Well, after all the paper work, drug screening, physical, studying, testing, training, I am finally a Taxi Driver.  My schedule is Saturday through Wednesday from 4:00 am to 4:00 pm. When I meet for my schedule, I had a choice of these hours or work 4am to 4pm shift. I felt, until I get to learn the city and the roads better, it would be best to be out in the sunlight. I can always in the future apply for a shift change.

To understand more, let me explain about taxis in Las Vegas. As I have written so far, the Taxi Authority governs the taxi industry. This is an organization that controls the types and amount of taxi medallions, who can drive and where taxies can pick up passengers. They are here to regulate the taxi industry and protect the customers and the drivers.

Different from most other places in the States and the world, in Las Vegas it is illegal for a taxi to pick up “flaggers.” A Flagger is a person who just stands on the street, and waves or “flags” a taxi. In Las Vegas passengers can only be picked up legally at taxi stands or if they call into a taxi company and orders a taxi. A Taxi stand is the location in front of hotels, restaurants, attractions, and some shopping malls where taxi’s can legally line up to accept riders. This is to protect both the passengers and the taxi drivers.

Most Taxi Stands have video surveillance so if there is any problems, such as a robbery, the taxi can be tracked and the alleged person can be identified through the video. It also protects the passengers in case there is a complaint, the video can be used to spot which taxi and driver was involved with the complaint. Also with all the traffic, especially on the Strip, a taxi stopping for a fare can cause an accident. The Taxi Authority can also give tickets with large fines too.

There are also different types of Taxi Medallions here in Las Vegas. A medallion is a license for a taxi to operate. Here there are many types. Some are unrestricted where you can pick up customers anywhere in Clark County. Then there are restricted medallions. One is Geographically Restricted where you can pick up customers anywhere except Downtown, the Las Vegas Strip and the Airport. Then there is one called North-North. With a North-North you are limited to the northern part of the city to stage or be on a taxi stand. You can take radio calls in a larger area but still not everywhere. Once you have a customer, you can drop off anywhere in the state of Nevada.

If you want to take radio calls you need to book into a zone. The city is divided by zones. You have to tell the dispatcher what zone you are located and you are willing to take radio calls in that zone.

Now back to me. My schedule is Saturday through Wednesday from 4am to 4pm. getting used to this schedule and sleeping early is difficult. I get home around 5pm, have dinner as I chat with Elena and then try to get to sleep my 6 to 7pm. Saturday and Sunday I have a North North medallion taxi but Monday thru Wednesday I have what is called “Extra Board.” Extra Board is where you wait for the shift to come in and if there is an extra taxi, you can get picked to drive. The order of being picked is seniority with the company.

Saturday morning I arose at 2:00am, if that is the word to get up at such an ungodly hour. I made my coffee and English muffin and was even able to video chat with Elena for a little while. Since I have to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before our scheduled start and driving the scooter, I left the house at 3:15. It was 61F degrees when I left the house and even with my jacket, it was nippy.

Once at the Taxi Company I check in and wait for my Trip Sheet. Then I go to my taxi and on the sheet put all the existing information such as odometer and info stored in the meter.  Miles, paid miles, # of fares, airport fees and such. Then I inspect the taxi and make sure it is clean and gassed. I then get on the road.

Since I have a North-North medallion, I drive to the Red Rock Hotel and Casino which is in the north western part of Las Vegas. They have a taxi stand and long staging area. On my first day I booked only eight rides but I booked $208.00 in fares, I received $64 in tips. I think mentioning I was in Vegas only 3 weeks and about my past 2 ½ years, they wanted to help. Sunday I also had 8 fares but only booked $125 and only received $25 in tips. Of this, one tip was $7.00 so you can see how bad the rest of the tips were.

You never can figure out how the tips will be and who are the big tippers and who will stiff you. Sunday morning my first ride was from downtown to the MGM Hotel. The fare was $19.20; the girl gave me a $20 and told me to keep the change. You smile and say thank you as you curse under your breath.

Monday was Memorial Day and a holiday is not a day that drivers want to take off, so after a while a most of us on Extra Board was told that we could leave then or wait until 6am to get Shift Credit. Since all bonuses and benefits are based on shift credits, I waited until 6am and then went home.

Tuesday I got an unrestricted taxi and had fun staging at the hotels and going to the office and other locations in the city. I booked 13 rides and made about $35 in tips. It was nice since I like to talk and so did many of my customers. I have had customers from Germany, England, and Holland and from many states. It is interesting, many customers are from Michigan. Go figure.

Wednesday I got a North North taxi and had to take radio calls. It was not too bad but not as busy as working the strip.

Thursday and Friday, my day off, I tried to stay as close to my sleeping schedule so I would not have any trouble getting to sleep by 7pm Friday night and be able to get 7 hours sleep. Over my two days off I did my laundry, ran some errands, shopping and most important, I mailed off my petition for Elena’s spousal visa.

I will write next about my second week and try to relate funny stories about some of my customers. I thank my readers who have more of an interest in the Philippines and Davao City, but have made a connection with me and are interested in my life now back in America.

Greetings from sunny Cebu and Bantayan Island was a wonderfully peaceful and relaxing place.  Something you might see in a travel brochure.  I have included a few of the many pictures taken there and hope you will enjoy them.  Close your eyes and you might even hear the waves breaking at the decks edge.

Getting there started with a taxi ride to Cebu North Bus terminal. We then caught a bus, (no air conditioned buses leaving). So we boarded a non a/c bus and headed north to the small port city of Hagnaya, Cebu.  This trip would take approximately 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic and stops along the way.

As we left the big city behind the landscape changed dramatically.  We wound up and down mountains and hills. Winding ribbons of concrete, twisting and turning through small towns and villages.  The sea was usually ever present on our right. To the left was a stunning landscape of Coconut trees and vast sugar cane fields carved into the hills and valleys.

Scattered native nipa huts dotted the landscape as well as the roadside.  People selling their goods, everything from fresh fruit to dried fish.  Small boys running naked on the road side playing with discarded rubbish, yet always smiling and waving as we passed by.

Province life consists of a daily grind to make a few pesos to provide for the family. Back breaking work in the sugar cane fields for a mere 2 dollars or so a day. A 12-hour day, 6 to 7 days a week is the norm.  Day after day, week after week, year after year they toil.  Gripped in poverty till the day they die.  This is their reality, but they still have a smile on their weathered faces. This is the real Philippines, the worker bees of the colony providing for the fat to get fatter.

We stopped in numerous nondescript places along the way for passengers to board and disembark.  The driver and the conductor had a nonverbal communication system. A series of taps with his hole puncher on the overhead handrail and the bus stopped and started off again. We are now about halfway into our trip and still have not paid a fare.  The conductor made his way from front to back punching holes in slips of paper. Embark and disembark information, collecting money from each passenger.

He arrived at our seat, made a series of holes in our slips, and collected 240 pesos ($5.00).  I gave him a 500-peso bill and he walked off.  I think to myself “hum, where my 260 pesos change is”.  I had did some reading before taking this bus journey and remembered that it’s a common practice if he has no change.  However, not to worry, he never forgets.  An hour or so goes by and we stop for a 15 minute break. Comfort Room(restroom), a smoke and a coke before starting again.

Meantime and older Filipina, perhaps in her mid to late 70’s had sat down beside me.  She shyly glanced at my light skin from time to time if she thought I was not looking.  I did the same to her.  The deep lines in her weathered tanned face told many stories.

I wondered about her life, her hardships, and her joys. I thought about her age and the fact she had probably endured WWII, and the Japanese Occupation of her homeland when she was a young beautiful Filipina.  I truly wished I could speak her language and open this wealth of information and human interest sitting beside me.

Lyn was taking pictures out the window as our journey continued.  I saw the curiosity in the old woman’s eyes, as we looked at the pictures Lyn had just taken.  I thought to myself, maybe she has never seen a digital camera and the instant gratification one has from viewing pictures taken only seconds before. I quietly told Lyn to take her picture when she was not looking. Lyn says, “no” and I said ”give me the camera.”  I took Lyn’s picture and purposely let the old woman see what I was doing. She saw the picture as I viewed it and smiled.  I slowly sat the camera on my knee, as she turned her head and giving me a profile, click the deed was done. I slowly fiddled with the camera until I saw her watching again and replayed the picture of her I had just taken.  Her face lit up and she pointed at herself as if to say, that is me. I nodded and motioned the camera at her to ask permission to take another.  She pointed at herself again and I nodded, she smiled and I took another.  She was delighted when I showed her the display.

The bus stopped again shortly, she stepped off and disappeared down a dusty trail leading off into the dense vegetation.  Maybe to where she had lived all her life.  Perhaps I left her too with a story to tell as well.  I would like to think so.

The bus continued and we stopped in a small town.  No one boarded or disembarked, and then I noticed the conductor crossing the road to a small gas station.  I queried Lyn as to what he was doing, “maybe change,” she said.  “I hope so” I replied.  He boarded and off we were again. He started at the front again handing money to various passengers.  Upon making his way back to us he said, “500 pesos right?” I nodded in agreement and he handed me 260 pesos. Two and half hours had elapsed, I guess they don’t forget.

The scenery has flattened out now and the smell of fish drying in the sun fills the air.  A sure sign we are approaching the sea and ferry landing. We bounce down a non-paved dusty road and stop.  At last we have arrived at Hagnaya port.  We disembarked and made our way through a horde of hawkers and vendors selling everything imaginable.

We purchased tickets for the 1 hour ferry ride across to Bantayan Island.  First class this time with a/c cabin, 260 pesos ($5.40. I texted our host, Robert, to let him know that we were leaving Hagnaya in 1 hour to make our crossing. To my surprise he was their too, treated us to a soft drink and rode with us across.

Robert is from Germany and owns the house I had rented. He also owns the Jungle Restaurant and has lived on the Island the last seven years.  Although he is 71, he doesn’t look it.  He was a walking treasure trove of information.  We settled in for our one hour voyage.  The seas were calm and blue and “Con Air” was playing on the television.  Lyn watched intently, but understood little.  Robert and I chatted, discussing Filipino customs and mind set.  Finally, we pulled into the pier.

Robert had arranged a couple of pedal powered carts to deliver us to the house.  Through the small narrow village streets we rode, lined with an assortment of open-air restaurants and shops. Their thatched roofs, blending in harmoniously with the coconut trees and various tropical foliage.  I felt like I had gone back in time, a true paradise surrounded me.

About ten minutes later the narrow paved street turned to sand. The view was grand, the sandy beach and blue sea stretched out before me.  The cool breeze blowing in from the sea was a welcome relief.  We walked about fifty yards through the sand and there stood a large native house built on bamboo stilts about ten feet above the sandy beach.

Three sides are glass panels, one facing out to sea, the other two sides facing up and down the beach.  A coconut plank deck wraps around the three sides with bamboo railings.  The inside has marble tile floors, bamboo furnishing and Chinese decor abounds. Fresh cut yellow flowers are on every table. The exposed thatched roof rises twenty foot above the large living room.  A coconut tree comes through the floor and out the roof in one of the two air conditioned bedrooms.  Another penetrates the deck and out through the thatched overhang. For interior and exterior light, they all have dimmer switches for every mood. Two large bamboo loungers with 4-inch foam cushions, (each will accommodate two people easily) and bamboo table and chairs for breakfast grace the deck.  All facing the open blue sea.

Its ever present cooling breeze blows through the house when I open the glass door panels that lead out to the deck. The noise of the waves gently pounds the sand, the tide is coming in and the sun is fading.  Now the waves are disappearing underneath the deck.  To be closer to the sea one would need a boat.

I have arranged our dinner to be catered and served at the house tonight at 7:00.  A special evening and treat for Lyn as she has not a clue. Robert and his staff has prepared a feast that exceeds my request and expectations. The large dining room table is covered in various dishes, beef, chicken, fish, soup, salad, rice, 5 or 6 sauces and a few things I do not even know what was.  I assure you everything was excellent in taste and presentation. We grazed for perhaps one and a half hours. We then lay on the lounger listening to the waves and watching the small lights of native fishing outriggers dotting the sea before us.  It is well after midnight now and retreating inside seems almost like a punishment, but I want to rise early to see the sunrise.

Next Week will be the conclusion of Rob and Lyn’s trip.

At that time, I had filed for Elena’s Fiancée Visa and we were waiting for its approval. Well one day, the developer I was working for laid off 97% of their employees and then declared bankruptcy. I was unable to find a decent paying job so Elena told me to come to the Philippines. We thought with my savings, annuity, and help from her family we would be able to survive decently here.

Therefore, to the disappointment of my family I packed up and moved here to Davao. Since I was not receiving any pension or Social Security, it was not as easy for us as for other expats. I worked for a short time here but for Filipino wages which just covered food expenses for 2 weeks.

As I have written about life here, there are many things I did not like here, but I had to accept them. That is what you need to do and keep your sanity. I thought there was no way ever to be able to return to the U.S. and bring Elena to be with me. With the unemployment at such high levels and limited work in the architecture field for me to go back to my profession, here is where I would live and die.

Recently a friend of mine decided to move back and then file for his wife’s spousal visa. He is much younger than I am and has a father who will allow them to live in their house until he has enough money to get their own place. He currently has seasonal employment for income and will get his wife a job there too. He hopes both of them will be able to locate full time jobs in the future.

This made me start to think, so I contacted my brother and my mother about the possibility of me moving back and then bringing Elena. One turned it into an argument about how it was not feasible and would not help with basic needs if I came. The other was political and said there was a plan to change from a two-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom unit. This was the nice way to say there would be no room for us.

Well, they made me give up the thought until a few weeks ago. One of the readers emailed me and commented that it sounded like Elena and I could use a vacation and offered us a room in their house in Las Vegas, Nevada. I replied that is was very difficult to get Elena a Tourist Visa but thanked her for the kind offer. She emailed me again and mentioned her husband gave up his business because of the economy problems and they bought a house in Las Vegas. Her husband is a little older than I am and is working driving a taxi. With all the tourism in Vegas, a taxi driver can make enough to live comfortable. This reader offered us a room; rent-free in their home as long as we need to get on our feet and her husband will assist me in getting a job driving a taxi too.

Elena and I discussed this and we decided this is an offer of a lifetime. This lady and her husband are so kind with this offer and it will give us both a chance to work. In addition, after Elena has immigrant status and living in the States for six months, she will be able to receive survivor benefits when I pass away. Once Elena works for ten years, she will earn enough Social Security credits to collect her own benefits.

We have discussed, once we retire, in all probability will not be able to afford to live in the States, we will probably move back to the Philippines. Because of this, our nephew who married recently will live in our house and take care of it for us.  He will take care of his sisters who live here. His brother’s support will continue to assist them with the expense of this house.

So, with all said, I will be flying out of Davao on May 4 and from Manila on the fifth. The flight will be interesting; the first leg from Manila is on Korean Airlines, which I never have flown before. I will also land in Inchon Intl, Seoul, Korea. At first, I thought I had only a three ½-hour layover in Korea, which is not bad. Then I noticed I land 5:20am and do not leave until 8:50pm. I guess I will know the airport well in that time and have to make sure I have enough books to read while there. So what I thought would be 18 hours total travel time, it is now close to 30 hours.

As soon as I am settled in Las Vegas, I will file for Elena’s spousal visa to join me there. At first, I will need to live as cheaply as possible since I do not want to overstay my welcome and these kind peoples home. I will need to save for a vehicle, furniture, and deposits once we are able to move out on our own.

I hope to be able to keep this site alive with articles of how my life will change and interesting stories of Elena’s live living in America. I hope to find Expats and Filipinos to assist me with this site by writing articles of news and cultural items about Davao and the Philippines.

For those of my readers who have relied on me and this site for information about an Expats life in the Philippines, I hope with others help this site will continue. For those who stop visiting, I understand and thank you for your two plus years of my readership.

If my friends in Las Vegas read this, again Elena and I thank you and feel you both are gifts from God.

I will keep all informed of the process and any other newsworthy items and I always do until I leave.

In the two years I have lived in Davao, I have seen an increase in construction in both commercial and residential building. There is a big project coming in that will consist of a business park a shopping mall, condominiums, and hotel. There are other hotels under construction and the plan for two more malls.

There has to be a reason for this increase of construction and that is an increase of businesses and population. With this increase of buildings and population will hugely influence traffic.

Already traffic is getting bad. I remember in the past thinking I can get almost anywhere in the city proper in 10 minutes during off times and maybe 20 at peak traffic times, not any more.

Two day a week, I play bridge not too far away. I am not sure of the distance but with no traffic, I can drive there in approximately 10 minutes. If the game lasts to around 6pm, the traffic is terrible. One night there was an accident and it took me 45 minutes to get home. This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. One my trip home I pass two churches. At both with all the people coming and going to get their blessing the traffic was at a standstill. You see, when there is a location where many people need public transportation there is a huge lineup of Jeepneys. They will fill the right lane and as more jeepneys arrive, they will start stopping on the left lane. This causes drivers to take over the left lane of incoming traffic. It took me over an hour to get home.

What worries me is when that new business park, mall and condominiums are built, what will traffic be like then? The main road near me is J.P. Laurel. This road is the main road used from the north end of town to the downtown area. There are already two malls on this road and it is the same road where the two planned malls are to be built. All this added shopping and location for employment will add more jeepney and taxi activity.

I have heard the city government is now requiring new commercial buildings to include a traffic impact plan when filing for a permit. As crowded the city is, there is no place to add more roads or widen the existing. In my mind, the impact report will just say, “we will impact traffic, what do you want me to do?”

At least, I am not employed and can regulate my travel to the light traffic times. I just hope I keep in mind the traffic times.

One friend has his house on the market and is planning to move to the condominiums at the new center. He says living there with the new mall and restaurants planned, he only will need to go down the elevator and shop or eat in the complex and not have to drive anywhere.

At this point, if you want to continue your stay you must leave the country and return. At that point, your passport will show an exit stamp and a new entry stamp and you can stay again 16 or 24 months. Cost varies for each extension but it is somewhere around 3000 pesos ($65 USD). At the six-month extension, there is a higher fee and then if you plan to leave the country and return, you need to get an exit visa.

Accommodations:
There are many choices of stay in Davao and the rest of the bigger cities in the Philippines. I can only talk about Davao because I have not spent much time out of the city.

For a visitor to the city the available accommodations vary in quality and cost. One of the cheapest is a boarding house. These places are small and have little in what a foreigner would find desirable. The rooms are small and most times shared. A room for four would have two bunk beds. There is usually only one CR for the house and consist of a non-flushing toilet and a faucet to fill a pail of water to bucket shower.

Next is a Pension House. The amenities vary, some have air conditioners and some do not. Most have a shared CR. Prices range from around 695 pesos a night ($15 USD). I have never seen the insides but they cleanliness will probably vary with price.

There are many hotels here from the basic to the high end, 5 stars. The prices vary too and many times, you can get a discount from some of the booking sites. Since prices vary, I am not going to list them. Many of the hotels offer free wifi in the rooms, some charge.

There are also many Apartelles here, which are small rooms. They are clean and come furnished with hot water showers, TV’s, wifi. Some come with small kitchens. One I know of even has a pool and a small restaurant/bar if you do not want to travel and do not want to cook. These places cost around 1000 pesos ($22 USD) a day and for extended stay of over a month will give some discounted rates.

For longer stays, there are furnished and unfurnished houses and apartments available.

Restaurants:
Lately there have been more restaurants opening with a more international choice of foods. Again, prices vary. For a visitor, most of these higher end restaurants have cheap prices. Those on a budget can still find decent foods. If you want to be more native, there are little roadside Caranderias. At these places, you can get a meal for as little as 20 pesos ($0.50).

For high-end cuisines, you can eat for 1500 pesos ($30 USD) including a Black Angus steak. However, there are many restaurants where you can eat well for a third of the price.

There are many restaurants in Davao I enjoy that are not high priced and some higher end restaurants I do not frequent because of cost. My favorites are:
Boyd’s Pizza/pasta house on Palma Hill, Obrero,
Red Knight Gardens, in Guadalupe Village, Lanang
Coco’s on F. Torres, Bajada
Bigby’s Grill on Jacinto Ext., corner of F. Torres, Bajada

Transportation:
The basic transportation here is the Jeepney. It looks like an extended jeep that can sit approximately 18 passengers. It is open-air vehicle with vinyl windows that will be rolled down during rainstorms. This is to the Filipinos as a local bus in the States. An average ride costs 8 pesos ($0.17 USD). That is to cover a trip not more than 4 kilometers. After 4 KM, there is an additional 1-peso fare per KM. On the sides of the Jeepney their route is painted, which streets they travel and areas they travel too. For someone that does not know the city, it might be best to take a taxi.

Here in Davao most taxis are air-conditioned. There are still some non-aircon taxis but they are slowly being eliminated. The taxis are metered; the meter starts at 30 pesos for aircon and 26 peso for non-aircon.  Then the charge is 2.50 pesos per KM. Usually you can get to most places in town for around 100 pesos.

For short distances or in areas not covered by Jeepneys there are various types of vehicles powered by a motorcycle welded to a sidecar or a little van type size which can seat approx 8 passengers. There are also little 2-4 seat sidecar powered by a bicycle.

Budget:
It is hard to explain a budget since some live large and some are conservative. Then you have to look at how much you will travel around town, if you are going to the beach resorts on Samal or how you will spend your time and with who.

Some of the things you need to discuss with your girlfriend before you visit is who will be joining you for meals or activities or if you will be visiting her family. Many times a Filipina will ask to invite a friend or relative to join them. Other times I have seen foreign visitors at a restaurant with 10 Filipinos at the table.

Even if you explain to your girlfriend your limited budget for your visit, in many Filipinos mind foreign men are rich and can afford their every whim. You need to discuss this before you travel here and set your boundaries. I know we all want to impress and to treat our lady well, but you need limits.

If you are coming with no lady in mind to visit and just play the field, you will need more money. A date usually includes their transportation fees to meet you and their return trip, of course by taxi, meals, drinks and going to Karaoke or clubs. If you bring one of these ladies you meet to go back to your hotel, most will expect a monetary gift. I am not saying they all are prostitutes or whores, but many Filipinas use private time with a foreigner as a way to earn money.

In future articles I will try to discuss courting and visiting “The Family”

I encourage comments from past visitors experiences and questions from future visitors.

In the two years living here, I have seen dry hot days and then there would be a break with heavy rains. This would happen all year long. Elena told me to her, the rainy season is January and February. I remember a visit here in the end of July and seeing rain for many days and the muddy streets.

Usually here, when it does rain, it is in the evenings or late at night. There are many times I have been woken from my sleep hearing the pounding on the roof of a heavy rain downpour. By morning, the sky is clear and the only remaining sign is the wet streets and many puddles.

Well in the past week or so most days were cloudy and rainy. The good part is it really cooled the temperatures. The bad thing is when the sun did come out the humidity rose since all the moisture in or on the ground would evaporate and add to the moist normal air.

I remember having to go out and our poor helper, with a little umbrella is out by the street, waiting for a break in traffic to open the gate for me to backup the car. Then you need extra caution in traffic because many Jeepneys drive around with bald tires.

The other day it was raining pretty steady from when I woke, later I was driving around town and the rain stopped. I looked up and noticed nice blue sky with just a few wisps’ of clouds. Within ten minutes, the clouds filled back in and the downpour started again.

Sunday we were out for our weekly food shopping. Lucky for us, the rain stopped just as I picked Elena at church the rain stopped and we were able to shop at the public market without rain. We came home, unloaded, relaxed a little and off to the mall for the rest of our shopping. While there a light rain would, start and stop but when we were to come home, the rain turned back into a real heavy downpour.  Elena mentioned to watch for the flooded streets on our drive home.

I was greatly surprised, in front of Victoria mall where it usually gets flooded was clear. I just do not know if the drainage was fixed or the rain was not as heavy there.

Again, this morning, I woke up and looked at the sky and I saw clear blue skies with a little cottony wisps of clouds. About ten minutes later I looked out, the blue was gone, and the nice white clouds were turning gray, so I am looking for another day of some rain.

They say every cloud has a silver lining, when it rains here, the air cools and the dust and dirt outside and on the car gets washed away. For those who use  public transportation, these rainy days can make traveling difficult. Many taxi drivers hide because they do not want to take fares to flooded areas.

Now this is not the main reason for this article, but I want to explain a little history.

I had dreams of making an income from advertisements on the site. I soon found out, this is a difficult way to make an income online. Most readers of blogs come to read and do not even notice the ads. I then put the “Donate” button on the sidebar and then on the bottom of each post. Some readers have been kind and I do receive a donation at times, but this is not enough to support myself, my family or really cover the time and costs of this site.

I have mentioned my architectural experiences in articles and had a few who have inquired about me doing design, full construction documents for permitting and even managing construction. I have done a few designs and then never went further. I have wondered if my free designs were giving to someone else or not, I never made any money for my time.

I started this site mainly to journal my life as an American living in Davao, hence the name American in Davao.  At first, many of my articles and photos were about my family and my life. Over time, I have developed to write more about how life is here for a Foreigner in third world country.  I try to tell the truth and not “sugar coating” what observations or advice.  There are many wonderful parts to living here, but there are difficulties too. I have tried to assist people to understand how to conduct themselves here and how to be careful in different situations. Many times my wife Elena has assisted too.

Over time, I have had many comments or direct emails asking for advice, information or even assistance. I have helped visitors find accommodations, helped locate restaurants, doctors and shopping. I have had many emails from future Expats-to-be or from men with online girlfriends who were planning to move here and I have offered any assistance I can give.

Last month I was surprised when I received an email from an International Relocation Service. They had a client company sending a representative here to Davao to open a branch office. I was offered the position as a consultant to assist this person find acceptable accommodations such as a furnished house or apartment, obtaining a bank account, services and a list of restaurants, entertainment, attractions and activities.  I would be paid for expenses, mileage and an hourly rate for a preset number of hours.  The hourly rate was good even if I was in the states.

I accepted the offer and then started trying to locate high-end furnished rentals. This was no easy task. It is not like in the states with magazines and classifieds listing all the apartments and houses for rent. There are some websites that individual real estate agents have, but sometimes they do not have decent descriptions, places shown are already rented or the furnishings are not what would be desired. I felt it was my responsibility to visit as many as I could before this man arrived. I did not want to embarrass myself by bringing him to a location and discovering there was problems.

In addition, many real estate agents do not want to show a property to someone in my position with the fear I would steal the business and they would lose their commission. I did locate a few on my own and found some to be below the standard needed and one that was great. I also planned to show him a place that would be good for a temporary   residence until we could find something better.  To make this long story shorter, we found a place he liked and with my wife’s help, we negotiated a good price.

During this process, I received an email from a man planning to come here in the near future and asked, from reading my site, if I offer any services.  I told him I could offer myself and car for transportation around town, help him find accommodations and local attractions he might enjoy. I told him I would not help him find women or clubs where he can find women.

This man replied he was coming to meet his online girlfriend and offered to pay me to drive them to different attractions in the city. He stated he did not want to ride Jeepneys or has to worry about hiring drivers and/or taxis where language could present a problem.

Today I met a person who is somewhat new to the city. While we were talking about these services, he told me, if he had known about me before he moved here, he would have liked to have someone who could have assisted him finding an apartment, finding and purchasing furnishings and even getting services such as cable and internet. He said he would have had no problem paying me for my time assisting him.

Another friend I have made is planning to come visit his girlfriend he met online. Her birthday is soon and asked if my wife would assist him in buying her a present. He sent us the funds for the purchase. Elena was happy to assist. For this, he offered to take us to dinner once here and to bring both of us certain items we would like from the States.

Some people I have met through this site have offered remuneration, bringing me items from the states I might need, or just a nice dinner with my wife. All of these offers have been nice.  Even though I would like to earn a steady income, being able to assist fellow foreigners with needs, information or advice is something I am enjoying and will continue to do so. If there is a way to assist and earn, I am not against that either. From these few earnings and from the donations I have received it makes me feel it was the right thing to keep this site going and continue the time to write articles and answer comments.

It is also all my visitors to my site that shows me this site has a need and a worth.  Even though it is difficult to find items to write the three articles I try to publish every week, I will do so as long as I am able.

Thank you all for showing me my effort and work is appreciated.

Online I found statistics for 2006. In this year, the number of registered motorcycles was 2,409,363 whereas the amount of cars was 792,373. I do not know if this number includes public vehicles known where there is a miniature bus powered by a motorcycle welded in the middle or a sidecar that seats four to six passengers.

There are many motorcycles with a welded attachment on the side like a flat bed for delivering merchandise. I have even lately seen what looks like a small delivery truck from the rear and once you see the front, it has a motorcycle seat and handlebars and powered by a motorcycle engine.

Besides these modified motorcycles, many times you see a normal motorcycle with anything imaginable being transported. I have seen a rider, facing the rear, holding a large TV on his lap.

Thanks to a friend of mine, he allowed me to use some photos he has collected over the years showing a normal motorcycle delivering many different items. As you might noticed, not all or maybe any are from the Philippines. Many are from Viet Nam, China and other Asian countries.

I know this is not one of my in-depth and thoughtful observances, but something I hope you will enjoy.

I have written many times how I have been well treated by clerks in the Palengke, or at someone’s home. You will be offered part of their meal if you greet them while they are eating. If you stop by someone’s home, the first thing they will do is offer you a seat and then no matter how poor they are, they start preparing something to eat, or one member of the family will run out to bring back a cold beverage or something to eat. At times, the will spend money they cannot afford just to show how you are a welcomed guest in their home.

But this is not always the case. When you’re on the move, driving a car or walking in a store or mall, watch out. If someone sees a space, they will take it before you do. Driving is a game of “I am here first” or “you waited too long.” There are many times if there is no oncoming vehicles and someone is a few cars back from an intersection they want to turn left, they pull out into the oncoming lanes, drive down the road and make their turn. If the road is four lanes, two each way, and someone needs to make a left, a drive will nose in and stop the left oncoming lane and stopping traffic wait until they can nose into the right lane to stop them and make their turn. At times this will cause a total gridlock. There will be so many cars blocking cars in every direction and the matrix continues to build up as more cars pull in to take a space it will take a guard or traffic enforcer to break it up. Then, because of the lack of officers that can enforce a traffic problem and issue a citation, many drivers just ignore them.

In America, we do something we call a weaving. If there are cars entering a road, and the cars going straight are creeping along, we alternate letting someone in. Or if two lanes have to merge into one lane, again we most alternate allowing a car to merge into your lane. Not here in the Philippines. If there are a lot of cars making the turn or merging, as the first one goes, everyone behind follows, no matter how many cars.

This is not only a problem while driving. Elena and I go do our marketing together. At times, while pushing the cart, if I pause a moment and there is a space in front of me, someone will just walk in front of you or nose their cart in. Then if there is someone in front of them, they cannot move forward, and I cannot move because they now blocked me.

In the States you give people space as they are transacting business. Once I was in the donut shop. There was only one clerk behind the counter and a lady was giving her order. I stood back with about a one body space to let them transact their business. While waiting for my turn, a woman walks in front of me and then presses up to the counter and starts calling out her order even though the clerk was still taking the other ladies order.

Even at banks there is this system. To me, banking is personal and I do not want someone else listening to my transaction. Well here, if you need to conduct business at the area where you need to sit with the bank employee, there are usually two chairs facing each other in front of each of the bank personnel.  If you’re at the bank alone and conducting your business, someone will sit in the chair facing you and either just listens to your transaction, or at times will interrupt and try to get the clerk to take their transaction. It is not just because I am a foreigner; I see it happen all the time. I try not to upset people and show anger, but at times I will just look at them and turn to the clerk to keep her attention towards me.

Even in stores, you might be being helped by a salesclerk, someone will walk up and start asking a question or for help finding something. You do not hear an “excuse me” or an apology. They just do not want to wait and do not care if you were there first. Again, it is not just to foreigners, it is a common practice.

Now, you can get upset, raise your voice and say you were there first, but why get people upset. Most of the time I am not rushed and do not want to make a scene. If I am in a bad mood, or rushed, I will calmly look over and explain I was there first and please wait their turn.

At times I am pleased and happy when someone ahead of me on line has a cart full of items, and I have only one will be offered to get ahead of them instead of having to wait. Also, a few times I have asked the person in front of me and they usually smile and let me.

Now, these are things different in our culture and common in theirs. Are we right and they are wrong. From our perspective yes, and it is common courtesy. But, it is not in their culture so they are right because that is the way life exists here.

At times, I have heard or I have thought we foreigners can teach businesses better customer service and efficiency in their operations. But just like many other differences here, it is their

For traffic there is LTO, Land Traffic Office and the TMC, Traffic Management Center.

LTO has a lot of jurisdiction concerning traffic enforcement, but from my observations they are usually out checking drivers licenses and public transportation vehicles.

You will see TMC officers at many traffic intersections directing traffic. Even if there is a traffic light you will usually see a man in a green uniform directing traffic and trying to keep it moving.

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately  TMC offices have no vehicles. So if your not at an intersection, there is no rules or penalties for driving infractions. Cars will make turns from the wrong lane, drive on incoming traffic lanes or just drive crazy as is mostly the rule here.

If you do get stopped and receive a ticket, your drivers license will be surrendered to the officer and then you have to go to the LTO office and spend a good part of the day to pay your fine and get your license back. If the infraction is bad, or if you were in an accident, you might have to go to one or more seminars giving at LTO.

I have only heard this recently, and cannot find documented proof, but what I heard was the Mayor has removed the ability of TMC officers to give traffic citations. If this is true, there will be more crazy driving since there is few out there able to enforce the traffic laws.