Health and the Weather, Manila

Foreigners are advised not to drink tap water, even those served in fine restos. Some locals might say that the water's safe but that's probably because our stomachs have become used or immune to our water's impurities. Restos may also say that their water is boiled and/or filtered but that does not guard against frequent trips to the bathroom!

So to be sure, only take mineral or bottled water that is sealed when unopened. Bring some especially when going to rural areas or provinces where there is no running water.

The best time to go the Philippines is the typhoon off season of September to May. The Philippines gets a crazy number of typhoons during the summer. When the typhoons hit the Philippines they cause bad flooding.

Try to always bring your own toilet paper. Many of the restrooms have none or they have like the one-ply one square allotment per person, or something like that. I do think that I personally use too much paper, but the alternative drip dry and shake method is difficult for ladies. I mean we already have to hover.

If possible, ask for bottled water. Just say "mineral water" to the vendor as that is the term they are more accustomed to. Also, when eating at a restaurant, politely ask the waiter if the ice used in your glass comes from the tap or bottled. Chances, you'll be fine either way (since the melted ice will amount to a small proportion of the entire drink quantity anyway) but it never hurts to ask where the ice came from.

All around Manila, there are corner restaurants (usually outdoor and some with karaoke, some without) pragmatically known to the locals as "turo-turo" restaurants. "Turo" in Tagalog means "point" and that's exactly what you do when you order your food. There are no menus and you basically point to the food you would like to order from the pots and pots of food in front of you. These places are frequented by jeepney and tricycle drivers.

It's good food, in fact some of the best in town however Westerners stomachs probably won't be able to handle it at first... but your body should be well used to eat the second time around when you back for seconds.

When eating at most restaurants, you should be fine. However, when buying food from the street (ie. fishballs from cart street vendors, local delicacies such as "balut", "taho", etc), make sure you have some anti-diahhreal medicine handy to counter the effects of the Filipino "home-cooked" phenomenon. Adminttedly, food from street vendors (although irresistably delicious) is not made in the most sanitized of ways. Westerners stomachs probably won't be able to handle it at first... but your body should be well used to eat the second time around when you back for seconds.

An unusual shot from Space shows the Manila Bay. Look at the dirty coastal lines! Although many fishermen still are fishing shrimps and mussels from the waters of Manila Bay, personally I would not recommend to eat any seafoods that are offered from this area.

The dirty lake on the upper right is Laguna de Bay, a huge lake within 1/2 hours to reach fom Manila. The dirty water indicates the necessity of much more government control for drainage and waste water.

A second lake can be seen in dark blue with a little island in the middle. Of course, absolutely clean because pollution is not possible. The fish (Pampano)in this lake is very delicious. This is Taal lake created by regular activity of the volcano Taal. The ashes spitting tip is that little island. Beautyful to see, if flying with a 2-seater airplane at slow speed into the crater. I have seen several eruptions of Taal Volcano.

Health : No immunisations are required for travellers to the Philippines, but cholera and hepatitis shots are recommended if you will be travelling to remote areas. For most visitors, only climate and changes in diet create health problems.

Water : Avoid tap water, as well as fruit and vegetables whose skins cannot be easily removed.