Hi Fella's

Me Again!

In short? (How do I do that?)

I have just received a quote to move my gear from Brisbane, Australia for a 20 foot container - just over $4K - is it worth it??

Also, I have a 1991 Toyota Troop Carrier - 11 Seater - an old girl, but has been refurbished to 100%, Almost mint condition. I have 500,000 Klms on her now, BUT, the old truck is Right Hand Drive (RHD), I have been looking, but I cannot find troop carriers for sale there. (Mine is a FULL BEAST - dual tanks/batteries/fridge, solar etc.). I heard the laws had changed in about 2001 in respect of RHD vehicles being imported, and, the only place to convert to LHD is in Thailand??? I have heard of LHD Vehicles being left on the dock in Cambodia and having to be re-exported/transported abroad?

I have been looking, I do not actually have an answer to this...

For starting a new life there - IS it REALLY worth it, the vehicle is around another 4K to transport.... and i.e. paying around 8-9K to transport - basically my life?

What I mean is, should I just sell everything, or pay roughly 8K? Then the question arises in respect of customs? Do they normally take a 'fee' on top of what is normally quoted. I am supposed to be there when containers are unloaded...

Kindest Regards, Thanks Again...

Gav

To Clarify - either one 40 foot container (If I can do it) or 2 - 20 foot containers, I am not sure I made that clear... or - just my gear in one container -leave the vehicle?? Or Just SELL entirely EVERYTHING - start again.......

Gav

You need to ensure that that quote includes import duties - as importing a vehicle into Cambodia is usually bank-breakingly expensive when you do include the duties.

$4K for a 20 foot container is fair for shipping. It is unlikely to include the duties though and they can add a ton of costs to things.

When I first started expat life; I took everything with me. My company paid for it in fact. I moved to Dubai with all the trappings of home (well apart from the porn and the sex toys - I assume that our dustbin man took care of them). Then when I moved to China from Saudi - I found I couldn't get my shit into the country and sent it back to the UK. I've never missed any of it. A life time's accumulation of pointless tat.

I'd say sell everything - except any items of truly sentimental worth. Store anything you can't carry with you at a friend/family member's place... start again. Most stuff is pretty cheap in Cambodia. Don't restock your life like it was back in Oz; only buy things you'd be happy to walk away from in the event of a civil war or plague (or something like that). Live simpler (much easier to do in the days of high speed internet and MP3, Kindle, etc.) and make sure the essence of your life fits into a single suitcase. That's how mine works now (well... except for my library but that's work related as well as for personal pleasure and if I had to, I'd be sad but I could walk away from all those lovely books).

Focus on experiences rather than possessions and you'll be the happiest that you have ever been. Good luck with the move.

I moved to SEA over 5 years ago. I have moved 7 times, in and out of 3 countries in that period. Do you really want to do that?

I see TheGrinch just posted before me. Like he says . . .

Focus on experiences rather than possessions and you'll be the happiest that you have ever been. Good luck with the move.

Thanks Grinch,

Your thoughts are on parallel with mine. to be honest. costs/expenses are another thing - over and above the 4K I mean..


Gav

Hey ExPen Man..

What do you mean exactly?

Het Grinch,

I am not sure about the costs you talk about - I think they are being calculated presently... extra costs - besides relocation and storage? Bribes etc.

I don't know...

gavinbrisbane wrote:Het Grinch,

I am not sure about the costs you talk about - I think they are being calculated presently... extra costs - besides relocation and storage? Bribes etc.

I don't know...

Bribes and import duties. Import duties being the biggest concern. Some personal effects get a zero rate but Cambodia's not very au fait with that kind of thing... so you may get taxed even on personal stuff. You will certainly end up paying for duty on the motor, etc.

gavinbrisbane wrote:Hey ExPen Man..

What do you mean exactly?

Right. I forgot to say I brought nothing with me to SEA. I ended up moving to change locales and countries in that 5-year period for different reasons. Was a breeze, walking away from the few things I owned here in SEA. If I'd had your load (or all my stuff I had back home -- but disposed of), I'd have gone crazy. In fact, moving from Thailand to Cambodia to Vietnam and back would not have been an option. Don't bring your old life with you. Get a new one, as Grinch says. It also helps that I'm retired.

My advice,,, been there, done that,, sell everything , except a few sentimentals that you could put in storage for a year until you get settled in. I found that as you get older '' stuff '' and '' junk '' that you gather up over the years , you do not really need. So much easier to look after and transport $4000 in cash than a $4000 heap of junk.