⌛ The Same Old Questions

In a couple of weeks, I intend to move from Beijing to Dumaguete and remain there for six months or so, maybe longer. This site and the internet provide all manner of information, but as usual, there are many contradictions, situations change all the time and no two people are exactly alike. Twenty years on the road has taught me that the only real way to get up to date, accurate information, is from people who have done what you are trying to do.

I'm a bloke. I'm 45, single, very healthy and more or less permanently broke. I am not particularly in want of a wife, nor anything like one. I'm setting up a website and I can't get the English language and IT skills I require in China, not in the same person at least.

So I need some information in basically four areas.

1. Visa
2. Accommodation
3. Staff
4. Lifestyle

As I said, all the answers are spread far and wide, so I thought I might just ask all my questions here in one place.

1. Visa
What actually is the story here? My understanding is that I can just rock up at the airport and I'll be given 21 days, which I can increase more or less unproblematically for two years. Seems too good to be true. Would I better off (cheaper) getting a 59 day visa at the embassy here before I leave? Surely there must be costs involved in renewal? Things like this are never 'unproblematic' nor cheap. It seems a bit unlikely that I will remain in the Philippines for more then three months at a stretch, anyway. Has anyone ever been asked to show an onward ticket? I have a British passport.


2. Accommodation
I am thinking about a 2 or 3 bedroom furnished house with a small garden, and paying about 15,000 a month for it. I need a couple of local bars and some cheap eateries within staggering distance and few local shops. I don't want to be totally out in whatever they have in Dumaguete instead of suburbia. I want to be reasonably close to the action, whatever that may consist of, and of course I want to be able to walk to the beach. A good reliable internet connection is a prerequisite. Is that realistic of me?

It is also in my mind that I may prefer to live in an apartment 'in town'. How would I do for a similar price. I don't want to live in an ex-pat ghetto, not in either option, but I don't want to stand out like a sore thumb either.

A. What is the real story about deposits and contracts? I'd prefer to pay in cash monthly. How easy (expensive) will it be to get out of a contract unexpectedly?

B. If I am living in a little house, will I be immediately encumbered by a guard, gardener and maid? Is it my social duty to employ at least one of those kind of people? How much will they cost? How much hassle will they be? Do I 'need' a dog in such a situation? What about getting burgled?

I don't imagine it will take more than a week or so to find somewhere to live, but my imagination is often greatly at fault. In that time I need to stay somewhere – somewhere cheap. Ideally, a cheap hotel with WiFi but there may be other options. I have stayed in some pretty seedy places at times and would rather save money than live the highlife.



3. Staff
I need to employ a young, ambitious IT geek who speaks good English and gets by on his or her own steam, works mainly from home, gets the job done. I'd also prefer to employ a woman rather than a man. Am I being unreasonably optimistic? We will pay him from China, there will be no formal contract or employment in the Phils.



4. Lifestyle
I don't require much: Premiership and F1 on the telly, a supply of foreign DVDs, an ex-pat bar a couple of times a week.

A. How much does a cheap local lunch cost? And a cheap local beer?
B. How much am I ripped off for a pint of Guinness and some bangers and mash?
C. How often is the weather 'bad', and what is bad like?
D. What are the worst things about the place? And the best?
E. How do you get away for the weekend? I'm a birdwatcher and a bit of hiker.
F. How many people really do speak English? Does anyone still speak Spanish?
G. I have a very attractive western female friend (an ornithologist) who visits sometimes. What are the hazards for a single European woman navigating herself around alone, especially in the countryside?
H. Will I get bored?
I. How ridiculous does a foreign bloke on a bike look?
J. Is there much WiFi about?

I'll thank everyone in advance for the help which I am sure is about to flood in. Doubtless when I arrive I will throw a great banquet on the beach with roast suckling pig and free booze for all.

Cheers

JWS

 

Cheers.!

Yeah! way to go Thelemaway, Welcome to DI, sounds is as you have an Agenda in Mind, I Like your Enthusiasm and forward thinking. Work calls so will add my 5 cents worth later, You will have, I know, an awful lot of repies to this Post,


BUT :p put my name for the Beach Party

Jack P.

 

Welcome aboard!

I can answer "I" for now, possibly more later.

I. How ridiculous does a foreign bloke on a bike look?

It depends on the bloke! Some look ridiculous on or off a bike anyways! :D

 

Can't be right all the time!

Seems I got this one wrong!

I Wonder Why? maybe the wrong Listening ears on,! Could be I need some sleep or a cold SMB :D



Jack P.

 

The more questions you put in ONE topic the less reactions you mostly will get.
I will do my best on ONE: 4 f
Half of the people who tell you "Yes" when you ask them if they speak English will do speak English well.
Half of the other half will understand but are not good in speaking and the other half of the other half will only say "yes" because they can't say more than that. I'm of course joking a bit.
It is in general no problem to find people to communicate with. English is the second language on school so the SHOULD be able to speak (I said 'Should'). Spanish words are used in their local languages and Tagalog (the formal first language). Even counting goes mostly in Spanish.
I hope for you to get others, one by one, to reply on the rest.
Otherwise......most of them you will find out here within a week or are answered on scattered posts (takes some reading for you :D).

 

It really is pretty unproblematic and relatively cheap. (Approximately P2,800 every 2 months with some incidental fees.) I have been asked to show an onward ticket, but only by an airline.

You will be able to find a house or apartment reasonably close to this description in that price range. Toughest part will be the reliable internet.

I have lived in three rentals here...never had a contract. "Agents" are the ones who will most likely stick you with contracts and fine print not to mention higher prices...avoid "agents" and deal directly with the owner.

No.

No social duty...helpers typically start at P1500 per month.

Totally depends on the individuals...some are great, some are a pain in the a$$.

You don't *need* one...

It happens sometimes...more so with houses with few occupants that aren't in gated neighborhoods and/or no guard.

One week? Only if you are lucky or your standards are low.

Many options here...how cheap is cheap to you? A lot that aren't at all seedy in the P600 per night range with long-term discounts.

If you find her, I will double the salary you pay her and steal her away! I feel certain that fulfilling this need will be your greatest challenge...if it is a "make or break" need, you may want to reconsider this move.

must be a British thing...don't know what those are...

Tons of DVDs here...Happy Fred's is a British Expat bar...virtually all the nicer places (whether foreigner or Filipino owned) have plenty of foreigner customers.

There are many edible lunch options in the P60 to P100 range. SMB is P25 to P40 typically.

Check Happy Fred's...

Not often...6 or so times? during rainy season...bad is flooding that wipes away many squatter homes along the river.

Worst? Not sure, but the poor quality of public toilets is my biggest pet peeve.

Best? I vote for the girls.

I usually go to Cebu or Makati or check out a resort. I don't know much about birdwatching opportunities...you may have to go somewhere like Palawan for larger birds.

Most speak at least some English...many speak alot...some are fluent...a few can pass for Americans (not a British accent here) over the phone. Almost none speak Spanish anymore except a few Spanish families and some really old people.

I don't think there are too many hazards for her in this area assuming she uses typical traveler common sense.

Absolutely.

You see them everywhere here. (I assume you mean a motorbike...if you mean a bicycle...well, that is rare here. Not even many filipinos ride bikes...nothing like China.)

Yes, it is proliferating, but the connection speeds are still slow and over-burdened.

Now, that will make you popular....

 

Premiership & F1!

If I might help here DG, just so you know, I would not want to Hijack your post at all.


Premiership, is Top League Soccer Football from Britain (Scotland & England ) The League is called " The Premiership "


F1. Is " Formulae One" motor racing to Grad Prix Standard.

Thelemaway, I think this man deserves a Round of applause and a crate of cold SMB, I don't think anything has been left unanswered here for you


Guys & Girls I think we should all give DG a round of applause for the Brilliant effort to help settle this Nomad in to Our way of Life! homeless or not!




Jack P.

 

All most Jack, Premiership = English and Welsh Football

 

mmmm YEAH OK!

Jim! I was just trying to appease Thelemaway, WHO! is a Scot I believe


Jack P.:D

 

If being able to start a computer and maintain a chat are the IT skills you are looking for it is possible, otherwise put this one down as at the other end of the rainbow.

And if you did find such a person I would pay three times what you would pay so yes these people are very hard to find. You might find someone willing to work for spending money while they are taking courses at one of the local university's but once they graduate they are out of sight and you can't really blame them. :D