Korean Job Discussion Forums

poet13

So we're moving to Palawan, Philippines. Not for a while. Likely October 2010. Bought a farm (30 acres) near the sea and in a town. See the threads about the fall of the won...thank you Korea I returned from there a week ago.

So when I came home, we talked about it with my 4 year old. He was very excited.
He immediately dumped my suitcase still full from my trip there and filled it with his toys...and a pair of underwear. He very seriously explained that he didn't want anyone to see his ding-dong.

A week goes by. Yesterday evening I was getting ready for school today. Noticed a smell. Couldn't place it. Finally found it. There's a sandwich in my suitcase.

"Son. What's this about?"

He says, "So we have something to eat if we get hungry on the trip. It's ok pappa, we can share."

Thewhiteyalbum · Joined: 13 Nov 2008

That is seriously cute.
How much did the land set you back, if I may be so nosy?

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

I had a choice between land at about 10 pesos a meter (tax declared), and 55 (titled). I chose titled, and bought a lot. Lot's more than 100,000 meters.

panchotino · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: scotland for now.

good luck and a sweet little story. off there in a week for around 10 days. sorry to be a pain but is there anywhere you'd recommend? flying into cebu thank god. i chose palawan cos i want a chilled out time on a beach in the sun. It does look beautiful though. full of envy but i will reserve full judgement till i've seen Palawan for myself! ah, maybe one day.....

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

AH, the wonders of Palawan. If you're going to base in Puerto Princesa, try to stay at PUERTO PENSION. It's at the harbor, and a really nice little place. If you don't book anywhere in advance, there are vans at teh airport for each pension house and hotel. They might have brochures with pictures. You shouldn't be paying more than about 20US a night.

As far as resorts....I don't know. I didn't stay in resorts. I stayed in Puerto, and rented a vehicle and driver every day to go property hunting. The vehicle with driver cost me 3500 pesos a day. That's about 70 dollars a day. I don't know what you're there to do, diving, fishing, caving, eating, jungle walks, etc...but take the time there to ask some questions, and I think you wil find what you're looking for.

What the Filipinos lack in organization, they make up for in fixing or making right. If you're pleasant with them they will bend over backwards for you.

Best coffee in town is at Itoys coffee house. Get a fresh mango shake there for 90 pesos (47 to the dollar).

Definitely walk through the market in the morning, around 8am. Beautiful fish!

Change your money in the street shops but be careful. They have the best rate. Airport rate sucks monkey balls. DO NOT change money in Puerto. Rate is low there too.

Puerto Princesa is safe. Even in the dark market at night. I went wandering around with my camera and I didn't feel the slightest spider-sense twinge when I came upon groups of young guys. I just smiled and said good evening. They did the same. Ok, I'm bigger than them at 235lbs, but I never felt a thing.

Have fun. Very nice place.

PS - beaches. I hear theyr'e nicer on the west coast. There is no reason to pay a fortune for your accomadation and it's easy to do. the small places can be amazing. Just make sure they have a safe for your passport and ARC. Personally I like waking up in a bamboo native structure with the wind slipping through the cracks and sand on the floor, than a sterile AirCon hotel room.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

I'm heading there on Sunday, and I wonder if you could offer some advice.

We were going to change our won to peso at the airport in Korea, but it sounds like you changed to dollars, then changed dollars to pesos in Palawan. Is that a better call?

thanks!

panchotino · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: scotland for now.

thanks poet 13. we will prbably have a night or two in puerto p then look into jungle walks and beach chilling. thanks for telling me about the fish market. i love that stuff, the whole atmosphere etc. we have to do one night in Cebu at least but can't wait to get to Palawan. I'm no diver so i'm not worried about that but some jungle walking sounds grand!
cheers mate!

panchotino · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: scotland for now.

thanks poet 13. we will prbably have a night or two in puerto p then look into jungle walks and beach chilling. thanks for telling me about the fish market. i love that stuff, the whole atmosphere etc. we have to do one night in Cebu at least but can't wait to get to Palawan. I'm no diver so i'm not worried about that but some jungle walking sounds grand!
cheers mate!
P.S and thanks for the hotel name. i hate resorts so will check that one out.

panchotino · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: scotland for now.

thanks poet 13. we will prbably have a night or two in puerto p then look into jungle walks and beach chilling. thanks for telling me about the fish market. i love that stuff, the whole atmosphere etc. we have to do one night in Cebu at least but can't wait to get to Palawan. I'm no diver so i'm not worried about that but some jungle walking sounds grand!
cheers mate!
P.S and thanks for the hotel name. i hate resorts so will check that one out.
and idaho, i think in kore athat they change anything ibnto dollars first, then convert the dollar amount into the other currency. thats what happened to me when i needed thai baht.

panchotino · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Location: scotland for now.

double post

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I think you should change money there too. The Philippines has a rule about carrying in or out more than 10,000 pesos in pesos.

I actually just withdrew dollars from a dollar account here and used my Philippines ATM for the rest.

To fly to Palawan, there is a 200peso airport fee, each way. To leave the country, there is a 750 peso fee.

Unless you have already booked your ticket, do that as soon as you get off the plane in Cebu. They go to Palawan pretty full. The best rate I saw was Philippine Air (I think) and they were offering 1,499 pesos (35US?) one way from Manila to Puerto. Cebu Air on the other hand charged me 1200 pesos just to change my ticket and it already cost 7,300 pesos return.

Panchotino. If you're going to base in Puerto for a couple of days, there are day trips going out. There's an underground river that's the longest in the world. You can get day trips there. Being there for a couple of days will give you a chance to suss out which will be the best place for you to spend the rest of your time. There will be more than one outfit offering the same place and you can choose the best. You can haggle to a certain extent. Best beaches likely it would be on the northwest coast and it would take a day on the road to get there. I think there are a few towns you can fly to also. Wherever you go, take lots of water with you.

The only beer to drink is San Miguel Light. About a dollar a bottle.

roknroll · Joined: 29 Dec 2007

Desuax · Joined: 30 Jan 2009

Viaje · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Location: Indebted, USA

Are you Filipino or married to a filipina? I thought foreigners can't buy probperty in the Phils, that's why I was wondering. Congrats on what sounds like a wonderful lifestyle when you get to Palawan.