General Info

I suppose you'd have to expect fewer books about travel considering the huge difference in visitors. In 2007, Thailand got about 1.2 million foreign tourists a month, Indonesia averaged 442,000 and the Philippines about 285,000.

That being said, I've found books on culture, character, diving and even bicycling.

Maybe now would be a good time for people to recommend their favorite books and/or web sites on the Philippines.

X

[QUOTE=James In Japan]Anyone ever wonder why there is so little literature written for or about The Phiilippines? I mean there really is not alot out there. From what I've gathered, the best resource out there is the Lonely Planet guide, which even seemed to me to be outdated.

Is this an untouched market, or do people just not care? God knows theres a ton of info out there for Thailand.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Big Johnson2]Hi,

I plan to meet my GF from Samar's parents for the first time. She said we should bring food over. Is there something that I should get in the US to bring? What is appropriate?[/QUOTE]

I always bring my Father in Law a bottle of Chivas from duty free. From what i can tell it is a real status symbol and makes him very proud to offer his best guests a drink. My mother in law is on medication so I alwats bring her 3 - 4 months supply. SHows I am thinking of her. Wife I bring Large blocks of cadbury, If you wrap them in about 5 sheets of newspaper they dont get melted. I normally bring a couple of barbie dolls as on your travels you will always meet some cute youngster, cousins daughter etc and they love having a barbie doll. For the younger boys I just make sure i have plenty of 5 and 1 peso coins. they very happily run off to the sari sari store.

[QUOTE=X Man]I suppose you'd have to expect fewer books about travel considering the huge difference in visitors. In 2007, Thailand got about 1.2 million foreign tourists a month, Indonesia averaged 442,000 and the Philippines about 285,000.

That being said, I've found books on culture, character, diving and even bicycling.

Maybe now would be a good time for people to recommend their favorite books and/or web sites on the Philippines.

X[/QUOTE]
One of the reasons accounting for the dismal failure of Philippine tourism is the lack of tourist infrastructure here, as compared to Thailand say, or Vietnam. There are several reasons for this, but the two most important are the massive corruption that permeates all ministries, which means that money allocated in theory for infrastructure that might lead to tourism investment, is stolen, and siphoned off into the pockets of the politicians. Another key reason is the lack of foreign investment; an area in which this country lags far, far behind it's neighbors. Again, the reason may be related to corruption, as those who might invest recognize the utter lack of legal protection, the inability to actually own anything, and the necessity to establish relationships with local "partners."

In a country in which nothing is protected, including the rights of foreign investors, who would bother to invest?

GE

Man your report was perfect, and I concur however there are a percentge of wonderful people there. I have been ripped off lied to (NOTE it is normal for a Phil to lie all of the time) but slowly but surely I am connecting with the right group of people there.

Go there and expect little and focus on the amazing pussy, I had more good sex with more different amateur woman in the first 11 days in January that I will for the next 354 here in Canada and thats the facts Jack.

The Phils has hidden treasures and jewels and it is the people but mostly they are a you describe.

When they leave the country however everythign changes and they grow a brain and get focused, sadly there they are affected by thir friends and lack the character to rise above, I mena how easy would it be to stand out in ts crowd.

Then the ones that do get ahead are usually the worst people to hang with as their arrogance dominates and they look down on all who are beneath them.

I prefer and feast on wonderful single moms, they usually work hard and fuck harder!

Just Jim

Where ever I go, I buy the Culture Shock! books.

It is not about places to visit, but about the people and culture in the countries I visit. I find the serie very valuable when travelling to new places.

I can not recall any good webpages with info right now, but there are a lot of info out there, which is relevant.

What are you actually looking for?

[QUOTE=James In Japan]Anyone ever wonder why there is so little literature written for or about The Phiilippines? I mean there really is not alot out there. From what I've gathered, the best resource out there is the Lonely Planet guide, which even seemed to me to be outdated.

Is this an untouched market, or do people just not care? God knows theres a ton of info out there for Thailand.[/QUOTE]

I think ShadowAxis hit some home-runs about why the lack of tourism in the PIs.
There are only two local dishes to eat there: Balut and chicken adobo. They made an attempt to import a foreign cuisine but chose the worst country on this planet, US.
I think it is the only country in Asia that doesn't feel and look like Asia. People don't want to fly thousands of miles to visit a country that looks like a poor Spanish neighborhood in Los Angeles .

[QUOTE=Columpuss]I think ShadowAxis hit some home-runs about why the lack of tourism in the PIs.
There are only two local dishes to eat there: Balut and chicken adobo. They made an attempt to import a foreign cuisine but chose the worst country on this planet, US.
I think it is the only country in Asia that doesn't feel and look like Asia. People don't want to fly thousands of miles to visit a country that looks like a poor Spanish neighborhood in Los Angeles .[/QUOTE]

LOL! Quite racist but spot on. Endearing as Filipinos can be (especially the hot nubile ones), they are a confused culture. I know many Japanese who know the Phils only by reputation but won't visit there because they have heard the awful truth about the food.

There's a lot of truth in Lenience's post, particularly about the food, which is the worst I've ever tasted in Asia, it's sort of like the UK of Asia since, in my opinion British food is about the worst in the Western world, though I will admit that the US stuff comes in a close second. It's not only the food though, it's everything else--like the lack of infrastructure--plus the food and the fact that the culture itself--unlike Vietnam and Thailand and Malaysia--is just not terribly interesting.

GE

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]There's a lot of truth in Lenience's post, particularly about the food, which is the worst I've ever tasted in Asia, it's sort of like the UK of Asia since, in my opinion British food is about the worst in the Western world, though I will admit that the US stuff comes in a close second.

GE[/QUOTE]GE

How can you say that - have you never eaten good fish and chips with mushy peas, or black sausage and haggis, or fried Mars bars.....

The British cuisine has so much to offer and such diveristy from US cuisine :D

As for you FR and others, I am not a fan of Filipino food, but the pork belly can be tasty if not great on the waistline. The country does offer a lot but the problems and hassles to get to some nice places coupled with the lack basics at times will never put it poeple's top 10 for tourist destinations

Now am off to try a decent liver and bacon with mashed potoes - yummy :D

Well, maybe I'm biased but having spent one month in US last summer (and having visited the place every year for past ten years) every menu in Us looks same. It all has burgers. All has fried chicken. In many out of way places has meatloaf (yuck! ). Has ribs etc. All menus are same and all lack vegetables and salads. Except the standard caesar salad and cobb salad.

US food is dull. Tasteless. And the portions are too much for most invividuals, except of corse for the real fatties. Of which there are plenty.

UK food isn't streets ahead, but does have a greater sense of variety including pies, roasts, fish dishes etc.

One mans meat. Etc.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]There's a lot of truth in Lenience's post, particularly about the food, which is the worst I've ever tasted in Asia, it's sort of like the UK of Asia since, in my opinion British food is about the worst in the Western world, though I will admit that the US stuff comes in a close second. It's not only the food though, it's everything else--like the lack of infrastructure--plus the food and the fact that the culture itself--unlike Vietnam and Thailand and Malaysia--is just not terribly interesting.

GE[/QUOTE]

What, do you not like fish n’ chips or Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding? And I cannot believe that you would turn your nose up at a bit of spotted dick!

Seriously though, food in Britain (as opposed to British food) has undergone something of a renaissance in the past few years. If you take the Michelin Guide as an arbiter of excellence (as most do), then Britain comes third on the list of European countries with restaurants with 1*, 2* or the much vaunted 3 star category. Only France and Italy have more listed places. Admittedly there are only 3 restaurants with the magic 3 stars but that is more than Switzerland, or Belgium or Holland.

Now I do agree with your comments regarding Filipino food. It can be truly and momentously awful. Their national dish Adobo is an, admittedly tasty, but fundamentally simple dish (even I can cook it) of pork, vinegar, garlic and black pepper. Some dishes are disgusting to the point of inedibility, such as dinuguan which is a mixture of liver, pork blood and vinegar, rather like liquid black pudding! It makes me feel ill just to watch it being eaten. And has anyone tried Balut, the semi-formed duck embryo that you are supposed to swallow whole, like an oyster. I have but was plastered at the time and regretted it later. And don’t leave your beloved pet pooch with Filipino relatives in the provinces. I kid you not. If it barks too much and annoys the neighbors, it is liable to end up as dog stew pulatan – Pinoy late night drinking food.

For the best food in the Philippines try Bicol food. This is from south Luzon and is very tasty. It is similar to Thai food in that they use a lot of coconut milk and chilies in their recipes. Their signature dish is Bicol Express, which as the name implies is pretty hot and spicy and might have you chugging along to the CR the next day.

About three years ago, while spending a night in Ermita, I was surprised when I saw the Manila bay transformed from place full of vendors and beggars into a entertainment strip full of music and food. So I looked forward to coming to Ermita every year while transiting to other locations. Until last year when they killed the whole thing. This is just another example of the Philipinos shooting themselves in the foot. Was there another legitimate reason that i didn't know about?

[QUOTE=Columpuss]About three years ago, while spending a night in Ermita, I was surprised when I saw the Manila bay transformed from place full of vendors and beggars into a entertainment strip full of music and food. So I looked forward to coming to Ermita every year while transiting to other locations. Until last year when they killed the whole thing. This is just another example of the Philipinos shooting themselves in the foot. Was there another legitimate reason that i didn't know about?[/QUOTE]

Yes - me too. I used to really enjoy an occasional evening down there, have a meal, a few beers and take in a live band. It used to be a real tourist magnet.

Then the asshole otherwise known as Mayor Lim intervened and shut the whole thing down. This was apparently in response to a few complaints about noise, from foreign visitors to the ASEAN meeting held in Manila in mid-2007. They were staying at the Diamond and were apparently missing a little beauty sleep in between their visits to KTV and Hostess Bars.

If you ever require proof of the inept, short sighted, fuck the people policies of the rich and all powerful in the Philippines, this might be a good example to use.

P.S There are still a few lively, open-air bars across Roxas Boulevard, near Remedios.

[QUOTE=ShadowAxis]Locals eat like raccoons [/QUOTE]No matter how many time I read this it still make me laugh.

I will be flying from SFO to Manila. Arriving 5:40 am Feb 21. Then Feb 23 I'm flying PAL to Cebu and I'm flying a girl from Tacloban to Cebu on Feb 24.

However, since I had to change the girl's flight I still owe some penalty money which I apparently have to pay in the Phils. I am wondering if it's easiest to pay this at a PAL ticket office upon my arrival in Manila early on the 21st. Or to wait until I take my domestic flight to Cebu. And the either pay then at the Manila airport or upon arrival at Cebu (for the girl's flight the next day).

Sorry. This is my first time in the Phils. So I don't know.

Thanks!