General Info

[QUOTE=Gangles;1648603]A Filipino friend of mine here in Australia needs to send $30,000 to the Philippines to buy a house.

Does anyone know how this amount can be transferred easily, quickly, low fees, and good exchange rate?

Happy mongering.

G[/QUOTE]In the case of Australia, at present he is limited to a wire transfer (bank transfer) from his Ozzie bank account to a Filipino bank account. There are fees of around $30 AU & the exchange rate will be pretty lousy at the moment. If he is wealthy enough to have an HSBC premier account or Citibank account he may be able to do a little better. Transfer times are typically 3-5 business days.

There is no cheap, fast way with good exchange rates from Australia unless you are wealthy.

AV.

[QUOTE=Snow1998;1648949]Not sex related but hope some good souls could shed light on the matter. Cargo sent via sea freight from Dubai to manila in Oct is said going to be cleared 'probably' by February or later, WTF is going on in Manila? The cargo office here is only saying delays in manila due congestion. Any sensible information appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Snow[/QUOTE]The port has long been inadequate, inefficient & corrupt but has reached dizzying new heights of FUBAR since the government tried to ban all heavy vehicles from Manila streets during daylight hours. The decision has been partially reversed but not before a massive log jam of ships, shipping containers & transport trucks had developed. This is likely to remain the situation for the foreseeable future.

Inter island shipping is controlled by a monopoly cartel. It's very expensive & insecure.

The Philippines customs office regularly ransacks & pillages freight at will.

The Philippines postal service is right there with them.

I'd give it a swerve if I were you cobber.

AV.

So that is why my balikbayan boxes haven't arrived yet. Guess, I had better not hold my breath waiting for them.

Help! I'm suffering severe hobnob biscuit withdrawal symptoms!

[QUOTE=CunningStunt;1649028]So that is why my balikbayan boxes haven't arrived yet. Guess, I had better not hold my breath waiting for them.

Help! I'm suffering severe hobnob biscuit withdrawal symptoms![/QUOTE]Check out Howzat pub. They have all sorts English goodies at the back counter. Oxo, bovril, hp sauce, branny pickle, cream crackers, even saw Ready Brek there once.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1649034]Check out Howzat pub. They have all sorts English goodies at the back counter. Oxo, bovril, hp sauce, branny pickle, cream crackers, even saw Ready Brek there once.[/QUOTE]Thanks FF. That list reads like my packing list. Except marmite instead of bovril.

Can someone please help point me in the direction to some resources for a first time mongerer? I don't want to just ask all the questions here as I'm sure that would be annoying and I'm sure they've all been asked before but I'd like to plan a trip sometime next year and I just want it to be a great trip.

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=CunningStunt;1649038]Thanks FF. That list reads like my packing list. Except marmite instead of bovril.[/QUOTE]You bloody pom's wouldn't know good food if it hit ya in the chops! LOL! Vegemite!

AV.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1649041] LOL! Vegemite!

AV.[/QUOTE]Marmite. Vegemite. Same black, gooey shit isn't it? Great on toast, though.

[QUOTE=Amavida;1649041]You bloody pom's wouldn't know good food if it hit ya in the chops! LOL! Vegemite!

AV.[/QUOTE]I maybe a pommie but vegemite gets my vote. Have it every weekend. Lovely stuff.

Last weekend asked a "weekend visitor" if she wanted to smell it. Gagged and asked if it was engine oil. LOL /.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1649078]I maybe a pommie but vegemite gets my vote. Have it every weekend. Lovely stuff.

Last weekend asked a "weekend visitor" if she wanted to smell it. Gagged and asked if it was engine oil. LOL /.[/QUOTE]Tried Vegemite for the first time recently at the Marriot breakfast buffet in Cebu, reminded me more of roofing tar in both taste and appearance. It wasn't the worst thing I ever ate, but it does rank pretty high on my list. Guess it's an acquired taste like balut, LOL.

Flying over Manila bay at daylight, I did notice there were a lot of ships anchored out there 2 two weeks ago.

[QUOTE=FreebieFan;1649034]Check out Howzat pub. They have all sorts English goodies at the back counter. Oxo, bovril, hp sauce, branny pickle, cream crackers, even saw Ready Brek there once.[/QUOTE]Also Team Insider that is next to the Tune Hotel in Burgos, same owner I think so lots of expat treats there also (I mean food not pinays LOL).

[QUOTE=Amavida;1649029]One of my GF's just gave me her 'old' iPhone 5 since she has upgraded to a six+.

The bloody thing is still like new since all she used it for was txt LOL!

I'd forgotten how bloody well these things work in comparison to an Android or Winphone.

AV.[/QUOTE]Wow congrats! That's the first time I heard of a guy getting a hand me down from a pinay. I thought it all was a one way stream and all they gave me in return was sweetness, sex and a temporary feeling of true love and bonding.

The only ones I have ever GF'd were the poor ones. I have encountered some that were not but they were too much work by comparison and usually older than I prefer.

[QUOTE=WickedRoger;1649219]Also Team Insider that is next to the Tune Hotel in Burgos, same owner I think so lots of expat treats there also (I mean food not pinays LOL).[/QUOTE]Thumbs-up to TI. Roomy, clean, pool tables also. Its a bit like a Hooters (minus the hotties in shorts).

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the advice about transferring money to the Phils.

Looks like there is no easy way which is cheap, fast, and gives a good exchange rate.

Bank fees and rotten exchange rate. No wonder Aust banks are some of the most profitable in the world.

Happy mongering,

G