i will try to go cheapo to check an island called Cuyo Island not islands east of Palawan this weekend hopingly...there have been a group we call the cuyo boys who frequent the island every yr. when the season's on in 4.0-6.0 flat conditions..if you wanted to windsurf abroad what do you want in an island namely; what type of acommodations(inexpensive, cabana type with basic necessities, peacefull town, a place to snorkel, local food, karaoke,silence, sunsets, local beer and women, etci just need to know what the majority wants so if i find a place that's inexpensive at a 2aus$/square then maybe it would be good enough to invest and start from there...hopefully later on the crowded windsurf/kiting area of boracay island would look for an alternative..for now i know there really is no nightlife but with a little brew and the local folk i think that's good enough to party for the nightowlsThis goes for the kiters as well....cheers and pls. google earth the island starting from the pier to the sandspit northwards said to be 5-7kms.

evlPanda said...

Somewhere cheap, safe, healthy with a good internet connection so I can live there (semi-)permanently and work remotely each day. No really, I want to do this. Can anyone suggest such a place that has good windsurfing conditions? (not atlantis)

Wellington. (check the Boardseeker travel feature)

555 said...

Wellington. (check the Boardseeker travel feature)

And warm???

555 said...

evlPanda said...

Somewhere cheap, safe, healthy with a good internet connection so I can live there (semi-)permanently and work remotely each day. No really, I want to do this. Can anyone suggest such a place that has good windsurfing conditions? (not atlantis)

Wellington. (check the Boardseeker travel feature)

Hmm windy Wellington. It does have a rep for wind.

I spent 10 months in '04/05 working in sunny Auckland, and it wasn't cheap! My first unit was 22m square and the building felt like it was 40 years old. It was almost new. When my wife joined me there wasn't enough oxygen for 2 people so we had to leave the balcony door open a bit to the 2 degree air outside. You couldn't have the shower door and bathroom door open at same time. It creaked like an old ship when it was windy (always). Eventually I tired of searching for the woman screaming at 2am every morning and wished they'd just kill her. I think we were the only people that spoke English in the building.

For this I paid $180/week, 2 weeks extra up front to the agent non-refundable (not the bond), electricity and hot water were separate, extra, and ridiculously expensive. Groceries were about 60% more than in QLD, however I'll say the food in NZ is super high quality.

Eventually we got a lucky deal in a private room of a top hotel, thank god. Still, they had great pubs and bars that I stopped at on way home from work each day. Good memories although I vowed never to return.

Is Wellington like that as I actually can get my line of work there (ERP Software)? I've actually thought of Wellington and Christchurch (snow too).

I was actually thinking dreaming of somewhere in SPain.

Wet Willy said...

555 said...

evlPanda said...

Somewhere cheap, safe, healthy with a good internet connection so I can live there (semi-)permanently and work remotely each day. No really, I want to do this. Can anyone suggest such a place that has good windsurfing conditions? (not atlantis)

Wellington. (check the Boardseeker travel feature)

He said CHEAP. Presumably that means SE Asia cheap, not Developed Country cheap. Think under $20 a day for EVERYTHING!

JP747, let me know more about that place, I'd like to check it out!

evil one and wetty, this place is darn cheap and am speculating it'd be the next place other than boracay for windsports activities, i will try to forward the coordinates on google earth...i just spoke to the owner of an inn and she says there are 2 cell sites from different connections for internet use..she's a block away from the police station wherein all "they do is drink coffee", one rural bank, a western union, and a grocery and hardware store..you can check Mike Wright's blog-an ozzie for Cuyo Island, Phils. or for more pics go to flickr and put the name Marissa Lizares since she took pics of Cuyo..very quiet town only less than 10tricycles and 3cars...will update you when i get better info..for now food for b-fast, lunch and dinner equals 4.33aus$ and i included a bottle or brew

So you are looking for people to invest in some sort of windsurfing business there?

Mobydisc said...

So you are looking for people to invest in some sort of windsurfing business there?

thanks evil onenot really i just want to have a feel what really foreigner's in windsports and divers really like simple or extravagant..since am hoping to go there this thursday with weather permitting(a low pressure is approaching) i just want to rent a tricycle and go around the island and see if it's a feasible spot to wind/kitesurf for the more adventurous ones..the inn owner said last end of april there were 3 foreign kiters in her 4room stead..that's a start..besides the 3windsurfers that are already there..am just speculating since it has the infrastructure to get cozy and hopefully land is a buyer's market untitled and only tax declared..make a small nipa hut cabana and rent it out sooner or later if friends come over..how peacefull can that get or maybe 30yrs. from now a spot for retirement

What I would like: Clean and simple accomodation with self catering facilities. By simple I mean ensuite bathroom and toilet, good clean beds, table and chairs, TV with some English language channels. Wireless Internet included in the deal. A bar or vending machine in the place selling beer. The option of having meals in the hotel or hostel. Able to access laundy facilities. Having a balcony or verandah to enjoy warm evenings. I think air conditioning would be needed too. A lounge area with TV and stereo so guests can meet socially there.

It would be nice to be on the beach. However if its only a short walk that would be alright. The accomodation should either hire out gear or have an arrangement with a gear hire company or windsurfing school. Decent gear that suits the conditions plus good learner gear. Try to locate the accomodation close to some shops or a supermarket. Close to ATMs too. Close to decent pubs or restaurants would be good.

Light wind activities could include catermeran sailing, like Hobie cats, morning or daily boat excursions to island beaches, fishing or snorkelling. Close to markets selling cheap clothes and stuff would be good.

Easy access from a major airport. Manilla is the sort of place I would only want to spend as much time as I have to so I wouldn't want to have to hang around there for too long.

am at 80% to go tomorrow unless something comes up...really it's look-see thing, am not even going to bring windsurfing equipment but a litewind kite kit, mask/snorkel just to see how the wind directions and dive spots also so i don't have to worry bout lowtide and under 12kts. of wind..moby is the "typical" tourist and i don't think that's bad it's what we all want..but i have to keep in mind with all the commodities rising the local wind/kitesurfing and watersports enthiusiasts are now looking for a more budget oriented escapade and i think there's a niche in this, man it's a lonely boatride and a few days but am used to it ever since i was single..i just hope something comes up positive..yes wetty i had that in mind a very
unassuming local tourist that's just looking for a small patch to plant trees and a small resthouse

JP, how do you get there fom Manila?
I would imagine a plane from Manila to Palawan and then a boat trip.
How long by boat from Palawan?
Is there a Ferry service, Bunkers (local boat) and Tricycles (local motorbike with sidecar) would not be acceptable to most people or practicle for carrying gear.
Boracay was like that & a bit of a let down for a lot of people.
A lot of westeners would also be nervous about being so far south, although we travelled to Palawan we did not go to a lot of the southern islands as it was not safe. Palawan is one of the nicest and cleanest places I have been in the Phils.
Kidnappings & pirates were very common 10 years ago in that area, not sure about now.
The accomodation only needs to be basic, cold shower, toilet, clean bedding in a bamboo shack, thats how it was on Boracay 10 years ago and it was about $12.00 per night for a double room.
Basic food and local bar facilities would be ideal, keep it simple & cheap.
Make sure you could have separate beaches for kiters & windsurfers

Exactyl what davman said

KNOTS.

Lots of 'em!

Paul Kelf said...

JP, how do you get there fom Manila?
I would imagine a plane from Manila to Palawan and then a boat trip.
How long by boat from Palawan?
Is there a Ferry service, Bunkers (local boat) and Tricycles (local motorbike with sidecar) would not be acceptable to most people or practicle for carrying gear.
Boracay was like that & a bit of a let down for a lot of people.
A lot of westeners would also be nervous about being so far south, although we travelled to Palawan we did not go to a lot of the southern islands as it was not safe. Palawan is one of the nicest and cleanest places I have been in the Phils.
Kidnappings & pirates were very common 10 years ago in that area, not sure about now.
The accomodation only needs to be basic, cold shower, toilet, clean bedding in a bamboo shack, thats how it was on Boracay 10 years ago and it was about $12.00 per night for a double room.
Basic food and local bar facilities would be ideal, keep it simple & cheap.
Make sure you could have separate beaches for kiters & windsurfers

hi paul, i missed the boat to cuyo island from panay last nite because it was fully booked, school starts next week and people and children are scrambling to get to cuyo then palawan via that boat yesterday...there are 2 ways either plane from Manila to Palawan then boat to Cuyo or Manila to Iloilo(which is capital of Panay)then boat to Cuyo either way same distance 10-12hrs. leave at 7pm arive when you wake up.. there are 2 shipping lines..Palawan is nice but nada wind but place is fantastic..you could also take a boat from Mnl. to eitherPalawan or Iloilo..boat is semi-roll on/roll off passenger/cargo ship..for the past 10yrs. i haven't heard an incident anymore if there was usually they(radicals)go for more hi-end resorts and has to be well planned for the distance is far from south of Mindanao..windsurfers/kiters are not the target i don't think a guy hanging on to something is worth it..go to be someone with class typical "white shorts and tops" were all rugged anyways...funny i've got friends who ask me if it's dangerous when i was going to Mindanao and i tell them "they" are 10hrs. away by bus...yes i am after just simple nipa cabanas with just a fan and i hope to know Davmen's aussie style crap pit a rm. now in Boracay for foreigners is min. 50$us. and we locals get charged that too..i was shocked to be charged 2us$ for instant coffee..will try hopefully again next week and try to see if there are 2 places where windsurfers/kiters can have there own spots..Formula Nova maybe a rescue boat for now would be just an outrigger pumpboat sorry 3rd world but if all goes well maybe we can bring in a jetski

No no no no no!!! JETSKI's - A tinny with a 15hp outboard is all you need.

&

You gotta be able to sit down, read and have a coffee when your having a bog!

Hey JP, as you know i've been to the southern parts of the phils many times...........NEVER had any trouble of any kind there & where you are talking about i would think it would be a fantastic trip...........just wish i could have caught up with you when i was there just recently !!! I could have really seen the area for myself to get an idea of the location & facilities there............if its basic, who cares, as you have said, see it & enjoy it before it gets comercialised. Not sure if you have mentioned this in your posts but is there a good season for wind & weather etc ? My next Hols are Nov / Oct...........may see you then (fingers crossed)
There wouldn't be any surf there by any chance...........would there ???

FormulaNova said...

DavMen said...

1. Relatively easy and cheap to get to. Freindly natives.
2. Good modern hire gear on the beach - rigged and ready to go.
3. Range of simple clean accommadation, from dorm to self contained bure style
4. Clean bathroom - warm showres
5. Offer 3 x meal pacakage.
6. Nice common area with shop/bar lounge were you can share a story over a cold beer with you're new friends and some background music.
7. Seperate Windsurfing-Kiting areas
8. Rescue boat

Others may want different though!

Hey - I think I've pretty much desrcibed Warrens place in Fiji.

What about the real important ones that you missed?

9. Coral free area that you sail in at low and high tide

10. Wind

11. Hotties . . . everywhere ( not the pay type either )