Why there are very few backpackers in Philippines
Why there are very few backpackers in Philippines
I often wonder why there is really almost zero backpackers in the Philippines, have been here about 4 times now, it is becoming clear.
My instincts says that the Philippines is too dangerous for the average Asia traveler, I started out in Mexico, Central and South America and this country is easy for me, however Thailand is very safe in comparison to the Philippines.
I find that I ignore so many things that the average traveler would find extremely annoying, and I have learned by going to India to ignore many things.
- Beggars
- V I A G R A Sales persons
- Poverty of small children walking around with no clothes, hard on the heart.
- World Class Taxi Driver, probably some of the best at trying to cheat you on the planet.
- A daily scam attempt or someone trying to fraud you.
I have been thinking about starting a Hostel in the Philippines, I am putting on the very back burner as this place has a problem. It is not the corruption that worries me; it is the fact that there are no backpackers.
I realized, I want to have a Hostel or Hotel where fun backpackers could hang out.
How could this happen, when there is no backpackers in the Philippines?
The Expats are fun, they are hilarious, and the girls are funny here.
IF I listen to the Philippines persons or the Expats it is like watching a soap opera, or better yet, like going to the border towns and listening to the border people, a whole separate culture.
However, I realize, this is hilarious for about 2 weeks, then it start to buzz my head, I start to get impatient with the stupid comments. I really do not like soap operas, and the Philippines are one big soap opera.
This has made me realize, if I made a hotel in the Philippines is would be another soap opera unless I could figure out a way to screen the visitors.
What I am fighting is a tourist department and country that is actively promoting only one type of person to feel good in the Philippines. They all go to Angeles City, and hang out or Subic Bay. The ones that are not there have a Philippines girl in tow and touring the country.
It makes me weak after awhile, not a good snapshot of life or people.
My gut says that Peru is the best place to start a Hotel or Hostel, a better type of traveler.
Why there are very few backpackers in Philippines
8 Comments:
honestly of all asian countries, the philliphines is the last option for me. i like thailand so much especially Koh Pha Ngan. By the way, i come from Malaysia and under no reason at all, i find going to our neighbouring Philliphines is just for business trip only, not for holiday or travel. maybe it gotta be the fact that you can get kidnapped by terrorist in the south or maybe be involved in a military coup, it is politically unstable for the past 5 years. The last 3 presidents were all charged for corruption, the last one is still in jail. maybe, maybe someday i will go to there....
My friend, who travelled with me for the first month in India, is currently in Peru. He is there for 2 reasons: 1) to help out the community, doing missionary things. (i th ink building an orphanage or something) and 2) to trek the Inca Trail.
I found I largely had more fun when I was in a place with Trekkers. Trekkers seem to be easy-going people. Active: they don't want to sit on a beach drinking beer all day, they want to be challenged.
Most of the Trekker people were encouraging to me, who does not normally do much exercise. They were friendly, and look out for people. This is a person type i can get alogn with.
If there are people going to Peru to trek the Inca Trail, then maybe I can see why this is a good place. People will be attracted to Peru to Trek, or to see a culture or a history. Not just for cheap beer and cheap girls.
If people are atteracted to a place for a long time, not just a 2 week vacation, then maybe it is a good place, attracting good people.
In Goa, I had fun in Palolem. Nice people, although for sure, most of them on vacation. Adventurous vacation, however. But Anjuna, in North Goa... I could not wait to leave this place. And I will not go back there.
To me all countries are options. However, I read the Encyclopedia, I read the statistics on the country and go. The newspaper and TV are full of crap for the most part, however there is some truth. Guidebooks do not help either, on the other hand most backpackers are polorized, they either love or hate a place, no middle ground.
I have been here four times, I must like the place, however I also do not like the place.
IT is very curious though to me what is in the head of another backpacker. Of course the opinion of a person that has visited the Philippines would hold more merit.
Hi andy,
I have been to the Philippines in 2003 and can say that it is definetly not an easy country to travel. Other Asian countries and of course Peru are much more easygoing. On the Philippines I never really felt comfortable when travelling alone. Most of the time I spent with philippinian friends though and that was fantastic because they were so hospitable. I just think that the public transport on the Philis still lacks a lot and you are right- harldly any backpackers to be seen, not even on Boracay. I think I will go back to Manila and Lucena to visit my friends. If I will travel there - I don't think so.
When I was in the Philippines I was asked by a few people how my experience was comparing with all the news stories I had seen. Honestly, I had forgotten about those news stories and the fact that I had arrived two weeks after a fresh Travel Warning was issued by the U.S. State Department.
Keep in mind...for those of us living in the U.S., our per capita crime rate makes most of the world look like upstanding, law-abiding citizens (Look Here).
Not sure what your problem is with travelling in the Philippines. I've been there three times, traveled all over and found it just as easy as South America. Just hop on a bus or boat and take off. It's fun. Backpackers don't go there cuz there's not that much to see compared to the rest of asia, culture is boring and food is dull. But they sure are nice. Just don't trust them all.
Hi Guys and Gals,
The Philippines is not a safe place like all the places in the world, what is nice about this country is almost all walking in the streets can speak a little and understand alot of english if you just speak slowly. They are not making fun of people, they are just born funny and wants to laugh all the time. if you lost your wallet, policemen are very helpful, remember travellers like us are not the target .
what made you think there are no backpackers in my country?
not that many, mainly because the stupid people at the Department of Tourism still defines tourists as people who came in airconditioned buses and stay in luxury hotels
finding information in the net about places is hard but thank God for the bloggers (like me) who offer information online
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