Thailand Vs. Phillipines

[Soulwy]

I am thinking about to visit Phillipines for a week (maybe 2), just to have look. What is your experience with the Phillipines comparing to Thailand?

Thailand-Phillipines

Bangkok-Manilla

Thanks in advance!

[Neeranam]

Sexier women in Manilla but more dangerous(not the women).

[teacup]

The foods in thailand are much better.

[LongThaimer]

I am thinking about to visit Phillipines for a week (maybe 2), just to have look. What is your experience with the Phillipines comparing to Thailand?

Thailand-Phillipines

Bangkok-Manilla

Thanks in advance!

u might want to be bit more specific on exactly what u r going to be looking ......

diving????.....ladyboys?????

[JR Texas]

I am thinking about to visit Phillipines for a week (maybe 2), just to have look. What is your experience with the Phillipines comparing to Thailand?

Thailand-Phillipines

Bangkok-Manilla

Thanks in advance!

u might want to be bit more specific on exactly what u r going to be looking ......

diving????.....ladyboys?????

Visa rules: much better in the Philippines

Business rules: about the same as Thailand but better

Land ownership: about the same as Thailand but better

Fun: girls are crazy....no problem if that is what you want

Food: lots of good Western food

Beaches: in certain areas much better than Thailand

Safety: avoid the south (same as Thailand)......maybe more petty crime than Thailand

Infrastructure: Thailand is better

Religion: Catholicism in the Philippines, Buddhism in Thailand (I prefer Buddhism)

Political stability: at the moment much better in the Philippines

Cost of living: hotels can be a bit more expensive in the Philippines, but you can rent a nice house in various places for about the same price as in Thailand; food about the same

Places to live: avoid Manilla.....try one of the outer island resort areas

Storms: because of its location, the Philippines gets hit by far more tropical storms than Thailand

Language: virtually everyone in the Philippines speaks English (OK, an exaggeration).

[Soulwy]

Thanks for posting!

It would be only for 7 - 10 days and my reasons to have a look are:

* I want to live about 8 months per year in Asia. I first thought about living in Thailand, but being in Thailand for 2 months ...euhm...let put it this way: I live in Europe, been in different parts of the world, but I never felt more discriminated than in Thailand (although I look like a Thai)

The whole Farang-Thai price thing: for me this is discrimination pur sang. (Yesterday I was offered 50 % discount because I spoke 2 sentences Thai and I looked like a Thai...)

And it is pretty tiring not being able to communicate in general. I try hard to learn Thai, but reading Thai is something else.

* The visa rules in the future... How can I feel "at home" when I have to do the visa-ritual every 3 months?

You know, I just want to experience the atmosphere in the Philippines.

And...

I am also interested in e.g. silver & pearls ( South sea pearls in the Philippines)

I was thinking of staying in Manila in a low budget, but ok hotel with daytrips to places around.

So, it is less safe...? Good to know, no more walking around in the dark.

[easyride]

I am thinking about to visit Phillipines for a week (maybe 2), just to have look. What is your experience with the Phillipines comparing to Thailand?

Thailand-Phillipines

Bangkok-Manilla

Thanks in advance!

Long time since I've been there but they had two guards with AK47's in McDonalds.

At least the Thais generally keep the shooting to themselves.

[GreenSnapper]

PH: crap food, crap infrastructure, nicer beaches and nature, people more friendly, the educated speak good english and are far more intelligent than their Thai counterparts.

TH: much better food and infrastructure, girls are more sexy and slimmer. Culture more diverse too.

[Soulwy]

How is the public transport in the PH? Especially in cities. What I like about BKK: BTS, MRT, metered taxis.. y'know what I mean?

Nope, not into girls, only into myself

[MrHammer]

My brother lived in the philipines for some years and loved it.

It is a very beautiful country with some awesome beaches and countryside.

The women are hot and passionate as well AND they speak ENGLISH.. BIG PLUS! Also they have less stupid rules and regulations. For a poker player like me its great to hit the tables in one of their casino's.

But the poverty there is much greater than in Thailand and its more dangerous. The food and general diet is not much to talk about, although tapsilog is great for breakfast!

This based on only 2 visits!

[MrHammer]

I forget.. Spectacular diving if you have any interest in that!

[Texpat]

The beer's cheaper in the Philippines.

A lot cheaper.

[Soulwy]

After being here or 10 days, this is what I noticed:

BKK :

+Very good and new BST, MRT. Impeccable.

+Chinatown is more interesting

+Streets look better

+7/11 look better and have a better assortment

+accomodation and food is cheaper

+markets are better organised (also city in general)

+better infrastructure

Manila;

+People are more open, loose, joyful

+English is widely spoken

+Local transportation is in English

+People offer you help without asking

+Vibrant

+Both sides of Manila has a coast- air is fresher

+Divisoria market has everything and all for a few pesos

Thailand has more comfortable buses, and cheaper.

More poverty in the Philippines.

Tricycledrivers try to ripp you of for only small amounts ( 5- 10 pesos), not like the Tuk Tuk drivers. And they are nicer than in Thailand.

Food in Philippines is less healthy, a lot of fastfood. Less diverse, but they don't use strong herbs as in Th.l. (which I don't like)

Filipino men/boys are charming and more courteous than Thai men (btw in a natural way without expecting anything in return) No Thai man has offered me to carry my suitcase on the stairs during my 2 months stay.

And I find Filipino features softer and more beautiful.

But I don't agree that Filipinas are thinner...the opposite...and they are less subtle towards men

Bank Security guards in Malate with guns...mmm...frown...

The Philippines remind me of Venezuela. It is an Asian country but with a South American feel.

Poverty in the centre of Manila (Malate) is terrible. Families sleeping on cardboards on the ground, children watching you while you eat outside.

But there are 2 things that make me come again next year: people and nature.

I like people in the busy Manila, I can only imagine how people are in the rest of the country.

And I definetely want to see some islands such as Palawan.

I probably skip Manila and go to the islands right away.

So I agree on everything JR Texas, Red Snapper, Mr Hammer typed.

Difference between Buddhism and Catholicism?

When someone in a wheelchair gets stuck, the Philippine would help this person immediately while the Thai would just pass him/her and let the Farang help the person (right Dave?

[bonobo]

I have spent almost as much time in the Philippines during the course of my life as I have spent in Thailand.  I just returned from a week there a week ago.

To reiterate on a few issues and expand on a few, here are some random observations:

Infrastructure and quality of life things like movies, malls, bowling alleys, tourist destinations, etc., are far, far better in Thailand than in the Philippines.  However, the television in the PI is far more varied and less expensive than here.  There are at least 30 English-language channels readily available, a few German, a few French, a dozen Chinese, and a smattering of others.

Filipinos seems to provide much better cusotemr service than Thais.  You are welcomed into every shop, thanked for stopping by, the manager checks half-way through your meal to make sure it is OK.  There are more smiles in the Philippines than in the land of smiles.

Food is pretty unhealthy in the PI.  Meat and rice are the staples.  Veggies might be held as an onion in your Bifstek Tagalog.  Junk food is even more prevalent than in Thailand.

That leads to another point--women in the PI are quite a bit heavier than women in Thailand.  I would say that the average weight for a specific height might be 3-5 kg more in the PI than Thailand.  I lay this at the feet of the starchy, fatty diet.  Men don't seem to be heavier to the same degree.

Manila is a dirty, crowded city which makes Bangkok look pristine and empty.  Poverty is much more evident in Manila than Bangkok.

Diving is much better in the PI.

The resorts to retire to after a day's dive are much better in Thailand.

Manufacturing is much more sophisticated in Thailand.

The PI welcomes retirees much more than Thailand.

Virginity is a held like some sort of prize to be awarded some supposedly lucky man to a much greater extent than in Thailand. Women brag about their virginity at the slightest opportunity.

Night life in Thailand, in my opinion, can be fun if you are with a bunch of friends out for a good time, but it is not really conducive to a single guy going out for a drink and just enjoying the atmosphere. Thais bar workers (waitresses, bartenders, dancers, etc) seem to be much more business oriented and seem to be just waiting until quitting time.    In the PI, all workers seem to be having a much better time.  They laugh and seem to enjoy themselves, trying to learn all the dance steps (I went to one bar near my hotel on its anniversay celebration, and for each choreographed dance, everyone else, dancers or waitresses, would practice the steps of the dance routine then on stage being done by the assigned dancers).  As a single guy, I found I could enjoy myself for a coupleof  hours without the dry desperation I have experienced in Thailand.  

Mangos are much better in the PI.  And they can actually make a decent hamburger!

The Manila Airport is really pretty shoddy.  Bangkok's is really a smooth oiled machine in comparison.

Filipinas tend to descirbe themselves as a "typcial Filipina beauty," while Thai women tend to demean their appearances (take a look at any international dating site to see what I mean.)

Filipino men can be very gregarious.  

Filipinos generally follow traffic regulations.

Every Filipino seems to have a relative living in the USA!  

Anyway, those are a few random observations.

[Sabum]

Never having been to the Philipines lol but having dated 3 Canadian Philipinas and almost marrying one after being with her for 6 years... well yes they are really passionate and ya crazy comes to mind thinking of all 3. I still fantasize about sex with my Philipina exes.... while living in Thailand and dating Japanese! I got issues.

[soihok]

Why not divide your time between the two?

But dont let the two get together ,,,,like I did Tropical cyclone

[BigSnake]

I am thinking about to visit Phillipines for a week (maybe 2), just to have look. What is your experience with the Phillipines comparing to Thailand?

Thailand-Phillipines

Bangkok-Manilla

Thanks in advance!

Bangkok and Manila are like twin city in my opinion. Give Manila a slight edge in the local ladies that can speak English

[ai kwaan]

Manila is a sh*thole! Sanitation is really very poor! Crumbling infrastructure, pollution, MRT's filled to the brim, jampacked! ..etc., etc.

BKK is waaay better. BKK would appear to be like Tokyo in comparison.

Stay away from Manila!!

In fairness to the PI, it's got spectacular secluded tropical beach paradise in the central islands. Bohol, the islets around Palawan - Coron (Survivor France, Season 7, was shot here!), El Nido, dos Palmas...... Camiguin, Caramoan (Survivor France, Season 8, was shot here!). Boracay, "still ok", but i'm afraid the rapid commercialisation will turn it into a mini-Koh Samui.

Awesome dive sites in Sogod, Southern Leyte.. Tubbataha Reef.. and Malapascua!

Cebu is a good base for this central islands expedition. *2 thumbs up*

[Jingthing]

One thing about Pinoy food.

While most everyone except Pinoys would be happier to be "stuck" with Thai food vs. Pinoy food, when going there on a holiday the eating can actually be interesting and good if you are careful to do some research on where to go. I actually love good Filipino food and wish there were more options for it in Thailand.I also had the best Spanish paella in my life in Manila, and yes I have been to Spain.

[ai kwaan]

they have this "goto" and "arroz y caldo" similar to "jok", but tastier. i enjoyed that, but i still brought packs of Mama with me, just in case

this is what i'm talking about...

Coron, in Palawan

Caramoan, in Camarines Sur

[Rathai]

I hear there are a lot of kidnappings in PI, but havent heard of this in TH.

[micky44]

women fat, food s** Pinay blokes complete bast***, Manila filthy angeles ok for a week end, armed guards out side KFC, forget it, waste of time.

[JR Texas]

I hear there are a lot of kidnappings in PI, but havent heard of this in TH.

In Thailand they just kill you......guess that is the main difference.

In case this is going to turn into a Thailand is safer than the Philippines argument, check some statistics:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count..._by_murder_rate

http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/results/rankings/2008/

[Jungian]

Thailand is Manhattan the Philippines is the Bronx.

[MeetJohnDoe]

Some good points have been made...I like both places for different reasons. I have never had any crime issues in PI but you do have to be more aware of it in the back of your mind there, whereas in Thailand, one really doesn't have to even think about it. Food and general hygiene (including with the girls...you know, "down there") is the main issue I have with PI...on just about every trip, I inevitably come down with some minor ailment or another (nothing serious...a hassle) but in TL, I can go for years without coming down with anything.

The people make PI a great place to visit...I boil it down to this: Thailand is a whiskey and cigarettes culture; whereas the Philippines is rum and cigars.

[soihok]

The people make PI a great place to visit...I boil it down to this: Thailand is a whiskey and cigarettes culture; whereas the Philippines is rum and cigars.

Thats a great way to put it!

Nice one.

Its impossible to paint a whole nation with one brush.

But thats close.

Most Fil folks I have met are habitual liars,,,could be mixing with the folks mind.

[Soulwy]

I am back in BKK, glad with better food, 7/11 & prices, but I miss the vividness of Manila. I had contact with people, even without talking. Certain vibes are there, which are not to be found here in Thailand.

Yes, they smoke where ever they can, even in hotelrooms and in jeepneys. Btw not entire Manila is dirty, I was in Makati (Silom in BKK), a very modern part of the city. I ate great national dishes (I was surprised), raw fish in vinegar with ginger and onion, whoaaaa!

Like Bonobo said, the Phil. have a great service mentality, but...for every fart you have to pay in hotels/ pensions.

And there was something else...Thai women speak a lot about money, even to me (am female). Thai waitresses, teachers, uni graduates, women from different social classes told me the same thing: they don't have money, family is poor, need money to take care of the family, to travel, to have a better life...blablabla. (The Dutch like to talk about money, but not like this)

This in contrast with Filipinas, of course money is in their minds, but haven't heard a thing about money...what is your experience on this?

Next time I skip Manila and go directly to the islands.

[Soulwy]

Moderator, can you please delete 1 post of mine? I uploaded the same photos twice...

[Jingthing]

This in contrast with Filipinas, of course money is in their minds, but haven't heard a thing about money...what is your experience on this?

Well I visited an isolated backward island there and talked to some locals. I asked them are you happy here? They said in unison: we are starving and the people are dying. But not a mention of money!

[Soulwy]

Isn't this typical...? I find it very intrigueing...