Welcome to the blog!
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Sailors use this term synonymously with the points of sail below a beam reach, (But we all knew that) since the wind direction is generally the same as the sea direction. Therefore, the phrase “Fair winds and following seas,” implies that a vessel will have good winds, and not have to pound into the waves., It is also used when a shipmate is departing a ship, due to transfer, or at a Seamans funeral and…
Read Article
It’s the Taste of Things in Life That Please Me.
As a traveler of the world I have sampled food from all over the world, a lot I’ve sought out and some I nodded no thanks to. An example was in port in Valparaiso Peru, the year was 1972 in a club I was enjoying a local beer and the lady sitting beside me was eating a sandwich that both looked and smelled good. The language got in the way when I asked her what…
Read Article
13A Resident Visa – The Complete Guide
Want to Live in the Philippines? The 13A Resident Visa Might be right for you! In my opinion, the 13A Resident Visa is the premier visa for anybody who wants to live in the Philippines. Why? There is no requirement to ever travel outside the country on a visa run. It is a permanent visa that is good for the rest of your life. Personal feeling that the permanency of the visa kind of makes…
Read Article
Moving back to the USA?
Why do Expats in the Philippines move back home? Is Bob Martin going to move back to the USA? For about 3 years or so now, Feyma and I have seriously been considering moving back to the USA. Yep. I said it. After having lived in the Philippines, Feyma and I have considered moving back to the USA. Why? Well, for the first 15 years or so of our life here in the Philippines, we…
Read Article
Building Codes, Zoning Laws in the RP So What?
As I traveled from country to country, on every continent during my working life on ships, the one thing I enjoyed was the World Heritage Sights in countries, cities and, ports that had these fantastic places to see and visit around the world. I don’t know about Antarctica (South Pole) as that is the one place I never visited there weren’t any Igloos there as they told me, but I knew Igloos are only in…
Read Article
A Shipmate explained it to Me
I was at the Boston Army Pier taking my Draft Physical in October 1964, a Navy Chief walked by and asked if I was looking forward to another cheery New England Winter? Hell no; I replied, he said if I could be there at the pier in the morning by seven AM (0700 Hours) I could join the Navy and sail on a hotel with four sit-down hot meals every day or be drafted into…
Read Article
How much money do you need to live in the Philippines?
Updated for 2018 How Much Do You Need to Live in the Philippines? Probably the most often asked question from people who are thinking about living in the Philippines is this – How much money do I need to have a good life there? Well, to be honest, there is no single answer that can be right for every person. “Living good” is a different concept for every person, and what is a good life…
Read Article
Damn It’s Still Cold!
Stuff just lasts a long time at “Casa Mayang” (My wife’s nickname) in 1998 we went to Ocampo’s Dept. Store in beautiful Downtown Olongapo here in Zambales Province, on the Island of Luzon. By the way, as it happens worldwide, with the advent of two new malls it was the death null for this very old store. My wife had never seen any freezer other than the ones she saw in the Super Market placed…
Read Article
Are these the best you have?
HEADPHONES: Yes sir, they even have a built-in FM Radio, and volume controls for each ear. Wow, I don’t even use the radio or CD player in my car or living room as I like the convenience of the USB memory stick. Have you figured out what this is about? Back to my My/Phone, audiobook reader (I’ve mentioned in the past) I tried the little headphones that come with most cell phones including the 8…
Read Article
I Really Should Know Better
Changing the way you look can be a good thing or not so good. In the US Navy, I was on a commissioning crew for a new ship in Norfolk VA in the 1970’s. We didn’t have much to do but hang around the barracks and sneak out as early as we could. Then one day a Master-at-Arms (Cop in Navy terms) came by saw my 3rd class Petty Officer emblem on my arm and…
Read Article
Working in Alaska: Mess Hall Food
Mess Hall Food I am working at an Alaska Seafood Processing Plant Mess hall food at the processing plant where I work in Alaska. I am a Filipina working in Alaska. I am a Dual Citizen – USA and Philippines. I’ve been asked by quite a few people about what types of food we (the workers) eat here in Alaska. We get Mess Hall Food, let me tell you about it. The company that I…
Read Article
Random Days in the Philippines for August
This is the next compilation of a few of the assorted days I’ve experienced in the Republic of the Philippines. It’s just happy noise: As a tyke in Boston in the 1950’s my four brothers and I all played in the street we lived on, we were separated by age groups as every other house had large families too. It was also the first time I heard the expression “Happy Noise” by a neighbor talking…
Read Article