Manila

[WestCoast1]

Back to the point, I see a lot about Makati and EDSA, but what about other areas of greater Manila. Are there recommendable bars in other parts of the city where an ex-pat can go to find a quickie with a working girl? How about a gentleman's club where harmless visual stimulation can be found?

Burgos St Makati, Horizon's Gentleman's club. Good pole dancers from various countries, more US-style, one girl at a time (not the usual plethora of bored shuffling), good erotic pole dancing (girls are not for takeout).

LA Cafe in Malate, lots of eye candy later at night, all girls for takeout.

[Transporter]

I'm sorry, I mis-spoke. It wasn't load I bought, it was a package. I want to say 500 PHP for a week unlimited data. I should have just bought load, then signed up for a plan through my phone. I like the idea of buying a load card before I leave.

This was so long ago, that I don't know if it is still relevant today. But I remember for some reason I wanted to or had to buy a sim card and get load as I exited the airport (can't remember, but probably because I wanted to update a girl or girls I was meeting so that they could get on there way and we could meet faster as opposed to getting to the hotel and then buying my sim and texting the girl (s). Could save me a few hours). I purchased the sim and the remainder of 1000 pesos for load, figuring that it should last me a good part of a week and I could always add load later. Had them install it and add the load, he showed me the balance of 900 something load and I paid him and left. After a couple of days I ran out of load? I know I was texting a lot of girls, but still that was a bit fast. Did some research and found out that when texting different networks, it cost more but at that time it still wouldn't have burned up my load. Also found out that there are sim cards that people sell that steal load. Possible. Came to the conclusion that they sold me load that had a short life (cheaper for them to buy) so my load expired before I used them.

[Ogman]

Call me post police, but there seems to be a large number of posts here related to phones and SIM cards and data plans that would be more suited to the general info thread.

On a separate note I wonder how mongering was done before the advent of mobile phone technology. Or anything else for that matter.

First off, I cannot agree more that post about the efficacy of marrying pinays or getting your phone to work are not what the location specific forums are for. I do not want my fellow mongers / cheongsters to stop posting here but it would be good to take some of these to the Philippines General Info forum and focus more on the where and how's of Manila.

Back to the point, I see a lot about Makati and EDSA, but what about other areas of greater Manila. Are there recommendable bars in other parts of the city where an ex-pat can go to find a quickie with a working girl? How about a gentleman's club where harmless visual stimulation can be found?

[SaltyPete]

I'm sorry, I mis-spoke. It wasn't load I bought, it was a package. I want to say 500 PHP for a week unlimited data. I should have just bought load, then signed up for a plan through my phone. I like the idea of buying a load card before I leave.

[ForkTruck]

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

Agreed, I visited a local independent cell phone repair / sales shop in the US before trip. I told the guy I was going to Philippines and wanted to buy a cell P that would work there. He said Okay, I have many customers come in for same thing and I know what you need. For $140.00 I bought an LG phone with the correct specs. Downloaded the apps I wanted on it at home before trip and prayed the phone guy didn't screw me, stopped at Smart counter in airport, free sim card and loaded pesos worth of load. Easy because the attendant took my phone and did everything for me. Caution; You do have to watch your load bank, my phone abruptly quit working once in the middle of texting and I saw I had 65 PHP load left, WTF, so taxi ride to mall found Smart counter and attendant took one look and said sorry sir you only have .65 PHP left (less than one) that is why phone no worky. Bought more load and back in business.

[Transporter]

Got it, thanks. Reason I've asked all of this shit about phones is I had a similar issue in China several years ago and you wouldn't believe the headaches it caused, which never got resolved. Going to do some research on those brands and thanks for the heads up.

Oppo and Vivo is most popular with the girls there, and you can get them anywhere.

Of course for name brand cp it is cheaper to buy in your own country.

[Niteluvr]

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

Got it, thanks. Reason I've asked all of this shit about phones is I had a similar issue in China several years ago and you wouldn't believe the headaches it caused, which never got resolved. Going to do some research on those brands and thanks for the heads up.

[Niteluvr]

Call me post police, but there seems to be a large number of posts here related to phones and SIM cards and data plans that would be more suited to the general info thread.

On a separate note I wonder how mongering was done before the advent of mobile phone technology. Or anything else for that matter.

That would be my fault as of late. Not used to the nuances of the Phils threads. Every country / state has theirs as do individual cities. Blame it on me for jacking this one up.

[Blanquiceleste]

Call me post police, but there seems to be a large number of posts here related to phones and SIM cards and data plans that would be more suited to the general info thread.

On a separate note I wonder how mongering was done before the advent of mobile phone technology. Or anything else for that matter.

[Dg8787]

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

1. Go on Amazon.com or eBay.

2. Get a GSM unlocked cell phone.

Blu or Moto brands work great in Philippines.

3. Land at PH airport and go to Smart kiosks and buy SIM card with load.

3 simple steps. Anything else will cause needless undue dizzy analysis paralysis.

[WestCoast1]

What type of phone / cost are you suggesting for the second phone?

I spent p15 k (almost $300 USD with accessories, ie case, SD card, etc) on an asian Samsung. It was 17 k for the base model in Malate Robinson's Place mall at the Samsung store on 3rd floor. A few doors down from there are several phone places, and one of them was running a promo. The phone is the same size, look, and feel of my US Samsung (considerably more expensive). The screen display is nice, and it takes a good pic. However the differences in quality and performance between the two phones are obvious. While the screens are the same size, the US phone display is better. Pics, vids taken on the phone, and movies streamed look good on the asian phone, but in comparison with the phones side by side, the US phone is just much crisper, more color, beautiful. The US phone focuses in pic mode faster and better. A positive extra for the asian A6 is that it has a front flash for the cam (real flash, not a screen-lightup), makes it great for taking selfies in darker situations. Such asian (or any) unlocked phones can be used in any country, just insert the new SIM in each new country.

Have previously purchased other cheaper asian unlocked models, such as the Cherry Mobile trash (good for about 1 year until they fall apart) in the $100-$150 range. Large screens, crappy processors and limited memory, cheap components. Caution about CM phones: There is only one repair facility in all of Phils (or at least that was the case previously), in the Manila Sampoloc area. If you buy a CM phone, you have only 30 days to bring it back to the original place of purchase with receipt for replacement (no repair probably). After that you must send it to Sampoloc for any warranty work (remainder of 1 year). Someone correct me if I am wrong. Alternative is to take it to any phone repair shop and pay to have it fixed (probably voiding the warranty that you can't use anyway).

Having 2 phones seems a bit excessive. But when I'm in-country, I use the laptop to keep in touch with fam / friends with email, my US phone I check every 1-3 days for txt msgs (I don't email or FB on my phone), and use the asian phone for all communications within the country. The asian phone SD card and memory are sanitized the night before departure, and then the phone is factory re-set for use on the next trip.

NL, I will PM you.

[Niteluvr]

I realize its dumbed down TV but have a look at "90 day Fiance" on You Tube. How desperate can guys be to get laid?

Like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD1siMGgStQ.

He didn't learn anything from his first marriage? LOL.

[Goferring]

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

Samsung Android. I don't know the model. Probably superseded by now

I applauded your pre work to be prepared but it's really not that hard or anything to sweat the details over. Just buy any phone on ebay for $100/150, turn up to PI, hand said phone and 500 p to the girl at Globe or Smart and say "make it work, I need a reasonable amount of data". You may get it right. You may fuck it up. Worst case is you will be up for another $10 for a top up. Much better to spend your time on chasing and contacting girlies than researching phone models and technical specifications.

Enjoy your trip and let us know how it goes. G.

[Niteluvr]

Just any run of the mill, low to mid level phone that's not locked to a carrier. Pro tips: the very cheapest don't have enough memory to load all the Dating and Social Apps you might want; if you are paranoid about home security, get a operating system (Apple, Android etc) that your significant other doesn't have, that way there is no chance of accidental replications across all your devices; fast charging is super handy on a travel phone.

I paid US $ 150 on Ebay and its more than I need.

What kind of phone did you get for $150?

[Goferring]

What type of phone / cost are you suggesting for the second phone?

Just any run of the mill, low to mid level phone that's not locked to a carrier. Pro tips: the very cheapest don't have enough memory to load all the Dating and Social Apps you might want; if you are paranoid about home security, get a operating system (Apple, Android etc) that your significant other doesn't have, that way there is no chance of accidental replications across all your devices; fast charging is super handy on a travel phone.

I paid US $ 150 on Ebay and its more than I need.