Back to Cebu from 4 days in Thailand

Larry - I have often told people that I feel that Thailand is the Most Interesting Country in the World to visit. I have been there a number of times, but not since I moved to The Philippines. Glad you and Delia had a Great Trip. Remembering that I had "Duck Tongues" ordered by my GF's family. Surprised to see that there is a little Bone-type thing in the middle of the tongue. Thailand was my second choice to retire, but happy I decided on Philippines. I would be in deep trouble with all of the Squiggly Line street signs.

Larry - I have often told people that I feel that Thailand is the Most Interesting Country in the World to visit. I have been there a number of times, but not since I moved to The Philippines. Glad you and Delia had a Great Trip. Remembering that I had "Duck Tongues" ordered by my GF's family. Surprised to see that there is a little Bone-type thing in the middle of the tongue. Thailand was my second choice to retire, but happy I decided on Philippines. I would be in deep trouble with all of the Squiggly Line street signs.
-@talamban

Compared to the 200+ yrs young USA Thailand is just amazing with history and culture. I would love to spend more time there too. But I'm glad I got a taste.

@Larry Fisher

Thank you for your post Larry. Yes this is the Philippine Forum but its always interesting to compare other Asian cities within the envelope of this discussion arena.

I smiled at your mention of the Landmark hotel. I did alot of consultancy work in Bangkok a few years back and would always specify that hotel as my preferred place to stay. For me the elevated terrace was the best place in the city to, as you deftly put it ‘watch the world go by’ After a days meetings I would retire for a couple of hours at 6pm and watch the pretty office girls walking past while having the Happy Hour (actually it was 4 hours!) 2 for 1 beers (or any other libation for that matter). Sublime service and every so often the waitress would bring a wet towel with your drink to cool you down.

Oh yes the Lamb Shank. One evening a Belgian client treated me to a meal at the Skyview hotel deck restaurant. Although I love Thai food we ended up having the mouth watering Lamb shank washed down with an excellent (and very expensive) St Emilion accompanied by a soothing smoothjazz feed in the background.

Alas Manila struggles to match this level of service and really needs to get its act together. It’s a shame because when Filipinos are at the top of their game they can surpass any other country in Asia for service, ambience, class & style.

Interesting post Larry, firstly I found PAL good for short flights as well as long, Australia to PH while only 8 odd hours has entertainment built into the seats and great service, done that trip many times, a few weeks ago flew to Singapore on a smaller plane and no built in entertainment but less than a 4 hour trip, slept most of it.

What I am curious about is the fact that you buy your own bottled water and get it on the plane.

Thailand is a great country as are many, PH. is my retirement destination and happy to be here with the better half. Thailand is great to visit but for me not to live.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl The most unsanitary water imho given to people is the coffee on a plane. The water tank may get filled and refilled but the entire apparatus is not sanitized every trip. And since they're not using bottled water to make real coffee, I buy coffee from anything like a Starbucks in my unspillable coffee mug. As for water, while they pour it from a bottle into a plastic cup, you're left to their whims of when and how much. I just buy a bottle after security gates and stick it in the seat back. Sip when I want and replace cap. Convenience and ease.

The equipment is my biggest complaint with PAL. Employees do what they can, but they're limited obviously. And their websites? yea well, not the best.

Larry I've been flying on planes for over 40 years and the coffees are fine as is the Jack Daniels. Short flights supply rudimentary needs and no Jack Daniels, get you from A to B etc. Never had an issue with PAL long or short flights.

Cheers, Steve.

@bigpearl

PAL are not the airline they used to be. They suffer from underfunding and struggle to match the high levels of service offered by their contemporaries in the region namely Thai, Singapore, Cathay and ANA.

Short haul is not such a big deal but anything longer than 2 hours forget it. My airline of choice if given the two is now Cebu Pacific. Better time keeping and you get to fly from T3 which is a much better experience than T2.

Bigpearl I avoid in flight coffee on any airline as I like mine hot ( like Filipina😜). Boiling point at 35,000 feet is a lower temp. Add in that by the time they get to you in tourist the coffee ( if you can call it that) is tepid.

@Lotus Eater I have flown ANA and EVA in the last year. Both far surpass what PAL offers. Now my flights were both 4 hrs and 12+ on each airline. With EVA I flew business class because I wanted the extra room because I got approval for my 65lb Belgian Malinois as a "service dog" (that really took some work). Overall both airlines had much nice equipment than PAL. From nicer heads, to seating to the touch screen theatre on the seatback. The staff on both airlines were top notch, while the staff on PAL were good but not top notch like EVA and ANA.

Airplane coffee plane sucks (misspell pun intended). I'm a connoisseur of coffee. Not really, but I brought 10 lbs of beans with me in November and another 12 lbs shipped via my balikbayan box. I took my stainless steel French press and pre-ground coffee for the 4 days in Thailand as well. I drink coffee all day long. Airplane coffee is basically instant coffee. yech

Why do you think anyone cares about your trip? Sounds like boasting to me, or your just bored as hell. There was really no helpful information. Just a lot of price points.

@Lotus Eater I have flown ANA and EVA in the last year. Both far surpass what PAL offers. Now my flights were both 4 hrs and 12+ on each airline. With EVA I flew business class because I wanted the extra room because I got approval for my 65lb Belgian Malinois as a "service dog" (that really took some work). Overall both airlines had much nice equipment than PAL. From nicer heads, to seating to the touch screen theatre on the seatback. The staff on both airlines were top notch, while the staff on PAL were good but not top notch like EVA and ANA.
Airplane coffee plane sucks (misspell pun intended). I'm a connoisseur of coffee. Not really, but I brought 10 lbs of beans with me in November and another 12 lbs shipped via my balikbayan box. I took my stainless steel French press and pre-ground coffee for the 4 days in Thailand as well. I drink coffee all day long. Airplane coffee is basically instant coffee. yech
-@Larry Fisher

Copy that. In fact the coffee in the Philippines served in most establishments whether they are cafés, restaurants or hotels is marginally above the quality of dishwater. Instant powdered Nescafe, nothing else.

On making hotel reservations in the Philippines I now do not include breakfast. Most decent hotels will charge $25 for breakfast which for me is a rip off. I’m generally not a big eater early in the day. Happy with a bowl of cereal, a couple of pieces of toast and yes decent HOT coffee. How much does that cost? If you opt for a cappucino which is made to order that is an additional cost.

I was in Manila on business in November and stayed at a newish hotel, the Seda Residences, just off Ayala Avenue on the corner of Amorsolo & Salcedo in Legaspi village. On check-in the girl at reservations tried to upsell me the breakfast so I said I will drop by the breakfast bar on the rooftop if they give me a free cup of coffee to taste. Agreed. One sip and yeah - lets take a raincheck.

My go too restaurant for breakfast while staying there was an excellent venue, The Antipodean Coffee Roasters ( the clues in the name ) which is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel on Legaspi St. Ideal for some pre breakfast excercise. The delicious Arabica coffee is served in a beautiful red cup and saucer and there is a mini elevated terrace outside where you can sit and watch the early morning commute.

I flew back to the US today on coach. Woke up on my aisle seat with an aching back. They serve me coffee, it is the best coffee since I boarded the plane. I can't get gas station coffee on the plane.

How long has it been since you lost your sense of taste Jackson?

How long has it been since you lost your sense of taste Jackson?
-@Lotus Eater

Since I boarded the plane. 🤣

I am in Bangkok now, going to Da Nang tomorrow for some rather excellent coffee. Loved the egg coffee last time in Vietnam

@Cherryann01

I remember you mentioning the egg coffee last time you were there CherryAnne. Sounds delicious. Do keep us updated!

Interesting post Larry, firstly I found PAL good for short flights as well as long, Australia to PH while only 8 odd hours has entertainment built into the seats and great service, done that trip many times, a few weeks ago flew to Singapore on a smaller plane and no built in entertainment but less than a 4 hour trip, slept most of it.
What I am curious about is the fact that you buy your own bottled water and get it on the plane.
Thailand is a great country as are many, PH. is my retirement destination and happy to be here with the better half. Thailand is great to visit but for me not to live.

Cheers, Steve.
-@bigpearl

Agreed Steve, I choose the Philippines.  My best friend will retire to Thailand in 5 with his new Thai bride (after dating 10 years).  I visit both countries often but the Phills feels like home to me.  That being said there is much to love about Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.  I look forward to spending more time in the Asian countries I have missed or only briefly visited. 

Thanks for sharing your experience in Thailand Larry.

Donald

@AlbertaDonuts I'm pleased to hear that you have opted to remain living in the Philippines. While this nation possesses much natural beauty, it is not without its imperfections. Through time spent here, I too have grown fond of the country, despite its shortcomings. Happy for you, mate!