I have mentioned several times lately that some big changes are in store for this blog. Actually, when my plans are complete you won't even be able to call the site a blog anymore! That's right, we will be changing to a "Web Magazine for Ex-Pats in the Philippines, and those who want to be," or something like that. I'm still ironing out details, honestly. So, what is the difference between a blog and a web magazine? Well, lets have a look at that. Yes, the site will still revolve around blogs. Oops. Did I say blogS? Yes, I did. Instead of the site being a blog, I will be changing it to a site that houses multiple blogs. Right now, we … [Read more...]
Don’t worry… Be happy!
August 30, 2007 By 22 Comments
DON’T WORRY……..BE HAPPY Hi all, I just wanted to write this little piece because something happened the other day that got me thinking. I was getting a taxi to my destination. Now I don’t regularly use taxis these days, I try to use jeepneys, but my destination was far so it was a necessity this day. So, after I flagged down the taxi on the street, having received the usual “hey Joe’s” and waves and whistles etc from the friendly locals, I sat back and relaxed as the driver pulled away. I had never met this driver before but he started chatting to me. He asked me where I was from, my name, things like that. It is naturally in … [Read more...]
Moving around and getting a feel for the place! Part 2
August 30, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Ok, so yesterday in part 1 of this 2 part series, I told you about how we have moved between a number of different locations in General Santos and Davao since living in the Philippines. I explained to you why I thought that renting was a good idea, and I also told you that in today's 2nd part of the series I would explain how this has affected our thoughts about the future. Through the things that we have learned by moving to different areas, we have found that we enjoy being close to town, near the places where we go to a lot. For example, I like to go swimming and to the gym at Marco Polo Hotel. I can walk there from my house in about … [Read more...]
Moving around and getting a feel for the place! Part 1
August 29, 2007 By Leave a Comment
On this blog, I have long advocated renting your house first when you move here. Why? Isn't it a waste of money to rent? Actually, it is not, and we'll talk about that later in this post. But, putting money issues aside, do you realize how advantageous renting can be? It can really give you a chance to move around, get a feel for your new home country, learn a few new things, etc. Let me give you a little rundown on my experiences. Let me say first, that we have moved more than we intended to, no doubt about that! It's been a good experience, though, and quite helpful to me. When we first moved here, Feyma and I lived in General Santos … [Read more...]
What to do with your retirement time
August 28, 2007 By Leave a Comment
I hear from so many people that once they retire, that's when their life gets real busy! They can't figure out how they ever managed to work a 40 hour week, because they seemingly have no left over time in retirement! I consider myself to be somewhat retired, since I kind of do whatever I want anyway, and I know that I am way busier now than I ever was when I had a "regular" job. So, what keeps me busy? Well, I like to travel around the Philippines (primarily traveling around Mindanao), I have picked up a new hobby - photography. In conjunction with my travel, I enjoy trying to learn about new cultures (particularly the various Muslim cultures … [Read more...]
Living in the Philippines – Looking at the life you left behind.
August 28, 2007 By 23 Comments
Will you be one of those who looks longingly at the life you left behind ? I want to start another post that I hope will be of interest to all readers and contributors, as its Bank Holiday in the UK today, we are not working, you know how it is, geeeeeze when you get the chance of day off work, you dont know what to do with yourself, in my case, and being alone by the way, I decided to take a drive to to the mouth of a river I know, there are a couple of pubs there ( Bars for our American cousins and far east readers). Well actually they are not like sports bars or anything like that, they are old english country public houses, many of them … [Read more...]
More Cebuano Speaking Tips
August 27, 2007 By 12 Comments
Today we will talk about several tricky little things you need to get used to before you can speak Cebuano properly. The first is, how to say, “No.” Have you noticed that sometimes they say, “Dili, “ and sometimes they say, “Wala?” ‘Dili’ (which has a glottal stop at the end) means ‘will not, (I) do not, or does not ‘Wala’ (which also has a glottal stop at the end) means, “Don’t have, have not (done), or did not (do).” Do you have a pencil I can use? No, I don’t have one (Wala) Did you go with Bob to Buda yet? No, I haven’t gone. (Wala) Do you have apples here? No. (Wala) Have you tasted our octopus cooked in … [Read more...]
A Grandma’s tale – Then and now
August 27, 2007 By 40 Comments
by Billie Martin Well, here I am, Billie Martin, Bob's mother. I would like to say that I have met Feyma's Mother and family many times and I dearly love them. Feyma's mother and I can't speak the same language but we love and respect each other. Sadly, I didn't get to meet her father, he passed away just three months before my husband died. Let me step back a bit and tell you how it was for me when Bob, Feyma and the children moved to General Santos. I will tell you a little about myself. I am a very happy person and very seldom get mad and my husband was the same way. We tackled our problems straight on and with positive thinking and a … [Read more...]
Air Philippines – still the same?
August 27, 2007 By 20 Comments
You may recall a few weeks ago I wrote an article about my flight from MANILA to DAVAO being changed or cancelled and I found myself on a flight to CEBU then onto DAVAO, and nobody had informed me. Well I had a friend travel the reverse and the same happened to him without any warning he was put on another flight and again found himself in CEBU, before going to DAVAO. And yesterday a friend from the UK had his direct flight to DAVAO and his flight number changed and imagine his shock when he tried to get off at DAVAO to find himself in CEBU!!! Now does anyone know why? Two flights booked over the Internet one booked a week before at an AIR … [Read more...]
Mom’s shocking adjustments!
August 27, 2007 By 34 Comments
Well a week ago I post about my mother-in-law coming here for a visit. She's here with us now for over a week. I'm really shocked of some of her adjustments being here in the Philippines. As you recall she was here like 8 months ago. At that time she had a hard time adjusting to the heat here. When we went to the mall to shop we had to stop by at the coffee shop for her to have shake or something cold to drink before moving on with our shopping. She had to cool down first. Just to walk around SM at that time we had to have cold drinks twice. She didn't like it because its really a hassle to stop. That's Christmas time too so the mall was packed. … [Read more...]
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