General Reports

[Phordphan]

TJ does scare shitless with all those federales wearing face masks, black fatigues, toting machine guns, raiding the bars in La Zona Roja.

Yeah, I have a friend who used to go to TJ with me. Last trip, a couple of months back, he was cruising AB waiting for me to finish up in the alley. Suddnely a s*itload of masked feds, toting machine guns, pulled up in front of AB. One came whizzing in, pushed him aside and started rooting around behind the bar.

Anyway, even though nothing happened, it put him off from ever going back. He just says the minimal risk isn't worth it.

PP

[JPF]

Big bio conference?

http://www.bio2008.org/

[Country John]

If Yumm Puss is here for a week, he probably came for the big Bio conference.

Yes, tourism in TJ is down but that's largely due to the sensationalistic media reports. The media like to do scare stories because it sells. Improvement projects like Country John reported don't make the news.

My reality is that things are pretty safe. I generally go between 6pm and 11pm. Keep your eyes open and you should do fine. If you are stopped, hold your ground.

The Southern California Mechants did a great job slagging TJ and keeping the tourist dollars out of Mexico by sensationalizing the drug violence. If they did as good a job sensationalizing the vilolence in the USA, California would be deserted. Common sense is common for a reason, and it is not peculiar to any language or nationality.

Mexicans struck back by keeping gas under $3.00 a gallon. I am paying about $2.80 per gal reg unleaded. Americans will say it is shit gas. Not true. It was shit gas about 15 years ago until automobile manufacturers started kicking Pemex in the ass. It seems the new cars were not performing very well when the gas was mixed with water, and warranty claims were eating them alive. Now the gas is very very good. I've been burning it and my car has had no change in performance.

Americans now flock to TJ to gas up, go figure.

I think that the people who could see through the hype continued to do what they've always done; come to TJ and have a good time. Some might have even enjoyed the improvements in service since maseros now have a better sense of how valuable us tourists really are (I don't tell them that I live here).

The importance of being cool and of having your documents can't be understated. Remember common sense? It's not called "common" sense for nothing. So enjoy.

Be safe and be nice
Country John

[Surfnk9]

So, I've flown halfway round the world from Oz to San Diego for a week and am here til Sunday. Was looking forward to hitting TJ sat morning for the day. But everyone I ask in downtown SD is saying an emphatic "Don't go at the moment... gang fights, shootings in clubs, American foot-traffic has dropped by 60% etc etc"... Saying I'm disappointed would be an extreme understatement.

So what's the deal? Is this for real? Has TJ suddenly become more dangerous that usual? Or is this all BS?

If it is business as usual in TJ I want to head down on the trolley this weekend.

Would really appreciate your advice on the safety issue!

Make sure you have proper ID and paperwork if you are a foreign national trying to return to the US. I've had friends have trouble getting back after going to TJ for the day. They got back, but not after a lot of hassle and time.

[Yum Puss]

Efjayel, Dreams, C.John, JPF, thanks guys. That's exactly what I needed to hear. I did half expect that what I heard in SD was paranoid and prejudiced. It does kinda [CodeWord140] me off to when people freak out like that. Will keep my eyes and ears open. If any of you are heading Oz way (Sydney) or SE Asia (TH, PH, or SG) lemme know

Heading down TJ Sat morning. Will prob head back to SD before nightfall.

ISG rocks.

[Tjmee]

Big bio conference?

[JPF]

If Yumm Puss is here for a week, he probably came for the big Bio conference.

Yes, tourism in TJ is down but that's largely due to the sensationalistic media reports. The media like to do scare stories because it sells. Improvement projects like Country John reported don't make the news.

My reality is that things are pretty safe. I generally go between 6pm and 11pm. Keep your eyes open and you should do fine. If you are stopped, hold your ground.

[Country John]

Don't know anything about shootings in clubs. Although there has been in an upsurge in gang crimes. But that's just between the gang members. Something to do with drug deals and each side trying to take each other out. But this has been going on for a while. And its nothing new. I've been in TJ since all this started. Tj didn't seem any different other than seeing military guys cruising the streets loaded to the brim with assault weapons. Other than that, everything was fine and business has been going on as usual.

Yes its true that tourism has gone down. Last I heard it went down 90%. But the times I've been there the tourist sections still had many people walking around and doing the tourist thing. And the bars still had many girls for the pickings and all that. So my opinion is that it should be quite safe, for TJ standards that is. But lets see what Country Juan has to say about the current violence situation in TJ since he lives there.

There is a lot going on in Tijuana right now. A lot of money is being spent on infrastructure. The Via Rapida is torn up Southbound for a few miles, they're installing irrigation and planting trees, grass etc at on ramp islands. It's going to look good when it's done. Major effort to clean the garbage up has left the entire Via Rapida from el Centro to La Presa very neat and tidy.

Many road repairs are now bring done etc. The cops got new cars, trucks and other toys plus the police academy has graduated a few hundred new and young officers. So there are many new changes, positive ones at that.

There is no way to convince anyone who has a fixed idea about Mexico that things here can or will change. I will not try to do that there.

It's probably safer to come to TJ now than at any time in the past two years. I am not saying that there are no more bad cops, I am not saying that there is no crime. Of course there is but you got your share State-side too, so consider all that, and consider what you've been told for who knows how long. "Don't be a sucker for the cops." "Don't come here expecting to get away with mis-behavin'." "If you break the law, expect to answer up." If you hand your money over, then don't come on this board slagging every Mexican cop in the country. You had your chance to go to the station and speak to the judge, you elected not to.

I feel safer in Tijuana than I did State-side. Believe it.

Country John

[Yum Puss]

Efjayel, Dreams, thanks for your advice.

First off, I realise I shoulda posted this under the Forum's Crime, Safety... in TJ thread. Didn't see it until it was too late. Sorry Mod.

Phillipines, Thailand, Indo etc are great. Flew here for other things too but hopping down TJ way was (is?) still high on the list. The last thing I want though is to get into any hassles on the other side of the world. SEA is so laid back we get spoiled round that way.

Efjayel, when were you there last? Within the past couple of weeks?

Anyone else been there within the past few days? Country John?

If it is status quo in TJ I will likely do the trip. Is 10,30am too early to show up?

Thanks guys.

[Dreams]

So, I've flown halfway round the world from Oz to San Diego for a week and am here til Sunday. Was looking forward to hitting TJ sat morning for the day. But everyone I ask in downtown SD is saying an emphatic "Don't go at the moment... gang fights, shootings in clubs, American foot-traffic has dropped by 60% etc etc"... Saying I'm disappointed would be an extreme understatement.

So what's the deal? Is this for real? Has TJ suddenly become more dangerous that usual? Or is this all BS?

If it is business as usual in TJ I want to head down on the trolley this weekend.

Would really appreciate your advice on the safety issue!

First, I hope you did not fly from Oz to SD just for going to Tijuana!! As much as Tj is a nice spot for those who happened to either live or pass through South California, I don't think that it is in itslef a good mongering destination. Needless to list other better spots, closer to Oz ( Thailand, Philippines , Singapore and other SE Asian countries).

I was in SD on business last May, and, yes, everyone told me the same. I ignored those advices, and went twice, without any fear. Only during the day, though, but I think that, as long as you follow the advices given by the TJ specialsist on this board, you will be as safe as in LA, if not more.
So go and enjoy while you are there!

[Efjayel]

Don't know anything about shootings in clubs. Although there has been in an upsurge in gang crimes. But that's just between the gang members. Something to do with drug deals and each side trying to take each other out. But this has been going on for a while. And its nothing new. I've been in TJ since all this started. Tj didn't seem any different other than seeing military guys cruising the streets loaded to the brim with assault weapons. Other than that, everything was fine and business has been going on as usual.

Yes its true that tourism has gone down. Last I heard it went down 90%. But the times I've been there the tourist sections still had many people walking around and doing the tourist thing. And the bars still had many girls for the pickings and all that. So my opinion is that it should be quite safe, for TJ standards that is. But lets see what Country Juan has to say about the current violence situation in TJ since he lives there.

[Yum Puss]

So, I've flown halfway round the world from Oz to San Diego for a week and am here til Sunday. Was looking forward to hitting TJ sat morning for the day. But everyone I ask in downtown SD is saying an emphatic "Don't go at the moment... gang fights, shootings in clubs, American foot-traffic has dropped by 60% etc etc"... Saying I'm disappointed would be an extreme understatement.

So what's the deal? Is this for real? Has TJ suddenly become more dangerous that usual? Or is this all BS?

If it is business as usual in TJ I want to head down on the trolley this weekend.

Would really appreciate your advice on the safety issue!

[Tjmee]

Efjayel LOL. I will go with you down there if you want. So you can point her out to me. Hahah

[Efjayel]

The girls have been told so many times by so many guys how lovely they are that now they feel it's just a mind fuck and 80% of the time they are right. Put yourself in their panties for a minute. They are doing whatever works to get by from one week to the next and they probably have more baggage than a Japanese tour bus because of the bullshit they beleived from guys in the past.

Many guys make sincere efforts to reach them and every so often, maybe once in a blue moon, the warm and tender hand of love reaches blindly out to find them. Unfortunately it seldom works out and a lot of otherwise good people are left to the only means they know to get by, the 'hustle" in an industry with a slimy underbelly.

Be safe and be nice.

Country John

I'm not looking to hook up with them other than a friendship. I've told that to both of them. And actually the first girl, who I texted and talked to over the phone, I've told her that I understand if she doesn't want to talk or whatever cause outside the bar, it's her personal life away from all the crap of the prostitute life and there is no need to involve her personal life with her work life. So next time I see her I'll tell her I won't call her anymore. As for the second girl, I'm still gonna tell her off for lying to me about calling me but like always, I'm not going to be serious about it. If anything I'll say it like i'm kidding. Basically I just want to see what she'll say.

Efjayel, who is the chick that you know? Any pic or can you describe what she looks like? Pm me if you want.

I'm your typical guy cause I don't like the idea of this girl being with anyone else but me. I know that's stupid being that she's a prostitute and all. But luckily in the bar I've never seen her being picked up by another guy. Although I did see her interact with a group of guys with her friend. I felt jealous. And again I know that's stupid but that's just me. She knows this too so she makes me want to sleep with her first before any other customers by saying, "I just came into work and you'll be my first today." Which I usually do.

So don't expect me to give out her name. I'll give out a few details though. She's short or a spinner as people like to say around here. Has dark hair, not too long. She isn't beautiful but more of that girl next door look. Has two kids. She's in her mid twenties I believe. And she has one of the greatest asses I have ever seen. A little shy when it comes to going upstairs cause she'll talk normally the whole time but when she asks if I want to go upstairs she'll bow her head a bit and whisper it. Although she's a GFE experience from the bar to the bed, really nice. I've been thinking about her all week actually. Man, I really need to go back so I can see her. Maybe some of you already know who she is. Just don't mention that you've been with her or else I might get jealous. lol

[Tjmee]

Maybe it could be you, PP?