⌛ New Guy Introduction

Just wanted to check in and introduce myself.

I'm 41 years old, and originally from Los Angeles, CA, but been travelling/teaching in different countries for a few years. I was fortunate to meet a wonderful woman from Zamboungita (near Dumaguete), and now we live together on Boracay Island where I work.

As lovely as Boracay is, it is a TINY little island and there is that 'island fever' (as opposed to cabin fever) element that happens here quite often if one stays on it too long without some contrast. So several times a year we come to Dumaguete for a few weeks at a time to vacation and visit my gf's family. On our most recent visit back we decided to go ahead and buy a small lot of land near my gf's family in Zamboungita. We will be building a modest little house over the next year that will be our vacation house instead of staying at hotels all the time.

Since I will be spending some time in Dumaguete, on and off throughout the year and be involved in a building project, I decided it would be best to join the forum as I am sure I will need to seek advice from the more experienced expats.

- back2eden

 

Welcome to DI,

nice intro. Feel free to ask anything you feel like we can help you. great to have you on board.

cheers

Rhoody

 

Lots of help here!

welcome back2eden, I don't think there will any shortage of answers for you on any Question you ask, Totally agree with Rhoody, Hope all goes well and look forward to the 1st Question


Jack P.

 

Welcome to Di. As an Alaskan residence, I'm familiar with "cabin fever". It comes, because of the long dark winters, to those who really have no interests to keep them involved and interested. I am right now dreading winter. I have loved riding my "road bicycle" all summer. It rained a lot and now it's going to snow. We have bicycles available with large snow tires but...Ugh! No way, Jose.

Have fun on Borocay and Dumaguete.

 

welcome to the forum back2eden.

 

Yes in Zamboanguita do live beautifull and lovely women, Back2eden.
A welcome from me as well.
So if you are back here (look to my location) drop by and maybe I could give you some advices.
We will go the other way soon and have a short trip to Boracay and maybe see you teaching there .

 

Wow, nice forum here...wasn't expecting any replies right away, but thanks for all the warm welcomes!

I suppose I have an immediate question regarding transportation that perhaps people can share their 2 cents worth.

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a multi-cab just to have around since I'll be spending 10 - 12 weeks out of the year in Dumaguete. While its not a lot of time, I added up the expense of renting a car for about that amount of time and it comes out to about the same amount of money I would be spending, so might as well own. The other reason for buying one would be because of the location I'm in: Zamboanguita where my gf tells me there is no public transportation past a certain time (sundown?), and the fact that I like to take a lot of day trips while I'm down there.

Jellyfish, since you live there, do you own a car or just use public transportation? Or any other care to comment.... Anybody have an idea of the costs of registration and/or insurance on a multicab?

And finally, I kept reading on the forums that multicabs were 'death traps'. Are there safer alternatives like getting a van? The concern I believe is that one can get squashed from the front and the gas tank is in back? Are all models built that way? I have no idea about the difference between all the auto choices. Safety is an obvious concern as I have never driven in the Philippines.

Thanks,
back2eden

 

Back2eden, from 7 AM till 7 PM there are many jeepneys going every 10 to 15 minutes between Zamboanguita and Dumaguete v.v.
Outside that timeframe you can take the Ceres Liners bus from/to Bayawan between Dumaguete and Zamboanguita v.v..
So it's not a big problem to travel up and down.
Tricycles are always an option but that is far for them and you pay a lot more. Vans are also driving up and from Siaton.
I don't know if they will stop as well in Zamboanguita to pick up a customer at the road (I thought of not).
Multicabs are very much used here. My US friends (who was used to drive a Mercedes at home) is using a multicab here. Maybe a good option for you, but there are so many options to buy a small car here.
Just this morning a friend passed my place with the question if I had interest to buy his Suzuki van for 165000 Php.
Since I have enough transport means I did not take his offer.
I prefer to go with my motorbike iso the car. Faster and easier to park in Dumaguete. But sometimes we even take the jeepneys.
It brings you for 20 pesos to Dumaguete !
Quite nice to sit in a jeepney with 30 other people in or behind or on top of the jeepney
Insurances for a car ? I don't know all possibilities but I pay for my Strada 4x4 (2002) now about 15000 Php a year(is not an All-Risk insurance !).

 

Welcome! I am also from So Cal.

 

Back2eden, I am also from Socal and live in Bacong soon. My maid is from Zamboanguita, my wife from Santa. Boracay is cool but I like the lifestyle here better. Hope you enjoy.