The Philippines - costs, cheap places to stay etc.

[Voley]

They're probably still there, just a bit of a dying breed these days. It'd be a few more quid to rent, I'd imagine, too. I was umm-ing and aah-ing about asking them to open one for me so I could save a bit of cash but I had a laptop with me and figured I couldn't risk it, really.

On the plus side, they've got an an ace cheap bar right on the beach now. It looks like it might have been a hut once. Sank a good few tequilas there at sunset every evening before toddling off down the beach in search of fresh seafood. Ace place, Tulum.

 

[Rainingstairs]

Avoid Boracay and Cebu- super built up Japanese tourist destinations. Puerto Princesa is the new(er) premier dive/beachy chill spot in the Phil. Ayala Alabang is a very nice place in Manila, minutes from Rizal International Airport (like a very hot, wet, humid Los Angeles with the fancy stores and massive mansions-should you need to stay in Manila at all). I actually drove there with no problems! Make sure taxi drivers use the meter or they will rip you off. The tricycles are really the best for shorter distances although they aren't in the North as the engines can't make it up the steep mountains. Jeepneys are fun! They're the gaudy silver buses-you can get places for pennies, but don't take them in Manila, that would be hell. Always get up for a lady and hang off the back if you have to (men only). Practically everyone speaks English. Practice "hiya" it's Tagalog for shame-but it's not really shame per se. Just being polite always or you can really piss them off with your western ways Oh, all white guys are called "Joe".

 

[Sadken]

They're probably still there, just a bit of a dying breed these days. It'd be a few more quid to rent, I'd imagine, too. I was umm-ing and aah-ing about asking them to open one for me so I could save a bit of cash but I had a laptop with me and figured I couldn't risk it, really.

On the plus side, they've got an an ace cheap bar right on the beach now. It looks like it might have been a hut once. Sank a good few tequilas there at sunset every evening before toddling off down the beach in search of fresh seafood. Ace place, Tulum.

It really is. Are those rasta veggie people serving food out of their house still there in the town centre? Rainbow cafe or something they called it...

 

[goldenecitrone]

Avoid Boracay and Cebu- super built up Japanese tourist destinations. Puerto Princesa is the new(er) premier dive/beachy chill spot in the Phil. Ayala Alabang is a very nice place in Manila, minutes from Rizal International Airport (like a very hot, wet, humid Los Angeles with the fancy stores and massive mansions-should you need to stay in Manila at all). I actually drove there with no problems! Make sure taxi drivers use the meter or they will rip you off. The tricycles are really the best for shorter distances although they aren't in the North as the engines can't make it up the steep mountains. Jeepneys are fun! They're the gaudy silver buses-you can get places for pennies, but don't take them in Manila, that would be hell. Always get up for a lady and hang off the back if you have to (men only). Practically everyone speaks English. Practice "hiya" it's Tagalog for shame-but it's not really shame per se. Just being polite always or you can really piss them off with your western ways Oh, all white guys are called "Joe".

Salamatpo. Means thankyou. Maamsir, sirmaam was the ubiquotous greeting in Manila. Definitely no Jeepney rides in central Manila, the surest way to respiratory failure bar asbestos. The only parts of Manila I really liked where the old Spanish bit and the waterfront. Isn't the international airport called Ninoy International after Ninoy Acquino, the assassinated would be President?

 

[Voley]

It really is. Are those rasta veggie people serving food out of their house still there in the town centre? Rainbow cafe or something they called it...

That rings a bell, although I only dragged myself away from the beach and into town once so barely saw any of it. The chemists is good in Tulum town. They treat sand flea bites with the Mexican equivalent of Preparation H. Amazingly, it works.

 

[goldenecitrone]

Just booked my flight to Ninoy Aquino International via Bahrain. Apparently the Filipinos celebrate Christmas on 23rd December. Should be fun.

 

[Voley]

Have fun!

 

[goldenecitrone]

Will do, should be nice and warm this time of year. Will report back on any nice places we visit.

 

[Voley]

Yeah, that'd be really helpful, ta.

 

[tastebud]

all i can say is el nido, el nido, el nido. i was meant to stay for a few nights and ended up staying for over a week. book your internal flights in advance - like, now, as they are super expensive if you leave them till the last minute like i did constantly - think i ended up spending about 400 quid on internal flights! Manila is fun for a night - for getting very drunk and seeing the nightlife but yeah after that head somewhere calmer. avoid borocay it truly sucks - commercial hell. even the beach has a shopping centre. cebu is meant to be fun.... but palawan is where it is at: el nido, el nido, el nido. i completely love the phils.

Just booked my flight to Ninoy Aquino International via Bahrain. Apparently the Filipinos celebrate Christmas on 23rd December. Should be fun.

bastard!! have fun.

£30-40 per day sounds about right. philippines is more expensive than i had imagined... largely due to expense of travelling though. the food sucks (IMO of course) so you won't need to eat much.

 

[Pugwall7]

I want to second Palawan. I spent two weeks there and was totally chillaxing and awesome. Just on the porch of my bungalow reading books, eating crabs and snorkelling. 60p bottles of Rum and lovely people who give you no hassle. I really wish could go back now.

 

[Pugwall7]

Manila is a hell hole with great nightlife tho.

 

[Voley]

Just on the porch of my bungalow reading books, eating crabs and snorkelling. 60p bottles of Rum and lovely people who give you no hassle. I really wish could go back now.

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm after. Cheers.

 

[tastebud]

and that is exactly what you will get in el nido - go to el nido! it is paradise.... but cool paradise, not usual se asia 'paradise'.

 

[goldenecitrone]

That erupting volcano looks quite interesting and not too far away from Manila.

 

[Voley]

and that is exactly what you will get in el nido - go to el nido! it is paradise.... but cool paradise, not usual se asia 'paradise'.

Yeah, gets a very favourable write-up in the Rough Guide, El Nido. Does sound like my sort of place.

Erupting volcanoes, eh? or

 

[goldenecitrone]

http://itn.co.uk/4ae24de1b84117fd585af962a32202aa.html

Hope it's not the next Krakatoa.

 

[Voley]

Fucking hell!

 

[goldenecitrone]

Heading off to Heathrow in an hour. Hopefully all this snow won't delay my flight. From cold and ice to fire and volcanoes. Merry Christmas.