If you are not adventerous, do not go to the Philippines!

The Philippines is a Third World country, a so called developing country.

And yes, it seems that after mr. Duterte became president, it is finally developing. But they have a very long way to go if they want foreigners to be impressed and enjoy travelling and living in the country.
Most of the goods appreciated by Westerns, is very expensive here. It is a hot country, and staying cool is costly
Hotels and accomodation is usually overpriced compared with other ASEAN countries.
To find a decent quality housing with a decent neighbourhood not plagued with screaming roosters, barking dogs and endless and often hopeless Karaoke singing from sunrise to kerfew time at 10pm is almost impossible.
Garbage is almost everywhere. Run down old buildings abound, even in big cities where the value of the land is sky high.

Street children abound, people living on side walks and in terrible shacks.

Heavily polluted air due to old and badly maintained vehicles is a real health issue in the cities.

The food found at most eateries tastes sugar and vinegar. Terrible for most tourists, to be honest about it.
Thai food, Indonesian food, Malaysian food with all its varieties is sooo much more pleasing and lovely, so do NOT come to the Philippines to experience lovely interesting food, my friend.

Cockroaches and other exotic insects are found almost everywhere, also inside hotel rooms.

Travelling can be a nightmare. If you are of American size, sitting in those small jeepneys or tricycles is really a painful experience. Also most buses have way to small seats, unless you get the most modern luxury versions that is.

Taxi drivers, especially in Manila, are in many cases swindlers and thiefs.

Toilets:
Do not expect to find decent size toilet bowls anywhere. Toilet paper? Nada! Bring always wet wipes with you, even if you visit a nice mall.

If you are not ready to learn how to use a water bottle or the typical plastic scope and your left hand to wash your behind after doing number 2, better u stay only in the most expensive modern areas of Manila and Cebu.

Rental cars or motorbikes are not easy to find, and if you find, they are extremely overpriced.

Driving in the country may also be a challenge if you are used to a country where people abide by the rules. Here, most people do not even know the rules.

So, if you have 2-3 weeks of holiday, coming from a developped country, wishing to relax and have a hassle-free holiday, there is NO reason for you to pick the Philippines.

But if are interested in getting to know locals, and feel a warm and welcoming culture that can really touch your heart, and introduce you to new, real friends, then it might be worth the inconviences mentions already.

Now, of course we have different kinds of travellers:

1.Sex Tourists
2.Explorers
3.People looking for a good place to retire in their old age.
4. Business people
etc.

All these categories of people come to the Philippines.

And why not?

There are a lot of young people there who are more than willing to find a relationship or friendship with a foreigner. Not only because of financial benefits, but because the people in the Philippines are usually very open minded and very friendly to foreigners.

But hotels, infrastructure and general services may, as I have already pointed out, be of a very poor or relatively expensive standard.

You can come here as a young explorer, travelling with friends, diving and do a lot of cool things, of course, but I bet you would get more for the money visiting Thailand, Indonesia or Vietnam.

Explorers that wish to visit the unexplored places: This is the right place! People here love to speak English, and they are extremely polite and friendly.

But do not expect to have an easy travel, nor to find a comfortable one.

However, visiting and exploring the Philippines may be very awarding for those who have that extra stamina and the extra cash.

Very lonely? Oops! Careful now my friend. This place might be the best option for you, but look out!

Coming here to visit an online girlfriend? I am so sorry mate, the chance of you being cheated and usurped is just as high as me. And yes, I was cheated and usurped. Not only once...

Filipinas who look like models know their worth. They are not coming cheap, especially not online. The Internet cafes are full of girls who have a full time job robbing foreigners.

If you are already retired with a small pension, you might find this a paradise, and if ur cash is low, you can find many places where your cash can still make u a king.

Filipinas usually love tall, white men. If you are short, black or dark skinned with no money, no need to come here. There are plenty of short, dark skinned filipinos who look for a partner too.

In the provinces of the Philippines, life can be very cheap. But you need to suffer also. Brown outs (no electricity) are very common. Very pretty ladies will steal your cash, ur kid and all they can. Do not be fooled.

Be wise, and be independent of any lady here, and u should be ok. Get ur insurances in order. Be very suspicious, do NOT invest a lot of cash in your gf's life, like a house, a car or a condo. Just live your own life.

Travel to Davao City? Or any city in the Philippines. Why?

I came to Davao City to meet a woman I had chatted with online. She lives in Zamboanga, but promised to meet me in the safer place of Davao.

She never showed up, and I was alone and sad in a very ugly city called Davao. I know they brag about it being very safe, and that might be true.
But it is also very worn down with so many ugly old buildings, squatter areas, adults and children prostitutes and really the whole lot that you do NOT want to see when you travel. I sat outside 7-Eleven enjoying a drink, when a probably 12 years old poor girl with no teeth in her upper gum, approached me and asked: Do you like sex? I told her: Yes, but not with you! What was I supposed to say? I was shocked, and just wanted her to leave.
I mean, at the time, I rented a condo in Pattaya, Thailand. My condo was fully furnished, with AC, hot shower, access to a swimming pool, close to the beach etc. And I paid only 4000 baht per month for the place, ex utilites.
When I realized I was on my own in Davao city, with no intention nor a budget to pay a thousand pesos per day in some half shabby hotel, I tried to find a cheap room in the vicinity. I was offered an old house with 2 bedrooms, a living room and a toilet, but totally empty, for a monthly rent of 6000 pesos, in a squatter area. Wow, I just wanted to return to Thailand!

But I came to the Philippines to find true love. Not some street hooker. There are plenty of them back in Pattaya. And most things are cheaper there, than in the Philippines.

This article is not about my search for love, I just wanted to give the back ground for why I came to Davao City.

San Pedro Street down town Davao City.

Nice kids, but ugly area.

Old City Hall of Davao, in San Pedro Street.

Tricycle with an usual design

Does this look appealing to any tourist? If it does, I wonder where you came from. Mogadishu?

I ended up in the so called Down Town area after one night staying in a very ugly bad hotel far away from everything, moving to another bad ugly hotel, than to a better one (My Hotel) but still in an ugly area of the city.

Yes, it is called San Pedro Street, and it is close to the City Hall. But I must warn any traveller: This place is a shit-hole, there is nothing nice about the area. Nice areas exist, of course, like close to the big malls. I can recommend you to stay in a hotel or inn close to Victoria Plaza, but why would you want to go to San Pedro, if you are in a sane mind?

Just a few days ago, I had my second stay in a cheap place called "Daylight Inn". If you end up in a place like that, you should realize that you are a LOOSER. Go HOME. Unless you come from a slum in Pakistan or India, you have no reason to feel at home in Daylight Inn.

Just add a few pesos and move over to City North Inn, very close to Victoria Plaza.

Davao City, as far as I know it, is an unpleasant place. Why would anybody, with some cash in their pocket, wish to spend time in this expensive, ugly city? As a tourist, I mean.

But IF you really wish or need to stay in Davao for a few days, I will strongly recommend this very nice hotel, called City North Inn. It does NOT have an elevator, nor is there WiFi in the rooms (you must go to the lobby).

But the rooms are huge, the bed is fantastic, the shower and toilet are top class with nice hot water. TV channels are very limited though. But at the ground floor, you will find a wonderful Pizzeria that serves lovely, real Italian style pizzas and a lot of other lovely food. Also, there is a nice eatery that serve local Filipino style food. And just around the corner, there is a 7-Eleven. A few steps from the Inn you can find JollyBee, McDonald's and the mall called Victoria Plaza.
The Immigration Office is a walking distance from the hotel, so are almost everything you would need. So, really, THIS is the place guys!
First time I was here, I just walked in randomly, and I found out that they have a promotion: If you check in at 3 pm or later, you can get a great, big single room for only 800 pesos.
I guess that room would be good for 2 adults.

A Double bed room will cost you 1000 pesos after 3 pm. I enjoyed my stay so much when I came there my second time, with my girlfriend and our baby, so I extended for another day, and still only paid 1000 pesos for that extra day.

King size bed room: 1000 pesos late check in.

Flat screen TV with limited selection of channels...

2 chairs and a small table in the large room.

Bathroom is very nice, with lovely hot shower.

However, my dear friends, NEVER allow yourself to be stuck inside a concrete hell like Davao or Cebu City (I was stuck in both!).
I rented a small, ugly room in Time's Beach area, Davao, but it is illegal to swim in the beach, due to massive pollution.

The "nice" beach promenade in Davao City is a DUMP!

Jomtien, Thailand, Beach Promenade

There are so many lovely cities in the world that attract a lot of tourists. I show here some examples:
Pattay and Jomtien Beach in Thailand have so nice beaches and promenades.

Jomtien Beach promenade

Bali, Indonesia: This beach is open for all, day and night, as are probably most beaches in Bali and so many other parts of the world. Why do the Filipinos allow the beaches to be privatized and closed off only to allow rich people access?

Bali Beach Promenade

Torrevieja, Spain

Beach promenade from my home city: Stavanger, Norway.

Get OUT from those ugly cities, and explore the smaller towns. The Philippines are so beautiful, why would you be contented sitting in an underground bar in San Pedro, when you can go out there and enjoy the sunlight, the jungle, the beaches, all the wonderful God given places that Mindanao (and of course the rest of the Philippines) have to offer?!

Kalian beach sunset May 2 2018

Kalian is a small town approximately 20 kms south of Don Marcelino Poblacion. A Fishing Village is found there, also a white sand beach. This place is extremely lovely, peaceful and with NO tourists whatsoever.