Feb 26, 2015
Renewing your U.S. passport while living in the Philippines can be a very simple process. There is quite a bit of information currently available for this procedure, including the clear instructions from the U.S. Embassy.
As I recently had to renew my passport, I thought it would be good to relay my experience and point out the issues that arose. Obviously if you live in Manila everything is easier. I don’t, so there were a couple more wrinkles for me.
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Nov 28, 2014
Many people, both here in the Philippines and back home in the States, ask me what I do to keep busy. For the most part I don’t have trouble staying busy, though there are occasions that I get bored. It’s much harder to explain what I do to occupy my time, then it is to do so.
One of the things I’ve spent more time with since my retirement is my guitar and music. It’s not always playing or practicing. I’ve spent time modifying my guitar and making adjustments to it, in addition to doing the same with my amplifier. Lately I’ve also been playing around with recording devices and software.
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Oct 24, 2014
My hosting plan came up for renewal and I have to admit I had to consider whether I wanted to pay $50 for another year. Not because my host (A Small Orange) isn’t good, in fact they are excellent. No, it’s because I can’t get myself motivated to write anymore.
When I analyze why I’m no longer motivated I come up with a variety of reasons.
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Sep 5, 2014
As I mentioned in a previous post regarding my fan and the effort to reduce my electric bill, I had purchased a wattage reader to help me analyze my usage. I had great difficulty finding a unit in Davao even though I had researched and find out that there was one available in the Philippines made by Omni. Most of you that have been here have run into Omni products before.
Of course as things go here, just because it is available to be sold doesn’t mean you can find it. I went to at least a dozen hardware and electrical supply stores before I located a unit, I was just about to give up. I even had the model number and photo. In most cases, I had to tell the staff that information because they had no idea what I was asking about.
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Aug 22, 2014
I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but this is for a friend and I’d like to help him out.
He’s got a good-sized house for rent in Regina Compound, which is conveniently located beside/behind Abreeza Mall off J.P. Laurel Ave. I’ll give you as much information as I can, but if you have interest please contact him directly. It is available now!
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Aug 21, 2014
Electricity is pretty expensive here in the Philippines. That is, when you can get it. Thankfully we’ve been in a much better situation with regards to brownouts for the past coupe months or so. I sure hope that holds.
Just prior to my trip to the U.S. I had gotten on a mission to lower my Davao Light electric bill. It had climbed to a level that I was unhappy with. I knew I could do better and I wanted to find out how. So I invested some of my energy into that.
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Jun 8, 2014
This coming August I’ll have lived in the Philippines for two years. The time has gone fast. I’ve had many new experiences – some good, some bad and many in-between. For a variety of reasons the time has come. I’m going on a sabbatical.
According to the dictionary that term may not be technically correct. Maybe a more accurate description would be “I’m taking a break.” The impetuous for my break wasn’t actually my frustration level with living here, but the timing in that regard is good. At least it appears that way.
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May 23, 2014
I realized that though I’ve been going to Wynward Organic Vegetable Garden for a few months now, I’d never gotten around to writing about it. That’s unfortunate, because this is really a gem for Davao.
There are other organic farms in the region, but this one is right in Davao City. It’s located in the Regina Compound right behind Abreeza. It’s not easy to find, follow the link above and check out the map. It’s a short distance down the first right (where the tricycles are) as you enter the compound. If you are into organic herbs and vegetables, it’s worth the effort to find it.
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