New here, looking to get a feeling for Dumaguete

Hi All,

I'm a retired American, married to a Filipina from Zambo, and living currently in NE Thailand.

We are considering moving to the PI, and looking for the perfect place (as if there is one!)

While I've spent considerable time in Thailand, I've only been to the Philippines a few times, mainly spending time with my wife and her family in Zambo. I realize it would take quite a bit of time to become as comfortable in the PI as I have managed to become in Thailand (I speak Thai well, but almost no Tagalog, and only a few words of Chavacano).

What we both enjoy doing is taking off for a new city or town, with my dual-purpose bike, a Suzuki DR200 in the back of our little pickup, and then using it to explore the place. We also take a lot of rides locally here, around the back country, through villages and rice fields along the Mekong.

Today, as we found a road along a lake, I asked her, "Hun, would we be able to do this in the Philippines?" Her answer wasn't too positive; more like, "I don't think so."

In Zamboanga, I definitely got the feeling that there were areas where you wouldn't want to go, and her family made it pretty clear that that was the case. So, my first question, about the area around Dumaguete, would be: can I safely ride about the countryside, without fearing for my or my wife's safety? Or would we need to stick to the well-worn path?

I look forward to hearing from people with real experience, or just impressions of those who have been there a while.

I have read a good number of threads here, and am impressed by how generally helpful and polite the discussions have appeared. I look forward to getting to know everyone.

Thanks.

 

She is right.
Dumaguete is safe in a certain way.
You cannot compare it with Zamboanga.
For my observation, there are more foreigners leaving the Philippines now permanently.
What is the reason?
Trust? Jealousy? Safety? and a lot of small "disturbances" that surface once the "financial goodwill" dries up.
Anyway each one of us has different priority’s so maybe it is a good idea to take vacation in Dumaguete for a month or so.
Be also advised that importing a motor vehicle in the Philippines is a pain full operation.

 

Thanks, Firefly.

I wasn't considering importing my bike, but will sell it here, and look for an XR200 there.

And, we'll definitely take your advice and stay in Dumaguete for a while before deciding.

AS for foreigners leaving, Thailand has the same issues, but mostly caused by the instability of the government and the constantly changing, unevenly applied immigration rules. At least in the Philippines, one of us would have some basic rights, and the other a few, by extension. I think the factors you mention apply almost everywhere, where we are looked at as 'rich', though we may be living on a small pension. Human nature, I guess.

Appreciate you taking time to reply.

 

Sateev, welcome to the DI forum. Are you presently living in KongKaen? I've been there and Dumaguete is a magnitude nicer place to live. Driving around with your wife here should not be a problem, lots of couples do it. However, just driving on the hiway near town is dangerous because of the lack of rules or discipline of local drivers (kind way of putting it). As Firefly suggested, come stay, rent a bike, hotels and rental bikes are inexpensive. There are even 5-star resorts in Negros Oriental. Good luck

 

Thanks, PatO.

We are in Nong Khai, about 200 KM north of Khon Kaen, right across the Mekong River from Vientiane, Laos. And even though we have the river, and a nice little town, we do miss the ocean...

As for quality of life, Thailand is basically fine, but we are both foreigners here, and have no rights. If Dumaguete is a nice place to live, it will be made even nicer by having my wife's rights as a citizen, and mine as her spouse.

And it's good to know that people can ride around the countryside freely. After nearly 30 years in and out of Thailand, the driving in the Philippines couldn't be too much worse (if I can get used to driving on the RIGHT side of the road again )

Thanks so much for your reply. See you there in a few months.

 

@TS, Welcome to Dumaguete...

Philippines is a third world country, there are dangers everywhere. But on a security and safety perspective, Dumaguete and Zamboanga is an apples to oranges thing. You have to be here, get a feel of the place to really feel the unique ambience that Dumaguete has.

In my opinion, especially to a retired American, Zamboanga would be not much risky like Astan or Iraq.

You may check out Siquijor too.

Goodluck.

 

Biggest risk in Zambo would be proximity to the inlaws! (they are lovely, but we need our space)

Thanks for your reply.

 

My wife and I are often trecking around in the mountains. Never a problem or feeling of being unsafe. We have been on nearly every backroad in the province.

One time several years ago we were on the backroad form Santa Catalina to Mabinay in our multicab. The road was very rough, and top speed was maybe 10 KPH. In the middle of the road appeared 6-8 armed men, obviously NPA. I stopped and they asked for a ride down the mountain, to which I readily agreed. I gave them 2 of my 3 liters of beer, and they happily consumed it as we traveled the remaining 10 km or so to Mabinay.

Even then there was nothing that made me feel unsafe. They were polite and thankful for the ride. Now had there been military there then I may have not felt so secure.

Larry

 

First of all what made you think of Dumaguete as a place to settle down in?.....Dgte is a very quite place and there isn't much to do here after you have spent a week or so.......If you are retired and want a real laid back life style well Dgte is the place for you......I have been here now coming up to 10 years but unfortunetly I still have to work, so that keeps me busy......

It really depends on what you and your wife are interested in....If you like the beachs you can find some nice places on the beach and you would be safe most of the time.......But if you like malls restuarants and all the perks from back home well then Dgte is not the place for you....

As others have stated the best is to come and see for yourself and see what the town has to offer for your liking.....Don't be fooled that Dgte is a City....It is called a city but really is just a big town.....The people that live in the town proper is about 120,000 but it swells to 400,000 during the day as people coming in from the province for work.....

But that said......If you never give it a go you will never know.....You love it and you might not.

Good luck I hope you enjoy

 

Hi Sateev
I am sure you will love DI I don't live there yet but have stayed there 3 times & love it, the boardwalk is cool, the restaurants are good quality & reasonably priced, I am moving there soon once my house in Bacolod city sells, hopefully next week it will be gone, as for there not being much to do in DI, I am In Bacolod City & I find it boring & dirty, the air pollution here is bad I think, my dirty kitchen actually gets dirty by the fallout over night, If you are not fussed about accommodation then gazebo pension house on serbantis st was fine for me & my lady @ P500 a night, was clean & comfortable & a guard outside for security of your vehicle.