Manila

[Bandy]

Hate to sound like a jaded cynic in spite of your fresh enthusiastic approach, but they give everyone their numbers. Half the time they will even post their numbers on their personal profile. Doesn't mean they will reply to you. Or know who you are (" we chatted, I'm the blue eyed guy from country xyz " " ano bayan " LOL.

Doesn't mean they will have load to answer you. Doesn't mean they won't be busy " searching for a job now ".

Anyways just remember that unless you have already met them, maybe 50% will show up.

Remember also Manila is a huge city, where a gal coming from QC to you in Makati might need 3 hours of travel time and might request load a few times from you.

Anyways go have fun and report back.

My one tip about DIA and other website girls is to make sure that you video chat with them at least once. These sites are full of ladyboys and I refused to meet anybody who will not agree to video chat. As I wrote last year, the effort to meet them may not be cost effective. Having said that, once in a while you meet someone who is genuine and can really provide meaningful company. I am going to Phil (Manila-Cebu-AC) in August again and will meet a few new ones. I already know them through chat. They are all college graduates and have good jobs. All are regular girls. I found the best site for me is Cherry Blossom, a pay site.

Bandy

[Sugoi]

Odd, nobody seems to know the boundary, even the locals. Eurotel on Pedro Gil shows an address of Ermita, and two blocks away the Tropicana Apartments on Guerrero shows an address of Malate. I mentioned this to the door guys of both hotels, asking where the boundary is (Orosa? Guerrero?) , and nobody knew. The door guys at Trop began to wonder whether Robinson's was Malate or Ermita.

This is true in all parts of Manila. For those familiar with the Ortigas area, Shangri-La Plaza mall and hotel on Edsa and Shaw is in Mandaluyong, Megamall is a block or so further north on Edsa and is in Pasig and Robinson's Galleria is another couple of blocks north on Edsa and is in Quezon City but the city lines are a little unclear. In a span of less than 1 km on one street you have 3 malls in 3 cities.

[Betong]

Granted you still got to take precautions and be alert any where in developing country.

On this side of the world developing countries are pretty safe. With some effort you could still get into trouble in Cambodia, and no doubt in Indonesia. But by Asian standards the Philippines is in a league of its own. Statistically it's probably not as bad as much of Latin America, but you should basically treat it with every bit as much caution. It may not look or feel quite as tough on the surface, but things can turn very nasty very quickly.

That said, anyone who's reasonably careful should be fine. Just use taxis and watch your back.

[Docwiltro]

Malate is not well lit.

In many cases, that is absolutely true, but on my last trip I was walking along del Pilar at night and was thinking the lighting was somehow better, and the next day, I saw the proof: new light poles! I couldn't believe it. Now, it wasn't great lighting, but compared to years past, it was a tremendous improvement. You got to give them some credit although as seen in the second photo (and in true Filipino style) they created a hazard for pedestrians; so, watch for those light pole standards.

[LukeSkywalker]

That's a good map.

Any map that shows more hotels, restaurants, bars etc?

Thought I would share this with the forum.

If you are wondering why I left out a lot of girly bars or Korean joints, keep in mind I am not a monger, just a 27 year old party guy that loves SEA and LA. I mostly hit up clubs, get girls online and at the malls.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...I.kampoQlaMeVE

Enjoy.

[Blu8096]

Thought I would share this with the forum.

If you are wondering why I left out a lot of girly bars or Korean joints, keep in mind I am not a monger, just a 27 year old party guy that loves SEA and LA. I mostly hit up clubs, get girls online and at the malls.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...I.kampoQlaMeVE

Enjoy.

I have no idea if its accurate. But, if it is that is awesome!

I will be checking it out when I arrive. Nice work.

[Blu8096]

Malate is not well lit. It's not so bad as some are saying but there is a chance of something happening real real late night when there is no one around. I walk it all the time from MBC to Executive Plaza to Adriatico. I rarely drink so I'm pretty aware of my surroundings. In all my years, I had one group of kids try to come up to me and beg for coins while a couple try to pickpocket me. Most of the people will beg for coins from you. I don't go down some dark non traveled streets. I try to go where the taxis would likely be driving. Down Del Pillar, down Mabini or whatever. But like I said, I don't really drink. I'm still relatively healthy and mobile and don't carry a whole lot to lose when I'm out like that. For someone older or not in good health or a drinker, I think for the most part, taking a taxi is just better insurance wise. Just don't take taxis sitting right outside places like MBC. Walk a half block down and get one that is moving and not parked who will use their meter.

Good advise. I am on my way tonight so I will se how it unfolds and post.

[Blu8096]

You're going to be fine. Its a vibrant place at night. But its also lower end, and not for the weak-at-heart. There are plenty of taxi's. Traffic doesn't lighten up until about 9pm. It is NOT Makati / Ortigas / Fort. Just don't go for long romantic nightime walks (plenty of taxis).

LOL. I am not the romantic walk type of guy.

I will be careful and watch what I am doing. I post updates if anything weird happens.

[BSticks]

Hey Everyone,

So I just got to Manila / Makati yesterday and am currently going through a trip from hell. I was rerouted three different times from America to even get here and then spent an extra hour at the airport because my luggage never showed. Asiana airlines ended up writing down numbers for me to contact but never provided an area code so now I have to make another trip back to Makati. And to top that off I was picked up by my girlfriend and a very intrusive taxi cab driver was by her who insisted he would give us a good rate to take us from Manila to Makati at the airport I'm at. I guess I should of had a warning light go off on my head because when we were leaving he "tipped" the police officer who was watching the exit area and then never turned on his meter rate so he ended up charging us 800 pesos for the ride, which something tells me that it was a total ripoff because I can't remember ever spending over 500 pesos on my last trip and my girlfriend insisted this was normal. I stayed at Guijo suites, which ended up being a disaster because the air conditioning didn't work within the room. Now I have to go back to the international airport since I can't call to find my missing luggage.

In short, day 1 of my adventures in the Philippines haven't gone so well.

[WestCoast1]

Philippines is a cake walk to what I am use to (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, El Savador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, etc).

This can be mistaken thinking. I will PM you.

[WestCoast1]

That area is known as Ermita not Malate. Not sure where the boundary is but Malate is more upscale and generally safer then Ermita.

Odd, nobody seems to know the boundary, even the locals. Eurotel on Pedro Gil shows an address of Ermita, and two blocks away the Tropicana Apartments on Guerrero shows an address of Malate. I mentioned this to the door guys of both hotels, asking where the boundary is (Orosa? Guerrero?) , and nobody knew. The door guys at Trop began to wonder whether Robinson's was Malate or Ermita.

[Stroker Ace88]

I am surprised to hear how dangerous it sounds in Malate at night. I like many others am staying across from Robinsons. I expected a popular area like there and where all the clubs are would be relatively safe because of so many people. I expected to walk to and from MBC and the surrounding hot spots at night, no way I wanted to take a cab. Is that to dangerous to do?

What about walking by the bay at night time, is that dangerous also?

I'm big at 6' 1' and 210. I also have boxed and kick boxed since I was 20. I can take care of myself but that is not the point, I do not want to have to. I'm 45 now and am past my can't wait to fight days.

What is it that is so dangerous? Is it being pick pocketed? Robbed by force? Stabbed? Jumped by a group?

Are we to assume they all carry a knife or know Eskrima or Arnis?

Has anyone here been jumped before or robbed?

Staying in Malate no longer sounds like a good idea.

Blu,

If you're a bigger guy that will deter the ones who will try and jump you, but what about the bad guys with guns? There must be millions of home made guns floating around the Philippines. No matter how big you are a bullet is going to win.

WC and ET have provided you with good advice. Follow it. If you walk around at night just be aware of your surroundings and don't go roaming around any dark alleys. Remember taxis are dirt cheap in the Philippines (so long as the meter is on and working properly). Spending 60p for a taxi to go 8 blocks might be the best investment you will ever make. I was staying at the Hyatt years ago and walked over to LAC (now MBC) and when I came out at 2am there were alot of street kids and younger guys hanging around outside. I got bad vibes and took a taxi 2 blocks from LAC to the Hyatt with my pickup. The meter did not even click over from the flagdown rate of 30p and I gave the driver 100p.

Enjoy the Philippines.

[CaliPro]

Thought I would share this with the forum.

If you are wondering why I left out a lot of girly bars or Korean joints, keep in mind I am not a monger, just a 27 year old party guy that loves SEA and LA. I mostly hit up clubs, get girls online and at the malls.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/ed...I.kampoQlaMeVE

Enjoy.

[PeeMan]

i was able to shake of those pesky kids a few times by simply looking very unsympathetic straight into their eyes, saying "no" firmly and clutching my wallet pocket. they always seemed to lose interest once they glance down at your hands guarding your pockets. and while one of them is begging in front of you, there is always another few kids behind your back on either side.

-peeman

[Stroker Ace88]

I think it is a small chance. Like the other poster said, most common thing to watch / deal with is kids pick-pocketing.

There are def people that will rob you and kill you if you resist.

Try not to walk to many blocks (maybe 3 being the most) and get a cheap trike or cab.

I am not sure about the Baywalk. I went to the Baywalk with 2 waitresses from MBC at like 2am and didn't have any problem. Def a sketchy place with homeless people sleeping all around.

Bottom line is Malate is a very poor place and there is def a chance (albeit not huge) to get robbed.

Keep your wits about you.

You posted recently that you spent all of 4 days total in the Philippines, so at best your advice is to be taken with a grain of salt the size of an orange.