The Philippines pros, cons, reviews, comparison to Thailand thread

[Buddha Pest]

Give us the skinny on the PI! Pics, comments, pros, cons, places to visit, places to avoid, comparison to Thailand etc.

[Chesty P.]

WAY more dangerous than Thailand and decent hotels are more expensive. However, I have not been there for a long time, so maybe things have improved.

[Exexpat]

Have you been to Baguio? I've never got around to it. Must during next year's travels.

[Chesty P.]

Never been, but had a friend that lived there for a while and he thought it was far superior to Manila.

[peterplonker]

WAY more dangerous than Thailand and decent hotels are more expensive. However, I have not been there for a long time, so maybe things have improved.

thats my experience as well dangerous and expensive, its a while since i have been there and i never want to repeat the experience.

[Boon Mee]

thats my experience as well dangerous and expensive, its a while since i have been there and i never want to repeat the experience.

I was there back in 1968 and the whole place reeked of filth and poverty.
Bad food and diseased women was my impression.
As far as the vaunted LBFM - PBR's - you can have 'em...

[Mr Tinkles]

It is my intention to travel here for a couple months, originally planned for this time however I have postponed it a year and will aim for this time next year. There's some beautiful scenery & I need to compile a list of places to visit. I have joined a PI forum but it's mainly a mongers forum for AC/Manila & not so many reports of places to visit but they are there, I just need to weed them out.....however I've been fully educated on the dangers of marrying a bar girl by guys that have been burnt

Hardcore anal.jpg

This is Dinagat Island. The bikini clad chick is actually the hiking guide but on asking her fees it was around US$100 a day which I thought was extreme considering the average salary is closer to $10 a day, & no she's not a hooker

[peterplonker]

It is my intention to travel here for a couple months, originally planned for this time however I have postponed it a year and will aim for this time next year. There's some beautiful scenery & I need to compile a list of places to visit. I have joined a PI forum but it's mainly a mongers forum for AC/Manila & not so many reports of places to visit but they are there, I just need to weed them out.....however I've been fully educated on the dangers of marrying a bar girl by guys that have been burnt

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This is Dinagat Island. The bikini clad chick is actually the hiking guide but on asking her fees it was around US$100 a day which I thought was extreme considering the average salary is closer to $10 a day, & no she's not a hooker

pity i quite like hookers but only the good ones, that is, the trick finding the wheat in the chaff

[Bonglek]

Have you been to Baguio? I've never got around to it. Must during next year's travels.

Stayed in Baguio a few nights years ago. Made the mistake of checking into a cheap hotel who's motto was
' Your home away from home '
Well.....if my home was as bad I would stay away from it.
Nice town in the evening with several bars with live singers. Felt safer here than in other large towns.
Very hilly so good exercise.

[S Landreth]

Some strange travelers above. But then we might travel a bit differently than others here.

Recently one night in Maninila (just connecting to a flight) and then on to Cebu for 9 nights (our room: http://www.pulchraresorts.com/philip...-jacuzzi-villa ). Diving trip.

People we met were wonderful on both sides of the island. Always helpful and a smile on their face.

Driving was a bit of a challenge. Just remember to leave early.

comparison to Thailand etc.

[Hugh Cow]

[Boon Mee]

Flippers can't cook. Unless it's to place a "Baalut" (duck egg) in the back yard to ferment.

[peterplonker]

have you ever been to a memorable flipper restaurant, i never have?

[Boon Mee]

have you ever been to a memorable flipper restaurant, i never have?

Flipper food isn't ranked too high on the Michelin index...

[sabang]

H'mmm, not so fast. Filipino food is becoming trendy!

Other Asian cuisines have been part of the American landscape for decades. But only in recent years have Filipino dishes started gaining recognition outside immigrant communities, at restaurants like

Maharlika

in New York;

Bad Saint

in Washington, D.C.; and

Lasa

in Los Angeles.

Although Filipino food draws on early encounters with Malay, Chinese and Arab traders as well as centuries of Spanish occupation, its profile is distinct: salty and sour above all, with less of the mitigating sweetness and chile-stoked fire found in the cooking of its Southeast Asian neighbors.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/d...o-cooking.html

It always seemed a bit of a convenient fashion to knock flippa food, but I found plenty to enjoy (without describing it as world class cuisine!). Dishes like adobo, sinigang, Bicol express, lechon, garlic fried rice & crispy pata are fine with me. Hamburgers too- the ubiquitous burger carts are everywhere, and the noodle dishes are OK . Pinoy bagoong knocks spots off Thai plaa raa, imho. If you're on a diet though, ferget it.

Booze- Filipines a clear winner, cheaper too. San Mig vs local swill, Tanduay rum vs any Thai whisky, Emperador vs Regency brandy.
English communication- clear winner the Fil's.
Chaos, corruption & general confusion- both world class really.
Beaches & mountains- plenty to see in both countries. Thailand easier to travel around though.
Wimmin- grow on trees, but in the Fils they All want to marry you. Think poverty. It can be a bit of a pain.

Don't see why if you like Thailand, you couldn't like the Fils, and vice versa.