⌛ Siquijor from Moalboal?

Hello,

I think that I choose right place to ask my queations because I have got a lot of valuable info during last several days
Thanks you all!

Rhoody, we have only 1 day for Manila not why we think it is not intresting place but just because our primary goal is Visayas this time. This time we will have only quick look on Manila, but next time may be spend several days there.
We don't select any hotel in Manila yet. But I think it will be in the city center.
I have guide book (in Russian) about Philippines and of course I will read your travel guide

Also we don't decide yet where to stay in Dumaguete (Dauin) and dive shop to dive with. But I have several links in my bookmarks.

Rhoody, your "virtual orientation dive" provided above is excellent! I will use it to build our duve plan
Also I already read almost all articles about diving on dumagueteinfo web site.

I think that 1 whole day we must spend at Apo island, 1 at the dive sites near Dumaguete (especially Car Wreck and DUCOMI) and 1 day for diving near Siquijor. Also I think that it will be good idea to do "sunset dive" (to mandarinfish) and night dive on the house reef at the day of arrival.

 

Manila

Hi Rhoody

In my opinion Manila is the *sshole of the earth and a place, that is best avoided by travellers. If you feel different about it - up to you. But it does not mean, that I am "wrong". I have been to Manila several times, mind you, so its not like I don`t "know" anything about the place. I just really don`t like it.

Lars

 

Sorry to say, Fundiver is accurate about Manila.

There is simply not much to do in Manila. Manila is an inconvenient but necessary layover city to more preferred destinations in Philippines like Boracay and Dumaguete.

2 Days to explore Intramuros and surrounding areas?? No way. It's a two-hour destination at best, but you will probably need to add 3 hours for traffic, making it a half-day excursion for those who really, truly want to explore Manila. Manila is not Bangkok.

Don't waste time in Manila. Spend whatever time you have available in the provinces of Philippines.

I should know. I live in Manila.

p.s. Unless you mean by "great cultural stuff" all the karaoke and gogo clubs in Manila. Then perhaps even 2months is not enough.

 

Well, I woudn't call it the *sshole of the earth.
I don't like Manila, but it's not THAT bad.
Afterall, I have been living here for the last few years.

There is really no cultural stuff here compared to other Asian destinations, and there are other negative factors, but it's certainly not the *sshole of the earth.

 

Manila / Bangkok

Calling it the *sshole of the earth might be somewhat of an exaggeration, or at least it is a very "colourfull" describtion.

Actually Manila is less poluted than Bangkok, but given the choice between sightseeing in these two citys, I would pick Bangkok anytime. I think we pretty much agree on this.

My main advice to vlad and his group is, that since they have so little time on this trip, then one SE-asian capital is enough. And since they picked Bangkok already, then no need to spend a night in Manila also.

Much better then to save Manila for another time and do it proberly, i.e. at least a 3 nights stay. Seing any large city in less than a 3 nights stay is hardly advisable in my opinion.

Alternatively of course, they could forget about Bangkok and spend their entire vacation in the Philippines. This would then give them time to stay 2 or 3 nights in Manila, which would be ok.

 

With all due affection for my hometown Manila,
Why would anyone who has to choose only one city in Asia on a visit (I am assuming it's his first time) choose Manila over Bangkok??

That's is simple ridiculous. Bangkok is internationally reknowed destination.

Manila? A layover destination. Period.

 

Concentrating about one destination

Maybe, but this trip is going to the Philippines, so one could argue also, that is it more obvious to see the capital of this country rather than the capital of another country.

What I would do in their situation is to concentrate the whole vacation around Visayas, since this is their prime destination. 2 weeks is allready a bit short for making a proper roundtrip in Visayas, and adding in any other destinations at all just enhances the lack of time. One should remember, that this is vacation....

Luzon, Mindoro and possibly Palawan could then be the destination for another trip and Thailand for yet another. Obviously, you have not seen the nothern part of the Philippines by spending just one day and night in Manila, and you have not seen Thailand just by spending two days in its capital either. If they like to spend time in a city, the obvious choice for this vacation would be Cebu, neither Manila nor Bangkok, since Cebu is the "capital" of Visayas.

As a side remark, this time of year (early may) is the absolute hottest in the nothern parts of Thailand as well as the Philippines and temperatures can easily exceed 35 C in Manila and particularly in Bangkok. In Visayas temperatures rarely go above 32 C even in the hottest part of "summer", so with regards to climate, this is definitly a more comfortable place to stay this time of year. Both Manila and Bangkok are best visited in the cool season (december-march) or, if you don`t mind some heavy downpours, in the wet season (june-november).


Lars

 

Yes, you are right, Bangkok is internationally renowned *(not reknowed, ok?) destination for tourists, etc. :D

 

Incidentally, attending a Philippine fiesta might be a new cultural experience for the group. May is a month of many fiestas. Perhaps visit Larena on May 3rd? Just thinking.

 

Yes, you are right. Bangkok is an internationally renowned destination for tourists, etc. :D