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Title: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: HaroldC on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM squinting, into the light- just to introduce myself- see P-L profile for more.
(And, no, you of elephantine recall, I am not THAT Harold, who stated categorically on 03/08/2002 that all Filipinas are liars and then disappeared- I am the one who admits all humans will lie when it suits them.) I did my marathon lurking here back around 2000- read through all the archives then and have done so again- yap, all of it. Thank you, Patrick, for a fine service. I am delighted to find so many old guard still around- I will likely need your expertise and support. I feel like I know some of you, so if ever I should come across in too familiar a manner, I apologize. What prompts this coming-out is that I have my first serious prospect with whom I talk on the phone daily. She lives in Iligan; and, yes, I am up on the terrorist thing. My take is that I am more likely to be blown up or beheaded here on the freeway; or head-on a 1200# moose at 75, a local elaboration on highway mayhem. I am inclined to visit Mindanao just to give em the finger, so to speak; but thats my hubris. Enough for now. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for all you have taught me so far. Title: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: Peaches on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
It's always nice to have precautions when we know that the area we wanted to visit is a little dangerous. Just be careful and be safe. Goodluck. Title: Thank you for your good wishes, Post by: HaroldC on August 08, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by Peaches on Aug 7, 2003
Peaches; and I wish you well too.:) P-L Member since January, 2001- Wow! People keep mentioning precautions- but they never say what those might be! so I don't have a clue. I have lived in some pretty rough areas of USA- South End of Boston, the flatlands of Oakland, CA- so I guess I will be all right. Title: Precautions, Post by: outwest77 on August 08, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Thank you for your good wishes,, posted by HaroldC on Aug 8, 2003
I would say precautions in general in the phils. Dont flash cash, Be Humble, friendly, Smile a lot, be Respectful of everyone , remember you are a guest in their country. Should any police situation arise where you are involved, you are the foreigner , you will lose, It is their country. Smile, dont raise your voice or make a scene if someone is charging you too much, be firm, but polite, and calm. Take a copy of your passport with you in your wallet, Leave most of your cash, your real passport, credit cards, etc in the hotel safe, and take a small amount of cash with you along with your copy of your passport. Thats what i do. Set up a Yahoo account if you dont already have one. Email yourself your credit card numbers and the 1800 numbers for customer service, in case they get lost. Ditto for your passport copy if you can scan it. Also plane ticket numbers for the airlines number in manila etc or your travel agent in case you need to get ahold of them and lose the number. I just make a folder in Yahoo called travel. Be sure if you go to an internet cafe while you are in the phils, and you log into yahoo, you make SURE you close yahoo completely, I often find when me and my gf go to the internet cafe, that the last user did not completely close yahoo and his or her email or yahoo messenger is open, Happened to me once when i forgot too. Title: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: Nathan on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
I did not find Iligan all that bad...using due caution. Nathan Title: Nathan, where is Zen? Post by: Peaches on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by Nathan on Aug 6, 2003
Tell her to email me @ design53@cox.net Title: Re: Nathan, where is Zen? Post by: Nathan on August 08, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Nathan, where is Zen?, posted by Peaches on Aug 7, 2003
Hi there, I think we had an old email address....she will be in touch soon now that we have the new address... I hope all is well for all of you! Nathan, Zenny, Tehanie Title: thank you Post by: Peaches on August 10, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Nathan, where is Zen?, posted by Nathan on Aug 8, 2003
...i'll wait for her email Title: Re: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: HaroldC on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by Nathan on Aug 6, 2003
Naw, I'll be going all the way (figuratively speaking)- I want to see my lady in her natural state (figuratively speaking). I'd love to hear what you know about Iligan- like exactly what is 'due caution', a disguise?:) Title: Re: Re: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: Nathan on August 08, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 7, 2003
Like I said, as long as you go dressed as a moslem woman wearing a burka, you will have no problem! LOL! Actually, it is nothing like that. There are a few areas to avoid, especially at night. Your hosts will be able to point them out to you, but Iligan is safer than Zamboanga in my opinion. Come back proud if you want, but go humble, and you should be fine. Title: I hope it is safer than Zamboanga! Post by: HaroldC on August 09, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by Nathan on Aug 8, 2003
That's the belly of the beast! My lady says that Iligan is just as safe as Cagayan de Oro, which looks right- the State Department advisory says especially southern, central and western Mindanao. Iligan is sort of western but has a big mountain between it and those areas. And it looks like a long boat ride from the Sulu to the Bohol. It stikes me that the Abu Sayif are probably opportunist monkeys who stick close to their trees or do hit-and-run on a beach with a fast boat. Moro are probably more sophisticated but take time to plan their op's- and I am a politically insignificant target. Common brigands are the same everywhere. State also suggests that cabs (with locked doors and windows up) are safer than public transport. I think that is bass-akwards. Much easier to jack a cab, especially BY a cabbie. I intend to take precautions above and beyond those I would take in any big city, especially at night- and I will avoid any place even remotely uninhabited: Keep a low profile. My biggest worry is bringing crap down on her house- maybe I can recruit a Baker Street Irregulars. I'd dearly love to carry but know that's out of the question. And if I do get grabbed, I AIN'T gonna go... Hey, this'll be fun.:) Title: Welcome Aboard! Post by: Dave H on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
Hi Harold, I'm with you and Ray, "F#%$ THE 'F#%$ing' TERRORISTS!" Have a GREAT trip when you go and give 'em (the a'hole terrorists) the finger from me too! Dave H. Title: Re: Welcome Aboard! Post by: HaroldC on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Welcome Aboard!, posted by Dave H on Aug 6, 2003
OK. Send me a finger, and I'll give it to 'em. Title: It's In The Mail! LOL (n/t) Post by: Dave H on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM Title: The finger's in the mail? Post by: Ray on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to It's In The Mail! LOL (n/t), posted by Dave H on Aug 7, 2003
ROTGDFLMHAOCUMSL! And to think that I almost asked him to shoot them a moon for me... Title: No Assatall! Post by: Dave H on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to The finger's in the mail?, posted by Ray on Aug 7, 2003
Hey Ray, It would be hard to live without your moon. ROTGDFLMHAOCUMSLSIMMFP! Dave H. Title: Moon over Miami Post by: Ray on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to No Assatall!, posted by Dave H on Aug 7, 2003
OK Dave, then I better hang on to my moon. I wouldn't want to get caught sitting on my laurels without it... Ray Title: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: NOX1967 on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
Hey HaroldC, I'm leaving next month and I'll also be meeting a lady living in Iligan. Ron Title: Re: Re: Another Lurker emerges, Post by: HaroldC on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by NOX1967 on Aug 6, 2003
Yeah, I saw a post of yours in like January- and never again! I thought Abu Sayif must have got you. Great! I am all ears about your trip. If you like, my private eMail is in my profile and I'd like to compare notes. Maybe they know each other- although it is a city of 300k. Title: Welcome lurker... Post by: Ray on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Another Lurker emerges,
, posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
It's nice to have you around. I'm with you Harold, F#%$ THE TERRORISTS! Ray Title: Re: Welcome lurker... Post by: HaroldC on August 06, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Welcome lurker..., posted by Ray on Aug 6, 2003
Mr. B. Nice to hear from you- like I said, I feel I know you. Aren't you the one who called 'em rat-bastards? Mind if I use that? Title: Rat Bastards Post by: Ray on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Welcome lurker..., posted by HaroldC on Aug 6, 2003
That's Ray S, not Ray B... Yeah, tell the rat-bastard terrorists to eat my shorts! :-) Title: Re: Rat Bastards Post by: HaroldC on August 07, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Rat Bastards, posted by Ray on Aug 7, 2003
I beg your pardon, sir. I could have sworn I recalled Bacon Bits. Oh, well, the memory is the first thing to go- which is merciful because then you can't remember the other things you had when THEY go. Title: I'd always heard that.... Post by: Jeff S on August 08, 2003, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Rat Bastards, posted by HaroldC on Aug 7, 2003
memory is the second thing to go. I forgot what the first one was. - Jeff |