International Living

Moon Shining At Sunset: Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore

"This sunset shot at the Marina Bay Sands was one in a million. The sky lit up just right as the moon was rising behind the resort. Many people don’t know but the resort is an actual complex complete with a shopping mall, casino, and a Venice Gondola ride. One of the cool things about the Marina Bay Sands Resort besides the amazing infinity rooftop pool is the fact that you can use your hotel Wi-Fi throughout the entire shopping complex. The picture was taken from the famous Merlion statue just across the water from the resort. This also happens to be where the cars zip by in the only night time Formula 1 race." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMoon Shining At Sunset: Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore

Alaskan border town may use Canadian dollars, but they’re ‘100% American’

"Hyder is a good example of the close connection between our two countries and the tribal nature of national identity; of how a line on a map, drawn forever ago, and a Canadian border crossing staffed by some presumably bored Canadian Customs officers (there is no U.S. Customs in Hyder) can seem as wide as the Grand Canyon — even when the metaphorical price of admission is being counted in loonies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAlaskan border town may use Canadian dollars, but they’re ‘100% American’

Americans in Canada may be unable to receive payments from Government

"Looks like the Government of Canada will require a bank account for all government cheques. Therefore. anybody who is: 1. Suspected of being a U.S. person; and 2. Who becomes 'FATCA Recalcitrant' and has his/her account closed, will be unable to receive payments from the Government of Canada. It’s important to note that at the present time, any person, on showing the appropriate ID can get a Government of Canada cheque cashed at any bank. The 'noose is tightening' around U.S. citizens abroad." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmericans in Canada may be unable to receive payments from Government

Thai doctor: “I’m not a slave to insurance companies or regulations…”

"People often presume that the medical care in the developed West is the best in the world. But over the years, it’s become a centralized, bureaucratic mess. In Thailand, private medical care is excellent, efficient, and tremendously cost effective. Many of the international hospitals are more like five-star hotels and luxury shopping malls. And there’s very little waiting. The quality of the care is also first rate. Many of the doctors were trained at western universities and fellowships. One of the physicians I met yesterday received her MD in Singapore, plus a Masters degree and PhD in her field at a top university in California, and then another fellowship at Harvard." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThai doctor: “I’m not a slave to insurance companies or regulations…”

Why I renounced US citizenship

"I flew to Switzerland and was hired by two large international firms at the same time within a few weeks, both offering double the pay and with better benefits. I had to choose. Months later, my spouse joined me there. 11 years later, I learned that Swiss banks were rejecting little people simply because they had US citizenship and as a result of US policy. It was clear that the US citizenship had to go. Overall, I find that the American job market is often trigger-happy, overreacting to strongly to non-issues. In Switzerland, I’m trusted, my skills and motivation are respected and appreciated and my minor human errors are forgiven. To anyone thinking about working in America: think again." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy I renounced US citizenship

Rather than pay ridiculous taxes, Americans renouncing citizenship

"As Americans live and work overseas, they find themselves facing onerous tax reporting requirements designed to crack down on tax evaders. However, the paperwork and reporting requirements are exhausting. For a few Americans, it is easier to renounce their citizenship and escape the burden. Americans living overseas say they are weary of the paperwork and burdensome requirements. Most countries have lower tax rates and caps, which make it more attractive to become citizens elsewhere. Some citizens only retain their American passports for travel purposes, which makes the document very expensive." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRather than pay ridiculous taxes, Americans renouncing citizenship

Non-Traditional Retirements, or DIY Sabbaticals

"NPR Morning Edition featured a story today about non-traditional retirements: Seeing The (Northern) Light: A Temporary Arctic Retirement. Instead of waiting until 65, Winston Chen decided to stop working for an entire year mid-career and moved his family to a small Norwegian island in the Arctic Circle with only 180 residents. Our society seems to feel that education is for the young, work is for the middle-aged, and leisure is for the elderly. But what if you decided to snip 5 years from those retirement years and sprinkle them between your working years?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNon-Traditional Retirements, or DIY Sabbaticals

Filling the FATCA void

"The overwhelming consensus back in the early days of the last century, was, ‘Why would an American want to leave their country?’ Yet out of today’s seven million US expats who are abroad, over one thousand this year alone have also chucked away their national identity. They have done so due to the impending FATCA rules which threaten their own financial planning continuity, cutting off access to channels of advice and financial management. The reporting restrictions to the American taxman - the IRS - that FATCA places on all non-US companies dealing with US clients are now deemed far too complex and costly for large institutions to comply with." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFilling the FATCA void

Syria and Second Passports

"You won't be any worse off by moving some of your savings into multiple friendly jurisdictions and into things that are hard to confiscate, such as physical precious metals and foreign real estate. Obtaining a second passport is also an important ingredient in the mix. The Syrian government, for example, previously refused to renew the passports of Syrians abroad it suspected of being associated with the opposition. This is not surprising and should have been completely predictable. Any government has the ability to revoke the citizenship and/or passport of its citizens at a moment's notice under any pretext that it finds convenient. Look at how the US cancelled Edward Snowden's passport by fiat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria and Second Passports

11 Hotels and hostels that accept Bitcoin

"It’s summer time (well, at least in the northern hemisphere) and people want to travel, Bitcoiners included. So we decided to gather information about some hotels and hostels where your Bitcoin wallet will serve as a moneybag. After a long day’s journey, here’s a list places where you can relax for a few virtual coins." Continue reading →

Continue Reading11 Hotels and hostels that accept Bitcoin