Moving from Metro Manila to Puerto Galera

[TizMe]

^^ & ^^^ looks good, tiz. Is your apt a flat or a 2-storey townhouse?

We are on one level, someone else lives on the top floor, so we get some extra insulation from any heat.

Btw, have you visited the 4 waterfalls in/ around PG? Tamaraw falls is the largest one & is right at the highway. It has a pool where ppl can swim in, as well as some tables for rent.

We've only been to the Tamaraw so far. The others are on our to-do list. We were just talking about Talipanan Falls the other day.

Btw, do you plan to get wheels later on? I think it would be needed there - you'll get tired of trikes in the long run. If you don't want a car, you can get a motorbike, e-bike (the 3-wheelers are good for hauling groceries) or the Bajaj trikes (Indian tuktuks, gasoline powered). The vlogger Bud Brown (US expat retiree w/ Filipina wife) has a Bajaj trike. You can also get a "multicab" - Japanese mini truck.

Yes, I bought an Isuzu DMax in December, I read that the tricycle drivers are all thieves, and are charging php 500 just for short rides. The DMax is quite large though, my partner was terrified the night we drove back from a restaurant half way between Muelle and Sabang. That road is very narrow.
https://teakdoor.com/the-teakdoor-lo...ml#post4577931 (Show us your impulse buy)

I don't really know why, but there are so many of those Bajaj trikes in PG, more than I've seen anywhere else in PH.

[TizMe]

Agreed. Must be great to be so close to peaceful waters and the potential for sailing and swimming in your downtime.

Yes, as the Puerto Galera Yatch Clubhouse, bar and restaurant is about 20 metres from home, we've already been invited to join in the regatta at easter.

That balcony pic must have a great view. Top marks for location choice.

Unfortunately the great view from our place is blocked by trees, but we don't need to go too far.

[TizMe]

Yeah, beautiful.

Reminds me of just north of Sydney.

I'm a Sydney boy originally, although I left in 1984 at age 24

[katie23]

@tiz - so I guess the trike drivers have "leveled up" and bought Bajaj trikes? In 2019 (and 2015), I didn't see any Bajaj trike, just saw the ordinary trikes. The Bajaj trikes are roomier and thus better fpr larger/ taller passengers. I've ridden in a Bajaj trike & asked the driver how much he bought it. At the time, it cost 170 or 175k (maybe 3 yrs ago). In Tagaytay, there are lots of Bajaj trikes. In my mom's town, some Lazada drivers use Bajaj trikes for their deliveries.

Re: trike drivers, I think they charged P200 to P300 from Muelle pier to Sabang area in 2019. If they're now charging P500 for the same trip, that's a huge increase.

Your Isuzu DMax looks good. Welcome to small town living! How are you adjusting to the change of pace?

I think there's a Puregold in PG but no SM or Robinson's. A lot different from the malls in BGC!

Btw, is the Italian resto near Muelle Pier still there? The one along the highway. It was there in 2015 & 2019.

[BLD]

We are on one level, someone else lives on the top floor, so we get some extra insulation from any heat.



We've only been to the Tamaraw so far. The others are on our to-do list. We were just talking about Talipanan Falls the other day.



Yes, I bought an Isuzu DMax in December, I read that the tricycle drivers are all thieves, and are charging php 500 just for short rides. The DMax is quite large though, my partner was terrified the night we drove back from a restaurant half way between Muelle and Sabang. That road is very narrow.
https://teakdoor.com/the-teakdoor-lo...ml#post4577931 (Show us your impulse buy)

I don't really know why, but there are so many of those Bajaj trikes in PG, more than I've seen anywhere else in PH.

Those bajaj trikes will lead to an even bigger trike Mafia.? I noticed them in Laos the last trip. Couldn't use them though as there app was all in lao. There was about 3 sort of grab apps that worked well so I wasn't to worried about transport. The old style tuk tuks were still putting on a skin tax whenever I enquired so I suspect there days are numbered?

[BLD]

Cambodia is flooded with those bajak tuk tuks also

[Switch]

Cambodia is flooded with those bajak tuk tuks also

I was living near the Olympic Stadium. The bike apps were in English, and only 15/20 minutes from decent restaurants and bars.

[TizMe]

How are you adjusting to the change of pace?

I'm back in BGC at the moment, pace is hectic at the moment.
Can't wait for all the moving to be finished.
Then I'll relax.

I think there's a Puregold in PG but no SM or Robinson's. A lot different from the malls in BGC!

PG has Candava Supermarket and HL Supermarket


I've only ever been in HL as parking there is easier.

Btw, is the Italian resto near Muelle Pier still there? The one along the highway. It was there in 2015 & 2019.

Yes, Robby's is pretty good.
Although we haven't eaten at his PG rest yet, but we've been to his Calapan Resto probably 10 times.


He has a decent selection of wine also at not too outrageous prices.

[Edmond]

I'm a Sydney boy originally

Damn nice. Probably the best city I've ever lived in. I loved everything about it.

I left in 1984 at age 24

You hold your age well ol' fella, I had you down for 54 not 64.

[katie23]

^^good to know that his restos weathered the covid storm.

Btw, I don't know if your apartment building/ complex in PG has a pool area? If you're wanting a pool to swim in, you could probably befriend the owners of Bad Ladz resort. Owners are Canadian-Filipina couple, I think.

I once stayed at their Dive Resort (near Muelle Port) but they said that guests there could use the pool at their beach resort. The beach resort is ~5 to 10 min drive from the dive resort. They also have apartments for rent (daily and/or long term stay). I used their pool once & toured the beach resort (it's nice). He'll probably let you use the pool if you eat at their resto afterwards. (and if you're friends and regular customers). Just a thought.

Good luck on the move.

[Salsa dancer]

Damn nice. Probably the best city I've ever lived in. I loved everything about it.

Apart from the police, I believe. Lucky you weren't in Queensland, mate. The cops up here are real assholes.

[BLD]

That's what ya get when the whole states interbred.

[Shutree]

A lot of the dive boats that leave Batangas and Puerto Galera come here to dive.

Yes, I have dived Verde a couple of times. Day trips from Big Laguna Bay, never stayed overnight. Always a great day out. That channel is very deep, some big stuff swims through there.

A group of like-minded gentleman used to meet up in Manila, private van to Batangas with a pit stop for a few bottles en route, then a hired boat direct to Big Laguna Bay in time to unpack and wander into 'town' for some food and distaff company. Dive all day, party at night. Happy days.

[TizMe]

Damn nice. Probably the best city I've ever lived in. I loved everything about it.

Yeah, we enjoy our trips back there. My Mum is still there, aged 91.
Dad passed away last August, 95 years old.
Have to spend as much time with her as possible while she's still here.

You hold your age well ol' fella, I had you down for 54 not 64.

Thanks, my knees feel 84 sometimes.
And that's my only really concern with living here long term as there's lots of stairs and hills.

[TizMe]

I don't know if your apartment building/ complex in PG has a pool area? If you're wanting a pool to swim in, you could probably befriend the owners of Bad Ladz resort. Owners are Canadian-Filipina couple, I think.
.

We do have a pool, but its empty at the moment to fix some leaking.
Its not very big. We will miss the 25 metre pool we had in BGC.

Will keep Bad Ladz in mind if they take too long to fix the leaks.

[TizMe]

Yes, I have dived Verde a couple of times.

I haven't dived since I moved to the Philippines.

A bit reluctant since having to spend 6 hours in a recompression chamber suffering from the bends when I lived near the Red Sea. Luckily there was a nearby hospital that had a recompression chamber.

I wonder where the nearest chamber is to PG.

[BLD]

Is captain Greg's resort still there? An interesting character called John Honan I think ran it and had all kinds of interesting finds displayed in the resort from the Spanish era. Some of them he had to turn over to the museum which I'm.told he was happy to do so. He run a resort/ dive school

[TizMe]

Is captain Greg's resort still there? An interesting character called John Honan I think ran it and had all kinds of interesting finds displayed in the resort from the Spanish era. Some of them he had to turn over to the museum which I'm.told he was happy to do so. He run a resort/ dive school

Looks like its still going, I haven't been into Sabang for a long time.

https://www.captngreggs.com/

[TizMe]

Coming home this afternoon

[TizMe]

The Mangrove walk, just after sunset.

Heaps of noisy bats getting ready to go feeding.

[Topper]

Very nice, Tiz.

[Switch]

The Mangrove walk, just after sunset.

Heaps of noisy bats getting ready to go feeding.

A study has estimated that bats generally consume up to 3000 mosquitos per night. Nature is pretty good at maintains a balance in that way.
Add in Gheko consumption, and I’m sure it makes life more comfortable for the human species.

[TizMe]

A study has estimated that bats generally consume up to 3000 mosquitos per night. Nature is pretty good at maintains a balance in that way.
Add in Gheko consumption, and I’m sure it makes life more comfortable for the human species.

That's interesting.

I only said to my partner the other night that I was surprised that there's no mozzies about. We sat on the balcony having a glass or two, with no repellant on.

[katie23]

^^^^ did you bring your Dmax or did you go by bus + ferry? Can the new Balatero(?) port accommodate vehicles or is it just for passengers? I thought those with vehicles had to go via the RORO (roll on, roll off) ferries in Calapan port. (Or that was what I saw from Philly's vlog 1 or 2 yrs ago)

@switch - nice info abt the bats & mosquitos!

[TizMe]

^^^^ did you bring your Dmax or did you go by bus + ferry? Can the new Balatero(?) port accommodate vehicles or is it just for passengers? I thought those with vehicles had to go via the RORO (roll on, roll off) ferries in Calapan port. (Or that was what I saw from Philly's vlog 1 or 2 yrs ago)

@switch - nice info abt the bats & mosquitos!

Yes, we loaded up the DMax. RORO now travels from Batangas to Puerto Galera and back again, just 3 times per week on Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

I hope they can keep it profitable, as there hasn't been more than 10 cars and trucks on board on any of the 6 trips we have done so far.

Over Christmas and New Year period there were more trips scheduled though.