Thailand vs The Philippines (Again)

[Gutenberg]

3 minutes ago, hk blues said:

Foreigners not working here, you mean surely? 

Yes. No taxes on foreign sourced income/transfers.

[Gutenberg]

10 hours ago, Gator said:

Not sure if you’ve ever visited here yet or not, but don’t go by AirBnB. In AC there are plenty of furnished apartels and apartments for rent that are well under 1k USD a month. Although it’s been a several years since I’ve rented by the month in Cebu I’m sure there are still many there as well. Boots on the ground is the best way to find something that’ll suit your needs and budget. 

 

Never have been to the PH, but was in Thailand 8+ years. And from what I can see already, the apartments in the PH are worse quality for higher prices. However, long term rentals 6-12 months seem to be so much cheaper and higher quality (than Airbnb PH). Looking at One Euphoria for 6 months, definitely going to check it out.

But short term? Airbnb is very convenient. I have seen some yt videos about hotels offering month to month rentals for 25-35k PHP but those are small studios as well. Not so far away from the offers on Airbnb.

Edited February 15 by Gutenberg

[Jerrymander]

I find the people of Thailand much more intelligent and knowledgeable about the World.

Almost all Thai people seem humble.

On the other hand, Filipino's are either very humble or very arrogant.

 I'm constantly surprised by the extreme arrogance of some Filipino's.

Also, you can ask a Filipino a question and get an answer that is only vaguely related to the Question. Like when you are in a business and ask "What time do you close?"  the answer might be "we are open now, sir", yes the obvious ridiculousness of that answer is lost on them.

Filipino's can also make the most simple task or request into a complicated 'chasing of the tail' scenario, asking all sorts of irrelevant questions for no particular reason.

I've heard more than once, Filipino's say Jesus is an American.

Those are not issues you will find in Thailand or Vietnam.

[hk blues]

22 minutes ago, Jerrymander said:

Also, you can ask a Filipino a question and get an answer that is only vaguely related to the Question. Like when you are in a business and ask "What time do you close?"  the answer might be "we are open now, sir", yes the obvious ridiculousness of that answer is lost on them.

I think it's related to their logical thinking process i.e. why do you need to know what time they close when you are there now and they are open now so they give an answer based on what you must have meant rather than what you asked. Perhaps a function of the 'live for the moment' culture where everything is 'now; and the future will take care of itself?

In all honesty, whenever I have to interact with a local in anything other than a basic situation I try to get my ducks in a row and know what questions to ask to get the answers I need.  That said, yesterday I had to drive all the way back to the BIR to clarify 2 points on a document they gave me which were ambiguous at best, and more accurately plain wrong!  

 

[Jack Peterson]

 Most people I know or come across say that the biggest problem they have with Thailand is the Lack of English spoken, a Problem we in the PI don't seem to have 

[Mike J]

15 hours ago, Jerrymander said:

Like when you are in a business and ask "What time do you close?"  the answer might be "we are open now, sir", yes the obvious ridiculousness of that answer is lost on them.

True story from our move to the Philippines 10 years ago.  We flew with our two dogs so we stayed overnight in Makati for two nights to give the dogs a bread prior to flying on to Cebu.  We walked the dogs each morning and I decide to get a cup of coffee from a coffee shop.

My wife hold the leashes for the two dogs and I go up the walk to the shop.  Push on the door and it is locked.  I check the sign and it is suppose to open at 06:00 am.  Check my watch and it is 6:15.  The lights are on and I see a guy sweeping the floor.

Me - knocking loudly on the door

Him - walks over to the door.  Sir we are not yet open.

Me - What time do you open

Him - 6 o'clock sir

Me - What time is it now?

Him - Looks up at a clock on the wall,  Sir, it is 6:20

Me - If you open at 6 and it is now 6:20 you should be open, right?

Him - There is no one here sir,

Only in Da Philippines 

[Jerrymander]

17 hours ago, hk blues said:

I think it's related to their logical thinking process i.e. why do you need to know what time they close when you are there now and they are open now so they give an answer based on what you must have meant rather than what you asked. Perhaps a function of the 'live for the moment' culture where everything is 'now; and the future will take care of itself?

In all honesty, whenever I have to interact with a local in anything other than a basic situation I try to get my ducks in a row and know what questions to ask to get the answers I need.  That said, yesterday I had to drive all the way back to the BIR to clarify 2 points on a document they gave me which were ambiguous at best, and more accurately plain wrong!  

 

Maybe, but other Countries aren't like that.

In Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia ect. , you don't find this constant confusion over the meaning of obvious questions.

 I think the Filipino's are culturally mentally lazy compared to other Asian Cultures.

[Jack Peterson]

13 minutes ago, Jerrymander said:

 I think the Filipino's are culturally mentally lazy compared to other Asian Cultures.

 Yet you me and so many others choose to live here, Must be something we like against other countries

[hk blues]

19 minutes ago, Jerrymander said:

Maybe, but other Countries aren't like that.

In Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia ect. , you don't find this constant confusion over the meaning of obvious questions.

 I think the Filipino's are culturally mentally lazy compared to other Asian Cultures.

You mean some other countries aren't like that, surely?

The Japanese for one are most certainly 'guilty' of being indirect communicators, often giving answers which don't hit the point.  Also, I spent many years in Hong Kong and locals there are very much guilty of answering based on what they think or expect you to be asking rather than what you actually did.  

Of course, the reasons behind why it happens may vary from country to country but the end result is the same.

[Gutenberg]

Sometimes I read stories about those "encounters" with locals about asking them for directions and using that as a way to describe the entire population and I am always like, "bro, don't be a weirdo and ask strangers weird questions. Just use Google Maps like the rest of us"