Trey: 
Greetings from Aruba!  I am originally from Texas,but moved to this Dutch Caribbean island 10 years
ago and have stayed here ever since.

Editor: 
So what's it like in Aruba? I've heard it's great fishing and diving and windy. Are there any cosmopolitan cities, or is it all about the sand and the sea?

Trey:
Well, Aruba is a friendly place, and it is a mixture of Europe and Latin America.  While the standard of living is among the highest in the region and there is very little poverty, we do not have the convenience economy as there is in the USA.  This means there is no real "one stop shopping" that one would find in the USA where you can get many different items (like photo developing to prescriptions) under one roof.  It is quite cosmopolitan, as much as you can get for about 100,000 people!  There is good diving here, and great fishing.  One needs the wind, or else it would feel like a steam bath!Everybody here carries Dutch passports, which gives the right to live/work anywhere in the EU.  Because immigration is controlled locally, this is considered a back door to the EU.  I became naturalized 5 years ago, and it's the best decision I've made.I now own my own small business and live in a 3 bedroom bungalow with all the conveniences of USA, although this is home now.  Actually, when I return to Texas, I feel as if I'm a foreigner. I read your stories about Brazil and about Bali. Will you ever go back to Bali?  It sounded fascinating and interesting! I pictured that part of Asia to be somewhat regimented, but you painted a totally different picture.  It really makes me want to go there. 

Brazil seems interesting.  There is many exchanges going on between Aruba and Brazil.  Varig comes here 2 times per week and the Prime Minister seems to be in love with anything Brazilian.  We have one member of the Staten (parliament) who has a girlfriend from Brazil and the women seem to be 
as you describe them!

Hope all is well and keep up the good work!

Yours,
Trey
 

Dear Editor, 
My brother has wanted to move to Paris, to live like a bohemian and write for so long. I can only imagine how rewarding that would be. Could you get back with me with any ideas? 
Merci, 
Monica

Dear Monica,
If Henry Miller could do it, your brother can do it too. It goes like this: Save a little money and go. Live in cold apartments with no heat, struggle to make ends meet, wonder where your next dollar is coming from, and write. When you are sitting over coffee or sipping wine in a cafe discussing the state of the world with your friends, you'll decide that it’s all worth it. (If he needs to supplement his cash flow, he can teach English as a second language or provide any number of services under the table that expats living abroad need. Check out Escape Artist’s jobs link.) - Editor
 

Terry:
I enjoyed your first article regarding your life and  experiences while you were living in Bali. I have always wanted to go  there but have never made it. I have, however, seen a large part of the  rest of the world. There are still, many places that I want and hope to see in the future. Our lives and the world is a "Movable Feast" as Hemmingway liked to put it. I agree with his thoughts and have enjoyed virtually every country and city and culture that I have been fortunate  enough to be exposed to. America and the U.S. is undoubtedly one of the finer places in the world, but it is not everything and for me it has begun to loose some of its luster. 

I have never tired of exploring the very best place in the world to live from May to October of each year. The winters are now more than I want to put up with and so, like yourself, I have been looking for a place to spent the rest of each year. You asked for some input from people who had spent time in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. I have spent time in all three as well as Malaysia and Vietnam. For me, this is truely the best part of the world, and I have been to Africa, Russia, Europe, China, South America, etc... 

So, it is not the only part of the world that I have seen and know. I have keep returning to Cambodia particularly because for me it is the most relaxing place I have found. It is not the cleanest or most stable. But, in many ways I have found it to be the most beautiful and intriguing place I have found. It is not as developed as Thailand and yet this very fact makes it more pleasant for me as the culture and people are much more friendly and not so money  oriented.

I am, as I write this, planning on returning at the end of February to Cambodia. I negotiated the purchase of a townhome in Phnom Penh and must return to inspect the progress and make plans for taking title.  Will I move there every November as the weather changes in Alaska?...no.  But, but I will have a place to go if I want to and I know that I will  enjoy being there. There is so much, even after 12 years of visits,  that I have not seen and will enjoy seeing again.....how can you tire of seeing Angkor Watt!!! 

Robin, for me, you CAN "eat the whole enchilada".  Do not give up on that desire. The world is to large and wonderful and new and exciting to lock into only San Francisco...as nice as it is! 

Keep looking, and may I suggest New Zealand?

Good traveling! 

Terry 
 

Dear Editor,
I'm considering studying Portuguese abroad and possibly making a permanent move to a medium sized city township in Brazil, I read your post on Fortaleza, my question is do you recommend it for a single 40 yr old male? What are some more of your favorite place(s)in Brazil if you had to live there?
Charles 

Dear Charles,
Depends on what you want. For a single 40 yr. old American, Fortaleza is probably perfect. All depends on what you want. If you don't mind the wind, and aren't in the market for an artistic, bohemian community. Fortaleza has a pioneer spirit and lots of western men (from 40's up) , and lots of young Brazilian women hoping to meet foreign men. The temperature is nearly perfect year round, a steady 24-26 degrees centigrade, with almost constant sunshine. On the other hand, if you're into a beautiful people, leading edge style, music scene, or a mountain meets the sea vibe, I'd suggest Rio de Janiero. If it’s a rural-ish arty, bohemian vibe you’re looking for, you can find it in Trancoso, Buzios, Parati, or Florianopolis. If it’s businesss opportunity and a metropolitan life, head for Sao Paulo. Best of luck.- Editor
 

Dear Editor,
I’ve become increasingly disillusioned with living in the so-called fast lane in London. Once, it was exciting to work hard, be successful, earn lots and spend lots. The latest restaurants, the latest clothes and so on. Maybe it’s a mid age thing (45) but this has gradually paled. It was becoming clear I was going to have to work for a long, long time to maintain my expensive life style.

Luckily, my girlfriend steered me towards Bali and the rest is (or is about to become) history. Up until then, Thailand was the only place I had visited that seemed worth gravitating towards. It still is and I want to check out Malaysia & Philippines – I’ve been to Cambodia, Laos etc  - charming but way too scary.

Anyway, Monique & I are leaving London to move to Bali this summer. Dr Johnson wrote that a man who is tired of London is tired of life. Not so!

We will fund our living expenses, by renting out our 2 apartments in London and living off the rent. Done the research and the mathematics but until we make the move, don’t know it will work. Let’s hope it does.

Keen to see what you write about ex US Vets in Thailand. The ones I met (mainly Phuket) were odious drunks, exploiting poor Thai hookers, impervious to the fact these poor girls are Buddhists and all on a US military pension. Not attractive.

I loved your article “Let It Go And Let Bali” 

I particularly liked the comments by Martial from France. 
"What is the best thing about living in Bali?" I ask Martial.
"Balinese women have the most beautiful breasts in the world. When I see a girl in France and I say, "Hello Baby, you look very sexy," she says to me, 'Who do you think you are?'
Was this guy real or merely being ironic? Anyway, I thought is it was funny.

Please keep me advised of your future articles.

Regards
Bradley 

Dear Bradley, 
Best of luck with your move to Bali. 
 

Thanks to all of you who wrote in. If you have a point of view you’d like to share in “Readers Write”, please send it with “Readers Write” in the subject line. Not all emails will be published nor can each one be answered personally, but we do read them all.- Editor