sydneyjohn57

ditto, for the last few days I have remained logged in.

Merry Christmas all

20 minutes for 2,500 yen? That's about $30AUD, $22USD, 725 Baht or 1170 Philippine piso. Can't really see the value as I know how far 1170PHP goes and its a lot longer than 20 minutes

The guy who used to run Southern Cross shutle is now working as a manager at Phillies and said the cost of running the business outweighed the benefits so closed down late 2017. The Fly The Bus shuttle running between Swagman hotels in Angeles & Manila is still running but only in mini buses price used to be around 650 PHP. The Victory Liner with stop at SM could have been their new P2P to Olongapo or Dagupan https://www.victoryliner.com/P2P.aspx

As of yesterday October 28th all Qantas flights will arrive and depart from NAIA terminal 3. For those arriving and going directly to Angeles, the Genesis P2P bus by exiting terminal using the bus and taxi exit and turning right. Bay 14 is only 1 - 2 minutes walk and clearly marked. Price to SM Clark is 350 PHP. From SM trike mafia want 100 PHP . The day I arrived Grab taxi was 120PHP which I showed trike driver who wouldn't budge on fare. If weather was cooler I would have walked but took the Grab who arrived in 30 seconds just to pissoff the trike driver

A few changes to Phillies. The stage and bands have gone, replaced by giant TV screen for sports. They have covered over the opening above pool table where you could look down from upstairs so more seating is likely upstairs. On the outside patio there are now panels under the counter so vendors, street kids, lbs etc can't reach under and are in process of jack hammering away some of the concrete and widening footpath a bit so no one is able to sit under the counter

Apparently the new barangay rules are that no LBs are allowed on walking street or environs between 10pm and 3am unless accompanied by a foreigner or are already in an establishment. If they leavethe establishment unaccompanied they have to go home by avoiding walking street. The 2 nights I have been here the whole area is quiet with hardly anyone in walking street at all and only 1 or 2 lbs on the street and a few each in Bretto's, Phillies and Margarita Station

Bugger, would have been nice to get together for a drink.

I'll be in Phils from this Sunday 14th until Nov 11th. The plan is to spend 3 nights in Bohol (booked) then travel on to Dumaguete for a few, Cebu and then probably Angeles to arrive around last weekend of Oct. Final 2 weeks not planned but likely to be north Luzon. Happy to catch up with any BM who is around. Cheers

Where is @Stealth007? I haven't seen him here in the forum for around 6 months which is unlike him as he usually keeps the forum updated with goings on, natural disasters, politics etc etc. I sent a message to him here a few days ago and have not had a reply. Anyone have news of him?

Pdoggg, I am assuming you are now in Angeles? Did you use the Genesis p2p bus from NAIA to Clark and if so was it easy to find?

Can you not use your current Cambodian or Thai number when registering on the website? If you can you can always update online when you change from one to another.

all good.. great job done by the Thai authorities which will continue until all kids are home

Rescue has begun, this from Sydney Morning Herald a short while ago: The Thai Governor has confirmed the rescue mission has started today at 10am (1pm AEST). The children and their coach will be taken out one by one, but operation could stop at any time depending on conditions. “If we don’t start now, we might lose the chance,” he said. An Australian doctor checked the medical health of the boys last night and gave them the all clear. Outgoing Chiang Rai province Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said that water levels in the cave had reached their lowest levels yesterday but that storms were expected in the next couple of days. "The boys confirm they are ready [for the rescue]" and that also the families have acknowledged and agreed with the mission starting. "Now 13 of them, their health and their minds are ready and they all have knowledge of the mission. They’re ready to go out." The Governor said that much of the path was now walkable into the cave - it has been walkable to chamber 3, about 1.5km in, for several days. The next update on the rescue effort is expected at 9pm local time on Sunday night, which is midnight Australian eastern time. Governor Osottanakorn said the diving rescue team consisted of 13 international divers and five Thai Navy Seals. "We can say they are all international all-stars involved in this diving operation and we selected five of our best who can work with them,” Governor Osottanakorn said. Deputy Commander of 3rd Army Chalongchai Chaiyakum said the plan "has to be clear, easy and perfect. By now they choose the best solution to use." "The mission might end within a couple of days," Doctor Thossathep Boonthong said. "We are 100 per cent ready.'' The huge international media contingent were asked to leave, the Governor said, to make room for medical and evacuation teams.There will be two divers per child during the rescue operation, and the 12 kids and the coach will come out one-by-one.The operation could be halted at any time because of weather and other factors and it could take a couple of days to complete.