Perhaps the most-visited ancient rice terraces in northern Luzon are those near the city of Banaue, but few would disagree that having this bucolic setting pretty much to oneself makes the experience more personal. The terraces of Malecong are 30 km north of Banaue, 7 km north of the city of Bontoc up a winding […]
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Tough Bessang Pass provides real challenges in traveling to the Bontoc-Banaue-Sagada area from Vigan
The lack of proper driving maps for northern Luzon, Philippines is one of several challenges in driving the island. Still, there’s much to see in the north, from the colonial architecture at Vigan to the spectacular rice terraces in the Bontoc and Banaue areas. This post will help you to avoid a tough road situation […]
Read the rest of this entry »Deadly Mt. Pinatubo lahar becomes new beach hot spot for bathing beauty
The terrible damage and destruction caused by the spectacular lahars resulting from the volcanic action at Luzon’s Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines may result in miles of new beachhead for western Luzon. While we were documenting the current situation in the lahar area, WoWasis researchers ran into a young woman clad in beachwear, who informed […]
Read the rest of this entry »Beware underage girl and Bar bill padding scams in Angeles City, Philippines
Two scams have been identified as becoming more and more common in Angeles City these days. The Underage Girl scam represents a significant con that can cost you plenty. The Bar bill padding scam is an annoyance that unfortunately can get you beat up and in the hospital. Here’s how they work: 1) The […]
Read the rest of this entry »Classic scam in Manila, the calesa carriage rip off
A scam has been going on for years near the waterfront in Manila with regard to taking a tour in one of the quaint two-wheeled horse carriages called calesas. We wanted to see first hand how it worked, and it was a classic! Before we tell you how the scam works, here are a few […]
Read the rest of this entry »Adult Nightlife in the Ermita section of Manila: small, but interesting
Aside from a few expensive hostess bars on Mabini Street, just south of Pedro Gil Street, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot going on in the Ermita section of Manila, Philippines, with the exception of the LA Café at the corner of Salas and MH del Pilar Streets. The few others bars running […]
Read the rest of this entry »Backstreet Bangkok: the family factories of Oven Street
Have you ever wondered where that woman who sells those delicious fried beetles and grubs bought her cart? Or who makes those beautiful mortars and pestles that we all see being used to make tasty plates of som tam(Papaya salad)? Well neither had I until I moved to Kluai Nam Thai, a neighborhood near Phra […]
Read the rest of this entry »Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai, where lighted lanterns fly skyward
Every November on the evening of the full moon, a spectacle of lights can be seen in the skies of Thailand. Like oversized fire flies, thousands of paper lanterns (cohm) slowly fly over every town and city in the country. Below, the rivers are aglow with small Krathong boats made from bamboo, banana leafs, and […]
Read the rest of this entry »A clean execution: is this the world’s most dangerous shower?
From our ‘How do I tell your mother how you really died?’ dept. Here at WoWasis, we’d wager that most shower electrocutions occur in Asia, and this photo, taken in a hotel in Bontoc, Philippines, explains it all. Just imagine soaping up, raising your arms for a rinse, then snagging that nasty electric cord just […]
Read the rest of this entry »How do I use a Philippine Toilet Bucket?
Glad you asked. But first, what is a toilet bucket? It’s a plastic bucket of water sitting under a water spigot, which you’ll find in 99% of all restrooms in the Philippines. Especially in the country. Inside the bucket, you’ll find a dipper. And when you get the hang of it, you’ll find that the […]
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