Welcome home to the Philippines
I have just completed my visa run to Thailand with Migs and I thought it would be interesting to report back what surprised Migs about the differences of the Philippines and Thailand.
The first thing we noticed that when we arrived at the majestic new Bangkok airport it seemed more like a palace than an a airport. We managed to glide our way to the immigration services and out to collect our baggage all within a few minutes.
Now, sorry to say the same is not available at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Although clean and tidy it looks so bare, it has no Internet spots or even Internet cafes. The immigration is much slower and the mood of my immigration officer was a little moody to say the least!
You may remember from my previous articles that after booking my flight on Cebu Pacific Airlines, I was contacted a week later to pay a “extra tax”, because I have been here more than one year. After many arguments I finally paid it for a peaceful life, however at the check in I was not asked to prove I paid it and when I mentioned it, it still was not questioned. Maybe I could have saved p1700 by not paying it.
I also in Davao paid for an exit clearances form which you need if you have been here more than six months, this was checked and thoroughly too.
Back in Bangkok the taxis all gleam and are in excellent condition as opposed to the Philippines taxis found in most cities. Of course we encountered several times the pushy taxi drivers who seemed not to understand what their meters are for, and those we got out of and found another. Same as Philippines then.
The streets of Bangkok are so MUCH cleaner than Manila, they are more controll
ed in terms of traffic and it lacks the sound of shouting, horns going and the chaos of people crossing in front of the traffic. Migs was a little surprised by the “control” that the Bangkok roads have, and of course the drivers too.
The food as you would expect was fantastic from the mid-price range restaurants to the even more enjoyable street stalls selling noodles and meat that just make your lips curl in pain and pleasure. The food is much more spicy then that available in the Philippines and seems to me that the portions , even on the streets, are much bigger than the Philippines, and very reasonably priced too.
One thing I have noticed since my last visit here two years ago is that the prices are much higher especially for us Brits and I suffered from severe overspend. I even shake in fear as the ATM’s mostly charge you b150 for using it about £3.00 pounds. OUCH!!
We decided to stay
in Bangkok and compared to last time I was here the access to WiFi networks have dropped and we found that we had to pay huge premium price to use our laptops in WiFi areas.
We visited the Temples and the Royal Palace and walked around some parks, everything in pristine condition, all safe, all a delight to visit and all undamaged by dirt or pollution. No writing on the walls in this place, no graffiti at all.
Migs now wants to come back and maybe live in Bangkok too as even the McDonald’s look like spaceships and maybe next year we come back to Thailand again, but I hope to take him to the north of Thailand too.
Smiling and happy and very broke we returned to Manila international airport in the early hours to try and locate a money changer in the airport, but we failed.
We tried to go through a door marked exit, but we failed, it would not open.
We went outside to get a Taxi, none there.
We walked across the car park to the exit to the road to pick up a street cab, it was blocked!! So we had a long walk around to get out of the Airport.
WELCOME HOME TO THE PHILIPPINES.
Hi John,
I enjoyed your tale of two cities.
Talking of Airports,my favourite is Singapore.
In the transit area you have free internet cafe,free cinema,free live entertainment in lounge area (evenings only.)
If your in transit stopover is 6hrs or more you can go on free bus tour of the city (without having to clear customs).
Each terminal has Studio Apartments you can hire for a rest,min 4hrs,charged by the hour after that.
Free Mono rail between terminals.
Whenever i am there,i say to myself “Welcome to the 21st Century”.
regards Chas.
Hi John – Welcome home, indeed! I hope you and Migs had a great time in Thailand. Also good to see Migs feeling much better, too!
Chasdv
Sounds great and it beats the sitting around for hours and hours in a transit room.
Mind you sitting around in the Bangkok would feel like a hotel lobby.
Henry
He wants to go back already he really fell in love with it.
Maybe we will when I win the lotto
Hi John,
I’m glad you guys enjoyed Thailand. My family and I were there 3 yrs ago before my husband retired, I really like it especially the shopping part, beautiful temples, we get to experienced riding an elephant for the first time… Everywhere I go people spoke to me in Thai, did this happen to Migs too?
Next time you’re in Thailand, try china town, lots of bargain, good food, and if you’re into jewelry/gold lots and lots of them there and you can haggle for a decent price… hehehehehe.
wow sous like a nice trip John have to put that on the list of places of interest thanks and yes welcome HOME
glad you guys had fun. it’s interesting that you mentioned mig’s thoughts on moving there. i also have bangkok on my short list on where to move to in SE Asia.
Thailand is a definate destination that’s for sure. Melanie has family there, so it should make it that much more enjoyable……i2f….John
Ann
You are so right about Migs being mistaken for Thai as every conversation I would have the Thai person would turn to Migs and speak in Thai.
But for some reason I found that even though Migs spoke no Thai he seemed to understand the broken English convesrations much more than me.
This time we decided to stay in Bangkok, but next time we go to see the Elephants in Chaing Mia.
Tommy
Its a fantastic country and it was on my list to live in, until I met the Pinoy people.
Macky
We are thinking along the same lines.
Imagine
Go see it and just out of curiosity what does i2f mean? Shows I am not upto date.
Hello John,
I am glad you both enjoyed Thailand so well, and I am really glad Migs is feeling better now.
It is also good to see that Migs might be interested in living there in Thailand, is good for a writer to put himself in different cultures, and new experiences.
As for the cleanliness of Bangkok, I guess the government there wants to attract new international commerce and business, and foreigners to spend there tourists dollars there, there on the ball with this. Philippines could do the same, but will take some time, and co-operation, and lots of hard work to organize it. But only if they want it to happen, and willing to spend the money, and also create jobs.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny
I will be doing my visa run pretty soon and Thailand, by all reports seems to be the destination of choice. If there are anymore details and experiences of Thailand can you post them somewhere? My two bros said Thailand was a huge buzz, why they won’t come to the Pines is still a mystery to me lol.
what exactly is the time period you have to be out of the Philiphines before you re-enter??????….I had read somewhere before it was only 24 hours now i see and read 3 days…..2 days ??
Danny
Danny the King is a huge influence in Thailand , and although he has no direct power if he says something it happens.
The infrastructure and the cleanliness of Bangkok is down to him.
Boss
To be honest I could write pages about Thailand, however this site is about the Philippines, so all I will say is that the THAI people are fantastic the whole country is beautiful and mostly safe.
If you want to drink party or look at the beautiful countryside you will not be disappointed.
One rule, never accept prices at face value…you can lower them if you barter.
Lenny
I have heard many so called experts give different answers on this.
My best advice only based on my experience is that the 24 hour rule is open to miss interpretation at your re-entry points.
So I decide to leave for two days, for the sake of one extra day a way you can feel secure that no official is going to question you about how many hours out of 24 you were out of the country.
Thailand would be my first choice of retirement locations if i was not married to a filipina. as you mentioned its a much cleaner leaps and bounds better infrastructure and is safe. More to do, better food cheaper in many ways. There are more scams IMO, best to read up on them before you travel there for some of them are very well organized. Khao San street if a fun place, very festive at night (rated g)
Brian
All of what you say is very true. And the main selling point for me is the food and how wonderful it is.
Hi John, I enjoyed reading your article, because we share the same interest on this country.
As more people here I have to say that Thailand(the Land Of Smiles) is a fantastic country to be in.
I`ve been to beautiful places like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Pattaya(a very g-rated city hahaha)and Koh Samed(the island of Samed). Most places are great cities to visit, but the deepest impression on me made the province. I`ve been in Si SaKet, which is not far from Surin, and close to the Cambodian border.
I can imagine John that you like to visit the north, because it has a fantastic natural beauty and the approach by night train is unforgettable my friend.
Though how much I like Thailand, I have found my love and luck in the Philippines, my future home country. I`m looking forward to explore the Philippines as I did with LOS before. My conquest of searching a place to live in the Philippines will start in Baguio City, but I`m sure that I`ll travel more before I know where to settle down.
BTW Thai and Filipinos look alike apparently, because Juliet had the same “problem” as Migs had hahaha. The Thai people spoke also Thai to her. Welcome home buddy.
Cheers,
Adrie.
Ardie
I have been to most of those places you mention too. Its now a small world
Hi John,
Recently there has been a major scam going on at BKK airport seemingly involving corrupt police and false accusations of shoplifting from the duty free area.
You can check out these stories and keep updated by logging on to
http://www.thaivisa.com
regards Chas.
I asked the same thing the other day… I also have no idea what “i2f” means!
As you told earlier on Facebook, we could`ve been brothers hahaha.
Especially when it comes to Thailand we have a lot to share my Scottish friend.