Manaus

[SlutLover]

Aren't forró clubs a third way? Do girls there think I'm only there to get their phone number?

As for picking up non-pros, this is easy. There are two ways. First, you can message dozens of garotas on web sites like Tagged.com before you leave the States (or wherever you come from). I always get a few good responses (of course, I speak Portuguese, which helps). Some girls speak English (or just enough English). These girls typically require the two date procedure. You act like a gentleman on the first date (don't be too gentlemanly. No matter how much you avoid the subject of sex at dinner, be certain to invite them to your hotel before sending them home in a taxi), and fuck like teens the next night. They don't go home with you on the first date, because they don't want to be mistaken as *****s. Of course, these girls typically become very expensive as you continue to see them. The second approach is one that I use a lot in towns where I am free to be seen in public: I go shopping until I find a cute shopkeeper I like. I flirt, leave, come back, buy something minimal, flirt some more, leave again and the return to invite the girl out on a date. I have 100% success with this approach, as the girls that are uninterested stop flirting after a few minutes. Lunch restaurants are good for this too with the appropriate variation in approach. For some reason, I often get horizontal with girls like this on my first date. Maybe the flirting in the store counts as date #1!

[SlutLover]

I didn't say the poster should state if they are ugly. That would be slightly preposterous. All I'm saying is that the relative ease of scoring a non-pro must be put into context. A good-looking 20yo might say that scoring during Spring Break, Cancun is a piece of cake, whilst this may be absolutely untrue for a lot of other, older and/or less attractive tourists. It's just a fact of life.

Be prepared for heavy rain and hot humid climate.
I can't see how it will help you knowing if the posters are handsome/ugly? Scoring in Manaus isn't difficult, at least not if you speak Portuguese well. Speaking Spanish doesn't solve the language barrier, but might help a little bit. Speaking Russian will be a great help.

Just about all major clubs plays forró.
Crocodilo is an exception. The club can be decent on Sundays, but small and very crowded.

Taxis are metered, just as in the rest of Brazil. Taxi rides to the clubs can become quite expensive.

No need for Malaria prophylaxis if you stay in Manaus.

[Sperto]

This is an outstanding idea, which I was considering only a day or so ago with my girlfriend. My only problem is that the beds don't have blankets in most motels (and I get cold if the air conditioner is on), but the motels are typically modern, clean and responsive to ones needs. Ordering food and whiskey at 4:30 am is never a problem at most motels.

I have never tried to negotiate with a motel, but some of the motels are pretty nice. Sperto: which ones do you recommend? (I like Nirvana, between the airport and the Ponta Negra).
..........................

And of course, if all else fails, there is always Remulus. That place has soooooooo many girls, and you can always find a gorgeous one with a good attitude if you are patient.

I prefer to stay in centro. There are dozens of small clean motels with good prices. Choose one that you like and negotiate with the owner (paying diária/day isn't common in motels).

True, about the cold AC. I always ask the cleaning lady to get extra sheets for covering at night-time.

Remulos is excellent for fullfilling urgent needs.
http://remulos.com.br

[Member #4643]

SWhen I choose to stay at a hotel in Manaus I actually choose a motel. I negotiate a good deal and can of course can bring as many ladies as I want to.

This is an outstanding idea, which I was considering only a day or so ago with my girlfriend. My only problem is that the beds don't have blankets in most motels (and I get cold if the air conditioner is on), but the motels are typically modern, clean and responsive to ones needs. Ordering food and whiskey at 4:30 am is never a problem at most motels.

I have never tried to negotiate with a motel, but some of the motels are pretty nice. Sperto: which ones do you recommend? (I like Nirvana, between the airport and the Ponta Negra).

I always try and negotiate with hotels, and this usually works. I usually stay at the Hotel Mercure because it has good internet access, but its not near anything except my favorite restaurant in all of Brazil: Choupana (Rua Recife 790; try the costellas de tambaqui for the best grilled fish I have ever had. Also patinhas de carengejo, or little crab feet, are an amazing fresh water crab appetizer, deep fried a la milanesa ). This restaurant has the best Amazonian fish I have ever had- I have been there at least 25 times. It is not cheap if you also drink whiskey- I usually get out for about $90 USA for two, but don't skimp at anything.

I have tried the Taj Majal- old and not so clean, but well located. There is a Best Western downtown, which was girl friendly, clean enough but terrible internet access. I always found it easy to pick up regular girls in that area. I have been to several places in the Industrial area, such as the Sleep Inn. These are clean with good internet, but off the beaten path. Actually, the shopping mall near the Sleep Inn has great shows on Saturday night. I heard and saw both Seu Jorge and Ana Carolina there on my last couple of trips to Manaus.

Next time, I will go to Nirvana, not far from the airport and definitely one of the nicer motels and try to get a nice deal for the weekend. I am not certain if they have internet however. Unless Spero has a better suggestion!

As for the questions posed by Slutlover, rainy season can be very wet, although the rain is intermittent on most days. Indeed, I have gone on some of my best river trips (which I typically do on Sundays) during rainy season. An umbrella is easy to pick up when it starts raining, and a nice raincoat from the States will completely protect you. Beware, it is still pretty hot in rainy season.

As for malaria, there is not a lot in the city. Perhaps, there is none. As you travel outside the city, even if you take the water taxi to the various beaches on the river, there is some malaria. A drive into the countryside, and you are definitely at risk whenever you go through small villages and towns. You need to plan ahead if you want to take preventative therapy. There is no malaria prophylaxis available in Brazil. ANYWHERE. That is because malaria is only treated in government health clinics and hospitals and the government controls the distribution of drugs (which are free). Pharmacies are not allowed to sell anti-malarials. Fortunately, the last two years have seen a dramatic decline in malaria. Last year, there was so much rain that it strongly suppressed mosquito breeding (washed away the eggs), and this year was very hot and dry. The health authorities also claim that they are more successful at suppressing the infection and mosquitoes. This latter claim is absurd, because they had a terrible year for Dengue Fever this year, which is also spread by mosquitoes. This brings me to my real health warning- watch out for mosquitoes. Dengue is really unpleasant and occasionally fatal. Yellow fever also exists in the Amazon, and this is a terrible way to die. Use insect repellent religiously when outside the city limits.

Agree with the observations by others on taxis. I swear that taxis are cheaper in NYC. I rent a car these days. This is not cheap either, but at least I know what I am going to pay, and do not miss out on things because I have a wave of needless frugality.

As for picking up non-pros, this is easy. There are two ways. First, you can message dozens of garotas on web sites like Tagged.com before you leave the States (or wherever you come from). I always get a few good responses (of course, I speak Portuguese, which helps). Some girls speak English (or just enough English). These girls typically require the two date procedure. You act like a gentleman on the first date (don't be too gentlemanly. No matter how much you avoid the subject of sex at dinner, be certain to invite them to your hotel before sending them home in a taxi), and fuck like teens the next night. They don't go home with you on the first date, because they don't want to be mistaken as *****s. Of course, these girls typically become very expensive as you continue to see them. The second approach is one that I use a lot in towns where I am free to be seen in public: I go shopping until I find a cute shopkeeper I like. I flirt, leave, come back, buy something minimal, flirt some more, leave again and the return to invite the girl out on a date. I have 100% success with this approach, as the girls that are uninterested stop flirting after a few minutes. Lunch restaurants are good for this too with the appropriate variation in approach. For some reason, I often get horizontal with girls like this on my first date. Maybe the flirting in the store counts as date #1!

And of course, if all else fails, there is always Remulus. That place has soooooooo many girls, and you can always find a gorgeous one with a good attitude if you are patient.

[Sperto]

Some questions on Manaus (I was thinking of spending a few months there, perhaps also in Rio Branco and Porto Velho from Dec). Hope you can help with these.
1) How bad is the rain during rainy season? Is it heavy or light, how many hours per day must I expect? Are the times of day predictable? Just how bearable is the heat?
2) The reports don't usually mention how old, fit and handsome/ugly the poster is! This is why I sometimes find it difficult to understand just how easy/hard the non-pro scene will be. I'm 33 years old, white, in shape with dark hair and blue eyes, can't dance forró but dance well otherwise, what do you think my chances of scoring ANY girl on a given night will be? For purposes of comparison, in Moscow/Kiev, I usually averaged 1 non-pro in two days, but then I speak fluent Russian, know the culture well and frankly, haven't been overly choosy. As for Portuguese, I am learning it right now but what I understand is mostly based on my Spanish (which is reasonably good), not any true knowledge of the language.
3) I've watched some forró videos and I'm not too big a fan of this music, how good are the other clubs for non-pros? Any recommendations? I read about Crocodillos on another board.
4) Are taxis generally metered? Does it make a difference in price if I hail one on the street versus ordering one on the phone?..............

Be prepared for heavy rain and hot humid climate.
I can't see how it will help you knowing if the posters are handsome/ugly? Scoring in Manaus isn't difficult, at least not if you speak Portuguese well. Speaking Spanish doesn't solve the language barrier, but might help a little bit. Speaking Russian will be a great help.

Just about all major clubs plays forró.
Crocodilo is an exception. The club can be decent on Sundays, but small and very crowded.

Taxis are metered, just as in the rest of Brazil. Taxi rides to the clubs can become quite expensive.

No need for Malaria prophylaxis if you stay in Manaus.

[SlutLover]

Some questions on Manaus (I was thinking of spending a few months there, perhaps also in Rio Branco and Porto Velho from Dec). Hope you can help with these.

1) How bad is the rain during rainy season? Is it heavy or light, how many hours per day must I expect? Are the times of day predictable? Just how bearable is the heat?

2) The reports don't usually mention how old, fit and handsome/ugly the poster is! This is why I sometimes find it difficult to understand just how easy/hard the non-pro scene will be. I'm 33 years old, white, in shape with dark hair and blue eyes, can't dance forró but dance well otherwise, what do you think my chances of scoring ANY girl on a given night will be? For purposes of comparison, in Moscow/Kiev, I usually averaged 1 non-pro in two days, but then I speak fluent Russian, know the culture well and frankly, haven't been overly choosy. As for Portuguese, I am learning it right now but what I understand is mostly based on my Spanish (which is reasonably good), not any true knowledge of the language.

3) I've watched some forró videos and I'm not too big a fan of this music, how good are the other clubs for non-pros? Any recommendations? I read about Crocodillos on another board.

4) Are taxis generally metered? Does it make a difference in price if I hail one on the street versus ordering one on the phone?

5) Any ideas on long-term accommodation? Best to go through agencies or can you recommend some newspapers/websites that carry relevant ads? I don't really speak Portuguese, but I can read it very well.

On malaria prevention: I have found out the odds of contracting malaria for the average Manaus citizen in a given month of the rainy season (much worse than dry season). They are 1:1000 to 1:2000, and given the side effects that malaria prophylaxis can have, including dampening your sex drive, I'm definitely NOT going to take it. In fact, I know that locals in a malaria area do not take this stuff because taking it over long time periods is quite detrimental to your health. Note that some locals live in houses without ANY mosquito nets, some of them, as the Brazilian article put it, even "without walls". I figure that living in the centre in decent conditions decreases the probability even further, although of course the forró clubs seem to be farther out.

For reference, check http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/g...s,509948,0.htm (in Portuguese).

[SlutLover]

Anybody in Manaus in November? (4th-5th Dec.)
Some of your mellow mongers in Manaus in November?

4th-5th December or November? I'm confused.

[Brazil Sol]

Some of your mellow mongers in Manaus in November?

[Golfinho]

I don't take any vaccinations or malaria tablets.

Even though Manaus lies in the middle of the Amazon you will hardly be bother with any mosquitos. I see less mosquitos in Manaus than I see in e.g Fortaleza. If you leave Manaus and head to the interior of Amazonas it might be different. Along Rio Negro the mosquitos ain't such a big problem as along Rio Solimões.

Spent the past week-and-a-half in Manaus and environs. In a country infamous for its tourist traps, Amazonia the most heinous of all. Four Season's pricing for what Brazilians pass off as 5-hostelry. Still, had to go and do it once and been putting it off forever. For Hotel, started with Tropical Manaus at Rio Negro Beach. A great old-style facility to relax away from downtown Manaus, which is: your typical ramshackled and rundown Brazilian city, but one full of all the charms we've come to know and love. Try the Port Manaus inside area (where Amazon Explorers travel agency is) early evening. Girls there will show you attention if you're remotely alive, young and drunk ones. Leaving the Tropical at night to stroll along the 'beach' promenade, we saw working girls sitting waiting for clients. Didn't partake. Then, it was on to riverboat and Jungle Lodge for a few days which is beyond the scope of this forum. Note: mosquitos not a factor. In fact, nothing exotic really at all. Five minutes into the jungle, you could be anywhere there's trees, tropical forest, and swamp water, and over-priced everything including necessities like water and cab-rides.

[Java Man]

i went to manaus about 4 yrs ago. i had also planned on going on the amazon river and into the amazon jungle area, eventually ending up in santarem. about a month before my trip, i visited an international travel clinic, (located at a major university in my city,) and gave them my itinerary. i got: a booster tetanus shot, yellow fever, and hepatitis c vaccination. (i had a previous hep b vaccination.) was given malaria pills, which i was to take daily while on the trip. was also given a live oral typhoid vaccine, (special order by the pharmacy,) which i took three times over a 1 week period. (made me a lil nauseous at the end of the week.) cost was $350 at the time. peace of mind: priceless.

the doctor recommended i avoid buying food from street sellers, drink only from sealed containers, avoid salads, and only eat fruit which i peeled.

it was also recommended i buy a mosquito net treated with deet to sleep within at night. (you can buy these two separately in centro manaus markets.) regarding mosquito's, avoid being outside between 6p-7p, as that's when they come out. also take some repellent with deet with you.

i got bit, mostly by fire ants (i think) in my lower legs, so also take some treatment for the insect bites with you. whatever it was that was biting me, it seemed they liked the repellent, musta added seasoning and flavor to me. lol

to add to sperto post regarding mosquitos: the general rule is: if you see many locals hanging about in the area, it's safe. that also applies to piranhas and gators, should you decide to take a dip in the river. lol

i suggest you check with your doctor, as he knows your medical history before you self medicate.

also there are some posters here that will recommend you only need to take some vitamins to stay healthy and urge to to stay away from vaccinations and such. (to each his own.)

[Sperto]

Thanks Sperto,
One more question:
In terms of vaccinations, what are the must to do before getting there? I did my yellow fever shot 5 years ago and I believe their good for 10 years. Also, is it really necessary to buy Malaria tablets called Malarone from outside of Brasil at high prices or can I just get something similar in Brasil?
What would you Sperto suggest as you are a regular in Manaus, how do you deal with that aspect of coming to the Amazon?
Much appreciated.
Cheers.

I don't take any vaccinations or malaria tablets.

Even though Manaus lies in the middle of the Amazon you will hardly be bother with any mosquitos. I see less mosquitos in Manaus than I see in e.g Fortaleza. If you leave Manaus and head to the interior of Amazonas it might be different. Along Rio Negro the mosquitos ain't such a big problem as along Rio Solimões.

[Sprite13]

Thanks Sperto,

One more question:
In terms of vaccinations, what are the must to do before getting there? I did my yellow fever shot 5 years ago and I believe their good for 10 years. Also, is it really necessary to buy Malaria tablets called Malarone from outside of Brasil at high prices or can I just get something similar in Brasil?
What would you Sperto suggest as you are a regular in Manaus, how do you deal with that aspect of coming to the Amazon?

Much appreciated.

Cheers.

[Sperto]

Sperto, since you're the person to ask to when it comes to MAO as I'm thinking of going there very soon. I'd like to know where would a good area in town to stay and :
- get a furnished apartment for short term (say 1-2 weeks) (if not a furnished apart, then a mid range gf friendly hotel would be ok.
- proximity to clubs as I'd be focusing more into the non pros/night life than the pros as I'm young and speak fluent Portuguese.
- a lively day environment would be prefered for daytime approaches.

What would you suggest?

Thanks a bunch.

Valeu.

Staying close to the nightlife/forró clubs might be difficult. Different clubs every evening, most of them in different outskirts of the town (Tarumã, Cidade Nova, Ponta Negra etc).
Centro will propably be your best option to stay at. Centro is also good for daytime hunting.

Apartments for short terms can be found in centro. Lots of hotels as well. When I choose to stay at a hotel in Manaus I actually choose a motel. I negotiate a good deal and can of course can bring as many ladies as I want to.

[Sprite13]

Sperto, since you're the person to ask to when it comes to MAO as I'm thinking of going there very soon. I'd like to know where would a good area in town to stay and :
- get a furnished apartment for short term (say 1-2 weeks) (if not a furnished apart, then a mid range gf friendly hotel would be ok.
- proximity to clubs as I'd be focusing more into the non pros/night life than the pros as I'm young and speak fluent Portuguese.
- a lively day environment would be prefered for daytime approaches.

What would you suggest?

Thanks a bunch.

Valeu.

[Sperto]

Do you know of any massage places? The taxi drivers swear they exist, but never come up with a location.

Sorry, I know of none.
Check out the classificados in the local paper.