Mount Rainer found being dragged to Texas see last post

[peyton]

After spending twelve years in the hot sunny Southwest Asia, being shot at by adoring fans, the big army has a new trip planned for me.
Drum roll please,, the Philippines for three months.

Big U S Army sends soldiers to all over the world to visit new places, meet new friends and get shot at. Several people have been tasked to travel along to fix all their "technical stuff". Apparently, the army has to much stuff for soldiers to fix so they need extra dummies to go along. We will working 5 days a week 10 hour days, and off on the weekends.

This leads to my question, what can several old fat men do in the country for entertainment. Now my dear wife is all excited I get to travel to the country, but I am not so sure. Suggestions are welcome as long as it does not require shots for said entertainment!!

 

[Onomea]

... This leads to my question, what can several old fat men do in the country for entertainment. .... Suggestions are welcome as long as it does not require shots for said entertainment!!

Sensible caveat.

 

[S42N8]

Stay north of Manila.

 

[hivel37]

Sixty-odd years while employed by our uncle, I spent
2 years at Clark AFB, since given back to the PI in about 1980.
With a few days off, we'd catch a bus up to Baguio City to
the north. Mountainous and much cooler compared to
the lowlands. John Hay Base had a nice hotel, golf course..
and restaurants. A nice break from the routine
That was a long time ago, no guarantees what its like today.

 

[robrossk]

Lots of beauty but remember you will be in a 3rd world country. As long as you know this you should be ok. Who knows, it may be like paradise after stints in SWA (been there/done that).

 

[biku324]

Where will you be? What's available depends on where you are - if you're in Zamboanga or Tawi-Tawi, you won't be allowed to go anywhere. If in Manila at he AFP camp in Metro Manila (Camp Aguinaldo), you can be stuck in traffic for hours to go anywhere at all along the main street (EDSA).

Baguio City and the old Summer Embassy is worthwhile (3 to 6 hours by road, the NLEX), as is the relatively safe Puerto Princesa on the long island of Palawan (you'll have to fly).

If in Manila, a Corregidor day tour is fun. - you ride a boat to the island, have a guided tour, lunch, then return to the very large Mall of Asia.

Be sure to check the Embassy website for threat warnings - they are dynamic.

Keep a wad of toilet paper in your back pocket - it can be hard to find.

You won't find nicer people anywhere than Filipinos.

 

[sigp220.45]

I think the Nipa Hut is closed. Sorry.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

It's been a long time since we pulled in to the PI on the USS Midway . Back then it wasn't hard to find stuff to do , but it was hard to keep from getting in trouble , trouble with a capitol T . I know it was before your time , but this was an R&R spot for the VietNam war . You can imagine , anything and everything was available . I'm sure it's not like that anymore , probably toned down . It's a beautiful country and the people were very nice . The food is some of the best in the Far East . My memory is off , there was a VFW or American Legion right on main St. in town outside Subic Bay Naval base , but I don't know where it would be now . I'm sure other Navy and Marine vets can add more , though I'm sure they won't tell the whole truth about some of their adventures , I know I won't .

 

[biku324]

But Air Force One at Parañaque City is always open if you are willing!

If you like big, modern casinos, there is City of Dreams and the Solaire near Mall of Asia in the Pasay/Paranaque city area (Metro Manila) on the bay.

If you want to stay in 5-star hotels at USG perdiem rates, the Penninsula in Makati is superb, as is the Diamond Hotel on Roxas Blvd near the Embassy Chancery and north of the Embassy Seafront Compound (there is a VA clinic at Seafront).

 

[walkin jack]

crooked cab drivers were a big problem. I don't know if that is still a problem but be careful....

 

[peyton]

Thanks for the suggestions, we won't know anything more until Friday. The big army might change plans once they see the bill for us to have an "exotic trip". The thing that torques me off, is in SWA you were paid 7 days a week, heck from fence to fence was 5 miles at some places and 200 yards at others. We worked everyday because there was nothing else you could do!!

 

[biku324]

I recently quit contracting, and you usually get 23 or 26 day contracts. I had not heard of 26 day contracts in PI except at limited sites in the Sulu Archipelago, where there are serious travel restrictions. You should get meal/lodging reimbursement for days off, as you can't very well just go home.

If you're contracting for DOD and eat at a DFAC, you may have to pay cash, but it's really inexpensive. Lodging in a CHU can make you crazy as well.

 

[Llance]

If you are in southern PI and for whatever reason you are standing at a counter (money changer, sale booth, whatever) and you see the proprietor drop to the floor, drop yourself right then too. It will save you a series of perforations. It's been just over 50 years since I was there. My son married a lovely PI girl, and she could tell you where to go and she will be polite about it too.

 

[ddixie884]

Stay out of the Upstairs Zan Zi Bar.............

 

[biku324]

I'd add that there are reliable ATMs everywhere in the PI; I had no trouble of any kind with BDO or BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) in 5 years.

 

[Muddyboot]

Could be worse, at least they're not sending you to Chicago or Detroit.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

Things to Do in Clark, Pampanga | USA Today

Things to do at Clark-

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298573-Activities-Manila_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html

Things to do in Manila-

Its been 40 years since I left the P.I. It was a great experience, just be careful and talk to people from your job who have been there before to get the latest info. (If you can)

The beer was good, the food was good, a beautiful country,the people were nice and most speak English so no problem communicating, you will be in a country where most people like America and Americans.

Enjoy your trip and thank you for your service.

 

[F4phantom]

It's been a long time since we pulled in to the PI on the USS Midway . Back then it wasn't hard to find stuff to do , but it was hard to keep from getting in trouble , trouble with a capitol T . I know it was before your time , but this was an R&R spot for the VietNam war . You can imagine , anything and everything was available . I'm sure it's not like that anymore , probably toned down . It's a beautiful country and the people were very nice . The food is some of the best in the Far East . My memory is off , there was a VFW or American Legion right on main St. in town outside Subic Bay Naval base , but I don't know where it would be now . I'm sure other Navy and Marine vets can add more , though I'm sure they won't tell the whole truth about some of their adventures , I know I won't .

Spent two wonderful weeks in Olongapo City, summer of '68, well actually Cubi Point at Subic Bay. I heard that Paulines burned down sometime in the 70's. We were not allowed to leave the main street while visiting the city. Farthest I ventured was up to the hospital. Went to some island and had a great time. The Enterprise was in port but the crew was restricted to the ship. Seems they had too much fun the last time they were in port. Went onboard the USS Roosevelt. The flight deck was crazy and it was in port. I can imagine what it was like out in the ocean launching planes. No thank you. The highlight of the tdy was seeing a U2 take off and land.

 

[biku324]

You wouldn't recognize Subic or Olongapo City these days. When we left, so did the economy. Only the 'Excrement' River remains as an odorous landmark.

 

[peyton]

We are slowly going through the process to go there, only problem is no money yet!! We have to do mandatory training on how to survive if lost or trying not to get caught. Not once did it mention, "Hey Siri or Alexa where the hell are the good guys"!! I mentioned to my boss that maybe the locals don't like American's anymore!!