Stravaiger wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:35 am

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:49 pm For those with multiple properties in different countries, is there a worry of squatters moving in and taking over when one isn’t there?

I’ve been watching videos where squatters come on to properties, live in and then gain the ownership of the property then subsequently sell the property, pocketing a small fortune.

There are definitely security concerns with empty properties. The rich of course employ full time staff. People I know rely on local agents and good neighbours.

Second homes here are inevitably occupied by extended Cambodian family, for better or worse.

Why would one leave a property empty when you could have someone look after it for you. In the last 12 years I have always had flatmate/housesitters look after my house in OZ and never had any real problems. I had one loverly 52 yo lady , who I am still friends with, stay for over 2 years, but when she changed jobs she moved back into her own home which was far away. Another 50 plus year old lady stayed for 2 years, kept the house spotlessly clean, before moving into a new house her boyfriend and her bought. Others have stayed for 1 to 2 years before moving on. Preasently have a young Thai couple on work / study visa's. Not only is it very interesting in living with complete strangers but for me I can return to my house every 6 months and know the electricity is still on , have a hot shower and walk out the door in 4 weeks knowing everyting is OK till I return in 6 months time. Australia is going through a rental house crisis right now and there are some very keen tennants who will do anything for good accomidation.


https://flatmates.com.au/
https://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/flat ... adise-4217

Best weather in SEA for me is Da Lat!

- Well, gee whiz Wally, at least it's not cold.
- Yeah, Beaver, you're right... Cold weather is the pits!

12 hours of nighttime AC (22⁰, lowest fan, eco setting) comes in here at 3,650 rial, so I've been able to reconcile myself to life with it on in the bedroom, first time since I've been living here. I'm kind of glad, because pre-AC my wife has always favoured the highest fan settings at night, me the lowest. The newest AC units are considerably more efficient than older ones.

I recommend Northern Germany at this time of the year to instill a life-long loathing of cold, wet and dark winters. Further north and further south there's at least reliable snow, in the middle it's 2⁰ and drizzle.

My parents retired to the Costa del Sol and lived there unbroken to a ripe old age. It's been a long while since I was there, but back then there was a density of gruesome expats that was exceptionally off-putting, but I never traveled much outside of their social circuit.

Out here in the boondocks, directly on the Mekong, it's hot and humid, but the village road isn't paved, there are trees everywhere I look, and the climate is therefore a lot more user-friendly than in Phnom Penh (if somewhat dustier...). We have an apartment for rent if you'd like to try it out.

I find it's more the heat and humidity combination that knocks me than just the heat. I find 40 C with 5% humidity a lot more comfortable and manageable than 34 C with 80% humidity. So for me, hot and dry beats hot and sticky, and cold really sucks

As an aside:
During last year's water festival days in Siem Reap I found myself wondering about "micro-climates". Against my better judgement I took up an invite to take a walk down the riverside with some local friends. From the king's residence to way beyond the old market (+/-2.5km), both side of both roads were almost a solid line of vendors cooking street food on gas stoves or charcoal fires. Every bit of available ground that was not being sat or stood upon was jammed with a mass of people walking shoulder to shoulder at a snail's pace. Accu-Weather had predicted hourly maximum daytime temperatures in the 33-36 C range. I wonder what the local riverside's real "feels like...." temperature would have been if one could factor in the heat generated by the presence of hundreds of cooking fires, thousands of hot sweaty people in close confinement, and in all surrounding roads, countless motorcycles, cars, pickups and small busses trying to get as close to the action as possible or extract themselves from wherever they had found parking.

I lived for 57 years in the mountains of the eastern US. Winters were long, and storms brutal. I distinctly remember the breaking point, for me. 1 January, 2007. I was in the final year of university, had to go to the computer room there to do research. Bitter day, winds howling, snow gusting, visibility about 2 metres. Cold as f***. I was walking across the parking lot, slipped, legs flew up, and I landed hard on my hip. In those couple of seconds, as I laid there waiting to determine whether anything had broken, I made a vow. Never again, once I graduated, would I be cold. I was going to live and work in only hot climates. Swore I would never shiver again. So I finished the year, got my degree. One week later, I flew to Sevilla, Spain, where I lived for a year. Warm, but still chilly. I then moved to SE China. Nice and hot, humidity was unbelievable. Pollution, though, was scary. I developed a hacking cough, my colleagues all ended up in the hospital with respiratory infections, so I quit, returned to Sevilla. From there, I went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Now THAT place was HOT! Temp there hit 50+. Okay, now I was warm and comfy. Problem was, aside from the great weather, the place bored me to tears. So I decided it was time to retire. Started looking at weed-friendly countries with easy residency requirements and hot climate. Moved here. It never gets cold. I have not once in 11 years shivered. Home.

Stravaiger wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 11:43 am Get out your thermal underwear



https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501438068/ ... -few-days/

Khmers and fires always cause me concern.