General Info

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1665154]Because Pope Francis is visiting the Philippines and the country will shut down between those dates.

There are national holidays declared for Jan 15,16 and 19. I can't believe that Monday is a holiday; he leaves on that day to go home.

Unbelievable.[/QUOTE]Just to update RK and others FRs, the link is a list of roads closed because the Pope is in town.

Not knowing Manila as well as others it still seems a lot and some main routes also. It will be gridlock I am sure so am glad am out of Manila this week and am sure many would take the same option if they could (even the Catholics LOL).

[URL]http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/12/1412134/list-metro-manila-roads-closed-pope-visit[/URL]

Has anyone tried using Uber to get from the Manila airport to AC?

[QUOTE=Breadman;1667433]I have a trip coming up and was curious what the general consensus was on the scene's in Manila and Angeles City. How many days out of 6 should be spent in each location? Instead of a ton of comments, I'd try a poll to see which options would be the best choice.

Poll: [URL]http://goo.gl/fKyLXh[/URL].[/QUOTE]Breadman, I also have a maiden trip lined up in April and I voted on your poll and got the same split that I have been planning for myself.

4 days in AC, 2 days in Manila. Though I will be spending 5 nights in AC and will be booking ABC for my stay shortly. I gather that staying in Makati would be better for the 2 nights reasons being.

1. I am into young girls especially lookers and it seems that Burgos street and EDSA would be my best options. I am ok to pay a slight premium I. E. 3 k to 5 k pesos for LT. I am not to keen on MBC and might take a peek though on second day.

2. I would be landing at 8. 30 pm from Singapore hence would want to stay close to action areas of my choice hence makati.

Would welcome suggestions on area to stay considering my preference for girls and the options I should explore. My budget for hotel would be between 50 to 80 USD per night.

TIA.

[QUOTE=RadicalGuy;1668070]Has anyone tried using Uber to get from the Manila airport to AC?[/QUOTE]Uber can't pick up at the airport. They can only drop off there. I asked.

[QUOTE=JPF;1668269]Uber can't pick up at the airport. They can only drop off there. I asked.[/QUOTE]News to me. I get picked up by an Uber car at the airport frequently. The last time was last week.

GE.

I've been in the country continuously for a year now on a tourist visa so it's time to start thinking about making a visa run. I'm fully aware of the exit clearance requirement. Has anybody made a visa run lately? If so, where to and how long were you gone for? Best case scenario for me would be to leave from Clark, go someplace cheap and close and turn around and come back ASAP. Anybody done this lately?

For those who may have read the report about Uber's alleged inability to pick up at the airport, it's not true. I've just been picked up for the third consecutive week at Terminal 3 with no problems. I activated the Uber app as I was walking off the plane and the driver was in the airport by the time I got outside. The cost of the ride to Makati was Php193, and I paid the Php20 Skyway toll.

GE.

[QUOTE=Slippery;1668461]I've been in the country continuously for a year now on a tourist visa so it's time to start thinking about making a visa run. I'm fully aware of the exit clearance requirement. Has anybody made a visa run lately? If so, where to and how long were you gone for? Best case scenario for me would be to leave from Clark, go someplace cheap and close and turn around and come back ASAP. Anybody done this lately?[/QUOTE]This doesn't answer your question (sorry) but the cheapest AirAsia and Cebu Pacific fares are often to Malaysia, and the best fares are a couple of months before departure.

Before you book a flight and board an aeroplane let me ask you this: Why are you leaving after 12 months? I don't know your nationality but those from several countries that are granted visa on arrival, i.e. non-visa required, are allowed to stay up to 36 months without having to depart to do a visa run.

From the immigration bureau's website, [URL]http://www.immigration.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/extensionofstay[/URL].

[quote]Under Immigration Memorandum Circular No. SBM-2013-003, a non-visa required national may extend their stay up to thirty-six (36) months while visa required national may extend their stay up to twenty-four (24) months. You may apply for one (1) month, two (2) months or six (6) months extensions at least one week prior to the expiration of your valid stay.[/quote]

Often I've applied on the final day of my visa and on one occasion applied 2 days after my visa expired. No problems. I've always used Makati office.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1668468]For those who may have read the report about Uber's alleged inability to pick up at the airport, it's not true.
[/QUOTE]I am happy to stand corrected. Like many Pinoys the driver was probably trying to give me the answer he thought I expected.

I like to end my trip with a couple of days in Makati (after a week or so in AC) - the accommodation, food and infrastructure are better. And it's a much shorter ride to the airport in the morning. My preference is always the Dusit Thani.

If you're willing to pay the premium associated with staying in a 4 star hotel, this is probably the best one (club rooms are especially great as they come with an awesome breakfast buffet and cocktail hour at the Penthouse lounge). Also, the restaurant on the ground floor (buffet) has some of the best food I've had in the PI (OK. I know that's a low bar, but really. It's top notch. Carving stations. Sushi, deserts, etc.) Man can't live on punani alone! Of course. The hotel is super girl-friendly and. Literally - across the street from the mall. The New World Makati is a solid alternative. It's located across the street from the Havana Cafe (and a Starbucks), so the convenience factor is there as well. I stayed at the Diamond several years ago, but this is not in Makati. And the neighborhood leaves a bit to be desired. The hotel was amazing, but I'm a bit of a snob (sorry) - I like the "better" neighborhood. Hope this information is helpful. I do not own stock in any of the hotels listed above.

[QUOTE=Skogis;1661772]I put my stomach issues here as I don't think it is proper in AC tread. May God or the papal forgive me.

Anyway I have experienced some bad stomach issues the last couple of months. I can track it back to some seafood I ate in Soi 11 as my stomach suddenly where achin of pain. At first I did not think of it to much as I thought it was some sort of instant food poisining. I bought some meds at the pharmacia to ease my pain doing the Imodium routine and adding in some tabs caring the stomach cramps. After this experience I have not, until yesterday, had a proper shit and on and off with achin pains in the abdominal region.

After reading with great interest in the AC tread about the Ciprofloxacin I consulted my inhouse doc (close friend which happens to be touring the great Canadian outback at the moment). Got the hold of him through a rather shitty satelite phone and he told me that the meds at stake here had a wide range of taking care of various sorts of bacterial stomach issues. He underlined this was not a proper examination and a stool sample would be of great interest to direct me to the actual cause of my pains. But as he knows me I don't need it perfect so He recomended me to atleast try the Ciprofloxacin as in try it one or two times dont make me resistant permanently in case it did not work out as i wished for.

So yesterday arriving in BKK I bought 20 tabs(500mg) of drug mentioned. I popped 2 tabs and after 2-3 hours I popped another 3. Shortly after i had the first proper shit (firm in its holdings with the genuine colour) in months. Could almost feel my stomach recalibrated into its old fashion. I have got myself a new lovestory dealing with drugs and now feel I am in heaven. I look so forward to my next toilet moment. Thank you forum and its contributors to guide me into the heaven of Ciprofloxacin.[/QUOTE]It is amazing to me that you put up with your stomach discomfort as long as you did, but perhaps the worst thing you did other than not seeking medical advice was taking loperamide or Imodium for these obvious stomach aliments. The only reason to take Imodium is if you absolutely don't want to have a bowel movement, like when traveling. If you think you can overcome a stomach issue like you described, you want the rid the bowel of as many of the contaminants as possible; so, eating high fiber foods and drinking lots of water is the best. Then, the issue might pass.

[QUOTE=Docwiltro;1669293]It is amazing to me that you put up with your stomach discomfort as long as you did, but perhaps the worst thing you did other than not seeking medical advice was taking loperamide or Imodium for these obvious stomach aliments. The only reason to take Imodium is if you absolutely don't want to have a bowel movement, like when traveling. If you think you can overcome a stomach issue like you described, you want the rid the bowel of as many of the contaminants as possible; so, eating high fiber foods and drinking lots of water is the best. Then, the issue might pass.[/QUOTE]I always enjoy Skogis FRs even it is about toiletry matters LOL.

But my simple advice if you get a bad stomach is to drink lots of water (not ice cold!) for 24 hours and flush the nasty bugs away. Then a slice of dry toast, maybe a banana and a flat warmish soda. And see f you keep it down.

Someone recommended to boil rice and drink the rice water (not eat the rice). This has also helped me in the past.

If after that it persists see a doctor etc. I never take Imodium etc. That just keeps the bugs in the stomach.

But I agree why suffer in silence for so long (well at least made a interesting read for me from the normal FR on this thread LOL).

[QUOTE=JPF;1668667]I am happy to stand corrected. Like many Pinoys the driver was probably trying to give me the answer he thought I expected.[/QUOTE]Maybe he meant using the GrabTaxi app. That would be difficult as I don't think empty meter taxi's are allowed past the security gate. Works fine elsewhere though, particularly in areas with poor Uber coverage.

Coke with salt and then a banana to get back potassium.

[QUOTE=WickedRoger;1669311]I always enjoy Skogis FRs even it is about toiletry matters LOL.

But my simple advice if you get a bad stomach is to drink lots of water (not ice cold!) for 24 hours and flush the nasty bugs away. Then a slice of dry toast, maybe a banana and a flat warmish soda. And see f you keep it down.

Someone recommended to boil rice and drink the rice water (not eat the rice). This has also helped me in the past.

If after that it persists see a doctor etc. I never take Imodium etc. That just keeps the bugs in the stomach.

But I agree why suffer in silence for so long (well at least made a interesting read for me from the normal FR on this thread LOL).[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=WickedRoger;1669311]I always enjoy Skogis FRs even it is about toiletry matters LOL.[/QUOTE]Hehe thanks WR. For those who followed my self medication attempt I am now all fine. Toiletmoments are once again a blessing. And thanks to you guys PM me and advicing against it. To you I will say, yes, I know we should not do like I did. To my defence I consulted my in house doc (he is a real doc with papers and long experience, he is not a shaman). He did a swift telephone excamination where I did described my symptoms, color and firmness (or lack of it) of my shit and last but not least the timeline (when I first noticed something was wrong). I say next whiskey bottle is on me for us to share when he returns from his wilderness experience. As he is my friend he only wants his payment in drinks and maby an occational meal.