Same reason recently single women go to Italy, all about that cuisine.
Apparently American women also find Jamaican food absolutely delicious.
Don't even get me started about Colombian "cuisine" 🤤
Everyone loves a good saltfish fritter and fried plantins. Dont say plantAin, just plantin will do on the island.
I've never heard this and my friend group consists of a lot of single, middle aged women, but assuming it's true, I'm gonna assume those women are at least sleeping with adults, which cannot be said for every man going to those two countries.
I work in a passport office, and any time a guy comes in alone to apply and says he's going to the Philippines, without exception, he's exactly what you'd picture. Some have been pretty upfront about getting married while they're there (one guy showed me a picture and said, "look what I'm marrying," and I'm really proud for not screaming at his phrasing) and some try to keep it stealthy, but it's pretty obvious. We're not sending our best is all I can say.
Don't know why everyone is so triggered on this thread. It's a joke meme, sure. No, it doesn't mean EVERYONE visiting is after a Thai bride, but come on... There is quite a bit of truth behind this too... Last time I was in Thailand, there were a lot of old white guys with girls on their 20s that would raise eyebrows in the US.
I literally don't know. I don't think anyone in the entire thread said that every person who goes to these places is going for sex tourism, just a particular type (which is just a straight up fact) but some people are acting like we stood in front of their houses calling them sex offenders.
What do you mean by “passport office”? People would be going to you for visas, not passports, presumably. Also, many western countries don’t need visas to the Philippines right?
IDK but around here the "passport office" is just the US Post Office where you can apply for a passport. And you do not have to specify what country you're traveling to if you apply for a passport in the USA. That's part of booking your travel plans, not applying for a passport.
If you're only going to stay fewer than 30 days then you won't need a visa.
Given your ability to determine 100% what a person is thinking your skills are clearly wasted at the passport office, whatever that supposedly is.
I’d like to go to the Philippines someday, and I really dislike the stereotypes presented that there could only possibly be one reason.
I’ve spent about a quarter of my life training in the martial art arnis; I’m knowledgeable enough that I have taught or helped to teach classes myself. I would love to go to the land where it was born and train with masters there… which just happens to be the Philippines.
I’m also a software developer by trade and have worked with a few people who my company outsourced from the Philippines. A couple of them have really been a delight to work with and I would really like to travel and hang out with them.
It’s irritating that I need to include a wall of text to justify that I may have a non creep reason to want to travel. Thanks a lot, actual creeps ruining things for the rest of us.
The big thing I will say from my experience there: the people are AMAZING. I didn't get ripped off, everyone was so friendly, got to play basketball with a group of kids and had a blast. And the nature is incredible.
It also had some of the most downtrodden areas I've ever seen, some of the biggest displays of wealth disparity, and after a few weeks on different islands, Manilla felt more like a theme park for the rich than any kind of city.
Overall, really recommend it, but try going off the beaten path!
I understand this. I was underemployed for a while, so I was doing tutoring American English online. Since I was working graves, my schedule meant I ended up with clients from SE Asia, China, Japan.
After a few months, I found better work and didn't need to tutor as much. I cut my availability and was down to 2, then one.
The one I still tutor is a Filipina in nursing school. Most people, when they find that out, go straight to the "I'm a creep/She wants a green card" duality.
I get tired of explaining that she actually qualifies for permanent residency as soon as she gets her work visa. She doesn't need me at all to come to the US to work.
There are plenty of legitimate organizations and agencies that help Filipino nurses get jobs and visas at minimal cost above the required fees.
She has mentioned that she'd prefer to live with me and would be open to a relationship with me, even though I am older...much older.
I leave that last bit out when talking to folks because it makes me sound like a creep. I totally get why people would think that.
On the other hand, an attractive, intelligent, hardworking, and fun younger woman is interested in me? It's a challenge to say no to that.
Most people, when they find that out, go straight to the “I’m a creep/She wants a green card” duality.
Pro-tip. When someone says something like that just stare at them. When they start getting nervous and ask you a question like "what?" coldly ask them to repeat what they just said and perhaps elaborate on it. Keep starring even after they backoff or apologize. Keep it up until they walk away.
No one will ever question your love again because people are fucking cowards and bigots are even more cowardly than most.
My brother is 26 and his gf is a similar age. Because we're on the other side of the world they've a long distance relationship but he traveled there last year to spend a few months with her. They talk basically all day on a Saturday and Sunday as he works during the week. There's nothing creepy or pedophilic about him yet that's clearly the assumption that would get made when despite being around the same age. And yes I have seen what his gf looks like and she speaks to the rest of the family sometimes too.
You know what? Fuck the haters, and go. By being yourself, and going for your own reasons, you are doing a big part to break this ridiculous stereotype.
I’m a foreigner who owns a business in the Philippines and has worked connected to there for years. (Though I live elsewhere in China) You don’t have to worry about anything - the Philippines is awesome and tons of people go there for legit reasons and no one will raise an eyebrow about your trip, all good.
as someone who's visited, I can say the stereotypes are very real. and it's the locals who will have that perception of you, not social media.
they will still be very welcoming
My ex said if we ever broke up he'd be moving to Thailand. Lmao he was a walking middle aged white bro stereotype.
Well did he?
I fucking wish.
I went to both countries in my twenties and thoroughly enjoyed both. Beyond some overly strong beer in the Philippines and maybe a joint or two in the rural parts of Thailand, I didn't engage in any of the stereotypical behavior, though I definitely saw it.
I guess now that I'm in my fifties, I'm not allowed to go back because it would be a matter of course that I'd pick up some teen bride, right?
But seriously, both countries are so, so beautiful. I've got less than zero desire to ever go to Hawaii after island hopping in the Philippines. As to Thailand, it's just so calm. Like you're not even capable of being stressed there. (Unless of course, you're smuggling drugs around and find yourself on the business end of a prison cell door. Then yer fucked)
Yeah a lot of the stereotypes come from people that spend their entire vacation in the red light district. Interesting that places in Europe that also have red light districts don't get the same reputation. Wonder why that is....
Coming from Philippines, there are plenty of gold diggers who see foreigners--especially white people-- as easy cash machine. And lonely white Westerners come to lap up the attention, whether or not they realise they are being sought after for money.
Then on the much darker side, foreigners exploit the extreme poverty that locals suffer to exploit trafficked individuals--many of whom are minor pimped by their own family.
Amsterdam has a similar reputation in the sense (some) tourists come for the red light District and the parties, but it's decidedly missing the "come take advantage of third world women just looking for a way out with any western man" and even less so the pedo side.
Some parts of Europe do get that reputation. More eastern Europe (single German men travelling to the Czech Republic will have to run the gauntlet when comming back). So yeah, doesn't invalidate your argument.
Wonder why that is…
SEA is easier and cheaper to exploit than a "first world country", guess that hasn't changed since the end of colonialism
White people made the stereotypes so they made sure it didn't apply to their country.
So freaken absurd. It is like thinking the entire US is Las Vegas.
Man, I just wanna live in a hut for a year by a beach in an island fishing village that Instagram never found. No crowds please, thank you. I want to pay $5 for big bowl of fish, rice, and tropical fruit. I want to snorkel on a coral reef all day, then smoke a bowl and watch the stars all night. I won't even be a lazy slouch. I'll lend a hand to anybody in town with almost anything. And yes, I know these places are long gone now.
Creeping on girls has nothing to do with it.
Having been to the Philippines can confirm. It’s crazy how many old white dudes just hang out in the sleaziest bars on the sketchiest streets
I have a colleague that has a wife from the Philippines. They live in Canada but are building a house there. He said I should come visit, and I replied something about how my wife would love a tropical vacation. He replied:
Bringing your wife on vacation to the Philippines is like bringing a lunchbag to a restaurant.
... ... ... cool.
Ya basically. I was with my partner and her family, some of which was from PI. Couple of her cousins who were teenagers at the time walked down the wrong street and got offered a "job" by one of the locals. Thankfully their uncle/dad was able to catch up to them and pull them out of the situation. We later saw call girls working that same street who looked even younger than the cousins
To be fair that's pretty much what I do here in the US
I kinda want to go to Thailand to check out the chopper/custom bike scene there as I've both heard good things and seen some nice builds on IG and such.
I also work with a couple of ladies from the Philippines who say I'd love going on a road trip there so I am pretty curious.
This stereotype does give me pause though as 50 keeps creeping up and I really don't want to be labeled as a perv simply for liking motorcycles 🫤
never take the internet as a reference, I went to Thailand last year and did not see anything weird.
internet reality is not real life reality.
if narrow minded people judge you for something you didn't do just because of some generalised idea, then maybe is better not to be friends with those people. I've travelled alone and not alone to many places, and none of my friends ever thought ill of me.
Whatever the internet kids think I really don't give a shit, as you shouldn't either.
Man, I really hate gatekeeping.
Fully agree. I'm taking a trip to Russia soon. It's my families motherland, such a beautiful country with a rich history. People keep calling me a spy, and it's hurtful, especially when they pull out their identification. -- Jokes aside I really do agree. Internet culture has come up with some of the greatest, and dumbest, collectivist thoughts and this meme is a great example of the latter.
Edit: Keep up friends. "Motherland" "Russian" "Spy" "Identification" "Jokes aside"
It's always a shame when something you like somewhat overlaps with a stereotype that you don't apply to
The good thing is that by that age you shouldn't really give a fuck about stereotypes someone else has. Go chase what you like! And if you happen to have some fun with ladies here - all the better )
I don't get this? My mind didn't go where it seems others' here went. Is this about men looking for submissive women? Or something more sinister?
Man in 30s married to a half-Filipina woman here. When we went to visit for our honeymoon it was really gross. LOTS of very, very old men with teenage girls.
I had women falling out of their chairs to look at me.
I had a woman literally fall over while trying to ogle me while walking down the street.
For our goodbye dinner, her Ate toasted us by saying "You have fulfilled all our dreams: you've married a white man."
I had several people say how ugly they were because they were Filipino.
EVERY convenience store and super market had skin whitening creams.
It was my first experience of the Philippines and the first experience I had of racial fetishism. My wife got preferential treatment for being Mestizos.
The Spanish did a real number over there with their racial hierarchy bullshit.
I don't understand the strange obsession people have with south east asia.
My Dad's bills are like $200 a month for everything, he eats fresh fruit and vegetables everyday, he bought a small truck or cheap, he gets to explore jungles and beaches and experience life out side the US.
It's not just young Asian women that people go there for. The cost of living is so low and you aren't bombarded by american bullshit all the time
google "coral triangle".
I unironically would love to visit Thailand for the cuisine. Then again, if the internet is any indication, I must be the only white man on earth who isn't particularly into Asian women.
Hey, it could be lady boys as well.
"cuisine"
You have something against spaghetti and hot dogs with banana ketchup?
for those who dont know why banana ketchup is used, the Philippines for a time period didnt have ready access to tomatoes, so to get a sweet red sauce, they substituted tomatoes with bananas. thus related, since they didn't have tomatoes, you couldnt make a tomato based sauce, so here comes in banana ketchup.
Pad thai? Panang curry? Larb? Lumpia? Adobong manok?
Mango sticky rice!
I took these pictures, in the former Siam capital, this past summer. If you really think there is only reason to go to that part of the world is hookers I don't know what to tell you other than that says a fuckload more about you vs what it says about the people you are mocking. Oh and for the fucking record I am not divorced, not 50+, and very much married. People who post crap like this insult some of the most fascinating parts of the world with unique cultures built up over so many thousands of years.
Bro struck a nerve and he clearly wasn't talking about you. If you're not a divorced guy over 50 you're not in the meme.
i can't decide if it's sadder that you're this triggered or that you're trying to hide it behind photos of tourism sites and vague concerns about a culture you clearly didn't have time to appreciate yourself.
I was with my family (mom, cousins, etc etc) in Thailand this summer too and we didn't see anything weird either, and the country, food and temples were amazing, and everything was very safe. (it was very nice to see my mom and aunt/uncles, on their 60s, visit such exotic place, they had a wonderful time)
But don't get triggered, people that do memes like these are mostly teenagers that think that "old people" should just stay home. These people probably never went on vacation outside their country anyway, I always found out that people that have travelled abroad tend to be more open minded and do less generalisations.
The only tragedy here is if someone is not aware of the rat kids on the internet, and memes/ideas like this prevent them to travel and see there is world out there, and is not as painted in the internet, everything is way more normal.
So, if someone of any age reads this, I can't talk for Philippines since I haven't been there, but Thailand is amazing and not at all as painted here. Careful with the sun though, sunburns could be quite brutal.
I noticed the girls in the foreground of your one photo, but it’s because their clothes are awesome.
It is a tourist thing there. You rent clothing of the style of the 13th century royalty as you walk around in the 13th century ruins. Yes me and my family did it because it was fun.
Utterly fascinating part of the world. From the food and clothing to art to the temples to just the natural beauty. Every time I go I wish I had more time to spend there just so I can visit one more site see one more traditional dance eat one more amazing meal.
Phillipines as well? I only know the stereotypical Thailand pedo tourists. Man, I will hit the 50 in the not so far future. Got to make sure I keep my marriage alive.
Philippines for sure is included in asian sex tourism. Australians can't resist it..
Funnily enough my roommates dad actually went to Thailand for a bit after his divorce. Then him and his wife moved back here to the US.
Big fans of fruit salad with marshmallows, macaroni and mayonnaise? Cuisine wise the Philippines is what happens when all the professional chefs die and their 5 year old kids just step into the role.
fruit salad with marshmallows, macaroni and mayonnaise?
none of these words should be that close together
I have a much more open mind to weird food combos lately. Call it poverty gastronomy, but I've been living mostly on leftovers (not expired food, just food that needs to be used up soon or go to waste) for a while now.
The other day I had leftover brown rice, greek yogurt (the real stuff, not just the sugary junk), and sweet chilli sauce (The sugary junk) for lunch and it was seriously awesome.
That's a nice way of minimizing an entire cuisine and culture based on one or two dishes. Regardless of the fact that the Philippines is made up of thousand of islands, with variations on the same dishes based on local taste and ingredients, or the influence of the many people that we have traded with and/or been invaded by. Oh and how poverty plays a role in how the people try to source their ingredients. But sure, yeah, kids and their cooking or whatever.
oh my god! magbiro ka!
I once walked into a Filipino bakery/eatery, just out of curiosity. Not a single thing there looked appetizing, all the pastries looked painted and artificial, it was odd.
You missed Vietnam
Yes.
Food.
That's what is being eaten.
Food.
People like cake. And pie.
All the best to them. Better than staying at home.
Tbh, I can't blame them. They are free to do so, it's cheap, the climate is great and something about the cuisine..
As someone who recently started binge watching 90 Day Fiance, this made me laugh
Haven't been to Thailand since my 20s (with girlfriend) but there were plenty of bars where the hostesses seemed like they would perform other services if the clientele had money for them. Not to mention actual brothels and sex shows. I went looking around Pattaya on Google Maps to see if it was still like that and was disappointed to see that many of the streets had been knocked and big resort hotels built there. Still a few dodgy areas though still.
Hey, if they've got the means to partake of that kind of travel, good for them.
It must be the exotic land.
I thought the whole stereotype was for the ladyboys, not for some teenage bride. TIL
Latin American/Brazil too.
Brazil is nearly as big as the US, and has a huge economy... Imagine thinking we exist as some kind of exotic trap for tourists.
Fucking ew.
