Morning all Just a reasonably quick one to let you all know the wife, dog and me arrived in the phils last Saturday, got to Olongapo about midnight and started house hunting. Anyway we found a reasonable place in Gordon Heights built by a yank and his Filipina wife. They live in the states now but seem nice enough (spoke to them on the phone). We moved in on Friday and the owners sister who lives next door cant do enough for us! All problems with the property that we point out (plus ones they want to rectify) are sorted on problems. So since arriving late last Saturday we've found a house (furnished), brought appliances (most ex-display or last years model at a healthy discount) and got cable and internet (wifi). The internet etc only took 3 days to install from ordering it!!! Plus I'm sat here with a v cold SMB out of my discounted fridge freezer. Things so far have been going suspiciously well!! It is raining quite a bit though Olongapo and the surrounds will take some exploring but we've had a quick look round town, gone to the Royal Mall and Harbour point Mall on the base where I've found an Irish pub!!! We'll be trying that tomorrow night all being well. I will try over the next few days to write out a more comprehensive report on things but I maybe a little rushed as I'm back to work next week. Right best went and check how my man is doing with his cleaning duties. Got a bloke who'll deep clean the house once a week for 700/day. Not too bad.
Welcome to your new life, Stu! I'm pleased to hear that you all arrived safely and found a nice place to live. Renting from a foreign owner usually works very well indeed: we (foreigners) tend to pay more attention to our property investments and keep them in much better state of repair than many Filipinos. There may not be any need for you to fly in and out of Manila: Emirates (plus one other Gulf state airline) now has daily services to Clark which is about 30-40 minutes away if you use the SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway).
Well done Stu! There is a discount warehouse place "on base" which sells electrical goods with Australian plugs, so I guess this is stuff that didn't sell in Oz and has been discounted - we got a pile of stuff there in August. The Irish pub is owned not by an Irishman but by a Romanian iirc; anyway the draft Guinness is OK and the food is not bad either. The very best beer in town will be found at The Castle which has the best selection of Belgian beers I have seen ANYWHERE (and that includes Ostend and Bruges!) and the prices are not actually insane but don't eat there without taking out a mortgage first - the chef/owner drives a Ferrari... Just drop in for a beer.
I'm flying with Emirates for work and did notice that they fly in / out of Clark. Has anyone used this airport? I'll certainly be better than the slog to and from manila every 4 weeks
Blimey you get around a lot Andrew. Is there no-one you don't know here?! I didn't realize there is Ferrari dealers out here. Makes you wonder where you can drive it what with the state of the roads. We did see one of those bog ugly 4 door Porsche's the other day in Olongapo though. Where is The Castle? Whereabouts have you settled in the end mate? I have seen that store you mentioned mate, unfortunately we had already brought most of out stuff from a store we knew already, "Ocampo". Good discounts in there. Right I'm going to try to bang out a report and post it in the living in Philippines section.
Glad that you and family are well sorted and on the way to settling, and the dog hasn't climbed in the adobo pot yet.....
No worries about that. What he cost for me to get him out here he's wrapped in a lot of cotton wool!!
Way ahead of you mate. Job number one when we arrived at the airport was go across the road to the Chinese and order grub with several cold smb's
The Castle: Corner Sampson and Dewey. https://foursquare.com/v/the-castle-subic/51bd4714498ecc921a05c827 http://www.british-filipino.com/showthread.php?7647-The-Castle-Subic-Bay I have used Clark and I like it however Robert Rayner of IDESS whom you also know, and who travels a lot to/from Subic where he lives, does not like it as he says it gets very slow when there is more than one plane in. I found the immigration people and Customs very friendly and helpful. Kay says the airport is difficult to find, but I'd rather go there than Manila.
I'll stick this here so its easy to find for you: http://www.british-filipino.com/showthread.php?7624-Two-hotels-in-Subic-Bay&p=38096#post38096 Texas Joe's (our friend Angel Basul - pic on "what does your girlfriend look like" thread - works there): http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUs...Ribs-Olongapo_Central_Luzon_Region_Luzon.html
