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[SpaceBug]

Living in Thailand for 9 years I'm getting kind of tired of it and this month I'll visit the Philippines few days for the 3rd time (Cebu this time)
I wonder if the Philippines could be interesting change for living, as people are more close to our western culture and guess in general more developped then Thais who are kind of weird.
To me Philippines seems a much more complicated and hardened society then 'smooth and easy going' Thailand while Philippinos are more easy to go along with.

Someone on here who knows both and moved from living in Thai to Philippines, and why ? What are the important or interesting differences for an expat ?


regards, Al

[B-Ray]

We visited, (package travel deal), on an annual out of the Philippines and WON'T return!

We have a renter now that spent 1.5 years there and says WON'T go back. Doesn't matter why to me!

Each their own, I guess?
B-Ray

[ezArt]

Living in Thailand for 9 years I'm getting kind of tired of it and this month I'll visit the Philippines few days for the 3rd time (Cebu this time)
I wonder if the Philippines could be interesting change for living, as people are more close to our western culture and guess in general more developped then Thais who are kind of weird.
To me Philippines seems a much more complicated and hardened society then 'smooth and easy going' Thailand while Philippinos are more easy to go along with.

Someone on here who knows both and moved from living in Thai to Philippines, and why ? What are the important or interesting differences for an expat ?
regards, Al




SpaceBug

I've been stationed in Utapao AB, Thailand in 1973 for 2 years before the U.S. military base was shut down. And visited Bangkok just few years ago on a 3 day weekend from the Philippines. I was impressed with their new airport and freeways! And the city smog has really improved, not like Manila which the air is really polluted! I avoid Manila like I avoid the plague! We only go to Manila only if we are forced to go to the U.S. Embassy or Immigrations for what ever reasons that can't be done locally in our area!!!!!!  
In Thailand, from what I've heard, the only problem is their immigration processing and visa requirements! Also the language barrier is still a bit of a problem.
My wife and I  are "Balikbayans'' and living in the Philippines 22 months out of 24 since 1998. We usually leave the country for a few months and then return to the Philippines using the ''Balikbayan Program'' continuously every other year until such time we change our immigration status to Dual Citizenship, SRRV or 13a Permanent Residence, still debating the pros and cons of which to chose! Maybe in a few years, we'll make up our minds in which way to go!  
But anyways, Thailand is an OK place to live if you can speak their language fluently and don't mind their hot weather, culture, civil laws and immigration rules! I truly love and miss their Thai cuisine! All my wife knows how to cook is Pad Thai and Lad Na, my two favorite dishes and stuffed seafood spring rolls! Better than no Thai food at all huh!  As I always say, ''different strokes for different folks''.

Art        

[GWG]

I worked in Thailand awhile before going to work in Saudi.
I enjoyed it but there is a big difference to me in the people.
I believe allot of it has to do with their religion. Not that there is anything wrong with Budism, it just leads to a different state of mind and being than we have as Pinoys and westerners.
The RP being about 98% Christian is really a benefit if your looking for an exotic place where the people still hold many of the same values as the west.

I much prefer living in the PI and visiting Thailand than the other way around.
However, I do miss the food!