General Info

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1418489]I have lived here for 16 years and have experienced all the bad ones over the last decade.

I have even been staying in Northern Luzon right in the path of 2 of the bigger recent ones. People are experienced with typhoons and they know what to do. They just sit it out. It's scary the first time but after that it's just a big wind and a heap of rain. The casualties that you read about are those people living in makeshift squatter-type dwellings built on the edge of, or in the middle of, water courses."Food and fresh water difficult to obtain in the aftermath"? I have never known that. Manila is not a city in a jungle mate. Electricity services might be interrupted for a while but they never disintegrate? Not at all.

Most hotels (even the smaller ones) have their own generators too so within a few minutes of power loss the diesels kick in. My condo even has its own generator.

I think you raise a few false alarms here. The biggest problem for AC (if the tail of a typhoon reaches) , is the flooding in the streets making it difficult to walk around, but even that recedes in a short space of time.[/QUOTE]I guess I will defer to your 16 year's Luzon experience sitting out all the bad ones. I have never experienced a typhoon in the PI. But I have experienced 5 or 6 hurricanes in south Florida and I sat through them all. The last one had 130mph min sustained winds and took off the roof of my house. The others where minor – 85 to 110mph winds. But the worst thing about the big one and the small ones was not the hurricane itself: it was the aftermath. It took a week to get electricity back to my neighborhood. I am talking metro Miami, USA. For the first two days after the storm all the gas stations, super markets, and most restaurants were closed. The roads were an obstacle course. Luckily a friend lives in a gated country club and he invited me over to his club for hot meals every night. I had no AC, no cable, no ice cubes for a week. I vowed never to endure this bs again. I checked out quality generators and they cost a small fortune so I scrapped that idea. Next time a big one comes along I will just get in my car and take a drive up the coast away from the path of the hurricane with my gf and my macaw.

So all I am saying, extrapolating my own experiences to those of a would be tourist in the PI in the aftermath of a typhoon is; it is probably better not to hang out in such an area until power and normal business activity resume. There are no typhoons in Palawan so I don't understand why you would recommend a tourist sit out typhoon on Luzon, put up with flooded streets, and many other inconveniences when he could be relaxing on the beach with his honey? I would go to the beach. That's all I am saying.

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;1418497]I guess I will defer to your 16 year's Luzon experience sitting out all the bad ones. I have never experienced a typhoon in the PI. .SNIP. That's all I am saying.[/QUOTE]All I am saying is why on earth would you bother to give such advice on a board like this if you have never experienced a typhoon in the Philippines.

So many other posters do this about many other things too, especially airport situations.

If you don't have 1st hand experience, much better to hold the keyboard and not say anything.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt;1418498]If you don't have 1st hand experience, much better to hold the keyboard and not say anything.[/QUOTE][url]Http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/cyclone.html[/url]

"The only difference between a hurricane, a cyclone, and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs."

You commented on something about which you admitted you had no experience.

Very simple really. I just called you on it. Discussion over for me.

I've been in Makati for a couple of "the big ones," and while the experience wasn't by choice, and wasn't entirely pleasant, neither was if especially discomfiting. The hotels in which I stayed all had generators, and electrical service wasn't interrupted for more than a few seconds. Roads, it's true, were generally impassable for several hours after the storms passed, but since businesses were generally closed there would have been no point in going anywhere. I'm not advocating remaining in Manila or Luzon if you're on vacation and your time is limited. On the other hand, if you're caught there, it's not disaster.

GE

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo; 1418470]I live in South Florida. Every summer is hurricane season down here, but the odds of actually experiencing a hurricane in any one season are actually very low. Every 5 years or so one comes through. Every 10 to 15 years a big one comes through. Down here we avoid the big ones at all cost and sit out the small ones.

Hurricanes are no big deal to a tourist if you know what to do. Keep up to date on the daily weather reports. If or when a typhoon starts to bear down on Manila for example, don't think about it. Don't hesitate. Get the fuck out of the way. You will have 4 or 5 days' notice at the very least. Hurricanes and typhoons move very slowly – most travel between 8 to 15 miles per hour. Food and fresh water will become difficult to obtain in the aftermath. In Florida, Class 1 or Class 2 hurricanes are not much of a problem. I never leave my house if the winds are less than 115mph. We lose electricity and there are downed power lines. That's about all. Any hurricane with more powerful winds is a concern and a Class 4 or Class 5 Hurricane is a monster. Anybody with a lick of sense will get out the way of a Class 4 hurricane with minimum sustained winds greater than 131 mph. But in the PI even a small typhoon can have major damage so would I advise you to leave town if even a small one is approaching.[/QUOTE]Perhaps it's just semantics, but hurricanes / typhoons are classified into categories and referred to as "Cat 1, Cat 2, etc." storms. But what do I know; I've only been a Florida native for 50+ years and ridden out a few dozen hurricanes and tropical storms. And BTW, as a point of reference, a Cat 5 typhoon in SEA is also often called a "Super Typhoon"; so if you hear that term then take heed.

Storm classification info and chart:

[url]http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/tropics/tc_classification.htm[/url]

About the only good thing to be said about hurricanes is that you do have time to prepare (unlike earthquakes) or to decide if you want to evacuate. If anyone decides to hunker down in a hotel room during a storm I would suggest that before you book you make sure they have a generator. I would also make sure I had a few snacks, some bottled water, and enough alcoholic beverages of choice on hand as well as, of course, a gf or three to stay with me (insert big grin).

One of my girls was in AC last year during one of the bigger storms. We were chatting on cam and I could see in the back ground the wind driven rain. We naturally talked about the storm and she said "no big deal, only a few streets get flooded for a little while and then it's business as usual"; which is very little then. She wished I was there so she could stay with me in a comfy hotel room; I'd doubt anyone would have a problem finding a girl to ride out the storm with you and to ride you too of course.

One of my DIA friends living at / on Mactan shared her FB page. At some point I noticed watermarks halfway up her living room wall. I guess someone could have made a lot of friends that day if you were staying on the 2nd floor of any hotel in the vicinity.

Earthquakes are those kind of things similar to terrorist attacks. You assume it will not happen to you. And usually it doesn't. I was in MBC when I found out my poor little Japan apartment was being rocked by an earthquake. Getting home a week later I was happy to see that the building was still standing. But I couldn't figure out why someone would come inside and knock all the furniture around and about. Without stealing anything.

It was also a bit embarassing because my gf who worked in a swaying high rise couldn't get home because the trains were mostly shut down. She sought refuge at my place since it was walking distance. And of course inquired about my safety. Yes dear, I'm safe and sound in Manila. LOL.

[QUOTE=Pip Jaeger; 1418602]Perhaps it's just semantics, but hurricanes / typhoons are classified into categories and referred to as "Cat 1, Cat 2, etc." storms. But what do I know; I've only been a Florida native for 50+ years and ridden out a few dozen hurricanes and tropical storms. And BTW, as a point of reference, a Cat 5 typhoon in SEA is also often called a "Super Typhoon"; so if you hear that term then take heed.

Storm classification info and chart:

[url]http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/tropics/tc_classification.htm[/url]

About the only good thing to be said about hurricanes is that you do have time to prepare (unlike earthquakes) or to decide if you want to evacuate. If anyone decides to hunker down in a hotel room during a storm I would suggest that before you book you make sure they have a generator. I would also make sure I had a few snacks, some bottled water, and enough alcoholic beverages of choice on hand as well as, of course, a gf or three to stay with me (insert big grin).

One of my girls was in AC last year during one of the bigger storms. We were chatting on cam and I could see in the back ground the wind driven rain. We naturally talked about the storm and she said "no big deal, only a few streets get flooded for a little while and then it's business as usual"; which is very little then. She wished I was there so she could stay with me in a comfy hotel room; I'd doubt anyone would have a problem finding a girl to ride out the storm with you and to ride you too of course.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Red Kilt;1418489]I think you raise a few false alarms here. The biggest problem for AC (if the tail of a typhoon reaches) , is the flooding in the streets making it difficult to walk around, but even that recedes in a short space of time.[/QUOTE]Thanks for your input as well as everyone else's. Much appreciated! The only two locations I was planning to go to were AC for a few days and Puerto Galera for a few days for scuba diving. So far, a few of the scuba operators who got back to me said they rarely had to ever cancel dive days. I guess that might be because the typhoons are not as harsh in that area?

I haven't been to PI yet but have been to Florida where dive days were cancelled due to high winds making it dangerous for the boats to go out. So I guess if I'm caught down in Puerto Galera, I would miss my dives but as some of you mentioned, still get in my girlie activity in the safety of my hotel room, assuming that it is in a securely built one.

Transit between AC, Manila and Puerto Galera might be an issue if the roads and ferries are affected. Flights might be cancelled too I suppose. But if I'm caught up in AC, I think the flooded streets will be the most I have to worry about. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.

[QUOTE=Exoticspirit;1418739]...and Puerto Galera for a few days for scuba diving. So far, a few of the scuba operators who got back to me said they rarely had to ever cancel dive days. I guess that might be because the typhoons are not as harsh in that area?[/QUOTE]Sabang used to have a nice beach. Then a typhoon took it away. Mother Nature is capricious.

I reckon the dive-enthusiast sites would be the best source of info. Here you'll find diving reports of an altogether different sort.

This is wonderful.

Confessions from a former front desk hotel clerk. It might apply for some of you guys pestered by minibar charges.

[url]http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/hotel-confidential-20130429-2inhc.html[/url]

It is a great article minus stealing the minibar contents.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1418823]This is wonderful.

Confessions from a former front desk hotel clerk. It might apply for some of you guys pestered by minibar charges.

[url]http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/hotel-confidential-20130429-2inhc.html[/url][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1418835]It is a great article minus stealing the minibar contents.[/QUOTE]I reckon not a cool stunt to pull here. The poor Filipina housekeeper whose job it is to check the minibar's contents would get stuck with the bill by the manager. There's some fat geezer stuffing himself with chocolates whilst she and her family go hungry.

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1418835]It is a great article minus stealing the minibar contents.[/QUOTE]Well of course it is all a piece of journalistic humor. It is an extract from a very funny book. The disclaimer at the beginning "denies all responsibility for the tips given herein"

No need to follow his advice to the letter.

Just because Jack Reacher kills guys with his elbows on every second page of the Reacher books and gets away with it doesn't mean that Lee Child (his creator) is saying everyone should do this too.

Since it is from Sidney Herald, I took it serious. If it was from The Onion, we would have a different understanding.

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1418884]Well of course it is all a piece of journalistic humor. It is an extract from a very funny book. The disclaimer at the beginning "denies all responsibility for the tips given herein"

No need to follow his advice to the letter.

Just because Jack Reacher kills guys with his elbows on every second page of the Reacher books and gets away with it doesn't mean that Lee Child (his creator) is saying everyone should do this too.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1418949]If it was from The Onion, we would have a different understanding.[/QUOTE]The Onion is a very esteemed publication on current events as well as pop culture;

http://www.theonion.com/articles/kim-jongun-named-the-onions-sexiest-man-alive-for,30379/