30 days and counting.
2 days in Manila
5 days on Palawan
4 days on Boracay
Head Home
Yes I am meeting someone over there.
Usually, Thailand is where people go for a… thing.
Well, enjoy some fine Pinoy cuisine and don’t get sunburned anywhere you wouldn’t want to leave unclothed.
11 days visiting places? Does this mean 19 days, and counting, traveling? Are you going on cruises or something during your vacation?
Its a planned thing been talking to her for almost a year via skype, etc
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leaving in 30 days
I see. I wish your thing good luck during your planned thing.
It’s a long way to go for an 11 day holiday, but it’s sounds like you’ll see some really beautiful places. Hope it all goes the way you’re dreaming! Good Luck!
Oooohhh. How exciting.
I wish you good luck.
Do you have an alternative plan on places to stay, logistics, etc if that doesn’t work out? It’s always good to have a backup plan in case things are different than you expect.
so your “thing” is a woman?
Remember to get all your vaccinations, and keep in mind you’re going to malarial areas. Prophylaxis is probably a very good idea, but consult a travel clinic in your area.
It’s not a problem, but remember your number one goal in travel is to return in the same condition you left. Have fun!
Yes I do. I have a friend who just moved over here about 6 months ago I can call if something goes pear shaped. I have travel insurance to cover medical emergencies/evac to US. More than sufficiently funded to cover a variety of unplanned incidents. Piled on some skype credit so as long as I can find working wifi I can make phone calls. Phone #s for friend, mom, airline, hotels, etc printed out as well as copies on my phone and a flash drive. Short of being robbed of phone, wallet, and all luggage I should be ok. I even shared my trip info folder in dropbox to one of my sisters.
best post/username combo ever 
Yes.
Had not considered this but easily achieved.
What makes you convinced this will go better (i.e. is legit) than the last time with that Vietnamese woman?
I can’t say I’m looking forward to a 14 hour flight but I have done 48 hour bus rides once upon a time, can’t imagine it being worse than that.
Experience, has never once asked for money, I have never sent any. My first few message exchanges this round of searching always included something to the extent of "the first message in which you ask for money will be the last one I answer. I have talked to many others and am far more familiar with the scammers methods. Several of her immediate family have fb friended me so I see lots of family news, etc.
For your own sake, I hope it does turn out to be legit. You’ve certainly learned a few lessons from before, and are being prudent in weeding out any scammers. Yet, there’s something very off-putting to me with these sorts of scenarios. I can’t put my finger on it, and you certainly have the actual details on your side, but I can’t help but think if you were inviting her to come the the States like last time, you’d find she was also inventing fake visas and the like, planning on taking you for a ride. Odds still seem against this being on the up & up.
But you’ve obviously made up your mind, and have an adventure in store, one way or the other. Best of luck in the most pragmatic way possible.
She actually applied for a visa and was denied. She took a shot at it as she owns 1 small business and is part owner of several others (all family connected, as I understand it this is not unusal). So she half expected to be approved. Several of her other family members have been to the US on a tourist visa.
Also, how can you be sure that’s a legit FB account, and that it’s actually her immediate family?
Even if it is and they are, it doesn’t mean they’re not in cahoots.
Scams like these in SE Asia seem to be the Nigerian-419 scam equivalent of the internet dating world…
–Too good to be true
–A long, on-going communication more intent on gaining trust, than an organic correspondence.
–Preying on 1st world individuals from a 3rd world part of the globe
etc. :dubious:
Not trying to threadshit, just voicing the caution that’s running through my head in reading your posts.
ETA:
Okay, fair enough. Still :dubious: