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NINETY
SIX May 10 - Went to the Gym this morning. Yea right I forgot to mention that I have been going to a really nice fitness center (Metro Fitness) the past couple of months here in Davao. I am actually starting to see some nice results and definition/tone to my upper body. It feels good to work out. I have three workout friends and they are all missionaries. That in itself is weird as I am vehemently anti-religion and they are all so religious. They are nice people so who cares. After golf today the plan if for Me, Lynn, Joe and some other relatives to head to the mall and watch Star trek. Wow I almost forgot, it's Mothers Day. Hey Mom. Love ya. Just got back and the movie was great fun. Lynn loved it so much she can't stop talking about it. May 11 - 12 - We are confirmed to go to Manila on Thursday. I hope this is the week we hit the perfecta and get Joes Passport and close on Tagaytay. I met with an architect today in Davao about Tagaytay and was impressed with him and his company. I had to kind of wing it as I had no documentation of the Tagaytay lot. We somehow have misplaced the survey. So I made some hand sketches of my vision and it seems but he got enough of a picture to be able to do a rendering of the Building for when we get back next week. What's great with this company is they specialize in building condos and handling all the related paperwork to filing and making them legally sellable. During the trip, I will take take oodles of photos of the lot and bring them back along with a copy of the survey I will try and secure from Robin. I also plan on seeing what Robin is up to as I want to have him as an option as well for the project. Once in Tagaytay I will be seeing two more builders who come on recommendations so hopefully I will be able to get this thing moving quickly after we close. Is it time to get excited. No not yet. If there is one thing about my personality that has probably improved for the better is having more patience and not getting too excited about stuff. This way I won't get disappointed when it doesn't happen as is frequently the case here in the Philippines. Alex turns 15 months today.
May
12 - Brought the Van in for a tune-up. Will pick it up when we get
back. We heard from the Canadian Embassy and Joes Passport will be ready
by Friday hooray!!!! Got an May 14 - Left for Manila on the 9:00am Philippine Airlines flight. Arrived Manila 10:45am. Went to Robins house to pick up a copy of the Tagaytay Survey and then to our favorite budget hotel "Eurotel" across from the Robinson's Mall in Malate. I immediately went to Starbucks and then went for a walk to the G Hotel which has a very modern design. Took some photos and was able to find out who the architect was and got in touch with him and we are to meet on Wednesday next week. May 15 - Went to the Canadian Embassy this morning early in order to be the first ones there and we were. We then met with the Consular officer Lynn has been communicating with for the past month or so and she gave Lynn Joes Passport and a copy of Alex's Canadian Citizenship card. Yahoo. Technically at this point we can leave at anytime but will wait another two weeks for Alex to get her Canadian Passport and then we are done. Wow, almost one year dealing with this and now we are so close. Good feeling. We brought our bags so then left by taxi to the MC Mountain Hotel in Tagaytay. The hotel is located about one KM from our property. We rested for the rest of the day and with Lynn planning to meet with the owner the next day to look at all the paperwork. May 16 - I got up early and headed over to the property. I am starting to get excited as Tagaytay is such a beautiful place and our future property has such an awesome view as you can see. The picture taken from the property shows a volcanic island located in what is known as "Taal Lake". The island is home to an active Dwarf Volcano though no eruption has occurred since 1965 but, there has been plenty of seismic activity since. Technically, we are out of the danger blast zone but if things heat up I don't think we will hang around for the activities. I will try and get a better photo up soon. My camera just doesn't do justice to the view.
Lynn met with the lot owner today and all is good. She saw the original title and the paid taxes to date. Even more positively, we will get an additional 66 sqm of valuable frontage that will be returned to the owners (thus us) by the government. It was originally appropriated by the government to build a road. The road was built elsewhere and thus the land was not needed so the owners are entitled to it back. They are filing this week and we should now close by Friday. I have some appointments with builders today and tomorrow and hope to get a better idea of what we are looking at cost wise to build with a competent builder. One builder has suggested it will be in the 19,000 - 22,000 peso range per sqm (About $40.00 sqf) which is exactly what I have budgeted for a finished building inside and out. We also moved to a new hotel right in the center of Tagaytay called the Riviera. It is brand new and I recommend it to anyone looking for a economical place ($53.00 night). May 18 - My meetings with various builders went well and I am expecting some design and costing soon. Since we won't close until Friday now, we decided to head back to Manila today as I need to see a couple of Doctors and we need to buy that replacement computer for Georgie. I also have an appointment with a Architect who is well known for his modern hotel and residential condo architecture. May 19 - 20 - Spent some time with my friend Scott who lives in Makati. He presented an interesting medical solution to my various medical problems ie: "Blood Circulation Issues" and "Lupus". It is very controversial but well worth the study by anyone reading this. It involves the Oxidation of the blood and cells which should lead to the death of pathogens. Apparently there are numerous testimonials about this therapy and I have met a couple of serious no BS guys who swear by it. And there is no monetary incentive here as it sells for about $20.00 a year!!! http://www.themiraclemineralsupplement.com Went to visit Paul today who is putting up a 6 story short term hotel in the heart of Manila. This is a huge business in the Philippines mostly reserved for people wanting short term sexual action and don't want to pay the traditional whole day rate. These hotels cater for short term sex and usually offer three hours and onward. It is huge money as the turnover is fantastic and investment payoff on a hotel investment can be paid off in the right location in as little as 1 1/2 years and pure profit from there-on out I also managed to squeeze in a meeting with Jerry Contreas. He is a fairly well known architect in the Philippines who has designed and owns many notable buildings in and around Manila. I love his work but he is out of my budget. Instead, I will still focus on lesser known designers and possibly even students who seek that first great design job exposure which can launch their career. Certainly this project could. BACK<<<<<<<< >>>>>NINETY SEVEN 2005 Home, 1a,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, |
