PI - Things I've Noticed This Time Around

[BrettGC]

Probably due to the fact I'm now here for the long haul, here's a list of stuff I've experienced or noticed this time around.  Some of them I had seen in the past but but didn't really think much on it.  

·         Eggs are different sizes in the cartons rather than being boxed by size,

·         Filipino builders can’t hang a door to save themselves,

·         On the subject of doors, haven’t they heard of wood stain and varnish?  Faecal brown seems to be the default for all doors; cabinets, doors you walk through, whatever.  No consideration given to external doors and weatherproof paint,

·         The “chrome” on plumbing fixtures is wafer thin,

·         I get a sore back from leaning over cutting up food etc at Filipino height kitchen benches and I’m only 172cm (5’7” for those stuck in the past or of the US persuasion),

·         The trike “wrangler” at Robinson’s Dumaguete is an absolute tool bag.  As soon as he sees a “long nose” he tries to negotiate at least 50% above the going rate.  Robinson’s to home is normally 40PHP, he’s tried anything from 60 to 100PHP…  We walk around the corner after AM (Angry Midget – my wife) has given him a level 10 eyeroll. 

·         New car dealers here are generally good people.  We’ve been to just about every dealership in town in the last month and haven’t felt that “car dealer” feeling yet, and we haven’t been upsold once our budget is revealed. 

·         Some shop assistants would rather say “no stock sir” rather than go and look for it for you.  Actually, this is pretty much universal,

·         The caretaker at our apartments is a champion.  Anything we request, he’s onto it within 24 hours. 

·         Window locks are push up to lock, rather than push down and have gravity assist keeping them in place,

·         I would give my left aggot for a cheese and vegemite toasted sandwich,

·         My fibre internet connection has been flawless so far and averaging speeds higher than we paid for.  Maybe times are changing?

·         Customer service at Globe and Sky TV have been exceptional,

·         I really enjoy spending time with the in-laws in Guihulngan (about 2 hours north) and haven’t been shot or kidnapped by the NPA (communist rebels} yet, despite warnings about the region; they’re very active in the area,

·         AM can’t understand why I won’t eat seafood that’s been left out overnight, well any meat at all really,

·         AM refuses to buy a washing machine but whinges about doing the laundry,

·         I miss baking in a properly thermostated oven,

·         For the most part, the stray dogs here are friendly and for some reason quiet in our area,

·         The roosters downstairs don’t crow at all,

·         I’ve noticed a lot more ice addicts around town than previously, yes, they stand out to someone like me with a background working in youth rehabilitation in a past life.  It’s probably due to me being here longer than previously,

·         The election candidate vans driving around with the loudspeakers remind me of that scene from “The Wall” where Pink is driving around with his party members…

·         I like fried fish, and

·         The amount of unsubstantiated and blatantly false claims in food, medical and beauty advertising is astounding.  What’s even more astounding is “they” believe it. 

Edited March 15, 2022 by BrettGC

[earthdome]

1 hour ago, BrettGC said:

  New car dealers here are generally good people.  We’ve been to just about every dealership in town in the last month and haven’t felt that “car dealer” feeling yet, and we haven’t been upsold once our budget is revealed. 

How is the market for new & used cars? Is there a limited supply of new cars? Are used car prices up? Here in the US car dealership lots have less than half the cars for sale than they used to have. Low inventory and high prices.

[Jollygoodfellow]

6 hours ago, BrettGC said:

The “chrome” on plumbing fixtures is wafer thin,

Yep i found that out using every day type bathroom cleaners.

6 hours ago, BrettGC said:

I would give my left aggot for a cheese and vegemite toasted sandwich,

You can get that black stuff here but not for me.

 

7 hours ago, BrettGC said:

I miss baking in a properly thermostated oven,

My ovens are thermostat controlled so might just be what is in your rental? 

[baronapart]

11 hours ago, BrettGC said:

 The amount of unsubstantiated and blatantly false claims in food, medical and beauty advertising is astounding.  What’s even more astounding is “they” believe it. 

The Philippines is a telemarketer huckster's dream. If they had any money to spend) On a side note my wife believes if she lifts her shirt up and expose her midriff to the air it will make her stomach sick. She is a university graduate. Once they are told something by their lola no Kano is going to convince them otherwise. No matter how gwapo he may be))

Edited March 15, 2022 by baronapart

[BrettGC]

7 hours ago, earthdome said:

How is the market for new & used cars? Is there a limited supply of new cars? Are used car prices up? Here in the US car dealership lots have less than half the cars for sale than they used to have. Low inventory and high prices.

The models we were looking at new (smaller SUV's like the RAV, CRV etc) all had 2-4 week delivery dates which is the norm in Australia as well, pre-covid that is - new car delivery in Australia is currently 3 - 6 months.  As for second-hand here?  The prices are ridiculous, it's the reason we decided to go new.  For late model second-had cars here right now you're paying 90% of the new price without the 3 years LTO, insurance and in some cases servicing as well offered by most new car dealers here, as you're never quite sure there's something not right with it.  

2 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

My ovens are thermostat controlled so might just be what is in your rental? 

It's a very basic gas oven that has a chart for temperatures that you have to constantly adjust to maintain a constant heat.

44 minutes ago, baronapart said:

The Philippines is a telemarketer huckster's dream. If they had any money to spend) On a side note my wife believes if she lifts her shirt up and expose her midriff to the air it will make stomach sick. She is a university graduate. Once they are told something by their lola no Kano is going to convince them otherwise. No matter how gwapo he may be))

Yeah, it's something I've noticed for years that was high-lighted by skin whitening products; there's only two ways to permanently lighten your skin:  Stay out of the sun or go full Michael Jackson and have the pigmentation removal therapy.  On the Lola thing, Momma caught a tummy bug, she put it down to having breakfast too late the day before so to the entire family now, this is gospel.  

[GeoffH]

10 hours ago, BrettGC said:

 

·         AM refuses to buy a washing machine but whinges about doing the laundry,

·        

 

I bought SWMBO a twin tub washing machine about 3 years ago, her mama doesn't trust it so after the clothes are washed in the machine her mama and SWMBO then wash the clothes by hand in plastic tubs 

[Dave Hounddriver]

11 hours ago, BrettGC said:

The “chrome” on plumbing fixtures is wafer thin

And it does not take long at all before the fixture is broke, leaking, seized up, or just wiggling around like it needs tightening.  Plumbing here is atrocious. Then there is the hot water that isn't, the toilet seats that are loose, broken or completely off, the smelly drain water that never seems to have a gooseneck under the sink to stop that smell.  Did I miss anything?

11 hours ago, BrettGC said:

AM refuses to buy a washing machine but whinges about doing the laundry,

There ya go.  Step one in convincing you that you need a maid.

I've been back for a few days now and it seems like the trip from hell.  I'll write more on that once I get decent Internet.  For now I can say it is very obvious that a major typhoon came through Cebu just 4 months ago.  Its a good thing they opened for tourism as money is badly needed.  So many places closed down or in disrepair since the storm.

[Onemore52]

And when the plumber doing the installation wants to lay the pipe work in the slab, get another plumber.

[Old55]

31 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

 

There ya go.  Step one in convincing you that you need a maid.

 

LOL, my first thought as well Dave. 

[Onemore52]

On the subject of doors, when we were doing the build we paid extra for good quality doors, the painter then spent days applying varnish, sanding in between coats, all his work was in vain, the doors were hung, no problems me thought.

3 months later they all shrunk, we now have a natural source of daylight coming through the panels.