Back from the Philippines

[John+Lourdelie 28]

Just got back yesterday. Had a wonderful trip meeting Lourdelie for the first time in person. Only down side was the air pollution. Even though I couldn't catch a breath of fresh air, I would have liked to stay longer than I could.

Working on the I-129F paperwork now. Checking and double checking and triple checking. Hope to mail by Tuesday and not get a RFE.

John

Edited September 27, 2010 by John+Lourdelie

[marriedtomrg 141]

My husband doesn't fare well in the air pollution, either...especially after the first 2 weeks. Makes me wonder how our daughter and I (and our soon-to-be-baby) will react when we visit next time.

Good luck with the application

Just got back yesterday. Had a wonderful trip meeting Lourdelie for the first time in person. Only down side was the air pollution. Even though I couldn't catch a breath of fresh air, I would have liked to stay longer than I could.

Working on the I-129F paperwork now. Checking and double checking and triple checking. Hope to mail by Tuesday and not get a RFE.

John

[confusing 5]

yeah.... my wife convinced me to ride in a tricycle... once and i thought the pollution (and the fact i kept bumping my head) was gonna kill me. not to mention how huge and crowded manila is. im just not used to that. it was an experience though

good luck on your process.

Edited September 27, 2010 by confusing

[YodaPagoda 0]

yeah.... my wife convinced me to ride in a tricycle... once and i thought the pollution (and the fact i kept bumping my head) was gonna kill me. not to mention how huge and crowded manila is. im just not used to that. it was an experience though

I rode in a tricycle once...and I'm pretty sure it'll be my last time as well...I felt kinda vulnerable way down low. I prefer to have a car door that locks!

That said, I love Manila!

OP, where did you end up traveling to? Glad you had a good time!

[Charles-n-Erica 2]

We wish you good luck and fast processing!! Hope you took lots of pictures!

[marriedtomrg 141]

LOL my hubby dislikes tricycles too...he thought jeepneys were cool, except for the whole pollution thing.

He thinks ice in milk and beer is very wrong, too. lol

yeah.... my wife convinced me to ride in a tricycle... once and i thought the pollution (and the fact i kept bumping my head) was gonna kill me. not to mention how huge and crowded manila is. im just not used to that. it was an experience though

good luck on your process.

[Tahoma 2,292]

John...I'm glad you enjoyed meeting your sweetheart for the very first time!

Don't forget to make three copies of your I-129 packet...one for the USCIS...one for Lourdelie...and one for yourself (just in case)...and check everything twice!

[Atencio 43]

They did not use Jeepneys much where my wife lives. They use a lot of these Multi-cabs, small little trucks with a roof. I hate those things. Always crowded and I never fail to bump my head a couple of times. I prefer the motorized tricycles. Problem is that they are not allowed on the big streets in her town.

I didn't notice any smog. It could have been the town I was in or the fact that living in Southern California I am used to smog.

[thekfc 26]

I did ride the jeepney & tricycles a few times when I was in Manila.

On long trips or at night we would take a metered taxi but daytime/short trips - wee took a jeepney or tricycles.

I did bump my head on the tricycles a couple of times (I am a short guy - 5'5"). My first time on the tricycle, I got a little sick because of the fumes coming in my face but later my wife showed me where to sit to avoid the fumes.

I am glad that you enjoyed your stay.

On both of my trips (2 weeks+ each), I wanted to stay longer - just when I was really getting to enjoy the place it was time to head back home.

I would like to make an other trip before she come over but I do not think that it is possible - no vacation time left & I need to save up.

[_Simpson_ 250]

They did not use Jeepneys much where my wife lives. They use a lot of these Multi-cabs, small little trucks with a roof. I hate those things. Always crowded and I never fail to bump my head a couple of times. I prefer the motorized tricycles. Problem is that they are not allowed on the big streets in her town.

I didn't notice any smog. It could have been the town I was in or the fact that living in Southern California I am used to smog.

Well you stole my thunder with that So. Cal. statement.

I had no problems with pollution when I visited the Philippines.

[John+Lourdelie 28]

Thanks for all the reply's. I was down in Panabo City and Davao City mostly with a few days on Island of Samal. Transportation in Panabo is always by tricycle taxi and bicycle taxi. Not many jeepneys there. Either way you get a lifetime dose of carbon-monoxide in a very short time. When traveling to Davao we took a regular taxi or rode the bachelor bus line. In Davao we always traveled by regular taxi.

Took about 200 pictures during my stay. Some of them are actually good, ha ha. Wish i had video so I could show my friends back here the crazy driving there. Just finished my I-129F package (58 pages) and will print out extra copies for myself and Lourdelie.

Had a great time and thanks to all of you, I will get the paperwork submitted properly.

John

[TOM&Riz 4]

Just got back yesterday. Had a wonderful trip meeting Lourdelie for the first time in person. Only down side was the air pollution. Even though I couldn't catch a breath of fresh air, I would have liked to stay longer than I could.

Working on the I-129F paperwork now. Checking and double checking and triple checking. Hope to mail by Tuesday and not get a RFE.

John

Good for you both...anyways,I came from Tagum City not far away from Panabo City...if I am right that Panabo you mentioned here is part of Davao Del Norte?Good luck to the Process and God bless!:=)

[jrmejia 31]

I rode in a tricycle once and when I go back, I want to drive it myself..it was fun..actually fiancee's dad has one among other vehicles and other stuff.

did not feel the air pol in Cebu nor Tacloban as mush as in Manila

Best of luck in your journey!

Edited September 28, 2010 by jrmejia

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

I'll never forget my trip to the Philippines in Jan of 2009... We stayed the night at a "Sex Hotel" (because it was pretty cheap and secure) in Manila and headed for the provinces the following afternoon.

We had a deal with a LP Taxi driver to get us to Paniqui (in Tarlac) which was a 4 hr drive! About 1/2 way between Tarlac City & Paniqui he started complaining that he was almost out of LP and would need more than the agreed upon amount to complete the trip. Anna told him "No, just drop us at the next bus stop".

At the bus stop one of the Trike drivers overhear Anna arguing with the Taxi driver as we unloaded my 2 50lb suitcases (one contained $4,000 worth of Dive Gear), laptop case & carry-on bag. He offered to get us both to her Mom's house for what Anna said was a fair price so we loaded everything onto his trike; 2 50lb cases tied to the top of side car with twine, laptop & carry-on plus Anna's stuff in the side car with her, I sat sideways on the seat behind the driver!

That was the scariest thing I've ever done (and I've dived a known Bull Shark feeding site at 100 ft depth). I still don't know how I didn't die on that ride but it was an interesting introduction to Trikes in the Philippines..

Edited September 28, 2010 by Bob 4 Anna

[A and T 82]

I rode tricycles , pedi cabs, LRT, buses, jeepney, vans, cabs, horses, motorcycles the works. I enjoyed it all for the most part, they really like to pack those jeepneys and vans full, right when you think it cant hold anymore they bring on 5 more people haha.

Often the pedi cab would pull right behind a bus and you get a face full of pollution *gag* But thats why you bring something to cover your face, or mask

To get the to the provinces the buses are a good way to go. They were mostly nice , well air conditioned . One thing I notice will transport is the drivers stomp the gas and brakes constantly , no one drives smooth so its easy to get motion sick.

The roads are often in bad shape and some times have very little room for the jeepneys to go around curves on the top of cliff/mountain sides ouch. Wish they would put some railings

Did you see the garbage mountain outside of manila? wow, thats the craziest thing I have seen in my life and left an ever lasting impression, I believe its the manila city dump, they dont even bury the garbage! But stacks it straight up into a huge mountain of trash. People have tunnels through the trash and are digging through it , the whole area is just trash.

Its horrible , I would think that should be a priority for the president to fix asap

The provinces are great , normally nice and clean for the most part. I really miss my wife and the philippines a lot I could easily see myself living there and not looking back , the heat is horrible though and hard for me to deal with , would have to be near a beach or go north