Of course that was you, Tankman, I don't know why I had Zod on the brain! Must be Ol Timer's settin' in.
Yeah Surigao and Butuan are our launching points when we venture into the "Wild, wild South" of Mindinao. My wife's Aunt lives in Butuan. Not the prettiest city, but the food from the street vendors, especially along the dock area, is some of the best in Philly. We go to Bislig, on the east coast. There's a tiny little island called Hogonoy that's a whole 2 acres of white sand and coconut trees. The locals use it for a weekend getaway spot, and it truly is a wonderful little place. (That's where I buried my Wife in the sand!
) In contrast, the beach in Bislig proper is a cesspool of pollution...Looks like a surf of choclate milk. No one in their right mind would even fish there. Farther south (About an hour's drive) from Bislig is Lingig, a tiny, traditional Filipino village that just happens to be located on a unique beach of iron-blue sand. Usually quite private, as most tourists prefer the amenities Stratt had reference to.
Stratt, ya best forget Boracay for a while...While we were there in Feb there was an oil spill just off the coast there...Might take years to clean that up, and has driven even more tourists to Bohol and the myriad of resorts on Panglao. Besides, Boracay is likely THE most expensive place on the entire archepelo. You can now fly directly into Tagbilaran from Manila, or any other point for that matter as it is an int'l port, and amazingly enough, they're building yet another int'l airport in Panglao. The Philippine gov't is really pouring a shitpot of pesos into Bohol, the road system especially. Looks like the best kept secret in Philly's not much of a secret any more.
I have yet to set foot on Palawan, but it is definately an eventual destination for me. The beaches, the caves, and the island's own unique culture all beckon.
Our place in Dimiao sets across the highway from a secluded crescent shaped beach that I'm almost positive some local official will eventually ruin by developing it. It's about a 10 minute walk to get wet from our doorstep. There are no "Hotels" as we westerners are familiar with there (yet), but there are rooms for rent (VERY inexpensive) and plenty of roadside resturants serving Native food. A few miles to the south is a nature preserve (Bohol is chock-full of "Nature Preserves") in which resides the biggest damn snake in the Philippines, a 22 ft, half-ton python. The preserve guide, an extremely pretty transvestite calling herself/himself Miraposa, told us the snake only eats on the full moon, and will NOT eat a black pig, only WHITE pigs...
THIS white pig moved to the rear of the crowd. There's a running joke amongst tourists and ex-pats in Bohol: If you've seen ONE Chocolate Hill, you've seen them all! (Only someone familiar with the vicinity would understand that.)
I like Cebu alot more than Manila, and I really can't put a finger on exactly why...Many small reasons I suppose, not the least of which is I don't care for Megalopolises at all, tho Cebu is a bit of one. But after a day in Manila, you're blowing Manila out of your nose for 2 days; the air pollution is toxic. Cebuanos are different than folks in Manila, more friendly and less material. The drivers are 200% less psychotic also. We take horse-buggy rides in Cebu and Lapu-lapu, I wouldn't dream of it in Manila.
Finding a ticklish Filipina to play with is not that difficult for a fellow who has some time. Most Filipinas are quite interested in getting to know Americans, and NOT usually for the purpose of leaving the country, simply as a passtime. I mean, wouldn't YOU enjoy experiencing a pleasant foreigner's company and learning about life from another perspective? Mostly they find the tickling thing amusing, tho a little difficult to fathom. They expect a foreigner to try to talk them into BED, not out of their shoes. Some will want to introduce you to their family, friends, whoever is convenient, not so much as a boyfriend, but to up their social status innocently. Spread the foreigner around. They will be proud simply to know you, and proud to introduce you to others. It is quite flattering. IF you are in the market for tickling a Pinay, the thing to remember is BE POLITE, PROPER AND RESPECTFUL. Just because their economic status as a whole does not compare with the west is no reason to be condescending or arrogant. They don't have much as a rule, but they are a very proud people, and they should be. The Filipinos have survived some of the most formidable disasters, occupations and exploitation of any populations in history. They live simply, but they are NOT stupid.
One other thing of some note for any would-be tourists that will not affect everyone: In the Philippines, many if not most still refer to African-Americans using the "N" word. It is not, NOT,
NOT an insult. They simply do not have the same concept of racism as we do in the west. It is an old holdover from WWII, so it
IS based on racism, but NOT of THEIR doing. To them it is the same as identifying a "Cebuano," or a "Boholano," or a "Probinsyano" (A term for any Filipino from outside Manila), or a "Kano" (Americano). I had a hell of a time explaining that to my Wife. I personally find racism of all kinds revolting and wish we in the west could simply outgrow it. In the Philippines, they never grew into it.
Well, kids, that's our multi-cultural lesson for today. I don't know what you can do with the knowlege, but there it is.
Rxx
