If I cant come on a tourist visa in August without paying an arm and a leg, I am seriously considering Sri Lanka. Open to everyone from 1st August, sure have to have Covid tests (makes sense) but thats about it. Visa extensions no problem. From what I can gather the nightlife is not as good as SEAsia, but I am sure there are plenty of decent bars etc if you look hard enough. Anyone been and can share their experiences?
https://srilanka.travel/travel-news?news=729

I love Sri Lanka. Great landscape/climate diversity compared to Cambodia. People are friendly and food is very good (better than Indian imo). The religious diversity is also quite interesting, so it was quite saddening to see the bombing last year. Good roads (though they came at a price vs China). Are you interested as an expat or for traveling? The only downside I can think of as an expat is that I suspect getting a girlfriend would be very difficult outside of a major city center. Colombo wasn't too interesting to me, but I didn't stay long.

KOW still my retirement destination, but Sri Lanka might be good for 6 months until the Cambos sort their sh*t out and visas are back to normal. Sounds like a nice place .

I spent about 2 weeks in Sri Lanka but it was 24 years ago. I was told to skip Columbo and instead go directly to the train station and head up to Kandy. I liked Kandy, where I was in a homestay in a comfortable cottage separate from the family. They provided a tasty breakfast and dinner, as at that time, the restaurant food wasn't so great.

I also spent a couple of nights at one of the ancient cities, and then a few days before my departing flight, I moved to the beach nearest Colombo, from where I could get to the airport without being in the city.

In terms of nightlife and entertainment, at that time it was a very conservative and traditional society, which I believe may still be the same case today.

So, you can probably have a pleasant stay there but 6 months might start to get a little boring.

Well I need to get out of NZ by September. Domestic difficulties, marital separation, she gets the house, I cant afford a decent lifestyle on my pension in NZ, so had planned to retire in Siem reap. So Sri Lanka would be a compromise. Anyway, everything might change in another two months.

south coast is all western drug sellers and obvious pedophiles
don't expect to see a woman after dark
unless in a filthy brothel