Life in paradise ...
Life in paradise ...
(Report by a guest)
Asia. Only by hearing this word for many people yearnings and dreams become awake.
Also for me.
Some years ago I got acquainted - on the Oktoberfest in Munich - with a German couple.
Michael, Dr. in economics and his wife, a pharmacist, Philippina. We liked each
other, exchanged our addresses and mutual invitations as usual. As not so usual, we
exchanged some letters and by far not usual anymore I was so impertinent to visit these
sympathetic people in the Philippines for plenty of reasons. Michael - a successful
businessman in Germany - someday mentioned, if somebody was familiar with the German
reality about taxes, the political helplessness, the regulations in administrative
machinery ans., he would in Philippines consider himself being in a different galaxies ...
and being married to a Philippina, he should pinch himself every day to make sure not to
be dreaming and suddenly awakening.
After my arrival I was welcomed with such a friendly attitude like it never happened to me before. Instantly I became integrated into the family - they also have a lovely daughter. Even afterwards we were heartily amused remembering the looks of the other visitors in the Oktoberfest. Michael was born in 1945 and his beautiful wife in 1966. Meanwhile I am really familiar with some German-Philippine families and now I understand what Michael meant to say. Philippinas are so affectionate, loving and responding to every friendly gesture, out of imagination for us.
I occupied a guest facility with two rooms and a large bathroom. After selling his company Michael built himself a residence on a lot full with Coconut palm trees, bananas, mango trees, flowers and orchids. All together it did not cost so much as a "roomy" 70 sqm. apartment in Munich. I have never been in Garden Eden, but that's how I imagine it to be. Michael is living directly by the sea, so I did not hesitate to explore it. I was speechless. Crystal-clear water, coral reefs with the great variety of their colorful habitants. Experts consider the diving places of the Philippines among the most beautiful of the world.
On our first visit to Cebu City - population about one million, international airport but still easy to grasp, pleasant and without the hectic atmosphere of other big cities - I saw Asiatic shopping malls, comparable and even bigger to any place in Europe. Omnipresent are the traces left by 400 years of Spanish occupation and 50 years of presence of the USA. The common language is English, the mentality at least understandable for western way of thinking. Meanwhile I know, that one can easily make a good living here for the same money we usually spend only for heating purposes in Europe. Employees like a cook or gardener earn here about 70 to 90 US-$ monthly.
Of course these facts influence the daily routine. You get up, whenever you like, in any case everything is ready and prepared, clean and inviting. After breakfast you may sit on the terrace, go into the sea for swimming, diving or fishing, drive to the city, take a walk on the premises and check, if everything is growing and blooming, if the cattle, geese, ducks and chicken are taken care of. The small ranch is located under bamboo at the end of the lot, always clean and in no way disturbing. Always fresh eggs ...
I forgot: the dishes are already taken care of and lunch is prepared. Afterwards we enjoy silence, relaxation, hammock, fan, shadow and maybe some coffee or ice-cold mango shake. Sometimes visitors from abroad, not quite used to the facts of life in paradise, bring more activity like watching satellite TV, video tapes, playing chess, table tennis, riding motorboats or follow their individual hobbies.
Slowly it's getting dark, time for dinner, gladly expected by everybody. Today we have Bavarian grill sausages with sauerkraut. Afterwards we discuss the menu for next Sunday, we expect German friends, who live here for over 10 years and should not have, as usual, frutti di mare, sucking pig, chicken, corn, rice and tropical fruit, but should be surprised by "homely" cooking. The proposals range from goose with potato dumplings, "Tafelspitz" in horseradish sauce, fresh green beans from the garden and grilled potatoes to homemade pizza. The goose wins.
A beautiful day, worth living, slowly ends. Worth living because it appears to us, that our life has more values here. We do not take everything for granted, but we enjoy every single day, we feel the silence and harmony and simply feel good.
The climate is constant about 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. The scenery is marvelous, lonely beaches, islands like fairy tales. Charms and natural friendliness of the people simply make me feel happy.
Considering the fact, that a two-way-ticket costs only 700 to 900 US-$, it
is worthwhile to fly (14 - 18 hours) and visit. By the way, we would enjoy your visit
here. We, that also means myself, I stayed here and with the expert support of Michael I
built my own home.
