Whirlwind Tour Of The Phils

[Classic Dry]

Don't think this will be of any great interest to those already familiar with the Phils but here goes.

This tour was organised by my mate from work around Christmas time. We flew Air Asia and the

return flight was less than $600. We stayed overnight in KL both going and coming home at about

$40 per night.

We left Perth early 15th June and arrived in Manila 16th. We had a trip to the Mall of Asia the

following day and walked the sea wall for a while. Very few people around the amusement park.

That evening a good meal and a few San Migs.

Next day flew on to Bacolod for three nights. I was interested in Bacolod. It was a place I was

considering to make my base when I retire. The idea is that I spend some months in the Phils

and some months back in Perth. We did the usual touristy things, walked, ate, had a few San Migs

The second day it rained. We were having dinner when it started but it was all over by the time we 

finished. We took a taxi for a tour of the outskirts of the city at some point. We saw The Ruins at

Nut Berry Gardens Talisay and Victor Fernandez Gaston house, A mansion kept and furnished

in its original state. Both were interesting and worth the visit.The main point of the exercise was

to try to get a feel for the place, and to that end we went to see a few housing sub divisions. Some

nice houses but most too close together. We took the ferry to Iloilo for three nights stay. Town centre

Iloilo is pretty much like  town centre Bacolod. In fact town centres of all the places we visited were 

pretty much alike. In Iloilo we walked a bit, ate and sank a few San Migs. We also visited Guimaras

Island. My mate was looking for a beach to relax on. From the ferry we went to the tourist info place,

2 minutes walk. We were advised to take a jeepney ride to somewhere and when we got there it

seemed that a motertrike would take us on to a resort. In all about 90 minute journey. This is not a 

big island and I would have thought a beach might be a bit closer. Anyway we ended up at Rayman

Beach Resort. Ok, nice beach. Had a meal and a few San Migs and returned by ferry to Iloilo. We left

Iloilo and flew to Davao for 3 nights. ( Still no rain since Bacolod ) From what I saw sugarcane seems

to be the principal crop around Davao but because there are images and models of Durian all over

I think Davao would prefer to be famous for that. Perhaps they are. In the hotel room was a large 

framed poster which warned of the penalties for smoking. It said that if you were caught smoking in

or around the hotel the management was obliged to report you to the local authorities, Davao is a

non smoking city. Have to hide somewhere to have a fag. At some stage we set off to find a bar to

have a few quiet San Migs. We walked for ages and finally found a place. It was on a street corner,

no other customers. We drank our beer watching the population and the traffic pass by, and over 

our heads fluttered a large "No Smoking" sign. So in Davao you can drink if you can find a bar and

you can smoke if you can find a place to hide but you can't do both at the same time. Davao ? You

can have it. Whilst on one of our frequent walks we came to a busy intersection. Taking my chance

when the traffic was held up by the lights I walked to the centre island. Across the road a little guy

was glaring at me,  jabbering away and waving his arms. He came over and ushered me the rest of

the way. At the other side he turned me round to see a large round sign on a post. The sign showed

a figure walking with a big red stripe through it. Well, that's all very well sunbeam but it can't be seen

from the other side and there isn't a corresponding one over there. Anyway he took me back the way

I'd come where my mate was waiting and smirking. Don't know what the fella's job was. Don't think he

was a policeman. Maybe something like a school crossing guard, or maybe just some passer by

outraged by some foreigners gross disregard for the local rules and regs. Anyway I have to say that

throughout our trip this was the closest I've seen to any kind of conflict, and he's probably a nice 

enough bloke away from the crossing. While in Davao we went to the Crocodile Park. Pleasant enough

place. Far from the madding crowd. My mate had a couple of tattoos done there. Not a 5 minute job.

I took myself off to a nice little restaurant on site. It had 2 pretty waitresses to chat up and a smoking

area with chairs and an ashtray. 'magine that ! After 3 nights in Davao we took the bus to Gen San.

We were to spend 4 nights in Gen San before returning to Manila. The bus travels a mountainous

route with stunning scenery before arriving in Gen San. We stayed at the Tierra Montana Hotel and

our first job was to check out the hotel pool. ( Actually a few of the hotels we stayed in had pools which

we certainly took advantage of ) I like Gen San. As a city it's much like all the rest but its proximity to

beautiful, wild countryside makes it really stand out. In the time we had we didn't get much chance to 

explore, but we did get to the Fish Port. ( You can see this on youtube " Fish Port Gen San" ) 

Fascinating place. Everyone who works there wears white wellies. We did too, there's a little place that

rents them. You're required to wear them. Never seen so many fish, and all tuna,weighing between

35 and 70 kilos. Boy do those guys work hard carting those monsters about. And that goes on every

day. We were lucky enough to get a ride on a tuna boat from the Fish Port to Alabel a coastal village

across the bay and home to a good few tuna boats. It took about 90 minutes. The water was like glass.

Lovely boat and lovely crew. I'd really like to go back to Gen San.

Most of what we saw only gave us an indication off what we were missing. I'm sure give more time we 

could have found more to recommend all the places we've been. It wouldn't be fair to judge any of them

on the basis of such a lightening visit. Back in Manila after a few San Migs and a good nights sleep we

went back to walk the sea wall again. This was a day of rehearsals for National Disaster Consciousness

Month. Must have been 1st or 2cnd of July. Walking along Bulebar Roxas Blvd toward the US Embassy

we looked over the street to the big government buildings and hotels to see complete evacuation in

progress.Hundreds of people streaming out and all the screaming sirens of most of the emergency

vehicles in Manila. I asked a guy with EVALUATER written across his back, "How's it going so far ?"

"Yeah good" he said quite calmly. Laconic or what. From where we were it looked like chaos. Noisy, 

organised chaos but chaos nonetheless.So we wondered over to Marine Ocean Park. Had a mooch 

round and an icecream. The evening before our flight out we returned to our favorite crowded bar

( you can drink and smoke and eat there) And we flirted with the ladies, or did they flirt with us ?

Hard to tell. Anyway the following morning we flew to KL and stayed one night in the Tune Hotel, 3 mins

walk from the airport. Then back to cold, cold Perth.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jake]

Triple LIKE Classic Dry!  Another boots on the ground report with humorous comments thrown in.

From Perth to KL, Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos City and then back to Manila --

excellent street level reporting, especially the no smoking restrictions in Davao.  

 

You're my type of guy who would make a good travelling companion.  We both enjoy San Magoo

where ever we go.  Are you sure your name is not Classic WET?

 

Thank you sir!