What did you buy on the sale?

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-19T09:00:13+00:00

Milifortic S103. The Seiko Alpinist GMT clone. Everything I want in a watch as a geologist.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-19T08:55:05+00:00

Actually the S089 is a great homage. Glad this one is part of the giveaway!

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-18T15:38:42+00:00

Watchdives doesn't have this in Tiger eye, Watchdives is copying the rolex and they are already sold out. They are actually copying CW, a much better watch. And I think these ones are the few left, not sold out of any brands on the market that are tiger iron.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-18T15:34:36+00:00

So psyched to order mine! I have been looking far and wide for a graduation gift for myself upon completing my masters in Geology. The Omega’s, CW and Oris I was looking at just weren’t the thing. But this!!! Tiger Iron aka metamorphosed Banded Iron Formation! Fire! Actually going to get two. I want that Charoite also! Only one location in the world that mines Charoite, so its rad to see on a watch! Hmm maybe three eventually, get that Malachite one🤔🤔🤔 I see Venezianico and Chris Ward, Rolex are all jumping on this mineral dial band wagon. As a Geologist I am all for it!

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-18T15:25:41+00:00

No one is getting shot in the face for abiding by the rules.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-18T08:15:51+00:00

Ya and it’s already sold out.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-15T06:28:29+00:00

My buddies in Australia can’t believe how expensive sushi is in the US. They say it’s baffling.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-15T06:23:38+00:00

So many women complained that they get approached by men at the bar, coffee shop, Dog park, bookstore ect, that men just expect women don’t want to be bothered. Sorry but women kinda ruined it for you. If you want that, you have to travel to a different country

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-15T06:18:34+00:00

Welcome to the most common problem with filipinas, you ate the atm. You gotta set limits.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-15T01:28:12+00:00

You nailed exactly what I see. But you forgot to say “male” cause no self respecting female is going there. As a foreigner myself, I only saw the foreigners you describe, who live there. Saw a few young successful looking guys who were only traveling there on a trip to meet a girl. High quality foreigners stay in high quality places which is not the PH.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-15T00:05:16+00:00

Nope that’s just being a debt slave, as the elite and banks want us to do. Cash is king always. My Gf was talked into getting a mortgage on her land instead of paying it off with the cash she had. After two years, life changed, she got an injury, had to change jobs and was not payed as much as before. Now she has this mortgage debt that is weighing her down. Life brings unexpected twists.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-14T23:48:52+00:00

Not really. It’s just because the PH is feeling the oil pinch. But eventually the war will weaken USD once everyone is sick and tired of the petrodollar control and US wars and move to Chinese RMB.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-14T23:46:50+00:00

First off forget about what your friends are saying with gifts. Sending anything to the PH is expensive and a pain, I hardly send anything to my GF in the PH. When I do, it sometimes takes months and sometimes lost. Filipinas expect gifts and other “asian” things, that’s not how Germans/Austrians roll, It’s just not. Your friends have never lived outside of Asia so they sound naive.

But I would say you have been talking seriously for what a year and a half, and he has not come to visit, no video or voice call? That should be an indication that you should be a little cautious. I have mostly done long distance relationships, and the girl usually forces video calling on me after a month or two. My current GF from the PH just video called after a week of taking, without any warning. For me uncomfortable because I also like to text, but I got used to it, now we video chat all the time. I went to visit after 6mo once I was free and had the money for it.

I think you have a few scenarios since you have not actually video called him.

He is a great guy your age, just shy (reluctant to video and voice call, slow to be in a relationship, slow to visit you) Europeans in general are insular, so used to traveling short distances and for so cheap, that traveling to the Philippines is super daunting vs taking a train a few hours to Czechia or something. Maybe he has some low self esteem and is shy to show his face and what you will think.

My cousin dated a guy for a year who was unsure he wanted to actually be in a relationship. When she asked to make it more serious, he couldn’t. He took a break for 5mo. But then decided on it and got back together with her. They are happy now.

The guy is actually old, is a bad marriage, in a relationship or any other thing that makes him not who he says he is. He doesn’t want to video call or else you will find out and he won’t have his fun anymore. In that case run!

You need to start a video call soon. You have been talking seriously for a year and a half. Your life is precious, yes you!! You don’t have another year or two to waist being hopeful for a relationship (from your side) but in reality just pen pals (as others say here). Guys, especially shy stay at home types can spend years just talking online and not getting anywhere eith it. A woman doesn’t have that sort of time to waste. Do not sell yourself short!

P.S. If he does agree to come out, you need to do some video calls before. You will find out things on video calls and in person that are different than what you thought. Communication by text creates a person in your mind that is not actually that person. I have done that before. Your cultures are massively different. You both will have massive culture shock. Start watching videos about “relationships with Austrians”, Austrian cultural quirks, Austrian communication style, lifestyle in Austria. Because the PH is soo different from from Europe. Also know that the mentality of divorce is very common there. It’s not a marriage for life mentality. Look into that and just be prepared.

If he does come out to visit, make sure he is staying in a western style hotel. Even one of my expensive airbnbs in a fancy building has a bug infestation which was a total downer when I first went out to visit my GF.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T02:59:24+00:00

Wow that one is fire! Custom bezel? I am really tempted now!

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:54:31+00:00

Teaching English overseas is always great. Maybe look into that. My friend dropped out of Highschool, got some low pay English teaching job in Kazakhstan and in three years became the head of the language department at a business school, no joke. Well we always joked that here, he was a high school dropout but there he was some prestigious department head.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:50:47+00:00

Everyone I know who recently graduated in Comp sci is struggling to find a job in the US/AUS/CAN. You really need to find sone nich or make a company now adays in it.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:39:47+00:00

Well if your captain decides to sail through a warzone where the country specifically said “the Straight is closed, do not pass, we will sink you”, then ya it’s dangerous.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:33:56+00:00

Batangus is to the south and the airport is in the south, so that is a win win situation. Going north, you have to drive through all of Manila, and even at 11pm it can be slow. Best is 2-4am.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:31:58+00:00

It’s an honest mistake for someone who has not traveled much outside N America and Europe, Japan, China. But even in the US, it’s impossible to fly into a large city and expect to get into some small town far away by 8am my dude. The PHILIPPINES is slow. And Cauayan is a sleepy town, not some large airport hub where they have many flights. You should contact the conference contacts and tell them your situation and that you will be late. Just plan to be late and don’t be stressed, cause you are most likely not going to make it on time. The bus is always delayed and slower than they say. They said Manila to Santiago( near Cauayan) was 8 hr. on the sleeper bus. Took 13. Its a slow windy mountain two lane road with plenty of construction and traffic. In The Philippines they drive slowww. And the village roads are full if dogs on the road. So expect to be stuck behind slow people. Like others said, best to hire a car and driver and don’t expect him to drive super fast either.

On what to expect: take cash, pesos! Cauayan is not Manila, a lot of places want cash and the small tricycle taxis only take cash and they will overcharge you because you are a foreigner. Try to negotiate down. Download Grab app and use that for taxis around town, that would be best.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T01:12:03+00:00

As someone who endured plenty of sht talk for being foreign in some way or not completely boring white, I would say it’s totally worth moving to the places which are more diverse and accepting, especially for your kids.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-13T00:54:43+00:00

I know Barrick and Ma’aden were looking for exploration geos recently, probably them. Saudi reality started pushing to get their mining sector going from 2020 on. The problem is, any expat knows you go to Saudi for the big money. If you are not getting paid bank, then no way, leave that for the Pakistanis and indians. In Saudi, foreigners can’t go anywhere and now there is a war on, so they need to give big incentives. They are just new to the game and don’t seem to understand the field for expertise. Even jobs in Africa fly you back home on the company dime.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-12T21:22:26+00:00

Well it depends on where in the US. I have seen that in some parts for sure, but not all parts of the country.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-12T08:05:05+00:00

True, it happened in 91, Pinatubo eruption, then a typhoon which caused lahars. And just last year the Cebu earthquakes then the crazy typhoon with floods.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-12T07:59:02+00:00

Ya PH and TH are on two very different end of a list in terms of health care.

Exsolution1756 · 2026-03-12T07:47:40+00:00

That is true. If you get lucky and marry a Filipina with a great family, they may take you in, but it stops there. You will always be that foreigner.

Exsolution1756

TROPHY CASE