I removed the gratuitous link to the article we weren’t discussing.

if you can tell me why my other readers will be interested I may even feature it, but I don’t spend the time and effort I do on this blog just to provide you a place to try to drop off links …

I did get a chuckle from the article, so much of it has absolutely no applicability to the Philippines … people don’t drive that way here and they aren’t going to start because some driving instructor in some other country tries to tell them to,

‘Cutting off’ is a concept that is totally different here, it will cause a lot of problem to people from the US prone to road rage and their ‘rights’. Before you even think about moving here you better consider if you want to lose your temper or get into serious battles with people on an hourly basis. Because if ‘being cut off’ means anything to you … you will absolutely froth at the mouth here.

Philippine road concept is, if there is apiece of pavement, even a sliver, that you are not occupying, it is fair game for all .. democracy in action. It matters not if you ‘planned’ to operate on that pavement .. as in having your turn signal on and getting ready to make a turn, since you were not physically yet _in_ that s[ace, someone else can use it … and if you get angry, it’s no fun, because the guy you are angry at honestly has no idea that he ‘did something’ to you … I mean blowing your stack has no satisfying factor if the ‘other side’ has no clue.

Also, in city traffic, better watch things like the front wheel of the bus you are passing. That willbe the first indoication he is moving to your lane … and don’t worry about horn, lights, etc. He _is_ moving, whether you vacate or not … since pride is cheaper than body work, I usually just cuss once and give way.

It’s kind of a neutral thing. It isn’t actually good or bad, it just _is_.

Dince I owned several in Japan and then in the US I’m abit of a Toyota fan, but they are not doing well here in their choices of models. I had a 12 pax diesel HiAce in Japan and I really, really loved it … now the HiAce is a foot and a half wider and a way lot more expensive. The Revo, which is very close in size and performance to my Adventure, seems to be on the way out too … so that’s two of my favorites coming off the market. I really am not looking for anything else though, my Adventure doesn’t even have 20,000 kilometers on it yet and will last me a long, long time. If I bought a second vehilce I’d but\y one of those little 600cc Suzuk carry piclups \so I had atoy to haul dirt, tools or basura … I’ve had a truck for a second car for years and years, I miss something you can shovel dirt into .. or wash with a hose inside as well as out … once a rancher always a rancher I guess.

You make agood point about living in the provnces too. Dealer? What’s that? Many Americans are used to having pretty much the same stores and services almost any where we live, but in the Philippines things are still very much localized around the larger cities … in many cases only Metro Manila. I knew a fellow with a new BMW living on Masbate (IIRC) correctkly. Part of his car service plans had to include ferry schedules, because the closest dealer is in Manila … typically the dealer sends a mechanic on a scheduled basis to do the routine service … if the car really breaks bad, it’s going to have to go back to the city on a tow truck … becuase you just aren’t going to get qualified maintenance any closer.

There’s a lot to consider aside from whether you like cities or not when you decide on where you’ll live … but, of course, that’s part of the fun of it all.