Soon to be homeless...:0)

[Tim]

... in response to Hong Kong, posted by donb2222 on Feb 16, 2003

I will do that. We are not quite as flexible with travel as we were a couple of years ago (Wendy is now a full-time student and I'm still only 4 months at my new job), but I will drop you a line the next time we are headed to HK.

Regards, Tim

[Mita]

... in response to Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by donb2222 on Feb 15, 2003

Don,
You have the option of living in the suburbs of Cebu City or the othr towns around Cebu province.  I've heard so much about Malapascua Island being so beautiful. You can find more about it here:  http://www.malapascua.de/Volcanoe-Map/unbenannt1.html
Shoes are a problem with your size, find a good shoemaker in Marikina, Metro Manila who can customize your shoes.  
Yes, you can have your passport renewed at the US embassy in Manila, and also at the Cebu consulate.  
I'm almost sure all banks will accept a cashier's check.  You can open a dollar account with any commercial bank, I suggest BPI if you are going local - very stable, backed by the Ayala group.
Have you checked out the yahoo group  - "livinginthephilippines" ?  So many foreigners have moved to the Philippines, particularly Cebu City, and are now actively participating in the message board.  There's a lot of information you can get there.
Good luck on your move!
Mita

[Dingo]

... in response to Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by donb2222 on Feb 15, 2003

Don, Have you been to Thailand?
Try it just for a week.
You won't be sorry.

[Stephen]

... in response to Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by donb2222 on Feb 15, 2003

You can have shoes made just for you in Marikina City, Metro Manila. That's the Philippines shoe capital and they really make a pretty good job.

Have fun in the Philippines.

Tess & Stephen

[Bear]

... in response to Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by donb2222 on Feb 15, 2003

get in touch with Roy (rgg) and Celia in Davao.  Since they live there they could probably be a lot more helpful with banks, carreer opportunities and companions.  Paul and Em live there also - he started a business that was making $800 a week before it burned down.  Visa is only good for 21 days but you probably know that and I am sure you can renew your passport it in Manila.

Have fun dude.

Bear and Honey

[Stephen]

... in response to Why not..., posted by Bear on Feb 15, 2003

Who are Paul and Em?

What kind of business did they have that made $800 per week?  I think the business must have been so hot that it burned itself down.  (LOL)

That's quite a good business income for the Phils.

Stephen

[Bear]

... in response to Re: Why not..., posted by Stephen on Feb 15, 2003

they are the couple on the right in the picture of all the Mag-Anak memebers at the wedding.  They ran a combination cybercafe, nitendo, playstation store.  They know rgg I believe.

Bear and Honey

[Jeff S]

... in response to Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by donb2222 on Feb 15, 2003

Best of luck to you Don and stay in touch with us. I don't know anything about the PI, but if it were me, I'd deal with a Japanese bank - like Sanwa or Sumitomo. They're all over the far east and US and are pretty good about privacy & international banking relations.

Clothes and shoes for bigger people is a problem anywhere in Asia. My 13EEE shoes and 50Long suits are hard enough to find here in the states - impossible over there. I'd suggest having these things made in Hong Kong if you get there occasionally. The tailors are excellent and not overpriced.

I have to tell you about getting measured for a custom suit in the big Sogo Department store in Yokohama. There were several people measuring me and one recording the dimensions on a sheet. They must make 85 measurements and as they make each, they call out the dimension for recorder to write down. They'd call out a number and the recorder would say "Honto desuka?" (Really?) or "Sugoi!" (Wow!) for every single one of the 85 measurements. It was obviously the first time they'd measured a big gaijin. Finally when they were done, they sheepishly said I'd have to pay an extra surcharge for the fabric since it was almost double the yardage they usually use in a suit. The whole thing was hilarious to me at the time.

Though a bit pricey, it's a great suit and It still looks great after 16 years.

- Jeff

[DavidT]

... in response to Re: Soon to be homeless...:0), posted by Jeff S on Feb 15, 2003

Don, there is a yahoo group called Living in the Philippines
lots of good information for expats!Tried to add a link but wasn't allowed.   Good luck and God bless!

Dave & Nenita