The Philippines. What's it like ? Going there soon...

[socal]

Well... Next month. Toward the end of next month.

Some reports depict it as a lot poorer then Thailand. A lot of good that seppo/spic colonization did eh

I am in travels with my flip gf.

But all I want is a decent big bike, a jet ski , maybe a speed boat and cheap alcohol. Should be a good mix.

I can't wait.. It's been awhile since I have ventured over to the orient. I need out of the nanny state. It's driving me ****ing crazy. I've been stuck in the nanny state too long

[KalasinJeff]

[Cujo]

Well... Next month. Toward the end of next month.

Some reports depict it as a lot poorer then Thailand. A lot of good that seppo/spic colonization did eh

I am in travels with my flip gf.

But all I want is a decent big bike, a jet ski , maybe a speed boat and cheap alcohol. Should be a good mix.

I can't wait.. It's been awhile since I have ventured over to the orient. I need out of the nanny state. It's driving me ****ing crazy. I've been stuck in the nanny state too long

It's the most dangerous of the SE Asian countries.
security guards in McD's, carparks and hotels all carry big ****off guns.
Don't forget your pic thread when you get back.

[socal]

It's the most dangerous of the SE Asian countries.
security guards in McD's, carparks and hotels all carry big ****off guns.
Don't forget your pic thread when you get back.

Its not more dangerous then Nam or Cambo common...

[Cujo]

Its not more dangerous then Nam or Cambo common...

Fark yes it is.
It doesn't have the strong authoritarian type of government that those countries have. (Though I'll admit not having been to Cambodia)
It's the wild east out there in flipper land.
Have you been to the Philippines, Vietnam or Cambodia?
It's a shithole in my opinion.

[socal]

Fark yes it is.
It doesn't have the strong authoritarian type of government that those countries have. (Though I'll admit not having been to Cambodia)
It's the wild east out there in flipper land.
Have you been to the Philippines, Vietnam or Cambodia?
It's a shithole in my opinion.

No this is the 1st.

The infrastructure and architexture just isn't up to par with Thailand or what ? I've heard ppl say this before but I am not sure what to expect.

what part of Thailand would compare to a place like Boracuay ? Phuket ? Koh Samet ? I think Koh Samet is a dive

[Cujo]

No this is the 1st.

The infrastructure and architexture just isn't up to par with Thailand or what ? I've heard ppl say this before but I am not sure what to expect.

what part of Thailand would compare to a place like Boracuay ? Phuket ? Koh Samet ? I think Koh Samet is a dive

Once you get to Boracay (very small, no big bike roads) you're generally ok, but outside the resorts areas the place is a clusterphuck.
It makes Thailand look slick and sophisticated by comparison.

[socal]

Once you get to Boracay (very small, no big bike roads) you're generally ok, but outside the resorts areas the place is a clusterphuck.
It makes Thailand look slick and sophisticated by comparison.

I wonder if my bird can get a Thailand travel visa. Cuz maybe some future Thailand trips are in the works. But I am already going to PH this time. I'll rent a dirtbike instead.

and if its that underdeveloped, there will be more business opertunity

[Cujo]

I wonder if my bird can get a Thailand travel visa. Cuz maybe some future Thailand trips are in the works. But I am already going to PH this time. I'll rent a dirtbike instead.

and if its that underdeveloped, there will be more business opertunity

What kind of business are you thinking of?
It's utterly corrupt.
Davis on TD would be the man to talk to.

[Texpat]

I spent about a year cumulative in the PI (Philippine Islands, though its official designation is RP Republic of the Philippines).

It is different than Thailand in many ways, but in some ways very similar. I've been to Baguio, Angeles, Subic, Cebu, Dumaguete, Zamboanga and Basilan -- and a shitload of tiny airports in between.

In my opinion, the people are friendlier but it IS more dangerous. I would personally not hesitate to drive through Narathiwat or Yala, but would never consider the same in most parts of Mindanao. In Thailand the corruption gets you through pricing rip-offs and white-guy tax and bent cops. In the PI you won't likely see much of that but you might get robbed. (I never was)

Thailand has better roads, more reliable electric and the water is the same -- don't drink it. Air travel is cheap and safe and busses are available but best avoided even though they don't wind up as overturned burning hulks in roadside ditches and down ravines as often as in Thailand. When typhoons aren't battering the PI, the weather is marginally better, I've found, as you're never very far from the sea. The laziness factor and mind-boggling jury-rigging of even the simplest of tasks is about equal -- owing to lack of resources and general insufferable tropical climate.

You will routinely hear the oft-repeated and seldom substantiated narrative that Philippine food is horrible. Don't believe it.

I wonder if my bird can get a Thailand travel visa.

Should not be a problem. My Thai girlfriend (now wife) visited me in the PI in 2001 -- no advance visa required.

Having said all this, my information is dated, and should not be considered current.

[Cujo]

You will routinely hear the oft-repeatedand seldom substantiated narrative that Philippine food is horrible. Don't believe it.

That's because there's really no such thing as Philippine food as such. I can't think of one Philippine dish and I have never seen a Philippine restaurant anywhere.
Why?
Because the food sucks.

[Texpat]

Fantastic Filipino dishes

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/e...-dishes-157035

#28 is a specialty. Don't miss it (also available in Thailand).

[Cujo]

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/e...-dishes-157035

#28 is a specialty. Don't miss it (also available in Thailand).

MMM balut. Fertilized egg.
It all looks pretty gross to me.

[serrollt]

Well... Next month. Toward the end of next month.

Some reports depict it as a lot poorer then Thailand. A lot of good that seppo/spic colonization did eh

I am in travels with my flip gf.

But all I want is a decent big bike, a jet ski , maybe a speed boat and cheap alcohol. Should be a good mix.

I can't wait.. It's been awhile since I have ventured over to the orient. I need out of the nanny state. It's driving me ****ing crazy. I've been stuck in the nanny state too long

You'll certainly find cheap alc there... and adventures.
You'll be grateful to get back to your nanny state.

[socal]

You'll certainly find cheap alc there... and adventures.
You'll be grateful to get back to your nanny state.

F u k off I will be greatfull. I usually cry on the plane ride back to the nanny state. I despise the nanny state.

Not it everyone is a socialist flake