Post: #51

(04-03-2014 08:10 AM)the-dream Wrote:  That would be perfect for me but I screwed up high school so would have to go back to that first before going to university.

Right now, I'd rather just go forward in my life instead of backwards. I'd love to mix with students or even live with them wherever I choose to go though. Would you recommend Thailand above anywhere else?

Maybe enrolling in some language classes at the local university would be a good idea. You'd still meet young local people that way while cruising around campus, you get that structure that is so important in a party location, and knowing language opens lots of doors.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #52

(04-03-2014 08:10 AM)the-dream Wrote:  That would be perfect for me but I screwed up high school so would have to go back to that first before going to university.

Right now, I'd rather just go forward in my life instead of backwards. I'd love to mix with students or even live with them wherever I choose to go though. Would you recommend Thailand above anywhere else?

mixing with Thais is not like mixing with people back home in the UK. Usually the level of dialect is minimum and kept very basic.They don't banter like us from the UK, and its not all that easy to be accepted in there "circles" . 5 Thais and one falang, means they all got to speak English, two problems, one: Thais are lazy to speak English, two: they will be shy to speak it . Much easier to drop the falang and take Thai between themselves.

Thai people are great, but dont expect to be making any great connections in Thailand with Thais, there friendships even with one another are fickle.

Thai people are interesting and all, but the culture clash of east vs west is too much, we are on two different wave lengths, with to many variables to make good friends or hang with them on a weekly basis. Sometimes id be stuck in my apartment, and after a week or so of talking to Thais who work/live in my building, I would go insane looking for some decent conversation and I'd end up calling one of my friends for a few drinks.

Post: #53

Keep in mind that you're in your prime language learning years, so it makes sense to focus on that at this stage of your life. There will always be third-world countries ripe for partying later in life.

With that in mind, there are a few places where you can study languages on the cheap:

Spain - already mentioned.

Portugal - also cheap at the moment.

Greece - the language isn't so useful, but it's one of the classics.

Baltics if you are interested in learning Russian. Daugavpils and Riga have the most Russian speakers. Tallinn also has quite a few. Most non-Russians in the Baltics speak English well, so you won't have trouble getting around and finding things.

Everywhere in China is relatively cheap. I wouldn't live there long-term because of the pollution, but for a few years it's fine.

I don't mean to write off Thailand, Poland, etc. as places where you would have a great time, but the prospect of learning the local languages is usually not very attractive.

Post: #54

(04-03-2014 08:34 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 08:10 AM)the-dream Wrote:  That would be perfect for me but I screwed up high school so would have to go back to that first before going to university.

Right now, I'd rather just go forward in my life instead of backwards. I'd love to mix with students or even live with them wherever I choose to go though. Would you recommend Thailand above anywhere else?

Maybe enrolling in some language classes at the local university would be a good idea. You'd still meet young local people that way while cruising around campus, you get that structure that is so important in a party location, and knowing language opens lots of doors.

Yeah that's a great idea, thanks! I'll look into where is cheap to go and learn a language I'd like to learn.

Post: #55

A little update on this - I've made $1000 online in both March and April and am planning on quitting my job in August, by when I will have at least 10k saved up.

I was thinking that living with Erasmus students and living their lifestyle without having to do any of the actual studying would be pretty awesome, seeing as I'd be in pretty much the same boat as them. Does anyone know any hotspots for this or have any advice on how to get a house with them and how I could do this?

I just wanted to reopen this thread to get some more ideas as it's looking like more and more of a reality!

My current uninformed plan is as follows...

August - quit job and go on one or two cheap holidays with friends
September - live with parents and work on online stuff
October, November - move to London (before you say I'm crazy, this will help a lot with my online stuff)
December, January, February - Just as the UK is starting to get cold and grim and before London eats too much into my bank account, move to Thailand and live life)

After that, I imagine I'll be in a totally different situation to where I am now and have a different outlook so I'll re-evaluate from there.

The second half of 2014 is about to be amazing! I'd really appreciate any more advice as it's been top quality so far

Post: #56

Just wondering...How will being in London help with your online stuff? I mean, isn't it online?

There are plenty of opportunities to network with other young e-entrepreneurs in Thailand, and it is MUCH cheaper to go there. I'd reccommend skipping London and going straight to Thailand, as every bit of financial cushion will help your peace of mind once you quit your job. Does starting a new life with a 10k cushion sound a lot better than a 6k cushion? I think so.

Post: #57

Man, 10k saved up will last you a year in Chiang Mai. And 1k/mo is more than enough. Just cut the cord and go.

Post: #58

Surprised that no one mentioned Manila. Cost of living is going to be similar to Bangkok plus there's quite a dedicated start-up community that I've found over there. Another huge plus is that everyone speaks English.

Post: #59

(04-02-2014 10:12 PM)Brodiaga Wrote:  

(04-02-2014 09:17 PM)Ilovejaneandfinch Wrote:  I strongly recommend Dominican Republic. It is not so close, but it is very good. You would enjoy it. Sosua and Puerta Plata are very good. As long as you pick there, it won't look too poor and dirty.

Also, Natal, Recife and nearby cities in Brazil are excelente!

Also consider Costa Rica where English will be easy to come across, yet you can still learn Spanish.

Maybe even Spain or Portugal could work.

I have not been to Sosua, Puerto Plata, Natal or Recife, but I have been to the North Coast in DR, also Maceio and a couple more cities in North-Eastern Brazil. I have also been to a number of cities and countries in Asia.

South-East Asia is better than Latin America by a huge margin: cheaper, safer, more civilized, more English speakers, you name it. The only reason a non-Spanish speaking guy may choose Latin America is if he is so crazy about Latina girls that nothing else matters. Other than that, especially on a small budget, you can't go wrong with Asia. Much easier to pull girls in Asia, too, especially if you don't speak Spanish or Portuguese.

I would start in Bangkok and then think where else I want to go. Here are some ideas:

-Indonesia: Jakarta for the craziest fucking nightlife in the world. Bali: Ubud for tranquility and vibe. Second tier cities in Indo: Bandung for low cost of living and proximity to Jakarta.
-Vietnam: Mui Ne (a seaside village).
-Manila and second-tier cities in the Philippines. I haven't been, but Davao and Cebu city get very good reviews on RVF.

Coworking place in Ubud, Bali
http://www.hubud.org/

Post: #60

(05-04-2014 08:43 PM)Switch Wrote:  Just wondering...How will being in London help with your online stuff? I mean, isn't it online?

There are plenty of opportunities to network with other young e-entrepreneurs in Thailand, and it is MUCH cheaper to go there. I'd reccommend skipping London and going straight to Thailand, as every bit of financial cushion will help your peace of mind once you quit your job. Does starting a new life with a 10k cushion sound a lot better than a 6k cushion? I think so.

My main website is in the music niche and all of the music industry is in London. Moving to London has been one of my main aims for the last 3 years or so so and only recently have my priorities changed. I'd feel restless and like I had unfinished business over here that I was running away from if I didn't try it out.

The reason that I'm sticking at my job instead of just jetting off now is to have some extra money for London and hopefully what I accomplish in London will be an investment in my future and allow me to be making more once I'm abroad anyway.

(05-04-2014 09:04 PM)JJJames Wrote:  Man, 10k saved up will last you a year in Chiang Mai. And 1k/mo is more than enough. Just cut the cord and go.

I don't have 10k saved up yet but will by the summer! I have considered it but I'll be in a much better situation if I wait a while and finish off some things over here first. Plus, it would be best to escape the winter in England rather than returning for the winter.

(05-04-2014 11:43 PM)booshala Wrote:  Surprised that no one mentioned Manila. Cost of living is going to be similar to Bangkok plus there's quite a dedicated start-up community that I've found over there. Another huge plus is that everyone speaks English.

Did you prefer it to Bangkok if you've been to both! I'm actually considering doing 2 months or so in Thailand (1 month Bangkok, 1 month Chiang Mai) then 1 month or so in the Phillipenes because everyone raves about both of them and it would be a shame not to experience them both!

Post: #61

(05-04-2014 03:55 PM)the-dream Wrote:  My current uninformed plan is as follows...

August - quit job and go on one or two cheap holidays with friends
September - live with parents and work on online stuff
October, November - move to London (before you say I'm crazy, this will help a lot with my online stuff)
December, January, February - Just as the UK is starting to get cold and grim and before London eats too much into my bank account, move to Thailand and live life)

I don't mean to rain on your plans, but it sounds like you should be staying a lot closer to London. Opportunities may come up that require you to return, and it would be much easier to do that (even for a few days) if you were living somewhere closer. For the price of a one-way ticket to Thailand, you can get around five return flights to Lisbon/Barcelona/Madrid/etc.

There are plenty of opportunities in Portugal and Spain at the moment, given the high level of unemployment in those countries.

Post: #62

(05-04-2014 11:43 PM)booshala Wrote:  Surprised that no one mentioned Manila. Cost of living is going to be similar to Bangkok plus there's quite a dedicated start-up community that I've found over there. Another huge plus is that everyone speaks English.

Can you tell us more about this start-up community in Manila?
Thanks.

Post: #63

Gents, how's the 3G/4G/EDGE signal in Asia?

I'm asking because there are people that needs to be online 24x7 (like myself) and it's really important to be able to reply an email at anytime/anywhere. Is that possible, or only good Wifi internet connections are available in BKK and CM?

Post: #64

(05-05-2014 02:55 PM)O_Cartola Wrote:  Gents, how's the 3G/4G/EDGE signal in Asia?

I'm asking because there are people that needs to be online 24x7 (like myself) and it's really important to be able to reply an email at anytime/anywhere. Is that possible, or only good Wifi internet connections are available in BKK and CM?

It's good, 4G also wifi is everywhere and in most cafes and bars for free

Post: #65

Tbilisi and Yerevan are also decent low-cost places to consider.

Tbilisi has the edge if you hold a U.S. Passport as you can stay 1 year without a visa.

Post: #66

(05-05-2014 11:22 AM)the-dream Wrote:  

(05-04-2014 11:43 PM)booshala Wrote:  Surprised that no one mentioned Manila. Cost of living is going to be similar to Bangkok plus there's quite a dedicated start-up community that I've found over there. Another huge plus is that everyone speaks English.

Did you prefer it to Bangkok if you've been to both! I'm actually considering doing 2 months or so in Thailand (1 month Bangkok, 1 month Chiang Mai) then 1 month or so in the Phillipenes because everyone raves about both of them and it would be a shame not to experience them both!

That sounds like a really good plan. Comparison:

1) Manila is significantly more expensive than Bangkok. In BKK, you can get a really good 1 bedroom apartment for about $400 a month. In Manila, it's probably closer to $700-$800 a month. Food is comparable. Transport is slightly more expensive in Manila, as you'll be cabbing everywhere, where in Thailand the metro is extremely cheap.

That said, Manila girls are hotter and easier than Thailand, and they speak near perfect English. That said, there's really not much to do in Manila. In Thailand, there are all kinds of night markets, day trips, monkey temples, climbing expeditions, etc to go on. In Manila, there isn't that much adventuring to do.

Manila does have a growing startup community, but it's important to realize that a startup community and the internet marketing community are very different. In startups, you're addressing questions like raising VC money, hiring the right people, wireframing, pushing code quickly, agile development, etc. In IM you're talking about copywriting, traffic generation, split testing, upsell chains, etc. Even though the businesses overlap, the communities are very different. I run an IM business and while I love talking shop with startup people, I don't necessarily feel "at home" there.

That said, I had a great time in Manila. I think sending 1 month there is a good call

If you're planning on being abroad and working for a while, Chiang Mai sounds like a good home for you given where your company's at ($1k/mo.) Manila would be a stretch - you could do it, but it'll feel like you're on a tight budget. Chiang Mai you'll feel like you're baller.

Post: #67

The 3g mobile internet in Bangkok is good. They use lower frequencies for 3g as well in Thailand which means that you might get good coverage in the outback. You can check for coverage maps online.

Wherever in the world I have been travelling I have always found the mobile internet to work better than any wifi provided by the hotel. The only exception I have found was somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Post: #68

Can someone break down this Erasmus program or have any information on it?

I'm assuming one needs to be actively enrolled in school, or is that not the case?

Post: #69

Quote:Can someone break down this Erasmus program or have any information on it?

I'm assuming one needs to be actively enrolled in school, or is that not the case?

You need to be studying at for a degree or diploma at a university. As part of your degree you will typically spend a year studying at a "partner" university in Europe. Erasmus students do no pay any extra for this (they only pay tuition fee in home country) and will receive Erasmus grants to help fund costs abroad.

Post: #70

I've lived in Bali for 3 years, been to some places in Thailand but Chiang Mai, I've heard it's a bit more expensive than BKK. I am too would choose Thailand a lot of English people there compared to Bali. Have you ever heard of Kho Pangan island? that's where fullmoon, halfmoon, jungle, balckmoon parties held, alot of teens!

But if you consider to live in Bali, $850 should just fine, instead quite good. I think Chiang Mai is more like Ubud - Bali, though I can't compare as never been to CM.

Some of you here suggesting to get Erasmus in order to cut-off the bills, if I were you, I'd not do that because then I will lose some good hours for doing homework, exam and stuff like that. It's better be focusing on earning more money, IMO

Post: #71

(05-10-2014 09:11 AM)joedy Wrote:  I've lived in Bali for 3 years, been to some places in Thailand but Chiang Mai, I've heard it's a bit more expensive than BKK. I am too would choose Thailand a lot of English people there compared to Bali. Have you ever heard of Kho Pangan island? that's where fullmoon, halfmoon, jungle, balckmoon parties held, alot of teens!

But if you consider to live in Bali, $850 should just fine, instead quite good. I think Chiang Mai is more like Ubud - Bali, though I can't compare as never been to CM.

Some of you here suggesting to get Erasmus in order to cut-off the bills, if I were you, I'd not do that because then I will lose some good hours for doing homework, exam and stuff like that. It's better be focusing on earning more money, IMO

I can't do Erasmus because I'm not in University. I just thought it would be cool to live with international students on Erasmus and be a part of that lifestyle!

Post: #72

(05-05-2014 12:30 PM)DaveR Wrote:  There are plenty of opportunities in Portugal and Spain at the moment, given the high level of unemployment in those countries.

Care to elaborate more on these opportunities?

I've felt for a while that this part of Europe is overlooked. Spain and portugal are now cheaper than many South American countries while possessing a far superior infrastructure and QOL. The labor market may be shit but for an entrepreneurial Spanish-speaking guy, there could be a lot of opportunity. The women don't get rave reviews here but I find them attractive and actually easier than EE women oddly enough.

Post: #73

(05-10-2014 10:49 AM)SpecialEd Wrote:  

(05-05-2014 12:30 PM)DaveR Wrote:  There are plenty of opportunities in Portugal and Spain at the moment, given the high level of unemployment in those countries.

Care to elaborate more on these opportunities?

I've felt for a while that this part of Europe is overlooked. Spain and portugal are now cheaper than many South American countries while possessing a far superior infrastructure and QOL. The labor market may be shit but for an entrepreneurial Spanish-speaking guy, there could be a lot of opportunity. The women don't get rave reviews here but I find them attractive and actually easier than EE women oddly enough.

What I meant was that the labour market being weak (for employees) is a great opportunity for a web startup guy. Finding good employees and/or partners willing to start a new business is not an issue there.

Post: #74

The problem with Spain and Portugal is that English isn't widely spoken to a high degree, or at least that is my understanding? I'd also think a lot of the talented young people are leaving in mass exodus to northern European countries.

As for another post mentioning the difference between startup and internet marketing, that is true and there isn't much of a startup community in Thailand, but there are A LOT of internet marketing guys. Very often when I meet young(er) guys here, they are doing some kind of internet marketing or affiliate marketing. Very rarely do I meet actual startup people, but that could easily be due to social circles. Thailand isn't a good choice for startups, because the laws are made specifically to keep foreigners from feeling to comfortable and you can't even own a company unless you do a BOI firm which is expensive and takes time. There is also a serious lack of local english speaking talent.

I'll compare it like this, go to Meetup.com and look for which groups there are in Bangkok and say Taiwan (because I am moving there I had a look). In Bangkok there are at least 5-10 groups about internet marketing in some form or other. In Taiwan there are maybe 1, but then there are 10+ groups of different coding and startup stuff. Big difference.

Post: #75

I'm in a similar situation, already left my job. Was a Business Intelligence Consultant in the Asia Pacific region. Have about 10k saved and have a flight to Thailand in 3 weeks. I choose thailand because of the low cost of living. 3000 baht a month for a very basic place.
I have a few online businesses and am exploring import/export options. I don't think thailand is somewhere I want to stay long-term because it is xenophobic and insular. But ill milk it for what it"s worth... someone above made a comparison between ubud and chiang mai - I've been to both places and would probably agree with that.