Back in the States after 4 Months in Philippines

[PhilBill]

Hey There, Hope everyone is getting closer to taking those dream trips of yours. I just arrived back in the States after 4 months in the Philippines, my longest stay there since 99-2000. After 3 years of less and less tourist arrivals in the Philippines the European backpackers and budget travelers are BACK, "on the road again" . It was FUN meeting and sharing travle stories with many of the world traveler guests who stay with us in Manila or Boracay.

The weather was FANTASTIC and I met up with some old friends in Kabayog, Samar by taking the long bus ride down the Philippine National Highway for the first time ( and the last ). I'd recommend flying or taking ship to the Visayas region of the Philippines because the highway was NOT in the least bit, "scenic". Plus a minor set back was my cell phone got "lost" during the ferry trip between the tip of Luzon and Samar Islands. My friend, John's friend Jimmy drove us down to Tacloban and we took off to Guiuan, the small peninsula, southeast tip of Samar where an old miltary base had been back in the 50s. Anyway whatever or whoever special we thought we might encounter there did NOT materialize at all; it resembled any one of a hundred other small towns in the Philippines, friendly but nothing special.


From there we headed for Cebu City via the SuperCat Ferry from Ormoc. After partying and drinking with some friends there I flew to Caticlan / Boracay to get back to work on finishing our private beach house behind our beachfront resort.

Our 90 day countdown has began for getting OUT of N. America and moving back to the Philippines in June / July. In the 3 weeks it takes our 20 ft container to arrive in Manila I'd love to fly down to Cancun and Miami to visit old friends from Europe and Asia. Anyone else like to travel S.E. Asia feel free to ask us questions.

Anyone heading for the Himalayas Oct-Nov 2004? I wouldn't mind hooking up with other travelers to trek with in Nepal. Cheers, HAPPY TRAVELS! Bill

[Carisia]

Hey philbill, can you give us some more background on your trip, like how you went about planning, costs, logistics, lodging, etc.? More specific / tech'l info. will help us first timers to the Philipines.

Keep us posted on the Himalayas plan!

[TapSiLog]

hey bill!! MABUHAY bro!

you got a private beachhouse and a resort in boracay?!!?! damn!! that's my favorite island, man!!
it has the finest white sand i have ever seen!!!... the nightlife in the island is crazy!!!..the fruit shakes at jony's
are to die for..and the fresh seafoods at the talipapa market is simply irresistible.... life's a beach indeed!






hopefully i get to go back again this May when I come home.. and maybe, i can stay in your resort and you can give me a tpunk discount, yeah?



here are some pics of the island i found in pbase...

boracay pics 1
boracay pics 2
boracay pics 3
boracay pics 4


c'mon tpunks, come and visit the Philippines!!!

[PhilBill]

Carissa, this 4 month trip didn't require much planning on my part since I have been traveling, living, partying and doing business in the Philippines since I arrived at 25 years old WAY BACK in Jan 1980. But here's a few typical costs.

Transport; bus / ship - about 75 cents (U$) / hour of travel; 6 hour bus ride U$4.50 18 hour ship ride U$14 ( economy class )

Accomodation; P300 to P700 or U$5.50 to U$13( 2 persons ) low/high season

Partying; Happy Hour Beer/Rum&Coke P20 to P25 ( 35 to 45 cents ) Make your own for P40 or less for 1 liter bottles of rum ( Tanduay ESQ red label ) A case of 24 33ml bottles of San Miguel Beer P280 ( U$5 ) Other recreational mood enhancers very CHEAP.

Meals; Many menu items are P75 to P95 (U$1.35 to U$1.80 ) but at local eateries ( best at 11AM to 1PM ) for rice with one topping only P25 to P35 (45 to 60 cents ) All you can eat buffets ON THE BEACH on BORACAY ISLAND at P150 to P250 ( U$2.70 to U$4.50 )

In the Northern mountain we paid only P100 / each for accomodation in a very clean and modern guesthouse in SAGADA.

Gasoline U$150/ gallon ( P20+ /liter )

Long Term Rent; From P3000 to P15,000 ( U$55 to U$260 )/ month for a local apartment up to a house & lot and maybe even a swimming pool .

Airfare; From U$40 to U$60 ONE WAY anywhere in the Philippines.