Avoid This: Southeast Asia Expat Tips

[@ericemslie9870]

Great information A friend of mine from NY who moved to Thailand years ago told me that if you ever decide to move or retire here RENT EVERYTHING and that includes the women. Sounds callous but he still stands by that Merry Christmas

[@FollowBrando]

@@ericemslie9870 Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Your friend is right. Easy to believe. Hard to live. That's the discipline.

[@Dutchy695]

Only buy what you're prepared to lose.

[@FollowBrando]

@@Dutchy695 Just consoled a friend who lost about 50k on a house that the Cambodian ex wife walked away with. He did get about 5 years rent out of it so...

[@kevinadams9468]

One of the few content creators that keeps it real. Keep the content coming and never change, my brother! I'll be back in about 8 weeks, hopefully for good.

[@FollowBrando]

Thanks for the support brother! Let me know when you're back.

[@tedjohnson]

Im a fan of your channel and I appreciate how you keep it real and don't sugar coat anything. I hope all is well and I look forward to your next video. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

[@FollowBrando]

Thanks for the support brother 🙏 Have a Merry Christmas. I'll keep the honesty coming...

[@jasonclark7049]

Makers mark in the background. I’ve been in China from 31-46 years old as of now…14 years and I’ve only had three friends visit. In the beginning people say they’re going to visit…more often than not it quickly changes to them asking when you’re going to comeback and visit them…once your back home…they’re usually busy working.

[@FollowBrando]

An empty bottle of it. Holiday spirits.

[@jasonclark7049]

@@FollowBrandoI understand that. Cheers and Merry Christmas.

[@jasonclark7049]

Most of those properties are bought by people that understand they’re just paying rent in advance.

[@FollowBrando]

@jasonclark7049 Cheers brother. Merry Christmas!

[@FollowBrando]

@@jasonclark7049 And yeah I've started to get that - when are you coming back? Hard to maintain the friendships.

[@Gene1974]

Great and honest perspective. Got a new sub

[@FollowBrando]

Thanks for the support brother 🙏

[@steveng8727]

"Why nobody is right about anything when it comes to choosing the best country or city"- So true you have to discover by yourself, Cambodia was not for me but enjoyed 3 yrs. in the Philippines. Back living in SoCal now to use my senior MediCare. Enjoying your videos.

[@FollowBrando]

And I love this place now but who knows in a year or two... Thanks for the comment!

[@erniestinson6702]

That saying you can’t go back has a lot of truth to it. Life changes evolves when you’re not there. When you go back don’t expect it to be the same waiting for you

[@FollowBrando]

True. Also you won't be the same. Life here is in living color. The Western world can lack the sense of excitement. It's become a cool place for me to visit but I'm not sure if I could live there anymore.

[@mst6429]

Spot on with the advice and wisdom. You definitely have been around the block and that's why i can see you adapt easily. It takes a special breed of men to strive in these environments.

[@FollowBrando]

It takes some flexibility. And my training with horrible people in Los Angeles for 20 years didn't hurt!

[@gene_retire]

Excellent video as always. Merry Christmas to you. I always consider everything transactional over there. Maybe one day that will change but until now all I know is it will cost something. The question is how much and when?

[@FollowBrando]

Merry Christmas brother! Every relationship here starts as a transactional one. But eventually I think you've got to find relationships where the currency is trust otherwise you end up as a salty, angry expat. Difficult? Yeah. But if I didn't beleive it were possible I would probably leave here.

[@Smuggler169]

Im currently in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam. Beginning my expat life. Cambodia is next on my list plus other places.

[@FollowBrando]

Saigon is my favorite city. I'll be there starting NYE for a week then off to Da Nang.

[@Smuggler169]

@ awesome!

[@alansapilipinas]

Can you do a video on why you left America. Thank you.

[@ChuckT99]

Imitation is the finest form of flattery. 😁 On the subject of transportation, are you flying commercial from place to place in Cambodia? I have been told that the roads are not in great condition. Please advise about intra-Cambodian travel.

[@FollowBrando]

Giant Ibis bus line is the way to go for most people. Or VET with their big Benz bus. I ride the motorcycle a lot. The roads aren't too bad. You can't really fly around the country like you can in Thailand or Vietnam though.

[@ChuckT99]

@@FollowBrando Thank you!

[@TheYonathanAynom]

Merry Christmas, Brando.

[@FollowBrando]

Merry Christmas brother!

[@PeterGraney]

Go slow with relationships!!! Transactional relationships are great. As long as both parties think they are getting the best deal transactional relationships are best . Easy to cut and run when one side doesn't deliver on their side of the bargin. Most Asian girls only think transactional so play them at their own game!!

[@FollowBrando]

@@PeterGraney True - most girls only see relationships through a transactional lens. Applying a Western model of romance usually will end poorly.

[@heymaddo]

G'Day All , Lots of good comments and replies about this video , Been here in Cambodia 15years , my 2cents worth , ask politely - listen and learn , as you will know better for what your looking for , Catchya...😎

[@FollowBrando]

15 years. Respect! Thanks for the words of wisdom brother.

[@MSWcryptoworker]

I just left a lengthy 😊post about transactional relationships 😊and having servants I can’t see the post anywhere well maybe it’s Vietnamese censorship ( I’m in Saigon) right now .

[@FollowBrando]

Ha - maybe. Decree 147 went into effect this week I think. Get a VPN maybe.

[@felden123]

Good video, lots of good advice for new expats to SE Asia. I watched the videos you did in Kampot and Siem Reap. Did you choose Kampot over Siem Reap as your base? If so, Can you give some reasons for your choice? Thanks.

[@FollowBrando]

Siem Reap is pretty great. The city in Cambodia I would suggest everyone try on for size first and foremost. My reasons for Kampot were pretty simple. It's striking distance from Phnom Penh and Saigon. My girl didn't want to move to Siem Reap. I've got a big new house for $450/month and spend most of my time there working all night, going out for groceries or dinner or planning my next trip somewhere else. The beach in Kep is also a 30 minute motorcycle ride away. Siem Reap just seems like a land-locked committment that I'm not ready for. Great choice for most retirees I would say though. Clean, modern, cheap... it's a different world than the rest of Cambodia.

[@felden123]

@@FollowBrando Good reasons, thanks for the reply.

[@bijanbayne3259]

@@FollowBrando I've only spent time in Siem Reap- three visa trips from Thailand. A Brit expat here in Jomtien has sold me on the merits of Kampot- where he lived four years. I don't like landlocked cities. Once I get up the gumption to fly into Pnom Penh and catch a bus, I'll check out Kampot. He's not the only person I've heard tout it. And I'll be transitioning from Jomtien, to quiet Hua Hin. I'd like to see Da Nang before summer 2025.

[@FollowBrando]

@bijanbayne3259 Da Nang is a good one. I'm headed there in a few weeks. Kampot is a great city if youre looking for fresh air and a slower pace. Close to the beach and close enough to the PP airport. Let me know when you're going to visit.

[@bijanbayne3259]

@@FollowBrando Will do. It's a strong possibility for my Jan. 20 visa run

[@TPatrick5414]

Merry Christmas Brando.

[@FollowBrando]

Merry Christmas!

[@Dave-ze8vd]

Excellent video.

[@FollowBrando]

Thanks for the support 🙏

[@marksWayPhilippines]

Hey, I hope I have one more question I can ask you about Kampot... does everyone have roosters? In general do you hear roosters all around, that is what made me give up on the Philippines.. let me know

[@FollowBrando]

Roosters and dogs. There's a chorus at 4:30 or 5 am. At least at my house, which is on the rural side. My walls are thick so I can shut it out but it doesn't bother me that much. And maybe not that bad at the riverside. I have stayed at some Kampot properties that were all peace and quiet Test and verify.

[@Kam_Abroad_FT]

Random question - do you plan to have children in SEA? Interesting topic to cover given that most of us get here, end up in.a relationship, and the culture here places a huge importance on having children.

[@FollowBrando]

I would like to. Cheaper here to raise them. But theres also the question of putting them through school in the US.

[@jasonclark7049]

@@FollowBrando that ain’t no lie. International schools in Asia aren’t cheap. I’ve got a ten year old that goes to an IB international school, 4th grade is about 18k/year, 6th grade estimated to go up to 22k, 9th to graduation is 25k.

[@jasonclark7049]

Make sure your finances are straight before committing to the life of children abroad. Asia is cheap but many people go running back home when they realize the cost of a good international school in Asia is equal to many state universities back home…instead of 4 year degree you get to look forward 13 for an IB diploma.

[@FollowBrando]

@@jasonclark7049 Yeah, thats a real thing. I have a Cambodia friend who has been in the States for the last 30+ years. He brought his 15 year old daughter here. Not only is she unhappy about it but it's costing him 12k a year just for a school he isn't embarrassed to send her to. Realistically I think you could raise kids here until age 5 or 6 then you've got to put them in a 20k/year school or head back home.

[@FollowBrando]

@@jasonclark7049 Yep, that sounds on par with a good private school back home. What most of my friends in LA pay for their kids school unless they are really super fancy.

[@DavidEHarding]

With so much money being invested in Cambodia, I certainly wouldn't rule out owning vs. renting a place -- especially if you plan to live there. Yes, rents are cheap now but you can already see them creeping up. Just make sure you're using a legit real estate company and hire a trusted solicitor who knows the area.

[@FollowBrando]

@@DavidEHarding The equity play here is buying land in the path of development that the Chinese will pay you handsomely for. But I don't know that I want to take part in flipping real estate at the cost of the Khmer people who the country belongs to. I'd rather pay my Cambodian landlord rent and let him get his come up.

[@mrjonlamb]

Hope you shared that Makers with someone worth it.

[@FollowBrando]

@@mrjonlamb Yeah me and myself haha.

[@mrjonlamb]

@ I must stack furniture to block the door when I fall into that rabbit hole-no telling where I would end up. Merry Christmas. One thing is for sure. No one is coming to visit. I lived in Colombia for years, a 3-hour flight. One person (a degen) visited me. People are too busy and feel connected through digital fantasies, not experiences. I love your content, and I hope we can run one day with a team of support staff to keep us out of jail and hydrated. ✌️

[@petersomers7846]

It happens in Australia rip off's everywhere and we're supposed to be 1st world .look at America wow happy new year ❤❤😮😮😮😊😊😊

[@FollowBrando]

Happy New Year brother! At least over here the wife can't walk away with a million dollar house. Or half of it anyway haha.

[@reoun1654]

Pay them to leave... its the way it is in S.E.A... simple as that an old expat with barnacles all over him once told me...never forgotten that advice!

[@FollowBrando]

If you are paying them to stay you can bank on the fact that it will cost you more.

[@petersomers7846]

When lm Asia I don't like to have any contact with Australia except 2 a couple of mates just to let them know lm still alive idont watch the news only the foot ball lm happy to live with out all the rest of shit. Other wise stay at home..😮😮😊😊

[@FollowBrando]

I have expat friends who like to say "in order to stay happy, stay hidden."

[@sebastiangimenez400]

Anything reminds me the USA would make me run away from it lol

[@FollowBrando]

Biden and the Democratic party did nothing to help that. I have hope for Trump/Musk.

[@claudegregory9756]

Trump/Musk? You got to be joking! Not another deluded Maga supporter! Sorry old boy - you've lost my respect!

[@sebastiangimenez400]

@@FollowBrando wait to get a load of Trump