Hi Everyone,
Not sure if you have read my story in the "Courting and Relationships" section but anyway i thought i would give you some tips on living here and share just a few experiences i have had.
You want to live here in the Philippines? Great weather nice people everything is so cheap but wait its not all orchids hanging from the terrace!
Whatever you may think you will always be a foreigner here and depending on what part you live in maybe you will never "fit" in.
The most important thing i have found is shopping, if you have more money than sense this does not apply, but if you dont have Bill Gates bank account and want to stay here for good then here are some tips.
1) Try not to go shopping on your own unless its in the Malls if you want to visit the markets and side shops beware. Prices of goods will some times tripple when you pay for them yourself.
If the goods have a price on its ok but most places away from the malls dont and you have to ask thats when you pay too much.
Am i being petty? maybe but being charged 400 pesos for something my wife cant get for 100 pesos is ok once but if your going to live here for good every 300 peso adds up.
2) Trycycle drivers are also notorious for over charging foreigners, we all know that we give tips to them as they have a hard job, but once i was charged 150 pesos for a journey which should of cost 40 pesos, i then gave him a 50 peso tip thining i was being nice. Once i told my wife she told me the proper cost.
3) Going to bring lots of luggage? then you will probably end up using the courier service at the airport and your luggage will arrive 10 days after you.
Mine cost me 200 pounds in England to send i thought no problem.
When you go to collect your luggage at the building opposite the Casino near the airport you realise your in for a long day.
They have there "helpers" with tags around there neck with airline names like Cathay Pacific and Emirates displayed on them.
When you approach the doors you will be met by at least one of these helpers who will offer to sort your paperwork for you and get your luggage.
Me thinking i,m the clever Brit declined the offer and thought i could do it myself. But what i didnt realise was if you try and do it yourself you will go back to that building everyday for about a week going to different departments getting a stamp and another piece of paper for the next guy to stamp!
When you use one of these helpers they will get your luggage in about 4 hours, but when the guy takes you to each department you will need to pay a fee. Then at the end of this all you need to pay your helper.
The whole process cost me 10,000 pesos to get 3 large suitcases so be warned.
4) Some bars use Aji in the drinks. Whats Aji i hear you say?
Aji No Moto which is pure monosodium glutamate and is used in nearly all Philippine cooking to give taste.
This has not happened to me because my wife warned me about it but we were out one night and saw it happen to another foreigner, when Aji is added to any alcohol it speeds up the "drunk" process. Great! i hear you say, its ok but then the guy ended up paying for about 6 tables drinks for the night because he was so drunk then when he was outside he had his wallet stolen.
5) Trust no one! Please listen to me on that one us brits tend to trust very easy.
These are just some tips i can think of now maybe other people can add more?
Dont get me wrong this is a wonderful country but if you want to live here for good you need to have your eyes open.
