Davao City Apr2014 - Truths and Lies abaut Davao / Report+Guide [pics + vids]
06-02-2014, 04:44 AM
OP, how was visiting that girl's parents? How do the locals live?
Quote: (06-02-2014 04:44 AM)Northern Wrote:Well first of all I must say that I'm a very spontanious guy, I rarely plan ahead and always prefer to kinda "go-with-the-flow." Amongst other things this has resulted in me being stranded in a bus in the middle of Manila, with a girl, not knowiung where we are, and not knowing where to sleep that night! (everything turned out fine tough, I can always make things work!)
OP, how was visiting that girl's parents? How do the locals live?
Quote: (06-02-2014 10:29 AM)rhr Wrote:
Overall I must say that despite all the poverty these people have learned to enjoy life (very much unlike Europe!!) and try to make the very best out of every minute they have.
...and it rubs off to you. Being around a group like this inmediately cheers you up to the point that, even without any girl around, I would still 100% enjoy being in the Philippines.
It might not be perfect, but this county has just 'clicked' with me.
Have a nice day!
Quote: (06-02-2014 10:29 AM)rhr Wrote:
Quote: (06-02-2014 04:44 AM)Northern Wrote:Well first of all I must say that I'm a very spontanious guy, I rarely plan ahead and always prefer to kinda "go-with-the-flow." Amongst other things this has resulted in me being stranded in a bus in the middle of Manila, with a girl, not knowiung where we are, and not knowing where to sleep that night! (everything turned out fine tough, I can always make things work!)
OP, how was visiting that girl's parents? How do the locals live?
With that being said, the decision to make that visit was completly my own. There was no pressure from her or anything like that. It just felt like something I wanted to do that moment.
I would describe her living conditions overall as "poor but happy." She lives in something you can best picture as "wooden hut" on a small dirt side street. The whole structure is ~30sqm with about 8 or 9 people living there! Just like you would imagine in the 3rd world. Both of her parents married and around which, in my eyes, is a very good sign.
Her father works as a bus conductor, he was friendly but distant. Her mom was warmer, but seemed a bit overwhelmed by my random appearence. Her siblings were much more approachable with everybody laughing and generally having a good time. One of them litterally uttered the words "welcome to the Philippines" to me while I was telling them a bit about me and where I was from. They seemed really happy to meet me.
Overall I must say that despite all the poverty these people have learned to enjoy life (very much unlike Europe!!) and try to make the very best out of every minute they have.
...and it rubs off to you. Being around a group like this inmediately cheers you up to the point that, even without any girl around, I would still 100% enjoy being in the Philippines.
It might not be perfect, but this county has just 'clicked' with me.
Have a nice day!
Quote: (06-02-2014 05:39 PM)rcraig33hb Wrote:
Hey RHR!!! What's up brother?
Good to read this trip report. Always nice to read a trip report from another traveler since everyone will have a different experience.
Too bad about the mall gaming experience, if your going back soon, I would challenge yourself and try a different tactic. Some other posts have good suggestions from other members. I am sure you can achieve some success by adopting a style that caters to your strengths!
With the walking issue, on one side I hear what your saying & on the other side I agree with Cr33pin about using JP Laurel ave. I did a few casual walks from Marco Polo to G Mall and it was fine having side walks. On the negative, there were some streets w/ no side walks and I found myself walking on the side of the road and close to traffic. In the end, no big deal.
I will be back in November! If your planning an additional trip around that time, let me know and we'll do drinks again!
Have a safe trip back in June and let me know how the 2nd trip turns out.
Quote: (06-02-2014 06:52 PM)G_global Wrote:
THis is a good positive attitude, constructive criticism included, comment. Cheers to you, brother. Hope to meet you in my travels back to the PI.
Quote: (06-02-2014 05:39 PM)rcraig33hb Wrote:
Hey RHR!!! What's up brother?
Good to read this trip report. Always nice to read a trip report from another traveler since everyone will have a different experience.
Too bad about the mall gaming experience, if your going back soon, I would challenge yourself and try a different tactic. Some other posts have good suggestions from other members. I am sure you can achieve some success by adopting a style that caters to your strengths!
With the walking issue, on one side I hear what your saying & on the other side I agree with Cr33pin about using JP Laurel ave. I did a few casual walks from Marco Polo to G Mall and it was fine having side walks. On the negative, there were some streets w/ no side walks and I found myself walking on the side of the road and close to traffic. In the end, no big deal.
I will be back in November! If your planning an additional trip around that time, let me know and we'll do drinks again!
Have a safe trip back in June and let me know how the 2nd trip turns out.
Quote: (06-03-2014 01:02 AM)ballybally Wrote:Isn't it obvious at this point that you are a troll?
When somebody is basically accusing other people of lying as OP is(look at the title) and then spews a bunch of bullshit that like 90% of us that are actually here disagree with then there is only 1 kind of "right" attitude. The worst thing is how confident he seems in his bs statements.
If I would be mod I would delete threads spreading misinformation like this one. There is plenty of accurate information about Davao already here, adding completely inaccurate information adds no value.
Quote: (05-31-2014 05:35 PM)Vacancier Permanent Wrote:
The 21 day visa was the rule when I was there the two times I traveled there. Maybe this has changed? Can the more veteran and experienced/frequent Phils traveling guys confirm that?
Quote: (06-03-2014 01:52 PM)Enigma Wrote:
I'm not sure if I should weigh in on the visa situation, since I'll be called a liar when it changes in a year
You get 30 days on arrival. Your first extension is 30 (or 29?) days.
After you've been there 59+ days (your second extension), you're eligible to extend 2 months at a time. But I'm still not sure whether you HAVE to get an ACR-I card to qualify.
The ACR-I card is basically an ID for non-citizens that digitally stores some of your vital information and allows you to register for a bank account and things of that nature. It costs $50 on top of your normal extension fees.
If you're in Davao, just go to the Fast Pass travel agency across from Victoria Mall (a few buildings down from immigrations) and they'll handle this all for you for $10 so you don't have to worry about it or wait around at immigrations. Also, I don't think you have to give fingerprints for the ACR-I if you go through an agency (I think you do if you go yourself).
Quote: (06-03-2014 02:47 PM)pants Wrote:
Remember to not wear shorts or sandals. They won´t let you in. I had to go there 2 times.
Quote: (06-03-2014 01:52 PM)Enigma Wrote:
Also, I don't think you have to give fingerprints for the ACR-I if you go through an agency (I think you do if you go yourself).
Quote: (06-01-2014 07:02 PM)Enigma Wrote:
Obviously many of them will put out for the right guy, but I fail to see how that makes them a "full fledged slut"...? I've already pointed out that (DIA in particular) has it's share of semi-pros and scandalous women, but that does not represent the norm.
Quote: (06-02-2014 02:50 AM)Fisto Wrote:
But theres a huge lesson here; see how he gets attached? Guaranteed that same girl still has an active dating profile.
Having game and knowing the nature of these girls will save you a lot of annoyance.
Quote: (06-03-2014 11:49 PM)Dagnasty Wrote:
I won't rag on OP's data sheet - I enjoyed reading it. But one thing to remember is that these girls are not "special". They are women - take the pedestal out from under them. They're sweeter than we're used to of course, but under the right conditions - they can become everything that disappoints you.
All of them will become a full fledged slut for the right guy. Every single one of the girls on that site is looking for foreign dick.
I'm not talking about semi-pros and scandalous women.
I'm talking about family girls who have had 0 or 1 male partners and go to church every week. They are on the internet to look for Western cock.
Show me a pure conservative beauty who is a virgin, or has a low notch count, and the same girl will take it in the ass and let the right guy bust a nut on her face.
All girls will turn into a slut for the right guy. None of them are conservative if you're the right guy for them.
(Source: I have done this to actual "Good Girls" here.)
They are not special. I thought the same thing here until I got myself a good girl, put a boot in her ass when she gave me shit, and she showed all the stuff I taught her to the next guy.
I don't know Fisto or BB but they strike me as guys who could take any of the girls you just met and have them smiling after doing some shit to them that you only see in violent porn.
This is not a bad thing - they're just regular people. You are preparing yourself for disappointment if you think that these girls are above the laws of human behavior.
Quote: (06-03-2014 06:45 PM)pants Wrote:
Oh, sorry, was a little quick there. Yes I was talking about the immigration office. Also across the Victoria mall if I recall?
Thanks for the tips on Fast Pass, sounds a lot easier than what I had to go through.
Quote: (06-03-2014 11:49 PM)Dagnasty Wrote:
Quote: (06-02-2014 02:50 AM)Fisto Wrote:
But theres a huge lesson here; see how he gets attached? Guaranteed that same girl still has an active dating profile.
Having game and knowing the nature of these girls will save you a lot of annoyance.
THIS! THIS! THIS!
You are setting yourself up for massive disappointment OP.
Quote: (06-03-2014 01:02 AM)ballybally Wrote:
Quote: (06-02-2014 06:52 PM)G_global Wrote:
When somebody is basically accusing other people of lying as OP is(look at the title) and then spews a bunch of bullshit that like 90% of us that are actually here disagree with then there is only 1 kind of "right" attitude. The worst thing is how confident he seems in his bs statements.
If I would be mod I would delete threads spreading misinformation like this one. There is plenty of accurate information about Davao already here, adding completely inaccurate information adds no value.