I have done well in our careers and so have our children. We chose to retire here. We are also fortunate that we can return to visit Asia every few years. We do, however, feel just a tad guilty for leaving our relatives behind, and compensate for these by sending money home monthly. Bottom line: I think how happy we are as we grow older depends on blessings from the Big Chief or some would call it “good luck”. Ultimately, the biggest factor is HEALTH.
I have traveled vastly throughout the Philippines as well as to other countries as I have worked abroad for roughly 15 out of the last 17 years. I am currently working on the U.S. Navy base in the country of Bahrain...which is directly across the Saudi bridge, and only a 1-hour flight to Dubai. My partner (Filipina) also works here as a Finance Manager. Filipinas are great travel and life companions. We will be touring Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos in March of 2024.
Excellent. Sounds like you work for private contractors that are hired by the military. Those can be some of the best jobs with maximum freedom to enjoy the country where your at.
What is your main source of income? May I ask what you do? Im curious because I want to move to Malaga or another part of Spain outside the main centro areas
My personal take on the number one reason of many: The loneliness of the English speaking Philippine expat is a primary reason for choosing the Philippines over Thailand. You need to be able to talk with people, someone, anyone. Once you are in a committed relationship and have someone to bounce things off of, at home, the Philippines probably loses some luster. You don’t feel like so much of an alien in a non-English speaking country anymore.
Good luck with your plan Paul. Anywhere we go the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and it's okay to explore. Your wife will probably enjoy the adventure for a time and then realizes that the Philippines is home sweet home.
As of Jan 1, 2024, the grass in Thailand will be much less green for expat retirees who reside there or are considering it. The Thai tax laws are amended to require taxation of all funds brought into the country. So now you'll potentially be paying taxes of up to 35% on your retirement income. 🙄
Good conversation. I think a lot of this has to do with each persons individual budget. If you can afford to keep a house in your home country and another in an Asian country, you can split your time in addition to traveling and visiting other countries annually.
It's nice to see Paul Old Dog New Tricks. He's a funny guy. Thailand is much more advanced in terms of infrastructure, hospitals etc. I enjoy it in Thailand. I've been to Dumaguete and Cebu and it was interesting, but yea the Philippines is a little too underdeveloped for me in terms of a place to settle.
A Chinese friend of mine told me a few months ago that the current state of the Philippines was how China was 20yrs ago. His point was that Philippines would soon be catching up based on what he saw in the Philippines currently happening that was also similar in China.
I agree 100%. I'm only here to find my woman (and the options are plentiful) but realistically the Philippines is too underdeveloped even for me who isn't a fancy person to begin with
Well Paul it was your choice to live in a less developed area of the Philippines so that’s what you get trying to save money I suppose. Any place will look fantastic compared to where you were living. To be fair in comparison you need to find an equivalent area or cost of living house size with surroundings for the same price. Lived in the Philippines for over 10 years and initially stayed 2 hour drive outside Manila and had the same issues until I moved to Manila. Now no issues with internet no brown outs or issues with hospital care, restaurants in every food taste available, you can find groceries from overseas availability in most places. Easy access to the airports domestic and international. Paul your experience is of an undeveloped island and you seem burned out with the area. You should have stayed closer to Manila but I am guessing your budget would not handle it. Hope you enjoy wherever you end up and it’s safe and affordable for you. Going to be issues with your wife’s passport as many countries will not issue visas to Philippine citizens.
I have followed Dan for years. I’ve check out his top 10 personally and I agree. I think it’s great that Paul and Mae are leaving. Good for them! It’s a big world. I’m a slow traveler and it’s a great way to keep vibrant, alive and growing. How hard is it to take a Filipina abroad, not the US?
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but as far as I know all a Filipino needs is their passport and to secure a visa to whatever country they are visiting. Some countries it’s much easier for a Filipino to get a tourist visa to. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can avail you better than I have.
I plan to do the same. I'm in the Philippines for acquisition only, and I've already found the two province girls that would make great wives and mothers. The lack of healthy food options and second worst internet in the world only to Sri Lanka is what makes me know I'm not going to be in the Philippines long term. Philippines is for acquisition 😂
If a Filipino goes out of the country they have to pay a 1600peso exit fee.Then say you went to Live in Thailand you would have to pay 2 visa fees for you and your partner?
Good video. I think both Philippines and Thailand have mostly good aspects with some problems. Each individual has their own perspective about where they are happiest. I do think the idea of traveling around the world to see the different cultures and people is very enriching.
Thailand is bhuddism while Philippines is very diverse you see catholic and Christian churches, and the sign you’ll be able to read it both English and Tagalog, unlike Thailand you can’t read the sign
Foreigners who lives in a certain country for a long time and then they decide to leave and live somewhere else is just normal. But saying not so good things about the country you are leaving leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Always remember that if you stayed in a country for years there are reasons for it and mostly maybe good. So don't leave badmouthing the previous host country. Maybe just say you wanted a new environment. The locals who followed you might misinterpret you.
There are two primary reasons most men move to the Philippines number one is the women, second on the list would be the cost of living or affordability, being able to meet these two needs will cause many people to overlook the lack of development, but once you have these needs met, a permanent relationship, and you have a means to live elsewhere there is really very little incentive to tolerate the inefficiencies and lack of development.
It's sad as an old dog that you can't be content at such an advanced age, I suggest getting outta the village there in Dumaguete and hit Makati, BGC, Filinvest City, you don't have the problems there with the infrastructure. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I'm an expat here Phil's now 17 years, and have been to 67 countries, just saying.
I understand Paul's frustrations, but where I live in lower Michigan today is perfect for me because I invested the time and effort to make this my home. When I started out the phone service was a joke, power outages were regular and don't even get me started on the internet, but today these problems are solved. I have a garage big enough to meet my needs and more than enough room here to move in my new family one day. I hope he finds what he is looking for.
A few countries mentioned are quoted as very attractive like Portugal and Panama, but a few Not mentioned that are equally if not more prominent are Uraguay and Paraguay which are very well known for their affordability, beaches and the people which make the whole experience all the more worth seeing... A very good Channel to follow is The Nomad Capitalist which gives us an in-depth view from an International accountant who gave up his US passport and replaced it with 5 new passports of the spots he sees as economically viable places to retire. Glad to see you back in action Paul and maraming salamat for sharing your experiences and special thanks to Paul Old Dog with a fresh view on the goings on in the places he recently visited.
I've said this many times on other channels. Portugal, Panama, Ecuador, Thailand, etc. are NOT English speaking countries. Try living there full time when you can't speak the language. You'll spend your time looking for other English speakers. I know this because I go to Panama often but only for short periods, basically R&R.
Good video, but for the couples that have a school age kid or kids that idea of moving around from country to country is probably not practical. But if you are an older expat with a Filipina with no kids and she's willing to leave her family, why not! I think the only issue you might have as an older guy is healthcare and language barriers. If you were to have a major medical event like stroke or heart attack which is pretty common for us older guys you better not be to far from quality hospital and have money or insurance on hand to pay. I guess it's just a matter of doing your due diligence before you move.
Thailand is nice and the people are nice. However, the immigration policies and constant evolving requirements for expats are suffocating. I lived in Chiang Mai for 2 years and grew exhausted with having to report to the immigration every 90 days. It was always overcrowded and almost every time there was some new document or something not listed on the immigration website. No thanks. Brown outs? Get a portable generator and backup batteries. The power goes out in Thailand too. If you can deal with the immigration hassals, it's a wonderful place.
You guys would be very happy in Thailand, it simply all works whereas in the Philippines it does not and it will never work, PH is a mess forever. The ideal is to live about 20 minutes outside of the well-known tourist areas. ( Affordable ) Hence; East Pattaya, and Turtle Beach is not too far from Phuket etc., Sri Lanka is very attractive and about 30% cheaper than Thailand, there is no language problem since most of the population speaks English, and housing is about 50% lower! Exploring Sri Lanka now and it does not disappoint, Sri Lanka is now where Thailand was 30 years ago, but it all works in SL and the Visa is easy.
I enjoy watching pauls channel. I agree hes very good at telling his stories i find myself paying full attention when watching his videos.i am new at this traveling thing, been in the Philippines since November 6 2023. I am still to young for retirement so i will be going back to Canada to work in the spring then leaving again before winter comes. Take care guys and be safe.
I like the idea of home basing in the Philippines and traveling with my wife 15:00 from there. First of all, the destinations never get boring, but are always a wonder. Then second, I can enjoy the warm family relations when we get back from traveling. We both love cruises because it is always entertaining and low stress. Unfortunately for traveling, we are making the goal of the next two years building rental properties, garden building, and we are buying a small farm.
My car insurance in Las Vegas was 400 USD a month on a 2018 Cadillac XTS, no tickets in 30 years, many uninsured, unlicenced drunk Illegals on the road.
This subject/question continues to captivate me (good on the Pauls for delving into it). I’ve been in a relationship with a Filipina since 2019 and keep returning to the PH with the idea that, this time, I will be able to look past all of the challenges and the frustrations. I just ‘failed’ again and flew from Manila to Vietnam at the conclusion of my 30 days. I am (we are) fortunate in that my girlfriend is able to travel freely to Europe, USA, Canada, etc. As it is, I have no desire to return to North America to live, but given the other options available, it is difficult to imagine settling long-term in the PH.
Yes.... BUT.... foreigners can not really own property in Thailand:( So if ppl think philippines is difficult (property laws), then they have not experienced Thailand property regimes. And with a filipina wife... she would also be a foreigner. So can never really own anything in Thailand. Small correction... foreigners CAN own minority stakes, but the majority stake (which HAS TO BE a thailand national) can overrun any minority owner. Minority ownership is worthless in thailand. Many westerners has gotten burned in thailand when it comes to ownership of property etc. Even thinking their 40% share or something actually gave them at least protection of 40% of the assets. But no,not in reality. So dangerous enough with a thai wife (due to high divorce rate among westerners with thai wives). But even higher risk if the majority owner is some non-spouse owner. (Which has no emotional insentive to NOT scr.w you over). Thailand is great in all the things you said. The downsides i think is: lamguage barrier, thai are mostly budhists(not bad, but different then philippines christians). Property laws are even more scarrier in thailand. And in philippines almost everyone is inviting and friendly. In thailand people are nice, but cant compare to philippines even by a mile. And i think promiscuity is much higher in thailand.
That’s the difference between a government that pushes, and watches the people so that all taxes are paid properly. In the Philippines, so many people try to cheat on pay taxes, but what they don’t understand is that they are also hurting their own government, their livelihood, and the success of their country The taxes from your land taxes on your motorcycle. All that stuff is used to fix the roads to provide water to provide proper sanitation sewage lines provide schools for teachers that are paid enough to provide the education to bring the children into the next generation.
Yes and no. Look at Belgium in the EU. People over there, pay taxes, almost the highest of Europe, on income. Yet, the country has almost the highest debt/deficit of the EU. Paying taxes doesn't guarantee anything, when politicians steal the money, throw with it, or just give it away.
I follow both of you from the beginning. I am in Thailand every year for 2 months. Was planing to go to the Philippines....but I think I will newer do. Thailand is not perfect... but good food, accommodation , land, and people are nice. The worst are por expats with arogat and crasy behavior... but can easily avoid them. Bdw...I am from EU....was Spain many time same Portugal, Have caravan in Croatia...many time in Greece...Cyprus........ But Thailand is my no 1. Regards, both of you.!!!
This is awesome! If you have the budget to travel and live in other countries for a year would be such a cool adventure! That’s a great idea! Let baby Mae work her channel and Vlog your adventures.
I just spent 14 months in the Philippines...left for Thailand but should have gone to Cambodia. I am in an old area of Bangkok in a nice Hotel away from most Tourism...not far from the River...using a new Hospital for Surgery one block away. Thailand is getting more Expensive but the quality level is 4x to the Philippines....what ???no high fence and razor wire around all the Homes and locked steel Gates?...motorcycle Drivers are a problem here too but not as crazy and reckless as in PI...Sidewalks are Wide and Clear mostly..and are used by crapy scooter traffic but there is room for you to walk and its not a broken sidewalk. VISAs are the Issue here...Rents are 1/3 to 1/2 for a nice Condo compared to the Philippines.I can Communicate with the Educated Thai or the Tourist area Thai...but actually hang around an old Chinese Market and drink my Beer there...no English but friendly colorful People and a lot of Cats.I am a Traveler and not a Tourist...i dive Deep. Philippines is now all about Motor Vehicles and a rich middle Class...a more broken infrastructure than 30 years ago...just more frosting on an old unimproved Cake. I hate the exit Clearance crap. Really,?
For Paul: Thailand is going to tax foreigner's income from Jan 2024. You need to check visa status for you and Mae if you are living here long term. Yes, the people are not warm and friendly and rare to find English speaking, unlike PH.
Anyone who have been there, this is no surprise. The real question is: why has Thailand (along with other SE Asian nations), have surpassed the Philippines? Manila was the 'pearl of asia' and leading the region in the 1960's. What happened? PS - Singapore is the most advanced country in the world. Malaysia more advanced also, maybe even more than Thailand.
Aside from the corrupt politicians, Phils is the only ASEAN country with active communist rebels and Muslim secessionists and terrorists. That alone is a huge impediment to the development.
No country is perfect. If you are unhappy living in one place then go ahead and live somewhere else. Just keep in mind that each country is unique. A country's culture, infrastructure, food and people's attitude are borne out of various factors such as its history, politics, religion and even its geographical location.
Aloha Paul and Paul! For true happiness, you need to explore and venture out of your comfort zone. I’ve lived in Philippines off and on and I just bought a place in Thailand for the modern amenities. Even here I like to get out of the country. Nepal is really impressive and no one talks about it; as is Ecuador. The tall mountains are good for the soul. To me, six months in America is ideal
You can have a beer with a Filipino. Thais? NO WAY! Apart from that, yep - Thailands development is 30+ years ahead of Philippines. It is what it is. Property rentals in Thailand are way cheaper than Philippines and infrastructure is far superior. The only thing superior in the Philippines is THE PEOPLE. In general, the friendliest and most welcoming in Asia by far.x
Everything goes bad in Philippines. When dealing with immigration/security at the airport, the guards at the Manila hotels it's like talking to children who are trying to boss you around.
Sad thing is even for farangs (kanus) with pension, it's difficult to get a retirement visa. A filipino wife would have an even more difficult time, and having a farang husband doesn't help here. Your considered separate. You will definetly being doing visa runs.
One of the best things I've experienced in my time has been the traveling. Good, bad or indifferent, it's the seeing new places, meeting new people, learning about other cultures. Perhaps it's just the excitement of learning new things, but sitting in one place too long tends to just get on my nerves. I'd simply grown up moving around every few years, so it just became natural to move, learn about the area, then move on to another place for a while.
I will miss you Paul in the Philippines but I agree you have to see other spots which suit you. You have the Philippines to come back to in case you become location fatigued again. I accepted already the lack of infrastructure there,traffic , slow document processing etc. BUT I counted a lot pros than cons .To me that is very personal and subjective of course as we all have different thresholds. Take care Paul and Mae enjoy your Freedom. More blessings and happiness your way.
@arentol99 How difficult is it to get a non-tourist visa in Thailand? (ie. To reside long term) From visiting both Thailand & the Philippines, i agree with you: Thailand is tops!
Dan from vagerbond awake said the Philippines was his favourite place, now old dog said Dan told him Bali was his favourite place. Someone is talking bullshit...which one ? You decide. Two points ... Spain is very expensive, Old dog you'll struggle to survive on your fixed income there. You might be able to rent a goat shed in the hills and thats about it Thailand...The language barrier makes it hard to get by outside of tourist hotspots. Also Thai people are very nationalistic and xenophobic. They love the farangs money, but don't love the farang. One final point, old dog is exactly that, OLD. Jumping around from place to place takes its toll. I get the feeling he is deluding himself somewhat with regards to that.
How do you guys handle the high heat and humidity in the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam especially as older people???? Including all the health related issues, prescription meds, etc ??
I absolutely LOVE Ecuador! Definitely check it out. I backpacked it for 3 months. And I’ve been going back and forth from the Philippines for 20 Years.
Mr. Paul...You can go anywhere where ever you want outside the Philippines to try something new. That's nice. Thank you for your honesty that your wife and you want to try another country to live.Good Luck to your journey. Yes, you've been in the Philippines for so long so, It's time to move on.
I lived in the Philippines for 16 years as an expat, and just moved to Thailand earlier this year. Hands-down it’s the best decision I have ever made. The infrastructure here is fantastic, the food is amazing, the healthcare is world-class, the cost-of-living is low, I have gigabit Internet for $25 per month, and the people are incredibly friendly. I wasted a lot of my time in the Philippines, dealing with low infrastructure, typhoons, earthquakes, expensive and slow Internet, and bad food. For me, it’s been no comparison… Thailand wins in every category, hands-down.
@Midwest10 No .I lived in Thailand for 15 years without knowing the language.I did have a Thai wife to help though.
I find the Thai accent very annoying. They sound like a moped accelerating through the gears, waaaa WA WA waaaaaaa
@@jspbiproTranslator available to $99 that instantly translates Thai to. English and then English to Thai. You just pass the translator back and forth and just change the setting and you can carry on a perfect conversation.
Paul you can travel just like Dan and take a plane once into Europe and then travel the countries throughout Europe by train. You could enjoy the beauty of Portugal that is Very cheap. The same with many other countries. By clogging from every country You and Mae would expand your subscriber base.
I concur, the main/only thing the Philippines has over Thailand is most speak some English. Thailand is miles better in every other regard. If your trying to decided between the two Thailand is a no brainer. IMHO
After having a Thai woman years ago, I much prefer the Filipino woman.
If it was his wife’s first trip out of the Philippines,then she’s had nothing to compare it to and every experience she will find amazing.
That being said the food is so much more fresh and vibrant in Thailand than the Philippines. Not to mention almost nothing in Thailand is fried where everything on the street and in little shops in the Philippines is fried food in high temperature reused seed oils.
Also how Thailand handled flooding is something that she was easily able to observe.
I love the Philippines due to the people but the terrible internet infrastructure and lack of healthy food options is a big con.
Correct
@@wanderingdoc5075Food in Philippines not bad, we've got Elon Musk's internet, everything is not all bad in Philippines...
@@wanderingdoc5075pag pag
im a Filipino ,who used to be a travel guide in the 80s ,before migrating to the US .I never took any tourist to Duma . Popular then and now were Baguio ,Tagaytay ,Palawan ,Boracay ,Bohol,Banaue ,Puerto Galera Cebu etc . I was in Dumaguete last year for 4 days .Sad to say ,I hated it .I couldnt find any good and decent Filipino Restaurant,not even a single one .When middle class and rich Filipinos want to travel domestically ,Duma is not one of them . Old Dog and some of his cohorts advertise DUMA as the entire Philippines .Nope and never will be ! His wife came from a poor family, and possibly has never been in Metro Manila or Cebu and just eat plain rice everyday . I dont even think of going back there again in Duma .Beach was dirty and undesirable in Dauin . No famous Filipino vloggers have ever presented Duma in their channels . There is nothing there that will attract them . Ive been to 52 countries .Just visited last month ,Norway,Finland and Estonia . We are planning to retire in either Mexico or the Philippines . for old dog to leave the Phils is a good riddance .Look how many foreigners he has indirectly 'duped' .They visited Duma and were horrified to find out that it was Dump -aguete.They thought Philippines was like Duma everywhere .So they left as fast as they could ,and flew to other countries .
I can tell you from personal experience that the people of Dumaguete and surrounding areas are generally SUPER NICE, very friendly people. Now I’ve lived in Cebu as well. Dumaguete has more of that small town vibe. It reminded me of Wilmington NC when I first arrived. Of course, Cebu is good in other ways. It has the city vibe.
@@AForeignerAskingQuestions They kept on stating that One cannot find USDA Steaks in the Philippines ,based on the restos in Duma . They forgot that Manila is part of the Philippines .Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck have Steakhouses in Manila .There is also Ruth's Chris ,Texas Roadhouse ,which has several branches and many other restos where meat are imported from Japan,Australia , US ,Latin American countries etc . They just couldnt afford to live in Metro Manila or Cebu !
Agree Duma is a dump. It became popular among expats after Cebu became more expensive outpriced expats drifted down to Duma. And there are a lot of college girls there too that's why they all started going there.
But again: Thailand is better than anywhere in PH.
So tell us the good places to retire in the Philippines
Absolutely. One only needs to visit places like Makati, BGC or Greenbelt to find fantastic food. To only talk about places like Duma when there are so many great places and restaurants in The Philippines is an apples and oranges comparison.
sounds like Paul should see other places in the Philippines. He for the most part spend the majority of time only in Dumaguete. Exploring other places of other than Dumaguete might be the shot in the arm that he is looking for.
Exactly 💯.. he should try Palawan, Bohol, Tagaytay, Davao.....the list is endless
Yes living in different parts of the Philippines has different results. I lived in Lipa Batangas in a small Barangay and we had a hard time with supplies and brownouts along with Karaoke..but now live in a Barangay near San Pablo Laguna and I have not had any brownouts and Karaoke.. supply is not a problem either. The trick is to pick a good spot with good neighbours
Paul should see Antipolo, Rizal.
It’s just a further away from Metro Manila but has a feel of a provincial life with plenty of greeneries.
Infrastructure doesn't makes you happy it's the warmest and the hospitality of the locals. Watching u from Cairo, Egypt originally from Davao City the Philippines. 💖🇵🇭🇪🇬
One of the things that strikes me with a lot of different vloggers is that they seem to get bored pretty quickly but what they all seem to have in common is that none of them actually has anything but vlogging to do, those that actually work or have projects to complete seem happy enough but others seem to be not much different to tourists continually looking for something but not quite sure what, it all makes me think that it is so important to have a hobby, some aim in life, something to get up for and try to achieve, the British explorer Fiennes once said that the secret to a long life was to plan to do something for the next day, even if you dont achieve it its something to look forward to.
Good point!
The problem is you can get all projects done and still bored, Philippines has no support after
Bingo. They are blogging and being drama queens otherwise they'd die of boredom. There is nothing for retired gringos to do in these countries except consume, drink, chase girls or be chased by girls. You can only enjoy so many beaches then it all becomes common.
@@burlenefranks5613bingo
Exactly.
I am an American expat living in Thailand and I’m a Buddhist. So Thailand is very comfortable for me. What is being said about language is true. Only in the major cities is English widely spoken. Many speak a little English and few are fluent. The notion of using a translator app as the principle means of communication is ridiculous. I tried it and the translations are poor and often miscommunicate what is trying to be said. Not to mention that Thai has many regional dialects that are totally different than mainstream Thai. Learning Thai is extremely difficult due to the tonality of the language. Sometimes it’s easy to feel isolated and that’s true even with a Thai partner. My partner speaks decent English but carrying a conversation with her is not the same as a native English speaker. All that being said, I love living in Thailand as the pros greatly exceed the cons. Is there adjustments that need to be made, yes, but the beautiful, kind and empathetic people, amazing culture, phenomenal food and breath taking scenery make Thailand one of the best countries to live in IMO.
Learning thai is not at all "extremely difficult" : compared to learning mandarin or cantonese (China languages) it is even relatively easy to study thai !
9:45 mark. That's the ticket! I'm married now for 16 years to my Filipina. First time I took my wife to Thailand she fell in love and we haven't visited Phils ever since. She adores Thailand and we'll retire there in 3 years at her request. Thailand did a smart thing 10 or so years ago. Now much of the restaurants, cafes, bars, shops are geared to women. Everything is an Instagram moment and they eat it up. The Thai's really try to quality meal with good presentation. It's very alluring to them. They feel safe, it's inexpensive and it's fun. Lots to like about Thailand. But Paul is right, the people aren't quite as friendly. So there are some definite trade offs. But Paul, marrying a Filipina and living in Thailand is a darned sweet idea.
Not been to Thailand but one thing I agree 100% on is that in general Filipinos are SUPER FRIENDLY!
Thailand going to tax your ass!!
What is the new tax law in Thailand 2024?
From 1 January B.E. 2567 (2024) onwards, any income brought into Thailand
shall be subject to income tax, according to instruction No. P 161/2566 under
Section 41 paragraph 2 of the Revenue Cod
Great interview! Great subject! Thanks for sharing. I am 75 living in Virginia, I lived in the Philippines for a while. Travel more than most! Europe, Asia, South America (I really liked the people in Ecuador). What I saw in Ecuador was similar to the Philippines. Rain, mud slides.
I like all the things Paul likes about the USA! Plus, there’s no place like home! Happy trails gentleman!
Fun fact: foreigners can actually own property in Ecuador. I’m talking about the land and all just like you would in the US.
For me when I am looking for a country to retire, I don't look at infrastructures, I look at how the people of that country will welcome me, how friendly they are. What brings joy to a person,s heart is when you are connected with the people and your interaction with them. Infrastructures, material things don't bring happiness it's people that bring you happiness
absolutely!
Lack of infrastructure can get old fast. No good excuse for triple work and tiresome frustrations
that's why Thailand is such a great choice
Wait until you have been there - done that - then circle back and let us know 😅
@@jimmy999-z2j I lived in Lapu Lapu for 2 years, then moved to Pattaya Thailand for 5 years. When Covid struck, I had to make a choice and I've been in Bacolod ever March 2020. It's a good life for me here but I'm a monger. I do miss the socialization with other expats in Thailand primarily because of pool league and pool tournaments at world class pool halls. I wish pool leagues existed here. Everything Old Dog says is pretty much true.
Right on the button regarding Thailand.I have lived here for 7 years.Everything great apart from the distance there will always be with Thai people.A lot to do with culture,religion ect.Sometimes you feel like your on another planet.Had many friendships with Thai males and females.Not many have endured..harping back to those differences.Have had a couple of trips to the Philippines.Yes Philippinos are worlds apart from Thai's.I am sure the Christian religion helps.
That's because Thais are xenophobic and nationalistic. They love farangs money, but never love the farang
Paul will head back to the states after he gets mae her visa
me too, holidayed in Thailand for 20 odd years, moved there to live, but the culture is so different and the way Thai's think is so different, talk about infrastructure inThailand, well it breaks down and takes ages to fix, then throw in the constant 90 day reports, yearly renewals, you never feel you are accepted, always different on a holiday. Food is great, but dont eat in the tourist areas, as it is expensive, beaches just as good in the Phillipines.
You are right- regardless of culture or race, Christians are all part of the family of God. You can feel it.
Ecuador was good 5 years ago. Now it's a play ground for columbian and peruvian narcos. Greetings from Switzerland.
Remember this Paul, " if" this is your wife's first experience abroad, everything new will be exciting for her including the food. She might have reacted the same way even if you brought her to Malaysia, Vietnam, Ecuador, etc. I have traveled to 6 countries myself and find some foods there good but not to the point to say their food is better than in my country. Because obviously I have an acquired taste for my country's food and saying that their food is better than ours is too much to say. Just saying.
My first impression as well.
Paul, I believe you should leave Dumagette. There are better places in PI with better infrastructure. One other option will be 6 months there and 6 months in another country. I hear Ecuador has government problems
I hope Paul does not stop vlogging...would be interesting to see his experience in Thailand
Great to hear Paul McGill’s comparison of Thailand and the Philippines 🇵🇭. Yes, he’s an accomplished storyteller!
My brother married a woman from Ecudor. They were married for over 50 years, and they died only three weeks apart from each other from COVID-19. They made many trips to Ecudor and loved every minute of it. 🙂
Probably both on ventilators...?
I have spent tons of time in Peru 🇵🇪 and drove up into Ecuador - I prefer Ecuador and being on the US dollar makes budgeting and spending so easy
Good call. How come no one dies of COVID at home but in hospital. MASSIVE RED FLAG.@@johnnypastrana6727
Paul old dog you will be greatly missed if you stop blogging you are one of my favourite channels thank you both for the video
I won’t miss him.
Really
There's honestly no comparison these days between Thailand and the Philippines, Thailand is objectively the clear winner in almost every category.
HOWEVER there are a couple important categories where the Philippines is the obvious the winner and those categories may be the most important for you.
So one would be English being spoken everywhere which is obviously huge for many people, especially people who are looking to date or get married where there is going to be much less of a culture barrier if she's Filpina as it's an English speaking ( after Tagalog obviously) Christian country.
The 2nd big winner is the visa situation. 3 years no questions asked on arrival and then easily extendable.
Thailand it's MUCH less generous and constantly evolving. Even if you pay through the nose with elite visa you STILL have to do 90 day reporting. All expats do not matter which visa they are on.
HOWEVER, for everything else Thailand wins I think.
Food in restaurants both local and international options - much better and better priced.
Groceries and markets - much better selection at better prices.
Accommodation - much higher quality at a much lower price point.
Transportation and infrastructure - no comparison
Regional and long haul flight options/ price - no comparison
Culture, temples etc - no comparison
Hotel accommodation and quality - no comparison ( Thailand is best in world not just Asia)
Electronics and consumer goods prices and quality - no comparison
Luxury shipping malls - Thailand clear winner
And on and on
A little update for you - the 10 year pensioner LTR visa does not require 90 day reports. We report if we stay inside Thailand 1 year.
Also, the most common visa used by retirees is the nonimmigrant O visa and nothing has changed about that visa for the 7 years I’ve been in Thailand.
@@martypollGood to hear about the increase from 90 days to a year of course - but it's still pretty uncompetitive compared to most SE Asian countries and certainly the Philippines l.
Also I'd encourage people to read through the exact financial terms of that LTR visa as they'll need deepish pockets.
Finally, I get my information from Thai Embassy website directly as well as news sources like The Thaiger.
The Thaiger has talked many times in the past few years about the number of changes ( mostly unhelpful) on visa conditions and its effect on would be expats/ retirees.
Maybe Tim is illinformed or just a liar but I've met him more than once and he seemed a genuine guy to me.
Overall I think Thailand is a great option as I thought my comment made clear and was expecting the Philippines folk to come for me - not Thai expats defending the visa program 😂
For me if and when I leave HK finally after more than 30 years it'll likely be for Malaysia which edges Thailand for me in a few areas and particularly on visa situation.
But I'll still visit the kingdom regularly from there so best of both worlds
You have to explore while you can. Luckily, Paul can watch the new experiences through Baby Mae's eyes. That sense of amazement is very interesting to watch. Many places usually have something special but you will never know until you go and try it out.
I am married to a Filipina, but live in Thailand. Filipina wife is incredible, facilities in Thailand are great. Lao is the best part of Asia to live in, I lived there for 14 years and lived in Cambodia for 13 years before that, very good in Cambodia, but Lao was better. My son still lives in Lao and is married to a Lao lady who is just a great wife and mother. Thailand is the best when it comes to medical matters, which is why I now live in Thailand. I am now 79 and my wife is 51 and life has never been better.
Old dog you are such a charismatic and delightful man, and your laughter is contagious. 😊 What ever you and Mae decide to do in life, I wish only the best for both of you. God Speed
I can't leave. I need to teach all the customers at my local Robinsons how to check out efficiently. It is like herding cats. I live in Metro Manila, I have none of the issues discussed.
This is an important video as Paul succinctly explains the good and bad of PH. Firstly the people are lovely and welcoming. The country is beautiful with volcanoes, mountains, beaches and lush tropical vegetation. It can be an easygoing lifestyle for holiday or to live. Now some problems- Paul’s wife Mae gives us an insight into perhaps the biggest problem - Food - In Mae’s own words she was amazed at how much better the food is in Thailand- She’s Filipino and not a complaining foreigner. The other issues infrastructure and brownouts. I found the internet to be tolerable.
I have lived now for 14 years in Thailand.
Sadly I have never been to the Philippines.
Before I go any further I am only going to mention food.
I have been to Vietnam and Malaysia.
To me both these countries beat Thailand hands down for the food in many ways.
Goodluck Paul and Mae.
Perhaps and I really hope we meet up.
I will keep a eye on where you are.
I think you are correct about the women/wives.
Yeah, Another thing is Visa AFAIK ..
@@les8518 My favorite place is Labuan, Malaysia and I love Brunei also. But can't immigrate there
It’s cheaper in thailand but the people can be hard to talk to as they can’t speak english and are snooty
Hello Paul and Paul: I wish you both the best in your adventures. I have lived in several countries before settling in the US. With humility, I admit that my wife and I have done well in our careers and so have our children. We chose to retire here. We are also fortunate that we can return to visit Asia every few years. We do, however, feel just a tad guilty for leaving our relatives behind, and compensate for these by sending money home monthly. Bottom line: I think how happy we are as we grow older depends on blessings from the Big Chief or some would call it “good luck”. Ultimately, the biggest factor is HEALTH.
I have traveled vastly throughout the Philippines as well as to other countries as I have worked abroad for roughly 15 out of the last 17 years. I am currently working on the U.S. Navy base in the country of Bahrain...which is directly across the Saudi bridge, and only a 1-hour flight to Dubai. My partner (Filipina) also works here as a Finance Manager. Filipinas are great travel and life companions. We will be touring Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos in March of 2024.
Excellent. Sounds like you work for private contractors that are hired by the military. Those can be some of the best jobs with maximum freedom to enjoy the country where your at.
I have been living in Spain for a while now and I love it. We live a small town and the people are excellent. Portugal was a nice place as well
What is your main source of income? May I ask what you do? Im curious because I want to move to Malaga or another part of Spain outside the main centro areas
My personal take on the number one reason of many: The loneliness of the English speaking Philippine expat is a primary reason for choosing the Philippines over Thailand. You need to be able to talk with people, someone, anyone. Once you are in a committed relationship and have someone to bounce things off of, at home, the Philippines probably loses some luster. You don’t feel like so much of an alien in a non-English speaking country anymore.
Nothing is permanent, enjoy exploring Paul, we’re all short timers here.
Good luck with your plan Paul. Anywhere we go the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and it's okay to explore. Your wife will probably enjoy the adventure for a time and then realizes that the Philippines is home sweet home.
the grass is definitely much greener in Thailand
As of Jan 1, 2024, the grass in Thailand will be much less green for expat retirees who reside there or are considering it. The Thai tax laws are amended to require taxation of all funds brought into the country. So now you'll potentially be paying taxes of up to 35% on your retirement income. 🙄
@@realpropertymangement7640Not to mention the horrible visas there ...
@@mactravel112In what way?
Just need to make sure you arent a thai tax resident which means you dont stay there for more than 180 days
Good conversation. I think a lot of this has to do with each persons individual budget. If you can afford to keep a house in your home country and another in an Asian country, you can split your time in addition to traveling and visiting other countries annually.
Dumaguete's infrastructure and constant brownouts are about the worst in the Philippines. Have you considered another part of the Philippines?
It's nice to see Paul Old Dog New Tricks. He's a funny guy. Thailand is much more advanced in terms of infrastructure, hospitals etc. I enjoy it in Thailand. I've been to Dumaguete and Cebu and it was interesting, but yea the Philippines is a little too underdeveloped for me in terms of a place to settle.
A Chinese friend of mine told me a few months ago that the current state of the Philippines was how China was 20yrs ago. His point was that Philippines would soon be catching up based on what he saw in the Philippines currently happening that was also similar in China.
I agree 100%. I'm only here to find my woman (and the options are plentiful) but realistically the Philippines is too underdeveloped even for me who isn't a fancy person to begin with
Thanks
You're welcome! Appreciate that!
Well Paul it was your choice to live in a less developed area of the Philippines so that’s what you get trying to save money I suppose. Any place will look fantastic compared to where you were living.
To be fair in comparison you need to find an equivalent area or cost of living house size with surroundings for the same price.
Lived in the Philippines for over 10 years and initially stayed 2 hour drive outside Manila and had the same issues until I moved to Manila.
Now no issues with internet no brown outs or issues with hospital care, restaurants in every food taste available, you can find groceries from overseas availability in most places.
Easy access to the airports domestic and international.
Paul your experience is of an undeveloped island and you seem burned out with the area. You should have stayed closer to Manila but I am guessing your budget would not handle it. Hope you enjoy wherever you end up and it’s safe and affordable for you. Going to be issues with your wife’s passport as many countries will not issue visas to Philippine citizens.
Exactly 💯!
Filipinos do not need a VISA to visit Thailand, it's one of the few countries this is true.
I hope Paul will be happy where ever he and Mae is going
I have followed Dan for years. I’ve check out his top 10 personally and I agree. I think it’s great that Paul and Mae are leaving. Good for them! It’s a big world. I’m a slow traveler and it’s a great way to keep vibrant, alive and growing. How hard is it to take a Filipina abroad, not the US?
He’s not going anywhere.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but as far as I know all a Filipino needs is their passport and to secure a visa to whatever country they are visiting. Some countries it’s much easier for a Filipino to get a tourist visa to.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can avail you better than I have.
I plan to do the same. I'm in the Philippines for acquisition only, and I've already found the two province girls that would make great wives and mothers. The lack of healthy food options and second worst internet in the world only to Sri Lanka is what makes me know I'm not going to be in the Philippines long term.
Philippines is for acquisition 😂
@@AForeignerAskingQuestions you are correct indeed
If a Filipino goes out of the country they have to pay a 1600peso exit fee.Then say you went to Live in Thailand you would have to pay 2 visa fees for you and your partner?
Good video. I think both Philippines and Thailand have mostly good aspects with some problems. Each individual has their own perspective about where they are happiest. I do think the idea of traveling around the world to see the different cultures and people is very enriching.
Thailand is bhuddism while Philippines is very diverse you see catholic and Christian churches, and the sign you’ll be able to read it both English and Tagalog, unlike Thailand you can’t read the sign
It can also be very lonely. Setting down roots and being part of a community can be better than drifting all the time
Not a bit tiring, no?
Foreigners who lives in a certain country for a long time and then they decide to leave and live somewhere else is just normal. But saying not so good things about the country you are leaving leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Always remember that if you stayed in a country for years there are reasons for it and mostly maybe good. So don't leave badmouthing the previous host country. Maybe just say you wanted a new environment. The locals who followed you might misinterpret you.
There are two primary reasons most men move to the Philippines number one is the women, second on the list would be the cost of living or affordability, being able to meet these two needs will cause many people to overlook the lack of development, but once you have these needs met, a permanent relationship, and you have a means to live elsewhere there is really very little incentive to tolerate the inefficiencies and lack of development.
It's sad as an old dog that you can't be content at such an advanced age, I suggest getting outta the village there in Dumaguete and hit Makati, BGC, Filinvest City, you don't have the problems there with the infrastructure. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I'm an expat here Phil's now 17 years, and have been to 67 countries, just saying.
I understand Paul's frustrations, but where I live in lower Michigan today is perfect for me because I invested the time and effort to make this my home.
When I started out the phone service was a joke, power outages were regular and don't even get me started on the internet, but today these problems are solved. I have a garage big enough to meet my needs and more than enough room here to move in my new family one day.
I hope he finds what he is looking for.
A few countries mentioned are quoted as very attractive like Portugal and Panama, but a few Not mentioned that are equally if not more prominent are Uraguay and Paraguay which are very well known for their affordability, beaches and the people which make the whole experience all the more worth seeing... A very good Channel to follow is The Nomad Capitalist which gives us an in-depth view from an International accountant who gave up his US passport and replaced it with 5 new passports of the spots he sees as economically viable places to retire. Glad to see you back in action Paul and maraming salamat for sharing your experiences and special thanks to Paul Old Dog with a fresh view on the goings on in the places he recently visited.
I'm leaving Iloilo for thailand next month. I travel slowly but often for many of the same reasons you guys talked about.
I've said this many times on other channels. Portugal, Panama, Ecuador, Thailand, etc. are NOT English speaking countries. Try living there full time when you can't speak the language. You'll spend your time looking for other English speakers. I know this because I go to Panama often but only for short periods, basically R&R.
Good video, but for the couples that have a school age kid or kids that idea of moving around from country to country is probably not practical. But if you are an older expat with a Filipina with no kids and she's willing to leave her family, why not! I think the only issue you might have as an older guy is healthcare and language barriers. If you were to have a major medical event like stroke or heart attack which is pretty common for us older guys you better not be to far from quality hospital and have money or insurance on hand to pay. I guess it's just a matter of doing your due diligence before you move.
I live in Thailand because it’s more convenient and efficient.
Thailand is nice and the people are nice. However, the immigration policies and constant evolving requirements for expats are suffocating. I lived in Chiang Mai for 2 years and grew exhausted with having to report to the immigration every 90 days. It was always overcrowded and almost every time there was some new document or something not listed on the immigration website. No thanks. Brown outs? Get a portable generator and backup batteries. The power goes out in Thailand too. If you can deal with the immigration hassals, it's a wonderful place.
You guys would be very happy in Thailand, it simply all works whereas in the Philippines it does not and it will never work, PH is a mess forever. The ideal is to live about 20 minutes outside of the well-known tourist areas. ( Affordable ) Hence; East Pattaya, and Turtle Beach is not too far from Phuket etc.,
Sri Lanka is very attractive and about 30% cheaper than Thailand, there is no language problem since most of the population speaks English, and housing is about 50% lower! Exploring Sri Lanka now and it does not disappoint, Sri Lanka is now where Thailand was 30 years ago, but it all works in SL and the Visa is easy.
What I am hearing about Ecuador is that the drug cartels have taken over and are at war with each other. So I would not recommend it.
I enjoy watching pauls channel. I agree hes very good at telling his stories i find myself paying full attention when watching his videos.i am new at this traveling thing, been in the Philippines since November 6 2023. I am still to young for retirement so i will be going back to Canada to work in the spring then leaving again before winter comes. Take care guys and be safe.
Good decision! Thailand is a much much better country. But why did it take you 15 years ? 6 months would've been enough time to decide.
I like the idea of home basing in the Philippines and traveling with my wife 15:00 from there. First of all, the destinations never get boring, but are always a wonder. Then second, I can enjoy the warm family relations when we get back from traveling. We both love cruises because it is always entertaining and low stress. Unfortunately for traveling, we are making the goal of the next two years building rental properties, garden building, and we are buying a small farm.
Lived in Bangkok for 17 months. For me the best thing was not needing a car. Back in America I feel I’m hemorrhaging money just on auto expenses 😩
My car insurance in Las Vegas was 400 USD a month on a 2018 Cadillac XTS, no tickets in 30 years, many uninsured, unlicenced drunk Illegals on the road.
Two good guys with exciting futures. All the best to you both!
Excellent audio! Very cost effective. you rock!
His channel does not seem to be there
The problem with Thailand is there's some places without 7-11s.
.The Luck of descent infrastructure is getting me. Transport is so bad, it takes so long to get anywhere.
This subject/question continues to captivate me (good on the Pauls for delving into it). I’ve been in a relationship with a Filipina since 2019 and keep returning to the PH with the idea that, this time, I will be able to look past all of the challenges and the frustrations. I just ‘failed’ again and flew from Manila to Vietnam at the conclusion of my 30 days. I am (we are) fortunate in that my girlfriend is able to travel freely to Europe, USA, Canada, etc.
As it is, I have no desire to return to North America to live, but given the other options available, it is difficult to imagine settling long-term in the PH.
Yes.... BUT.... foreigners can not really own property in Thailand:(
So if ppl think philippines is difficult (property laws), then they have not experienced Thailand property regimes.
And with a filipina wife... she would also be a foreigner. So can never really own anything in Thailand.
Small correction... foreigners CAN own minority stakes, but the majority stake (which HAS TO BE a thailand national) can overrun any minority owner. Minority ownership is worthless in thailand.
Many westerners has gotten burned in thailand when it comes to ownership of property etc.
Even thinking their 40% share or something actually gave them at least protection of 40% of the assets. But no,not in reality.
So dangerous enough with a thai wife (due to high divorce rate among westerners with thai wives). But even higher risk if the majority owner is some non-spouse owner. (Which has no emotional insentive to NOT scr.w you over).
Thailand is great in all the things you said.
The downsides i think is: lamguage barrier, thai are mostly budhists(not bad, but different then philippines christians). Property laws are even more scarrier in thailand.
And in philippines almost everyone is inviting and friendly.
In thailand people are nice, but cant compare to philippines even by a mile.
And i think promiscuity is much higher in thailand.
Browns outs drama crappy internet .
That’s the difference between a government that pushes, and watches the people so that all taxes are paid properly.
In the Philippines, so many people try to cheat on pay taxes, but what they don’t understand is that they are also hurting their own government, their livelihood, and the success of their country
The taxes from your land taxes on your motorcycle.
All that stuff is used to fix the roads to provide water to provide proper sanitation sewage lines provide schools for teachers that are paid enough to provide the education to bring the children into the next generation.
Yes and no.
Look at Belgium in the EU.
People over there, pay taxes, almost the highest of Europe, on income.
Yet, the country has almost the highest debt/deficit of the EU.
Paying taxes doesn't guarantee anything, when politicians steal the money, throw with it, or just give it away.
I enjoyed your interview style. Felt very comfortable and relaxed
I follow both of you from the beginning.
I am in Thailand every year for 2 months.
Was planing to go to the Philippines....but I think I will newer do.
Thailand is not perfect... but good food, accommodation , land, and people are nice.
The worst are por expats with arogat and crasy behavior... but can easily avoid them.
Bdw...I am from EU....was Spain many time same Portugal, Have caravan in Croatia...many time in Greece...Cyprus........
But Thailand is my no 1.
Regards, both of you.!!!
Seriously it took you that long to figure that out. Ohhh.
I'm think you are genuinely a good person. Life is short love and seize the moment
I will only appreciate Paul old Dog for his attitude and comments after a few years away from the Philippines.
It's a big world, Mr. McGill. Enjoy.
This is awesome! If you have the budget to travel and live in other countries for a year would be such a cool adventure! That’s a great idea! Let baby Mae work her channel and Vlog your adventures.
Thailand is great Paul, but the VISAs can be a pain to deal with unless you’re willing to fork out a lot of dough.
I just spent 14 months in the Philippines...left for Thailand but should have gone to Cambodia. I am in an old area of Bangkok in a nice Hotel away from most Tourism...not far from the River...using a new Hospital for Surgery one block away. Thailand is getting more Expensive but the quality level is 4x to the Philippines....what ???no high fence and razor wire around all the Homes and locked steel Gates?...motorcycle Drivers are a problem here too but not as crazy and reckless as in PI...Sidewalks are Wide and Clear mostly..and are used by crapy scooter traffic but there is room for you to walk and its not a broken sidewalk. VISAs are the Issue here...Rents are 1/3 to 1/2 for a nice Condo compared to the Philippines.I can Communicate with the Educated Thai or the Tourist area Thai...but actually hang around an old Chinese Market and drink my Beer there...no English but friendly colorful People and a lot of Cats.I am a Traveler and not a Tourist...i dive Deep. Philippines is now all about Motor Vehicles and a rich middle Class...a more broken infrastructure than 30 years ago...just more frosting on an old unimproved Cake. I hate the exit Clearance crap. Really,?
I am Italian I totally feel at home here (Duaguete) still
For Paul: Thailand is going to tax foreigner's income from Jan 2024. You need to check visa status for you and Mae if you are living here long term. Yes, the people are not warm and friendly and rare to find English speaking, unlike PH.
The End of an Era .... This is as Sad as when Michael Jordan Retire the First Time!!!
SAD --
Anyone who have been there, this is no surprise. The real question is: why has Thailand (along with other SE Asian nations), have surpassed the Philippines? Manila was the 'pearl of asia' and leading the region in the 1960's. What happened? PS - Singapore is the most advanced country in the world. Malaysia more advanced also, maybe even more than Thailand.
Aside from the corrupt politicians, Phils is the only ASEAN country with active communist rebels and Muslim secessionists and terrorists. That alone is a huge impediment to the development.
No country is perfect. If you are unhappy living in one place then go ahead and live somewhere else. Just keep in mind that each country is unique. A country's culture, infrastructure, food and people's attitude are borne out of various factors such as its history, politics, religion and even its geographical location.
Most Expats leave the Philippines within 5 years.
Were are you best.
Old guys we are all on the way out.
No matter what you have limited time.
Aloha Paul and Paul! For true happiness, you need to explore and venture out of your comfort zone. I’ve lived in Philippines off and on and I just bought a place in Thailand for the modern amenities. Even here I like to get out of the country. Nepal is really impressive and no one talks about it; as is Ecuador. The tall mountains are good for the soul. To me, six months in America is ideal
scary earthquakes though,,,,,hahahahaha
You can have a beer with a Filipino. Thais? NO WAY! Apart from that, yep - Thailands development is 30+ years ahead of Philippines. It is what it is. Property rentals in Thailand are way cheaper than Philippines and infrastructure is far superior. The only thing superior in the Philippines is THE PEOPLE. In general, the friendliest and most welcoming in Asia by far.x
Everything goes bad in Philippines. When dealing with immigration/security at the airport, the guards at the Manila hotels it's like talking to children who are trying to boss you around.
Sad thing is even for farangs (kanus) with pension, it's difficult to get a retirement visa. A filipino wife would have an even more difficult time, and having a farang husband doesn't help here. Your considered separate. You will definetly being doing visa runs.
Im happy to see you doing videos Paul! 😀
One of the best things I've experienced in my time has been the traveling. Good, bad or indifferent, it's the seeing new places, meeting new people, learning about other cultures. Perhaps it's just the excitement of learning new things, but sitting in one place too long tends to just get on my nerves. I'd simply grown up moving around every few years, so it just became natural to move, learn about the area, then move on to another place for a while.
Yes move around the area where you live. Go island hopping. Philippines has so many island to see.
Thailand is nice and cheap, if only they had a better retirement VISA, and people cant speak English as much as in PI
I will miss you Paul in the Philippines but I agree you have to see other spots which suit you. You have the Philippines to come back to in case you become location fatigued again. I accepted already the lack of infrastructure there,traffic , slow document processing etc. BUT I counted a lot pros than cons .To me that is very personal and subjective of course as we all have different thresholds. Take care Paul and Mae enjoy your Freedom. More blessings and happiness your way.
@arentol99
How difficult is it to get a non-tourist visa in Thailand? (ie. To reside long term)
From visiting both Thailand & the Philippines, i agree with you: Thailand is tops!
Good to see you back and making content!
No matter where you go there you are !🥸
Dan from vagerbond awake said the Philippines was his favourite place, now old dog said Dan told him Bali was his favourite place. Someone is talking bullshit...which one ? You decide.
Two points ...
Spain is very expensive, Old dog you'll struggle to survive on your fixed income there. You might be able to rent a goat shed in the hills and thats about it
Thailand...The language barrier makes it hard to get by outside of tourist hotspots. Also Thai people are very nationalistic and xenophobic. They love the farangs money, but don't love the farang.
One final point, old dog is exactly that, OLD. Jumping around from place to place takes its toll. I get the feeling he is deluding himself somewhat with regards to that.
where their interest serves them best, that will be their best.
I dont get why guys stay so long in dumaguete to begin with.
True and they complain after staying for years.
College girls. There are big colleges there.
How do you guys handle the high heat and humidity in the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam especially as older people???? Including all the health related issues, prescription meds, etc ??
I have been traveling in Asia for the past four months. Besides Thailand, I was very impressed with Malaysia. 15:00
I absolutely LOVE Ecuador! Definitely check it out. I backpacked it for 3 months. And I’ve been going back and forth from the Philippines for 20
Years.
Mr. Paul...You can go anywhere where ever you want outside the Philippines to try something new. That's nice. Thank you for your honesty that your wife and you want to try another country to live.Good Luck to your journey. Yes, you've been in the Philippines for so long so, It's time to move on.
I love it here in the PI and I hate it.
The Philippines is great. If you are tired......visit Thailand! Nothing wrong with Dumaguete!
When i get tired of the Philippines i go to Thailand for a month, it's such a relief to get out of the Philippines on regular basis
Hiking in Thailand, I have been invited to join wonderful family picnics several times. Great food, conversation (language allowing) and a wee smoke.