Yeah I know its been awhile but things haven’t worked out in a timely fashion as I had hoped. One bright side to all of this is that in the next couple of days I might have an update for you in regards to my move to the Philippines.
For those of you wondering, yes my girlfriend and me are still going strong and its been as hard on her as it has been on me. Keeping my fingers crossed that things work out.
Trying to think of things I will need over the next year and budget enough money to get them. So far I have: a year supply of contacts, a years supply of GNC Mega man, a couple of laptops with software installed, a supply of shorts, shirts and sandals for a year. My goal is not have to buy anything there that I can get here at a cheaper price. Personal items such as contacts,shampoos, vitamins and anything electric is vastly more expensive in the Philippines than here. So far my budget looks like this, (and I am not even there yet)
Apartment Rental = 8,000 pesos,
Electric = 4000
Water = 1000
Cable TV = 800
Internet = 1000
Food = 4000
Total = 18800
Which comes out to about 470 US dollars a month, I am wise to realize that this amount will go up more. My goal is to keep under 800 dollars a month. I have budgeted 4000 for food but currently am not buying any at the moment. Other costs that have to be included is jeepney travel, eating out and various other miscellanous costs. I will keep you posted.
I am counting the days till the big move in the end of June. One of the many tasks left to do was go to the dentist before heading over there to make sure everything is okay teeth wise and got a clean bill of health there. Looking at some of my memberships I went about the task of finding out how to cancel my gym membership. Naturally you just can’t walk up to the counter and tell them you want to quit, no you have to write this letter to the central office in California telling them of your intentions. I got my calendar marked for the day that I will do that. I got about 40 days left here in the United States.
Okay, its seems that some of my legal business might be cleaned up by the third week in June, so I am planning on making the move to Bacolod around the last week in June. I am excited and charged up, wish I could go now but I guess I just have to be patient. Have a house rented and its just about set up for me. Its a two bedroom place with aircon in the master bedroom with my own private bathroom or as they call it in the philippines, a comfort room. The second comfort room is right off of the living room. The place is tile through out and everything is on the first floor so the place should be cooler. A big mango tree is in the back yard which provides shade from the hot sun. I will provide some pictures soon. The cost is 8 thousand pesos a month which is about 200 bucks a month, here in the states the same place would cost me over 900 dollars a month. And lets not forget the most important advantage.. my woman is there waiting for me.
As Easter sunday draws to a close here in the United States, I find myself thinking and missing my girl in Bacolod City. Her Easter was far more involved and religious than mine was and I find my self being sad that I wasn’t there to share it with her. Going to work tomorrow, I will be more determined to continue working towards making a more permanent move to the Philippines. I will begin working on my list of things I want to take over there, things that I can’t get while I am there, just continue to edit my list and make sure it can fit into two large rolling duffle bags. In a sense I kind of like the idea of returning to a minimized lifestyle and more importantly spending it with someone that cares for me.
So here I wait until some legal matters get cleared up before making the move to Bacolod City. I am so ready to go now but unfortunately legal matters do move fast and it looks like the end of June before all these matters can be cleared up. I guess in one sense its good that I have a couple of months to make sure I got everything I need and methods figured out once I get there. Its hot there now and will be hot when I arrive in June. School for the kids start up in June as their vacation comes to an end and I am so looking forward to dropping them off to school and picking them. up. I am so excited about this life changing event.
Okay, I know that I can only bring two suitcases to my new home, so the question is what would you pack in them? I have thought about this a lot and a part of me says to throw all my summer cothles in ( shorts and shirts) and besides a laptop and digital camera I should be good to go. Anything else I need I can just get it there, because there are more malls in the philippines than there are in the United States, right?…..right? Well yes and no. First off electronics equipment cost far more in the philippines than here in US. If you wanted to get a laptop, it would cost you twice as much there than here so anything electronic that you wanted to use, best get it here, so digital camera, flash drives, computers, all should be packed in the suitcase. Next thing is medical stuff, I use contacts so I had best get a year supply of those before I head over there, as well as razor cartridges, I like the Schick Hydro 5 blade and for four cartridges it runs you about ten bucks here, so lets throw a couple of packs in the suitcase when they go on sale here. Ahhh now the list is starting to grow: shorts, shirts, socks, shoes, belts, contacts, razor cartridges, laptop, digital camera, ipod nano, nike running sensor, jogging shorts, cables and power adapters for said electronic equipment. bible. Okay this list is starting to grow. More later.
Okay, was thinking this morning, just what should I bring to the Philippines, besides myself? Well I guess the easy part is summer clothes, shorts, t-shirts and the like. Having gone there before, one can get by on basic cargo shorts, collared shirts and sandals. I use collared shirts because for me being ( 52) it gives a more classic look, then the average cotton t-shirt, although I will probably wear a few of those around the house. I am going to pack a few pairs of jeans, maybe one pair of dress pants,with dress shoes and a couple of button shirst. (not sure where I will wear this outfit to, but I don’t want to have to buy it there, if I have it here). I will have limited craming space, just two suitcases. I will need a few weeks to think about this and prepare. I have know guys who came over with just the shirts on their backs and some money and did fine but I just don’t want to have to be hitting the mall every couple of days to get one thing or another. With that said, I will bring one year’s worth of contact lenses and solution, shaving razor and cartridges. I will add more, I just trying to figure out what costs the most there versus buying here and bringing it over. Guess I had better work on the clothes first and go from there.
Okay, having made the decision to live in the Philippines for as long as I can, naturally one must ask themselves just how long can I legally stay there. I did some web research and found this out. In order to enter the country through the airport you must have either a round trip plane ticket or an onward ticket (to another country). Assuming you have that, then you will have a 21 day stamp, once those 21 days are over then you need to go to the BI ( Buearu of Immigration) and get an extension for another 38 days making 59 days total. Once that expires you can continue to go to the BI and get 2 month extensions for up to 16 months. Once the 16 months are up, then you must leave the country for 3 days then the process starts all over again ( including having to have a round trip ticket or onward flight). Many people call the onward ticket a throw away because thats what they basically do with it once inside the Philippines. Some people have suggested paying more and getting a refundable onward ticket then just cancel the ticket and get refund once inside the country. I think I am getting an onward ticket to Hong Kong and will look into the “refundable ticket” deal.
When I first visited Bacolod, my girlfriend, Remy and I went to the mall , specifically the SM mall, as we walked hand in hand through all the different stores, I felt a thousand eyes upon on. Women would smile and the men would just stare. My girlfriend held my hand the whole time,and perhaps she was showing others that we were a couple, ( which we were and are) but I felt kind of odd. I really couldn’t do much but just smile and smile back. The little children were the best as they would walk up to me and just stare, I like kids so I tried to make them feel at ease. As we met some of Remy’s friends, they complemented to her how open and easy I was to talk to, I guess other foreigners give off a stand-offish attitude which I don’t understand as the people of the Philippines are such a friendly people as a whole.