Many men in search of a new partner (including those that just immediately fall in love with an Asian bar girl) will decide they prefer the local lifestyle (Thailand and the Philippines in particular) and decide to settle in the partner’s country, usually without realising the full implications of such a move; others bring their new love back home (a wholly different exercise). Either way, some of these relationships work out and everyone gets what they want. However, I would guess that most don’t (not the first time, anyway).

But perhaps there is another, less obvious, underlying reason for so many men wanting to go on a cross-cultural relationship adventure. It may be found  not in ‘personal chemistry’, although science knows a lot about women and men being attracted to each other for various reasons. However, the answer is not likely to be among the clichés, misconceptions and generalisations that many Western men have and make about women from the East.

Common perceptions of  ‘Asian women’ are that they [all?] are more (naturally) beautiful, more loving, more caring, more loyal, more docile and more forgiving than their Western counterparts who are [all?] typically selfish, fickle, demanding, independent, aggressive.

What if the answer lay within the man himself? It could be due simply to his basic lack of self-confidence, especially with women from his own country. He feels he is just not naturally attractive to women, especially his own kind. He has also heard and read that Asian women don’t care about looks and age; in fact they actually prefer older men. He hasn’t heard or doesn’t want to believe that Asian women want financial security for their family more than anything else, and that as long as he continues to provide for them (which he will be obliged to do if he settles in his new partner’s country), he will be a great catch – even if he is old and smells. Love and loyalty are less important, and Asian men are typically at fault. Generalisations work both ways, but there is no stereotypical Western man either!

If any of that homespun psychology (I’m certainly not an expert!) strikes a note with you (or someone you know), then there is a completely new avenue you could explore – by looking within. I know many will shudder at the mention or thought of self hypnosis, but it can and has solved countless emotional problems, allergies, afflictions, addictions and even perceived illnesses. Science could possibly make you become naturally attractive to women – whether they are in your home country or Asia. Worth looking at, and much cheaper than foreign travel!

Many men simply don’t know the formula for flirting with women using the natural masculine qualities they are born with. But there definitely is one, and one essential element is being able to talk to women with confidence. Find out more about an ebook that explains it all in detail.

Visit our page with more downloadable resources for dating, romance and making love.

By the way, did you notice the date of this post? Valentine’s Day!

Except for Nokia which is now tied to Microsoft, virtually all popular phone brands like Google itself, Samsung, LG, HTC, Acer, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, and tablets from Samsung, Acer, Asus, ViewSonic – and many more including Chinese copies – run on versions of the Android operating system.

The ‘apps’ (applications for Apple and Android are like computer programs, games and utilities for desktop and laptop PC operating systems like Windows, Linux or Mac) list is already huge and can be seen on the official Android Market, as well as several other websites which also cater for devices not ‘authorized’ by Google. Only those with a ‘legit’ phone or tablet can download apps direct from Google’s Android Market, but there are ways to get around these restrictions (some technical knowledge may be needed).

Android Apps are mostly free, such as the popular Angry Birds games or if charged for, around $1 -10. You choose the apps you want and have them sent to and installed on your phone, wherever you are, automatically via your Gmail account. It’s a very simple process. Storage memory is not a problem as all these devices have micro SD cards which hold gigabytes of data for apps, videos, photos and music files.

In these days of economic hardship for many, any way to save money shopping, eating out, hotels, local tourist attractions, servicing the car, or whatever, is very welcome and most people are aware of coupons which can be redeemed against purchases from a local outlet or a special limited time offer (often loss-making for the vendor) but which can save you a lot of money, up to 60% or more in some cases. Groupon is the best known of these services and operates in over 50 countries including a growing number in Asia, but there are more; this a rapidly growing market.

You can find these coupon sites on a computer, but what is really needed is to know of savings offers available in a particular location, or even better, near where you are right now. There are apps designed just for this purpose. They often work in conjunction with Groupon or other company, and then use the Android phone’s built-in GPS navigation and Google Maps features to locate particular offers or daily deals as they have become known.

With a good ‘deals app’, settings let you to choose an offer category (or see all) either in a particular city or town you want to visit; better yet, be able to search and notify you of coupons or daily deals near your present location – or you may even be looking to meet someone located near you!

This is great idea when you think about it, as you carry your phone (or tablet) wherever you go and you can be advised instantly when a new local savings offer comes up near you – in real time. Or you can plan activities with money-saving offers in advance.

There are several of these apps to choose from, but one I found does all it is supposed to, and works well. It’s available free on the Android Market and called Local Coupon Savings.

Apps are fun to use for anyone with an Android phone or tablet, so give this one a try – wherever you are.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on an Android phone. I bought an LG Optimus Me P350 aka Pecan for about £100 or $155 and I am very happy with it, although one problem with touchscreen phones is clumsy fingers, but there are apps that can improve keying in text dramatically like SwiftKey which now costs just 10 cents or pence from the Android market. There are free keyboard apps too.

The phone costs less than I paid at Amazon.com (click photo); it’s also at Amazon UK.

The Tiger Woods saga may have not much relevance here at Retire-Asia, but it possibly  illustrates one of the many differences between East and West culture. Maybe he’s been expecting the ‘best of both worlds’ and being able to be with other women – and get away with it.

Well, he didn’t. On August 23rd, 2010 the Woods were divorced, with a settlement believed to be about $100 million. That’s a high price to pay even for the richest golfer in the world for his affairs with those multiple mistresses (not to mention the money he paid some of them for their silence). His game has suffered too. Poor old Tiger. Let’s hope he’ll learn from this and go on to further success.

Talent and exposure bring publicity and fame. Fame brings money. Money should buy ‘the perfect life’, right? Well, apparently not – and not while living in the USA and under the global media spotlight.

Tiger’s problems and his probable realisation by now that money doesn’t buy happiness or everything you want in life, may lie in his ethnic background.  As is well-known, his family background includes both Thai and Chinese connections on both parents’ sides.

While it’s not acceptable in the West, in Thailand and Laos at least, it’s quite common for a married man to take on a second wife known as a mia noi or small wife, although technically they cannot be married. Monogamy is the law in both countries. He may have more than one mia noi and father their children.

A Thai or Lao man cannot do this without the financial means to support both his spouses. Money is definitely part of the ‘arrangement’ which is usually with the knowledge and (not always) tacit acceptance of the man’s mia yai (big wife). Both women will expect compensation in some form or other.

They don’t usually all live under the same roof, but it can happen with the agreement of the first wife. She may be bored with taking care of her husband’s needs, both in and out of bed, and is happy for someone else to do that. She may even have a boyfriend, but that is usually not made public.

One advantage of this East-West cultural difference is that the children do not suffer unnecessarily from the upheaval of divorce and the loss of one parent – sometimes due to a single infidelity on the part of their father (usually) or mother.

Extramarital affairs of the rich and famous are always hot news.  Tiger may have been forgiven for ‘just doing it’ once maybe, but apparently there are now SEVEN women with stories to tell (or sell).

He’s left himself wide open for derision and food for the tabloids and TV talk shows.

Will he ever live this down, one wonders? Not yet, by all accounts.

A word of warning for the foreigner or expat – farang – living in Thailand and especially the Lao PDR and married to a local woman. You will definitely not get away with this type of behaviour. Someone, perhaps in authority, is likely see it an opportunity for making trouble and/or money.

Pattaya Girls

Rick Gilmore, the author of a guide to the girls of Pattaya, Thailand lives there and has become somewhat of an expert on the topic. If you want to get the best out of a relationship with a Thai woman, especially one from ‘the provinces’, there are certain things you must learn and understand.

I suggest you download and read Pattaya Girls before your next trip to the go-go bar or nightclub. It’s only $27 – the price of a few drinks, but it might just save you from losing a fortune – and more importantly give you an insight into the lives and aspirations of many of these Thai ‘working girls’.

Philippine Dreams

This package covers practically every aspect of life for a foreigner in the Philippines, including finding your way around the islands and cities quickly and cheaply; meeting young, sexy women – and NOT in the bars; earning a living in the Philippines; starting a business; the right and wrong way to do things; places to see or avoid; renewing your visa and living there full time; exchanging money, hospitals and medical, schools, domestic help, real estate; resources to find anything you might need in the Philippines, complete with website addresses.

Philippines Dreams at less than $30 is a bargain – with a full money back guarantee.

More on the Philippines on our Retire-Asia website.