if you don't mind me asking rsandlin, which upscale neighborhood did your friend live in?
i'm not going to refute everything you said, but i don't think it's as unsafe as people make it out to be. i used to think the same as gerarra about the corruption there but when i started living here in doha and got exposed to different nationalities, i realized that some countries are more corrupt than ours. which then led me to believe that there are places more dangerous to live in than ours. it's just that it is a developing country so living there would require a person to rid oneself of the conveniences, efficiency and relative safety of the developed world. you have to be street smart, not be too trusting and be careful in whatever you do. there are certain places i go to where i will not bring my mobile & wallet and limit the cash i carry to the amount i plan to spend/am prepared to lose. foreigners usually become targets because they do stand out and most people think they have money.
it's generally safer in the big city if you stick to the business districts like the ayala/makati cbd, ortigas maybe, bonifacio global city (the fort) or the eastwood area. the really high end neighborhoods would be safe too, but if you will choose to live there it might cost as much as living in sg or hk. if you do choose other neighborhoods it would be best to avoid one with a slum area nearby. i've never lived in cebu or davao but i'm not exactly sure if they truly qualify as 'real' cities. there's a sizeable expat community in cebu though. fine, maybe cebu would qualify but it is definitely more laid back than manila. one problem though is that foreigners are not allowed to own real estate. also, the country isn't exactly a place where western expat families would love to migrate to, settle in and get welcomed with open arms (unlike maybe sg). you would have to deal with the bureau of immigration if you're not staying as a tourist, unless your employer will do it for you, which is one of the most corrupt government agencies that exist.
as for the other places, kl might be a good place. i would love to live in vietnam because i love the food but both places are not without their share of crime and scam artists. it is more common to see foreigners living in bangkok but for a place that thrives on tourism many still cannot speak english and people can scam you with a sweet smile. i got ripped off by taxi drivers the moment i got out of the airport in jakarta. and these are all places i can easily blend in and look like a local but don't speak the language.
if you don't mind me asking rsandlin, which upscale neighborhood did your friend live in?
i'm not going to refute everything you said, but i don't think it's as unsafe as people make it out to be. i used to think the same as gerarra about the corruption there but when i started living here in doha and got exposed to different nationalities, i realized that some countries are more corrupt than ours. which then led me to believe that there are places more dangerous to live in than ours. it's just that it is a developing country so living there would require a person to rid oneself of the conveniences, efficiency and relative safety of the developed world. you have to be street smart, not be too trusting and be careful in whatever you do. there are certain places i go to where i will not bring my mobile & wallet and limit the cash i carry to the amount i plan to spend/am prepared to lose. foreigners usually become targets because they do stand out and most people think they have money.
it's generally safer in the big city if you stick to the business districts like the ayala/makati cbd, ortigas maybe, bonifacio global city (the fort) or the eastwood area. the really high end neighborhoods would be safe too, but if you will choose to live there it might cost as much as living in sg or hk. if you do choose other neighborhoods it would be best to avoid one with a slum area nearby. i've never lived in cebu or davao but i'm not exactly sure if they truly qualify as 'real' cities. there's a sizeable expat community in cebu though. fine, maybe cebu would qualify but it is definitely more laid back than manila. one problem though is that foreigners are not allowed to own real estate. also, the country isn't exactly a place where western expat families would love to migrate to, settle in and get welcomed with open arms (unlike maybe sg). you would have to deal with the bureau of immigration if you're not staying as a tourist, unless your employer will do it for you, which is one of the most corrupt government agencies that exist.
as for the other places, kl might be a good place. i would love to live in vietnam because i love the food but both places are not without their share of crime and scam artists. it is more common to see foreigners living in bangkok but for a place that thrives on tourism many still cannot speak english and people can scam you with a sweet smile. i got ripped off by taxi drivers the moment i got out of the airport in jakarta. and these are all places i can easily blend in and look like a local but don't speak the language.