well you people seem well traveled, so.... - by WAREAGLE
heretic on 21/5/2009 at 13:27
Quote Posted by WAREAGLE
fortunately i am headed to boracay. some sort of resort. from there im not too sure where. thank you for your advice. what exactly is a wet market? and why not point upwards? i can understand not pointing directly at someone, but the fact that you specifically mentioned not pointing upwards strikes me as strange.
Yeah, I blame the pale Ale. What I meant was the common western gesture used for motioning someone towards you, palm upwards moving your finger or fingers towards and away. It is acceptable to do almost the same thing, but with the palm facing downwards.
A wet market is a large outside market with a lot more available than fish and fruit. Prices are not set, so if you don't know any better you will be overcharged for any given goods.
WAREAGLE on 22/5/2009 at 00:04
I see. Tyvm, good to know considering I do the hand gesture to beckon people probably more than I realize. Does anyone know if theres anything I should stock up on before I go? such as deodorants, toothpastes, shampoo etc? Id hate to get there and find out you cant buy razor blades or something.
google kinda failed me on this topic but i did find this...
SAFETY/SECURITY: The terrorist threat to American citizens in the Philippines remains high and the Department warns against all but essential travel to the Philippines. The U.S. Embassy continues to receive reports of ongoing activities and of multiple planned attacks throughout the Philippines by known terrorist groups. Americans should carefully consider the risks of travel to the Philippines. Numerous security-related incidents highlight the risk of travel in certain areas due to kidnappings, bombings, and other violence and criminal activity. The Department urges American who choose to travel or reside in the Philippines to observe vigilant personal security precautions, to remain aware of the continued potential for terrorist attacks against Americans, U.S. or other Western interests in the Philippines, to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website, (
https://travelregistration.state.gov), and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the Philippines.
The Philippine government has been engaged on and off in negotiations with Communist and Muslim rebel groups. Nonetheless, rebel activity and armed banditry in certain areas of the Philippines still pose security concerns. The Communist Party of the Philippines and its terrorist military arm, the New People's Army, operate throughout the country and have issued public threats against U.S. citizens and interests in the Philippines. Americans are urged to exercise caution when traveling throughout the country and are specifically warned to avoid hiking or camping in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga Province.
In Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, kidnappings, bombings, violence, and insurgent activity make travel hazardous in many areas. The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), which the U.S. Government has designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, has kidnapped several Americans and other foreign tourists since April 2000. Some were freed after substantial ransoms were paid, some escaped or were rescued by military action, and some were killed. Other kidnapping gangs operate in the same general area and have abducted a number of foreigners for ransom.
Americans are urged to defer non-emergency travel to central, southern, and western Mindanao, and the islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the southwest of the Philippines, due to military operations against kidnappings and other criminal activity.
Operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which the U.S. Government has also designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, are also present in the Philippines. JI is an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda and other regional terrorist groups and has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. Extremist groups in the region have demonstrated a capability to carry out transnational attacks in locations where Westerners congregate. Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets.
U.S. citizens and interests may be at increased risk of terrorist actions from foreign or domestic extremist groups in the Philippines. There are periodic reports of plans for possible terrorist acts aimed at U.S. Government facilities or personnel, public and private institutions, and transportation carriers. The U.S. Embassy takes all such threats seriously. The State Department reminds all Americans traveling or living abroad of the need to remain vigilant with regard to personal security issues and to always follow basic and important security countermeasures: do not establish a pattern or routine in movement and travel; vary the times and routes taken to the extent possible; maintain a low profile; and immediately report any unusual activity, to include possible surveillance, to the Philippine Police and the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy.
uh oh
heretic on 22/5/2009 at 00:37
Don't stress. I have a place there (my wife was born there) and spend a month or two of every year there. I've had only one incident in all the times I've been there, and that was quite minor. Unless you stray too far south you've got no worries. Manila is a pretty rough place, but once you get into the country it's a warm relaxed atmosphere.If you have any specific concerns I should be able to fill you in. I am most familiar with Visayas, particularly Aklan. I know Boracay in and out, but it has been changing quite fast, and not necessarily for the better.
PigLick on 22/5/2009 at 03:37
I was in love with a philippine girl, once
june gloom on 22/5/2009 at 04:26
So was I.
Well she was Filipino-American.
Volitions Advocate on 22/5/2009 at 04:38
I've worked with Filipinos for a number of years, and they're all very warm people. But the Philippines is a rough place and they all have to do what they can to stay on top.
One of the guys here was trying to get his drivers license and kept asking me questions about insurance, because apparently you don't need insurance on your car over there.
I asked him what you do if you get in a car accident and the other guy has no insurance. He said " they pay you the money ". and I asked what if they don't? His response was "i go get my buddies"
The justice system over there is pretty grassroots, if you get what I mean.
Macha on 22/5/2009 at 22:48
Apparently it's full of crystal meth. According to youtube.
