I get inundated with flyers for the latest subdivision houses every time I visit the malls. I’m sure everyone does, but they seem particularly interested in me because being white, that obviously makes me an American, and that of course means I’m rich. The logic (OK that’s not fair, logic doesn’t really exist here) that if I were rich and living here, I’d likely already have a nice place, doesn’t enter into the equation. I think they get paid by the number of flyers handed out, as opposed to houses sold, so they don’t really care.
I’ve gotten to the point, when I have time, that I often sit down with them and explain that I can not own land here. They immediately ask if I have a spouse and recommend that I put it in her name. Hmmm, never thought of that! Well, of course I have, to which I explain to them that there is a distinct possibility that I could outlive my wife, and then where does that leave me? I realize that my attempt at explanation is futile, but it pleases me some to some extent.
So anyway, today I decided to grab a bunch of those flyers, make them happy, and report on the current cost of some of these fine units.
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I blame my younger brother for this one. As some of you may know, if you’ve read my blog long enough, that I sold my beloved Historic Les Paul when I moved to Davao. Along with that I sold my vintage ’58 Fender Harvard. I had determined that maybe this wasn’t the best environment for them, and of course I needed the money.
Before I sold those I had made a new plan, and that was to buy and play an acoustic. I purchased an Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ-500R that was made in China but a very nice guitar none the less. I had that shipped over and I’m glad I did. So what happened?
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Every expats’ favorite subject, the S & R Membership Shopping Warehouse. Well maybe not everybody’s, but a popular topic none the less. Well today, the day we’ve all been waiting for, finally arrived. The Davao branch of this Costco style store opened it’s doors to the public.
So how was it? Was it as crazy as expected? Did they in fact have many items that couldn’t be gotten elsewhere? Was the food service area worth waiting for?
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I spend enough time writing about the poor service that I get here. I will say that while it’s generally pretty bad here, there are occasions where I am surprised. And there are certainly times when I’ve had bad service in the US, too. I’m currently going through that with a company that I’m trying to order a custom speaker from.
So I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about a good experience I had here just recently. Really it was not what one might call extraordinary, just that things went as one would hope or a little better, and the employees were helpful and knowledgable.
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Where I lived in the US we had pharmacies every few blocks in the retail areas. Additionally, most supermarkets had one in the back of the store.
Here in the Philippines you’ll also see a abundance of pharmacies, even more so then back in the US. There are some similarities between the two countries’ pharmacies, but some big differences, too.
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