Good idea to go to the Philippines?

Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.


cheers,

Ben

On 19 Dec 2004 09:30:12 -0800, "ben" wrote:

Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.

The two events your describe wouldn't affect your trip any more in
January than they would later in the year.

The area affected by the typhoon is limited to a few towns on the east
coast of Luzon which normally hardly see any tourists anyway. Unless
you were planning to visit that particular area for some reason you
wouldn't notice any effects of the typhoon elsewhere.

As for the bombing in General Santos, those things happen from time to
time and nothing is likely to change in the next few months, or even
years which will affect that.

You may just as well go in January, when the weather should be quite
comfortable, as go at any other time.

Chris

On 19 Dec 2004 09:30:12 -0800, "ben" wrote:

Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.

The two events your describe wouldn't affect your trip any more in
January than they would later in the year.

The area affected by the typhoon is limited to a few towns on the east
coast of Luzon which normally hardly see any tourists anyway. Unless
you were planning to visit that particular area for some reason you
wouldn't notice any effects of the typhoon elsewhere.

As for the bombing in General Santos, those things happen from time to
time and nothing is likely to change in the next few months, or even
years which will affect that.

You may just as well go in January, when the weather should be quite
comfortable, as go at any other time.

Chris

ben wrote:
Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.

You won't see any typhoon effects unless you visit hard-hit areas in
northern Luzon. Staying away from Mindinao unless you have specific
reason to visit there is a reasonable thing to do these days. I doubt
that chosing later dates would have any impact.

FYI, there are a couple of events on and around Boracay scheduled in
January. The Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo in 2005 runs from 8-16 jan,
with the big climax with all the street dancing on Jan 14-16. The
Boracay leg of the Asian Funboard cup, an international windsurfing
competition, is 31 Jan to 5 Feb. I have links to the home pages for
both of these events on my web site at http://www.mbungalows.com.

ben wrote:
Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.

You won't see any typhoon effects unless you visit hard-hit areas in
northern Luzon. Staying away from Mindinao unless you have specific
reason to visit there is a reasonable thing to do these days. I doubt
that chosing later dates would have any impact.

FYI, there are a couple of events on and around Boracay scheduled in
January. The Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo in 2005 runs from 8-16 jan,
with the big climax with all the street dancing on Jan 14-16. The
Boracay leg of the Asian Funboard cup, an international windsurfing
competition, is 31 Jan to 5 Feb. I have links to the home pages for
both of these events on my web site at http://www.mbungalows.com.

I spent a week in Ozamis City, Mindano in December. I felt totally safe.
Spent two weeks in Cebu and one week in Manila. I didn't want to leave. I
had the best time of my life there mostly because of the people. Warmest,
friendliest people I ever met.

What are the chances of getting kidnapped there I wonder? Probably more
likely to be hit by lightening or winning the lottery.

Have fun! I can't wait to go back.

Joel



"ben" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.


cheers,

Ben

I spent a week in Ozamis City, Mindano in December. I felt totally safe.
Spent two weeks in Cebu and one week in Manila. I didn't want to leave. I
had the best time of my life there mostly because of the people. Warmest,
friendliest people I ever met.

What are the chances of getting kidnapped there I wonder? Probably more
likely to be hit by lightening or winning the lottery.

Have fun! I can't wait to go back.

Joel



"ben" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello-

I am planning a 4 week trip to the Philippines
starting in late January. I am wondering if this
is still such a good idea considering the recent
typhoon in the north and bombing in
the south. I am not worried about safety
(although I am an American), but I was thinking
it would be smarter to wait a few months until
everything calms down a bit.

If I just avoid Mindanao and northern Luzon
should everything pretty much be OK?
Any thoughts appreciated.


cheers,

Ben

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 08:18:01 -0700, "Joel" wrote:

What are the chances of getting kidnapped there I wonder? Probably more
likely to be hit by lightening or winning the lottery.

It depends. If you win the lottery, the chances of you being kidnapped
are vastly increased. If you get struck by lightning, your charred
remains become a lot less attractive to a potential kidnapper.

Chris

On Thu, 6 Jan 2005 08:18:01 -0700, "Joel" wrote:

What are the chances of getting kidnapped there I wonder? Probably more
likely to be hit by lightening or winning the lottery.

It depends. If you win the lottery, the chances of you being kidnapped
are vastly increased. If you get struck by lightning, your charred
remains become a lot less attractive to a potential kidnapper.

Chris

Have lived in Mindanao Island, Philippines off and on for the last 40
years. Have only had one attempt to rob me and I was able to talk the
would be crook into accepting 100 peso. (I had 5000 dollars). Have won
lottery twice but it was the military officers who tried to cheat me out
of my winnings. Since age of consent is 12 years old for women, Sex is
very good.