禁漫天堂

@Lotus Eater. Haven't been... I know the area around Marawi area is a muslin area, and not expat friendly. I would steer clear of that area... But let let me know how it is if you go to the mountains... probably beautiful... Most of Mindanao is.

I would steer clear of the Marawi area and lake Lanao areas... heavily Muslim and not expat friendly... but I am sure a drive through the mountains will be beautiful... I haven't been to either... but will probably do a drive through without stopping and staying at some point.聽

Yes I've heard its a beautiful part of Mindanao and a little cooler. Tks for the heads up

@FindlayMacD

Thank you Findlay

聽 聽 I would steer clear of the Marawi area and lake Lanao areas... heavily Muslim and not expat friendly... but I am sure a drive through the mountains will be beautiful... I haven't been to either... but will probably do a drive through without stopping and staying at some point.聽
聽 聽

聽 聽 -@Wellsfry

Marawi is definitely a no go area. When visiting Tinago Falls from Cagayan, the taxi driver pointed to the road sign for Marawi and told us not to go near the place, very dangerous.

@Cherryann01

Was that a day trip Cherryann or longer stay? How much was the taxi fare?

聽 聽 @Cherryann01
Was that a day trip Cherryann or longer stay? How much was the taxi fare?
聽 聽

聽 聽 -@Lotus Eater

It was just a day trip from Cagayan De Oro. We hired the taxi driver for the day and drove down, stopping in or around Iligan City to buy lunch for the day, chicken, rice, fruits and pop (Sprite, Coke, Fanta). Not sure about the fare although 3 or 4K may have been around the mark.

One tip for you if you decide to go - Check the weather forecast if you decide to book in advance. The second time I went there, there had been heavy rain the night before and the crystal clear waters I remembered from my first time there had been replaced by murky waters. Soil and silt from above had been displaced by the rains and had run into the waters.

@Wellsfry Dipolog and CDO are peaceful cities with friendly people and affordable food. If you're concerned about security, Davao is the safest place in Mindanao. The people of Davao are also known for being disciplined.

@georgemiller

The people of Davao are also known for being disciplined

Yeah right. Which means all traffic stops at pedestrian crossings

聽 聽 @georgemiller
The people of Davao are also known for being disciplined


Yeah right. Which means all traffic stops at pedestrian crossings -@Lotus Eater

I wonder why that is - It is not like they ever turn up for anything on time so why are they in such a hurry when driving?

@Cherryann0

A salient point Cherryann.

For example on the changeover of aircraft in Abu Dhabi the Etihad flight to Manila for some reason boards at T1 (the older terminal) instead of T3 I fly economy on the first leg but now pay to upgrade to busIness on the 2nd leg which effectively is a nightime flight and I鈥檓 ready to hit the sack (3am UK time).

For some reason there is no dedicated boarding channel for business class passengers. Flight is called and there is the proverbial scrum to board. As if the plane is going to leave without you. Normally I just wait for the crowd to subside but heck I鈥檝e paid for a goddamn business seat and can almost taste the pre take off glass (ok 2馃槈) of Champagne that awaits me.

But this scramble on one occasion was ameliorated by a charming petite Filipina (4鈥�5鈥�) who grabbed my hand and asked if she could board with me. Of course you can! Everyone close by heard this request so I hammed it up and stated in a loud voice that we are now engaged! Well the crowd just roared with laughter. That sense of fun to me聽 outweighs the occasional Filipino lack of common sense.

On arrival at Ninoy Aquino waiting at the luggage carousel. Yup it鈥檚 a bun fight. I seat myself on a chair within view of the belt drop off where I seem to be the only person with a yellow suitcase..

'Captains Log Supplementary'

Just picked this up on the newswire:

聽 聽 'Captains Log Supplementary'
Just picked this up on the newswire:
-@Lotus Eater

**

Scotty one to beam up.

聽 聽 @Cherryann0
A salient point Cherryann.
For example on the changeover of aircraft in Abu Dhabi the Etihad flight to Manila for some reason boards at T1 (the older terminal) instead of T3 I fly economy on the first leg but now pay to upgrade to busIness on the 2nd leg which effectively is a nightime flight and I鈥檓 ready to hit the sack (3am UK time).
For some reason there is no dedicated boarding channel for business class passengers. Flight is called and there is the proverbial scrum to board. As if the plane is going to leave without you. Normally I just wait for the crowd to subside but heck I鈥檝e paid for a goddamn business seat and can almost taste the pre take off glass (ok 2馃槈) of Champagne that awaits me.
But this scramble on one occasion was ameliorated by a charming petite Filipina (4鈥�5鈥�) who grabbed my hand and asked if she could board with me. Of course you can! Everyone close by heard this request so I hammed it up and stated in a loud voice that we are now engaged! Well the crowd just roared with laughter. That sense of fun to me聽 outweighs the occasional Filipino lack of common sense.
On arrival at Ninoy Aquino waiting at the luggage carousel. Yup it鈥檚 a bun fight. I seat myself on a chair within view of the belt drop off where I seem to be the only person with a yellow suitcase..
聽 聽

聽 聽 -@Lotus Eater

Never had you down for a yellow suitcase guy, must be easy to spot on the luggage belt.

@Cherryann01

笔谤别肠颈蝉别濒测馃槈

Lotus Eater - What is the process for upgrading one leg of the trip exactly? I know you book with the airline direct and I think you mentioned before that you have bid to upgrade, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. I am guessing that you go to the airlines website and fill in your details like normal and select economy for the class of flight. If this is the case and the flight is with one connection in the Middle East, is there a drop down menu or box next to each of the two legs of the flight that gives you the option to upgrade to business class?

Also - Can you make the booking for the two flights for economy and then bid to have one of the legs upgraded to business class and if the bid is unsuccessful then go back on the airlines website to upgrade one of the legs to business class with no amendment fees?

@Cherryann01

Since covid I鈥檝e been downgraded from Etihad Guest Gold member to Bronze member akin to being relegated from the Uk Premier football division to League 1馃槵.

So I鈥檓 virtually back at base camp. Only one tier higher than Gold is Platinum. The airline treated me like royalty -聽 priority check in , business class lounge and if economy (steerage to use Bob鈥檚 hilarious nomenclature) was full I was first inline to be upgraded to business. More often than not I was always upgraded on the 2nd leg from Abu Dhabi into Manila as economy was chock with Filipinos with only maybe 4 or 5 in the business section. Alas all good things come to an end so now I have to pay for those little extra comforts in life.

This is where the 鈥檖lusgrade鈥� system kicks in. Etihad are the only Arabian Gulf airline that have this arrangement. You book your respective legs in economy. About 5 days before your flight departs the UK you will receive a plusgrade email asking if you wish to upgrade. About a day later the 2nd leg to Manila will become available. On the screen you will see a dial with the minimum amount you can bid ( this is always higher out of the UK to Abu Dhabi as its a blue ribbon route and taxes are higher. Dont forget you are bidding against wealthy arabs who also probably have half their 鈥檋areem鈥� in tow)

Abu Dhabi to Manila you can usually bid 拢300 and it鈥檚 accepted. Only on acceptance will the credit card you used to pay the fare, be debited.

If your bid is not accepted your original seat reservations remain in place.

Up until yesterday I was seriously considering switching to Qatar Airways but with the new stunning midfield Etihad terminal opening this November I鈥檓 gonna stay.聽 Qatar don鈥檛聽 operate the plusgrade facility.

Hope the above helps.

The reason I ask is because I seem to get jet lag on my return from the Philippines and not when I get there and like I mentioned before, I cannot seem to sleep on flights. So with the journey to the airport in the Philippines, a possible connection in Manila or Cebu if I am elsewhere, the time spent in the airport and the flying time back to the UK, I am cream crackered when I get to Manchester. I then have the drive back to Bradford and although it is not a long drive, I am now thinking that it might be better to upgrade on the last leg of my return journey to see if I can sleep in Business Class.

Last thing I want is to be involved in an accident on the M62 coming home. So far I have managed on consuming plenty of coffee with the breakfast meal served a couple of hours before landing.

The return flights seem to all land in Manchester between 08.00 and 09.00 or that has been my experience so far.

@Cherryann01

Got it. I too find the jetlag worse on the return and not because I don't have a gorgeous Filipina with nimble fingers to give me a relaxing 2 hour massage (remember the Heineken ads in the 80's? Reaches the parts that other beers cannot reach )

So yes you will theoretically have the same % chance of a low bid being accepted on the Manila - Abu Dhabi route.

I have mentioned this before but by sticking to the same airline you build up phenominal airmiles when flying long haul into Asia on a regular basis. These can be used to upgrade (on their own if you have a sufficient number or indeed with cash). On my flight into Manila this coming November I used up all my airmiles as part payment for the flight which effectively gave me a 50% discount. That saving more than covers the upgrade to business on one leg. I call it a self liquidating upgrade

Etihad are pricey on short transit stopovers from Asia into Heathrow & Manchester. I dislike long layovers. One of the reasons for switching to Qatar Airways is that they have 'sleep modules' at Doha International airport that you can rent by the hour with an alarm call thrown in to wake you at a certain time when your flight is due to board.

Because you are halfway in the 7/8 hour timezone that 3-5 hour sleep will re-calibrate the body clock but at the same time allowing you to get a cheaper flight because of the longer stopover. Of course most flights from Manila are nightime so you will want to sleep on the first leg. If you're in a flat bed in business you Will Cherryann cure your insomnia if only because of the sheer amount of alcohol you will consume on the flight. The Filipina stews are adept at refilling your reservoir ' OK if you insist another glass of Pinot Blanc' which of course has sufficient weight of ripe fruit to offset the effects of altitude on the palate. But if you do avail of business class you won't feel like sleep on the changeover

Now that Abu Dhabi's new terminal is due to open soon I have no doubt they will have a similar facility. It won't be open on the outward leg but will on my return. Will update

@moonunit0103

I spent a few months living in Davao and Tagum. My Filipina wife a d I traveled all over. The caviot was I have some tone to my skin color being of the nation's here in the northeast USA.

I worked for airlines 17 years and globe trotted.聽 I never have had any issues other than I would have in any major city here in the USA. Common sense and safety are the same all over.

When in Mindanao I traveled everywhere I wanted to In the daytime including the separatist area. My wife warned me not to speak. And then they would never know I was american. Most of her friends assumed I was from some other country rather than American.

Most of my nervousness was not understanding the language and therefore not always aware of what was being said around me. I did go out by myself a few times but never at night. My wife being a local and having grown up. There would not go out at night.

I would not recommend ever getting into a fight because of the philippine legal system. I was warned of the consequences and the fact that financially it would bleed you dry. I did appreciate all the checkpoints and the constant searching for weapons that's done everywhere.

I can tell you to meet the other people that gave me sound advice from the Western countries. I had to be outgoing and introduce myself. Oftentimes my wife and I would start talking to them. And then they wouldn't announce they had a western husband or boyfriend. I would have to ask for a contact number or give mine so back we could start chatting. Once I started chatting the group opened up and I was admitted.

This is just my experience and I tend to be adventurous because I blend everywhere but China..lol. I could never pass for Chinese...lol.

I found people of the same world over the world. Even here in the USA I do not take my safety for granted having grown up in Brooklyn. I thought it was great being there and enjoyed most of the customs.

I mostly associated with her family and with other ex-pats from western countries. They were able to make me aware of the challenges and they were very supportive. They would get together and drink every friday afternoon and be gone by sundown. If there was a gathering that would last after dark it was at somebody's home.

I feel safe enough that I take family there and never have any problems. I ran into one young person that wanted to fight. But would not start it for the same legal problems. He finally walked away when his parents called him, it was at a checkpoint and there was armed security everywhere.

My wife was with me and warned me not to start anything. Because it would be handled by security if he had done anything physical. He was likely trying to provoke an incident to get money. That was the only incident I had there.

I did not like manila in any form or fashion. As I said, having grown up in New York. I knew this was another place that you better not be out at night. I saw it no real advantages to being in Manila.

I would say as anywhere. Always be vigilant of your surroundings and do not be out at night exposed. If the NPA begins activities you will know because the population sure will be just as concerned. In my humble opinion, you will have the same problems that you have everywhere that has a muslim population. They are just not the dominant population and therefore it is limited.

Again, this is just my limited experience based on what I am able to observe and have experienced. I really do enjoy Davao, and always felt relatively safe.

@moonunit0103

I travel a lot in north Cotobato, Kidapawn, Antipas, Arakan, I have friends further south but we meet north, my wife's family have a vacation area south but they hire armed guards when the go there, I never tag along