I started my Tuesday with a trip to the immigration office to renew my tourist visa. Everything went as it normally does, except that when I got my paperwork back, it included instructions for leaving the country and a handwritten “last extension.” I guess I’ve just about worn out my welcome.
Right now, I’m in the initial planning phase for a trip to Cambodia next month. I was disappointed to see I’m going to have to fly out of Manila instead of the much more conveniently located airport in Angeles. Provided the Philippines allows me to re-enter the country, my tourist visa clock resets for three years. Returning shouldn’t be a problem now that I’ve been vaxxed, but there are several paperwork hoops I need to jump through before I can get back in. Hopefully, there won’t be any problems with that.
No excitement at the grocery store unless you find steadily increasing prices exciting. The only saving grace is the dollar continues to gain strength.
Jen, one of the Hideaway girls, had a birthday yesterday, and Joy asked me to bring her a cake.
After I departed Hideaway, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. I had half a mind (shuddup!) to enjoy the vistas from BarCelona, but as I passed by It Doesn’t Matter, it occurred to me that I shouldn’t let my disappointment with being a bad judge of character impact my choices on where to enjoy a cold beer. Time to let the past go and move on, so IDM it was.
I actually spent more time than I usually do there, almost two hours. I greeted all the familiar faces, then settled into my outdoor seat to watch the world go by. And guess who was sitting next to me, keeping me company?
In case you are wondering, yes, Agnes was my waitress. I was, of course, polite, and she was friendly. That’s the way it should be.
By the time I departed IDM, I was feeling no pain. The usual trike stands were empty, so I hoofed it up the highway all the way to Queen Victoria. Popped in there and had one more for the road, then found a trike for home.
I woke up this morning to a Facebook reminder that I was hanging out in Pattaya, Thailand, six years ago.
There is a boy I love, though, right here in Barretto:
A nice hike with the Wednesday Walkers I’ll post about tomorrow. It’s feeding night again at Hideaway, and I baked up a batch of carrot cupcakes to share with the girls for dessert (I’ll order a pizza for the main course).
Alright, that brings y’all up to date in my corner of the world. See you here again soon!
Cupcakes look good! And it’s always good to see a pic of the dawgs.
I’m not sure I understand the visa thing. You already leave the country every—what—60 days to renew your tourist-visa interval. I don’t get what the three-year limit is, and how this is different from leaving every 90 days. I assume “last extension” isn’t literally your last extension before being forced to move to another country. So weird, though, to have the status of a tourist while thinking about moving into that blue house. Would be nice for you to become a permanent resident so you can avoid that 60-day crap. You gonna be doing that when you’re in your 90s? Constantly obliged to leave the country and come back?
…and how this is different from leaving every 90 days.
Every 60 days, I mean.
Sorry for the confusion on the visa. I go to the immigration office every sixty days and pay for a sixty-day renewal. I have not left the country since December 2019; hence, my three-year tourist stay is about to expire.
Pre-scamdemic, I would make an international trip two or three times a year. I never imagined I would be in a situation where I hadn’t left in three years. My big issue was the PI would not let tourists enter the country unvaccinated. So, I finally had to give in and get jabbed. I should be good to go AND return now.
Ah, okay. I guess I was in Korean mode: if you’re on a tourist visa in Korea, you must leave the country every 90 days to renew your 90-day period of stay. And as far as I know, there’s no limit on doing that. I further assumed the PI must be the same. You probably explained all this in the past, and I either failed to pay attention or simply forgot. Goofy or senile—your choice.
If I may ask, where are you going in Cambodia? Been to almost all SE Asia countries except for Cambodia.
A very subjective article came out naming the 51 coolest neighborhoods in the world and a neighborhood of Siam Reap, Cambodia came in third.
“The area around the Wat Bo pagoda, one of the oldest in Siem Reap, was first developed as tourism gradually descended on Cambodia’s ‘Temple Town’ in the ’90s. But in 2021, a city-wide makeover kickstarted a serious glow-up for Wat Bo Village. Helped out by up its idyllic riverside location, it’s now an incredibly chic quarter. The vicinity of Street 26 and Wat Bo Road has become a favoured haunt for expats frequenting its numerous bars (former Pub Street luminaries Laundry and chinoiserie-themed Miss Wong), experimental Khmer restaurants in scenic settings (Banlle) and elegant design hotels (Viroth’s, Treeline Urban Resort). Stewart on 26 boosts the area’s nightlife rep with DJ nights, while organic-cooking institution Tevy’s Place doubles as a social enterprise empowering local women. Until recently a forgettable residential suburb, Wat Bo now stands unrivalled as the city’s – and arguably Asia’s – most happening area.
The perfect day Take breakfast at boulangerie-pâtisserie Paris Bakery and a morning riverside stroll, before dropping by Oko Gallery’s curated collection of hand-crafted trinkets and Cambodian curios. Head to Snack & Relax’s cooling coffee joint enlivened with koi-carp ponds, before Khmer-Western lunch at expansive, inexpensive River Café. End the afternoon at Footprint’s airy café stacked with books and artwork, then sample the chilled ambience, cocktails and adventurous dishes of Pou Restaurant & Bar at boutique retreat Maison 557.
Plan your trip The Unesco-sponsored Writers and Readers Festival, showcasing local and international authors with workshops, screenings and social soirées, returns in December. The programme is still under wraps, but last year’s festival was largely centred on Wat Bo Village.”
https://www.timeout.com/travel/coolest-neighbourhoods-in-the-world
Brian, I’m going to fly into Phnom Phen. I’ve been there once before and enjoyed it quite a lot. In fact, Cambodia is my Plan B should I ever feel the need to depart from the Philippines. I am considering doing a Hash event in a beach town called Kampot. Never been to Siam Reap but heard it was popular with expats. Thanks for the info; perhaps I’ll check it out too.