For this is I and I is me :o)

[Ayumbar]

Hi all!

Just joined today, looks like a good active community here. I've read a few threads and it looks like these forums will be a good place for opinions in future.

I have joined this site because I may need some advice about the Phillipines in the near future. A few weeks ago by chance, I met a lady online who is from the Phillipines, but lives in USA. We have been talking quite a lot in those weeks and since then she has invited me to visit her home country. I have agreed to the idea, but do not have a clue about Asian countries in general.

I bring with me some experience of meeting people from the internet before from Europe and Brazil, so perhaps I hope I can give some people advice, if needed.

I could ramble on, so perhaps best I keep this short.

Ayum:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[bornatbirth]

ramble away, many already do :icon_lol:

btw welcome and it good to get advice but your own experience is more important, just get a ticket and enjoy the ride :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[mikey73]

hi ayum :Hellooo: welcome:Hellooo:

[aromulus]

I bring with me some experience of meeting people from the internet before from Europe and Brazil, so perhaps I hope I can give some people advice, if needed.

Yup, I am sure this will turn out to be useful....:doh

:icon_lol:

Welcome aboard..:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Ayumbar]

Hey guys, thanks!

When I was talking to my friend yesterday, I was reading up about the Phillipines through the wiki site. Never realised it was once a Spanish colony. She tells me that English is like the second language in her country. I will try and learn some Tagalog for sure, but will check what resources are online to learn. I see livemocha do not offer free Tagalog courses :bigcry:

[sars_notd_virus]

hello:)

[jam07]

hello :Wave: welcome to our friendly site :)

[KeithD]

ramble away, many already do :icon_lol:
....mainly you though :D

[bornatbirth]

....mainly you though :D

me included, i much perfer naked rambling :action-smiley-081:

[Ayumbar]

Hi sars_notd_virus and jam07, thanks for the welcome!

[liane]

Welcome here :Hellooo:

[Ayumbar]

Thank you liane :Wave:

[aromulus]

....mainly you though :D


me included, i much perfer naked rambling :action-smiley-081:

4259

[stevie c]

Hi Ayum welcome to the forum :Hellooo:

[Ayumbar]

Hi stevie c, thanks! :Wave:

[Steve.r]

Welcome :Hellooo:

[Ayumbar]

Hi Steve.r, a big thank you :Wave:


I am going to write something else in this post rather than create a whole new thread.....

Normally when I travel to meet someone for the first time, I book a hotel. This is partly out of common sense, but also for personal safety reasons. The lady who I will meet in Manila wants me to stay at her family house rather than goto hotel in Manila. In the past this has normally been a big "NO!" for me, when meeting someone for the 1st time from the internet.

Have any of you guys ever stayed at the lady's house on first visit/meeting?

As I write this, it seems like a crazy thing to do. For now, I have neither said yes or no to the idea, however I think I will be saying no.

[bornatbirth]

Normally when I travel to meet someone for the first time, I book a hotel.

:icon_lol: what a good idea.

anyway, thats up to you and its aways good to have a back up plan just in case you dont get a long.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[rani]

welcome to the forum ayumbar :Hellooo:

[Ayumbar]

Hi Rani, thank you! :Wave:

I hope to help people properly in future. For now, I'm asking the questions and currently plotting my route to the Phillipines.

[Ayumbar]

:icon_lol: what a good idea.

anyway, thats up to you and its aways good to have a back up plan just in case you dont get a long.:xxgrinning--00xx3:

Yes, I know I am a genius :D Whenever one goes on a trip to meet someone, plan B is usually a good option to have at hand, if things go not as planned.

[Alan]

Hi Ayum and welcome!

100% hotel!!

Al.:)

[rani]

its always better to stay in a hotel especially if its your first time in the country.. for me, its very "gentleman" :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Ayumbar]

Hi Alan :Wave:

Thanks to both Alan and Rani for advice.

I too agree hotel is surely the option. I think part of her wanting me to come to her family home to stay is because there is a relative's wedding event happening around the time she travels back to Manila. I would like to be there with her for the event, but I think out of respect of the family (also), I can hardly imagine they would want some foreign stranger living in their house who (in reality) nobody knows or has met before.

[stevie c]

i agrree it has to be the hotel option:xxgrinning--00xx3:

[KeithD]

You don't want to be sharing the morning shower with her mother :grosyeux:

[Ayumbar]

haha too true!

[Arthur Little]

Good morning, and :welcomex: to the filipinouk forum ... pleased to see you've already made quite an impact since joining us yesterday. Keep it up ... and you'll learn a lot here about the Philippines and its culture in preparation for your visit. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[Arthur Little]

Have any of you guys ever stayed at the lady's house on first visit/meeting?

Ay(e) ... um ... YES, I :Kilt: did! At least, I stayed at my [then] girlfriend's relatives' house ... because they lived in fairly large, secluded - and well-protected - accommodation, deemed by her family to be of lesser risk for a foreigner [European or American] in Mindanao.

[Ayumbar]

Hi Arthur Little, thanks! :Wave:

Actually I made an error in my understanding. The friend who lives in USA, wants me to meet her in the USA first. Then assuming things go well on our initial meeting (most likely February), I can stay with her in Manila in the spring. To me, that sounds a bit more of a realistic plan :D