Lands of Opportunities in a Great Big World Of Wonder

 

Editor-photo“The world is getting smaller.” It’s a stock phrase of talking heads, tech bloggers, and lazy journalists.

Okay, all right. I accept they’re talking about the internet and communication. But I still think it’s worth pointing out the planet’s not shrinking. It’s still a great big world. One that people have been moving around since apes walked upright.

For millennia people traipsed, sailed, and climbed their way all over our earth. Why? Adventure, sure. But mainly they were looking for opportunities to have a better life. Tribes poured out of the Asian steppe to settle in the ruins of Rome, Old World migrants clutching one-way tickets boarded ships for the U.S., and wagon trains rolled west…

Where to these days? In the November issue of International Living we’re looking to new lands of opportunity. Take the Colombian city of Medellín where Lauren Brown found she could afford little luxuries. Or the verdant valleys outside Ecuador’s capital of Quito, where Wendy DeChambeau found a “best of both worlds” lifestyle for as little as $1,400 a month.

Read about the foothills of Veraguas, Panama, with the spirit of a 19th-century pioneer, where you could live a comfortable, rural life for just $1,500 a month. Lots sell for as little as $15,000 and it’s a much safer place than the Old West.

Southeast Asia presents a rich mosaic of opportunities to live well and play out your dreams. John Grady left Hawaii with his camera to fund a fun-filled life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. And you’ll see why the thousands of expats in Chiang Mai, Thailand, never run out of things to do…

In Nicaragua expats say they feel freedom like never before. It’s also one of the most business-friendly countries on our beat…and we’ll be discussing that country’s hottest destinations.

You’ll discover opportunities to reinvent family life overseas, and, while Rome may have fallen, you can still live well in the heart of that empire—where we’ve found the best Roman-town escapes…

Unlock the Value in War Memorabilia

Unlock the Value in War Memorabilia

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Remember that old medal your grandfather used to own? Check if it’s still around…it may be worth something. Last year’s centenary of the start of World War I and this year’s 70th anniversary of the end of World War II have ignited interest in war memorabilia as an appreciating collectable. Good-quality artefacts from the American Civil War, Vietnam, and the two World Wars are becoming scarcer, so if you have a penchant for military mementos, now’s the time to stand to attention. Items to look out for include uniforms, weaponry, gas masks, field equipment, and medals.

“In Phnom Penh, I Can Afford the Good Life Again”

“In Phnom Penh, I Can Afford the Good Life Again”

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Once famed as the “Pearl of Asia,” the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, has lots to offer expats. You’ll find a stunningly low cost of living, bustling markets, and a thriving food scene, set to a backdrop of colonial French architecture and Buddhist temples. It was Phnom Penh’s beauty and its people’s warmth that inspired expat John Grady, 65, to start taking photos here. And it is through photography that he now supplements his retirement income.

The Five Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Five Best Day Trips From Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Chiang Mai, in the heart of northern Thailand, has become popular among expats like me for its low cost of living and many attractions. An ancient city with over 300 exquisite temples, it’s culturally rich, vibrant, and offers a wide variety of things to do. But don’t limit yourself to the city. While Chiang Mai proper can keep you busy with its many cafés, cultural events, bookshops, and expat hangouts, some of the best discoveries lie in the foothills beyond the historic city center…

Escape to the Old World in a Roman Town

Escape to the Old World in a Roman Town

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The Romans’ influence stretches down the millennia into architecture, literature, theater, warfare, politics… They are a pillar upon which Western civilization is built. At its height, the Roman Empire held sway over much of Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. Its borders expanded over the centuries as the Romans took new lands… or shrunk in the face of barbarian hordes that invaded as the empire declined.

Living Overseas…the Best Education of All

Living Overseas…the Best Education of All

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You must be really desperate to want to move to China!” said my 80-yearold mother as I broke the news of my new job. Actually, no; I wasn’t. At that time—almost 10 years ago—I had a great teaching position in rural British Columbia, with the end of my long career in sight. I was the kingpin in a small storefront school teaching all the local misfits, no boss looking over my shoulder, a decent salary, and enough regular holidays to keep me rejuvenated. So why did I decide to move?