The WHY? edition
I get a lot of questions about traveling and living abroad, particularly from my friends in the United States, who seem equal parts fascinated and horrified by the fact that I’ve chosen to reside in countries other than where I was born. So today, I thought I’d share the WHY of my most recent decision to move to the Philippines.
I get a lot of questions about traveling and living abroad, particularly from my friends in the United States, who seem equal parts fascinated and horrified by the fact that I’ve chosen to reside in countries other than where I was born. So today, I thought I’d share the WHY of my most recent decision to move to the Philippines.
Why now?
When I left the U.S. in early November, it was rapidly approaching wintertime – a great season to spend in Southeast Asia. From June until November approximately it’s the monsoon or rainy season here in Asia, and it’s not quite as fun living here with downpours, soggy clothes, mosquitos, and floods. But come late November, the weather turns to sunshine and I probably won’t see a drop of rain until May. From February to May it’s the hottest time of the year in SE Asia, and each day literally feels 1C (sorry, I’m back on metric) hotter than the last. Through March and April it’s hotter than Hades and I’ll be dreaming of rain and the comfort of a cool summer/fall in the states!
When I left the U.S. in early November, it was rapidly approaching wintertime – a great season to spend in Southeast Asia. From June until November approximately it’s the monsoon or rainy season here in Asia, and it’s not quite as fun living here with downpours, soggy clothes, mosquitos, and floods. But come late November, the weather turns to sunshine and I probably won’t see a drop of rain until May. From February to May it’s the hottest time of the year in SE Asia, and each day literally feels 1C (sorry, I’m back on metric) hotter than the last. Through March and April it’s hotter than Hades and I’ll be dreaming of rain and the comfort of a cool summer/fall in the states!
Why Asia?
Asia is frigging fascinating with its blend of unique religions, cultures and histories, packed with 70% of the world’s population within a 1,000-mile radius. Southeast Asia is also extremely safe compared to living in Central America, has great food, friendly people, never-ending places to visit, second-to-none natural beauty...and it’s cheap!
Asia is frigging fascinating with its blend of unique religions, cultures and histories, packed with 70% of the world’s population within a 1,000-mile radius. Southeast Asia is also extremely safe compared to living in Central America, has great food, friendly people, never-ending places to visit, second-to-none natural beauty...and it’s cheap!
Why the Philippines?
I’ve lived in Vietnam for a short spell and Cambodia the lion’s share of the last three years, which I really loved. But still, it’s not easy living there, and the culture is SO different that not a minute goes by that you don’t feel like a stranger in a strange land. I also visited the Philippines every year for a month or two, and finally decided to make this country my home base – and could afford the higher cost of living. What’s so different about the Philippines?
First the bad news: it’s pretty expensive compared to living in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – hotels and food are double the cost, I’d say. Speaking of food, it’s terrible. I know I’ll offend some of my Filipino friends, but everything here is deep-fried, greasy and rich, and fast food, pork and rice seem to be the main staples. There is some great seafood and fruit when you get to certain beach areas, but it’s literally hard to find fresh vegetables on a daily basis. The cities can also be super grimy and dirty and you really need to know where you’re going, and travel is never easy.
The good news: The Philippines is insanely cool and I think really one of the most unique places on earth. The country consists of more than 7,500 islands, only about half of which are inhabited. The white sand beaches, sand bars, emerald lagoons, rolling hills, Spanish ruins, waterfalls, volcanic peaks and coral reefs you can visit are seemingly endless. In fact, Conde Naste Traveler just named the Philippine’s islands of Boracay and Palawan as the #1 and #3 best in the whole world!
I’ve lived in Vietnam for a short spell and Cambodia the lion’s share of the last three years, which I really loved. But still, it’s not easy living there, and the culture is SO different that not a minute goes by that you don’t feel like a stranger in a strange land. I also visited the Philippines every year for a month or two, and finally decided to make this country my home base – and could afford the higher cost of living. What’s so different about the Philippines?
First the bad news: it’s pretty expensive compared to living in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – hotels and food are double the cost, I’d say. Speaking of food, it’s terrible. I know I’ll offend some of my Filipino friends, but everything here is deep-fried, greasy and rich, and fast food, pork and rice seem to be the main staples. There is some great seafood and fruit when you get to certain beach areas, but it’s literally hard to find fresh vegetables on a daily basis. The cities can also be super grimy and dirty and you really need to know where you’re going, and travel is never easy.
The good news: The Philippines is insanely cool and I think really one of the most unique places on earth. The country consists of more than 7,500 islands, only about half of which are inhabited. The white sand beaches, sand bars, emerald lagoons, rolling hills, Spanish ruins, waterfalls, volcanic peaks and coral reefs you can visit are seemingly endless. In fact, Conde Naste Traveler just named the Philippine’s islands of Boracay and Palawan as the #1 and #3 best in the whole world!
But perhaps the Philippine’s greatest natural treasure is its people. Filipinos are incredibly gregarious, welcoming, happy, social, caring, and warm. I’d best describe the culture as half American and half Latin American, thanks to influence of Spanish conquest for hundreds of years. Filipinos LOVE basketball, often wearing jerseys as everyday attire and games in flip flops springing up in every Barangay (neighborhood.) Filipinos are also very musical, and life here has a light, singsong vibe. The country is about 90% Christian and 80% Roman Catholic, and most Filipinos also speak English (though sometimes I need an English-to-English translator!)
But just when I think I’m getting to know the Philippines, it surprises me, a country of intrigue, mystery and surrealism, both geographically and culturally.
But just when I think I’m getting to know the Philippines, it surprises me, a country of intrigue, mystery and surrealism, both geographically and culturally.
Why Cebu?
In past years, I tried my level best to living right on the beach here in SE Asia. While that works out great for some, there’s a profound lack of consistent Wi-Fi on the smaller islands, remote areas and beaches. That turns my usually 50-hour workweek into a sweaty, frustrating 70-hour affair as I run around looking for a place with a good signal. So this year, I decided to make the city of Cebu in the Philippines my home base, instead.
Cebu is the country’s second largest city (NO WAY I was going to live in big, dirty and insanely-congested Manila) and sits in the central Visayan region. It’s still a city but three clicks more mellow than Manila. But Cebu City also sits on the island of Cebu, with plenty of amazing beaches, waterfalls, and other attractions a 2-3 hour bus ride away.
Cebu also has an international airport, so I can easily bounce out on long weekend trips to other islands and those aforementioned amazing beaches, some of which are only a comical 35-minute flight away! Oh, and I can get good Wi-Fi in Cebu, as well as all the modern amenities before taking frequent adventures around the country.
In past years, I tried my level best to living right on the beach here in SE Asia. While that works out great for some, there’s a profound lack of consistent Wi-Fi on the smaller islands, remote areas and beaches. That turns my usually 50-hour workweek into a sweaty, frustrating 70-hour affair as I run around looking for a place with a good signal. So this year, I decided to make the city of Cebu in the Philippines my home base, instead.
Cebu is the country’s second largest city (NO WAY I was going to live in big, dirty and insanely-congested Manila) and sits in the central Visayan region. It’s still a city but three clicks more mellow than Manila. But Cebu City also sits on the island of Cebu, with plenty of amazing beaches, waterfalls, and other attractions a 2-3 hour bus ride away.
Cebu also has an international airport, so I can easily bounce out on long weekend trips to other islands and those aforementioned amazing beaches, some of which are only a comical 35-minute flight away! Oh, and I can get good Wi-Fi in Cebu, as well as all the modern amenities before taking frequent adventures around the country.
Why IT Park?
Upon landing in Cebu, I booked a nice hotel for a few days and started my apartment search. It’s a whole lot harder to get reliable and accurate information about areas of the city, neighborhoods, and apartment complexes here. For instance, one area in Cebu – Mactan Island was described to me as having perfect white sand beaches or being really dirty with water you wouldn’t even want to swim in, depending on whom I asked. But with the help of some Internet research, scouting some neighborhoods, and a lot of great feedback from helpful locals, I narrowed it down to IT Park.
It’s a really cool community consisting of only nine square blocks walled off from the surrounding streets. IT Park is foremost a business park, with 99% of the people here working in the big international call centers around me. Since most of them accommodate calls from the U.S., they operate 24-hours a day, so the streets here are far more busy at 3 AM when people are taking their “lunch breaks” than during the middle of the day.
Upon landing in Cebu, I booked a nice hotel for a few days and started my apartment search. It’s a whole lot harder to get reliable and accurate information about areas of the city, neighborhoods, and apartment complexes here. For instance, one area in Cebu – Mactan Island was described to me as having perfect white sand beaches or being really dirty with water you wouldn’t even want to swim in, depending on whom I asked. But with the help of some Internet research, scouting some neighborhoods, and a lot of great feedback from helpful locals, I narrowed it down to IT Park.
It’s a really cool community consisting of only nine square blocks walled off from the surrounding streets. IT Park is foremost a business park, with 99% of the people here working in the big international call centers around me. Since most of them accommodate calls from the U.S., they operate 24-hours a day, so the streets here are far more busy at 3 AM when people are taking their “lunch breaks” than during the middle of the day.
The banks, endless coffee shops, convenience stores, food joints, noodle houses, etc. around me all operate 24 hours a day, too. While it’s not an entertainment district by any means – IT Park only has a couple of small wine bars – the influx of educated, hard working Filipinos means there are always people around, hanging out and socializing. The only other foreigners I see are Korean, Japanese and a couple random Europeans or Australians, who work as the managers for these call centers. IT Park has a super cool night market on the weekends and one of the coolest restaurants I’ve ever seen, an indoor-outdoor Hawaiian-themed place wrapped around a huge old tree.
IT Park is also remarkably safe and clean. It has an energized, bustling, super-miniature New York City feel, and it couldn’t be more convenient for me to live and work in. So chances are if you’re calling a customer service number from the states and you get a Filipino on the other end of the line, you’re calling my neighborhood.
IT Park is also remarkably safe and clean. It has an energized, bustling, super-miniature New York City feel, and it couldn’t be more convenient for me to live and work in. So chances are if you’re calling a customer service number from the states and you get a Filipino on the other end of the line, you’re calling my neighborhood.
Why Premier Residence Apartments?
I looked at several other apartment complexes and condos here, but they were either too stuffy, too overpriced, or too big and impersonal. But finally, the Premier Residences was recommended to me, and I knew instantly I’d take it.
In densely packed Philippines cities, space is at a premium, so for one person, my 28-square meter studio is considered luxurious. It’s a modern spot with a nice kitchen and bathroom, small living area, fold-down murphy bed to save space, and a simple desk right by the floor-to-ceiling windows that cover one wall, giving me a great vantage point of the busy street below. The apartment also has a nice infinity pool on the 11th floor roof deck with great views.
Like most apartments in foreign countries, it came furnished, and I signed a six-month lease. I even signed up for cable TV and Internet service, but I’m still waiting impatiently for them to come do the install. How much does all of this cost? $400 a month, which means my total budget is around $1,500 a month, or $2-$3K a month if I want to splurge and travel a lot.
So with all of that, there’s only one more question I may have missed:
Why travel and live abroad?
Why the hell not? Haven’t you been paying attention?
***
Thanks for reading this WHY edition, and hit me up if you have any questions about living or traveling abroad, and come visit me anytime!
-Norm :-)
I looked at several other apartment complexes and condos here, but they were either too stuffy, too overpriced, or too big and impersonal. But finally, the Premier Residences was recommended to me, and I knew instantly I’d take it.
In densely packed Philippines cities, space is at a premium, so for one person, my 28-square meter studio is considered luxurious. It’s a modern spot with a nice kitchen and bathroom, small living area, fold-down murphy bed to save space, and a simple desk right by the floor-to-ceiling windows that cover one wall, giving me a great vantage point of the busy street below. The apartment also has a nice infinity pool on the 11th floor roof deck with great views.
Like most apartments in foreign countries, it came furnished, and I signed a six-month lease. I even signed up for cable TV and Internet service, but I’m still waiting impatiently for them to come do the install. How much does all of this cost? $400 a month, which means my total budget is around $1,500 a month, or $2-$3K a month if I want to splurge and travel a lot.
So with all of that, there’s only one more question I may have missed:
Why travel and live abroad?
Why the hell not? Haven’t you been paying attention?
***
Thanks for reading this WHY edition, and hit me up if you have any questions about living or traveling abroad, and come visit me anytime!
-Norm :-)
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