I got home last night after 200 years or so of waiting in airports, flying, waiting in more airports, flying, and so on. Today it is mild jet lag and memories. Damn, just a few days ago I was somewhere really different and now it is like a sand castle slowly disolving.

The people in the Philippines were, as a group, the single warmest and friendliest people I have ever encountered. Outside of only a very few isolated scammers, everyone I dealt with was open and eager to help me in whatever I needed. The widespread understanding of at least some basic English is another positive aspect of this destination. It's too bad the food is so lousy and that the country is so poor.

Every monger Internet board likes to rate the best country for sex and/or beautiful women. I only did a few women, probably less than some guys do in a sex crazed day. But I was happy with what I got and would compare it as slightly less than Rio but far better than anywhere else. In the looks department I've decided that Filipinas have to be some of the cutest women around. Rio has more variety so they can take first place but not by much. I understand Thais are suppose to be even finer than Filipinas which is hard to imagine. I expected to find some attractive women but I was simply blown away by the sheer numbers. And not just in the bars but everywhere. Each time I return to the US it gets harder to stomach the fat assed, crappy looking hair, and sickly looking women I return to. I know that within a week or two I'll be back to eyeballing everything with a pussy and under 30 years old (and with two legs) but right now they just gross me out.

I did all my travel arrangements within the PI with Beeline Travel. (beeline.com) Melissa, the person I worked with, speaks fluent English, and pretty much can take care of you. My AC hotel was the Oasis. It's way out on the Perimeter Road which was fine with me. Trykes are instantly available (50 pesos) or you can take a jeeney (4 pesos). The suite (2400 with beeline discount) was very nice. It was dead quiet, the AC worked, the hot water always ran, and the guys who clean the room all grin when you walk by with someone. The restaurant was so so which is par for the course of everywhere I ate. (Except Kokomos whose quesadillas, tacos, and chicken abodo were all an F minus) I paid 1600 for my ride from the airport in Manila to AC and tipped the guy another 300 which made me instant God. I also paid 3200 from AC to Batangas, 2000 Batangas to Manila, and 500 Manila hotel to the airport with a 500 tip. Both drivers, Rocky and Joey, were first class and I don't regret the money spent. You could do it for pennies on the dollar if you get off on Lonely Planet type travel. I just wanted to get where I was going with the least amount of hassle. Everything else in the country is so darn cheap that splurging for a private car was no budget breaker.

I flew EVA LAX-Taipei-MNL RT on their Deluxe class. It was worth the $200 extra for the much large seat. The food was absolutely terrible including the weird Chinese breakfast I opted for. (Dried pork is not like jerky but more like brown sawdust and it tastes the same) The flights all start with a classical orchestra on the monitors which was kind of neat and they end with everyone clapping for the crew who takes a bow. My bags all made it, the flights all arrived early, and the planes were clean with no strange sounds or things flying past your windows. I bought the ticket online and arranged my seats by phone the next day. I would fly them again.

LAX International outgoing is a 3rd world airport. A total madhouse although everyone in the numerous checkpoints was courteous and worked rapidly. Incoming was a breeze with a smiling customs agent and no baggage seach. Just don't go looking for something to eat in the airport.

Taipei airport (CKS) is an ultra modern, spotlessly clean, and freezing cold place for a 4 hour layover. And don't go looking for something to eat there either because it's even worse than LAX. There are lots of nice art exhibits everywhere to kill the time and stores selling some pretty strange looking items.

Manila International was not as bad as I expected. Arrival was quick and painless. The expected crowds outside are actually kept across the street and I wasn't harrassed by taxi drivers trying to kidnap me. Departure looks like a zoo until you get through the first of many inspections but then everything moved fast. There are money changers in the airport upstairs and downstairs and their exchange rate was almost as good as outside without all the hassles. 550 pesos exit fee which is reasonable and they don't pull the crap some countries do demanding that you pay in dollars.

Amen to the last two sentences of your third paragraph. Thanks for your reports, Tight fit.

Your report was excellent. I think we are kindred spirts on how we look at the mongering experience.

I used to be much wilder in my younger days, but now, middle aged, I still like to take the ride. I just don't do near as much damage as I used to.

The Phillipines, by all accounts, is a great place. Thanks for painting a realistic picture in my brain.