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Originally Posted by Talbotman
Hi iam looking for some advice i have never been to the philipines before but i am thinking about going in april/may. I have got contact with a couple of A plus stunners from Manilla who basically are game for anything and i am thinking of flying to bangkok staying 2 nights then flying to manilla for 6 nights and then if it is possible flying manilla to phuket for maybe 9 nights .
A) have any of you guys been there and would you recomend it ?
b) is it possible to fly from manilla to phuket without going back to bangkok.
am not interested in going to angeles city as i know its about 4 hours in bus from manilla and dont want to go there anyway.
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Talbotman
I went for a few days to look at working over there. I flew UK, Amsterdam, Manila. We landed in Manila and it was a real city of contast- the rich and the poor, the scy scrappers and the slums.
The first thing that hits you in Manila is the petrol fumes and the crazy driving- there are no lanes only spaces with which to try and squeeze your vehicle into if you are a bus driver or a taxi driver-and there are speed limits- but they are on signs not in minds. They have these guys dressed in Purple Tshirts who jump out in the middle of the road- (with cars driving at 90 khm, 6 wide in a 3 lane highway) they try and stop the cars and issue fines for speeding or 'swerving'- my guide explains that he usually try to drive at these 'Traffic Masters' in an attempt to avoid the fine- but they have a moped and they may then chase you- very funny if he catch you- Ok lets leave the fun for next week I plead.
We go to the Hotel and there is a queue as the car in front is stopped and the security guard runs his hand held mirror under the car looking for explosives- a guy dressed in black with a tshirt that says K-9 Unit on the back, then proceeded to lead his alsatian dog round the car-then its our turn and once out of the car its though the airport style metal detector and a 'pat down' by more security- so this is interesting I think- maybe president Arroya is staying in the hotel- little did I know that is part of every day life in Manila.
So once the penny drops and you've had a shower its off into the night for a bit of exploring.
I must admit the hype before I arrived and the SAS style security at the Hotel did put me on edge- but once in town and we were in Makati (a business suburb of Manila City) I found no problems what so ever. A few beers, the people were incredibly friendly, they all spoke English with a wonderful Amercicanised accent which makes the women almost sing as they speak- that was the biggest attraction for me- the fact they they looked so beautiful but you could have a real conversation with them- so much more than the 'Where you come from- how old you- what your name'' style Thai conversations.
So after a few beers its back to the Hotel and the Concierge is on our case, 'anything I can help you with sir- massage sir' so what the hell its been a long day. So ever eager to please our Concierge asks me to wait a moment as he has to 'call to the outside'', anyway a few moments later and I am enjoying my first experience of the Philippines.
Next day we are up early and I'm reading the paper about a story (a few days after the London Bombings) about 7 known suicide bombers on the loose in Manila- and I gingerly move away from the lobby window- then I think to myself 'what are you doing Drew- this is no worse than London- get a grip- in fact it's better, as London has been bombed.
So feeling safe again, its off with my guide to the Manufacturing business they want me to manage for them in Botangas- about a 2 hour drive south to the coast.
We wind our way out of the smog and towards the coast- and I start to see the real PI for the first time and its breath taking. It looks like Hawaii.
We drive past the American Embassy with the guards on show, the marina, and the boats and I'm starting to think that I could do a lot worse than live here.
Anyway we start talking and I tell him I was in Phuket during the Tsunami and he says that they dont have any and I look up at the big mountains and ask what they are- Volcanoes he says. Ah so are they active I ask- no not to worry they dont go 'bang' any more its OK.
What about Krakatoa I ask when that went bang a few years ago- ah 'yes' he says, that also was not 'active'- the irony is lost on the guy- as I smile behind my sunglasses.
We then stop for petrol and my guide fills up whilst leaving the door open and breathing in the fumes- 'you like petrol' he asks- 'yes, but usually for the purposes of transportation' I reply- me to!- he says. Ah the wonder of travel.
We travel through towns, hugging the coast and it soon becomes clear that this place is every bit as beautiful as any place I have been anywhere in the world. The lush tropical greenery and the wonderful green ocean-the smiling faces- everywhere the volcanoes- more like the pacific ocean and Tahiti- wonderful.
What does become noticable very early on even in Manila is the lack of non locals- there are very few of us in comparison to LOS- and people will often stop to stare at you- you are a novelty to many and they rarely see a white face.
I only sayed for a few days and didn't get a chance to see a great deal of the night life- before I flew to Phuket (you can't fly direct and you do have to go via Bangkok) and then on to Amsterdam and the UK, I would recommend it though. I'm a great believer in travel broadening your horizons- even if it only makes you appreciate LOS a bit more.
Go and have a look and then let people know what you thought of it.
Regards
Drew