Instead of rambling, I’ll just plan to continue posting to my expat blog and if you’re ever so inclined, you can read about them all there as I whittle away at my life abroad in memories — blog style.

Thanks for that update, it made some of my bloggeries look pale in comparison .

I have a friend who lives there, in Manila and he said whenever I know, to let him know and he’ll pick me up. It will be an expen$ive leg of the trip as most transportation so far has been inexpensive but it’s about a ~700-1000$US trip from Bali –> Philippines and then I would imagine the same back to the mainland, wherever I choose to land.

That said, considering how far I’ve gone now and my ultimate goal of “seeing most of the world” to not go would be even more ridiculous considering life is funny, who knows when or if ever I’ll be that close to just hopping over and having a cool friend willing to show me around / hang out.

I’m almost 80% going unless something odd occurs.

Thanks for your input, I had heard of Boracay and Cebu. That said still not 100% sure but not many people go there from the travelers I’ve spoken with and I’ve heard numerous places it is beautiful.

We shall see, that said I noticed you mentioned Argentina, I’ve been to Central and looking forward to South America.

Now, as I’ve mentioned in previous comments, I lived a pretty nice life on a corporate expat package, but no matter, the people are the most incredible and there is amazing stuff to experience there.

If you go before Christmas, you will be wow’ed by it all. And this coming from a quiet Jewish woman. I was awed by the intensity with which the culture embraces the holiday. It’s not all about the commercialism of it all like it is here and while they do go nuts with lights and the decoration that goes with the holiday, Holy Week is really quite a “show” in the Philippines.

Anyway, There is so much to see and do in the Philippines and Manila is not the end of the road there. I’d think you’d be a Boracay kinda guy or maybe even a trip up to Baguio. Tracing the Bataan death march or going up to Banaue to see the rice terraces are trips to think about.

Now, about safety — while I lived there I had security detail, but truth be told, I never — EVER — felt unsafe, with one exception and that was really an employee issue, nothing that would have erupted had he not been working for me. Of course you have to keep your wits about you and talk of everyone “packing heat” is a little outdated — I think. That wild wild west thing was gone by the time I got there, but my last trip in was in 2003, so maybe it’s changed back to what it was after the US bases closed.

A trip up to the Mt. Pinatubo crater formed by the massive 1991 eruption is another place to check out. I didn’t climb to the crater, but did a shorter trip up the Lahar fields and it was a great, albeit hot, sweaty day.

Manila is a huge, vibrant city and after following this trip I think you will find it a great place to be. There are clubs of course, but there are markets — produce, meat, poultry, floral and more to see as well.

Of the countries I’ve lived in, when I am asked which I like best my answer has always been … “If I could take the people of the Philippines, the color and culture of India and the sophisticated city of Buenos Aires (including River Plate futbol) , I’d have found Utopia.”

Don’t get me wrong, as with all things in life there are good points and bad points and not all of my 2.5 years there was a cake walk, but in the end, the people made that part of my life extraordinary and I don’t think a few days goes by that I don’t wish I was there.

I’m rambling, sorry. I just wanted to put my plug in for The Philippines. I am writing about my life there on my expat blog, but I’ve only started a short while ago, so there’s not much detail there yet.

I will anxiously await your decision whether or not to travel to the Philippines.

Cheers!

I really liked Malaysia, it was real and the China Town in Kuala Lumpur was much more fun.

I will fill you in on Bali via this blog.

This post may be a bit harsh but for a single guy in his late 20′s who isn’t working, a few days are plenty in Singapore. Met some cool people here as well just it’s a massive world out there and much more fun places to pass ones time if they aren’t constricted by a job.

That said, if I was offered a super high paying job here and had a family, this place would be cool.

you must be really one of a kind of explorer! i’m going to Bali next year march, maybe you can show me some pointers on where to go by then!