Comments on: Country Face-Off #1 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:09:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kirsty http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-1035 Kirsty Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:10:51 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-1035 Oh and there's absolutely nothing unsafe about travelling to Iran or North Korea. They're probably two of the safest places out there. North Korea because you're stuck in an expensive tour (it's the only way to see the place) and Iran because of the amazing hospitality of the people, even towards Americans. Visas are tough to get for you guys though. Mindanao is generally considered to be safe except for Zamboanga and the islands that run off of it towards the south west. That's pirate territory. I went to Camiguin, a little island off the north of Mindanao, and it's perfectly fine. Great place too... if you have a chance, check it out. Oh and there’s absolutely nothing unsafe about travelling to Iran or North Korea. They’re probably two of the safest places out there. North Korea because you’re stuck in an expensive tour (it’s the only way to see the place) and Iran because of the amazing hospitality of the people, even towards Americans. Visas are tough to get for you guys though.

Mindanao is generally considered to be safe except for Zamboanga and the islands that run off of it towards the south west. That’s pirate territory. I went to Camiguin, a little island off the north of Mindanao, and it’s perfectly fine. Great place too… if you have a chance, check it out.

]]> By: Kirsty http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-1034 Kirsty Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:02:06 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-1034 Philippines is great. Loved it there! Haven't been to Indo yet though. Will probably head down there in January for a couple of months. I swam with the whale sharks at Donsol in February and it is one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Cebu City isn't that nice but the charm of the country is in the smaller places. Philippines is great. Loved it there! Haven’t been to Indo yet though. Will probably head down there in January for a couple of months. I swam with the whale sharks at Donsol in February and it is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. Cebu City isn’t that nice but the charm of the country is in the smaller places.

]]> By: Southeast Asian Budget | Lives of Wander http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-949 Southeast Asian Budget | Lives of Wander Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:08:12 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-949 [...] is quite inexpensive.  We will likely take a flight out to either Indonesia or the Philippines (help us decide), though even those seem relatively inexpensive at the moment due to heavy competition.  $5 a day [...] [...] is quite inexpensive.  We will likely take a flight out to either Indonesia or the Philippines (help us decide), though even those seem relatively inexpensive at the moment due to heavy competition.  $5 a day [...]

]]> By: Mark http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-229 Mark Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:44:18 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-229 My initial instinct was Indonesia, because of the obvious factors such as its extreme wilderness and Orang Utans and the such. I'm very much of the exotic opportunities that are very specific to a country. My knowledge of the Phillipines however goes little past its struggles with war and our fine nation. But I will admit, whale sharks sounds pretty darn awesome, thought I'm not much a fan of open water. Initially, diving in WWII wrecks sounded swell and all, but I'm sure there is good diving in many of the countries you are visiting. So in the end, the big hairy primates of Borneo win out. My initial instinct was Indonesia, because of the obvious factors such as its extreme wilderness and Orang Utans and the such. I’m very much of the exotic opportunities that are very specific to a country.

My knowledge of the Phillipines however goes little past its struggles with war and our fine nation. But I will admit, whale sharks sounds pretty darn awesome, thought I’m not much a fan of open water.

Initially, diving in WWII wrecks sounded swell and all, but I’m sure there is good diving in many of the countries you are visiting.

So in the end, the big hairy primates of Borneo win out.

]]> By: Jeff http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-228 Jeff Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:29:28 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-228 Thanks for the info, So Cal. What we've read about the Philippines is that it has a very interesting, Latin/Spanish/Western vibe to it. But yeah, I'm not so interested in shopping malls, we do that in this country better than anyone, so why leave if that's what you're looking for. Thanks for the info, So Cal. What we’ve read about the Philippines is that it has a very interesting, Latin/Spanish/Western vibe to it. But yeah, I’m not so interested in shopping malls, we do that in this country better than anyone, so why leave if that’s what you’re looking for.

]]> By: Jeff http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-227 Jeff Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:26:06 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-227 You jest Greg, but you've got a point. Though we may throw it up to see what people would say =). Terrorism and extremism is on the rise in both Indonesia and the Philippines. I ignored it in the post because I don't want to focus on such things, but they do need to be considered. Actually, it is not recommended to go to the south Philippines (Mindanao) due to muslim extremists carrying on a guerilla war there. The rest of the country seems fine though. And we all know about the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005 (we have no intention of heading to Bali). So these are not non-issues. On a more uplifting note, thanks for the votes and thoughts, and keep 'em coming. Becca, is Zimmern the guy who eats all the crazy food? We saw him eating calf brains and couldn't watch any more. I'm not sure I would call that a rousing endorsement. But as Paulina noted, I am pulled by the whale sharks. Strongly. On the other hand, discovering and naming my own new species would be pretty sweet too, better odds of that on Borneo. Tough decisions, indeed. You jest Greg, but you’ve got a point. Though we may throw it up to see what people would say =). Terrorism and extremism is on the rise in both Indonesia and the Philippines. I ignored it in the post because I don’t want to focus on such things, but they do need to be considered. Actually, it is not recommended to go to the south Philippines (Mindanao) due to muslim extremists carrying on a guerilla war there. The rest of the country seems fine though. And we all know about the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005 (we have no intention of heading to Bali). So these are not non-issues.

On a more uplifting note, thanks for the votes and thoughts, and keep ‘em coming. Becca, is Zimmern the guy who eats all the crazy food? We saw him eating calf brains and couldn’t watch any more. I’m not sure I would call that a rousing endorsement. But as Paulina noted, I am pulled by the whale sharks. Strongly. On the other hand, discovering and naming my own new species would be pretty sweet too, better odds of that on Borneo. Tough decisions, indeed.

]]> By: So Cal Kango Girl http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-226 So Cal Kango Girl Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:13:38 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-226 I'm definately about Indonesia. The Philippines has been very westernized, according to my friends who just got back from there last week. They spent the majority of their time in shopping malls. I don't know, that's just not my idea of fun... I’m definately about Indonesia. The Philippines has been very westernized, according to my friends who just got back from there last week. They spent the majority of their time in shopping malls. I don’t know, that’s just not my idea of fun…

]]> By: Gregory http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-224 Gregory Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:55:26 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-224 Next up, Iran or North Korea? Next up, Iran or North Korea?

]]> By: Matthew http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-223 Matthew Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:30:13 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-223 Why would you ever want to leave Amerika? Why would you ever want to leave Amerika?

]]> By: Mom http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-222 Mom Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:00:35 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/2008/01/25/country-face-off-1/#comment-222 My initial thought was Indonesia and after reading what each had to offer, I still think Indonesia is where you should go. My initial thought was Indonesia and after reading what each had to offer, I still think Indonesia is where you should go.

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