Philippines Photos (and scam alert)

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Manila Scam Alert:
For you folks visiting Manila beware of the many street scams. The one we fell for is when we went to Chinatown. We were approached to hire a horse drawn buggy to show us around by a buggy driver. We agreed on a price before getting in. After about 15 minutes of riding around the area, another man got on and took over the reins and the original driver slid over. The original driver said to us "don't worry this is my boss". After about 5 more minutes the "boss" pulled the buggy over and told us we owed him $__ (10 times more than we agreed on). I refused to pay it, but did hand him over a little more then the agreed price, and we walked away. This left us in a scummy area of Manila at dusk and not knowing which direction to go to get back to our hotel (instead of being taken in a loop to get back to where we started). No taxis were around. We got on a jeepney and did the best we could asking people how to get back to our area. We finally made it back safe... but a little angry and shook up. Now we can say we have been scammed in Manila. Fortunately, it didn't cost us too much for this lesson. Part of being in the Philipines I guess, and we had read our book so we were certainly aware of the possibility of scams but this took me by surprise. By the way, this photo of Manila is actually very flattering. In real life it doesn't look as good as this! You can't see the dirt and the broken sidewalks here.

Cebu/Malapascua Scam Alert:
I was already hip to this one, reading someone elses blog. We took the bus from Cebu City to the ferry dock to Malapascua Island. Waiting for the ferry to leave, we were approached by a man saying that we would have to hire a private boat to get there for a very high price since there were no more ferries leaving that late afternoon. I said "no thank you" to him 3 times and told him we would wait and see. About 20 mintues later we got on the usual little ferry... and he was one of the crew!

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Photos

colorful Jeepneys
These are used as buses throughout the Philippines

Landscape on Luzon in the lowland farming area
Luzon is the very large northerly island of the Philippines where Manila is at the south end and Baguio toward the north in the cooler foothills of the beautiful mountains. It would be worthwhile to explore the mountainous areas above Baguio where the steep rice terraces are and visit the villages there. We might have to go back sometime to do that since we didn't on this visit.

Tricycle Loaded
A motorcycle with side car attached was a typical mode of transportation for Philippinos and others on the island of Luzon in the more rural areas.

Whats For Dinner?
Still Don't know!

Baguio.
City In The Mountains

Street and Wires - Baguio
Last year in Bangkok I really wanted to document the amazing electrical wiring throughout the city and beyond but had no camera. Here in the Philippine cities, camera in hand I had another chance to capture this electricians nightmare. We this in many large SE Asian cities. It just amazes me!

One of the many wide streets where the day market is set up in Baguio
This was a colorful and lively market where vendors were very friendly and playful. We had a good time here taking photos and some videos.

Meat vendor in the market
Throughout Asia we see this scene where the meat sits out. It is not likely refrigerated if it is not sold that day. Many vendors are also selling dried and salted meat and fish.

Whole fish for sale
A variety of fish are sold... brown fish, red fish, white fish, black fish they told us. Vendors in the market places speak only a tiny bit of English.

Pig Parts
They Don't Waste Anything

Chicken Little
Philippine fast food. We saw this in other countries also. These are hatchling chicks and they eat the whole thing. We saw smaller ones that may be younger than hatchlings in Cambodia.

Baguio Flower Market
They do grow many beautiful flowers here but some of these were fake!

Comments

[mariela]

manila scam
well mate,,nextime stood what you think is right,by giving them extra money which is beyond the agreement doesnt help that well only trigger them to re do it again...its not just in the philippines its all over the world this situation.and even worst than the philippines