Robbed walking on the street near L. A. Cafe
Just be careful in the area around the Executive Plaza. As I was walking back from L. A. Cafe I was robbed. Manila is much more dangerous than, say, Bangkok. So beware.
[QUOTE=Jarod Taz]Hi Guys!
Thank you so much for so much wisdom! I have being to Bangkok several times and this will be my first trip to the PHI-so much appretiated! I think I will stay away from eurosuite as it is true that seems to cater more of ST crow and if wanted to stay 3 days may be hard-that not having windows and the overal ambiance.
Now the dilemma is what to choose! I read in the board and it seems the executive plaza (sp) not sure I got the name right may be the next best thing. I reckon is a few blocks from LA cafe and and few others to the Mall. I am bit disapointed with the recent reports of it not being such a fertile ground for this hobby of ours! I guess that wherever I stay it will mean taxi around. The thing is I dread the notorious traffic. I had my share of traffic in BKK and opted to Skytrain and Subway to many of the venues I frequent but I guess that would be out of the question in Manila.
The taxi situation in BKK is as many of you pros in here know metered without hassle and plentiful in the street. I wonder how it is in Manila and the cost of getting around (monetary and time wise).
I guess that makate, Burgos and EDSA is the equivalent of Soi cowboy and nana. But there is no soapies, oil massage venues in Manila.
I guess I will have to hit the ground running and figure what is my overal strategy. I gues that if I can make due in BKK not speaking a word of thai I should fair well in PHI where English is more widely spoken.
OK guys! Any last word of wisdom...please shout it out....
P.S. Are they still robbing buses from Manila to AC or that has stopped. I planning to go to AC using the buses mentioned in the forum but read about bandits that get onboard the bus to rob it.
P.S 2 Anyone has being to BKK recently. I am planning on leaving PHI from AC Clark airport with Cebu Air (sp) that has a flight into BKK on June 23rd. Anyone done that flight.
Once again thank you all and let me know if you are in the area in June 17 of this year!
Cheers![/QUOTE]
Redfield: the PI is for the Traveler Experienced in the Third World (i.e. NOT You)
I've been to to LOS about a dozen times and the PI over 40 times. And I've been to both twice each already this year. I've also been all over Latin America etc. And can say the PI is safer than most countries in Latin america (and many cities in the US).
Not sure when you were last at Nana but it is a joke now. EDSA is 100 times better (unless you are into ladyboys which outnumber the GGs at NEP nowadays).
As for getting robbed outside LA cafe, it does happen (particularly to the foolish and the drunk). I've walked those streets alone at all hours alone countless times without incident. Sorry that happened to you, but you are letting one incident color your view of an entire country.
Carrying loads of cash at night, as you did, is a sure sign of a newbie to third world travel (or learning impaired).
LOS has its advantages (infrastructure and food in particular), while the PI has its advantages too (first and foremost the friendliness of the people). Each member must make his own decisions about where to go, but IMHO letting the foolish errors of some create irrational fear or paranoia that prevents you from visiting perhaps the friendliest country on Earth for Americans is a grave mistake.
Bringing things up for air
Wow – and here am I just singing your praise to the board that are already aware of what an upstanding sort of guy you are. Shame on you.
[QUOTE=Illogic]I do consider myself a tough but not because I roam the streets of Ermita looking for some LA Café Hooker to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] on but blah, blah, blah.[/QUOTE]Yawn. You have used this so many times it is beyond boring.
What sort of rough places in Manila do you like to roam then? Kind of like Market2 Mall with all them nasty little teenagers giving you the evil eye?
[QUOTE=Illogic] He then informed us all he only rides Jeepneys to "cop a feel" on some poor unsuspecting Filipina trying to get home from work.[/QUOTE]Is this scurrilous piece of nonsense directed at me? Not guilty m’lud.
[QUOTE=Illogic]I am laughing. : D that a guy (52 years old) almost double my age could behave like this.[/QUOTE]Are you an ageist then? You do like to bring age into the equation. As a guy who loves droning on about racism in the Far East, don’t you feel this is a little contradictory.
[QUOTE=Illogic]I encourage all members don’t be an internet tough guy if you have problem with a guy meet the guy in person especially if you two live in the same city.[/QUOTE]Yes its sad but we do share the same city. But fortunately that is all we do have in common. Assume that this is not some sort of playground challenge or threat because that would really be funny. Do grow up, my boy. I would sooner jump the bones of my first wife than to consort in public with a character such as yourself. You must learn to separate fantasy from reality – the japes we get up to on these boards are fun but fantasy. Do you maybe not understand this?
[QUOTE=Illogic]I have contacted Jackson as I am not a fan of cluttering up the boards with this nonsense but since you took it here so did I. Have a nice night.[/QUOTE]Yes, this I would expect from your track record. But did I insult you as you have just insulted me? I think not. Strikes me that it is you who are doing the insulting and cluttering.
You have been taking sly, little back stabbing digs at me for ages, which I have largely ignored. I don’t mind so much but thought I’d amuse myself by bringing things up for air. Don’t you feel invigorated?
Sleep well.
G