Massage parlors are everywhere in the Philippines. Additionally, everyone knows a masseuse, or two. The cost for a massage is incredibly low, if compared to a similar service in the States, as are all things service related (this is really where the cost of living differs IMO).
The trick is to find a good one, because the training varies from none at all to quite extensive. If she happens to be cute, that doesn’t hurt either, but be sure she is asawa approved, or you may be looking for new one soon (masseuse and/or asawa) and dealing with tampo or worse in the meantime.
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According to CNNGo Samal Island’s beaches are among the 10 best in the Philippines. Having not been to many others, it’s difficult for me to say. Having been to Samal Island many times, I would have to say that I am not surprised one bit that they are on the list. It would be hard to believe there is much nicer out there.
So what are the Top Ten beaches in the Philippines (according to CNNGo)?
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I’ve been really stressed lately. Lots of those large life events happening at the same time, and though I think I’m getting through them fairly well, I can feel the stress and what it’s doing to me, both outward and inward. I hesitate to write about this because quite frankly everybody has their own challenges. Many much greater than mine. I understand that.
As much as I want to believe that many of these stresses will be gone once I’ve retired and move to the Philippines, I know that the reality is they will be replaced with new ones. In particular the adaptation to a new country and culture very different than what I have known for the 57 years of my existence. I have an idea of how I will try to cope with that.
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In my limited time in the Philippines I’ve only encountered one store that I would consider a health food store or coop, as we would know it here in the US. I am of course excluding the fresh markets, which would be another great source of healthy foods.
Healthy Options is a small store located in the SM mall in Davao (they actually have 17 locations throughout the Philippines, with most around Manila) that carries items that you would see in the health food stores here. The selection is very limited and the cost is expensive, even more so than the ridiculous prices they charge here. That would make sense as I assume most of these products are imported.
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Does it seems like every expat has a blog? Maybe it’s a requirement, that small legalese hidden at the bottom of the visa documentation. Maybe they (we) are all so bored that they (we) feel the only real contact with the rest of the world is this outlet.
No, I think the reason MOST expats, or 90% of any blogger for that matter, blogs is very simple.
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