Philippines

[Cam]

Looks like I'm going to Quezon City for 3 weeks the end of May for work.

Anybody been there? If so, give me some hints of what to do/not do while we're there.

We'll have free time on the weekends, so we're toying with going to Japan or Australia for a weekend trip while we're there.

[Harry Beanbag]

Don't eat balut. http://www.rattusquebecus.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/vomit.gif

[soonerboomer93]

My understanding is Japan is very expensive.

I would hit Australia.



I've also heard the Philipines can be pretty dangerous, so be careful

[Chuck Bao]

Wouldn't Australia be a bit far for a weekend trip? You'd end up spending more time on a plane than actually there.

Hong Kong is pretty short 2-3 hour flight, if I remember correctly.

Within the Philippines, Boracay used to have a great beach. But, I haven't been there in 20 years.

[afs]

Do: wear a raincoat.

[Okla-homey]

Been there, done that. Here's my advice re: Philippines. It's hot. I just checked the weather. At 7pm local time (right now) its still 89F with 70% humidity.

It will be hotter in early June.

Only drink stuff from bottles. Eat the street vendor food at your peril. Get immunized for hep A, typhoid and start taking the malaria preventative ASAP and make your employer pay for it. Dengue, a rapidly expanding disease in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world, has become the most important arboviral disease of humans and the Philippines has a huge problem with it right now. No vaccine available. Fortunately, Dengue fever probably won't kill you, unfortunately, you'll wish you were dead if you contract it. Dengue is spread by mosquitos so DEET-based skeeter repellant is your bestest friend.

Also, don't "adventure" out. They have troublesome islamo-thugs who like to kidnap gringos and such. Other than that, have fun. Good news is most everyone you're likely to encounter speaks some English.

Keep this info handy:
The U.S. Embassy is located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila; tel. (63)(2)528-6300; fax 522-4361. Website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/. The American Business Center is located at 25/F, Ayala Life - FGU Center, 6811 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It houses the Foreign Commercial Service: tel (63)(2) 888-4088; fax 888-6606; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3012.html; and the Foreign Agricultural Service: tel (63)(2)887-1137; fax 887-1268; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3011.html.

If you are detained by the local authorities, BE NICE and respectfully remind them you have the right under international treaty to ask to have our embassy informed of your arrest and they can visit you in jail and help you obtain competent legal representation. Do NOT go all "I am an American citizen and you can't do me this way!" on them. That just p1sses them off and you'll be worse off for it.

Always a good idea keep abreast of pertinent State Department bulletins for places you plan to travel.
http://www.state.gov/misc/list/index.htm

[soonerboomer93]

also make sure to register with them that you will be traveling and the time frame

[Cam]

Wouldn't Australia be a bit far for a weekend trip? You'd end up spending more time on a plane than actually there.
Yeah, I was looking at flights last night and it's way too far for a weekend trip.


Hong Kong is pretty short 2-3 hour flight, if I remember correctly.
HK was just over 2 hours, so we might do that.

[Cam]

Been there, done that. Here's my advice re: Philippines. It's hot. I just checked the weather. At 7pm local time (right now) its still 89F with 70% humidity.

It will be hotter in early June.

Only drink stuff from bottles. Eat the street vendor food at your peril. Get immunized for hep A, typhoid and start taking the malaria preventative ASAP and make your employer pay for it. Dengue, a rapidly expanding disease in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world, has become the most important arboviral disease of humans and the Philippines has a huge problem with it right now. No vaccine available. Fortunately, Dengue fever probably won't kill you, unfortunately, you'll wish you were dead if you contract it. Dengue is spread by mosquitos so DEET-based skeeter repellant is your bestest friend.

Also, don't "adventure" out. They have troublesome islamo-thugs who like to kidnap gringos and such. Other than that, have fun. Good news is most everyone you're likely to encounter speaks some English.

Keep this info handy:
The U.S. Embassy is located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila; tel. (63)(2)528-6300; fax 522-4361. Website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/. The American Business Center is located at 25/F, Ayala Life - FGU Center, 6811 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. It houses the Foreign Commercial Service: tel (63)(2) 888-4088; fax 888-6606; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3012.html; and the Foreign Agricultural Service: tel (63)(2)887-1137; fax 887-1268; website: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3011.html.

If you are detained by the local authorities, BE NICE and respectfully remind them you have the right under international treaty to ask to have our embassy informed of your arrest and they can visit you in jail and help you obtain competent legal representation. Do NOT go all "I am an American citizen and you can't do me this way!" on them. That just p1sses them off and you'll be worse off for it.

Always a good idea keep abreast of pertinent State Department bulletins for places you plan to travel.
http://www.state.gov/misc/list/index.htm
Trust me, my employer is paying for everything. We're supposed to start getting our shots next week or the week after.

The whole "I'm an American, you can't treat me like that" doesn't go over well anywhere.

[RiddlerOK]

I spent a month in the Philippines last year. I had been there many times before (Subic and Olongapo in the late eighties). Lots of lumpia, sisig and pancit were at the dinner table every day, washed down with San Miguel. My employer has a call center that occupies the former communications center at Clark Air Field so I spent my time there hiring and training a new IT manager. They also had a new site manager, whose first duty was to enact the new slogan: "We Salut Balut!" Lets just say I left it there and wasn't about to get down and dirty with sour duck eggs.

I did the standard immunization battery prior to leaving and had my employer pay for everything. Also, they provided me armed security everywhere I went.

If you can get fare to Cebu, they have nice beaches there as well.

It was pretty cool going back to Clark since the last time I was there. Back then, I was with the Navy evacuating survivors of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991. That was not a good time...

I flew United and Asiana in straight to Clark, with no problems. During my visit, I took a day trip to Subic Bay one day (can't believe what they've done with the place) and a two day jaunt to Manila on another. Green Hills is a fun place to go shopping there. All in all, I loved the PI and hope to go again soon.

[PrideTrombone]

I spent a month in the Philippines last year. I had been there many times before (Subic and Olongapo in the late eighties). Lots of lumpia, sisig and pancit were at the dinner table every day, washed down with San Miguel.

Lumpia and pancit are both awesome.

[soonerboomer93]

I flew United and Asiana in straight to Clark,

Oh, I do love flying me some Asiana. Treatment is so good. United 777's are more comfy to me then Asiana because I don't like the shell seats they use. But the FA's are top notch on Asiana. I'm flying them Sunday morning for the first leg of my trip back to the states.

[OklahomaTuba]

I may bump into you in Japan or HK cam, I gotta go there in may, with a stop in singapore and thailand.

[homerSimpsonsBrain]

Go see:

Corregidor (island in Manila bay where allied forces withdrew at the start of WW2)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor

Banaue Rice Terraces
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces

Baguio - Much cooler in the summer.

If your feeling daring, try scuba diving the wrecks on Palawan (Fly there. Do not take a ferry to get to any other islands - Exception is Corregidor)
http://www.sportextreme.com/phdilo5004/

As for balut, see the link before you consider eating :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut

In Quezon City you shouldnt have a problem conversing in English.

Beware the LBFM

[Petro-Sooner]

Thats awesome. I'd like to travel to some far and away country some day. Have fun!!!

[Cam]

they provided me armed security everywhere I went.
We don't get armed security, but we do get a car and a driver while we're there. My boss is on her way there at this very moment, so we'll know more ow what to expect while we're there.

Thanks for the info folks. And no, balut is not on my agenda. I'll gladly go hungry before eating that.

[Scott D]

Don't eat balut. http://www.rattusquebecus.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/vomit.gif

Harry is a huge fan of balut. :D

eat all the pancit and lumpia you can.

[Harry Beanbag]

eat all the pancit and lumpia you can.


Yes, that stuff is perfectly fine.

[fadada1]

for $10 you could have a "maid" for those 3 weeks.

[Cam]

eat all the pancit and lumpia you can.
Those look good, I'll be sure to give them a try.


for $10 you could have a "maid" for those 3 weeks.
Ain't gonna happen.

[AggieTool]

Looks like I'm going to Quezon City for 3 weeks the end of May for work.

Anybody been there? If so, give me some hints of what to do/not do while we're there.

We'll have free time on the weekends, so we're toying with going to Japan or Australia for a weekend trip while we're there.

They "ruv roo rong time" there!:D