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Best of All Worlds

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Forum' started by Rye83, May 3, 2019.

  1. Rye83

    Rye83 with pastrami Admin Secured Account Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Army

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    We spend a lot of a lot of time complaining about the Philippines here, with some of it warranted of course, but I would like to know what others would consider a perfect world if they could choose aspects from every culture they have experienced. Basically, what would make you perfectly content in life?

    My perfect world:
    Food/Service: Arabic/South West Asia cuisine and their incredible ability to reproduce just about any foreign dish to be equal to or greater than the original is uncontested IMO. The service provided here (in Dubai right now) is also hard to beat.

    Freedoms: 3rd World Asia/Philippines. Very little interference from the government here. No enforced last call

    Economic/Opportunity: Hard to beat the US on this one. I may be a bit biased on this one since I've been treated so well by my home country.

    Social: Western Europe and healthcare and social programs.

    Culture/History/Tradition: Eastern (Developed) Asia. Russia, China, Japan, Korea. Hard to deny these places have a long history and are rich in culture and tradition.

    Obviously, these cultures conflict with each other in some way or another and most could never coexist. Curious to learn what others have experienced from their travels around the world.

    My travels are limited and there are plenty of places I have yet to visit (most of Europe, anything in Africa or south of the equator) and I would like to hear from others on how they rank everything.
     
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  2. HeyJoey

    HeyJoey DI Member

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    Food/Service: Japan and Southern Europe
    Japan because of the freshness and the level of details,
    southern Europe for the mix of northern African-Mediterranean food.

    Freedoms: 3rd World Asia/Cambodia-Philippines-Laos\
    Hard to beat the level of freedom you can have in those countries (but for how long?) with the relative safety as well.

    Economic/Opportunity: China-US-Germany
    The three big boys of economy with a little advantage for the Western countries regarding the business ethics/scams, but again more than 1B people to do business with in China...

    Culture/History/Tradition: Europe in General
    Maybe because its what i know best, but all those tiny countries from West to East created a mix quite unique in the world (Food, Music, Art etc).
    Hard to forget about Asia or ancient South America with Egypt but again i'm not as knowledgeable as Europe.
     
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  3. TheDude

    TheDude DI Forum Patron Highly Rated Poster

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    This is my #1 and it makes staying in the Philippines really tough. I feel you benefit from being in close proximity of people who can make stuff happen in this category. I have instead been an early rider of the digital nomadism wave and I wouldn't recommend it for most people who might be interested. There's strong believers in the competing camps of "work remotely" and "work from the office." I don't think we have figured out "work remotely" yet. It works for some at the high end (solid, well paid workers.) It's being pushed as a possible necessary alternative to piling in yet more people into overheated housing markets, but that doesn't mean we have it figured out.

    My advice to someone young today would be to do everything they can to go somewhere like NYC or San Francisco. In certain cases (or the near future) I might add Chinese cities to that list. Get a job at Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, etc. Or work for a fast rising star. You'll learn a ton and might even make a ton of money. You'll be hard pressed to get that anywhere else in the world. Otherwise you have to be an outlier to build the same level of operational capabilities as a free agent (something I struggled with as I adjusted to Filipino time) or an employee with a middling company.
     
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  4. PatO

    PatO DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster Showcase Reviewer Veteran Marines

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    If I started in IT now, like I did in 1967 as an early day programmer in what became Silicon Valley, I would begin with a large international company to get the training and skills in a specialty area and after a few years move to Silicon Valley and take a chance on a start up company offering stock options. In later years, after I made my stash, I would retire early and choose between Sun Coast Australia, Tagaytay Philippines, Malaga Spain, Del Mar California. I would NOT get divorced two times in California.
    If I am still around (unlikely), I would push my son toward a computer science degree rather than engineering.
     
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  5. Liverpool fan

    Liverpool fan DI Senior Member Showcase Reviewer

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    Food: Southern Europe, Thailand, Japan, Middle East
    Service: Europe they have knowledge about the goods they sell, guess it's the same in many other western countries
    Freedom: Asia, no worries as long you don't p*ss anyone off
    Culture and history: Greece, Italy, and Egypt, maybe because that what I have the most knowledge about. The culture I really like it in Asia, open minded and friendly people. Arabic and Chinese culture I find there are more cons than pros, arrogant, rude behavior but they have a great history
     
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  6. Cerne

    Cerne DI Forum Adept

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    Whoa! Too many to choose. My reply could end up becoming a book. I’m going to attempt to limit myself. I’m bunging my hat in the ring for India - food obviously, the regional diversity is enormous - coloured by religion(s), culture, what’s produced or available locally. I just got back from a beach break in Goa and was struck by the differences between the Portuguese influences of Xacuti or Vindaloo as compared to some of the more French influenced wine vinegar cooking of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. Keralese vs Rajasthani, Moghul vs Parsee - literally endless.

    Culture is amazing too - Chola lost wax bronze from the 10th Century, the colourful temples of Tamil Nadu. Just imagine observing a culture, religion and language that hasn’t changed basically since Roman Times. The stone carvings of Khujuraho, the Mosques of the Moghuls - even the Aramaic Churches of Kerala have their appeal. As an aside I’ve always been amused by Western medieval attempts to Christianise those folk: “er, whaddaya mean Jesus? We’ve been doing the old fellah since the 1st Century just after his incident with carpentry.”

    Landscape, wildlife - I’ve seen Gangetic dolphins, effing great big tigers from open top jeeps less than 3M away, wild pig the size of your hand. The vastness of the Himalayas, deserts, jungles, tropical islands that can make the Maldives blush with shame.

    Everyday service, if not hygiene is an issue. But I’ve learned to accept all this alongside the craziness of the streets/traffic where things are just plain raw. I spend time looking out for poorly spelt signs. A barbers in Mumbai recently: “Gents Harecuts. Children cutting too. Messes.” (Er, only Male rabbits allowed to observe the torture of kids, a mess made?). Endless fun. I can nip into a 4-5* if I want western style service.

    The missus is partial to a bit of Bollywood rom-com. I have to admit so am I. Usually the bits where the female lead prances about in several different costumes accompanied by a bevvy of similar beauties. As the UK no longer allows Pans People, it sort of works me into a lather. Cue - multi fabulous location shots, helium based singing, an odd middle aged fat bloke with a 70s droopy moustache sans chest rug, open long collared garishly coloured polyester shirt and medallion professing his lurve to something bursting out of her bikini top young enough to be his daughter. Never fails.

    If that hasn’t put you off, I’m also partial to Turkey, Morroco, Andalusia, well the whole of Spain, the Caribbean, Central America...blessed to be on this green earth.

    Cheers,

    C
     
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  7. Stefan_Negros

    Stefan_Negros DI Member

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    I did live in Dubai for more than 2 years and in other countries in Middle East more than 11 years. Was also several years in Russia and Africa.

    Dubai for sure is a well organized place with good infrastructure, safety and cleaness. Wide variety of restaurants, foods and stuff like that. But for me not a place to settle down due to incredibly bad weather conditions. And it's getting boring shortly. You have a life between bars, malls and apartment. That's it.

    I agree on that Western Europe got the best social system, but it's getting down rapidly nowadays.

    Generally speaking for me there are 2 almost perfect places in the world: Singapore and Munich. All I want and need is available there. But it's not for free.

    Of course you cannot expect a perfect environment in terms of safety, infrastructure, food choices, internet etc., and compare it with rates in the Philippines.
     
  8. Swissrider

    Swissrider DI Member Restricted Account Showcase Reviewer

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    It is rather surprising you put Singapore on your wish list. Because this city is exactly how you are describing Dubai. I have been working in Singapore for some months long time ago. And still make stopovers there nowadays. IMO I would not choose this city even with big money. Sure, all perfect, secure and so on. But, boring. :smile: But maybe for you OK. Munich on the other hand, yes please.

    Gesendet von meinem SM-N950F mit Tapatalk
     
  9. Stefan_Negros

    Stefan_Negros DI Member

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    I see huge differences between Dubai and Singapore.

    Most significant one are the weather conditions. In Dubai you can do absolutely nothing outside an AC environment from April to November. It's just to hot and humid to have any outdoor activities like Golf or whatever you like to do. Even a dinner at night on your terrace or at the open area of a restaurant is not possible at all.

    You are trapped in Dubai into your apartment, your favorite bar and from time to time you have to go to the supermarket. Biggest challenge is to survive if you have to walk 20 yards from the taxi to the entrance of your hotel / bar.

    In Singapore you find acceptable weather conditions throughout the year. You can dine, walk, sit outdoors and can have sporting activities as well. It's a taxi ride to Malaysia and a trip of 2 hours by boat to Indonesia,where you find marvelous golf courses.

    The variety of food in Singapore is unbeaten. The food courts are fantastic and you find top class restaurants as, well.

    I could continue for ages to emphasize the good parts of Singapore.

    Munich is a fantastic city and without any doubt the best city in Germany.
     
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