AboutBill and Lorna Collings Expertise Feel FREE to ask us about traveling, living, relocating, retiring and investing in the Philippines. Guests from 83 countries make our place in Manila an incredible meeting place for world travelers who exchange travel stories and information. We understand both the joys and the hardships of living and traveling in the Philippines.
Experience I arrived in the Philippines in January 1980 to travel for 2 months; I stayed 4 months before reluctantly leaving. I met my Filipina wife, Lorna. an incredible stellar, "one in a million" individual in 1983 in Seoul and we moved to the Philippines in 1986 and opened our 3BR house to world travelers on a budget. After welcoming thousands of guests from 83 nations our place has grown to 30 bedrooms but will never lose its "Home away from Home" atmosphere. Almost everyday at The Townhouse Hotel there's a party-like social scene with vibrant, almost magical energetic conversations between our guests who have the pleasure to meet each other and share their life's many experiences. Sometimes. three groups with conversations in different langauges are going on at the same time.
So we've been exposed to every kind of person from all over the world and shared their experiences.
Publications Suite101.com, eDreams.com, expertcentral.com ( who asked me to apply with allexperts.com since About.com has bought both companies and are in the process of integrating them)
Education/Credentials some college 2-1/2 years - no degree - I've been traveling since I was 18, almost 30 years.
Awards and Honors Luckily, my wife and I have been semi-retired since we were 30 years old, more than 15 years.
I have a Filipino wife and a 3 year old boy.
Hard making it here in Hawaii.
So expensive.
Been to the Phils 4 times.
Mostly I like it.
Was in Manila area, So dirty.
People were fantastic!
Can you tell me more about your experience?
I'm 57 yrs old (look like I'm 45, no lie),
Tired of struggling here.
Any advice?
Mahalo.
Larry Rhoden & Family
Answer Aloha Larry, Our daughter, Camilla has been in Hawaii for the last 4 years at UH Manoa so you KNOW we KNOW how expensive living in the States is and all about how much of a struggle it can be. I KNEW I didn't want anything to do with living the middle class American lifestyle when I was 17 so I took off at 22 years old back in January 1977. I have not spent one whole 12 month period in the States ever since and I'm tyrning 54 years old this month. If you browse over my past 500+ answers here you will learn alot and spend a couple hours surfing our website, EXPLORE PHILIPPINES at: http://asiabill.pages.web.com
The thing is you need some sort of nestegg enough to get yourself settled here and after getting adjusted maybe open some sort of small business here. GOOD LUCK! and MABUHAY PHILIPIINES! Ciao for now Bill, Lorna and Camilla
