Recommended research for expats and foreigners wanting to retire to Asia, work or invest overseas in Southeast Asia
Philippines –
Subic Bay retirement
Kindle download:
There are foreign retirees living in many parts of Asia in countries like Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia (Bali) Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.
Some retirees are in the fortunate position of being able to 'put their feet up' full time while others need to continue to earn money; that's not quite so easy, but it is possible if you follow the right procedures for your locality and choose a business that at least has some chance of success.
It's time to stop thinking about it or dreaming about it; it's time to make it happen.
Millions of expats already know that in the right destinations, values are great, and the lifestyle can be extraordinary.
Malaysia and Thailand are top of the list for Asia, but there are also Uruguay, Belize, Ecuador or Panama to consider or compare them with. Get the complete and in-depth reports included in the Guide to the World's Top Retirement Havens with full details on residency, health care, taxes, and itemized monthly budgets.
How about using some of your spare time to teach English to the locals in your chosen country. Teaching is not just for backpackers and gap year students; there are teachers of all ages at schools and organisations around Asia. You're never too old to learn, and you're never too old to teach. But you need to learn what's involved. There's an excellent guide, expanded and updated in January 2012, entitled "How to Teach English Overseas". You can also read our review.
Retire To Asia!
KEN SILVER'S POPULAR GUIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE
Written by well-known and travelled American author Ken Silver, this is an amusing but very informative guide for anyone even thinking about new places to explore, perhaps for early retirement, especially on limited resources. There are many compelling reasons including the much lower cost of living, that really make Asia the continent of choice – for Ken or anyone else, in his opinion – for early, part time or even full retirement. Central America and Mexico's prices are higher by comparison in most cases.
Ken records his personal experiences of travelling around and living in several Asian countries with a light-hearted but very informative style. He includes his 'Silver Way' blueprint for setting up a main or second home in Asia. He is an American who has spent fifteen happy and exciting years exploring and savouring the many delights of Asia, the most beautiful of all the continents in his opinion. His love of the subject is obvious and his enthusiasm is infectious!
"Retire to Asia!" contains sections on living in countries like: Thailand, Laos (Lao PDR), Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and India.
I have always recommended Ken's book, which I have read, not only for content but value, with over 120 pages of text and his own stunning photographs.
Retire to Asia! contains detailed information on how to prepare your own plan for early, full or part time retirement in Asia – or simply spending the cold winter months in the warmth of the tropics.
Amazon Kindle publications can be downloaded and read instantly on computers, smartphones and tablets. Apps are available on the Apple and Android Markets. You can get your copy of Retire to Southeast Asia from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
How to Retire in Bali, Indonesia
"How
to Retire in Bali" is a brand new (September 2011) guide written for
anyone thinking of spending time or retiring in Bali. But it contains much
more useful information than its title.
This is Australian Mike Henry's second publication about Bali, Indonesia (where he lives) and is packed with the same research and attention to detail as his Business in Bali guide reviewed below.
Planning and preparing a move, banking and finance, property issues, cost of living, medical facilities, bureaucracy, immigration, taxation, licenses, social life and entertainment and more are all covered. The guide covers more than Bali itself; there are some comparisons to expat life in other SE Asian countries and elsewhere like Central America, plus information and aspects of expatriate life that should be considered by anyone wanting to move abroad for retirement.
Nowhere on this earth is perfect; wherever you choose to live you have to learn to accept the good with the bad and Bali is no exception. Having spent extended time there myself a few years ago, I can see that some of the less attractive aspects remain, but others have improved and the island has not lost any of its unique charm and attraction. It suits a lot of expats and tourists very well.
Whether you have visited Bali before as a tourist or not, after finishing the 110 easy-to-read pages of How to Retire in Bali, with its many invaluable references, recommendations and tips, you will have a much better idea of whether this often-described 'tropical island paradise' could be the place for you. A brilliant work and absolutely recommended; well worth the $25.
Starting a Business in Bali
Local Bali entrepreneur Mike Henry published his guide on "How to Start a Business in Bali" in 2010.
It has been well-researched and having just read it myself, I would say this is the de facto (if not the only!) guide to opening an expat business in Bali or other location in Indonesia.
It's 100 pages of fact without fluff or attempt to disguise the truth about doing business as a foreigner in Indonesia and Bali in particular.
Mike writes from his own experience but includes in-depth interviews with other Bali expat business owners,who made a go of it in several different types of business. This adds dimension to the guide. There's also a list of resources useful to those intending to live or work on the island of Bali.
The book costs $25 and as far as I am concerned, is a valuable guide for anyone looking for reliable information about running a business in Southeast Asia – and not only Bali. Learn more about the island on Mike Henry's Bali Expat website:
Living as a Retired Expat in the Philippines
Will Irwin, author of "Retirement Living in the Philippines" has over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience – in the USA as well as having lived in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Fiji. He feels that the most difficult aspect of foreign retirement in the Philippines is not just getting information, but involves four things: making the decision, having a plan of action before making the move, having enough courage to overcome fear and anxiety, and having a further plan of action for at least five years after arrival in the Philippines.
Emphasis on these points set this guide apart from other books written on the subject. Learn more about “Retirement Living in the Philippines”.
Making Your Second Home in Malaysia
Read a series of 5 Country Retirement Reports that contain complete details on retirement opportunities in some of the world's top retirement havens right now – at least one is in SE Asia, Malaysia.
Kuala Lampur the bustling capital, is a sophisticated, modern city in an exotic, tropical country that boasts real-world infrastructure and all the trappings of a luxury life, available for a relative pittance.
"Malaysia is a tropical paradise,"
writes Wendy Justice in her Malaysia report. "Beautiful islands and
beaches, cool mountain retreats, great food, a diverse and
multi-ethnic culture, excellent shopping, and a low cost of
living...Malaysia has it all...
"Plus, the infrastructure and health care are modern and efficient.
English is widely spoken. Entertainment ranges from street
celebrations to casino gambling, from amusement parks to mountain
climbing, from jungle trekking to championship level golf, and from
Formula 1 racing to world music festivals and philharmonic orchestra
productions. World-renowned diving and snorkelling destinations are
never more than a few hours away."
Perhaps the best part is that Malaysia, unlike many countries in Asia, has thrown its doors wide open to foreign retirees and residents.
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more about Asia with Kindle
