Philip Wylie - How to Make a Living in Paradise. Southeast Asia Edition

Title Page

HOW TO MAKE A LIVING IN PARADISE

Southeast Asia Edition

by

Philip Wylie

Publisher Information

Published by Fast Track Publishing, Thailand

E-mail:

Website: www.fasttrackpublishing.com

Fax (Hong Kong): +852-3010-9769

Digital edition converted and distributed in 2012 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

Copyright 2012 Philip Wylie

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

Disclaimer: Although the author has been diligent in his research of this book, readers are advised to double-check information before acting upon it. The author and the publishers cannot accept liability for any losses or damages resulting from the guidance contained in this book.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank all the expats and experts who contributed to this publication, and especially the following people:

Alan Hall, for guidance about investments and financial consultancy

Andrew Bond, for information about website development and search engine optimization

Kevin Bradley and Brett Evan Lessing, for their creative input at the gazebo

Les Elliott and Samantha Burman, for sharing their knowledge about teaching English in Southeast Asia

Paiboon Publishing, for permission to reproduce text from How to Establish a Successful Business in Thailand

Laurie Simmons, for his guidance about online trading with Ebay

Sunbelt Asia, for training and employing me as a business manager, broker and advisor

Tommy Schultz, for the photographs on the cover

Preface

If you are thinking of leaving your home country to live in paradise to improve the quality of your life, this book is for you. Over 6 million of Americas best citizens are already thriving overseas. A common regret of expats is that they didnt leave their home country earlier. The biggest obstacle to their freedom is fear which is usually misconceived.

This book has been written by seasoned expats and travelers who are thriving in Southeast Asia. The tips and guidance will save you thousands of dollars and many hours of your time. The author will guide you through established ways of successfully supporting your chosen lifestyle anywhere in Southeast Asia.

This book prepares you for the big escape - and change of lifestyle - by guiding you through the practicalities of passports and visas, health issues and money matters. The book is full of guidance on how to survive in a foreign country and earn a good living doing what you enjoy.

The process of buying an independent business or a franchise is explained. If you have specialized skills and a penchant for networking you must read the chapter about working freelance. There is even a section dedicated to creative pioneers about alternative approaches to making a living and cutting domestic expenditure.

The 12 most popular ways to earn a living in paradise - which are explained in chapter 7 - are: employment with an international or foreign-owned company; teaching English as a foreign language; owning a local tourist-oriented business; real estate and business brokering; property development and management; online trading and auctions; freelance consulting of specialist services; writing and publishing; volunteering; website development; import/export and manufacturing; online day trading of the financial markets.

There are unlimited opportunities for resourceful people to make a living in Southeast Asia. There are lots of teaching opportunities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam; work with NGOs in Indonesia, Myanmar and Laos; while adventurous business pioneers are being attracted to Cambodia and Vietnam.

This guide book will help you transform your dream into reality.

Good luck in your honorable quest for freedom and fulfillment! And if you have any questions, do drop me a line. My email address is .

Philip Wylie

Chiang Mai January 2010

Introduction

Many expats enjoying life in paradise regret not relocating earlier, so dont waste time! Decide what you want to do - and do it! Most successful expats stress the importance of sound preparation and research before relocating overseas. This book has been written to enable a smooth transition for escape artists the world over. This book will save you thousands of dollars, many hours of your time and headaches too.

Breaking Down The wall of Fear

You want to make a massive lifestyle change but your friends and family say you are crazy. Why give up a perfectly good life? Of course it would be difficult to get on the career and property ladder again. The media constantly warns us about political instability, terrorism, health issues and safety concerns in those disorganized undeveloped nations. How will you support your new life in paradise?

The truth is that most of the above fears are based upon myth. Many people relocate to the tropics, where healthcare is incredibly cheap, to improve their health. In Thailand, for example, it is as safe, or safer, than most places in developed countries. Most expats enjoy a much superior quality of life than their compatriots living in America or Europe. In this book you will find answers to your concerns about how to survive in your chosen destination.

Quality of Life

The main benefit of living overseas is enhanced quality of life. Many expats do not need to get involved with routine domestic chores such as cooking, washing clothes and cleaning because local domestic services are affordable. Most expatriate businesspeople do not require much time to commute to the work. The result is more quality time for leisure and creative pursuits.

Having more time available is beneficial when used appropriately. It suits disciplined writers, artists, researchers and creative people. Moving overseas may facilitate career changers and people experiencing crisis or stress. Retirees living on a limited income will enjoy an enhanced standard of living in many overseas nations. The happiest expats tend to enjoy blending into the local culture and keeping actively involved in healthy activities and projects.

Who This Book Is For?

This book is for anyone considering or planning a new life overseas. The enclosed step-by-step roadmap to freedom will be of particular benefit to anyone on a budget or looking for ideas to earn a living overseas. This book also provides valuable information for businesspeople, volunteers, retirees, artists and adventurers.

Inside the following pages you will find lists of golden rules for escape artists and ways to maximize your chances of making a good living in paradise. In the chapter Preparing for the Escape we reveal the most effective ways to prepare for relocation. The chapter covers money matters, visas and passports, inoculations, cultural adjustment and the research you need to do to land on the ground running.

Some tips in this book are so critically important, they are highlighted in bold. This publication will potentially save you thousands of dollars, many hours of your time and numerous headaches too.

Where is Paradise?

The guidance in this book applies to wherever you call paradise. It is assumed that the economy in your paradise is weak compared to your home country, which means that your home currency will buy much more.

The question Where is the most beneficial place to stay? is examined in chapter 1.

Your 4 Key Options

Unless you have sufficient investment income, or a pension, to live on, you have 4 main options to make a good living in paradise. Your options are: