Life in Dmgte

[shadow]

The board looked kind of dead, so I thought maybe some entertainment was in order. Someone from one of the other boards asked if there was a downside to living in Dumaguete. This was my response, I thought maybe some of you may get something out of it.

I've been living here in Dumaguete since June, and there are certain aspects that are detrimental to mental pacivity.

There are scant options available for shopping and nightlife, as well as places to get a good western meal or anything other than chicken and rice. If there is anything you would rather eat than chicken and rice, then surely you can find some rice and chicken. If you think you would desire two peices of chicken, you must also have two rice. My first two months here I got so frusterated with this aspect I capriciously opened a Mexican/American restaurant. Now, I eat.

Another slight annoyance are the many tricycle drivers, who seem to be under the impression they own all of the city's streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. Some city official very high in government must have a lot of money invested in tricycles because there are literally tbousands of them. They stop whenever and wherever they wish. They make left hand turns from the right hand lane without a turn signal or so much as a sideways glance to see what is beside them. They run massive amounts of used motor oil in place of two cycle oil to create a smoke cloud so they can send smoke signals to each other. They must of course remove anything that resembles 'sound suppression' and replace it with something that closely resembles a megaphone. The whole city is thusly very effectively reduced to tricycle speed. 10 Jeepneys would eliminate the need for 1000 of these dangerous derelict contraptions, but the city government refuses to let jeepneys run in-city routes.

Several times each day, the city Traffic Mangement Office determines traffic is running much too smoothly, so they promptly send out their finest officers to correct the problem. They whimsically set up road blocks and detours to route you around in a four block circle. This circle can take as long as 45 minutes to complete, as of course, it is packed full of tricycles. After fighting your way around this circle once or twice, if it is your lucky day it will be siesta time for the TMO officers, and you can then go merrily on about your business. At any time in Dumaguete if you should find yourself stuck in traffic, sure enough, three blocks ahead you will find a TMO officer frantically waving his arms and blowing his whistle.

Dumaguete is quite laid back. In fact, it is so laid back that if you are trying to get something done, better allow weeks to accomplish a simple task. Businesses here open at 9:15, and close for lunch at 11:30. They promptly re-open somehwere between 2 and 3, where you can normally find a sleeping employee to tell you "no stock" until 4:30 or 5, at which time they wake up and go home to prepare for the night's party. Just because they are standing does not by any means mean they are awake. You just try to talk to them and you will know immediately what I mean.

If you should have the desire to experience your daily dose of frusteration, simply ask for something other than chicken and rice or San Miguel beer. Be prepared for what closely resembles a "deer in the headlights" look, accompanied immediately by a query of "But whatever is it for, Sir?" followed by "Sorry Sir, no stock". You have just encountered one of Dumaguete's 60,000 4 year college graduates.

About twice a day you will encounbter a situation where you think you got shortchanged by one of these 60,000 4 year college graduates. This of course is caused by their calculator being incorrectly calibrated. Under no circumstances should you bring this to store personnel's attention. If you should try to convince them that 2 plus 4 is 6, (their calculator may say it is 7) this will immediately bring on another episode of the "deer in the headlights" look, which will then lead to the store manager being called to deal with these outlandish accusations of this crazy Kano. The manager will appear wearing a pouty frown, and will verify exactly what you thought was correct. 2 plus 4 is 7. If you should be so brash and foolish enough to pursue this matter further, you will likely still be standing at the register the next morning when the accountant arrives from Cebu.

If the daily tasks or smoke and frusteration should give you a mild headache, relax, help is available. Simply walk into any drug store and ask for an aspirin. After 20 minutes or so and much consultation between staff, they may or may not bring you one children's tablet. If you think your headache may require more than that, you may be able to convince them that what you want is the 300 mg tablets for adults. If you should think you may want more than ten at a time, they are likely to tell you, "Sorry, Sir. We cannot sell you so many tablets, Sir. You might overdose." This should make your head explode, whereupon the headache should be gone.

Downside to living here? Sorry, can't think of anything. Life is wonderful here.

Larry.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Life in Dmgte, posted by shadow on Mar 19, 2004

Hi Larry!

I see your adjusting to "living in the Philippines" quite well. lol
It brings back memories of my Australian friend Mark who used to run the Koo Koo's nest down At Tambubo.I met him in 94 he had already been there 10 years   I went back every year for four or five years.  I noticed each year he was getting more and more stressed with running the resort. I would go with him to town once a week to get supplies for the resort and do my shopping.  I watched him encounter all of the promlemas you have mentioned and more. Some time several years ago he sold the place and they went back to Australia. (he went Koo Koo!)

It didn't take me very long to figure out how things work in Dumaguete or in any other city in the PI.  I couldn't imagine having to live or run a business in downtown Dumaguete (or downtown Portland, Or for that matter). Just going to town to get bread, milk and egg's can be a half a day trip! lol
I rented an apartment just south of Dumaguete for five months
So I got a good idea of what it's like to live there.  We had a motorbike rented monthly so it was easy to get in and out of town early and get what we needed at the public market. I love to go down there and walk around looking at stuff.  After about three or four days in Dumaguete I would have to flee to The Koo Koo's nest or Siquijor to rest up and do a few dives.

Yes, I love Dumaguete I'm sure I could be happy living near there. I'm not sure I would want to run a business anywhere in the PI.
For me it's a nice nipa hut on the beach. Night life? How about the stars in the sky and the waves lapping the beach, Yes it might get old for some people but not me.

Remember Larry you are a foreigner in a foreign country.
Forget about how things work here. If you can't adapt to the way things are and how things work there then it will drive you Buang. Learn how to use that deer in the head lights look it will come in very handy! lol

I recommend you take two days off at the Coral Kay resort on Siquijor and a few bongers!
Hum

[shadow]

... in response to Re: Life in Dmgte, posted by Humabdos on Mar 19, 2004

Have been to Kookoo's on several occasions, know the new people there reasonably well. Haven't got the time to take a few days off. Must be nice to be one fo those 'Rich Americans' with a pension that doesn't have to work for a few pisos to eat on. Only a complete fool or a desperate person would try to run a biz here. Well past buang. Will send you an email to clue you in on the rest.  

Larry.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Re: Life in Dmgte, posted by shadow on Mar 20, 2004

Yes I wish I where one of those rich Americans too Larry
Guess where I would be???

I often wonder what happened to Mark and Felly he introduced me to my first wife and was the best man in our wedding on Siquijor. He sailed in to the yacht harbour in tambobo and stayed seven years building a yacht for some Swiss guy. After that he built the Koo Koo's nest.I stayed there for $100 per week which included three good meals! He taught me a lot about the Philippines. During his last few years he pissed a lot of people off so I'm not sure how people feel about him now.
Hum

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Life in Dmgte, posted by Humabdos on Mar 19, 2004

http://www.kookoosnest.com.ph/

[Stephen]

... in response to Life in Dmgte, posted by shadow on Mar 19, 2004

What's the population of Dumagette?

Is it pretty?

Why did you settle there?  I figured that Dumagette was where your wife was from.

And how's the restaurant going?  Do the locals respond to Mexican food well?  I think opening a restaurant is a gutsy thing to do.  

Hope I'm not being too nosey.

I really appreciate you posting experiences like this.  Posts like this are good for the board.

Stephen

[shadow]

... in response to Larry...., posted by Stephen on Mar 19, 2004

Well, Dumaguete's population minus college students is probably about 40,000. With college students, 100,000+. I haven't a clue how many colleges of various sizes are here. I can physically take a person to at least nine. It seems that down every side street there is another 'College of Education".

Yes, my wife is from here, AND it seemed like a reasonably nice town, so...

As for the restaurant, well, today was the last day here.

Now before you get excited, things have gotten a little out of hand, so we had to find a different place.

And a different place we did. We are moving to a new location. Basically, we have aquired a gorgeous 5 bedroom, 4 bath house, with a very nice and large landscaped yard, at the end of a dead end street, on the beach, 1/2 mile from the "boulevard' and downtown.

Over a period of about the last four weeks, our business has doubled every week. The word is getting out. People are coming from Cebu, Leyte, Bacolod, Iloilo, Bayawan, and other places unknown to sample the fare.

So, just maybe, it will work. We intend to turn it into kind of a bed and breakfast type affair. We have several things to offer that nobody else can. Ocean veiw QUIET rooms, with CLEAN AIR! In room internet access, as well as internet access anywhere on the premises. You can literally lay in a hammock with ocean view and have a meal and a SMB brought to you while surfing the net. Right now, word has it, we have the best food in town. (Doesn't take much to accomplish this one)  

We have been getting some locals, although not a lot of them yet. We have been getting a lot of college students that have spent time in the US, and the owner of one of the towns most successful internet cafe/fast food restaurant chains (Scooby's) has been here every day for lunch with his entire ontourage.

There are some pitfalls in the jungle, which I care not to go into right here and now. Just a small example, I must first build a bridge to get to our new local, because the city has seen fit to excavate the road 6 feet deep. Expected time of completion, March 2005. Minor detail.

I have spent the last three weeks trying to locate cocolumber to build a bridge and bamboo furniture to furnish the place. Easy, you say? HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

There is not enough time in the week to detail all the time that this has so far taken. Estimate? 100 hours. Still not done. Not even close. I never imagined a 5 minute conversation could be turned into a ten day major ordeal.

Well, time is short. Must go now. Will post more later, as well as pics, if I can figure out how to use this new camera.

Larry.

[joemc]

... in response to Re: Larry...., posted by shadow on Mar 20, 2004

Hey Larry,
          It's sounds like you don't miss the Pacific
          Northwest. I like your idear of the bed and
          breakfast. Please post pics when you are up
         and running.

                                   Thanks, joemc

[shadow]

... in response to Re: Re: Larry...., posted by joemc on Mar 20, 2004

the rain is warmer!

Larry.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Larry...., posted by shadow on Mar 20, 2004

Sounds good Larry! It is hard to find a good western meal in Dumaguete. At all costs try not to piss off your new neighbors or the local officials! It would be a good idea to meet the barangay captain and invite him for a "free" meal. Remember a little taco grease goes a long way to get things done! Hang in there and don't let things get you too buang! If you learn to roll with the punches you'll make it.
Once your place is famous you can open one in Boracay! Can you imagine the problems one could encounter running a business there? Also if you want to see some real tricycle traffic go to Tagbilaran! It's insane kaayo!

If all goes well Sallie and I will be booking a room there next winter.
Hum

[shadow]

... in response to Re: Re: Larry...., posted by Humabdos on Mar 20, 2004

Until I came along with this hairbrained idea, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get a good western meal here.

Already met the cap and my neighbors are a community of fishermen. They are very pleased right now because we are building a bridge so they can access their boats. They will be supplying much of the labor.

I've been to Tag several times, and although it is crowded with trikes it doesn't rival what Dmgte has become. There are over 6000 of them here now, according to LTO. I guess you'll find out for yourself next winter!!

Boracay?  No way.

Larry.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Larry...., posted by shadow on Mar 20, 2004

6000 trikes in Duma now? I guess it has been over four years sence I was last there.  I wonder how things have changed up in Valencia?
Hum

[shadow]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Larry...., posted by Humabdos on Mar 21, 2004

seems to be relatively untouched. The road getting there is a real mess, maybe that has something to do with it.

Larry.

[Humabdos]

... in response to Valencia..., posted by shadow on Mar 21, 2004

I like Valencia it's always at least 10 deg cooler up there. However even five years ago land was getting expensive.
Hum