Manila

[CenTexCrash]

An LA Cafe girl that occasionally sends selfies or memes is barking on WhatsApp that she might be out of work for 2 months can I be her wire transfer sponsor and she'll pay me back (no specifics of $ or services).

If I was made of $$$ I'd think about it but I'm not made of $$$ plus I'm kinda hurting at home too.

This is a first for me.

[Radian]

China and Italy were on very strict lockdowns for 10 or 11 weeks each before they got control over this. Don't expect the current restrictions to end any time soon.

China never went on lockdown. Hubei did. In the rest of China, people self selected to stay indoors and minimize contact, but to my knowledge at no point was going outside explicitly prohibited. The timeline of Europe / US will be significantly longer than China's because the population don't listen.

I wouldn't look at Wuhan, the Chinese have lied through their teeth and still are. They disappear doctors who try to tell the world the truth. This is going to go on a lot longer than June or July. If you believe Wuhan is virus free I have some lightly used N95 masks to sell you....

This general attitude of 'don't believe China' is ridiculous. As a technicality, yes the number of cases is likely to be an underestimate due to asymptomatic cases and the chaos of the outbreak, but I don't think anyone cares about a few hundred or thousand cases here. I have been back in China for 3 weeks and I have been given 8 tests for Covid19 now. Meanwhile, in my home country, government advice is to self isolate for 14 days if you have symptoms and not to go to hospital to be tested. Which of these methodologies do we think is going to result in an under reporting of cases?

I can't speak to Wuhan, but life in my (very large) city is back to normal apart from constant temperature checks. I went out and ate a restaurant tonight with some friends and I'll be doing the same tomorrow night and going out to some bars afterwards. If the Chinese government were lying and this social behaviour was carrying on, the country would be on its knees by now.

[Turgid]

China and Italy were on very strict lockdowns for 10 or 11 weeks each before they got control over this. ..............

Italy's got control over it?

[Kabul Guy]

If anything, the quarantines appear to be tightening, and I don't believe, as one who lives here, that there's an immediate end in sight. In Davao, where I live, individual movements become more restricted every few days, and we're now transitioning to an exit pass system that allows one person per household to leave the property to buy food and / or medicine. The only exceptions are for "essential" workers.

GE.

China and Italy were on very strict lockdowns for 10 or 11 weeks each before they got control over this. Don't expect the current restrictions to end any time soon.

Best get a honey you can spend 24 hours a day with for the next couple of months and spend all your time fucking and sucking.

[VictorHugo99]

True M. AD,

Realizing the extent of the impact of CORONAVIRUS in the US right now, it is unthinkable that the number of deaths could be as low as it is in China.

Noting that data transparency is not necessarily an obligation, I would give a rough estimate as "much more the the numbers in the current US"!

Be safe friends.

Victor.

Exactly. Even people who have had it and have recovered should be careful. No vaccine will give you immunity for the rest of your life and the same with recovering from a virus. You will have some immunity for a time, maybe. But no one can tell you how long before the immunity wears off.

[GoodEnough]

Last Friday, March 27: About 500 cases in Phils. Today April 3, just over 3,000 cases. A six-fold increase in a week. A 'bloom' in session. Things don't bode well for April 14.

If anything, the quarantines appear to be tightening, and I don't believe, as one who lives here, that there's an immediate end in sight. In Davao, where I live, individual movements become more restricted every few days, and we're now transitioning to an exit pass system that allows one person per household to leave the property to buy food and / or medicine. The only exceptions are for "essential" workers.

GE.

[Goferring]

Isn't it easier to get a refund on cancellation if you book directly with the hotel?

I'm struggling to understand what is so "difficult" about cancelling Agoda bookings. Once I found out I needed to deal directly with Agoda rather than the hotel, it took me about 10 clicks on my phone's app to cancel 4 supposedly nonrefundable bookings. The full refund was in my bank the next day.

Cheers. G.

[Turgid]

...........For those getting the run-around with Agoda, Hotels.com has an option to get full refund on cancellation; part refund on cancellation or no refund. The prices correlate with the options so choose your own risk level.

Isn't it easier to get a refund on cancellation if you book directly with the hotel?

[WestCoast1]

I suspect the lock down will be extended beyond April 14. Just my hunch. Based on the overcrowding condition, lack of nutritious food or any food. We may see a breakdown in law with the people demanding food or their 8 k cash promised by Duterte. There aren't enough hospitals to serve the general population.

Scientist backs lockdown extension, says PH needs 2-3 months to 'flatten the curve'.

Last Friday, March 27: About 500 cases in Phils. Today April 3, just over 3,000 cases. A six-fold increase in a week. A 'bloom' in session. Things don't bode well for April 14.

[Goferring]

I'd seriously advise anyone thinking of booking for the Philippines in the next few months to wait and see what the decree is about visas.

Many people are commenting on the difficulties in arriving in PI. This is irrelevant to most westerners as our airlines and governments have shut down departure flights anyway.

I know I couldn't get there even if I wanted to and regardless of their VOA situation.

Cheers. G.

[AgentOrange]

Scientist backs lockdown extension, says PH needs 2-3 months to 'flatten the curve'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NISIBh-Nvz0

[Dg8787]

I'd seriously advise anyone thinking of booking for the Philippines in the next few months to wait and see what the decree is about visas.

At present I believe only PH passport holders and permanent residents (39 A visa holders and others) can enter the country once the restrictions are lifted on or after April 14.

I have a 39 A and a booking to return on April 17 and my travel agent asked for a scanned copy of my permanent ICR card to assure that I wouldn't be bumped off the April 17 flight.

Wait and see when BoI advises that visas-on-arrival (tourist visas) are again being issued.

For those getting the run-around with Agoda, Hotels.com has an option to get full refund on cancellation; part refund on cancellation or no refund. The prices correlate with the options so choose your own risk level.

I suspect the lock down will be extended beyond April 14. Just my hunch. Based on the overcrowding condition, lack of nutritious food or any food. We may see a breakdown in law with the people demanding food or their 8 k cash promised by Duterte. There aren't enough hospitals to serve the general population.

Also with roads closed and no transportation for farmers to send their products to markets, we will soon see a complete breakdown in the docile system.

Hope I am completely wrong but I don't see any solutions.

[Red Kilt]

I'd seriously advise anyone thinking of booking for the Philippines in the next few months to wait and see what the decree is about visas.

At present I believe only PH passport holders and permanent residents (39 A visa holders and others) can enter the country once the restrictions are lifted on or after April 14.

I have a 39 A and a booking to return on April 17 and my travel agent asked for a scanned copy of my permanent ICR card to assure that I wouldn't be bumped off the April 17 flight.

Wait and see when BoI advises that visas-on-arrival (tourist visas) are again being issued.

For those getting the run-around with Agoda, Hotels.com has an option to get full refund on cancellation; part refund on cancellation or no refund. The prices correlate with the options so choose your own risk level.

[Sammon]

I am an Agoda VIP whatever that means. For some unknown reason I like to make all bookings hotel, airline, trips etc well in advance. Never had a problem before. Situations like what is happening now upends most plans.

Here on I will book hotels just a few days before going. There is not much difference in prices. Actually sometimes it goes down. I have tried using Agoda price matching guarantee with no clear progress. For my last trip I got refunds only after I called Agoda USA hotline. Initially they say it is already paid for and no refunds. I kept at it and sooner or later I found an sympathetic agent and she arranged my refund after put on hold for a long time. This trip one hotel in Bangkok absolutely refused refund. But I am complato Agoda and hopefully get some Agoda bucks to be used for next booking.

Airline bookings are easier under current situation to get a refund. Air Asia known for stiffing you gave me credit for funds to be used for next booking. Well, Air Asia is the cheapest airline anyway in terms of fares. It is always better to book air tickets six months in advance to get the best fares trans continental.

[SeaTraveler]

I just had my go-around with Agoda. On a prepaid, no refund, reservation at Shangri-La in Jakarta.

Here is how it worked for me:

1. I emailed Shangri-La first and they replied in a day that because of Corona they would honor a full refund, but I had to go thru Agoda for the refund.

2. I had 2 email exchanges and a phone call with Agoda. No result.

3. I received a 3rd email from Agoda asking for a copy of the Shangri-La refund email.

4. After sending a copy of the S-L email to Agoda, I got a full refund in less than 24 hours (has yet to post to my CC).

GOOD LUCK.