Phillipines

[SuperSaiyan]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I like the people there. But, the entire country feels like one big Tijuana. It is depressing. Very little landscaping in the homes, even nice homes are ugly, and have barbed wire, and glass topped walls everywhere you look.The average house you would rent, looks like a slum. Tall walls, with barbed wire, to keep out intruders. And they just do not pay attention to landscaping and gardens like the Thai people do. So, most neighborhoods are fabulously ugly. Alot of slums in the big cities, and just not physically appealing.

I totally agree. I am not able to find any nice place with sea view even though the Philippines shouldn't be lacking sea view.

 

 

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And the food sucks. The only other country I can think of with worse food, is Cuba. Granted, if you are willing to spend the money, you can find good food. But, it is not the general rule, as it is here. Also, the access to fresh fruits and vegetables is pathetic compared to Thailand. Very low quality, and often not fresh. Thailand is a paradise by comparison, when it comes to all things related to food.

Well, yeah, but I only eat imported food anyway. After years of rice + x I kinda got a phobia. So, it doesn't really affect anybody serious about it. There are tons of nice restaurants in every city in the Phillipines, so, it's clearly not lacking food choice.

 

 

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

They use a lower grade of diesel. So, there is alot of soot in the air. The PI has an epidemic of lung diseases and respiratory diseases. Even on many of the populated islands. The hospitals are full of people who are having a very hard time breathing. It is a real issue there. Lung disease is at an epidemic level, though the authorities do not like to talk about it, and publish very little information on it.

So, what about Chiang Mai and Bangkok? Chiang Mai gets awarded yearly for the worst air in the entire world. Clearly disinfo on your part.

 

 

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The entire country lacks the infrastructure you have here in Thailand. As I am typing now, I am enjoying a 1GB download speed, and a 500MB upload speed, all on fiber optic cable, for 600 baht a month. Unheard of in many countries, including the US! Triple the cost there. No sky train network anywhere near comparable to Bangkok. Mo MRT network either. They have one under construction, and it will be limited to ten stations.

True for the Internet but it's not bad as in it's not fast or good in the Philippines,

 

 

 

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Shall I go on? I could. As far as I am concerned, the only reason to live there is the women, and a slightly more cooperative, and far less xenophobic and racist government. Alot of ex-pats are looking to leave Thailand, for a variety of reasons, but I am staying, as I enjoy a good life here. There are many things I like about this place. 

 

 

 

Yeah, you should go on as your arguments aren't that big of an explanation why Thailand is better. Is that what you explain people? I choose Thailand because it has a bit better Internet than in the Philippines?

 

What about major life changing stuff like taxes and visa options for under 50 yo's? Or clean sea water? Or girls as you put it. Isn't that something more important than a slightly better Internet?

 

 

[Trippy]

49 minutes ago, SuperSaiyan said:

First time arrived in Thailand at 2006 and got robbed 40k at the ATM at 5am by Ladyboys in Phuket. And this happened again later with a lot of other stuff.

 

Yeah, I think you are just attached to Thailand and are not open for new things. It shows because you only look at negative things of the Philippines but don't write about positive things or which are better than in Thailand while I actually go into it and look at both sides.

 

Anyway, you have to agree that you can't freely recommend Thailand for anybody under 50 who wants to stay in Asia for a long period of time and not just holidaying.

I don't have any good friends under 50 so not an issue, but yes PI is easier than Thailand in that respect. You're right.

 

About 5 or 6 years ago, I tried to live in PI. That was my goal anyways, yes there are some positive things especially the women. But I couldn't stand that feeling of constantly looking over my shoulder for trouble. So I came back to Thailand.

I wish you good luck there, and hope all your dreams come true.

Cheers

[spidermike007]

14 minutes ago, SuperSaiyan said:

I totally agree. I am not able to find any nice place with sea view even though the Philippines shouldn't be lacking sea view.

 

 

Well, yeah, but I only eat imported food anyway. After years of rice + x I kinda got a phobia. So, it doesn't really affect anybody serious about it. There are tons of nice restaurants in every city in the Phillipines, so, it's clearly not lacking food choice.

 

 

So, what about Chiang Mai and Bangkok? Chiang Mai gets awarded yearly for the worst air in the entire world. Clearly disinfo on your part.

 

 

True for the Internet but it's not bad as in it's not fast or good in the Philippines,

 

 

 

 

Yeah, you should go on as your arguments aren't that big of an explanation why Thailand is better. Is that what you explain people? I choose Thailand because it has a bit better Internet than in the Philippines?

 

What about major life changing stuff like taxes and visa options for under 50 yo's? Or clean sea water? Or girls as you put it. Isn't that something more important than a slightly better Internet?

 

 

We all have our preferences in this life. They are all valid. Simply what works for us, and what we choose. I am not saying the PI is a bad choice. It is not for me, that is all. 

 

I agree Thailand has horrendous air issues. And it does not appear to be addressed, on any level. The corporations are too powerful and too closely linked to the army. With a leader like Pita and Move Forward, some of the problems plaguing Thailand might have been improved. With PT and Sretta, fully compromised and in bed with the toxic ones, little progress will happen. 

 

The PI does offer a choice of good food. But, it is all foreign food and it tends to be expensive. The local food is beyond horrendous. Not the case at all in Thailand. 

 

In the PI some of the air issues are due to the low grade of gas. So, it is a different kind of pollution, and affects even the small cities on the islands, which would otherwise be pollution free. 

[spidermike007]

10 minutes ago, Trippy said:

I don't have any good friends under 50 so not an issue, but yes PI is easier than Thailand in that respect. You're right.

 

About 5 or 6 years ago, I tried to live in PI. That was my goal anyways, yes there are some positive things especially the women. But I couldn't stand that feeling of constantly looking over my shoulder for trouble. So I came back to Thailand.

I wish you good luck there, and hope all your dreams come true.

Cheers

I feel the same way, I never have to look over my shoulders here and I've never been robbed, not even close. I'm sure it happens from time to time and I'm sure that a lot of times when it happens it's Pattaya ladyboys, but I've never had any issues even in Bangkok late at night. 

 

In the Philippines security would always be an issue for me and I don't want to have to always be looking over my shoulders. 

 

And for those of us over 50, the retirement visa is simple and easy. 

Edited October 8, 2023 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

16 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Stickman's Reader's Contribution page has a two-parter from a hilarious monger with lots of detail.

 

https://www.stickmanbangkok.com/readers-submissions/2023/03/my-pinay-horror-story-part-1/

 

Yes, his pinay horror story.

 

This, from the writer of Poems to my Pinay. How soon it can all go from winsome, reflective poems to a swirling vortex of horror.

 

Poems to my Pinay is available as a free download -surely no takers, even from (especially from) the Pinay in question.

 

What I recall:

 

-Koreans are running more and more bars and that's a bad thing.

-Much lamenting about the lack of old style mama sans.

 

I've been twice. It's like Thailand meets Mexico. Just pick.

For me, it is like Tijuana meets the Bombay slums. So much poverty. 

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, connda said:

Olongapo use to rock back during the USN hayday before SRF Subic was closed.  Not sure of it's status not.
If Angeles City still rocks, then check out Barrio Barreta along the coast of Subic Bay.

If you looking for touristy stuff, consider a trip to Baguio as well as exploring Luzon.

I have a friend in AC, and he says the bar scene has fallen off the face of the earth. Mostly online now, from what I hear. Is this the case? 

[lopburi3]

17 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I have a friend in AC, and he says the bar scene has fallen off the face of the earth. Mostly online now, from what I hear. Is this the case? 

Believe both areas are but a fraction of previous activity - AC does have an expanding Korean presence helping to drive business and upscale development on the old Clark AB - but both suffered big time from covid restrictions.  For AC the same clean up mantra as heard in Pattaya seems to be current status.  For Subic/Olongapo areas little in the way of the old nightlife although parts have gone upscale and some have remained the cheap beer bars.  But don't believe many customers anywhere.

 

That said tourist arrivals seem to be on increase so the light may be returning.  But do not expect it will be the same as previously.

Edited October 8, 2023 by lopburi3

[georgegeorgia]

31 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I have a friend in AC, and he says the bar scene has fallen off the face of the earth. Mostly online now, from what I hear. Is this the case? 

Possibly, I was there last year ,and the "girls" were mostly of senior citizen age it seems that I saw standing outside the Go Go bars 

 

A lot of Koreans in Angeles City,living there and running businesses 

 

"Korean town " they had and was large scale in AC 

 

It looked like Pattaya Walking street but not as clean and I didn't feel safe even though no one bothered me 

 

The foreigners there though seemed to be much older age than Pattaya ,I didn't see any young tattooed foreign guys they all seemed older age  foreigners or as Filipinos call us "Afam"  apparently?

 

I didn't enjoy Angeles City but for retirement I would choose somewhere like Davao City the safest city in the Philippines 

Dumaguete or Palawan are great for quiet life 

 

Many like Cebu but I found the traffic  horrendous constant horn blowing , drove me insane beep beep beep constantly,why ???? Beep beep

Finally I had enough and one morning 3am walking noticed a car beep for no reason and asked him why ....as I shouted in his window...beep..F..n  ...beep 

Edited October 8, 2023 by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

Rental and sales prices are much higher than Thailand.

 

Google condo prices in Cebu vs Pattaya you will be shocked at the high rents in the Philippines!!

 

Even sales prices for a studio are 3 X the price in the Philippines compared to Thailand!!!

 

I was looking at buying in 21sqm condo in Aveno apartment in Davao City , triple the price of Thailand

 

 

People seemed to be more nasty with scowls on their faces when I was in the Philippines last year , 

 

They all seemed to have a chip on their shoulders against foreigners scowls and pushing in ,peeing openly on the streets in front of you , rubbish everywhere in Cebu 

 

I was there last June walking at night up near the casino only to see rubbish wire concrete etc laying on  the sidewalk I immediately email the mayor's office to complain !!!!

 

Of course there is a area in Manila that looks like New York City and that was nice 

 

 

 but was different in General Santos City a more country city they seemed more nicer and Davao City

 

bit yes overall I think Thailand wins heads down , as for english speaking who cares ,the Filipinos don't want to speak to you anyway they are arrogant 

Edited October 8, 2023 by georgegeorgia

[scubascuba3]

8 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I was looking at buying in 21sqm condo in Aveno apartment in Davao City , triple the price of Thailand

Even in Pattaya prices of the same size can vary by a triple or more. 1m for 30+ metres or 4m+

[georgegeorgia]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Even in Pattaya prices of the same size can vary by a triple or more. 1m for 30+ metres or 4m+

I can still buy a condo in Pattaya for less than a million baht ,try doing that in Cebu 

 

Why prices are higher in the Philippines I have no idea , 

 

Look I didn't find these people seemed happy people and I went all around the Philippines including the areas where that say you shouldn't go such as Mindanao, strangely those areas were the most friendly people and they were Muslim 

 

Some of the Filipino look different some look like Thai and some look like Hawaiian Pacific islander look

 

Some are aggressive type and some can be friendly

 

They have short fuses I noticed even in my workplace I have Filipinos the same screeching out Bossy bitches 

Edited October 8, 2023 by georgegeorgia

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

Possibly, I was there last year ,and the "girls" were mostly of senior citizen age it seems that I saw standing outside the Go Go bars 

 

A lot of Koreans in Angeles City,living there and running businesses 

 

"Korean town " they had and was large scale in AC 

 

It looked like Pattaya Walking street but not as clean and I didn't feel safe even though no one bothered me 

 

The foreigners there though seemed to be much older age than Pattaya ,I didn't see any young tattooed foreign guys they all seemed older age  foreigners or as Filipinos call us "Afam"  apparently?

 

I didn't enjoy Angeles City but for retirement I would choose somewhere like Davao City the safest city in the Philippines 

Dumaguete or Palawan are great for quiet life 

 

Many like Cebu but I found the traffic  horrendous constant horn blowing , drove me insane beep beep beep constantly,why ???? Beep beep

Finally I had enough and one morning 3am walking noticed a car beep for no reason and asked him why ....as I shouted in his window...beep..F..n  ...beep 

AC sounds like Phuket these days. Older and larger! 

[brianthainess]

Are you still here? why not try Israel?