A tourist from Cebu City for the first time can also be rotated by some of the attractions of the city. The city has several first class resorts, hotels, beaches and diving spots. It also has some areas of the world's most devastating poverty. Cebu City is the capital of the province of Cebu, and is the second largest city of the Philippines in Manila. I always feel at home in the city and lived in the city before building my house in the rural province of Cebu Camotes Islands. CebuCity is a mixture of old and new, rich and poor, good and bad and right and ugly. There is also a mix of clean and dirty or very dirty. The rule for anyone going Cebu is the first time is not a snap decision.
My first trip to Cebu City was in February 2004. I went to the Philippines to meet a girl wife (Judith) is my time. I flew to Cebu-Mactan Airport and was met by Judith and sisters here. My flight to Florida and started the final leg of the flight wasfrom Hong Kong. The Cebu International Airport is just a little 'dated but very functional. Once out of the airport I saw waves of people waiting to meet people from the flight from Hong Kong. The airport was not so busy when I arrived I think that my plane was the only arriving flight at the time. As people of my flight on foot out of the airport, have been bombarded by shuttle, taxi and car rental V-manifold, all trying to get a rate. I met Judith GatesAirport door. She, her sister and I jumped around in an old taxi Kia and started to my hotel.
The taxi was old and not very well maintained. The air conditioning was not working and the window is not gone. This is not, of course, it did not matter because I could not close the door because the door handle was broken. So, I have a lot of air. The hotel is located approximately 30 minutes drive from the airport. During the journey through the streets of the city, I saw crowded sidewalks even richer the supplier of many street cafesand street vendors. Some of the roads we traveled were considered moderate, while others were in poor condition. The streets were crowded with many types of cars, but most of Kia and Hyundai. There was also a lot of jeepneys, a traditional Filipino way of moving. An army jeep jeepney looks like a stretched with hard top and a large cargo area for the two benches for passenger seating configuration used. Jeepneys are usually painted with various colors and lots of chrome. Many of theJeepneys are in poor condition and most are bald tires and brakes can be questionable. There were also many small motorcycles.
After traveling only a few minutes, I decided that the most dangerous vehicle of Cebu jeepney, taxi, and finally the bike was. The jeepney drivers tend to stop down the street and usually on both sides of the road or get off the passengers. I saw many jeepneys cut both lanes of traffic, easy to fall only seen other people andSwerve quickly to the side of the road, cutting off traffic so the driver would jump out of the jeepney to urinate on the side of the road. Taxis are not the best, but they are a threat to some 'smaller because the vehicles are smaller than a Jeepney Motorcycles, of course, a danger only for the rider and passenger front and be someone walking on the side of the street or sidewalk . Bike lanes can make their own shoulder to the street children have to offer and sometimes gothe dividing line painted like a narrow lane, an additional lane to go it alone. Other times, I have seen under the sidewalks around the accelerator motion weaving pedestrians. However, pedestrians seemed little concerned by the neglect and just continue on their way.
As we continue on our way to the hotel we went through many different areas of the city. Some areas were very old and the buildings looked like they were ready for demolition years. Many buildings shopThe front panels are concrete with plywood or corrugated added broken windows and bars covering the windows and plywood. I can not imagine what the cost of steel bars as the buildings were worth so poor. I was sure that the contents have not been for the better. I noticed some small storefronts with large open a widow covered with wire mesh. These small shops are about the size of a small closet, and there are dozens of small shops in every street corner. They arecalled sari-sari stores and sell very few items such as canned fish, rice, snacks, cigarettes and so on. Most of these small shops are attached to the front of private houses, roughly built of painted plywood and tin roofs. Most shops, sari-sari block the sidewalk, forcing people on the street, go to the plywood box above. Other shops, sari-sari has a small table or tables on the narrow sidewalks of their customers to buy rum and a karaokesupporting machinery to block the sidewalks.
In many areas of the city, the sidewalks are huts with vendors, tents or other type of protection they rushed to sell goods to fill. The sidewalks are one of the suppliers and the pedestrian area is on its way around obstacles ugly. These small huts vendors on the sidewalks around the building block and I'm still wondering why the store owner has locked the provider to do business. The old neighborhood streets and sidewalksMost areas are dirty. Trash is all the way, the chickens of power poles or street signs, and the dogs are related. Many of the old houses along the shopping streets of the city may or may not have running water and adequate sanitation. Many people use the streets and sidewalks as a bathroom, bathroom and even on sidewalks. The infrastructure of the old neighborhoods is almost nonexistent. There is poor drainage, poor sewerage and electricity lines to the ground with hundreds of pendingWires connected to a single pole carelessly miserable. I often wonder how to make trucks under the wire, wireless. In many cases, larger truck actually hit the wires and knock out power to much of the city.
The only thing for me was when we passed all these areas in a taxi all the people seemed happy. Despite what I've seen extreme poverty and terrible living conditions these people, or at least many people were happy. Although most people Iwere seen rushing down the sidewalks in their daily routine. I thought that these people do the same thing the other people in all major cities around the world to do. But my first visit to Cebu City has opened my eyes to the fact that at least the city was plagued by poverty or had a large population living in poverty.
After about 30 minutes by taxi, we were in a much more beautiful city and an oasis in the midst of all poverty, as was thebeautiful hotel and a large, modern shopping center next to him, as well as many large, well kept modern skyscrapers. The scene was a big difference to the old part of town. This area could be found in any modern American city and it looked very much like a commercial area of a city in the United States. The area is the Ayala Business Park and Ayala Mall called. This is modern Cebu City and it is everything you would find in any modern city.
Once at the hotel, the Marriott, I checked in avery nice room and we all went into the dining room for a leisurely lunch. Soon after, it was only Judith and I went home as his sister. Judith then took me through the park at the Ayala Mall, just five minutes walk to the mall and once I was amazed. The shops were the same in the U.S., Ace Hardware, Levi's, McDonald's and so on. In addition, many Filipinos Department Stores and a variety of restaurants and cafes. All the clerks and salespeople speak English and mostall Filipinos to walk through the shops were in English. Others have used a mixture of English and their native Cebuano. All the shop signs are written in English and the menus are written in English. In many ways I felt as if I am only 20 hours from Florida, more in a U.S. city.
While there were many other foreigners in the mall walk from where I asked many Filipinos, in general, and everyone was very kind to me. While at the mall I bought somethings like souvenirs to take home and Judith and I have a lot of windows. I was happy, the prices of most things in the shops could be seen very cheap compared to the U.S.. Back then $ 1 bought 56.00 pesos. Today is a dollar to around 44.00 pesos. Still a good deal, but today I am cautious in my spending. Until mid-afternoon I was ready to get some sleep 'after my long flight to Cebu. Judith came home and I retired to my hotel room.
The next morning, Judithwas at the hotel early, and we had to watch Breakfast at the hotel and then off to the city and some of the stations. Cebu's beautiful and all very convenient location. The areas are all very clean and modern. The largest population of customers in foreign locations and the staff are Filipino. I suffered my opinion the city from a change in impoverished third world into a modern tourist and commercial city, with some areas that needed a lot olderto help.
During my trip to Cebu, we went to the old district of Colon. Colon is the oldest street in the country and has many attractions. However, Colon is a messy area of buildings are very old and poorly maintained. Prostitution is a serious problem in the area of the colon, such as street crime. There are some wonderful markets and bargain find, in two places, but not a range for the new tourist trip alone. Hotels can be had for a very cheap price to Colon. Some just $ 20.00 a night, butThese hotels are the inclusion of street girls and both girls and the rooms are really dirty. Last year Judith and I have stayed at two other hotels Colon. We went into town for our monthly shopping trip Camotes Islands. We decided to try the hotels, because they are cheap and close to many outside the markets. I never stay in one of these hotels again. The best word to describe it is old, dirty, infested with rats and full of prostitutes. BothHotels seem to provide roads, single foreign men and all the girls of men can be found in bars or colon. The area has many small bars and bar type bikini girls (prostitutes), also known as GRO's. If you are looking for a prostitute, there is little reason to go to Colon at night and even then it must be very careful. This does not mean all the bad of Colon. There are some nice shops and restaurants in Colon. LikeShopping in the area of the colon, but must be used with caution in Colon.
My first visit I saw almost all areas of Cebu City and felt safe at all times. Of course we did not go in the old part of town after dark. Rather, we were at the resort or to Ayala Park and these are all very safe and pleasant areas.I Cebu City would anyone go to a big resort and spend time on a beautiful beach, diving, we recommend a boat trip the outer islands and not spenda lot of money. There are just so much to do in Cebu City and a lot of great things to see. Staying in place is very affordable, only about $ 60.00 per night and some as high as $ 250.00. Dinner at the restaurant is also very cheap. Meals at restaurants can cost just $ 10.00 to $ 20.00 for two people, I had a wonderful time during my first visit. However, I had my guide and my girl as Judith. I'm not sure that I would Cebu City as I did when Judith was notme during the first trip.
Shortly after my first visit to Cebu City, I moved from Florida to Cebu City in 2004. At that time Judith and I were engaged and wanted to live in Camotes islands. However, we have decided to live in the city, while looking for land, build a house in Camotes. Camotes Islands are a rural province of Cebu, and only two hours from the city by boat. We rented a new house with two bedrooms in the area of Lahug Cebu City. The monthly rent was only $ 125.00, plus our TVCable for about $ 15.00 per month. The house was built on a hill overlooking the city and close to everything we needed. Lahug is a very beautiful area and there are now many new housing subdivisions built in the area. Our monthly budget while living in Lahug was about $ 700.00 and includes rent, electricity, food, taxis, and even many dinners in restaurants and entertainment. I suppose if we lived in Lahug the budget would be only a few dollarsMonth.
Within a few weeks after moving into the house that Lahug Cebu was as if my city and I liked the feel of city life. The city has much to offer and foreigners of the city is always keen to attract more foreign retirees. It 's really a foreign (expat), friendly city. The largest group of foreigners in Cebu is Korean and American, Australian, British and Japanese. There are no ethnic tensions or problems in the city I know and the city is very safe.However, it can, like any big city is the crime world, but with the common safety and prevention to have a happy life in Cebu City. Driving in town is one thing that I've never tried it, and I do not think I ever go to town. Taxis can be almost anywhere in town for $ 1.00 to $ 2.00 and is good for me.
Shopping in town is great and there are no products in stores all over the world are Filipinos. Many grocery stores in Western brands so you'll neverMeet Me in your favorite foods from home. Markets are out in the city, offering opportunities and 'always fun to negotiate prices with suppliers. Cable TV is in town and offers a lot of American shows and news programs. You can go to the cinema and watch a new movie release for about $ 1.00 and the popcorn is just a few cents. The city has grown since I moved to the Philippines. There are many gated subdivisions that provide for new housing for foreignersThe buyers, the new resort and residential high all continue to attract foreigners. The two largest shopping malls in the city, Ayala and SM are expanding. Many of the roads and infrastructure have been improved in many areas. The city is a major tourist attraction and is always trying to bring more foreign tourists and retirees.
Each expatriate in a monthly pension of about € 1.000,00 to live like a king in Cebu City. You can live on less than $ 1,000.00, but I think$ 1,000.00 the correct figure, if you include a bit 'of money each month for emergencies, travel and home medical needs. The city has excellent hospitals and medical expenses are much less in the Philippines. There are good dental care at very reasonable prices in the Philippines is also available. Many people come to Cebu for medical or dental holidays. Remember, if you think you want to Cebu City to move your work. Want to live in a new country? you get disconnected from theFamily and grandchildren? Are you married your wife, how does it feel to live in Cebu? If you have young children you want them to live in a new country and what is their training? Would you like to learn patience and understanding and to live in a new culture? You do not have enough money for a good life in Cebu, without the need to find work for a living? Have you had enough money to cover any type of emergency, call 50000-10000 dollar can? Finally, what is the reason for wantingto live in a new country? If you can be assured honest with yourself and have a positive answer to these questions, then perhaps Cebu City is for you?
Remember, the Philippine economy is struggling. Filipinos with four and six years of university graduates are driving taxis or working as a salesman. Unemployment in the country is through the roof. Poverty is a serious problem in the country. To destroy all the beauty of the Philippines, many Filipinos continue to poverty and their future andcreates an ugly face of an otherwise beautiful country. Just this week, on November 8, 2007, one-year-old girl from Manila in 11 lives with his mother, dad and little brother in a slum of hanged men. The girls left a note why the small country because of poverty that she and her family lived. The father is unable to work for months and found the mother works for only $ 1.00 a day. The girl had just the night before with his father to P200.00 for a schoolProject. The father had no money, just under $ 4.00. All the girls wanted to finish school and buy a new bike. A simple dream to fight extreme poverty in a country difficult to overcome political corruption and theft. Please think about what you can in one day in the Philippines to spend, what kind of a Filipino to live for a month. Poverty to life, indeed.
I really like my style of life in the Philippines, but it took some time, patience, understandingand live a couple of victims in the Philippines. I made some mistakes before, and here are a few who live here. I do not have enough money when I came here in 2004. I made a couple of return trips to Florida, do some contract work and then returned to my beloved Camotes Islands. I am currently away from home for a teaching appointment. But for me it is worth the price, only a few months of the year in which my paradise Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines. I think anyone looking for aenjoy great festival of Cebu City. Who is looking for a modest pension here is to live well in retirement, but only to make his life in a new country is right for you. Before taking a decision to move here is useful to go on holiday and the first city in itself. Then you can decide if that's the life you want. Again, for me it is a paradise.
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