Weekly News - November 9th

Hi Everybody,

I am new to the blogging experience so this is a learning experience for me.   My family and friends often ask what is going on in my life, so I am going to try to keep everyone informed and updated through a blog.  If they really want to know all they have to do is sign in and take a look.  If they want to say something or comment all they have to do is log in and post.

This is my first post in a series that I hope will keep everyone informed about life in the Philippines.  For a brief introduction for those who don’t know me.  My name is Trent Widdup and my wife (Ivy) and I are in partnership with Mike and Marina Parvus.  As of know we live in the Philippines for four to six months on Carabao Island which is about 5 KM north of Boracay.

We are not there yet, but will be leaving in 2 days.  I though it would be therefore useful to start my first weekly report before we left and keep a weekly account of things as they transpire.  The first major hurdle is to pack and bring all the necessary things needed.  As for my previous traveling philosophy this was easy.  PASSPORT, TICKETS, MONEY Really what more do you need?  However, I live there and want the tranquility of nice beaches, beautiful sunsets and great diving. On the other hand, our semi-remote place also needs all the comforts of modern life.

I therefore require granola bars, my music, Internet, and other things that make my life enjoyable and are not readly available on a tropical island where there are no land lines, cars don’t exist, and getting there from another country requires at the bare minimum two flights, a boat trip and various taxis and trikes.  So in short I must pack.

My first step was to purchase a balikibyan box.  This is one of the most useful things for people going to the Philippines.  It is a box of various sizes in which you can put any personal items in.  It doesn’t matter how heavy it is as much as you can put into it is up to your creative  packing.  I like to put in heavy items so I don’t have to Carry them such as books, Cambel soup, and dive gear.  Keep in mind from Taiwan it still takes at least 45 days.

The next step is actually packing my bags.  Here I have an advantage for the average traveller because i have a beach wardrobe already stored there, so I don’t have to worry about clothes.  I do have to worry about things of a personal nature that if got lost or stolen would make my life Shii..  difficult.  These need to be put into a bag i can carry with me and keep in contact at all times until I put them into a safe deposit box.

I am hoping I can get away without check in luggage so I can breeze through, but you never know.

In any event, I am leaving on Tuesday and hope to pick up a few things in Manila. Yuck!  I will be on Carabao on the 14th with out any mishaps. If you want to ask anything or get in touch with we just E-mail or post on this Blog.

Hope to hear from you soon.