Starting to make plans...

Hey Dude! I'm noticed that about ecommerce...seems they can't be bothered with posting their prices even when they do have a website. Oh, well, third world country...part of the charm! ha ha....got to go back to shopping the old fashioned way.

I've been to the Phils many times, beginning back in 75 when I was TDY to Clark from Guam, to just about twice a year every year for the past four years. Each time staying about a month...from Manila, Cebu, Mactan, Bohol, Camiguin, and Midsayap, Cotabato.

It's not a matter of daydreaming. Its a matter of proper planning and working a budget. Some thing are a need, must things are a want, some things are an occasional luxury. Prioritizing, planning, and budgeting.

We are in China at the moment, so maybe yes, it is a bit of daydreaming. Now that I know this is my last year here, psychologically, I've already left! Also, I'm not an experimenter. I want information. I want decisions. I want as little fuss as possible to get things done. I know, I know, fuss, confusion, and wasted time are national pastimes in the Phils, but that doesn't mean I can't eliminate some of it. HA HA

Everyone has been so helpful here. I'm hoping to learn more as the time passes as well as make some friends so that I know that a cold brew will be waiting for me when I get off the ferry!:dnr:

 

Yeah, that's pretty much all the exact opposite from my experience. I have lived here for nearly 5 years but I had never been here or anywhere else other than Canada and Mexico before moving here. About all I can say for my preparation is that my uncle lived here at the time and he referred me to the apartment complex he was staying. I also had my plane ticket to the Philippines. I didn't have hotel rooms reserved. I didn't have a plane ticket from Manila to Dumaguete. I called my uncle the night I arrived to Dumaguete having no idea what the **** I was doing or what I was getting myself into. As for budget, I had just enough money to pay my first month of rent. I didn't have enough money even for the deposit on my internet connection. I was totally unprepared and the decision was largely spur of the moment.

Luckily, the whole experience couldn't have gone smoother. The Philippines can be a shock to the system, but it's actually very user friendly, especially for English speakers. The above mentioned internet connection was provided by my landlord and he allowed me to pay later. I got the connection going, jumped on the internet and got some payments coming in (I'm a freelance web developer and quite new to it at that time.)

Looking back, it was kind of a nutty move on my part. It might be a normal story for broke people in the U.S. moving from one city to another, but it's not typical for someone moving from a first world country to a third world country. I don't recommend anyone do what I did.

 

The best plan according to me are those which has some really practical work. Not only that they even has a basic structure and ability to come in existence. But this require a lot effort and good view at your ability and self confidence. It is not necessary that you should make big plans or think big but what actually maters is what you think should be rational.

 

Welcome Jerry! Oh yea...I agree! What good is a plan that doesn't have a chance at succeeding? I tend to do my homework, make a plan, audit the plan to verify that each part is doable within a reasonable timeframe, create a budget that is both within my financial means as well as possible in the environment that the plan will be executed, and then go for it!

While I can be spontaneous and unorganized, I can also be methodical and analytical....just depends on what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

Some "i"s can't be dotted and some "t"s can't be crossed from a distance. It takes a boots on the ground approach, but those variables can also be factored in as parameters, not solid fact. Just the way I roll...

 

Larry, hi.

Speaking about Valencia- the main advantage is it is much cooler here than in Duma and as it is located in the mountains the air is much more fresh.
About gas- we had a 13kg tank been using the stove twice a day minimum, also plus a tea kettle, according to our experience-enough for 2 months for sure (a family of 2). Paid about 800 peso per tank, service available almost everywhere.
About rentals. I feel like a 2 bed apartment can be rented here starting from 12000 peso per month, unfurnished. Few of them you can easily find online. But many properties are not listed in the internet so my advice is to come here, rent short term and start searching offline-riding your bike, exploring the neighborhood. I read in one blog and i totally agree that u shoulgn`t pay mush attention on what they say in the ad, as almost all terms and condirions are negotiable. If you are strongly interested in viewing some properties here-feel free to pm me, there are some for rent not far from where we live.
Electricity...mmm...although it's really cooler here i can see many expats using aircon 24\7. One couple told me they do so and pay about 2600 peso per month. Slso it depends a lot upon the model of it. We don't need it by now, sometimes have a fan turned on all night but mind that it was rainy season here so later probably aircon'd become truly necessary. I feel like our electricity bill would be about 1500 per month.
I know nobody who uses a landline phone here at home or who miss it a lot. I think mostly ppl have it installed as it is often included into the package of internet connection and tv.

 

not nesseary to pay over 12k

you should be able to find a furnished apartment under 12k. I did and there were many I looked at and turned down.

 

thanks,much appreciated

thank you so much

keith

 

I would suggest first make a specific list of your needs. What you expect to get and quality. One of my key things as example is internet. I require decent internet with decent speeds. This from what I've heard is very hard to come by in Valencia and impossible in Dauin. Your stuck with real crap where you can't even stream a youtube video or play internet games. You say you've been to the Philippines many times but mostly looks like Manila/Cebu area which is far different plus big difference from living to visiting for weeks or a month or 2. So make a solid list of your requirements that you expect to get, then a side list of the things would be nice but not a big deal. Its not like developed countries at all where you can easily get whatever you want be it small city or major metropolis.

There is a place I used to live at that was alright and did short term, think its posted in the classifieds section called Mango Apartments. Maybe check that out as a short stay furnished while look around Valencia and Dumaguete areas and learn more on the area.

Far as bike goes I'd suggest something in the 200-225 cc range for you. I have a 135 Rouser and sometimes wish I went with the 220 model but when bought it was new to clutches. But even traveling all weekend you won't get any more out of super with more power. Roads won't handle it and you'll find yourself topping out at 90-100km an hour at best before the road kills you. My 135 Rouser can hit 100km+ and never got it to max. Really no need for anything more powerful besides showboating. My bike also has a nice sized tank and gets great mileage.

I really suggest waiting a month or 2 before start buying up furniture as it makes it so much harder to move. Also its almost a guarantee that your first place you'll hate and want out within weeks/month until your used to regular living here. Keep your options open as maybe you'll hate Valencia, or even Dumaguete. Maybe you'll find your a big city boy where Dumaguete doesn't cut it. Its a great place for the right type mind you. But of course it does have its major cutbacks along with its major benefits as well. Keep options open.