Back from Manila

[Jimbojac]

Great write up Dave and reminds me a lot of my first trip many moons back to Manila. Just a few notes: Please take time out to travel and visit the country, provinces and beaches, the bus rides can be uncomfortable but its a great way to see the " REAL" Philippines. Most people that comment on the Phils and certainly me amongst them can't really stand Manila and after 2-3 days i can't wait to split!
Mindanao is a stunning place overall and yes the Foreign office has advisory notices warning Westerners not to venture there but so many places are incredibly safe {much safer than any part of Manila will ever be including Makati and Malate} and certainly safer than Divisoria. The main threat is in the SW where a few Muslim extremists are amongst the general population around the region of Zamboanga del Sur apart from that i and many other Westerners are made welcome and i have felt safe for all the years travelled there.
Congrats on your engagement, Filipina girls/ the best in the World!

[andy222]

Thanks all for the congratulations and nice comments.

Hope you have a great trip Andy.. I remember reading the FCO Advisory before I left.. Mindanao.. dangerous place, steer clear!.. not that good a write up for the Philippines in general though. It makes me wonder though what the advice would be regarding travel to the UK, some of the crime here is frightful, just today for example .. the local news - 4 year old boy stabbed by man... clearly a danegerous place and not recommended to bring children to Oxfordshire!!

Thanks for the info Graham, I don't fancy a 6hour round trip each day.. further than I imagined. I am thinking that I will stay in Manila again for the beginning of my next visit and then maybe honeymoon in Subic.

Thanks Dave. Its the same everywhere in the world you just need a bit of common sense. Lets face it at one time in our country you could walk down the street at night. I wouldnt now. I have said it before and I meant it. I feel safer in the phils than I do here..

[andy222]

Same here Andy roll on 8 weeks for me i cant wait

To be honest steve it feels like Im going home.

[andy222]

Great write up Dave and reminds me a lot of my first trip many moons back to Manila. Just a few notes: Please take time out to travel and visit the country, provinces and beaches, the bus rides can be uncomfortable but its a great way to see the " REAL" Philippines. Most people that comment on the Phils and certainly me amongst them can't really stand Manila and after 2-3 days i can't wait to split!
Mindanao is a stunning place overall and yes the Foreign office has advisory notices warning Westerners not to venture there but so many places are incredibly safe {much safer than any part of Manila will ever be including Makati and Malate} and certainly safer than Divisoria. The main threat is in the SW where a few Muslim extremists are amongst the general population around the region of Zamboanga del Sur apart from that i and many other Westerners are made welcome and i have felt safe for all the years travelled there.
Congrats on your engagement, Filipina girls/ the best in the World!

I agree with what you say jimbojac you have to see a few places. I just use manila as a stopover.

[stevie c]

To be honest steve it feels like Im going home.

[grahamw48]

It's the Robinson Crusoe experience in the Province that I like.

As here....5 hours walk from the nearest road:
.

[stevewool]

cant take the white socks out the yorkshire man

[grahamw48]

I had a woman to wash them for me then.

Black ones now.

[DeltaRomeo]

It's the Robinson Crusoe experience in the Province that I like.

As here....5 hours walk from the nearest road:
.

It is something I'd like to try sometime, but I have to admit it scares me.. by that I mean.. how would I spend my time.. what would I do without a PC, phone, well any technology... I'd probably love it at first, but soon enough would begin to miss those things

[stevie c]

My ex wife came from Tacloban...I found it very boring when i stayed in the province no bars no shopping malls, no foreigners to associate with no cable tv only nice deserted beaches i was always happy to get back to the big towns

[andy222]

I cant complain really I find Butuan is just right. Not too crowded. Decent mall. The beach (although not white sand) is 30 minutes away and I get on with the locals.

[grahamw48]

It is something I'd like to try sometime, but I have to admit it scares me.. by that I mean.. how would I spend my time.. what would I do without a PC, phone, well any technology... I'd probably love it at first, but soon enough would begin to miss those things

Well, true there was no electricity or piped water there, but I did take my radio/cassette player with me (that's the best we had in those days ), along with a few books, and as I'm interested in nature, plenty to keep me occupied.

I also enjoyed picking coffee beans from the trees, drying them in the sun and then making coffee from them. Fishing and bathing in the mountain river, panning for gold in it, making and flying kites....so many things to do actually.

Then I began to plan out a design for generating hydro-electricity from a nearby fast-flowing stream....

[DeltaRomeo]

Then I began to plan out a design for generating hydro-electricity from a nearby fast-flowing stream....

Stick a dynamo on a bike wheel with paddles attached? ;-)

How about a perpetual motion machine with falling sand?.. I thought i was onto a winner with that one! haha.. it worked fine in my mind

Fishing, coffee beans, paning for gold.. great for a fortnight maybe.. but a life like that.. I don't know.. would be happy to try a holiday though.

[grahamw48]

I was there for 4 months. lol

Some great ideas on the net for making yourself a bit of hydro-power.
I love this sort of Heath Robinson stuff.

.

[chellnie]

hello im niechel been engaged to dave. Love to share my happiness in meeting dave here in the Phil. last march 20. It is the happiest moment that dave share is love when he come here in the Phil. being thoughtful, loving, kind, sweet and being romantic he melt my heart everyday the way we share everything and open minded too. Im thankful that i meet dave in one of the website here on the internet that until now still experience the caring from dave which everyday we talk and the love that he share to be and hes care also. the most been sweet and romantic experience that dave propose that being part of his life FOREVER ohhhh.. and give the ring how romatic that portion im the happiest woman and say i well accept your mahal it would be FOREVER. Until now dave is always been part of my life now and being careful now because im not alone he is part now of my life.... Thank u mahal for entering my life i know in our future well be happiest when we together. love u so much... mhwaaaaaaaaa

[grahamw48]

Wow...what a lovely post.

My story is similar to yours and Dave's.

I found my Fiancee on a dating site and we met for the first time in Manila in February this year.

I'm very happy for you both.

[DeltaRomeo]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Gosh.. such a lovely post.. thank you.. I am so lucky. Love you too baby.


Thanks Graham.. good luck with your relationship and plans too

[Arthur Little]

It's nice to have you back, Dave. Splendid write-up! for sharing that ... along with the lovely photos of you & Chel amidst the marvellous scenery.

[Arthur Little]

And also, Chel ... for your heartwarming account of your time together.

Congratulations to you BOTH on your engagement.

[bigmarco]

Yes thanks Dave and Chel for your lovely pictures and congratulations on your engagement. You both look very happy together.

[chellnie]

Thank you for the appreciation. When i'm thinking about yo mahal, all we have shared in two weeks is been meaningful and unforgettable that happen into my life. I well not tired to say to you I LOVE YOU. Thank you so much for trusting me. I promise i will not disappoint you. The only things that should be on your mind is How much I LOVE YOU...... mhwaaaaa
take care always mahal, im just here never change. just waiting for u