I took over 700 shots underwater so it'll take some time to sort the wheat from the chaff and do the species classifications as I did last year.
I'll also do a bit of a comparison so anyone that hasn't visited can try and get a feel of the place compared to Thailand. Naturally ten days there doesn't compare to ten years here but there were a number of observations and things I found out from chatting to locals and expats along the way.
Will kick off with the obvious:
Costs
One baht works out to around 1.33 Philippine Pesos so although things look like they're similarly priced you're actually getting everything 33% cheaper than the equivalent here. This is across the board and includes food, drinks, accommodation, travel, diving, and entertainment.
One - nil to the Phils. [TH 0-1 PH]
Travel
The public transport system is a little cranky, a lot of the roads are in disrepair, traffic jams are legendary and the driving standards there make Thailand look orderly! That said I didn't see a single accident yet witness them daily here. The roads are a complete free-for-all and the best policy is to close your eyes and opt for oblivion!
Thailand equalises. [TH 1-1 PH]
Nightlife
Both places are renowned for a certain 'genre' of nightlife however one does not have as many restrictions and is considerably cheaper. Bars can stay open for 24 hours, a beer in a popular Manila bar can cost 40 baht (55 Pesos), the equivalent being over a hundred baht here. There are no draconian alcohol sales restrictions and no heavy taxes on it. Other aspects of the nocturnal scene are also considerably better .... apparently.
[TH 1-2 PH]
Communications
Simply getting something done or asking questions is a breeze as everyone is fluent in English. The Thais maybe proud of the fact that they have never been colonised (apart from the Japs) but the Philippines is definitely a better country for it, the American education system introduced during their occupation has lead to a bilingual nation so miscommunications are rare. Here they are a daily occurrence even if your Thai language skills are proficient.
[TH 1-3 PH]
Cuisine
Filipino food is a little bland, they're not big on spices or variety although there is plenty of western food in abundance. Thailand on the other hand is world famous for its cuisine.
[TH 2-3 PH]
Attractions
With over 7,000 islands there is no shortage of places to go and natural wonders to see. The ocean is the way to travel and you can literally island-hop forever. Thailand is a little limited in this aspect with most of its island destinations being heavily developed already however it does have a richer culture and more diversity.
One a piece for this. [TH 3-4 PH]
Corruption & Poverty
These two go together as one is the cause of the other. The Philippines has a population of 84 million, 23 million of those are reported to be living on less than a dollar a day - it is poor and it shows. The general infrastructure is crumbling at the seams, the people are more hungry for your tourist dollar and Thailand looks like a rich nation in comparison. Decades of scams and corrupt politicians have left the Philippines in a state that it does not deserve, it should be a rich country considering its mineral wealth, geography and potential for tourism.
[TH 4-4 PH]
Religion & Culture
Being a Catholic country there are no bizarre concepts of 'face' and people seem a lot more open about things that are often taboo here in Thailand. Naturally both countries have insurgency problems in their Southern provinces where religions collide causing tensions. There is very little in the way of censorship and their media has far more freedom than that in Thailand.
[TH 4-5 PH]
Expat Life
Land ownership restrictions in both countries are very similar, foreigners simply aren't allowed. Marriage to a Filipino does grant higher visa rights and retirement (resident) visas are not necessarily limited by age. Working as a foreigner is possible but not easy, long stay, visa applications and renewals are easier as you are not forced to leave the country. Thailand seems to be constantly clamping down (trend over the last ten years) whereas there is optimism for less restrictions in the future there (something we don't have here).
[TH 4-6 PH]
If you can think of anymore comparisons you'd like post them here and I'll see if I can come up with something.
Meanwhile here is another one of those magical sunsets across the bay at Sabang, looking north-west towards Luzon:
Taking the water-taxi to the floating bar (Sabang).
The Filipino equivalent of Chang beer - a brew of nightmares! (Sabang)
Local kids playing in the gin-clear waters of Verde Island.
Nemo - one of the toughest fish to photograph.
More sub-aqua shots coming soon ...
