Would there be interest in a group trip to the Philippines?

[mkirda]

In arranging a trip to the Philippines to see these sites first-hand?

It would be fairly simple to arrange for this to happen.

I think that it could be done for around $2000 to $2500, and would include some time for diving. A trip to a wholesaler or two or three. Should take about two weeks.

I think a minimum of about 10 people would be required, and I'd be happy to help plan the itinerary, as I have some knowledge of the area(s).

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[dizzy]

Mike,
It is certainly a trip that I would be interested in. The flight doesn't stop over in Hong Hong or Taiwan does it?

 

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would love to. Maybe we can get in touch with Bob (after he returns from Hawai'i), see if WWM might be interested (yes, I know, but what the heck, yeah?)?

 

[mkirda]

Mike,
It is certainly a trip that I would be interested in. The flight doesn't stop over in Hong Hong or Taiwan does it?

Mitch,

It would really depend on the airline/routing.
United had a great flight, Chicago-Manila, but I don't think it is available anymore...
Northwest goes via Japan, Korean Air via Seoul. Others I am not sure about.

You could avoid HK/Taiwan if you wanted to.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[JennM]

I'd be interested. Not sure if my finances will permit, but if there's enough lead time I could probably figure something out....

I'd love to go. My uncle lived and worked in PI for many years, and he loved it there, loved the people.

Jenn

 

[John_Brandt]

I think it's a great idea.

Everyone should know that the Philippines is not the USA :wink:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...e=1&u=/nm/20030520/od_nm/philippines_water_dc

 

[dizzy]

Sounds like a good excuse to have a beer or wine with the meal instead of the usual water.

 

[Frazer]

Don't believe all the press you read about Hong Kong, it's amazing what I have been reading in the International press, and how far it is from reality. You can stop over here no problem, you are more likely to die in both plane crashes, one after the other, than you are to get SARS by stopping over in HK. I would be more worried about the aircraft you will have to use in the Philippines!

You could also arrange a little trip to the food fish markets in Hong Kong (which I would be happy to do for you) to see a bit more about how that works too!

Frazer
Hong Kong

SARS FACTS!!
www.fearbuster.org.hk

 

[mkirda]

Ok, so we have three people, possibly four (John? You in or out?).

If I were to look at doing this, I'd be looking at six months in the future, at least.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[mkirda]

Don't believe all the press you read about Hong Kong

Frazer,

I agree. I'd be far more worried about getting something like malaria or ameobic dysentary in the Philippines, than getting SARS in the HK airport...

In the areas we'd be visiting, I'd start the Larium two weeks before I left.
Better to be safe than sorry. I heard of missionaries in Coron who contracted malaria and died from it stateside. And I'd only drink bottled water or soda (or beer) while I am there.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Anonymous]

I'd love to go (can I be group photographer???), but it'd have to be during a school-break. I teach literature, so I doubt I could get a 2 week leave under a science request or something. :?

 

[clarionreef]

Folks,
The best idea is to go alone.
Mix with the locals, gain entry thru friendship and learn much more than on a prepared trip.
PIJAC sent such a trip back in the mid 80's and it was a organized and scripted whitewash which paved the way for another decade of inaction. They did a tremendous disservice to the industry by acting like a front group for the cyanide trade and let the exporters know that they did not support those reform radicals.
When they see ya coming like a buffalo stampede its called a field trip...for enjoyment. In the dive industry its called a "cattle boat". In critical issues it often segues into a "white wash."
I went alone...and found and photographed cyanide everywhere. In Indonesia, this can still be done relatively easily.
Hook up w/ a local contact and go one by one...two max. BE OBSCURE AND NON INVASIVE. Fit in and blend as much as you can. Go where no one wants you to go and find out things off the reservation.
When you return. No one should've known you were there.
Anyway... that was the intent of my comment that Nancy should go.
Steve

 

[mkirda]

Folks,
The best idea is to go alone.

Steve,

Truly, you are right, right, right.

However, how many people on this list do you see going without at least some sort of helping hand?

Personally, I think you'd come up with nobody, except maybe myself.

Done right, it doesn't have to decend into the white-wash trip you think it does. Besides, you think if I was there it would get to that point? :?

(If I had a dollar for every time I heard "I don't know how you travel alone in a foreign country... I could never do it!" from my family and friends, my wallet would be quite fat...)

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[clarionreef]

Yes You're right Mike,
A group of hostages is better than one.
Perhaps we could deliver them to Abu Sayef and broker a deal for half the ransom money to pay for net training there.
Steve

 

[MaryHM]

I need a giggle emoticon

 

[mkirda]

Yes You're right Mike,
A group of hostages is better than one.
Perhaps we could deliver them to Abu Sayef and broker a deal for half the ransom money to pay for net training there.
Steve

Hey, Steve, you are the one that wants to train them in Mindanao...
Not me.
I'd avoid that area...

Now, maybe if I had you and the legendary Ferdie with me, we might stand a chance...
However, seeing Coron, the west side of Luzon, and Bohol should be quite safe.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[clarionreef]

I agree,
There is safety in the DAMPZ...
Depleted Area Management Plan Zones...
CORON, BUHOL ALL NICE PLACES W/ NICE PEOPLE.
The cyanide trade runs strong in the areas where fish still exist in variety and commercial quantity. Not where its convenient for outsiders.
Training to provide fish supply for marinelife dealers must absolutely be where there are relevant fish.
Training to liquidate a budget and call oneself an environmentalist is more akin to playing the flute while Rome burns.
NGOs want a training, any training... where the people are nice will do.
Marinelife dealers want clown triggers, blueface angels, blue tangs, purple fire fish etc. The production of these fishes according to principals of sustainability and legality cannot be faked. If we don't train where it counts...we don't count.
Training is not a business we can sell. Marinelife dealers can only sell the fish. People with something else to sell in this issue are lucky. They have the safe and easy part.
It all plays off the fish though. No fish supply...no trade. Avoiding this and jumping around to all the easy stuff passes time. The time lost to get it right.
Importers should want the reform more than anyone...and there are none so silent as them. Now why is that? I'll tell you. They don't want you in this thing. They don't want more exposure, more field trips, more photos or more attention. They are to busy selling fish and all else is threatening to that routine.
They already claim to sell netcaught fish and if you have somebody poking around and finding otherwise it makes them look bad.
Self worship is the importers creed. His new car, his new house, his money etc. etc. He will not hold forth on reefs.org .
Thats for service people and hobbyists for the most part it seems.
Steve

 

[John_Brandt]

John? You in or out?

Oh you have to count me in. Everyone has to eat balut and IUD :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Folks,
The best idea is to go alone.
Mix with the locals, gain entry thru friendship and learn much more than on a prepared trip.
PIJAC sent such a trip back in the mid 80's and it was a organized and scripted whitewash which paved the way for another decade of inaction. They did a tremendous disservice to the industry by acting like a front group for the cyanide trade and let the exporters know that they did not support those reform radicals.
When they see ya coming like a buffalo stampede its called a field trip...for enjoyment. In the dive industry its called a "cattle boat". In critical issues it often segues into a "white wash."
I went alone...and found and photographed cyanide everywhere. In Indonesia, this can still be done relatively easily.
Hook up w/ a local contact and go one by one...two max. BE OBSCURE AND NON INVASIVE. Fit in and blend as much as you can. Go where no one wants you to go and find out things off the reservation.
When you return. No one should've known you were there.
Anyway... that was the intent of my comment that Nancy should go.
Steve

Sounds like the plotline of the next Rainbow 6 game. :wink:

 

[tstone]

Whats the chance of a regualr hobbiest tagging along on this trip? I would very much like to participate.

Thanks
Marvin