Finally planning trip!

[CyberGlitch]

Well, it's been nearly 2 years since I said I'm going to the Philippines. I started seriously looking into it mid 2011, looking at flights, hotels, things to do etc. So then started saving up a little at a time for what would be a 2 week vacation.


Well, mid 2012 I lost my job and all hope was gone for my trip. I try to start up my own IT consulting biz and after 6 months it's taken off where I'm turning away work and job offers now.


This entire 2 years off and on I've talked to a few nice women from CB but nothing serious, just being friendly and I made sure they knew that. Well since about Sept/October there was 1 lady I was talking to more and more. After a month or so of just being friends and no real interest in her our chats got more and more meaningful. I slowly developed feelings for her and I could tell it was the same for her. Another month passes and we finally tell each other how we feel which was great. I did make it clear though that there are no promises because we've never met. So we can have fun chatting and after we meet in person and spend time together we can decide what will become of us.


So now here I am working on getting my passport finally and then purchasing a plane ticket for mid/late May. Her birthday is May 22nd and I would love to make it down there for that. Here is the biggest kicker though. With running my own biz now most the work I do I can do from anywhere. It's 95% all online work I can do from anywhere with a decent Internet connection. Now with my own biz I start to say I'll go for 3-4 weeks and make it count! Now that I'm also looking at a possible relationship I'm now thinking 6 weeks maybe more if I can get some friends to watch my dogs and house!


I'll be going to Cebu and probably staying there the majority of the time if things work well this my girl. If things do work well I'm looking at having her find a monthly or weekly apartment or something that is close to her work and friends. This way we have the place to ourselves, she can go to work during the day and I can get a little work done myself and then relax on the beaches for awhile. Evenings and nights we spend together doing whatever she wants. She's also saying if things work out she'll take a week off while I'm there. That time we're going to spend traveling to some other nice beach somewhere and that'll be our vacation. Maybe some place she hasn't been too. I'm also thinking a trip to Davao where her family is if things work out would be good too.


If things don't work out that's fine as well. I'll then spend the time traveling around the Philippines and having a lot of fun anyways. This is a vacation first and possible relationship second.


I'm getting excited now. I've already read almost everything on this site but any new tips or suggestions?

[Ray]

  It sounds like things are going well for you Glitch.
　
My only concern would be her family’s reaction to having their daughter living with and traveling with a strange foreigner that she met on the Internet. Remember that this is a country where chaperones and other traditional courtship practices are still fairly prevalent.
　
At least until you get to know each other in person and have a chance to meet her family, you may want to consider some living arrangement where she doesn’t feel pressured to break any ‘rules’. Leave the option open for her to make those decisions until she has spent some time with you.
　
Of course this all depends on how traditional her family is and how she wants to introduce you to them. If you do get to the point where marriage is seriously contemplated, you will likely be expected to ask for the blessing of her parents. If she has an older brother or sister living in her area, a good plan would be to sell yourself to him/her first, so you will have someone on your side when and if you do meet mom and dad.
　
Also, you can stay up to 21 days without a visa. For longer stays, you could get a 59-day visa from a Philippine Consulate here in the US, or get an extension over there. A good travel agent could handle this for you in Cebu for a reasonable fee.
　
Good luck with your trip…
　
Ray

[CyberGlitch]

She was the one who brought up we could get our own place to stay together while we are there and she would help in finding a nice but inexpensive place for us. I said many times I don't mind, I can get something close to her and her work and she can come by whenever she wants. She said it's alright and doesn't have a problem staying with me. I have gone and said the first 3 days I'll stay alone in a nicer hotel to get over the jet lag and we can look for a place together i she still felt she wanted to stay together. I've also mentioned I would understand her picking me up at the airport with a chaperon or a friend with her. So I have tried to be aware of all the things I've read on here when talking to her about my visiting there.


Have read up on getting the 59 day extension and that'll be 1 of the first things I do when I get there.

[CyberGlitch]

Got my passport and everything together and now finally looking at flights and have a question. I'll be transferring through Korea. How much time should I make sure to have before my connecting flight? Flights I'm looking at are around 2 1/2 hours. Would that be enough time? I know just getting off the plane will be a good 30-45 mins so that would give me a solid 1 1/2 hours to get through customs.

[Bob_S]

Got my passport and everything together and now finally looking at flights and have a question. I'll be transferring through Korea. How much time should I make sure to have before my connecting flight? Flights I'm looking at are around 2 1/2 hours. Would that be enough time? I know just getting off the plane will be a good 30-45 mins so that would give me a solid 1 1/2 hours to get through customs.

If you're transferring through Inchon, you most likely won't have to go through customs again as long as you stay in the terminal.  You'll be getting off one international flight onto another.  Are you actually changing plane there?  Or will you be getting off the plane just to get back on the same plane?

[CyberGlitch]

Yes, there is a change in planes.


That's what I was kind of thinking that if stayed in terminal there should be no reason to go through customs.

[thekfc]

2 1/2 hours is more than enough time to transfer in ICN.


What airline are you flying on? Asiana or KA?


After getting off the plane you will go to the transfer point then pass through security screening and then to your gate; that should take about 10-20 minutes - maybe more/maybe less depending on passenger traffic at the time.  You only go through customs if you leave the terminal.


The most time I have spent from deplaning to my departure gate is about 15 minutes (and that includes going to the restroom) - that is for transiting through HKIA and Icheon should be just about the same. These airports are very efficient.


Also your luggage should be tagged all the way to the PI, so you don't have to worry about it until you get to the PI.


If your arriving flight is late and you are flying from beginning to end on the Asiana or KA, they will take care of you.

[CyberGlitch]

The flight to NY is with delta and the rest with Korean Air.

[thekfc]

Korean Air & Delta both belong to the same Alliance (SkyTeam) so your luggage can be tagged all the way to your final destination - do a tag request.

Make sure that you have enough connecting time at JFK as there will be a change of terminals - Delta uses terminal 2 & 3 for arrival and Korean Air uses terminal 1.

[CyberGlitch]

Should be plenty of time in JFK, that first leg has a 5 hour layover. 


Went ahead and ordered the tickets last night. So it's a done deal and I'm now going May 7th through June 26th! Then I get a surprise this morning. Her family is having a grand reunion in Davao while I'll be down there and asking if I want to go. She said maybe 700 people?! I planned it to be there for her birthday and now this.    Oh, but if I go she's paying for the trip and rooms. She wants to help pay for things while I'm there because my flight was so expensive.

[robert angel]

I think you'll enjoy Davao--I assume Davao City or close in to the city is where you're talking about. There's Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Del Norte....Perhaps the reunion's on the  "Island Garden of Samal"? Regardless, that's a nice place to go--it's beaches for the most part are nicer than most of the ones close to Cebu City, Mactan and Lapu Lapu.Our home there in Davao City is a few minutes from where you catch the short ferry ride to it.
She must be doing fairly well financially --as it's sort of an extravagance for most Filipinas to be able to afford paying your way, not to mention a sign of how much she thinks of you.
It's a VERY big deal for her to have you to meet her family, not to mention 700 of them. If it doesn't work out between the two of you, it'll be a hot topic of conversation amongst them for a long time, to put it mildly
If you get some more detailed info and want some help, buzz me.

[CyberGlitch]

Yep, Davao City and reunion at Island Garden of Samal.


I know it's a huge deal meeting that much of her family. Thankfully will have 1 1/2 weeks to get to know each other before the reunion. Also going through Rosetta Stone to learn some Tagalog while there.  I've even caught her speaking to friends or siblings while we were on phone or chat and caught some of what she was talking about and called her out on it. 


She keeps insisting on things she wants to pay for and I love her for that. I know she's not that well off but she is taking care of 2 siblings (yes, siblings. no hidden kids here) for a few years and they are about to go back home to their parents. Then she won't have that financial burden anymore.

[thekfc]

Only 700 people, small family...... ha ha    . 


Learn some of the basic Tagalog terms, being in Davao they may speak more Cebuano than Tagalog. RA & Ray can give you more info on that.

[robert angel]

Yea--they'll probably speak mostly Cebuan/Visayan, but with family probably coming from all around, within the Cebuan/Visayan language (basically the same thing as far as I know) AND Tagalog, you'll find the basic words you really need to know, like thank you, thank you with an added emphasis on 'respect' (normally reserved for older folks--'Salamat' is thank you--'Salamat PO' adds a measure of reverence and respect)--greetings and good bye, and so on are pretty universal.

 
Sure there's dialects and subdialects to these two major languages--ie, if you speak Spanish, your just fine in places like on Mindanao in Zamboanga, Philippines for speaking and listening comprehension, but for the really important 'social words' --they're pretty much all more the same than they are different. Pretty much all the TV on the thousands of islands that make up the nation, is in Tagalog and they understand it fine. Even if you only know a handful of words, they will be somewhat surprised and happy to see you showing the effort!!

 
They will often say 'OH--you know our language!' and then I explain: "Only a few words, but I am trying"--as said, it means a lot to them. A lot of people there understand English quite well, a smaller but substantial amount speak it, but may be somewhat rusty and reluctant to speak it, lest they feel it sounds 'wrong'. Unlik many Americans, they DO mind looking stupid and will hold their tongue to avoid doing so. Phrases in English, like 'Start the meter!". I'll call the Tourist bureau/Police" -- 'F___ you' and 'No F__ing way! are very understandable and acceptable when used with taxi drivers as necessary and are commonly used by visitors.

 
 I have about zero aptitude for picking up foreign languages, but I guess I know well enough to speak something like ten words in my wife's language. But I'm half Italian, so I can speak pretty good using my hands. Plus, I'm half Irish on the other side, so I can make some really interesting faces to get my point across in a real pinch.
 
 

[CyberGlitch]

Oh, I've always been interested in other languages; especially the oriental languages. I know enough mandarin to get around but funny enough never been there. Know a little german from living there as a kid for a few years. I did learn about Cebuan from her when I was asking what percentage of what languages she normally speaks and that was thrown in there. She said don't worry about it and focus on tagalog and she'll help from there. I did tell her to be strict on me and force me to speak it more while there. I think we talked on the phone for a good hour till I finally was getting ng and ang. I know I sounded like an idiiot bc she couldn't stop laughing and after she said no it wasn't that. It was that I really really trying so hard and she found that funny. We argued that I was saying the G and she wasn't but I heard that damn G when she said it and that's my story and sticking to!


TV there is no problem. I ordered the Filipino channels here and my girls turned me onto a few shows and movies. It's really helped with my listening and understanding. Between that and the tagolish being spoke more I understand the vast majority of what's going on without subtitles.

[Ray]

Her family is having a grand reunion in Davao while I'll be down there and asking if I want to go. She said maybe 700 people?!
 

 
If that family reunion is anything like my wife's family reunions, then you probably won't like it.
 
 
They spend a lot of time attending church, making boring speaches, 'marching' in corny parades, making videos, etc.
 
 
There will be lots of food, some of it really weird, and maybe a disco dance at night(?). You will probably have to wear a clan T-shirt so try to get an X-tra Large.
 
 
I always try to avoid those family reunions myself, but who knows...you may enjoy it. If it's for more than one day, I wouldn't commit to attending the whole thing.
 
 
Down south it's not likely that you will hear anyone speaking Tagalog. Tagalog is mostly up north. You may want to try to learn a few common phrases/greetings in Visayan (Cebuano).
 
 
http://www.bohol.ph/article123.html
 
 
Ray
 
 

[robert angel]

Had dinner last night with a couple--she's from Cebu City. Asked her to clarify whether "Cebuano" and "Visayan" are the same in reference to a common language. She said "No" that 'Cebuano' refers to a person who's native to Cebu, like someone born in NY is known as a 'New Yorker'.
 
Nonetheless, the terms are often used interchangably.
 
As to family reunions in the Philippines, there's a lot of variance I imagine, but with 700 people, there's bound to be some 'house keeping'--documenting who's passed on, births, marriages and so on. Probably games for the kids, maybe grown ups too. If the sun rises, they'll have karoake (tip--don't sing 'My Way') and after it sets too. There's probably a priest or reverend in the family already and some religious observation, if just blessing the food, will occur.
 
As it's on Island Garden of Samal, it's most certainly on the beach and if it's on popular Paradise beach, (a favorite of ours and inexpensive) they have all kinds of things to do--snorkle, billiards, ping pong, trails, a zoo, souivineer shops, even a neat little zoo, etc.
 
The reunion will probably get old quick, especially  after you've been looked at so many times that you'll feel like the only non Asian half of them have ever seen, so I'd suggest thinking about having your gal steal away at the right time and negoiate a 2 or 3 hour taxi excursion around the island. You can rent mopeds, but just be aware the roads aren't very good and it's more fun to 'snuggle' in the back of a taxi with air con.
 
 

[CyberGlitch]

I'm thinking that is her plan right now too. Is for us to go and spend sometime with them, several hours each day. Then rest of the day her and I go out and do stuff and see the sights.


Since we are doing this now I need to plan a goo week long vacation for the both of us. First we were going to drive down to Davao to meet her family and make stops along the way for attractions and scenery  Now that we're flying there for reunion I can plan a different vacation.


Any good recommendations on possibly a romantic get away for week?


She's also looking for a good house or town home for us to stay in. Going to spend first few night in nice hotel though.

[robert angel]

The Marco Polo is about tops. I sometimes stay at the Apo View, which is just a step down from the Marc. Day trips may include a trip to Eden Gardens--again negotiate a full day rate with a taxi for that. He may ask you to include all meals--your call.
 
On Island Garden of Samal, the (they always say) "World Famous Pearl Farm" resort is quite nice--if a bit off the beaten path and often occupied with wealthy westerners. We've never stayed there (Dewy and his gal have) but I guess a lot of Filipinas would like to at least try it once and you'd have plenty of privacy if you so desire. It's on-line. There's also over night lodging at various rates at Paradise Beach. Nice view of Mt. Apo, the largest mountain and volcano in the Phippines there and also from much of the island.

[CyberGlitch]

Those are great ideas for when around Davao for the reunion. I've read about the pearl farm and thought it would be interesting. Also very interested at going to Mt. Apo, looks amazing.


The week vacation we'll take together, all the islands are far game. So where should we go and do?

[robert angel]

The logistics of getting there might be a challenge, but Palawan's definitely on my 'bucket list' of great beaches I still want to check out before they're spoiled. (or before I'm dead) People in the know, say it's right up with the very best. There's nothing quite like timing and jumping a thirty foot wave--you can really feel your balls going up and down in seas like that. As a kid, that was about the only thing I liked about hurricaines, besides no school--after the rain quit, we'd sneak away, go to the beach and jump waves taller than houses.
 
Although they say that Davao's now a larger city than Cebu City is, it doesn't feel as 'big' or busy to me.There's no direct flight from Davao to lovely Bohol or to Palawan, which always struck me as odd--especially no flights to Bohol, as a lot of tourists, especially wealthy Korean and Japanese, go between Bohol and Davao. Cebu City's still the 'hub'.
 
I guess you can hike up and around Mt. Apo. There's various options, hotsprings etc. They had some trouble a good while back where some terrorist killed a tourist--I thought it was a beheading, but I spent a while looking it up and couldn't find a thing about any killing--must have been a long time ago.
 
Then again, there have probably been several dozen murders in most medium sized USA cities in the last decade alone. IMO, the US State Rept. advisories grossly overstate the risk involved in and around Davao, by including it as if it was in the extremist Islamic areas, when it's not even close and making it sound like Juarez, Mexico.
 
I've walked the almost deserted streets of Davao (including poorer areas) at 3AM and not even worried about getting robbed. The streets would be largely deserted, except for an occasional hooker and the night people, who gather up scraps of paper, metal--just about anything to recycle for a few pesos and a bowl of rice. What thieves there are, know that if you kill or even rob a tourist, that they're in for living hell in a Filipino prison for a long time, if not a death penalty.
 
In contrast, I recall a headline in our local newspaper:
 
"Headless body found in topless bar"--never even heard of that in Makati. (Manila)

[Jhengsman]

I know it's a huge deal meeting that much of her family. Thankfully will have 1 1/2 weeks to get to know each other before the reunion.

Just to throw this out. Many go on the trip to "date". However others see the trip as a betrothed couple going to seal the deal. Since you will be flying back to the other side of the world everything is compressed and works at warp speed while you are in country.

[Ray]

The week vacation we'll take together, all the islands are far game. So where should we go and do?

  A nice getaway for a few days is Camiguin Island, off of Mindanao. Not too crowded and very friendly people. For accommodations, there are several resorts to choose from.
　
You can get there from Balingoan or Cagayan De Oro (and maybe Bohol) by ferry.
　
Ray

[CyberGlitch]

Thanks Ray, Camiguin Island looks amazing!


Another question.
Have a global droid, get international sim from verizon and keep same # or get a sim there and be local number?

[thekfc]

Thanks Ray, Camiguin Island looks amazing!


Another question.
Have a global droid, get international sim from verizon and keep same # or get a sim there and be local number?

Unlock the Droid (make sure GSM is unlocked) and use a local sim card.