My name is Art Williams. Right now I'm teaching English but I might be coming to the Philippines in a few months and, if I do, I'm interested in someplace nice to live where the living cost is reasonable, the area is nice, and there's an opportunity to salsa dance.
Salsa (and also bachata and cha-cha) is pretty much my primary hobby. I also like the Cuban style of group salsa known as 'casino rueda'.
My hobbies are blogging, reading (as much as I can), internet marketing, backgammon, frisbee, travel and 'people watching'. I've got a blog you might enjoy at:
WanderingSalsero.
If I do become more interested in the Damaguete area, there's two things I'm especially concerned with:
(1) What is the quality of the internet service in that area? If my business plans develop the way I want them too, I'll be making my living over the internet. So naturally I've got to have a good, reliable connection.
(2) What kind of dance clubs are there in the area? Do any of them specialize in, or play, Latin American music like salsa, bachata, cha-cha, etc.?
(3) For just sight seeing in the city......are there lots of places to go walking around? I don't want to spend all my time looking at 'old stuff' but I'm especially interested in nice beaches, mountains to climb, rivers, waterfalls and things like that.
(4) How much would a good, American style breakfast cost in a restaurant around there. I don't usually do much cooking at home but prefer to 'eat out'.
(5) Is it possible to buy tropical birds such as macaws, parrots or Cockatoos there? I thought I read somewhere that Cockatoos are native to the Philippines. Is that right? I like pets but haven't had one for a long time for the simple reason that I've never been anyway place where I felt I might stay for a while (and I didn't want to have to 'leave' a pet).
By the way, if you'd like to see some pictures of my environment over here in Korea, you can check out:
DropShots.com www.flickr.com/artwilliams/photos
Also, I'd be more than happy to chat with people from Damaguete via Skype and I would also be interested in info about other places to settle in the Philippines.
Best regards,
Art