⌛ Live in Dumaguete? ETA 10 years!

Hello,

I am a 45 year old Norwegian who are single at the moment (This is NOT a marriage ad) and I live in Norway.

I have two brothers that are married to Philippine women and they will be retiring to Dumaguete when they get to that certain age, but it may happen within 10 years.
One of them (Vegard) already bought a house in Sibuland and use that for 2 months in summer and 1 month around xmas.
The other brother (Torbjørn) is looking into buying a lot.

I am thinking that If I am the only brother left here in Norway why should I not move as well?

• After all my pension go much farther
• I speak English fluently after 4 years in the USA as an aviator
• Sun and warm, not that white stuff that gets here during winter
• Nice region of the world
• Family all being there
• Everything is darn cheap compared to here which would give a very nice lifestyle
• All year open Golf Courses
• Can hire someone to do my cleaning and making dinner etc.
• Massages, drink, good friends, international co operations
• Maybe do some exports
• Maybe just buy a amphibian airplane (Lake) and just have fun

There is loads of good reasons to move there, and maybe go home to Norway during summer months to use a yacht to sail the Mediterranean or just in local waters.

Well first I will have to visit and that I will do next summer (09).

I will also like to mention that forums like this is a vast goldmine for people like me who are thinking of settling down there. So thank you all for all the advice and possible friendships you can offer me.

Regards
Paul (Pål)

 

the Philippines do not suit everyone. a 2 month dream, can turn into a real drag after 6 months. just do not sell all your assets immediately on retirement, see how u like it and keep your options open

 

welcome to this wonderful forum paalao, life in philippines sometimes paradise to others who have more money and nice people around, but to some also not.Money is not the only factor you can have a paradise there.

 

Yes guys, I do understand that so I am thinking of renting out my appartment the first year and then see if I still want to live down there.

Paradise is often not paradice if you live there all the time and are "married" if you get my drift:D

But beeing there in that region gives you lots of opertunities like a little flight west to Bangkok or some hours southeast to Aussieland. If only to have it as a base to explore the SE it is good.

And after looking thru some of this forum I have found that renting is a good thing, especially since I am not married, thus I will also have lots of more options like finding the right spot to live. Maybe by the sea or by a golf course or at the mountains. But a pool is a minimum.

I also have friends in Bejing, Bangkok, Ho Chi Min city (Norwegians)

But I need to work my brain also so I need something to do, maybe even developt some stuff that I have patentet.

How much does it cost to hire a good electrical sivil engineer?

Another hobby may be to get stuff for exports.

Back to stay and try I am all for that! And it may even happen erlier then the 10 years. All depending on my borthers if they move becouse then I have safety nets down there.

Anyway I am now going riding my BMW K1200LT so see ya later.
(Yes to hot to ride bikes down there and not much good roads)

 

Paul,

It is wise advice to check it out first since this is a different culture and experience here but so far you have a GREAT list of GOOD REASONS for retiring here in the PHL. All I can tell you is that it has been hard for my husband since he is not used to this place and it does take time. It all depends on what you value in life and sometimes you don't discover that until you move to a place and experience it. All that I know is that I HIGHLY value nature and simpleness. I love it here because of the beauty of the greenery so that offsets other negatives that I try to get used to. Also, this is the only place that I feel safe driving a motorcycle plus what is the point of driving motorcycles in America when you can drive motorcycles up awesome mountains and run rugged roads in the Philippines! hehehe.....plus my son loves going with me on the bike too even if it is just simple roaming around.

Good luck Paul in discovering where you will be happy for retirement and I FULLY AGREE that forums like this are SO USEFUL to help us know if it is worth looking into a place or not. hmmm........just view the pics that the Rev and so many others have shared on this forum......boy, it makes me FALL IN LOVE all over again with the PHL. THANKS to all!

 

Thanks for kind words

I am wondering, how many foreigners live down there and what are the aproximate numbers/nationality?
How many of these foreigners bothers to learn the local landguage?
Is there course for landguage down there? And what would it cost? (Know it is dead cheap but still currious)
How is boating down there?
Special laws?
Police and corruption?
Does foreigners get leaniency?
and a thousand + more questions hehe

 

I am wondering

A lot of questions Paul.
For several of them you can find answers in the many treads on this forum.
But I am wondering also ......... :
Did/do your two brothers not tell you about these subjects ?
Your brother Vegard spends 3 months a year in Sibulan, you told us What better source do you want ?

 

Yes, Vegard just bought the house last year so this is his second season
And He is still looking to this with pink clouds around him so I will not get answears that are unbiased... I have also asked his wife who is a filipina from dumagetti, she beeing a catholic is giving me answears that I cant use as valid points, not becouse of the religion but becouse she is one of the locals.
I want YOUR experience as you see it from your standpoint.

The other brother`s wife is from a small island called Maripipi and she does not know much about what goes on in Duma.

I have learned that in order to get the best info I need to research it myself and this is a way for me to do it.

About the treads, yes I read many of them and I guess I was just lazy now and tried to make an shortcut hehe, I will research this forum more...smiles

 

Hi Paul,

The best thing to be able to know Dumaguete is to visit and spend a vacation there.

I myself was born in the souther part of the Philippines but was raised in this City of Gentle People.

Dumaguete is proud to be the home of Silliman Univeristy, the first American University in the Philippines established in 1901. It is also a home of other Universities and educational institutions. It is for this reason that a lot of people of different cultures, nationalities, religions, race, etc. converge in this city. You will not be bored in Dumaguete because of many reasons. Educated people, lecturers, students, tourists, scientists, performers all come to Dumaguete.

If you think of buying properties in Dumaguete, try to visit www.islandproperities.com.

Thanks and Best Regards,
flavenido

 

Thanks for you answears, Yes I will go down to Dumaguete next summer to visit my brother`s vacation home.

He bought that from a german 2 years ago and it is in Sibulan...I guess some of you know which one it is