General Info

[QUOTE=RadicalGuy;1680282]Is it just me, or do Philippine restaurants use something funky to fry foods in? Without fail, whenever I get fries or anything else fried, there is always this gross aftertaste that seems unique to the Philippines. I can usually smell it when walking by any place that fries stuff. Even the pricey hotels that serve French fries has that weird aftertaste.

RG.[/QUOTE]That would be the smell and taste of over used fry oil. That stuff needs to be replaced when it's been used a certain amount of times and that also depends on what they are frying in it. If it's not replaced then you get the taste and smell of the rancid fry oil. One of my many jobs as a teenager was fry cook at mc d's and another smaller chain who's name now eludes me (to many hits of acid as a teenager I guess LOL) and it was one of my more distasteful duties to change the oil in the fryers.

L A T.

[QUOTE=LuvAsianTang;1680457]That would be the smell and taste of over used fry oil. That stuff needs to be replaced when it's been used a certain amount of times and that also depends on what they are frying in it. If it's not replaced then you get the taste and smell of the rancid fry oil. One of my many jobs as a teenager was fry cook at mc d's and another smaller chain who's name now eludes me (to many hits of acid as a teenager I guess LOL) and it was one of my more distasteful duties to change the oil in the fryers.

L A T.[/QUOTE]Thank you guys for the info. I was wondering the same thing and I thought I was too sensitive. Do you also think that they use coconut oil to fry?

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1680808]Thank you guys for the info. I was wondering the same thing and I thought I was too sensitive. Do you also think that they use coconut oil to fry?[/QUOTE]Yes, and palm oil. But to what extent for each I don't know. All I know is that my (Asian) doctor when I got back home rolled her eyes and added cholesterol tests to some blood work I was getting done anyway when she found out I'd been to the Philippines. She thinks I'm borderline high but I'm not really. They have few qualms about mixing whatever previously went into the fryer as well. Vegetarians beware!

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1680808]Thank you guys for the info. I was wondering the same thing and I thought I was too sensitive. Do you also think that they use coconut oil to fry?[/QUOTE]I doubt most places use coconut oil. Coconut oil cost more than generic vegtable oil. The problem with taste maybe that they fry fish / seafood with everything else in the same fryer.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;1680926]I doubt most places use coconut oil. Coconut oil cost more than generic vegtable oil. The problem with taste maybe that they fry fish / seafood with everything else in the same fryer.[/QUOTE]Coconut oil is pretty cheap in the PI.

[QUOTE=Pompetus;1681088]Coconut oil is pretty cheap in the PI.[/QUOTE]No it's not Pomp.

See DG's earlier post.

Coconut oil is expensive compared to the crap cheap oils that they use for frying.

Forget about canola or any other "healthy" oils. They go for the saturated stuff because it's a lot cheaper.

I can barely walk through or near any of the mall food courts nowadays because of the awful smell of the rancid cooking oil (as well as other mixed odors).

I have lived here for 18 years but it gets worse each day for me.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1681146]Forget about canola or any other "healthy" oils. They go for the saturated stuff because it's a lot cheaper.[/QUOTE]Ignoring most of the myths and suspicions about canola oil, one thing not in doubt is that the vast majority is genetically modified (GMO). One to avoid *if* GMO puts you off. Maybe some others are too.

Gentleman, I'm planning my first trip to Philippines and would like some advice. I tend to always go to Brazil (I love that country) but want to try a new location. Any suggestions on a location in the Philippines where I'd be next to beautiful beaches, good place for swimming, hiking, diving, and other outdoor adventure in a very pretty area. However, in the evening I like to chase non pros, and also there also needs to be a decent pro scene with some night life. I'd like to be in an area with at least 50 working women. If I just wanted to just party I'd go to Angels or Manila -- but like I stated, I also wanted time for chlling at the beach. It can be a small town or much larger. Any of you experts have any suggestions? With over 7000 islands, its a bit overwheming to find what I'm looking for. Anything similar to Bali or Phuket? Its ok if its a much smaller town.

[QUOTE=NewBound;1681399]Gentleman, I'm planning my first trip to Philippines and would like some advice. I tend to always go to Brazil (I love that country) but want to try a new location. Any suggestions on a location in the Philippines where I'd be next to beautiful beaches, good place for swimming, hiking, diving, and other outdoor adventure in a very pretty area. However, in the evening I like to chase non pros, and also there also needs to be a decent pro scene with some night life. I'd like to be in an area with at least 50 working women. If I just wanted to just party I'd go to Angels or Manila -- but like I stated, I also wanted time for chlling at the beach. It can be a small town or much larger. Any of you experts have any suggestions? With over 7000 islands, its a bit overwheming to find what I'm looking for. Anything similar to Bali or Phuket? Its ok if its a much smaller town.[/QUOTE]To New Bound.

If you like Scuba Diving Bohol Panglao island is great and it is very cheap to dive here also some nice beach here also, Cebu and Boracay also have some good beach but it is a lot of tourist and expensive, I never been to Palawan I heard El Nino under water garden have great scuba diving too, I also dive Bali and Thailand before I think PI is better and better value,

Fast eddie 48.

[QUOTE=FastEddie48;1681449]To New Bound. If you like Scuba Diving Bohol Panglao island is great and it is very cheap to dive here also some nice beach here also, Cebu and Boracay also have some good beach but it is a lot of tourist and expensive, I never been to Palawan I heard El Nino under water garden have great scuba diving too,.[/QUOTE]At FE, yes, the places you mention (along with many others) offer great diving, but there's no real P4 P scene at them, which is what the OP requested. Only places I can think of for any thing close to one stop shopping would be Subic and Puerto Galera. Though each place has it's own limitations.

FE is probably referring to Alona Beach, Panglao. The beach is nice, diving is excellent in season (when turbulence is low and visibility is high; whale sharks feed daily just off the coast), and there's a bit of night life but no obvious p4 p. When I was there I brought my own girl from Manila so was not really looking. Tourism there is maybe 50/50 mix of pinoys and foreigners, mostly westerners.

Palawan offers more in the way of p4 p (esp Puerta Princessa), as well as good diving, fair to excellent beaches and other activities (eco park, underground river, etc). Unfortunatley these things are not located in one area, but spread out. Beaches near PP, for example, are just fair, and you have to take day trips for decent diving. The best beaches are far from nightlife and developed areas and offer no convenient p4 p options. Of course, in PI, there are always options for meeting willing lasses, but it's far from a sure thing if you're staying at some beach resort on a small island near El Nido.

If finding ladies is your first priority, you should consider Barrio Barreto, Olongapo (AKA Subic). There are a few diving services available, but the main attraction is ship wrecks. If that's your thing, Subic has them in abundance. Along with the availability of 100's of cuties in the bars, this should be your first choice if your priorites are weighted towards girls & wreck diving. The beach is just so-so in Subic, but OK for swimming and just hanging out. Also, there are 3 floating bars (on pontoon boats) that are great fun during the day. IMHO Subic is a much better place to spend time than nearby AC, not only for the w a t e r s p o r t s, but also the girls tend to be much less seasoned and down-to-earth. Compared to Brazil, you'll find pricing for everything (hotels, food, women) very reasonable.

[QUOTE=FastEddie48;1681449]To New Bound.

If you like Scuba Diving Bohol Panglao island is great and it is very cheap to dive here also some nice beach here also, Cebu and Boracay also have some good beach but it is a lot of tourist and expensive, I never been to Palawan I heard El Nino under water garden have great scuba diving too, I also dive Bali and Thailand before I think PI is better and better value,

Fast eddie 48.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=ErasmusBDragin;1681501]FE is probably referring to Alona Beach, Panglao. The beach is nice, diving is excellent in season (when turbulence is low and visibility is high; whale sharks feed daily just off the coast), and there's a bit of night life but no obvious p4 p. When I was there I brought my own girl from Manila so was not really looking. Tourism there is maybe 50/50 mix of pinoys and foreigners, mostly westerners.

Palawan offers more in the way of p4 p (esp Puerta Princessa), as well as good diving, fair to excellent beaches and other activities (eco park, underground river, etc). Unfortunatley these things are not located in one area, but spread out. Beaches near PP, for example, are just fair, and you have to take day trips for decent diving. The best beaches are far from nightlife and developed areas and offer no convenient p4 p options. Of course, in PI, there are always options for meeting willing lasses, but it's far from a sure thing if you're staying at some beach resort on a small island near El Nido.

If finding ladies is your first priority, you should consider Barrio Barreto, Olongapo (AKA Subic). There are a few diving services available, but the main attraction is ship wrecks. If that's your thing, Subic has them in abundance. Along with the availability of 100's of cuties in the bars, this should be your first choice if your priorites are weighted towards girls & wreck diving. The beach is just so-so in Subic, but OK for swimming and just hanging out. Also, there are 3 floating bars (on pontoon boats) that are great fun during the day. IMHO Subic is a much better place to spend time than nearby AC, not only for the w a t e r s p o r t s, but also the girls tend to be much less seasoned and down-to-earth. Compared to Brazil, you'll find pricing for everything (hotels, food, women) very reasonable.[/QUOTE]To Erasmus.

Yes is Alona Beach is very nice beach with few tourist not good for mongering I just spend a few days in Cebu for mongering before taking the ferry to Bohol, I also dive Subic bay last yr good for wreck dive Arizona resort have a dive shop dive the USS New York wreck but the reef suck all sea life and fish is gone over fish, if you want to dive near Manila go to Bangtagas and White beach only 2 HR bus offer decent dive and cheap.

Fast eddie 48.

[QUOTE=NewBound;1681399]Gentleman, I'm planning my first trip to Philippines and would like some advice. I tend to always go to Brazil (I love that country) but want to try a new location. Any suggestions on a location in the Philippines where I'd be next to beautiful beaches, good place for swimming, hiking, diving, and other outdoor adventure in a very pretty area. However, in the evening I like to chase non pros, and also there also needs to be a decent pro scene with some night life. I'd like to be in an area with at least 50 working women. If I just wanted to just party I'd go to Angels or Manila -- but like I stated, I also wanted time for chlling at the beach. It can be a small town or much larger. Any of you experts have any suggestions? With over 7000 islands, its a bit overwheming to find what I'm looking for. Anything similar to Bali or Phuket? Its ok if its a much smaller town.[/QUOTE]Hey guys, thanks for the replies. It helps confirm that I wasn't missing anything obvious. Its ironic that in a country with thousands of beautiful beaches, and many working girls, its not easy to find both in the same place. I have several more months before taking off, so it gives me more time to plan the trip. I may party with ladies in Cebu, then relax and dive in Bohol. However, I'm sort of leaning towards going to Puerta Princessa finding a women I like, then traveling the island with them which has a lot of the outdoor adventure I'm looking for. I won't have the variety of meeting different women doing that, but you can't always find everything in the same location. Another option, as mentioned, Puerto Galera may be pretty close to what I'm looking for. I wish Subic had nicer beaches, but I just don't think they are quite nice enough for what I'm looking for. One question -- those of you you have been to Puerto Galera, did you have a good time? Did you find plenty of women, and nice places to swim, dive, and relax? It looks pretty nice, close to what I'm looking for.

I'm always amazed how helpful these boards are, thanks guys, we have a lot of very smart travelers here. I'll do be best to give a trip report when I come back. Thanks.

Puerto Galera isn't a bad place at all for 3-4 nights. Don't know if I'd want to be there for too long though. You'll probably encounter more ladyboys than available women. I've always brought my own (girl) from Manila. For swimming, diving and relaxing it's a great place. You'll find the dive shops in Sabang though, but no beaches.

City State Tower Hotel in Ermita has a bus that leaves for Batangas daily. From there you can take a boat to either Sabang or PG. You might want to think about leaving on a Sunday morning for traffic reasons. City State is also within very short distances of some decent bars. Robinsons Mall is a 7 minute walk.

This is the dirtiest, most garbage polluted beach I have ever seen in my life. I have seen garbage in bodies of water that were worse, but not in a "beach".