Other Areas

[Soapy Smith]

If you are not interested in posts with no direct reports or advice for the old in-out, in-out, you should scroll past this post.

This could as easily have gone in the general information thread, but since Dg started this discussion, I offer it as follow-up information. Dg commented on the ridiculously flimsy temporary housing for Tacloban's victims of Typhoon Hiayan, which has yet to be opened by the government. Assuming that Dg recently viewed the same housing I saw in August 2014, I would offer some additional discouraging observations.

First, most of the units are ridiculously small, and much of the living area is on bare ground subject to rain runoff. Second, the framing is of coconut wood, which is among the weakest lumbers anywhere. Third, although some of the units are larger, built entirely up off the ground, and lined with thin plastic sheeting, the smaller units, which are not lined with plastic, will be subject to wind-blown rain penetrating the walls, even if the walls withstand the winds that Dg predicts. Fourth, the only CR facilities are community toilets and showers near the back of the development, and in August they appeared to have no running water. This probably means that toilets will be flushed and showers administered by hand using a tabo to scoop water from a large bucket. If there is no running water, this means water will need to be carried in to keep the buckets full.

Most important, this relocation site, reportedly meant to house the many families in tent cities near the airport, is about six km from town and has no employment, schools, or public transportation (jeepneys) to offer. Is it any wonder that homeless people choose to squat along the shoreline of the port, precisely where thousands drowned in November 2013?

Although this seems far afield of ISG's purpose, I think it illuminates several aspects of life in the Philippines. First, it reflects the total failure of governmental action that is often referenced in posts in the Phils forum. Second, the conditions in these flimsy huts are similar to, and perhaps better than, the conditions in which the families live of many of the poor women that ISGers pursue. Third, it reflects the perpetual dynamics of futility and fatalism—of poverty-stricken masses and political complacency--that pervade the Philippines.

But it's more fun in the Philippines.

I have files containing photos of some of the things Dg and I have described, but ISG is fighting my upload efforts. Maybe files are too big. I will try later.

[Dg8787]

Arrived on CP A319 or A320. I assumed the runway was repaired. The private jet that was blown off the runway January 19 was still there stuck in the mud. Kind of weird on landing as the plane heavily brakes to the end of the runway and 50 more feet and you are into the water. Then the plane turns around to head to the gate. Baggage comes quickly and off to transportation! Many hawkers there. I asked an American if he had been here before. The answer was affirmative so I asked if I could just shadow him. We ended up taking a Jeepney for P50 each to downtown. Jeepney was full and big bags were loaded on the roof. Half way there the jeepney stops. It started to rain lightly so the bags came off the roof and into the jeepney. Everyone was helpful and nice.

Stayed at Hotel XYZ. About $67 a night. Very nice hotel. Brought my own girl. Part 2 coming later.

Sorry for 2 part report. My Manila girl showed early while I was doing the report.

The restaurant at Hotel XYZ is one of the best in Philippines. Kind of surprised as for some reason I was expecting quality in Tacloban. Bad assumption on my part.

I did not see any UN or NGO people around nor any evidence of donor money in any reconstruction. Hard press to see any reconstruction other than ones done by private owners rebuilding on their own. Even the central Aid office was closed. Sad state of affairs for the people.

I went and looked at the temporary housing. 2 x 4 framing on concrete blocks. Corrugated sheet metal for roof. Walls are woven bamboo sheets as thick as wallpaper. 40 mph wind and the walls are over with. 60 mph winds and the roofs are flying off! Theses houses have been almost finished for months but Manila government won't let anybody move in yet.

Amazing how cleaned up the city is. There is a lot of activity downtown. Anyway I did not see any beautiful women around but I did not go to Robinson Mall either. Bring your own if you come here.

[Sam 14]

And the Robinsons way outside of the city proper is civilized and modern.

I should clarify, excuse me. What I meant to say was the song selection and noise level was much more manageable to me, as opposed to the small, old Gaisano downtown. There the jams and unintelligible announcements every minute were blaring so loud through the blown out speakers, you'd have to shout to talk to someone standing next to you. And ya, Skip. I'd be lucky to get a seat in that restaurant I mentioned. Packed house every night. I'd see groups of American accent guys laughin it up with their drinks in one hand and pinay in the other. They won't give you a glass of service water, it was p60 for a bottle of mineral water.

[Soapy Smith]

No reason to go anywhere else, some of the best grub I've had in the PI. But all that wasn't enough to make me want to stay. What a dump. Noisy, smokey, ugly. And many of the merchants, including hotels, sure don't mind taking advantage of a bad situation. Prices on most everything are jacked up and some locals I talked to aren't liking it much either.

When I was there in August I was told there were upwards of five thousand UN, military, and NGO foreign workers in town. This was driving prices up so that locals were even being pinched in grocery stores, let alone being able to afford restaurant prices.

[Sam 14]

I don't have any previous point of comparison, but the city is fully up and running. Spent most of my stay with a black beauty I met off a dating site. 23 years old, never been with a foreigner, only 1 previous BF. Hadn't been kissed in 2 years, never been kissed properly. And definitely hadn't ever seen the back of a guy's head in her lap. Ate most of my other meals at Guiseppe's on Avenida Veteranos. No reason to go anywhere else, some of the best grub I've had in the PI. But all that wasn't enough to make me want to stay. What a dump. Noisy, smokey, ugly. And many of the merchants, including hotels, sure don't mind taking advantage of a bad situation. Prices on most everything are jacked up and some locals I talked to aren't liking it much either. Friendly enough girls though. A few cuties working the retail stores, but you don't see allot roaming around for some reason. And the Robinsons way outside of the city proper is civilized and modern.

[Dg8787]

Arrived on CP A319 or A320. I assumed the runway was repaired. The private jet that was blown off the runway January 19 was still there stuck in the mud. Kind of weird on landing as the plane heavily brakes to the end of the runway and 50 more feet and you are into the water. Then the plane turns around to head to the gate. Baggage comes quickly and off to transportation! Many hawkers there. I asked an American if he had been here before. The answer was affirmative so I asked if I could just shadow him. We ended up taking a Jeepney for P50 each to downtown. Jeepney was full and big bags were loaded on the roof. Half way there the jeepney stops. It started to rain lightly so the bags came off the roof and into the jeepney. Everyone was helpful and nice.

Stayed at Hotel XYZ. About $67 a night. Very nice hotel. Brought my own girl. Part 2 coming later.

[Red Kilt]

. . .<SNIP>

When he was done I handed him more than p30 and walked out the door. I felt, at p30, that I had stolen a haircut; especially since he had given his time in earnest talk with me. He was putting the money in the till as I left. I was about 5 steps out the door, on the street, when I heard him behind me: "Sir. Your money. " I turned to see him holding some coins for me. You keep it lang. "But sir: Your money!" His eyebrows furrowed, his head cocked to one side. Seriously he was not getting the idea that I was tipping him, so I said it out loud: My tip to you lang.

He still didn't smile, he just said "OK. Thank you sir", and stared at me as I turned to walk away towards the Jollibee for lunch.

Haircuts are like taxis; very cheap in the Phils.

Robinsons Galleria and Shangri-la Mall (in Ortigas, for example), have simple barber shops that charge 120 php for haircut that includes all the things Westy mentioned as well as a good hard upper back, shoulder and arm massage as well. Bruno's gives you a more deluxe service for 200 php but still the same haircut. Pinoy barbers also give an excellent shave and facial treatment; again, it's very cheap relative to what I would pay back in Oz.

I cannot see how much profit is made given the number of cutters at work and the sort of rents these places must pay.

I suspect the barbers don't get much salary per customer, so most customers tip them; even the locals tip too.

[WestCoast1]

Not bad. Reyes Haircutters in posh Makati will do the same for p50. :P

Butuan. On Montilla Blvd. Across the street from Karaga hotel, half a block south, is a salon / barbershop. I've stayed at Karaga a number of times, and the place is visible from the room balcony, a whopping 30-40 meters away. In my time there, I see the same young man and woman open the place and close the place daily. I've never seen a customer go in / out of the place. So last year I walk in for a haircut and the price list on the wall said p30. My hair is very short, any barber can use the electric clippers to cut my hair in 3 minutes. The gent barber took his time and chatted me up for about 15 minutes while cutting my hair with electric clippers. He then used a straight-edge blade to trim the hair on my head near my ears, then my sideburns. He put a lotion on those areas. He put a talcum powder on my head. The usual conversation: "Where you from sir?" Like that.

When he was done I handed him more than p30 and walked out the door. I felt, at p30, that I had stolen a haircut; especially since he had given his time in earnest talk with me. He was putting the money in the till as I left. I was about 5 steps out the door, on the street, when I heard him behind me: "Sir. Your money. " I turned to see him holding some coins for me. You keep it lang. "But sir: Your money!" His eyebrows furrowed, his head cocked to one side. Seriously he was not getting the idea that I was tipping him, so I said it out loud: My tip to you lang.

He still didn't smile, he just said "OK. Thank you sir", and stared at me as I turned to walk away towards the Jollibee for lunch.

[Hutsori]

Things are cheap. My girl got her hair cut for 60 p.

Not bad. Reyes Haircutters in posh Makati will do the same for p50. :P

[Mr Hawaii]

Not exactly a tourist destination, although it is supposed to be the surfing center of the PI. Meet your Mindanao GF here or bring your own girl. Stay at the Tavern Hotel, great seaview rooms, good breakfast buffet, cable, wifi. In Surigao there is no cinema, no Starbucks, nothing much going for this place except peace and quiet. Am here for 3 nights with a friend, and have mastered taking the jeepney to Gaisano, which is about 5 miles from this hotel. There are resorts around the area, but I chose this hotel for the view, plus I am on a budget. Yeah, ok, I'm cheap. They pick you up from the airport in a van, and will take you back for your flight also.

Another point: if you fly PAL, you will be in a turbine prop plane (Bombardier Q400). Geez, first time I have flown in a plane older than me! Things are cheap. My girl got her hair cut for 60 p.

[Rubio Tonto]

The best hotel in the area is the Ciriaco. Stayed there for four nights in January 2014. My GF's family is from the area (now ex-GF). The weather was so bad during my stay that we did not venture out much, only to visit the family compounds. But the Ciriaco was reasonably priced and the food ranged from ok to a little below average. Probably the best you can expect in this part of the PI. They even had a singer at the restaurant for dinner every night, which was grating after awhile.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...d_Visayas.html

[Roll Aides]

Not that anyone comes here, but I thought I'd provide a note on changes at Goldenfield's for the few that might be passing through.

Anyway, the cluster of girlie bars at Goldenfield's is in the process of shutting down, a land developer having taken it over and being in the process of converting it to retail. All of the bars in the main strip, with the exception of Bunny Ranch and Golden Shadow are now vacant. Sapphire, located a bit further down next to Kundatel and across from MO2, also remains open, under the same management as Bunny Ranch.

Last time I was in Bunny Ranch in January, the price of the VIP room had increased to 2000. Includes four beverages and the company of girl (s) to be paid separately. Last girl I was with there was happy with 500 for full service. I assume take-out remains extravagant, haven't inquired since 2013 when it was 3500+. I don't patronize the Golden Shadow since a shooting there, but I know Filipinos who seem to enjoy it, I believe the prices are lower, and the shooting was a while ago, but I avoid it anyway. Left a bad taste in my mouth, as the best pizzeria in the city, next door closed down after two cops died there. I digress.

Also of now there is a soapy massage, past Kundatel adjacent to Moonlight short-time hotel. I believe the name is Duke's. From what I gather, it's a branch of an exiting establishment in Cebu. 1900 for massage plus whatever you negotiate with the girl for extra. Tried it once, fun but not worth a repeat. The girl I got was pretty but "shy", and wanted 2000 for anything other than a handjob ending (included in the base price) I laughed and passed. HJ ending was not bad, enjoyable, touching allowed but not digits. 2000 for covered FS in addition to the 1900 already paid seemed ridiculous. Services are off premises, they give you a ride to a local short-time hotel (usually Moonlight, right next door,) with whom they have an arrangement. Anyway, it's there if that's your thing.

Finally, the outside bar across from Chicken Alley (really just a mamasan with some local girls who don't want to be recognized in the dance bars their dads go to) continues to exist, this is where I usually go for relief if a regular is not available, I pay 1000 there for short time, of which the mamasan take a cut so not unreasonable. Went there a couple of weeks ago and the regular mama was not there so they tried to charge me 3000. Just explained that 1000 was the price I usually paid and it was that or nothing, and it magically became 2/3 less. Anything the traffic will bear, I guess.

I can't really recommend Negrense or Nuat Thai massage, on the front and back of the area, respectively, as in the ten or twelve times I've been there for a legitimate massage, I was once (once) offered "extra", which resulted in fucking a chubby 6 on the massage table for 1000 tip. Hit or miss.

As far as hotels, if you want to be adjacent to the little action there is, stay at Sugarland. If you want to be near what food and shopping Bacolod has to offer, try L'Fisher (near the good restaurants) or La Planta (nicer, IMO, and closer to Goldenfield but farther from the good restaurants, their own restaurant is actually pretty decent.) The new Ayala up near Silay has some actual passable food but it's a bit of a ride, and the mall food court at the newly-renovated SM Mall isn't terrible. If you are on a tight budget, Saltimboca pension on 16th is okay, and they have a small pool and a nice garden. Check-Inn downtown is also cheap and has an interesting roof garden, right next to SM. There are plenty of others, but those I recommend, marginally. Most of the best restaurants (a relative term) in the city are in the strip from about 14th to 21st on Lacson, L'Fisher is right on 14th.

If you are here on your way to Sipalay, I recommend Sulu Sunset, very nice management, and good prices, or Taka Tuka for a bit more upscale / artsy-fartsy and expensive. Driftwood also isn't bad, but their internet was hit or miss last few times I was there. If you don't BYO (recommended) the guy who runs the tourism office in Sipalay can hook you up with local girls, service charge "up to you."

[Yella Man]

So given there is no bar scene worth mentioning here on the island, I have resorted to using a mobile app called WeChat. It's not a secret because others have posted about their luck using the same app. If you haven't tried it and your traveling outside of bar-scene locations, I highly recommend it. It lists people who are using the app within 10 k of your immediate area. Just send a greeting to girls you find interesting and wait for the replies.

I pulled beautiful Ms. Kim (doubtful that is her name) off the app and into my room last night. Full service included whatever I wanted to do, including anal. So check this approach out punters. Once you weed out the many ladyboys who use the app, you can strike gold!

I'm meeting another outside tonight. She's bringing friends because she is shy. I like shy. They usually turn into wildcats in the bedroom. Happy hunting!

YM.

[Yella Man]

I finally found a gym here in Puerto Princesa. It is not a very good gym by anyone's standards, but if you are a hardcore gym nut like me, what little equipment they do have can be put to use to get a moderate pump.

It's located in the City Coliseum on the 3rd floor. Take a towel because they don't have any, and wet naps to wipe down the machines before you use them unless you want to use the shared rag laying on the floor. I'll look for a better gym while I'm here and post more later.

YM.

[Yella Man]

I am glad your alimoney payment worked out.

KTV sucks in general. Just kidding. But it is not my style..

Interesting story Skogis. The stuff we do for a piece of tail.

The girl from Equss KTV keeps blowing up my phone with texts trying to get me to come back there. I'm pretty sure our divorce is final. Unless she wants to re-negotiate fees.

YM.