I'm back

[Dedworth]

After seeing Malaysia, it made me realise just how dity and poluted the Phil's is. Don't get me wrong, I love the Phil's, but it really struck me this time at just how little pride the people take in keeping their country clean. Everywhere is full of litter, people peeing in shop doorways, sleeping rough, pimps touts and pushers trying to sell viagra, sun glasses and hookers and everybody basically out to rip you off for as much as they can. I don't look at other places with rose tinted specs and realise that every country has its bad parts, but walking around Manila I realised it has some stunning colonial architecture and great road infrastructure and with a bit of pride and money spending on it, it really could be one of the worlds great cities and deserve its name of the Pearl of the Orient. They've cleaned Makati up and it really is like a mini Singapore or HK so why can't they clean Manila up?

Great write up - I've only been to peninsular Malaysia (10 plus years ago) and always thought it was a bit mucky/tatty - sounds like they've got their act together

[Tawi2]

full of Pinoys from Mindanao

A lot of them are illegals,done the back door trip from pinas to sabah a few times with such folks,the boats normally do a night crossing from Sitangkai.Sounds like you had a good trip,Borneo is a great place

[Englishman2010]

A lot of them are illegals,done the back door trip from pinas to sabah a few times with such folks,the boats normally do a night crossing from Sitangkai.Sounds like you had a good trip,Borneo is a great place

Yeah, I really liked KK and Sabah, and will definitely try to get back there and see more of it. The Filipino market and night food market were my favorites. Elaine was talking to some of the Pinay waitresses at the eateries, most came from Jolo, Sulu or Zambo, so just a short trip across the sea to make the back door trip

[Arthur Little]

Great write up

... , Ian for sharing!

[Englishman2010]

Great write up - I've only been to peninsular Malaysia (10 plus years ago) and always thought it was a bit mucky/tatty - sounds like they've got their act together

I was in West Malaysia 2 years ago and whilst it isnt as clean as Singapore, HK or Brunei, it was on par with most of southern Europe. East Malaysia is fairly similar, certainly not like the Phil's where litter is everywhere and the pavements are crumbling. The other thing I liked about Borneo was that cars stopped at pedestrian crossings - It must be the manners we Brits taught the colonials