Getting wet in the Philippines
The Phillippines is a beautiful place to visit.. but just to visit..... As a frequent visitor since the Marcos days ( I was there two weeks ago ) it has great appeal for a single man ( best women in the world ) but eveything else you can keep.... if you think Thailand is corrupt then Pi will open your eyes.. all restaurants and bars have a sign outside asking you to leave your guns at the door..it is still a third world country and always will be and is light years behind Thailand in standard of living...it gets battered every year by typhoons and flooding is endemic, a fact that tourists seem to ignore.. the men are lazy and and as a friend of mine once said " if they could shoot all the men and put the women in charge " then the country may have a chance.... don't get me wrong I love PI as a place to play golf and have a good time ,yes its great.....as a place to live.....only if you have no where else to go...
post subject
Ive spent the best part of the last 16 months living in the Philippines prior to that I was in Thailand nearly six years. Theres good and bad in both, these are my thoughts:
1) The cost of living is certainly cheapper than LOS. You can rent a good two bedroom 2 bathroom house for under 5000 baht. Beers about a third cheaper, and the girls if your into that are a similar price to LOS. The most notable difference though is hotels and guest houses are considerable more exspensive than LOS.
2) If your an ex-pat who needs to be surrounded by other ex-pats Philippines may not be for you. Hard to get exact figures but theres definitly no-where near the number of ex-pats here compared to LOS.
3) Whilst English is spoken by considerable more people than probably in LOS it is not as widely spoken as is generally perceived.
4) The transport system in my oppinnion is on a par with Thailand although as the original poster said they are com[pletely mad on the roads. It is strange though you actually see surprisingly few accidents.
5) The corruption im sure is worse than LOS, it is though however harder to give the police a bribe when pulled on a nonsense traffic offense. The problem then being youve got a ticket theyve got your licence and the fines are up to 5 times that of LOS.
6) For anyone considering running a buissiness in Philippines dont bother unless your completely mad, its a nightmare im told by friends of mine who have tried.
7) The girls, thats a hard call, probably nothing to choose between them in my oppinion although I will say the Philippinos tend to be more affectionate and slightly less money orientated.
One of the biggest downsides is the violence, it seams carrying a gun is as normal as carrying a set of motorbike keys. Having said that ive not been shot at mugged or assaulted although in fairness i wasnt in Thailand either.
9) The Philippines with over 7000 islands and the second largest coastline in the world is in my oppinion more beautifull than the LOS.
10) The biggest bonnus though is the visa situation. 21 days on entry 28 days then at a cost of 2200 Baht. after that its 2200 Baht every 58 days. no leaving the country, no 6 hour drives, no limitation on the length of your stay.
11) Property laws pretty much same as LOS although 100 year leases are available and can be registered at the land office, Although like leases in Thailand who knows the validity of the lease untill it is challenged.
In summary theres good and bad in both countries I dont think theres much to choose between the two.
1) The cost of living is certainly cheapper than LOS. You can rent a good two bedroom 2 bathroom house for under 5000 baht. Beers about a third cheaper, and the girls if your into that are a similar price to LOS. The most notable difference though is hotels and guest houses are considerable more exspensive than LOS.
2) If your an ex-pat who needs to be surrounded by other ex-pats Philippines may not be for you. Hard to get exact figures but theres definitly no-where near the number of ex-pats here compared to LOS.
3) Whilst English is spoken by considerable more people than probably in LOS it is not as widely spoken as is generally perceived.
4) The transport system in my oppinnion is on a par with Thailand although as the original poster said they are com[pletely mad on the roads. It is strange though you actually see surprisingly few accidents.
5) The corruption im sure is worse than LOS, it is though however harder to give the police a bribe when pulled on a nonsense traffic offense. The problem then being youve got a ticket theyve got your licence and the fines are up to 5 times that of LOS.
6) For anyone considering running a buissiness in Philippines dont bother unless your completely mad, its a nightmare im told by friends of mine who have tried.
7) The girls, thats a hard call, probably nothing to choose between them in my oppinion although I will say the Philippinos tend to be more affectionate and slightly less money orientated.
One of the biggest downsides is the violence, it seams carrying a gun is as normal as carrying a set of motorbike keys. Having said that ive not been shot at mugged or assaulted although in fairness i wasnt in Thailand either.9) The Philippines with over 7000 islands and the second largest coastline in the world is in my oppinion more beautifull than the LOS.
10) The biggest bonnus though is the visa situation. 21 days on entry 28 days then at a cost of 2200 Baht. after that its 2200 Baht every 58 days. no leaving the country, no 6 hour drives, no limitation on the length of your stay.
11) Property laws pretty much same as LOS although 100 year leases are available and can be registered at the land office, Although like leases in Thailand who knows the validity of the lease untill it is challenged.
In summary theres good and bad in both countries I dont think theres much to choose between the two.
Nice to hear from someone that lives there gooze, I'd agree with most of your comments and observations. It seems that the Phils has a bad reputation for crime and firearms but I didn't experience any of it whilst there and certainly felt safer that I would in certain parts of the UK.
Still wading through the photos ...
Still wading through the photos ...
Last edited by buksida on Mon May 25, 2009 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: post subject
Gooze, interesting report, where do you live there Gooze out interest, and what's your opinion on the quality of the schools & hospitals ?
Just a couple of observations from my trips, correct me if I'm wrong please:
Cheers,
SJ
Just a couple of observations from my trips, correct me if I'm wrong please:
Agree outside Manila but in P Burgos Makati and EDSA Pasay (same as your Nanas, Cowboys and Patpongs) the Phils is a fair bit more expensive, ie: 250-350P for a lady drink, 1,500-2,500 fine and 2,000-4,000 lady ??gooze wrote:Beers about a third cheaper, and the girls if your into that are a similar price to LOS.
Am I right in reading it's a 50 year lease with 'option' to renew just once (not that the once will even occur) for 25 years ??11) Property laws pretty much same as LOS although 100 year leases are available and can be registered at the land office, Although like leases in Thailand who knows the validity of the lease untill it is challenged.
Cheers,
SJ
As I’ve heard many people commenting on the gun crime situation in the Philippines I just had a look at the statistics and they’re quite shocking.
Apparently according to the WHO, the gun homicide rate for the Philippines is 9.64 per 100,000 people whilst the UK is 0.10, so basically it’s about a hundred times worse!
Apparently according to the WHO, the gun homicide rate for the Philippines is 9.64 per 100,000 people whilst the UK is 0.10, so basically it’s about a hundred times worse!
What's the USA Steve, about 4-5? In fact, if you're looking at it, what is the lowest and highest in the world? Lowest I would say Singapore (Vatican doesn't countSTEVE G wrote:As I’ve heard many people commenting on the gun crime situation in the Philippines I just had a look at the statistics and they’re quite shocking.
Apparently according to the WHO, the gun homicide rate for the Philippines is 9.64 per 100,000 people whilst the UK is 0.10, so basically it’s about a hundred times worse!
), highest, maybe Columbia? Pete 
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
To answer super Joe.
Yer Makati is really crazy exspensive as regards the girls, the prices you quoted are pretty close to the mark. However what i will say ais that if your looking for that type of recreation Angales is cheapper and on a par with Pattaya prices. Although the big difference is it seams to be easier to find a decent girl anywhere in the Philippines, they are far more approachable it seams to me than the thais, I met my missus in Mcdonalds.
As regards to the property laws my understanding is that as from the 1st June this year 100 year leases are available and legal. I would like to say however im far from any sort of expert on property law in the Philippines.
I have been living in Angales but have now moved to Panagasin, have a great house 50 meters from the beach.
Somebody mentioned hospitals and schools, hospitals are on a par with Thailand althougfh my oppinion is they are considerable cheapper, and the schools i would make the same assesment off.
Out of interest when the ex had our baby C section in Thailand it was 70 grand. The new mrs G is expecting even if she has to have a C section its only 15 Grand and thats a private clinic.
Also would like to make two further observations the language is much eassier to learn and the Philippino men are much more sociable then the Thai guys.
Yer Makati is really crazy exspensive as regards the girls, the prices you quoted are pretty close to the mark. However what i will say ais that if your looking for that type of recreation Angales is cheapper and on a par with Pattaya prices. Although the big difference is it seams to be easier to find a decent girl anywhere in the Philippines, they are far more approachable it seams to me than the thais, I met my missus in Mcdonalds.
As regards to the property laws my understanding is that as from the 1st June this year 100 year leases are available and legal. I would like to say however im far from any sort of expert on property law in the Philippines.
I have been living in Angales but have now moved to Panagasin, have a great house 50 meters from the beach.
Somebody mentioned hospitals and schools, hospitals are on a par with Thailand althougfh my oppinion is they are considerable cheapper, and the schools i would make the same assesment off.
Out of interest when the ex had our baby C section in Thailand it was 70 grand. The new mrs G is expecting even if she has to have a C section its only 15 Grand and thats a private clinic.
Also would like to make two further observations the language is much eassier to learn and the Philippino men are much more sociable then the Thai guys.
post subject
Theres actually one maygor downside to the Philippines that i forgot to mention. Geographically for those like myself who like to travel unlike Thailand you dont have the luxury of the neighbouring countries.
Would be interesting to hear from ex-pats living in Cambodia/Loas/Vietnam and Malaysia to hear there oppinnions on the vairious compparrisons made on this thread.
I first visited the LOS in 1991 to me the Philippines is similar to how Thailand was then.
One interesting peace of trivia on the Philippines two of the worlds largest five shopping malls are in manilla.
Would be interesting to hear from ex-pats living in Cambodia/Loas/Vietnam and Malaysia to hear there oppinnions on the vairious compparrisons made on this thread.
I first visited the LOS in 1991 to me the Philippines is similar to how Thailand was then.
One interesting peace of trivia on the Philippines two of the worlds largest five shopping malls are in manilla.
As promised here is the first batch of dive shots, all were taken with a 7MP Sony Cybershot, Ikelite housing, and supplemental LED focus lamp, most were done on macro as I don't have strobes yet!
Nudibranch, (Nembrotha chamberlaini)
Bizarre thorny coral structure.
Spider crap, commonly known as the 'orangutan crab'. (Acheus japonicus)
Scorpionfish, these are quite common but I've never seen them this colour. (Scorpaena plumieri)
The elusive and very hard to spot juvenille frogfish on the wreck of the MV Alma Jane. (Antennarius maculatus)
Featherstar.
Entering the cargo hold of the MV Alma Jane, scuttled in Sabang bay 6-7 years ago.
School of fusiliers.
A lionfish crusing the wreck for its next feed. (Pterois volitans)
Lionfish closeup, these look very cool when free swimming and are quite photogenic.
I maybe a little off with the Latin as there are thousands of species, many of which look similar. More to follow ...
Nudibranch, (Nembrotha chamberlaini)
Bizarre thorny coral structure.
Spider crap, commonly known as the 'orangutan crab'. (Acheus japonicus)
Scorpionfish, these are quite common but I've never seen them this colour. (Scorpaena plumieri)
The elusive and very hard to spot juvenille frogfish on the wreck of the MV Alma Jane. (Antennarius maculatus)
Featherstar.
Entering the cargo hold of the MV Alma Jane, scuttled in Sabang bay 6-7 years ago.
School of fusiliers.
A lionfish crusing the wreck for its next feed. (Pterois volitans)
Lionfish closeup, these look very cool when free swimming and are quite photogenic.
I maybe a little off with the Latin as there are thousands of species, many of which look similar. More to follow ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Great pics Buksi. I've been reading about the National Geographic diver program/certification. You could easily qualify. Maybe if you look into it you could get some of your photos published? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Thanks for the compliments, would be nice if I could flog a couple to cover some of the cost of the trip!
Here's the next batch:
Ascidians, (Rhopalaea crassa)
Clark's anemonefish, (Amphiprion clarkii)
Nudibranch, (Chromodoris)
Bearded scorpionfish up close (Scorpaena)
Moral eel, (Gymnothorax)
Reef scene
Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani)
Seastar (Linckia?)
Juvenile striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus)
Anemone crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
More to follow ...
Here's the next batch:
Ascidians, (Rhopalaea crassa)
Clark's anemonefish, (Amphiprion clarkii)
Nudibranch, (Chromodoris)
Bearded scorpionfish up close (Scorpaena)
Moral eel, (Gymnothorax)
Reef scene
Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani)
Seastar (Linckia?)
Juvenile striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus)
Anemone crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
More to follow ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
OK, constructive criticism this time. A few of this last batch are spot on. The others though look as if you're trying to get too close. Maybe an anticipation thing about losing the shot, or maybe too much zoom.
My eye says 7 of the 10 would have been better from a bit further away. Pete
My eye says 7 of the 10 would have been better from a bit further away. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source