Thailand Vs Philippines?

[GracelessFawn]

Can she say that on Thai Visa??

It's a pun on gun, you know.

[qualtrough]

Can she say that on Thai Visa??

It's a pun on gun, you know.

Yes, a very subtle one indeed. Thanks for pointing that out!

[WaiWai]

It's a pun on gun, you know.

Yes, a very subtle one indeed. Thanks for pointing that out!

The sexual crudity doesn't bother me.

The flippancy about weapons, violence and suicide do. Highly insensitive and offensive, IMHO.

[qualtrough]

It's a pun on gun, you know.

Yes, a very subtle one indeed. Thanks for pointing that out!

The sexual crudity doesn't bother me.

The flippancy about weapons, violence and suicide do. Highly insensitive and offensive, IMHO.

Lots of other threads out there for those lacking a sense of humor and/or excessively prudish. On yer bike then!

[WaiWai]

You might feel otherwise if someone close to you had died that way, qualtrough.

Nothing to do with a lack of sense of humour.

[Francis Maube]

I lived in the Philippines in 89 & 90. Manila does not even compare with Bangkok, too much hassle for not enough benefits. Part of the country side can be very nice, cheap and enjoyable. Food is definitely a disaster. This country had a very bright prospect after WW2 but has gone down the drain since, a real shame. However they use to allow retiree to own their own piece of landand visa was not a problem, not sure if it is still going on.

[yabs]

I've recently moved from thailand to the Phils but for one main reason

the phils still hgas some good snorkelling and diving due to the fact it has fewer tourists

and what tourism there is is based around diving as opposed to thailands tourism model which is based around maximum commercialistaion with no regard for the environment.

If thailand looked after its beache and marine environment better and turned it back to the tropical paradise it once was then i would remain in thailand. This is all the Phils has thats better

so unless you are crazxy about swimming or diving on coral seas then give it a miss.

Main drawback is security

crime is a way of life in the big cities and the fact that even guards outside of 7/11's have pump action shotguns doesn't put you at ease. there must be a need for this. Terrorism is much more of an issue as well and kidnappings have frequently taken place

other issues are

firstly

Girls seem more crazy, true they speak english better but they seem even more of a head case than farang girls if thats possible. Plue due to their diet they are generally fatter than thais and have darker skin. I think Thai women are better looking

secondly

The food is just sh*te. Local diet seems to consist of fried fat and sloppy rice

no veg or good cuts of meat

whereas eating at a roadside eatery in thailand is a culinary delight eating at one in The Phils

is just plain torture.

thirdly

culture

are we in Asia or South America or even America?

due to spanish and american colonisation the culture really is messed up

instead of noodle soup sold at street corners we have hamburgers

instead of temples we have delapidated churches

fourthly

infrastructure

improving slightly but still abysmal

dirt roads in many places meaning dust is everywhere and power cuts are a way of life

fifthly

conveniences and ability to buy goods

shopping is way better in thailand which is starnge as the Phils has more malls than anywhere i've ever been but they hardly ever stock evrything i need or want

two examples

Shower gel is virtually unheard of

I also have a problem with my eyes whereby I need to wash them out with an eye bath

every day. lost mine nad wanted to buy another. The Filipinos have never heard of such a thing.

again very odd

all this makes me wonder why i moved but the answer is as i said in the diving and swimming

all in all the quality of life In thailand is far better

[jamman]

It's a pun on gun, you know.

Yes, a very subtle one indeed. Thanks for pointing that out!

The sexual crudity doesn't bother me.

The flippancy about weapons, violence and suicide do. Highly insensitive and offensive, IMHO.

I don't know what the emotion feels like, to be offended by someone speaking about a subject that I find troubling. If someone insulted me, I might feel offended, but I doubt I'd reply by calling the person highly insensitive and offensive. I'd either ignore or retort. If someone insulted someone I love, or disparaged a group, perhaps I'd do the same. But I can't imagine what it feels like for a whole uncomfortable subject to lead me to want to censor the speaker.

The fact that someone you loved died from guns - what does that have to do with someone else's right to speak bullcrap? Seems rather sensitive and easily offended of you, and worse, trying to politicize your own discomfort.

[terry57]

have you ever been diving in the andaman sea off phuket?

i have never been diving in the phils, but the andamans is world class diving.

you have given up all the pleasures of thailand for scuba diving, and i'd consider that a very big sacrifice.

air fares are cheap to the phils so why did'nt you just live here and fly there when you want to dive?

only a question as its your life.

[junkofdavid2]

More pretty girls in Thailand

Food in the Philippines can be just as good as Thailand, but you'd have to pay more. The better the food you want, the more expensive a restaurant you go to in Manila; as simple as that!

(As opposed to Thailand where the cheaper the restaurant, the better the Thai food is!!!)

Average meal even for a poor person would be about 50 baht... compared to only 35 baht in Thailand.

People speak English, but you get ripped off by Taxi drivers just the same. So who cares!

Filipinos are generally harder working and (in my opinion) much more intellectually capable (resourceful, can think for themselves, and responsibilities can therefore be delegated). But that has it's downside... they sometimes think they know better than the boss and do their own thing, and can be a lot more insubordinate than Thais. Add that to the fact that they can be fierce, confrontational, and argumentative as well. That's okay when someone is right, but not when someone is clearly wrong!

In choosing a wife, Thais are better... hands down!

[qualtrough]

I've recently moved from thailand to the Phils but for one main reason

the phils still hgas some good snorkelling and diving due to the fact it has fewer tourists

and what tourism there is is based around diving as opposed to thailands tourism model which is based around maximum commercialistaion with no regard for the environment.

If thailand looked after its beache and marine environment better and turned it back to the tropical paradise it once was then i would remain in thailand. This is all the Phils has thats better

so unless you are crazxy about swimming or diving on coral seas then give it a miss.

Main drawback is security

crime is a way of life in the big cities and the fact that even guards outside of 7/11's have pump action shotguns doesn't put you at ease. there must be a need for this. Terrorism is much more of an issue as well and kidnappings have frequently taken place

other issues are

firstly

Girls seem more crazy, true they speak english better but they seem even more of a head case than farang girls if thats possible. Plue due to their diet they are generally fatter than thais and have darker skin. I think Thai women are better looking

secondly

The food is just sh*te. Local diet seems to consist of fried fat and sloppy rice

no veg or good cuts of meat

whereas eating at a roadside eatery in thailand is a culinary delight eating at one in The Phils

is just plain torture.

thirdly

culture

are we in Asia or South America or even America?

due to spanish and american colonisation the culture really is messed up

instead of noodle soup sold at street corners we have hamburgers

instead of temples we have delapidated churches

fourthly

infrastructure

improving slightly but still abysmal

dirt roads in many places meaning dust is everywhere and power cuts are a way of life

fifthly

conveniences and ability to buy goods

shopping is way better in thailand which is starnge as the Phils has more malls than anywhere i've ever been but they hardly ever stock evrything i need or want

two examples

Shower gel is virtually unheard of

I also have a problem with my eyes whereby I need to wash them out with an eye bath

every day. lost mine nad wanted to buy another. The Filipinos have never heard of such a thing.

again very odd

all this makes me wonder why i moved but the answer is as i said in the diving and swimming

all in all the quality of life In thailand is far better

Pretty much sums up my experience. The eye wash bit reminds of one other negative. There are far fewer drugstores around, and the work to a different, annoying format. They are often crowded, and you have to wait around and jockey for a position at the counter for a pharmacist to fill your order. I much prefer the Thai system, where there might be 4 stores within a stone's throw of each other (if not right next door), and you can just walk up and get what you want.

In fairness to the Phillipines, at least in Manila, grocery stores stock much more Western food, if that is your thing, and at better prices than Bangok. All due to supply and demand. BTW, if you like Velveeta, corned beef, and saltine crackers you will be in heaven. Entire aisles are devoted to different brands of those products.

[SamuiJens]

I've recently moved from thailand to the Phils but for one main reason

the phils still hgas some good snorkelling and diving due to the fact it has fewer tourists

and what tourism there is is based around diving as opposed to thailands tourism model which is based around maximum commercialistaion with no regard for the environment.

If thailand looked after its beache and marine environment better and turned it back to the tropical paradise it once was then i would remain in thailand. This is all the Phils has thats better

so unless you are crazxy about swimming or diving on coral seas then give it a miss.

Main drawback is security

crime is a way of life in the big cities and the fact that even guards outside of 7/11's have pump action shotguns doesn't put you at ease. there must be a need for this. Terrorism is much more of an issue as well and kidnappings have frequently taken place

other issues are

firstly

Girls seem more crazy, true they speak english better but they seem even more of a head case than farang girls if thats possible. Plue due to their diet they are generally fatter than thais and have darker skin. I think Thai women are better looking

secondly

The food is just sh*te. Local diet seems to consist of fried fat and sloppy rice

no veg or good cuts of meat

whereas eating at a roadside eatery in thailand is a culinary delight eating at one in The Phils

is just plain torture.

thirdly

culture

are we in Asia or South America or even America?

due to spanish and american colonisation the culture really is messed up

instead of noodle soup sold at street corners we have hamburgers

instead of temples we have delapidated churches

fourthly

infrastructure

improving slightly but still abysmal

dirt roads in many places meaning dust is everywhere and power cuts are a way of life

fifthly

conveniences and ability to buy goods

shopping is way better in thailand which is starnge as the Phils has more malls than anywhere i've ever been but they hardly ever stock evrything i need or want

two examples

Shower gel is virtually unheard of

I also have a problem with my eyes whereby I need to wash them out with an eye bath

every day. lost mine nad wanted to buy another. The Filipinos have never heard of such a thing.

again very odd

all this makes me wonder why i moved but the answer is as i said in the diving and swimming

all in all the quality of life In thailand is far better

Pretty much sums up my experience. The eye wash bit reminds of one other negative. There are far fewer drugstores around, and the work to a different, annoying format. They are often crowded, and you have to wait around and jockey for a position at the counter for a pharmacist to fill your order. I much prefer the Thai system, where there might be 4 stores within a stone's throw of each other (if not right next door), and you can just walk up and get what you want.

In fairness to the Phillipines, at least in Manila, grocery stores stock much more Western food, if that is your thing, and at better prices than Bangok. All due to supply and demand. BTW, if you like Velveeta, corned beef, and saltine crackers you will be in heaven. Entire aisles are devoted to different brands of those products.

Going south to i.e Palawan is a great island, not ruined by the pollution as the islands of LOS and the "underworld"(sea) is clear and a divers delight, and you can always make your own food, my problem is with Western Union taking 7%extra for Bills or creidt cards. Else a some beautiful Isles.

[yabs]

Teery thats what I did for a few years

but I finally found that there were few places I wanted to go in thailand

bangkok is a polluted dump

pattaya is the same

and all the beaches have been ruined

Chiamg mai is ok but even that is polluted

I still enjoy many location s in the Phils

it just isn't as convenient

but thats why there are fewer tourists there

I just really had enough of thailand with all the package tourists and the thais

blatant disregard to the marine environment and its aggressive intent in turning every beach and island into Benidorm

not my thing

sure the food is great, the girls look good and you can get everythiung you want

but apart from that it holds no other interest for me

I was just born at the wrong time i guess and or discovered it too late

thailand 10 or 12 years agoi must have been perfect but its just too commercial now

[jamman]

Teery thats what I did for a few years

but I finally found that there were few places I wanted to go in thailand

bangkok is a polluted dump

pattaya is the same

and all the beaches have been ruined

Chiamg mai is ok but even that is polluted

I still enjoy many location s in the Phils

it just isn't as convenient

but thats why there are fewer tourists there

I just really had enough of thailand with all the package tourists and the thais

blatant disregard to the marine environment and its aggressive intent in turning every beach and island into Benidorm

not my thing

sure the food is great, the girls look good and you can get everythiung you want

but apart from that it holds no other interest for me

I was just born at the wrong time i guess and or discovered it too late

thailand 10 or 12 years agoi must have been perfect but its just too commercial now

Ya, I'm bothered by pollution also, and like a place where vehicle noise isn't the cost of being outdoors. There are some smallish cool diving resort towns in the Philippines that are inexpensive and beautiful and not crowded. I lived in one off and on for a year. Not everyone wants such an isolated lifestyle, but I thought it great - waking up to go snorkeling amongst the ocean garden of wonder, do some work on the internet, then hang out in the pubs and meet new tourists, maybe go to the disco, and of course my girlfriend was always entertaining. A great lifestyle, I thought.

[yabs]

Jamman

where was that if you don't mind me asking?

yes the Phils has some nice spots but so does Indo and Malaysia

For the average expat I'm sure thailand fits the bill much more than the Phils thats for sure

but we are all different

[ollyrosee]

maybe you should include Cuba in your calcs ,when Castro pops off that place should fly .

[pumper]

my current plan is retirement on phuket this year.

what about PI 'beach communities' .. like phuket. a part of phuket that appeals to me is the farang presence .. to be in se asia with the opportunity to on occasion associate with fellow westerners.

what about PI cities along the coast with a tourist / expat / retirement farang presence. ??

what about PI forums?

more english is a plus for me.

just yesterday I was viewing a map of asia, PI is slightly further north .. i do not do well in the tropical sun

[chonabot]

I've never been, but a close friend spent some time in Cebu ( Moal Boal ) and swears it was one of the most beautiful places on earth - Above and below the water. He also met a lot of lovely Filipina/Filipinos.

[SamuiJens]

I've never been, but a close friend spent some time in Cebu ( Moal Boal ) and swears it was one of the most beautiful places on earth - Above and below the water. He also met a lot of lovely Filipina/Filipinos.

How true, there are many places around in the PPIs that are for the traveler that isn't JUST looking for punters. But you can't help but running into others from all over Europe and N. America as-well as Japan, etc. without it being crowded! Nice, but as has been said getting around is an adventure and sometimes a dangerous experience.

[jamman]

I've never been, but a close friend spent some time in Cebu ( Moal Boal ) and swears it was one of the most beautiful places on earth - Above and below the water. He also met a lot of lovely Filipina/Filipinos.

Ya, that is where I was. Moalboal. Actually, the little resort town just beside the larger town of Moalboal. It has just one road leading into it, and some of it is foot access only. So nice and quiet. It was pretty cool living there, and when we wanted the city, we'd take a two hour bus ride up to Cebu City.

[yabs]

yeah i've been there

again good diving but no beach or even an atm

I like it as its good snorkelling but unless this is a major draw for you

then I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. its also dusty and dirty outside the resort areas

I kind of moved to the Phils in a protest strop now i'm not so sure

wish i wasn't such a beacj and snorkelling buff

I think the best place if you are not into that is north thailand

even Udon or chiang rai or Mai

cheap as chips and reasonable infrastructure and nightlife and weather

[canuckamuck]

Been to the Philippines a few times, It’s nice to get over there for a bit, but Thailand is more like home. My Filipino friends are the most amazing hosts; they really look out for you. I find there is much better live music in the Philippines, and you can get a bigger variety of western food, like Wendy’s, and Kenny Roger’s Roasters. Not that that is really food. But the local food is an enigma. How did they come up with such lame food in the midst of so many great culinary nations? Reminds me of the UK.

I spent some time by the South China Sea; the place where I stayed was stunning (can’t recall the name). Hardly needed a mask, the corals and the tropical fish were clearly visible from the boat. Underwater, everything was thriving. We spent a whole day at a beautiful public beach and we were the only ones there. However some other areas are totally polluted.

Manila is definitely not for me, but I hate all big cities, including Bangkok. I prefer clean air, and the ability to talk without shouting.

Thailand should be paying attention to the Philippines, I see it as a potential snapshot of their future, if they can’t get a handle on terrorism and corruption. A white face is a rare sight in Manila nowadays and that’s because it just isn’t safe for work or play. A few more high profile bombings and continued screwing with foreign investment will eventually choke the S off of LOS

[yabs]

you were lucky with your host

the reason i went there was because i work with a filipino and he said i should give it a try and he'd take care of me in manilla. he ripped me off big time and basically i just paid for a night out for him nad his buddies.

wouldn't trust any asian men as far as i could throw them

[Crossy]

Just to reinforce my opinion as to how much of a <deleted> hole this place (Manila) is. One of my watering holes (the Danish Connection) got turned over on saturday night by a bunch of gun wielding banditos, customers were relieved of wallets and phones, nobody got shot.

Thank fick I've only got to stay until the end of march.

[SamuiJens]

Agree with Crossy, that Manila is a sh't hole, but the Islands south of Luzon are better in many ways than thai ones and I've never been nervous or fearful while on Islands there, it was a great time with a "white" beach to our selves, and clear water to see the undersea wonders. BUT food is not so good.

Guess you have to give up something to get something, right? As long as it's not one's freedom!

[Ulysses G.]

you were lucky with your host

the reason i went there was because i work with a filipino and he said i should give it a try and he'd take care of me in manilla. he ripped me off big time and basically i just paid for a night out for him nad his buddies.

wouldn't trust any asian men as far as i could throw them

I had good luck too.

The most fun I've ever had in my life and my Filipino buddy wouldn't let me pay for anything.

They had a friend come along who was designated my 'Body guard", but he wouldn't let me give him anything other that a few beers.

[Kahluna]

you were lucky with your host

the reason i went there was because i work with a filipino and he said i should give it a try and he'd take care of me in manilla. he ripped me off big time and basically i just paid for a night out for him nad his buddies.

wouldn't trust any asian men as far as i could throw them

I had good luck too.

The most fun I've ever had in my life and my Filipino buddy wouldn't let me pay for anything.

They had a friend come along who was designated my 'Body guard", but he wouldn't let me give him anything other that a few beers.

This is what you call Filipino hospitality which Filipinos are well-known for may it be in PI or abroad. These kinds abound anywhere you go. Too bad for yabs though, but that's a rarity.

As for the one who keeps on saying Manila as a sh!t hole, I suggest that you go and visit some place else. MANILA IS NOT THE PHILIPPINES and PHILIPPINES IS NOT MANILA so don't generalize. There's more to PI than Manila. Maybe you are stuck and bored at work.

[DragonQuest]

Im my honest opinion THAILAND IS BEST! philippines on the other hand , is very very well like what everyone else says^^

[Mayette]

I appreciate all the great input!

It's pretty much what I expected. I just wanted another educated perspective. If anyone else has some experiences, by all means post them! I don't want my response to kill the thread.

Thanks again!

Hi! Did anyone of you guys visited Davao city? its in Mindanao...i think its not Philippines its a whole different world...

Thats my opinioun i was born there long time, grown up in germany and for three years Thailand.

Its nice and quiet, not much Farang, the Mayor of the city rules the entire government, where criminals are afraid of their safety.. I love Davao, and i love Thailand too..

[Kahluna]

I appreciate all the great input!

It's pretty much what I expected. I just wanted another educated perspective. If anyone else has some experiences, by all means post them! I don't want my response to kill the thread.

Thanks again!

Hi! Did anyone of you guys visited Davao city? its in Mindanao...i think its not Philippines its a whole different world...

Thats my opinioun i was born there long time, grown up in germany and for three years Thailand.

Its nice and quiet, not much Farang, the Mayor of the city rules the entire government, where criminals are afraid of their safety.. I love Davao, and i love Thailand too..

I have been to Davao and I must say it's a very beautiful place, especially the Island Garden of Samal just off the coasts of Davao. It's a peaceful place... the city mayor has been very effective in his governance and no one dares to break his rules.

As I said previously, Manila is not the Philippines and vise versa so if you see anything negative in Manila, well, it doesn't mean that the whole country is like that. Go to the countryside and you may think that you are in heaven.