Tourists of the Philipinnes

I just wanted to ask anyone who has visited the Philipinnes (especially the tourists) how their experience was? I've always visit at least 2-4 times a year and feel like a local there (fluent in tagalog). I've asked some of the foreigners how their experience was and it's always been a mixed reaction; it's either they love it or hate it.

Anyways, share your experiences please, as I'm always fascinated to hear from a foreigner's point of view.

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:25 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

My brother swears it's the last paradise on earth.

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:48 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

EDITED:

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:08 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:52 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

haha, wtf! My mistake! Sorry about that Néa. faint

Something is wrong with me today.

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I don't know. I didn't look like a tourist. But I certainly felt like a foreigner. Not understanding Tagalog. Or any Filipino dialect. I could get by in stores if I kept my mouth shut and listened carefully for words that I could guess by roots (or Spanish similarity) or if they used Taglish. Heh. (*is Filipina-American*)

Where I was, the comfort level was very different from home. And I did miss those comforts of home. But I really did enjoy it there and meeting new people. =] Beautiful scenery. (The drives were semi-bearable; I slept. It's too bumpy. And I always feel scared out on the road. Craaazy, especially in Manila. O.o) I guess it depends on where you go. And who you're with. :3

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I am coming from Hong Kong, but work and stay in Philippines. Marry with a Filipina.
The people here are mostly friendly. There is not much tourist spots here in Manila unlike the other Asian countries. It doesn't bother me much as I enjoy shopping. There are many big shopping malls in Makati. If you enjoy swimming or diving, you can still go to the islands, like Cebu and Boracay. One thing I really hate about Philippines is the transportation. There can be traffic jam anywhere and anytime. You're better has a car, or rent a car/taxi. You need to change several trasnportation vehicles (like Jeepney, bus, tricyle, etc.) before you can reach as destination. The Train/MRT route is still limited.
I still cannot speak Tagalog yet, as my wife and my officemates can talk to me in English. I only understand some Tagalog words.

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:28 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

hehe. yeah traffic jams.. Tongue

there are not trafic jams everywhere. it sometimes depend on what time is it and is there any occasion or something.
we have few tourist spots in manila but in other places in the philippines, there are alot. Smile

Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:31 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

My advise to foreigners who want to try out the Philippines is to avoid going to cities, like Manila, if you want to save yourself from the worst. I've been to a lot of countries and I can't really compare the beaches here to other beaches I went to in other countries. If you want to enjoy the most of out of this country, try going to the beaches far from Manila.. I assure people that they will not be disappointed. Laugh

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:48 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Philippines consists of 7,107 beautiful islands. Yes, it is a beautiful country, you just have to explore it. Don't ya know this country boasts some of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world? heard about El Nido and Tubahatta? Just google them and you will understand what I mean. Manila is only part of the PHilippines. It doesn't represent the whole country and I think there are good and bad places to go as there are in any state in the US. If ur into island hopping, well, Philippines has a lot to offer. Man, the prisitne, white sands of their beaches is just so beautiful! If u want to try Philippines, go to Bohol, Camiguin, palawan, Cebu, Baguio, Tagaytay, Boracay beach to name a few...These places I meantioned are just tip of the iceberg pinch

I can't possibly name all the beautiful 7,107 islands, can I? pinch

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I have a question: what is the temperature like in the summer months (is the heat really that bad?) and are there any tourists there at all in summer? My brother only went in winter and and said the temperatures were super-pleasant and that he met many, many Korean tourists to go drinking with, but sadly I have no time to travel in winter.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

sample pics of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Ah, thank you very much for helping out. Smile

So I guess maybe I can visit the Philippines after all, even though I have no time at all in winter. I'd like to meet some Korean tourists there because I always want to practice my Korean.. of course I also want to meet some of the locals! I don't know very many Filippinos now but my brother swears they are really nice, hospitable and good-looking.

Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject: ... Post Rating: 0

Yeah, I agree with what blue_smurf said. thumright

It's sad that the Philippines gets so criticized so much. Crying

I don't know why other people do that but our country's really beautiful, you just have to know where to go. Mr. Green

If you're going for a vacation, then might as well plan ahead of time so you know where you'll be going. Smile

It gets so hot nowadays because of El Niño so foreigners who's not used to such heat can't take it but the weather's really unpredictable, today it's really hot but it's raining the next day, lol.

If you're planning to see all the beaches, you might as well go during summer so you can have a natural tan after one day under the sun, hahaha.. You can even go there anytime of the year, there are a lot of beautiful places you can go to. It's just that some of them are hidden, lol..

I also agree about what blue_smurf said about Koreans everywhere, haha.. It's not just Koreans, there are also CHinese studying there. I even had a dorm mate who's CHinese, he's very kind, asked me to teach him Tagalog once, lol..