Who want's to join the love train?

Only since quarantine have I spent much time on this forum, and I have been astonished how much moaning, whinging, bickering, point-scoring, boasting, and one-upmanship there is here. I am assuming (and hoping) that this is due to the strains of the current situation, but I do find it rather disappointing and depressing.

Anyway, to balance the scales somewhat, I thought I would start a thread where we can share positive thoughts about why life is great here.

If you have any negative comments, snarky comments, or want to prove to everyone how intellectual you are, be a good fellow and click on another thread please.

I have lived more than half my adult life in Asia (many different countries and cities in Philippines), and I think Dumaguete is my favourite. Here's some of the reasons I love it here:

• Almost every time I am out on my scooter I ride around with a big smile on my face because of the natural beauty, clean air, sunshine, trees and flowers, and general relaxed feel.
• Almost every time I go shopping for anything or pay for services, no matter what they may be, I think to myself "wow, it's cheap here".
• I never get the feeling I'm being outrageously ripped-off.
  
• The sun seems to be shining almost all the time!
• The ocean is on our doorstep.
  
• Outside downtown there is hardly any traffic or noise.
• Nobody seems to care how you dress or what labels you have.
• When I smile, make conversation with a local, make a joke or flirt a little, I ALWAYS get a positive response.
• It's the most easy going place I have lived in Asia.
• I can get almost any type of food or drink that I want here at very reasonable prices.
• Everyone understands at least some English.
• And perhaps most importantly of all, local people make me feel welcome and happy that I am here!

Who else wants to join the love train?

 

When I lived there, I LOVED the smiles everywhere! It didn't matter if they were rich or poor, the Filipinos always had a smile to offer.
I miss the instant welcome you get from everyone. People you have never even met before treat you like family, with open arms and FOOD!!
I miss hearing the ocean waves as I would walk along the Boulevard every morning, watching the crabs climb up the rocks, and the old lady who was always there taking her bath.
I miss my friends that are there. I had so many friends that I do not have here in the US. I think everyone is just too busy with work and life here, we forget to stop to enjoy life and friends.
There are so many things I love and miss about Dumaguete/Philippines. My husband is buried there, I miss him very much.

 

Any discount for Pensioners?

 

Hi Okie, with all due respect, and condolences for your loss, why are you back in zoo land ??. The only possible explanation i can imagine is money or family location. Then you have to do a real cost / benefit analysis. A lot depends on age and how important all the factors are.. I can see doing it when you are young, but the costs are high compared to salaries. Lots of factors. I've been here for 5 years, retired out of california at age 70, left before the latest presidential election. No need to reply, just be sure you've made the right decision.

 

Thank you for asking. I was 49 when he passed, I had to come back to the states to go back to work. I will not be eligible for retirement for some time, but the Philippines is on the top of my list of places I would definitely consider moving back to! And, yes, I do have family, another grandbaby due in 2 weeks now. I have many reasons that I had to come back. Our daughter, who was 16 when he passed, has many more opportunities here, than there, also. I had to think of her future. I have a great job here at a bank (I was a surgical nurse for 25 years and wanted a change).

 

Do you have a link to source on this petrol tax ??