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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 8, 2013 - 10:58pm PT
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Well, looks like I've become one of the beggars.
After several years of living in Indonesia, teaching here, opening a business that employs locals, and being married to an Indonesian, the government is complicating the process for me to stay even more. Kitas, Indonesia Work Visa, are almost impossible for me to get this year, and spouses of Indonesians aren't allowed to work.
The climbing gym is only two years old, so doesn't provide a positive cash flow yet.
With all this in mind, over the last couple months, Ernita and I have discussed the possibility of moving to America where I can teach Middle School Again. Arizona and Washington D.C. both have jobs for me. (I prefer Arizona because I can pick some places near climbing) I would love Northern California but still working some issues there.
Anyways, I've started a Chip-in to help me relocated the two dogs. They are family, we have no kids. (Sensitive issue) We've considered giving them up for adoption, but locals raise their dogs in cages, so the idea isn't appealing.
If we raise enough money, or raise more than we need, we plan on giving all the extra to a local Animal Welfare Society. They operate a no kill shelter.
Hope to get some help, but I also know times are tight for everyone.
Link to blog with donation widget.
Cheers,
Eman
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 8, 2013 - 11:29pm PT
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Regulations here are stricter than China.
Ex-pat spouses here are not allowed to work and must reapply for visas too.
Now, the climbing gym I "manage" is having trouble getting me work visas because the government is claiming they are locals who can do the job. Never mind that we are the first real climbing gym in Indonesia.
My last work permit had me listed has Head of "Specialized Marketing in Rock Climbing Gyms." We had to find a job that a local couldn't do.
We've considered making the climbing gym a foreign owned business, but that cost over 10,000 USD and since the gym hasn't reached a positive cash flow yet, it's not worth it. Not to mention I no longer have 10 grand in the bank.
Looks like I'll be back teaching in America and my wife will be working on a Green Card. Maybe when the gym gets a positive cash-flow we can come back. Most likely, we will sell our share ASAP.
For now, I need to raise some funds to bring Kuma and Sato with us.
Eman
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mrtropy
Trad climber
Nor Cal
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I talked to a Danish guy in Singapore who would just fly to Singapore or KL every so often to get his passport stamped. My cousin lives on Bali about 3 or 4 months a year having an import export business. You would think the government would want to keep you there for you knowledge.
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Try posting pictures of the dogs. Might try contacting some animal charities?
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 9, 2013 - 10:08pm PT
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Yes, we've considered flying back and forth every month, but the government is tracking down on that too. It would also put our climbing gym in jeopardy when they keep seeing a foreigner around who doesn't work there.
Keep in mind, Class 5 is the first in Indonesia to do a real climbing gym. We get visitors from the various government offices weekly and the Indonesian Climbing Federation are regulars.
A few of the upper members in the Federation want to see us gone so they can buy out facilities and run it as their own business. These guys have been making money in the "Grey Sectors" of government contracts for decades and are well connected. I'm guessing they took 30% off the the top on the ASEA game revenue.
No matter what, the dogs are ultimately my responsibly, so I'll deal with it. Just wanted to see if holding my hand out would help a bit.
Dog photos, actually included the whole family.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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I'm in a similar situation in Japan. Their population and economy are both declining and I have retirement income earned elsewhere to convert to yen and spend, but that still doesn't get a visa. And I have four dogs and a cat to get back to the U.S.
The cheapest way to do it is bring your dogs as accompanied baggage (not cargo). Yours are not too big so I'm guessing about $500 each from Hong Kong on. Indonesia to HK I don't know. I figure problems like this are what credit cards are for, especially if you have a job lined up.
I'd help, but I have double the problems you do right now. I can tell you that All Nippon Airlines is known for taking good care of animals and I can give you the name of a kennel service in LA that will meet you at the airport and help you transfer to another airline or side of the airport if that's what you need.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
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Feb 10, 2013 - 12:11am PT
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Try posting pictures of the dogs. Try posting more pictures of your wife. : P
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2013 - 12:58am PT
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All here for any contact in L.A.
Japan isn't easy either. I lived Okinawa for several years. A lot of people were flying back and forth to Taiwan, but the government slowly shut that down.
Eman
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2013 - 01:05am PT
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Pard-o,
Thanks. We're going to be dealing with China Airline. One layover in Tapei. From there, straight to L.A.X., perhaps America's most like airport.
Dogs are four years old, very healthy, and we have their entire medical history in their vet book. Complete with stickers from the medical/shots they took. (My wife is much more responsible than me.)
As for more photos of my wife, which she and I both laughed at, we'll send you a framed 8 by 12 photo of her and the two dogs for a minimum donation of 50.00 when we arrive in the U.S.
For those of you who prefer a photo of me and the dogs, maybe you need to get a new prescription for your glasses, but I'll offer the same.
Thanks for all the advice so far.
Eman
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 10, 2013 - 04:02am PT
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I don't know why Pard-o is being so negative. American service people ship dogs all over the world. Quite a few have even paid to send Afghan street dogs they were attached to, back to the U.S.
From Indonesia to LA with one layover in Taipei is very doable. Americans ship dogs on China Air from Okinawa through Taipei all the time. In Japan we can take our dogs down to Japanese customs the day before and they examine them and clear them so that they don't have to go through customs in L.A. If I were you, I'd check with the American Embassy in Jakarta to see what the requirements and procedure are. Usually they have a one page checklist of all vaccines needed already prepared. If your dogs have the right vaccines, they're not going to be quarantined but there are specific requirements in terms of how long before the flight all shots must be done.
Contact Mary Seward-Yamada to get details. She ships several service people's dogs from Okinawa to L.A. and vice versa every week and she's the person who can arrange for the kennel pickup in L.A. She's a wealth of experience and it would be worth your while to talk to her on the phone / skype for specific advice.
campcanine@gmail.com
Tell her Jan in Okinawa referred you.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Feb 10, 2013 - 04:45am PT
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Hey Guangzho, you seem like a good guy doing a good thing. It's not much but i thought i'd get the ball rolling for you & your family.
Cheers.
Ryan
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Fish Finder
Social climber
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
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Feb 10, 2013 - 04:59am PT
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Your a good egg Ryan.
Ruff situation !
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Feb 10, 2013 - 05:49pm PT
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Every country IS different in their regulations about bringing dogs in. And eve Hawai'i has it's own quarantine rules which differ from mainland USA.
Rules also change - so make sure well ahead of time that you know what is needed.
I used to have a dog walking service and one of my clients needed to go backto Australia as her mother was dying. She'd stayed in US as her dad passed and she knew better now...
Australia had a 6 month quarantine. But, for some reason, the quarantine could be done on THIS side...don't ask me why. There, the dog would be in a kennel at a boarding facility. Here, the dog was in my apartment, free as a bird..well, as a dog. He just had to go to the vet a few times to make sure he was healthy and then again just before departure. The lady arranged for a air transport pet care service to handle taking the dog from my place to airport. They knew exactly how to handle it all.
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 10, 2013 - 09:53pm PT
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Not a missionary or pastor. I was an International School teacher for along time. Opened a climbing gym two years ago and living on my savings, but running into issues with the visa. (Already mentioned above)
Moving back to America where I can teach either in Arizona, Nevada, California. (Public schools)
A lot of advice above, and yes, I've checked all the requirements for taking the dogs. I tutor several Consulate children in Math here, so finding the right people to ask is easy.
I lived in Okinawa for a few years, on DOD orders. Moving dogs with the Federal Government SOFA status is much easier than with no status. For some reason, the plane cost of taking a dog from Okinawa to Taipei is about half of Surabaya to Taipei.
For those of you who donated, thanks. I'm keeping the money in Paypal until I need it. If I can make do with it, you'll have it returned. (Seems your names are on the deposits, so it should be easy.
As for a climbing forum, I've been posting here for a while now. I even know some of you in the real world.
Jan, are you currently in Okinawa. Are you climbing places like USA beach, Black Wall, Lost World, Zampa, Pacific Wall or Meada? Just curious, nothing more.
Eman
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 10, 2013 - 10:04pm PT
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I was just going to say, please folks don't turn this into another hate fest of someone you don't even know.
As for climbing in Okinawa, I never have. I hate humidity and I dehydrate easily. Not to mention I don't like the idea of snakes living in cliffs. Even Layton Kor told me he stopped climbing for those reasons when he lived on Guam and went snorkeling and diving instead. So hats off to anyone who climbs here, but not me, especially since Nepal is only a plane flight away and I love big snow mountains.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 11, 2013 - 12:48am PT
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I read the thread about the kids beaten up in Peru and the insistence by some that they also were nothing but scammers. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. I just find it sad that so many people are so cynical. I'd rather be taken advantage of from time to time than be so suspicious of other's motives.
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 11, 2013 - 12:58am PT
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Jan,
I agree, humidity in Okinawa is bad, but in 5 years of developing climbing routes, often having to cut the trail through the jungle myself, I never ran into a snake while climbing in Okinawa. I did run into a Habu in downtown Naha once. Saw a lot of them fermenting in Alamori too.
Okinawa has some nice rock climbing. I also can't imagine not climbing for several years, so I tolerated the heat/humidity, I was usually off island from Mid June to August. Didn't climb in June because the first month of school is always difficult.
We usually climbed in the shade, on most cliffs that meant starting around 11:00. At the tunnel we climbed in the morning and swam/snorkeled in the afternoon.
Dehydrate easily, that must be a though thing in the world on mountaineering.
To everyone else, I am not worried or concerned about negative comments or looking like a scam artist. Trust me, don't trust, about this being to get my dogs home. Can't do anything either way.
Jan, the snorkeling on Okinawa is pretty fantastic too.
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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Feb 11, 2013 - 01:21am PT
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The habu are mostly nocturnal. I saw lots of them out at Torii station when I walked my dogs there at night. I just have a horror of reaching into a crack and waking one.
As for dehydration, the liquid lost through heavy breathing at altitude is nothing compared to the full body sweat of Okinawa - and that is just getting from the house to the car.
Speaking of dogs and airlines, I was very active in protesting United's decision to bump up the fee for military member's dogs from $500 to $5,000 right after they got a new 5 year Dept. of Defense contract. Facebook petitions and protests, and Good Morning America made them back down on that one, thus sparing the lives of many animals that would otherwise have been abandoned, and the pocket books of many young military people who would have charged $10,000 to their credit cards to get their pets home.
So yes, some of us do take our pets seriously.
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Guangzhou
Trad climber
Asia, Indonesia, East Java
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 11, 2013 - 05:58am PT
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Torii station. Okinawa's but hot-tub. They had a threadwall for awhile, but no one maintained it, so it died.
Didn't know about United and the dog thing. Nice to see social media workd for good sometimes.
Cheers
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tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
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Feb 11, 2013 - 06:30am PT
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Coz. It's not a scam . Gungzau has been on here and RC,com for years. It is however a first world problem..
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