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A few thoughts about the holidays. In one province at Christmas time, the businesses began closing sporadically, starting about 5 days prior to Christmas. By Christmas day the only businesses open were fast food joints and one farmacy. Most businesses stayed closed for several days after Christmas. It gave the appearance of a mostly city-wide week-long holiday. There were a few jeeps and trykes running even on Christmas day. There was never a concern for food.

In another nearby province at Christmas, every business stayed open thru Christmas eve till about 6 pm, and only the fast food joints were open till 9-10 pm. At that point, all businesses were closed for the night. I had asked during the daytime on the 23rd at the front desk if my hotel's resto would be open Christmas eve or Christmas day. "We close 8 pm Christmas eve sir. Re-open for breakfast December 26. Closed all Christmas day". Got it. Which restos in the area are open Christmas eve and Christmas day? "Many sir". Can you be specific and tell me of one? "Jolli and McDonalds sir". The manager walked over and pointed out the front door, to a pinoy resto across the street: "They are open sir every day. Never close on holiday". Check, got it, thanks!

Wouldn't you know it, all was fine until Christmas morning. I went for my morning walk about 7:30 am and noticed *nothing* was open. The Jolli / Mcdo, both a block from the hotel, were closed. The resto across from the hotel was closed. Not a jeep or tryke moving. Just one vehicle drove by on my 45-minute walk. Both convenience stores I passed were closed. Upon re-entering the hotel I asked at the front desk where I could get some breakfast. The clerk looked at me like I was a martian. "I don't know sir. Its holiday". Serious? I'm a hotel guest, you can't tell me were I can get something to eat? Really, its your job to know what restos in the area are open / closed. "Um. Not sure sir. Wait let me get manager". He was heading to the back room to fetch the manager when she walked out. Same manager I spoke to previously. They spoke for a minute and she said there were probably no restos open today. But, ma'am, you said 2 days ago the resto across the street would be open, even on holiday. "No. I said that?" Yes, ma'am. You pointed right to that place. "Oh. Yes. I did. They aren't open? Sorry po". Won't the many other guests here at the hotel want to eat today? "Yes". Got it. Sad, I went to my room to devour my last remaining apple. I considered saving the core to eat later in the day.

An hour later the cleaning boy was knocking on doors up / down the hall, telling guests that the resto across the street was now open. I high-tailed it over there and got the last open table (guests from 3 nearby hotels were pouring in -- they too were unhappy about not being able to obtain food). I ordered up a breakfast, and also a lunch for takeout. I worked online for a while (the internet speed was surprisingly fast all day) and in the afternoon went out for another walk about 3 pm. McDonalds and Jollibee were both opening up for biz. Odd, I thought, why not just take the whole day off? Jeeps were starting to pass by. By 5 pm almost most all the businesses were open and all appeared normal. By the 26th all businesses were open and you would not know that a holiday had just occurred.

Lesson learned even for the seasoned traveler: Buy foods to keep in the room over the holidays.

[QUOTE=Amanut;1822864]
The second question relates to my visitors visa to enter Vietnam. As a Canadian I am required to have one. As I don't have exact travel dates I don't think I can apply for a visa until I know the exact date I will arrive in Vietnam. Does anyone have suggestions about making the application for the visa from the Philippines once I know the dates?[/QUOTE]I think you can apply for a visa that has a validity of 3 months. Then you don't need to know the exact travel dates. You can ask the Vietnam embassy in Canada.

[URL]http://visa.mofa.gov.vn/NewsDetail.aspx?id=29[/URL]#sec3.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1822914]I worked online for a while (the internet speed was surprisingly fast all day) and in the afternoon went out for another walk about 3 pm. McDonalds and Jollibee were both opening up for biz. Odd, I thought, why not just take the whole day off?[/QUOTE]I guess on Christmas Day everybody goes to church in the morning. But in the afternoon it's business as usual again.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1822914]A few thoughts about the holidays. In one province at Christmas time, the businesses began closing sporadically, starting about 5 days prior to Christmas. By Christmas day the only businesses open were fast food joints and one farmacy. Most businesses stayed closed for several days after Christmas. It gave the appearance of a mostly city-wide week-long holiday. There were a few jeeps and trykes running even on Christmas day. There was never a concern for food.

Lesson learned even for the seasoned traveler: Buy foods to keep in the room over the holidays.[/QUOTE]You know that's very interesting Westie. What province were you in? Whats interesting is that I just got back from the holidays in Phils provinces and was struck by how many businesses including eatieries were open with normal hours.

To be specific I spent the days leading up to Christmas and Christmas eve in Butuan then traveled to AC Christmas day then spent the days leading to New Years and New years eve in Calbayog. Was shocked how everything was business as usual. In Calbayog the feeling was who can afford to be closed? Its a pretty primitive place. And there are few if any proper restaurants and granted I ate mostly the way locals eat with less than 100 peso mini cafeterias. Butuan is much more of a city, small and on par with a Puerto Princessa. I avoid fast food as much as I can and we found most places open although the #2 Trip Advisor Butuan restaurant was closed late Christmas eve while the #1 was open for lunch at least.

I have concluded Christmas day is the best day of the year to quickly get in and get the hell out of the cesspool that is Metro Manila going to AC. The Victory Liner just breezed through Manila to the Edsa at 9 am like it was 4 am. The EDSA was no traffic all the way to NLEX -- it almost made me imagine I was in a functioning country. New Years Day was a pretty good travel day as well.

On Christmas day and New Years Day, AC was business as usual. All the Bars were open and no one seemed to close early. The less overall bargirl raw numbers were offset by a much lower number of mongers as well so selection was just fine. My experience this year was my first full holidays in the Phils and along with the milder weather in Dec-Jan it makes it a great time of year to visit, if you have no family considerations at home, which this year I did not.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1822986]I think you can apply for a visa that has a validity of 3 months. Then you don't need to know the exact travel dates. You can ask the Vietnam embassy in Canada.

[URL]http://visa.mofa.gov.vn/NewsDetail.aspx?id=29[/URL]#sec3.[/QUOTE]Thanks I did a follow up to an online site.

http://www.vietnam-immigration.net/contact.html

Thanks. Hope this helps others from countries that require entry visas. I can apply for an open thirty day multiple entry visa. This allows me to enter, leave, to Cambodia, then come back and fly out from HCM back to Phils.

Excellent - Flight to Manila is booked and on my way early Feb. DIA contacts lined up including a favorite who I meet every time I am there. Locked and loaded.

Hopefully WC or WR will give me some tips in the future for posting pics here - in praise of older Filipinas.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1822914]A few thoughts about the holidays. In one province at Christmas time, the businesses began closing sporadically, starting about 5 days prior to Christmas. By Christmas day the only businesses open were fast food joints and one farmacy. Most businesses stayed closed for several days after Christmas. It gave the appearance of a mostly city-wide week-long holiday. There were a few jeeps and trykes running even on Christmas day. There was never a concern for food.[/QUOTE]My decision is staying away from Philippines during the month of December. I have no interest to listen what kind of Christmas wishes they do have. So, I spent most of my time in Thailand and it was a great decision.

Butuan City– A Chinese national and an American citizen were offloaded from a Manila-bound Cebu Pacific (CEB) flight from this city after they figured in a tussle while the plane was preparing to depart from Butuan Airport Monday night.

Chinese Fan Wah John Kung, 35, and American Robert William Dismus, 65, were already onboard CEB flight 5 J788 and standing on the aisle while waiting for their turn to take their seats when they figured in a shoving incident.

It was reported that burly Dismus inadvertently shoved Fan from behind that sparked the commotion.

Airline personnel immediately moved in to peel them off each other and pacify them.

Dismus and Fan were taken off the CEB flight and brought to the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) office at the airport.

Butuan Airport Avsegroup head Insp. Alex Avenido said the two were later released without filing any charges against them but were not allowed to board the CEB 5 J788 flight.

I don't know about you, my fellow mongerers, but lately I start to get a bad feeling when I see happy FB pics from girls I recently fucked, her husband / boyfriend and children. They play in waterparks, go to beach, play tennis whatever?? Its kind of strange how some girls operate here. The unknowing BF is having a blast with his lovely GF and extras of which he doesn't have the clue what realy happens when hes not present.

Its a dirty business but I draw the line as I don't fuck my close friends GF's. Others than that I am free to do whatever I want. But sometimes I feel bad about it later. Normaly I have no clu the girls have BF's and in cases I do know the guy is for sure not my bestfriend. The girl puts her willingly out there to be fucked so then a man got to to do what a man got to do.

[QUOTE=DonaldSucks;1824187]But sometimes I feel bad about it later. Normaly I have no clu the girls have BF's and in cases I do know the guy is for sure not my bestfriend. The girl puts her willingly out there to be fucked so then a man got to to do what a man got to do.[/QUOTE]I felt the same way once. When I first went to the Navy and fucked a Mexican chick. She worked at the Navy Exchange and I finally pestered her enough that she took me home with her. Later on while she was asleep, I went through her things and realized she was married and her husband was away on a ship and her kids were away with the family in Tijuana. I called my dad from her house and told him that I didn't know the girl was married. My dad said welcome to the real world son. Countless married and paired-up chicks later it is just second-nature.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1824274]I felt the same way once. When I first went to the Navy and fucked a Mexican chick. She worked at the Navy Exchange and I finally pestered her enough that she took me home with her. Later on while she was asleep, I went through her things and realized she was married and her husband was away on a ship and her kids were away with the family in Tijuana. I called my dad from her house and told him that I didn't know the girl was married. My dad said welcome to the real world son. Countless married and paired-up chicks later it is just second-nature.[/QUOTE]I admit I do the same as girls, if we drink, tend to sleep before me. Then, stupid as some still are, they don't have password their phones and I read through msgs. I am not here for relationship purposes but it is damn funny in the morning questioning them about things I know (but pretend I don't know, hehe), just to see if theyre honest or not. Some girls actually pretty honest and tell upfront truth from what I discover reading msgs. Girls beeing honest I donate more than girls beeing dishonest (just for the good cause).

But lying in phils seems latent or in their blood. I guess that pictures the whole country in a sense as everyone (u have certain diamonds in the rough like the mother of my baby) would do almost everything to get better life here. I guess that's the bad part beeing stucked in a very 3 world country (and I don't see any changes coming for the next decade or sth).

It's true. The Philippines is doing a few things right. Like this machine I came across at NAIA.

Now all of us who travel frequently know the horrors of receiving change in coins. Coins are heavy, make annoying jingling noises when carried in pockets, have zero value as far as exchange goes, pose problems while going thru metal detectors when carried on person and are generally a nuisance. Even waitresses turn their noses when you leave a tip in coins. So, usually coins that are received as change from my travels end up in a bowl at home. Not this time.

This clever machine accepts pesos and allows you to transfer the amount directly to your PayPal account. I got rid of nearly 200 pesos this way. Not a whole lot in USD but it saved me the agony of carrying back coins. Now this is something I have never seen before, not at some of the best airports around the world. Is this a first, that too in NAIA? Is that possible? People with more travel wisdom to comment. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Blanquiceleste;1825153]
This clever machine accepts pesos and allows you to transfer the amount directly to your PayPal account. I got rid of nearly 200 pesos this way. Not a whole lot in USD but it saved me the agony of carrying back coins. Now this is something I have never seen before, not at some of the best airports around the world. Is this a first, that too in NAIA? Is that possible? People with more travel wisdom to comment. Thanks.[/QUOTE]Did you check your PayPal account to see if the money was really transferred? Maybe this is just another scam at NAIA, LOL!

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1825280]Did you check your PayPal account to see if the money was really transferred? Maybe this is just another scam at NAIA, LOL![/QUOTE]Mogwai, you nailed it. 5555.

The thought did cross my mind. I did check my PayPal account for credits and it was indeed there. The exchange rate applied, however, was less than attractive.

Angeles City, Fields Avenue 31 Dec 2015 circa 10:00 pm. I had picked up my girl from Angelwitch and was taking the shuttle back to the Lewis Grand where I was staying. On the way I stopped at JJ Supermarket to pick up some booze and bites. So all I had was 1 cardboard coupon with a number on it (for the booze) and a couple of packets of chips. I went and stood in the "strictly 5 items only" line where there were just 2 people ahead of me. The lady ahead had nothing but 4 coupons in her hand, so I thought this would be a shoonze.

Well. For a minute I guess I forgot this is the Philippines. The lady ahead of me in queue gives her coupons and the total works out to 2340 P. And then the horror began. She pulled out a big wad of cash from her purse and started counting. ALL TWENTIES. So she counted once, twice and then thrice and handed it over to the cashier who repeated the counting 3 more times.

I almost exploded standing there. My girl was waiting in the shuttle and time was ticking away. I wanted to get at least a drink or two in before the clock struck midnight. MAybe make out a bit. It took them well over 25 minutes to complete the circus. Next up my total was 1280 P which I paid with 1 x1000,2 x100,4 x20 and smiled at the cashier. She smiled back and gave me the receipt.

GROSS IDIOTS! Thank God they did not bring the money in coins of fives and tens.

P.S. - For those who would wonder why I did not move queues, the place was teeming with people and most of the other queues were snaking back into the alleys of merchandise stored in racks.

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines Police said on Monday they would file charges against the cook and bouncer of a resto-bar here who have been identified as among those who mauled and killed an American who was teaching photojournalism in a university here.

The charges would be based on a 10-minute footage from a close-circuit television camera that showed Glen Eltagundi and a certain Boyet, cook and bouncer of the ZanZibar Restaurant, as among those who beat up Philippe Prins on Dec. 26, outside the resto-bar, an officer of the Dumaguete City Police Office said.

The foreigner died in the hospital two days later due to severe head trauma.

Aside from Eltagundi and Boyet, police have identified two other suspects, who are minors.

Inspector Blas Alpeche, Dumaguete City Police Office investigation chief, said they were still determining the motive of the mauling.

They were also getting the addresses of the suspects so they could ask the court for a warrant of arrest upon the filing of charges in court, he added.

Prins, an American Army Scout veteran who was teaching journalism at the Foundation University, was seen leaving the resto-bar around 4 am Of Dec. 26 when at least four people ganged up on him, smashed his head with beer bottles and beat him up.

Advertising.

A 10-minute CCTV footage submitted by the resto-bar to the Dumaguete police showed a foreigner was talking to a group of men after leaving the bar.

A few minutes after, a man hit the foreigner's head with a liquor bottle and then three others took turns in beating Prins up until he stopped moving.

The attackers then left him.

For seven minutes, the foreigner was left lying on the ground. Nobody dared to come near him until an ambulance arrived and brought him to the nearest hospital.

Prins was in a coma in the hospital for two days due to severe hemorrhage in the head until he died on Dec. 28. His remains were cremated and would be brought back to the United States.

The killing prompted the Dumaguete City government to investigate the resto-bar to check if it had proper permits to operate.

Dumaguete City Administrator William Ablong said a notice of closure would be issued against the resto-bar after they found out that it didn't have a mayor's permit and a building permit.

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