Sounds a long time in the future, but time shoots by when you're busy...

Right now I'm living in Thailand again, after completing a job at the international school in Naypyitaw (Burma). I loved the job/students/staff etc, but I also teach online in the evenings/weekends, and the internet in Burma is somewhat unreliable

The problem for me living in Thailand is these damn visa rules, especially the latest news about retirement visas. I'm not retired (no plans to ever retire), but my current Thai Elite visa will expire in September 2020. At that point, I either need to fork out 500,000 baht for a new Elite visa, put 800,000 baht in a Thai bank (actually need to do that 2 months before), or fcuk off out of the country and live elsewhere......

I have a monthly income of about $2,000, but I'm not happy to use this to secure a Thai visa. Nor am I happy to jump through the various admin hoops that I've had to do since I moved here in 2002.

I would prefer to retire/teach online from Laos, but I think a long-term visa can be difficult to legally obtain (yes I can get a one-year business visa, but I wouldn't have a business to go with it!).

That leaves Cambodia, which from my previous visits over the years seems a viable place to live quietly.

But where to live in Cambodia? I need the advice of forum members! After living in Burma and getting used to 'hardship' locations I prefer rural, mountain/hilly, unspoilt but safe locations.

The coastal areas seem to have turned into expensive Chinese holiday/gambling locations. Is there any small rural town in the north, perhaps across from the 4,000 island region in Laos?

Any suggestions where to go for my next 'adventure'? Thanks for advice.

Banlung, Sen Monorom or Kratie would fit your description.
Banlung is the closest to the Laos border and 4000 Is, but is a long trip to Phnom Penh. Stung Treng is even closer to the border, but frankly I wouldn't live there. However, someone on the forum said it's not so bad, so take that as just my opinion.
Sen Monorom is very small as towns go too, but you might like that.
Kratie is only 4 hours from PP, but it's quiet and on the Mekong which is nice and it gets a bit of air. Lots of pros and cons for all three towns according to your personal taste. Check them all out on the net, and see what the others have to say here.

As mentioned, Banlung, Send Monorom or perhaps Koh Kong. Stung Treng isn't really hilly, but nice nonetheless. Check all of them out and then make a decision.

You mentioned that you need reliable internet. This may be problematic outside the main centres. Something you need to check out when looking at locations.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:56 pm

samrong01 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:44 pm You mentioned that you need reliable internet. This may be problematic outside the main centres. Something you need to check out when looking at locations.

you do realize this is 19 months old>
and simon is living in Luang Prabang

FYI: been all over Cambodia, ( well 80%) and nowhere was i not able to access the internet via a sim card

Mobile internet (albeit sometimes extremely slow) is indeed available in most places, but you need the right sim card. Outside of the main centers Metfone is king. Hills can be a challenge. My house is on a lower piece of sloped land, on the top floor there's decent 3G, but downstairs in the livingroom it's a mess. Do extensive testing before choosing a place to live and work.

Streaming video over mobile internet will be a challenge outside the main centers.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:56 pm

samrong01 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:44 pm You mentioned that you need reliable internet. This may be problematic outside the main centres. Something you need to check out when looking at locations.

you do realize this is 19 months old>
and simon is living in Luang Prabang

FYI: been all over Cambodia, ( well 80%) and nowhere was i not able to access the internet via a sim card

Oh shit. My mistake. I just looked at the date in the heading which said September 2020.