Foreign Travel?

[Fixastuff]

My friends are sadly gone but they were mostly from WWII to through the 60’s

None on disability although many had scars from active duty…

What’s weird about is the people I know from Marines and Army went to Iraq/Afghanistan have real injuries and get nothing.

 

[California]

much of bustling SF is a urban ghost town so traffic no longer a problem and shops still closing.

My guess is the after effects of the longest and most severe Covid Lockdown…

People found life goes in outside the big city with remote work.

Yeah, All the Bay Area folks yesterday were out on the choked freeways - but standing still. Our the trip from ranch (Sonoma County) to home (Sac region) usually is 1.75 hours via hwy 37. We do it often.

But yesterday we participated in heavy standstill traffic everywhere in the North Bay. Google re-routed us behind Petaluma up toward Napa then re-routed us again down some back roads to Cordelia. Then by Dixon, detoured us via secondary farm roads to near the Causeway. 3.5 hours overall, an hour of that crawling at a walking pace. I feel bad for the people unaware of these detours, Google said we saved over a half hour with the re-routes.

Yesterday your missing San Franciscans were all out somewhere in their cars.


And - your Philippines adventure sounds fantastic! Take the advice from your hosts and you'll have a great time.

 

[ultrarunner]

Somewhat related…

Friends that I have known through many Christmas gatherings were going as 4 couples to Europe with destination Italy combined with a Mediterranean cruise.

Three of the 4 had never been and had talked about it for years.

The arrangements made and paid in full…

7 of the 8 are US citizens and 6 of the 7 US Born…

The one non US is a resident for 25 years and her kids both attending University…

The non U.S. passport spouse is unable to get a Schengen Visa… no visa no Europe.

The Italian Counsel in SF says she must apply in her home country.

Home country Italian Consulate says no can do since she is a resident of the U.S.

The Italian SF consulate is not currently taking appointments online appointments so she made the trip twice to appear in person and was told we can’t help you…

It’s looking like she will miss the boat for her 30th wedding anniversary celebration…

Foreign travel today is not as simple as it was.

The daughters of the couples made national news a few years back saving the life of a high school boy cliff diving as all the girls know CPR and met through summer swim leagues and inseparable ever since.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I did a search to see if there is an active Model A or Model T club in the Philippines but did not find much…

Maybe the elements are too harsh for longevity?

That said Hawaii has a very active Model A Club as well as many countries.

I’ve reached out to members and always a good source of local info…

There are Jeepney clubs and DIY Jeepney build outlets. Very practical vehicle.
Daughters in-laws recently returned to the Philippines, he said for a last visit with relatives as he is slowing down at 91 years of age.

 

[ultrarunner]

There are Jeepney clubs and DIY Jeepney build outlets. Very practical vehicle.
Father-in-law recently returned to the Philippines, he said for a last visit with relatives as he is slowing down at 91 years of age.

I believe Philippines manufactures every sheet metal part WWII jeeps… saw a video somewhere of the factory.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Yep, the CJ-3 parts are interchangable with the ones made in Japan. They even produce hand built CJ-7's. I have seen quite a few with toyota running gear mods.

 

[dodge man]

We went to Ireland including Northern Ireland this last spring. We were with a tour group so it was usually a controlled environment. We had a tour guide and she did mention the influx of immigrants more than once, she mainly talked about Ukrainians. She talked about a lot of things in Ireland including negative things but as a country that has a lot of tourism they aren’t going to shoot themselves in the foot. As a rule I felt as safe in Ireland as I did in the USA. I’m guessing the same can’t be said of the Philippines. If you are traveling with people that know the areas, I still say go for it.

 

[ultrarunner]

My understanding is very well connected in the locality with 6 older brothers immediate family.

Her extended family is very large and locally connected and that as soon as I arrive everyone will know.

Plus with the planned family celebrations for her mom the matriarch… even more will travel from distance.

This would be my first trip ever without a car at my disposal…

In Europe and North America having a car makes it easy to get around or worse case head for home base.

 

[cdaigle430]

If my Brazilian wife leaves me I will be going to the Philippine's for a new one For now I go to South America almost every year. Last time I stayed for 3 months.
Everyone told me I would get robbed or kidnapped on and on. 10 years later and so far so good. The risk was a good one in my case.

Did get into an accident with a taxi once but it all worked out.

 

[mjarrels]

If my Brazilian wife leaves me I will be going to the Philippine's for a new one For now I go to South America almost every year. Last time I stayed for 3 months.
Everyone told me I would get robbed or kidnapped on and on. 10 years later and so far so good. The risk was a good one in my case.

Did get into an accident with a taxi once but it all worked out.

The Philippines has the best public transportation system in the world, buses, jeepneys and tricycles.

mark

 

[dmccarty]

We went to Ireland including Northern Ireland this last spring. We were with a tour group so it was usually a controlled environment. We had a tour guide and she did mention the influx of immigrants more than once, she mainly talked about Ukrainians. She talked about a lot of things in Ireland including negative things but as a country that has a lot of tourism they aren’t going to shoot themselves in the foot. As a rule I felt as safe in Ireland as I did in the USA. I’m guessing the same can’t be said of the Philippines. If you are traveling with people that know the areas, I still say go for it.

That was last year.....

A lot has change in Ireland in the last year. It started with the Ukrainian refuge's but then the Irish government invited, and allowed, other nationalities into the country. Ireland has taken in more "migrants" per capita than any other European country. There are people making million of Euro's housing the migrants. I have watched meetings with local officials where people have done the math on how much a hotel can make housing migrants vs tourists. Migrants makes the owner millions. The owner does not give a toss about the locals. There is one residence that is housing Ukrainians but the government and the owner wants to force the refugees to leave so they can house newly arriving migrants. The local Irish AND the Ukrainians want to stay since they have settled into the community and don't want to have the stress of having to move again. The residence owner will simply make more money of the newly arrived "migrants." They are kicking elderly out of nursing homes to make more money. The property owners really don't give a s...t about the locals.

Fires have been set in some of the housing to prevent the migrants from being housed in communities. Fires have also burned out construction equipment because locals think they developer is going to build housing for the gimmigrants.

There is a video of migrants rioting in a VERY nice hotel because they did not like the spiciness of the food. From the look of the hotel, it would have cost me $300-500 a night to stay there during the season. The building owners are making money simply because they can fill up the rooms all year around. This land lords don't care about the local Irish and this mimics the historical plantation of Ireland with Protestants.

There are videos with the Garda shoving elected officials with riot shields AFTER the person was pepper sprayed for no reason. Not to mention people being beaten with batons for not reason. You won't see this on RTE though. They are government controlled. This is why people are calling the Garda Black and Tans.

You can't make this stuff up but a few years ago, the Irish government hired a man, Harris, who led the Northern Ireland police to be the head of the Garda. I could not believe the government dd this because of the historical treatment of the Northern Irish police against Catholics. This would be like if the US had only one law enforcement agency, call it the FBI, and after the cold war, the US government hired the ex leader of the KGB to take over the FBI. What were they thinking? Actually, that is a clue. The rank and file Garda had an overwhelming no confidence vote against Harris a year or two ago. Almost 100% no confidence vote, yet he stayed in the office....

There was a YouTube video a day or two ago of water cannon trucks being transported into Ireland....

I have seen videos of places we have walked in Dublin that I would not feel safe walking today. There was a man knifed to death this week on one of those streets. Given that no names have been announced the guy that died was likely a migrant. A US tourist was attacked last year on that street and was in a comma for months. There had been a bunch of attacks in that part of Dublin in the last couple of years that were targeting locals and tourists. A French teenager on school tour and her teacher were just attacked in another part of Ireland. A couple thought the French girl was laughing at them, so the woman walked up to the teenager and took the teenager's phone. Because that is what you do if someone is laughing at you, steal their phone. A teacher got involved and the man stabbed the teacher a dozen or so times with a screw driver. Because that is what you do when someone laughs at you. Names of the couple have not be released.

Soooo, much of this is being covered up the main stream media.

For Ultrarunners situation, the point of all of this, is that a place can quickly change for the worse. Fast.

The Moro kidnappings and killings from a decade ago took time to plan and execute. It is certainly safer in that part of the PIs now but is that because not many westerners are going there anymore? Certainly, the war that was going on has settled down. If Ultra trusts the people he will be staying with, does not setup any pattern's of behavior, gets in and out quickly, he should be ok. And as Hagrid said before going into the Forbidden Forrest, you got to have your wits about you.

 

[ultrarunner]

and that is the crux of it... trust, of course but no compelling reason to go other than opportunity for cultural exchange and fist no work vacation since 2001...

 

[dodge man]

That was last year.....

A lot has change in Ireland in the last year. It started with the Ukrainian refuge's but then the Irish government invited, and allowed, other nationalities into the country. Ireland has taken in more "migrants" per capita than any other European country. There are people making million of Euro's housing the migrants. I have watched meetings with local officials where people have done the math on how much a hotel can make housing migrants vs tourists. Migrants makes the owner millions. The owner does not give a toss about the locals. There is one residence that is housing Ukrainians but the government and the owner wants to force the refugees to leave so they can house newly arriving migrants. The local Irish AND the Ukrainians want to stay since they have settled into the community and don't want to have the stress of having to move again. The residence owner will simply make more money of the newly arrived "migrants." They are kicking elderly out of nursing homes to make more money. The property owners really don't give a s...t about the locals.

Fires have been set in some of the housing to prevent the migrants from being housed in communities. Fires have also burned out construction equipment because locals think they developer is going to build housing for the gimmigrants.

There is a video of migrants rioting in a VERY nice hotel because they did not like the spiciness of the food. From the look of the hotel, it would have cost me $300-500 a night to stay there during the season. The building owners are making money simply because they can fill up the rooms all year around. This land lords don't care about the local Irish and this mimics the historical plantation of Ireland with Protestants.

There are videos with the Garda shoving elected officials with riot shields AFTER the person was pepper sprayed for no reason. Not to mention people being beaten with batons for not reason. You won't see this on RTE though. They are government controlled. This is why people are calling the Garda Black and Tans.

You can't make this stuff up but a few years ago, the Irish government hired a man, Harris, who led the Northern Ireland police to be the head of the Garda. I could not believe the government dd this because of the historical treatment of the Northern Irish police against Catholics. This would be like if the US had only one law enforcement agency, call it the FBI, and after the cold war, the US government hired the ex leader of the KGB to take over the FBI. What were they thinking? Actually, that is a clue. The rank and file Garda had an overwhelming no confidence vote against Harris a year or two ago. Almost 100% no confidence vote, yet he stayed in the office....

There was a YouTube video a day or two ago of water cannon trucks being transported into Ireland....

I have seen videos of places we have walked in Dublin that I would not feel safe walking today. There was a man knifed to death this week on one of those streets. Given that no names have been announced the guy that died was likely a migrant. A US tourist was attacked last year on that street and was in a comma for months. There had been a bunch of attacks in that part of Dublin in the last couple of years that were targeting locals and tourists. A French teenager on school tour and her teacher were just attacked in another part of Ireland. A couple thought the French girl was laughing at them, so the woman walked up to the teenager and took the teenager's phone. Because that is what you do if someone is laughing at you, steal their phone. A teacher got involved and the man stabbed the teacher a dozen or so times with a screw driver. Because that is what you do when someone laughs at you. Names of the couple have not be released.

Soooo, much of this is being covered up the main stream media.

For Ultrarunners situation, the point of all of this, is that a place can quickly change for the worse. Fast.

The Moro kidnappings and killings from a decade ago took time to plan and execute. It is certainly safer in that part of the PIs now but is that because not many westerners are going there anymore? Certainly, the war that was going on has settled down. If Ultra trusts the people he will be staying with, does not setup any pattern's of behavior, gets in and out quickly, he should be ok. And as Hagrid said before going into the Forbidden Forrest, you got to have your wits about you.

It wasn’t last year but about 3 months ago but I get your point. I didn’t see problems but I’m sure the tour director kept us away from anything negative.

 

[ultrarunner]

The floodgates of refugees has fundamentally transformed Europe.

The twist is building mosques in Christian Europe is a growth industry but can’t say the same for building Christian churches in the East…

 

[2manyrocks]

It'll be fun, they said.

 

[WinterDeere]

The floodgates of refugees has fundamentally transformed Europe.

The twist is building mosques in Christian Europe is a growth industry but can’t say the same for building Christian churches in the East…

As someone who's gone to Europe nearly every year for 30 years, I feel like I don't even know the place, anymore. The culture and society of Europe as a whole, has changed radically in the last few years, and not for the better.

 

[ultrarunner]

As someone who's gone to Europe nearly every year for 30 years, I feel like I don't even know the place, anymore. The culture and society of Europe as a whole, has changed radically in the last few years, and not for the better.

In my early visits I was surprised how open everything was… shops had their wares out and if you wanted something come in and pay…

Crime was extremely low where I built in Austria and violent crime virtually non existent.

If I needed building material a call would have it delivered and I would settle up next time in town and I’m a foreigner. I guess stiffing suppliers didn’t exist?

Merchandise now secured and organized pick pockets are a thing.

I remember on one visit 3 men from Romania robbed a jewelry store making headline news… the police shot and killed all three and established a dragnet to cover all points of exits including shutting down the freeway and the people for lack of a better word cheered the capture… each citizen felt violated by the robbery.

Then I think of the Bay Area with organized smash and grab looting and police policy forbids pursuit or weapons for property crimes.

 

[2manyrocks]

Used to be all the electrical wire and power tools were there for you to put in your shopping cart and take to the checkout counter in Nashville, TN and thereabouts. Then brazen thieves starting piling up copper wire, etc in shopping carts and pushing them out the doors without paying. Now the electrical wire and other valuable items are under lock and key inside the stores. This has largely happened in the last 5-10 years.

 

[EddieWalker]

They built cages around the electrical wire at Home Depot and Lowes here, two years ago. I'm there so often that most of the time, they unlock it and give it to me in the isle, but it's also common for they to carry it to the cashier and then when I'm paying for my stuff, to ask the cashier to get it for me.

 

[ultrarunner]

I do more shopping at the supply houses… I tell them what I want and they bring it to me.

The local Home Depot’s may have a single cashier open not counting self checkout.

Long gone are the dozen+ registers.

The local ACE has entire isles locked so if you want sawzall blades someone has to get them and carry to the register…

2015 is the last time I was in Europe and I was a regular at the Home Improvement places and curious what I will find when I return.

Banks, Post Offices etc. are all plexiglass here with some having a interlock space like going to Santa Rita jail…

You enter a chamber and the door behind is locked and someone inside decides if you advance by unlocking the next door… local Chase Bank… same to exit.

Grocery stores all have sealed multiple entrance/exits channeling all to a common point…

Total violation of fire code and building department agrees but says we will lose the stores if they cannot curb theft…