Manila

[Dashing Don]

Thanks for the info CL.

I checked out the websites you provided and they look nice. I am surprised that there is diving considering the large population in that area.

The Pontefino hotel looks super.

Its a surprise because the whole Batangas area looked so underpriveleged but there you go.

BTW, in an earlier post, I asked if you make travel arrangements rather than just providing info, but I didn't hear back from you and when I pm'd you your box was full. I'm sure there are other people here besides myself who would avail of your services.

Don

[Bill Buxton]

I have never had the pleasure of the place called PEGESUS, where is it.What is the bf and are all the gals nice or what.

[Cebu Local]

On my recent trip, I rented a car and driver and went with an internet girl on a day trip to Batangas. We were trying to locate a dive resort in Anilao which I think is in the city/province?? of Batangas. Well, we drove for hours and couldn't locate the place. The are looked rough. At one point we traveled several miles on a small road which skirted the sea. There was trash everywhere; small houses hugging the coastline and a lot of trash in the adjacent water.

We did manage to locate an area which had a few 'resorts'. I can't remember the name of the town but these resorts had really awful facilities and the sand resembled dust. I can't imagine any westerner wanting to stay there.

We covered a lot of ground and I didn't see anything worth visiting. This echoed my experience on another trip where I likewise hired a car/driver and went with an internet girl to Tagatay and Lake Taal which is closeby Batangas and which we traversed. Nothing there but poor people eking out a living and overpopulated.

Don

The secret is knowing where to go,Most of the best beaches have been turned into private resorts not open to the Public,Such as Punta Fuego,Terrazas de Punta Fuego,Kawayan Cove all members only filled with the Manila elite.The Farm at San Benito Spa which is a several hundred million peso development and one of the top 5 Spas in Asia is In Lipa City Batangas,Club Malarayat is a great golf course in Batangas,Members only.Check out these Websites and tell me there is NOTHING in Batangas www.thefarm.com.ph or www.aquareefclub.com and www.scubaworld.com for dive resorts or for a nice 5 star hotel in Batangas www.pontefino.com.ph Cheers

[Finrod]

We covered a lot of ground and I didn't see anything worth visiting. This echoed my experience on another trip where I likewise hired a car/driver and went with an internet girl to Tagatay and Lake Taal which is closeby Batangas and which we traversed. Nothing there but poor people eking out a living and overpopulated.

Don

That's interesting, glad you mentioned it. I had been thinking of a day trip out to Lake Taal and its volcano, but maybe it's better to think of an alternate destination for a day trip outside of Manila.

[Dashing Don]

On my recent trip, I rented a car and driver and went with an internet girl on a day trip to Batangas. We were trying to locate a dive resort in Anilao which I think is in the city/province?? of Batangas. Well, we drove for hours and couldn't locate the place. The are looked rough. At one point we traveled several miles on a small road which skirted the sea. There was trash everywhere; small houses hugging the coastline and a lot of trash in the adjacent water.

We did manage to locate an area which had a few 'resorts'. I can't remember the name of the town but these resorts had really awful facilities and the sand resembled dust. I can't imagine any westerner wanting to stay there.

We covered a lot of ground and I didn't see anything worth visiting. This echoed my experience on another trip where I likewise hired a car/driver and went with an internet girl to Tagatay and Lake Taal which is closeby Batangas and which we traversed. Nothing there but poor people eking out a living and overpopulated.

Don

[PeakView]

Hi,

I have never been to the philipines but have been talking with a girl who lives in Batangas, 60 miles south of Manila, for a year and a half now and was looking advice from someone who knows the area people very well.

My questions are essetially about local politics, and social norms, not about mongering. I dont think she is a working girl but I have my suspicions. I am considering visting her, but I have heard horror stories of stupid tourists being scamed, arrested, or murdered. Over the past year a lot of things have been said to set off my scam-radar.

Are you talking about scams, arrests, and murders in Batangas specifically or in the Philippines in general? Is this info from the girl or from independent sources? I will be going to Batangas just for fun later this month (a women where I work is from there so I will look up some of her relatives while scoping out the area). It is supposed to have some nice beaches and resorts. I think my co-worker would have warned me if there were numerous tourist murders occuring. If you have any worries just make her take a bus to meet you in Manila. Scams are everywhere in the Phils, but are no problem if you are half-way alert. Just go meet her.

[Sun Devil]

We finally have a sunny day in Manila and it looks like I will try to head out to the top two massage parlors here--Air Force One and Starfleet and Paranaque due to the nice weather.

Apparently, the Japanese have some investments on Roxas Boulevard because there is a hotel next to mine that caters to Japanenese tourists as indictated by some Filipinos here.

[Fog Ducker]

Sun Devil,

IMHO you have way overpaid for the services. 8,000 pesos for short time ( 3 hours ) and to this you still have to add the entrance fee of 500 pesos and the 695 pesos conversation fee = over 9,000 pesos!

You say you stayed at the Hyatt which is near LA Cafe but don't say anything about going there. You can get an 8 or 9 for overnight for 1,500 to 2,000 pesos.

The price you paid for Skyline ( now Mercury ) is about right as the going rate to the girl for extra is about the same as the room rate and this is what you paid = 1,100 pesos for the room plus 1,100 pesos for the girl.

[AsiaFloyd]

Last time I paid a barfine at Edsa was Jan 2005 and it was 1000 then.
A lot of girls who dont get bf'ed at Edsa normally end up at LA Cafe at 2-3am and their rate really comes down then.
Was in Blue Nile in AC last night and that bar could fit in at Edsa, so many woman and mostly all maganda. Tis a pity as im on a two week date and my butterfly instints will have to wait until i get to BKK.
Why is it when u r with somebody you find so many woman u could easily pay the barfine but when with noone you struggle to find a adequate barfine sometimes.

[Surfer]

Even back in the 90s there was always that Japanese karaoke off to the side of the EDSA complex. I assume 99% of their clients are Japanese but I never went to verify it. Where numbers of Japanese men go, prices inexorably increase.

You mentioned 1,000Piso BF at EDSA and my recall was that it was 600P just two years ago (but I could be mistaken and that might have been farther back).
Cotton Club always charged a premium for the girls in the pink cowboy outfits and hats, but I never thought they were any better looking than the regulars.

[Dashing Don]

Its true. I couldn't help noticing it a few weeks ago. I was in Samba, Cotton Club and Firehouse, and on several different occasions. In each bar the clientele was about eighty percent asian.

[Surfer]

Don & Guinness: You see we CAN interact, and even disagree, while maintaining decorum and civility. I am sure Jackson will be THRILLED!

I used to do very well at EDSA Don, and we agree on the Roxas clip joints. It has been 2 years since I was there but my friend who goes every other month (he lives in BKK so he KNOWS the scene) says that roundeye customers are getting rarer and rarer and that the Japanese are the dominant client base nowadays. Have you noticed an increase in Japanese customers at EDSA?

BB: Pegasus is in Quezon City and is home of the "Peggy Sues", among the very elite of Filipina GROs. It is SO upscale you MUST weat a suit jacket to enter (though sometimes they will lend you one). My recollection was BFs were like 8,000-10,000 but that was many years ago and I did not partake. I doubt it would be your kind of place but guys with money to burn (like SunDevil) might enjoy it.

[Shy Zone Guy]

Hi,

I have never been to the philipines but have been talking with a girl who lives in Batangas, 60 miles south of Manila, for a year and a half now and was looking advice from someone who knows the area people very well.

My questions are essetially about local politics, and social norms, not about mongering. I dont think she is a working girl but I have my suspicions. I am considering visting her, but I have heard horror stories of stupid tourists being scamed, arrested, or murdered. Over the past year a lot of things have been said to set off my scam-radar.

[Bill Buxton]

there is a happy middle ground between bottom of the barrell skanks and overpriced prima donnas.

I disagree with Guinness that there is ONE "going rate"; IMHO there are SEVERAL rates. EVERYTHING is subject to negotiation, and the "going rate" you will be charged depends largely on their perception of your ABILITY TO PAY. Being a foreigner you are ALREADY marked as "rich and foolish", but you can minimize the "foolish" part by doing research and avoiding notorious clip joints (e.g. East Asia), dressing nice but not over the top (leave the bling at home!), learning at least a few key Tagalog phrases like machado mahal (too expensive), and, most importantly, do NOT appear too eager or anxious for a particular girl. Also, if you stay in 5 star hotels, the girls will often expect to be paid more thinking you ae a big spender.

Play it cool and be patient, and SMILE when you bargain (raising your voice or getting forceful will merely cause them to lose any respect for you they might have otherwise had), and they will reduce their price 95% of the time.

IMHO, a savy monger can find that fine line between being "cheap" (koriput) and being "foolish" (bobo) and thus maximize quality pekpek for your pera ($).

Finally, I am happy to see that Guinness has FINALLY realized that members can disagree and express divergent opinions without resorting to juevenile namecalling and slander. Let us hope his epiphany is not merely temporary.

I will be in town Sunday and the negotiation style each uses is there own.Be nice and like others said here never pay what they want.

"Pegasus" where is this place????????What is the barfine there and when you say stunner how much for how long.

I have had bad service for a c-note and great service for 20 dollars so go figure.

Anything you do to stand out here is just gonna cost you money,The 5 star hotel deal is right on.They will figure you can afford it so lets charge him this much.You gotta give these gals credit they try all the time, some times they score big, and sometimes WE hit paydirt.The art of the deal.

Just always remember they all think we just got off the stupid boat and will try to take all they can...

B.B...

[Dashing Don]

I'm not sure how this comes up. I never mention prices beforehand and the girls in the PI have never mentioned it to me either. It spoils the mood and I'm only going to pay what I want to pay anyway. And usually I'm generous as I want both of us to have a good time. If anyone did mention prices, I would drop them immediately. The prices in PI are so low anyway that who cares. Whats the upside to haggling? None that I can see.

I've never gone to those high priced KTV places on Roxas and probably never will. EDSA is just fine with a 1K barfine.

Usually I stay in Makati and then its a short 7-10 minute taxi ride to EDSA. The meter must be turned on and seldom costs more than 80 peso. If they don't want to turn it on, I open the door even though we're moving. At that point they either put the meter on or they pull over real fast. If they really [CodeWord140] me off, I'll get out and leave the door open. Then they have to get out to close it. I never worry about their being a confrontation over this because it will never happen. They know they have been caught trying to rip me off and dont have a leg to stand on. Within a minute or two, I'm in the next cab.

Which brings me to that never ending topic......five-star hotels.

The girls never look for more money because you are at a five star hotel and are thus considered 'rich' or 'foolish' or a 'dumb sex tourist'. That smacks of an adversarial situation. I've had a few difficult situations but infrequently. More often, they are happy to be there and I'm happy to have them. But the great thing about staying at a good hotel with a good lobby and pool is that it becomes a destination in and of itself. When I call internet girls we always meet in the hotel lobby. They are eager to come there, and I sure as hell am not going to taxi out to the sticks. Also, if you have had a great time with a barfine which sometimes happens, you can keep her around and have her bring her friends over. Several times, I've had a barfine and her friends come over and frolic in the pool which can be great fun and then take one of them up to your room if so inclined. So its not just about the nightly rate. There's other things to consider.

Don