Posts tagged exchange rate

PHP = Philippine Pesos, roughly 43 PHP = 1 USD
NZD = New Zealand dollar, roughly 1.2 NZD = 1 USD

Beachfront cottage in Port Barton (no air conditioning, no hot water) - 600 PHP [$13.90 USD]

Beachfront room at a resort in El Nido with air conditioning and hot water - 1600 PHP [$37 USD]

Meal - 50-300 PHP [$1.15-6.95 USD]

Island hopping tour in Port Barton, guided, 8 hours - 1500 PHP for a boat that you can share with 4 people = 375/person [$8.70 USD]

Island hopping tour in El Nido, guided, 8 hours, lunch included - 900 PHP per person [$20.85 USD]

Beer at a restaurant - 45 PHP [$1.05 USD]

I was messaging a friend just moments ago about the costs of things in the Philippines vs the costs of things in New Zealand. My dollar isn’t going to go nearly as far there. Un-guided kayak rental @ ~$50 USD/day. A guided full day starts at ~$83 USD.

Arrived safely in Palawan. Uneventful flight. Delayed 1 hour only because of air traffic control, not because of the weather.

At the airport I met four people in a group together: one from Peoria/Pekin, one from Chicago, one from Champaign and one from Beardstown. Eight thousand miles and the first people I talk to in a strange place are all from Illinois and towns that I’m familiar with. Beardstown is about one hour away from Springfield, my hometown.

I won a prize on the plane! I was flying Cebu Pacific. They played a game near the end of the flight where they called out an object and whoever held up the object first won. I got the last of the three prizes for holding up my sandals which I had taken off at the beginning of the flight in order to stretch more easily in my seat.

We boarded the plane outdoors in the rain in Manila and outdoors in good weather in Palawan. Missed the typhoon. The airport here is surrounded by dense jungle. There are no taxis at the airport, only tricycles. It’s truly an island town; it reminds me of the Florida Keys. I’m in the wilderness already and I haven’t even left the city.

I’m writing from inside my hotel right now. $30 USD/night. Dinner was $2.80 USD

October 1
Manila -> Puerto Princesa

$41.52 USD
or 1712 PHP

Flying on Cebu Pacific