Blogs from Negros Oriental, Philippines, Asia

Today I am in The Philippines. I have been here for two months. I started a Youtube Channel 4 years ago and I have posted over 300 videos there over the last 4 years. Feel free to visit my Youtube Channel and see what I am up to. Here is the channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/vagabondawake/ If you subscribe to my channel you will know when I post new videos. The channel teaches people how to live or retire cheap internationally for less than it costs to stay home. I am still traveling the world more than 11 months of each year. I am still taking pictures but I am also taking video now. I am keeping this blog up for now since it gives context to my newer viewers. I have been doing less consulting work over the ... read more

26 avril (Toujours à Dumaguete) 5h20AM. Mon cadran résonne dans la minuscule chambre trop climatisée du Vintage Inn. "Leave at 6 o'clock" que m'avait conseillée la rondelette dame de bowling à la réception, entre deux coups de téléphone cellulaire. "Early marquet" qu'elle ajouta. C'est que les mercredi, un grand marché s'organise à Malatapay (on dit Ma-la-ta-paille), minuscule village situé à une trentaine de kilomètres de Dumaguete. J'en savais pas vraiment davantage, à part que pour m'y rendre, je devais prendre place dans un odieux jeepney qui me tordera encore une fois l'échine. Je sort de ma chambre et déjà, je ressent un courant d'air chaud m'agripper par le collet. Il n'est que 6h AM et pourtant, la chaleur des tropiques frappe déjà. J'entre dans un jeepney en piteux état (nommé "In God We Trust") avec une ... read more

Dumaguete City is known for its friendly locals and home of retiring expats and foreigners from around the world. There’s no doubt about that. This thriving and lively city of Negros Oriental province is an epitome of peace and tranquility. What I love about Dumaguete is the diversity of its people. Like Cebu, non-locals abound. There’s plenty of foreigners, expats and Muslims. According to an international survey, Dumaguete City ranked fifth in the world’s best places for retirees. That is why when you stroll around the city the presence of a foreigner becomes a common sight. The city also offers a variety of delicacies including the famous mouth-watering Sansrival. You can also find several hotels and pension houses with its welcoming hosts of staff. The main mode of transportation is via tricyles. These cute three-wheeled vehicles ... read more

We missed our chance spotting turtles back on *that secret island* a week ago and so we have made it our sole purpose to seek out a place where such animals are in abundance. We LOVE turtles by the way. That place is called Apo island. Getting here was pretty straight forward. After our boat ride and 3 bus journeys from Sugar beach we stayed the night in Dumaguete again so we could leave early enough to get to Malatapay to stand a chance of getting a cheaper boat with locals or day trippers as opposed to the 2000php boat hire price. More so as it was market day our chance was much higher. We caught a 45min bus from Dumagute (25php each) to the port town of Malatapey and headed through the busy market to ... read more

Mr Hoon invited me to a coffee and I had Chae’s delish quinoa salad for lunch really quick. Then I swap batteries and gear and went for my second dive pretty late about 5:30 maybe…I have to double ck with computer. I headed straight for the area that I saw the dragonets with the pointy tail the night before diving with Bill. I bet they are rare or the very list hard to find because I have never seen pictures of them. I had to go to the basket area and backtrack about 40 ft at 46ft. Tide was lower so I went higher. All I saw was sand and the sun was going down quick. I thought there is not a chance that I will see them again. I stopped and looked down and bam ... read more