Category Archive: Living and Retiring Abroad

Jul 16

Why I Think Your Car is Cheap!

mazda

If you’re feeling that your car is a money pit, I’m going to surprise you with a story that will have few worldwide equals. Lofty claim? Just keep reading; I think you’ll agree. My wife and I own a 2002 four door Mazda. It runs beautifully and it always has. But we live in Singapore, …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2011/07/why-i-think-your-car-is-cheap/

Jan 09

Chilling out in Laos and Koh Chang

AH_2010-11_001

My wife and I just returned from a 20 day trip, taking us first to Chiang Rai, Thailand, across the Mekong River to Laos, and eventually back to Thailand, for a 6 day sojourn at an island about five hour’s drive from Bangkok, called Koh Chang. For what it’s worth, the first bit of advice …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2011/01/chilling-out-in-laos-and-koh-chang/

Nov 28

Retiring in Comfort—Without Ever Experiencing a Canadian Winter Again

I haven’t had to scrape frost off my car’s windshield for more than 8 years. I haven’t had to shovel a snowy path or driveway, and I haven’t had to put on a winter’s jacket–other than during a 2 week Christmas visit to my wife’s family in Pennsylvania. Eight years. No cold hands. No heating …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/11/retiring-in-comfort%e2%80%94without-ever-experiencing-a-canadian-winter-again/

Sep 18

Stay Down Brother, Stay Down

shangmaglev

I’ve visited more than 30 different countries. But this is my first visit here. For the past three days, I’ve been in a country where I can’t drink the water from the taps.  The poorest people have no access to running water—or electricity. From where I’m typing, I can see a Church, but I wonder: …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/09/stay-down-brother-stay-down/

Aug 24

Having a Foreign Affair – Part III

globe

If you’re considering re-locating overseas for the adventure or for the financial benefits, the odds are good that if you have children enrolling in an international school, they’re probably going to enjoy the experience. Read their comments . But ensuring that they do, you’ll probably want to stay for more than a couple of years.  Children adapt …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/08/having-a-foreign-affair-part-3/

Aug 16

Having a Foreign Affair in SE Asia – Part II

dalailama

When Linsey McMullen makes decisions about what courses she wants to take for the following school year, the 17 year old Indianapolis born American is similar to most North American girls her age.  If she’s an academic high-flyer interested in pursuing the sciences, she might choose AP Biology. If she’s keen to pursue Journalism or …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/08/having-a-foreign-affair-in-se-asia-part-2/

Aug 13

Having a Foreign Affair

massage

Kate rolls out of bed, and there’s a smell of fresh coffee in the air. Walking down the hallway into her open living room, a warm breeze comes through the open patio area.  Unlike a North American or European home, there isn’t a wall separating her living room from her backyard.  A large, tastefully extended …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/08/having-a-foreign-affair/

May 13

Tioman – Paradise on a Shoestring

A few short years ago, I considered dropping out of “society”. A two and a half hour drive from my home in Singapore brings me to the town of Merzing, Malaysia, where I can take a boat to Pulau Tioman—an island once rated by Time Magazine as one of the world’s ten most beautiful islands. …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2010/05/tioman-paradise-on-a-shoestring/

Nov 22

How to Retire Rich–Even if You’re Not – Malaysia

For many people in their 50s and 60s, their dreams of  retirement have been postponed:  squashed by the realities of higher living expenses, deflated investment portfolios and perhaps even job layoffs–thanks to the economic downturn.   But there’s a government voice promising luxury on a relative shoestring.  It’s suggesting that you might have enough money …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2009/11/how-to-retire-rich-even-if-youre-not-malaysia/

Nov 15

How to Retire Rich–Even if You’re Not – Thailand

This continues our series on how ordinary people on middle class incomes can retire more luxuriously than the millionaires in their hometowns–just by making a paradigm shift and getting on a plane. Amazing Thailand Bring up the subject of retiring in South East Asia, and the first arguments brought up by your well-meaning friends will …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2009/11/how-to-retire-rich-even-if-youre-not-thailand/

Nov 08

How to Retire Rich–Even if You’re Not – Indonesia

There’s a world out there where people like you and me (middle class earners) are living the life of riley without millions of dollars.  Many of them are reluctant to talk about it–preferring to keep their little Edens to themselves and a tight group of friends.  But when I find someone living like a Rajah …

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Permanent link to this article: http://andrewhallam.com/2009/11/how-to-retire-rich-even-if-youre-not-indonesia/