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teretere
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
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 Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:52 pm Post subject: Seoul vs SE Asia |
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An opportunity has come up to live in SE Asia. Thailand, Laos, or the Philippines.
Anyone who's lived in both able to compare life in Seoul (specifically, Hongdae or Hyehwa) to life in the cities of any of these countries, and which you prefer for quality of life and enjoyment? |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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wow. compare two neighborhoods in seoul to entire countries? what an odd question.
what kind of answer are you looking for?!!?
Let's see
The Philippines has more parking spaces than Hongdae.
The average temperature in Thailand is higher than that of Hyehwa. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd pick Thailand. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Seoul vs SE Asia |
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| teretere wrote: |
An opportunity has come up to live in SE Asia. Thailand, Laos, or the Philippines.
Anyone who's lived in both able to compare life in Seoul (specifically, Hongdae or Hyehwa) to life in the cities of any of these countries, and which you prefer for quality of life and enjoyment? |
I have residences in Korea, Philippines and Thailand.
Do you have any specific questions ...
like, "how hot are the ladies at Nana Plaza?"
or perhaps, "can you really do that on the beach at Sabang?"
or, is the mall of Asia really the biggest in Asia?"
or are you just blowing smoke out your butt and shopping around cause you need to find a new country to work in?
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teretere
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, for example, what are the best cities in Thailand or the Philippines to live in outside of Bangkok and Manila, for quality of life, based on your personal profiles? |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| If pay and other factors were all equal, I'd choose Thailand. |
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Waluigi
Joined: 09 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
| If pay and other factors were all equal, I'd choose Thailand. |
Yep, nail on the head for me.
If the pay was the same in Thailand, I believe hardly anybody would choose to come to Korea.
I've lived in both and can honestly say it is much more fun and the quality of life is a lot better in Thailand. Here's a couple of reasons:
- When you have holiday time there's a multitude of beautiful islands, beaches, jungles and mountains to explore.... all relatively close to you.
- The food. So many different delicious and cheap dishes available, and so much choice. Unlike Korea, the street food in Thailand is actually great food and amazingly good value. Also fresh fruit is abundant, everywhere and cheap (the ridiculous prices and low quality of fruit being something I particularly struggle with here).
- Women are smoking hot and a lot more down to earth than Korean women.
- A LOT of Western stuff available if any craving hits you (especially in bangkok around the Soi Thonglo area... I'm thinking Villa Market, one of the most brilliant shops I've ever been to!)
- People more friendly to strangers.
It's not that I don't like aspects of Korea, but for me Thailand just beats it hands down in most departments. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| teretere wrote: |
| Well, for example, what are the best cities in Thailand or the Philippines to live in outside of Bangkok and Manila, for quality of life, based on your personal profiles? |
This is assuming you won't have any visa issues to contend with and have access to cash to subsist on without depending on outside employment (internet access outside of the major cities is poor at best)?
You won't get a work visa for the Philippines unless you are married to a Pinay (13a). You can spend an extended period of time on tourist visa extensions (up to 2 years) but you will pay for them (about $500 per year).
Staying long term in Thailand without a "B" visa and work permit (legal job) or Thai wife and "O" visa is problematic at best and can border on impossible for others.
If you are looking for western comforts in the Philippines, then places like Cebu, Davao, Tagbilaran (among many others) tend to be affordable and convenient (access to creature comforts and entertainment).
If you want similar in Thailand, then the Big Mango is the place to be. You can however be comfortable in just about any provincial capital (Muang) with access to most creature comforts, broadband internet and entertainment.
If you may have visa issues to deal with then either someplace close to the border (Cambodia or Laos) would be in order (to do your twice monthly visa runs). The far south is a little "risky" even for the likes of me.
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Seoulmann
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:24 am Post subject: |
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the day thailand starts paying 2 million won with free housing to teachers
is the day Korea can't find waygooks to teach anymore. |
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Globutron
Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Location: England/Anyang
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:15 am Post subject: |
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You can just ask people on the *thailand* part of this website.
I read a lot of bad things on that page from people currently there.
I went to thailand for only a few days but that was enough to give me my opinion - given the research I did too.
I personally would never be able to live in Bangkok - FRIENDLY just means they want to sell you something and will try and form a relationship with you so there is too much pressure for you to say no.
Thai girls are NOT hot, to me. I find them about 2% as attractive as Koreans, about 5% as attractive as Japanese.
I walk around here and its like 'mm, nice... nice... very nice'
I walked around there and was like 'oo nice...' One time, when I saw a couple of Koreans.
Bangkok was TOO western. Here, most people are teachers and so it's fair to say the majority will have some sort of intelligence within them.
Not the same in Bangkok. I hated all westerners there. Apart from all the Germans. They were cool.
I would find myself going insane in Bangkok. The only reason I apply it to the rest of Thailand is because of what I read on this website about the horrible teaching conditions and so forth. But I won't stick to my guns on that section.
And since the OP said ASIDE from Bangkok, my post is effectively moot. Or MUTE, as some say. |
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nero
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:37 am Post subject: |
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There seemed to be plenty of teachers having an interesting time in Vientienne last time I went. It is relatively western - in some ways easier to get things done than Seoul. You won't make much money but it is cheaper and far more 'wild westish' than Seoul. It was nice enough that I considered teaching there.
I taught in Thailand at a private school in the country and it was quite similar in terms of 'getting things done' to Korea. Everything left to the last minute etc but there is a much more pervasive 'Mai Bpen Rai' attitude. They were far more relaxed about life and I felt more relaxed.
I don't know about the Phillipines but given the grade of English spoken by the natives I don't know if they require native English teachers over there.
BTW you can find decent paying jobs in Thailand. I still managed to save. I worked 8 lessons a week and got about $1,200 and free housing and 2 meals a day. You just need to look around.
The market over there is pretty flooded. Avoid Chaing Mai. There is a popular Celta? course up there and most of the applicants get placed in the area. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| Seoulmann wrote: |
the day Thailand starts paying 2 million won with free housing to teachers
is the day Korea can't find waygooks to teach anymore. |
I get 60k baht (2.3 million won) per month for 24 classes of 50 min per week / 40 hours clock time), just about 4 months paid vacation (Oct. March, April, 20 days in May), a 3 bedroom house and they pay the visa "B", and work permit fees.
Is that close>?
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Waluigi
Joined: 09 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| Globutron wrote: |
You can just ask people on the *thailand* part of this website.
I read a lot of bad things on that page from people currently there.
I went to thailand for only a few days but that was enough to give me my opinion - given the research I did too.
I personally would never be able to live in Bangkok - FRIENDLY just means they want to sell you something and will try and form a relationship with you so there is too much pressure for you to say no.
Thai girls are NOT hot, to me. I find them about 2% as attractive as Koreans, about 5% as attractive as Japanese.
I walk around here and its like 'mm, nice... nice... very nice'
I walked around there and was like 'oo nice...' One time, when I saw a couple of Koreans.
Bangkok was TOO western. Here, most people are teachers and so it's fair to say the majority will have some sort of intelligence within them.
Not the same in Bangkok. I hated all westerners there. Apart from all the Germans. They were cool.
I would find myself going insane in Bangkok. The only reason I apply it to the rest of Thailand is because of what I read on this website about the horrible teaching conditions and so forth. But I won't stick to my guns on that section.
And since the OP said ASIDE from Bangkok, my post is effectively moot. Or MUTE, as some say. |
From reading that I know you stayed either around the Khao San Road, or around the Sukhumvit area. Saying those areas are Bangkok is like saying Itaewon is Seoul.
Bangkok has some awesome places, you just have to get off the (severely) beaten path to find them.
As for the women, we'll have to agree to disagree  If I'm right and you did stay in those areas though, you just saw hookers pretty much so you can't really comment on thai women in general. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| Waluigi wrote: |
| If I'm right and you did stay in those areas though, you just saw hookers pretty much so you can't really comment on thai women in general. |
I call BS. Khaosan and the surrounding area is a popular nightlife district for middle class Thais. Don't go around giving newbs the impression that any girl they see there can be purchased. And honestly, the times I've been on Khaosan I can't remember once seeing any sex for sale. Pat Pong, on the other hand... |
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Globutron
Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Location: England/Anyang
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| Waluigi wrote: |
| Globutron wrote: |
You can just ask people on the *thailand* part of this website.
I read a lot of bad things on that page from people currently there.
I went to thailand for only a few days but that was enough to give me my opinion - given the research I did too.
I personally would never be able to live in Bangkok - FRIENDLY just means they want to sell you something and will try and form a relationship with you so there is too much pressure for you to say no.
Thai girls are NOT hot, to me. I find them about 2% as attractive as Koreans, about 5% as attractive as Japanese.
I walk around here and its like 'mm, nice... nice... very nice'
I walked around there and was like 'oo nice...' One time, when I saw a couple of Koreans.
Bangkok was TOO western. Here, most people are teachers and so it's fair to say the majority will have some sort of intelligence within them.
Not the same in Bangkok. I hated all westerners there. Apart from all the Germans. They were cool.
I would find myself going insane in Bangkok. The only reason I apply it to the rest of Thailand is because of what I read on this website about the horrible teaching conditions and so forth. But I won't stick to my guns on that section.
And since the OP said ASIDE from Bangkok, my post is effectively moot. Or MUTE, as some say. |
From reading that I know you stayed either around the Khao San Road, or around the Sukhumvit area. Saying those areas are Bangkok is like saying Itaewon is Seoul.
Bangkok has some awesome places, you just have to get off the (severely) beaten path to find them.
As for the women, we'll have to agree to disagree If I'm right and you did stay in those areas though, you just saw hookers pretty much so you can't really comment on thai women in general. |
Yeah my hotel was there but I explored way out as much as I could - Hour bus journeys and the like. It's the general Thai-asian features I just don't appreciate. Body shape and all. I don't think I actually saw any hookers. I was invited to ping pong sexy shows and the like but never accepted.
But yeah it's only a little experience but better than nothing. Enough to let me know I would never want to live there, anywho. |
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