Looking to slow down/and a place to relocate to.

[Vivo]

250K is more than 10 million pesos here!!!Wow!!! An average house and lot costs around 1 million. The average monthly income of an ordinary office worker is around 20,000 pesos. A Manager of a big Company may earns around 100,000 pesos a month plus benefits. 10 million pesos will earn around 300,000 pesos a month!!! I have 2 cars and 2 bikes, three bedroom house, and 2 kids. 2 dogs, 2 birds, and 2 house helpers and have a monthly expense of around 30,000 pesos. I did the math! With 250K USD, you can live like a king here!

[axy]

The combined value of my two condos is about 250K US right now, the higher value is in my main home and my summer home, with those sold I can buy 10 units in Fl. USA and many other safe places in south America and Mexico isn't as bad as one reads it in the news. Don't misunderstand me it's bad but not in expat areas. Most of the crime and killings are within gangs and police. I've been around the block a few times and know what my level of tollerance is. Thanks though for looking out.

250K US$ can buy you an apartment here in residential/tourist area. Real estate is much more expensive here than in USA.
You can expect to pay between 400.000 US$ and 700.000 US$ for a nice house near the sea.

I have a friend in Manila and I was surprised to see that he bought a nice house with a garage for 45.000 US$. You can buy A GARAGE here for that kind of money!

[Vivo]

250K US$ can buy you an apartment here in residential/tourist area. Real estate is much more expensive here than in USA.
You can expect to pay between 400.000 US$ and 700.000 US$ for a nice house near the sea.

I have a friend in Manila and I was surprised to see that he bought a nice house with a garage for 45.000 US$. You can buy A GARAGE here for that kind of money!

You're on the dot Axy, I live in Manila and $45,000 is already a nice house with a garage. In a nice neighborhood also.

[streido]

You're on the dot Axy, I live in Manila and $45,000 is already a nice house with a garage. In a nice neighborhood also.

Yeah but dont forget that if you want to ride you must pass the local driving test. This involves showing you can carry a donkey balanced on a block of ice on the back of the scoot, while holding a huge fish under your arm and a chicken under each foot while wearing flip-flops.

The advanced test is worse, same as above only you do it at night, and blindfolded on a coastal road. 

.......only joking Vivo 

[Vivo]

Yeah but dont forget that if you want to ride you must pass the local driving test. This involves showing you can carry a donkey balanced on a block of ice on the back of the scoot, while holding a huge fish under your arm and a chicken under each foot while wearing flip-flops.

The advanced test is worse, same as above only you do it at night, and blindfolded on a coastal road. 

.......only joking Vivo 

Haha! Since we're at it, I'll tell you guys the system here in getting a driver's license:

Driver's license for car and motorcycle is one and the same by the way, just with restrictions.

Restriction 1 = Motorcycles only
2 = Vehicle up to 4500 kgs gross vehicle weight.
3 = Vehicle above 4500
4 = Automatic Vehicle up to 4500
5 = Automatic Vehicle up above 4500
and the list goes on...

I have a restriction 1,2 drivers license. Meaning I can drive a car and motorcycle

I used to have only the restriction 2 but when I bought a motorbike, I had to include the 1. I went to the LTO (our local DMV) and told them I need to get a restriction 1, the man there ask me if I ride a motorbike and when I said yes, he asked me where my bike was and I pointed him to the parking lot where my bike was parked. Then he said "ok" you'll get the restriction 1, just pay this amount at the cashier. See Streido, the local driving test was just pointing to the parking lot! Lol!!

[streido]

Man i wish it was that simple here. I plan on doing my test soon to move to a bigger scoot, it costing me over £100 to sit part 1 which allows me 2yrs to ride over 50cc but a max of 125cc on learner plates during which time i must sit my full bike test or pay again for another 2 yr as a learner. Full bike test is costly too with a theory and riding test, complete nonsense since i been riding my 50cc's for a couple of yrs now on my car license and been driving cars for over 18yrs too. More money for the test companies 

[axy]

You're on the dot Axy, I live in Manila and $45,000 is already a nice house with a garage. In a nice neighborhood also.

Well, I have a number of friends from Philippines, you`d be surprised how well I know your people.
Very hard working, family oriented, religious, quite intelligent, always willing to help (I am talking about work-related context).
Also a bit shy, reserved, introverted, compared to "us" from Europe/USA.

I work in a corporation with 130+ nationalities and always get the most useful help from colleagues from Ph. 

[axy]

Yeah but dont forget that if you want to ride you must pass the local driving test. This involves showing you can carry a donkey balanced on a block of ice on the back of the scoot, while holding a huge fish under your arm and a chicken under each foot while wearing flip-flops.

The advanced test is worse, same as above only you do it at night, and blindfolded on a coastal road. 

.......only joking Vivo 

I`ve transported worse things on my scooter, and in Europe. 

[Vivo]

Well, I have a number of friends from Philippines, you`d be surprised how well I know your people.
Very hard working, family oriented, religious, quite intelligent, always willing to help (I am talking about work-related context).
Also a bit shy, reserved, introverted, compared to "us" from Europe/USA.

I work in a corporation with 130+ nationalities and always get the most useful help from colleagues from Ph. 

Huh! I thought you know well our people! Just joking. We're a bit shy and reserved, that's why we like to be with foreigners who talk a lot! We love to listen! Lol! He also pays for the booze!! Lol!  Here, we don't have learners, etc. Having a restriction 1 driver's license means you can ride a 50cc or a 1000cc! However, no bikes below 400cc are allowed on super highways/freeways. But there are alternative roads.

[wordslinger]

..just the other day, i saw a cheap, chinese-built scoot pulling a trailer that contained another cheap chinese scoot...


..it's true!!!   

[zombie]

Same as a spare tire. At least he knew what he was riding.
 I'm Kinda digging the Philippines. There just may be some steamy crotch in my future.

[wordslinger]

...yeah, i was thinking...well, you do need a back-up...

..but do y gotta carry it with ya??...lol..

[zombie]

"i saw a cheap, chinese-built scoot"

That's why.