It was not a much of a surprise To experience that feeling i would love to be there by myself to see ethnic similar Tajiks with more tradition and culture remained- I love Tajiks and the land they are in. Unfortunately because of power seperation (putting strategic borders) and so called Great Game between British, Russians, Chinese land was ridiculously seperated, bordered for the oldest and original inhabitants of the area, Tajiks. They are in Afghanistan, China and most disturbing in Uzbekistan. Greatly hope there would be a time to change that....
Smith 1999 Great blog ! I camped on Ross island; adjoined to Smith, for a month in 1999 and was gutted when i heard the islands had been destroyed by the Tsunami. So good to hear that wasnt true, although story of tourists destroying part of Smith is enfuriating and typically western. When i was there it was day trippers only but all you had to do was stay out of the way of one drunken park warden, only about a dozen other tourists there....
You've inspired me to return next english winter and support the economy aswell as enjoying the unique beauty...
Ben Wiseman (London)
nice review It's a good review.... the "cough syrup" thing was funny indeed... it's a common problem in Bangladesh.... I was always offered to buy these things by the hawkers in the train stations since I had long hair in my student life (which they consider as cool sign of the drug addicts .).... anyway, despite the fact that people are nice to the foreigners, I think the tourists should choose somebody trustworthy... not just randomly....
Bangladesh can’t attract the tourists because of stupid govt tourism policy the govt is too ignorant about the tourist places
I spent 6 years of my childhood in Cox’s Bazar, and visited several times afterwards . It’s such a very nice place to go for holiday but does not attract the foreigners because of lack of security and maintenance of the spot . I traveled several countries including five in Europe, I can say, this place is pretty cool compared to many sea beaches I have seen so far .
And “Rangamati” . If you travel this place my renting a boat in a sunny afternoon till dusk . It will just blow your mind .
Finally, thanks for the review it addresses some of the issues I am frequently asked by my European friends here in Germany .
glad for your thrill-seeking visits to basilan n zamboanga firstly, thanks for dropping by, zamboanga city was thoroughly been blacklisted from the foreigners/tourists, due to a series of misbehaviours shall i put it this way..nontheless, we got lots to offer just like any regions of the Philippines...It just saddened me, not to be able to extend personal assistance to your trip herein. Zamboanga City has its own beauty and tuna canning factories too...and the city's backdrop as u would have noticed, are greeneries from hills and mountains and fields of pala(rice), while u could face the sea calm in the evening by the boulevard right in the city....thanks though...
You don't want girls!!!!!!!!!!!! Nicely written mate, you words are concise and balanced. I just got back from Palawan. The sight of 350 lb men walking around shopping malls with extremely attractive girls is nauseating. I also travelled alone and had no problem other than the poverty I witnessed in Malate which I find (as a Westerner) truly unacceptable). I was approached repeatedly by pimps and girls alike but simply used a friendly smile and a few stern looks to make myself understood. I do find it very embarassing to be tarred with the same brush, as people automatically assume I am here to find girls. I just had a free week and wanted to see a new country.
But we have to blame ourseleves for the countries who will sell their souls for a dollar, if we (so called ) first world countries made a more commited attempt to reduce third world debt then perhaps we could save the suffering of both the boys and girls of these countries and 350 lb men would have to stay home with their money and be unable to abuse people who have no real options (I include myself in the problem and am not finger pointing). Good luck with your travels.
Thanks, that explains last night. One of the best articles I've read for a long while, anywhere. Also explains the barrage of stares I was getting sitting drinking beer on my own in a Thai nightclub last night, which quite honestly made me feel uncomfortable, not desirable. I knew of the concept of 'romance tourism' but was very surprised at the extent of the 'need' shown by these girls. On a separate note, I've also have shared the feeling of the need for continual motion - something I've experienced and had to fight off when travelling alone.
Pink beaches Hi Lorraine, the beach you are looking for is called Santa Cruz (a fifteen minute boat ride from Zamboanga). Apparently the mixture of pulverized red organ-pipe coral it contains causes the pinkish sand colour. Hope your adventure makes it to the blogs;-)
No surprise here Great story. There are quite a number of foreign travellers in and out of the so-called 'problematic' areas in Mindanao but few make it to the blogs so there's nothing really surprising. In reality the locals are the most afraid to venture out in their own country because of what they 'heard'. Anyhow back to Mindanao charms, have you had any luck finding those pink sand beaches? Been searching for them too :)
I know of what you speak... Great blog, but very sad... I saw some of what you describe when I was in Thailand. I didn't do a commentary on it at all, but it was one of those things that has been permanently imprinted in my mind. Glad you wrote this - it's good for those of us in more developed (read: sheltered) and comfortable western cultures to be reminded that it is not like this everywhere... We should all be more thankful and stop taking the little (and big) things for granted.
Great Blog Just finished reading your blog from start to finish or at least latest. You have areal talent for writing overall I thought it was very insightful ocassionally arrogant and sometimes ignorant but always leaving me wanting to hear more on more than one level, why did you and your GF break up? etc.
Good travelling.
Look at the divorce rate You hit the nail on the head. This is issue should not be viewed from one angle only - as age difference - racial, upbringing, morals and the future of this family. From the few sample - that I am familiar with - most of these middle aged men - once they return home with their newly wed bride in tow - the love starts to deteriorate - by that time he already has a child - the final scenario the old man gets a divorce.
It is also the girls expectation in Philippines - going to US is like hitting the jackpot, who would not like that. Sex is a conduit.
Excellent blog Superb blog well written. I am 26 and had many experiences in SE Asia with romance tourism. It got to the stage where I became sceptical of local girls being friendly, which is terrible really. Everytime someone is nice it has the opposite effect.
Been there, done that!! Hi,
great story, I spent a lot of time travelling around Mindanao-well off the beaten tourist path- and have never yet had any probs, just came back from Marawi to my Wife's home (near Maranding) and now having a well earned rest before we start off again for a 5 week stay on and around Mount Apo visiting more of my Wife's 'extended' family, hehe.
Mindanao is a wonderful; place and it is now my main home, instead of the UK.
Take care
A thinker I am now the middle aged, ex military American you describe, minus the part of being a sextourist. You write well and its evident you think alot when traveling. All I can say, is the world is made up of one person or group of persons trying to manipulate or subjugate another. We all make our choices, some are made for us. Some people will never have the freedom to choose. I found the people of the PI like any other group. Simply trying to get by. Before you write off all Western men over there now, remember a man from the past, my uncle, who died in the Bataan Death march defending the PI. Life,,,its full of choices. stay safe. No ill will intended, just a thought.
Choice of perspective Actually, your last paragraph summs it all up. There is nothing new to the phenomena of people wanting to find a partner who can offer them better living standards (although it could be argued as more common among ladies). This has been happening for many years just in front of our own western eyes. The only difference seems to be that western women invest more in the ways to make themselves attractive to men (lipos, duck-lips, implants, designer bags, brand-clothes etc...). In heart I think these women seek men who can offer them better (material) lives than they are willing to provide for themselves. Maybe they disbelieve their own ability to put efforts in education or advancing jobs in a way to reach what they crave. Maybe GENDER is the issue as society does not provide women the same opportunities as men (Sweden is on a good equal path). The gender issue is especially true in developing countries. There are two things to consider before judging the women in cultures that are exotic for westerners. First and most importantly, what you see as a tourist is just a fraction of the women in these countries. I would even go as far as stating that the proportions (compare to "Gold diggers") are the same, if not less, as in our own 'civilized' society. Secondly, there is a social aspect which is profoundly rooted in culture, economy and legal security. Knowledge of the present, history of the country as well as conversation with the habitants is essential for learning about the social state. At the most, poverty for a westerner means being homeless because of addictions and other social problems. In these countries, poverty is much more severe. Not being able to feed your children, seeing them die (doesn´t happen much in west thanks to social structure), lacking funds for medicine and clothes is just the the starting point for poverty in these countries. Being slaved, killed, sold or have their organs removed is some of the ways poor people are treated in certain places. When you are that poor I think it is hard to share western values of what is right and wrong. I think one sees things differently and grasps any opportunity offered to escape a miserable situation. Ask any of these girls that are 'on the market' what kind of family they come from. Which part of the country. How much does their families own? Or ask them when and who they were sold to as a child or when they were abused for the first time. That way you will find half of the root to the problem. The other half is of course the 'demand' on the market. I am against abuse of women. Personally sex tourism is disgusting to me. BUT, there is a grey-zone as well to note. First, there is the aspect of the choice some women actually make to prosititute themselves (no matter what reasons). Also, some of the couples that meet spend a longer time together than a transactional meeting. Sometimes they even end up marrying each other. I don´t want to pass any judgements here. What I´m interested in is what would happen to these girls if they couldn´t grasp the opportunity a rich visitor can offer them. In contrary to the gold diggers at home - who moslty end up marrying a second-best alternative and get a job at a parfume or make-up store - I´m afraid these girls would be doomed to poverty becuase of the social injustice that exists in their countries. To properly address the problems and solve them we need globalization indeed. We need global awareness, global spread of knowledge and global aid and efforts. We need to solve problems at a grass-root level not only because they disturb us in our vacations or differ from our view on how things can/should be. But because these are the ways people have to live their lives because they don´t have much options. Further we have to accept our role in the imbalance that exist between the rich and the poor. Exploitation, colonisation, wars, missionary campaigns and plagues are just some explanatory factors to the injuries inflicted by west to developing countries. That raises a few questions for me. Would you/we/me be prepared to settle for less in order to give more to the poor? Would you let immigrants come to your country for a chance of better lives? Would you accept lower wages and competition from foreign labor? Would you pay more for your good and services just to help the poor country? For example, would you pay as much for a pair of Prada shoes as for a similar Vietnamese copy? Would you donate half of the money that you in reality don´t need just to help another person get a minimum living standard? Or maybe we are naive enough to think that all 6 billion of us can live the way we do in west using global resources? Would we stop striving up and help others reach our level before continuing?
Sorry about this mate. I didn´t mean to write a comment this long. These were just spontaneous thoughts that emerged from my own perspective and experience.
Have fun on your travels all of you and spread the love!
Good Blog Well thought out entry, no less so that it took you about three months to articulate your thoughts and your experiences. I was born and raised in the Philippines and thus, probably carry some of the prejudice of my countrymen about middle aged Westerners who may or may not be on a sex or "Romance Tour" in my country. I noticed with passivity several middle aged Westerners with young Filipina wives on my last visit back to Southern Leyte.
When will the Sufferings Stop ! It deeply saddens me knowing that such human degradation and exploitation is happening in our country. It breaks my heart to know that some Filipino women’s only means of crawling out of poverty is to marry a foreigner. When will the sufferings of the Filipino people stop. Since the Spaniards landed in the Philippines in 1521 and placed a stake on our land, our people have suffered from slavery, been robbed of liberty and natural resources. When the Americans took over Philippines from the hands of Spaniards, Filipinos perceived the Americans as our knight in shining armour as they freed our people from slavery and introduced education to the country. Little we know that Uncle Sam has his own agenda to use the Philippines for his own interest. Then, Japanese invaded our country for 2 years and used Filipino women as sex slaves for their soldiers. Up to this day, Filipinos are at the mercy of people from other land. Kind-hearted and open-minded people will not judge, but will try to understand & have pity/mercy on the current situation of the Filipino people. I’ve read the other comments to Jason’s article and I’m pleased to say that such open-mindedness is very much appreciated ..thanks, Johanna
your blog Just to let you know that this one of the best written blog I've read so far. Nothing to do with the subject of your article but it is very interesting taken from your perspective. Stay safe.
"This moral decay, weakens our resistence, to the onslaught of the communist masters of deceit." George Putnam (1965) A great read that touches on thoughts that cross my mind from time to time. Disregarding prostitution and abuse, and focusing on what you so eloquently termed "romance tourism", I have not yet managed to decide on what my thoughts are on the subject. Every time I see a young local woman on the back of a motorbike driven by a considerable older westerner, or when I see an ill-matched couple walking hand in hand, there is a part inside of me that immediately expresses displeasure. Interestingly, when my brain is reconnected I realise that it all boils down to my own prejudice. I blame the society in which I grew up. As for travelling solo, fifteen minutes after I first set my foot in Cebu the taxi driver asked me if I wanted girls. It made me feel offended, not necessarily because of his inquiry, but by the prejudice that was being directed towards me the westerner. All I do know is that soon I will be that middle-aged, single, well-off man. We'll see what happens then.
Great Blog! Your blog was very interesting. It is amazing what people will do not to be lonely. I read a story the other day about the Vietnam War, the guy who wrote it fell in love with a Vietnamese woman. His explanation was that war makes you want someone right that second. Many of his war buddies took these women and ended up leaving their wives. Enough rambling on my part! Enjoy your traveling. I miss it! Julie
Huja
non-member comment
It was not a much of a surprise
To experience that feeling i would love to be there by myself to see ethnic similar Tajiks with more tradition and culture remained- I love Tajiks and the land they are in. Unfortunately because of power seperation (putting strategic borders) and so called Great Game between British, Russians, Chinese land was ridiculously seperated, bordered for the oldest and original inhabitants of the area, Tajiks. They are in Afghanistan, China and most disturbing in Uzbekistan. Greatly hope there would be a time to change that....