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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 3, 2015 16:16:07 GMT 7
Argao is on the island of Cebu. Midway down the East coast.
The Philippines are part of a chain of islands that start with Japan and Taiwan and go all the way through Indonesia and probably finish with New Guinna or New Zealand. Australia being the great anchor point.
When I first came to Argao I went to the local park. Local animals in a zoo type atmosphere.
What struck me most about the Argao 'zoo' was that they had some 'Australian Blue Gums' as the feature of a tree top walk.
I asked lots of local folk as to where those trees came from and never received an answer. They changed the subject.
This afternoon the bloke across the road called me over. "Lizard" he said. When I got close enough to hear him.
He has it tied up and it is one of the largest Northern goannas I have ever seen.
I will post a picture of a live one but I am going to go across and show him how to cook it.
Cheers
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Post by chris on Aug 3, 2015 23:59:25 GMT 7
Big Triathlon down there Sunday Greenman? Was it near you. Argao being the 2nd home of triathlon behind Subic in the Phils, will probably be about equal soon. Aussies and other athletes love the lower costs, hot but near ideal conditions.
Confirm that, was it near you? Road closures all AM, I would expect.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 4, 2015 12:01:16 GMT 7
Big Triathlon down there Sunday Greenman? Was it near you. Argao being the 2nd home of triathlon behind Subic in the Phils, will probably be about equal soon. Aussies and other athletes love the lower costs, hot but near ideal conditions. Confirm that, was it near you? Road closures all AM, I would expect. Didn't notice one this past weekend chris but the big 'one' is on September 20. See www.facebook.com/events/1582474055347399/The cycling portion, previously, has come down my street so I get a ring side seat from the front door. Haven't yet checked out this years route. I wasn't aware of the significance of the Argao triathlon within the Phils nor internationally. Although now that you have raised it I do see different athletes training around Argao but didn't make the connection. It's probably a fair 'jag' for you but if you want to come down for it I can probably put a bit more rice in the cooker and kick the dog from it's favourite sleeping spot. Your welcome down in other words. |
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 4, 2015 12:48:28 GMT 7
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Post by chris on Aug 5, 2015 6:12:45 GMT 7
Denis, you forced me to research that. The race was held Mactan to Cebu City, down to Talisay and back again across the bridge to Mactan. I only assumed it was in your area.
Mate, will not be getting down there just now, but if we have reciprocal visits down the line it would be great. What most Aussies probably wouldn't realize is that it's a fairly complicated 3 leg trip. In our case we are still 78 km from the airport at Laoag, so the trip is a full day.
Of course I can't compete at that level now, the race is pro and elite, so I might not even get accepted in the field. They had 2600 across all categories. We had tried something similar and drew only 90, Cebu being an international venue, we are strictly regional.
Argao is definitely a training venue. Lower cost for one thing. Subic is still probably the favored training base, but we hear it's changing. And there are 2 major coaching groups in the Phils, one in Subic, one down your way, plus the Philippines National squad which trains in Subic. The Cebu group has the stronger athletes currently.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 6, 2015 0:14:35 GMT 7
Mate, will not be getting down there just now, but if we have reciprocal visits down the line it would be great. What most Aussies probably wouldn't realize is that it's a fairly complicated 3 leg trip. In our case we are still 78 km from the airport at Laoag, so the trip is a full day. Of course I can't compete at that level now, the race is pro and elite, so I might not even get accepted in the field. They had 2600 across all categories. We had tried something similar and drew only 90, Cebu being an international venue, we are strictly regional. Argao is definitely a training venue. Lower cost for one thing. Subic is still probably the favored training base, but we hear it's changing. And there are 2 major coaching groups in the Phils, one in Subic, one down your way, plus the Philippines National squad which trains in Subic. The Cebu group has the stronger athletes currently. I have looked at coming up your way. There is a degree of difficulty but I hope to get there one day. And you are welcome here. I cannot swim nor cycle for sh*t. However, I used to be able to run and jump. Would enjoy coaching. Not that I got there, I did my knees, but I had a lot of good coaching to Olympic standard. Argao is developing rapidly. I think they should do a Tasmanian Targa from here to down South. F*ck knows how you would keep kids off the street however. The stupid dog, called by me "Fred", sleeps under my chair so forgive me that I make a foolish reference. I wish I could take him out the back of Australia where I come from. So he can run. Poor bugger runs beside any tricycab I get in. I have to lock him in the yard. Cheers |
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Post by chris on Aug 13, 2015 9:22:25 GMT 7
What are the pro's and cons of living down there Denis? How many times, if ever, would you need to get up to Cebu City.
What are the demographics, ex pats, many Aussies? How about Korean, Chinese who seem to flock to Cebu City, driving the prices up?
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 15, 2015 2:34:45 GMT 7
What are the pro's and cons of living down there Denis? How many times, if ever, would you need to get up to Cebu City. What are the demographics, ex pats, many Aussies? How about Korean, Chinese who seem to flock to Cebu City, driving the prices up? The largest demographic in Argao that I see is Norwegian followed by German. There are many Americans here and probably outnumber all other expats but they only show themselves at SuperBowl time. Good folk. There are some Australians, not many, and they are interesting folk. There is a core but Australians tend to come and go. As to the pro's and con's of living down here at Argao? Maybe you would have had to have lived where I have. Not sure about that. But Argao is green, even though there is a drought. And it, the drought, is breaking. The hills behind me, the mountains, were stripped of their timber when the Spaniards came. But I have observed the Philippine Gum Trees and eaten part of a Philippine goanna. |
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Post by chris on Aug 16, 2015 5:48:15 GMT 7
So must have eroded considerably? No replanting?
We have the Cordilleras mountains which has forestation at the higher levels. Don't know much about the history, but the Cordilleras range links to Sierra Madre which runs the length of Luzon. Very cold and subject to bad weather from here to Baguio, but has a few majors attractions like the Banaue Rice Terraces.
I go off on the bike and sometimes down to the beach. There are a few foreigners around, not many. The police keep their record as to how many, and they list only 3 as residing in Magsingal permanently. Sometimes I think, if I'm the only foreigner who has ever been to certain places, can't say for sure, but I have been to places even the locals don't go.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 16, 2015 23:44:20 GMT 7
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Post by Banjo on Aug 17, 2015 8:08:21 GMT 7
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 17, 2015 10:16:41 GMT 7
Far outski. I'm waiting for @redigo to get down here. Then we will be in trouble. Him and me. LOL. |
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 21, 2015 17:58:36 GMT 7
I saw a thread somewhere about 'pollution in SE Asia" and reflected on my local circumstance.
When I first came here, some years ago, the locals would just throw their rubbish on the ground. But I am pleased to see that nowadays there is bins on every corner.
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Post by Banjo on Nov 21, 2015 21:01:12 GMT 7
The worst pollution comes from massive burn offs in the country or it's neighbours.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 22, 2015 4:19:23 GMT 7
The worst pollution comes from massive burn offs in the country or it's neighbours. , I know, and I was not referring to that as it is well covered on the other thread. And well documented by lots of folk. And I have nothing but contempt for the likes of WWF and the rest of that mob. I am merely reflecting, and appreciating, that in the town where I live, at the moment, they are doing something about physical pollution. |
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