Manila

[Starchild2012]

Grab is shady as F*k in Manila. This would NOT Be a PC post. Grab is run by a Chinese guy from Singapore. They have merely copied the concept from West UBER etc not the Principal behind it as usual everything is re-designed to add into "Asian Greed Index" which never ever crashes. With tech its EASIER to HIDE the GREED.

Being from India, It has become a norm in Manila but since its same as back home, it does not get into my nerves as it would be for a guy from West.

The problem is people "assume" since Asia has adopted western culture, they too would have Imported "Moral Principles" behind what makes west great. 90% of Asians think, west is all about Hip-Hop, Night Life, Hollywood and party all night, they do not understand, the REASON behind West Success is Rooted on Moral Principles. The difference between What is RIGHT and WRONG.

Asian society is still Tribal, instinctive, collective, Live for Today Society. We do not have the concept of REASON or What is RIGHT OR WROUNG. Greed is ingrained in people with IQ around 80 - You need a bit of higher IQ to reason what is right and be RATIONAL about a situation.

We have copied only the Superficial Aspects of West. Not its core principle of Reason and Being Moral. We do not see the way for example as WestCoast See it at a problem. We just want to Fulfill our Immediate Needs right now Ignoring the consequences of our actions which requires Higher IQ. WE LIVE FOR THE DAY.

When people from west "Follow Up" on a complaint in Asia. We have already forgotten about it and "Moved On" - Our Nervous system is surprised to see something being followed up from yesterday BUT when we have been shortchanged we take it as a PERSONAL INSULT and our Tribal Instinct Kick In and we make sure justice is served right there and then with violent consequences like how Tribal Society reacts.

Remember, there was no concept of JAIL in Asia, fair trial. Most Asian's when given power will abuse it and we excuse it by saying NOT ALL Not everyone is like that BUT the majority of people you will deal with in Asia are the ones that will get on your nerves. It all looks good in Asia, until when it comes to fair play.

When I'm in Pattaya I always visit only farang owned bars and restaurants and I never get "Funny bills" even when I'm fully drunk but I make sure a farang boss is around as soon as farang turn his back, the bar ladies would play the trick, In Manila they watch for my Drunk Stability Index before adding the Asian Greed Index Price to the bill.

The surprise is this has gotten far worse since tech was introduced in Asia, things have become corrupt even more in India now. India is now going back to draconian age with tech surveillance. Tyrants have taken over with mere skeleton of Democracy. Tech has given a faster way to make money and go back to tribal instinctive ways.

That is why China has become such a police state so fast than it already was, without a good credit score you cannot even travel outside in China. India is not far behind either. I can promise you being from Asia. Things will get FAR worse when tech is involved when you are dealing with Asians in Asia. I can see the gradual shift to darkness and tribal ways even more in India.

The easiest solution is to "Only Deal with Money You can afford to Lose" because you will lose especially in Plane Tickets, train Tickets, Bus tickets, Airbnb, Condo rent, Condo buying etc. Most of the time. It will not be as PROMISED. It takes forever to get refunds, your voice is even more buried now. We just HOPE You will forget or "GIVE UP" - We do not understand why a farang fights for few pesos is based on his PRINCIPLES not about Money. When you return to Asia after two years of lockdown. You will be surprised that you are now losing even more than before. People are now more desperate + tribal instinct is at an all time high. Survival has kicked in and when a tribal is in a survival mode. Always have your guard up.

Jayant Bhandari has better analysis on West vs The Rest.

Just BE CAREFUL on your Next Trip to Asia. This may sound over exaggeration or racist etc but if you have high moral principle and you were raised a certain way, be ready to be even more surprised.

[Free2]

Hi,

Really miss Manila as my last trip is Nov 2018 just months before the COVID.

Not sure when I can travel there again.

I hear you, brother. I was lucky enough to leave Manila after 3 weeks early March 2020, my flight home was changed. I got out of there in the nick of time but I'm happy to realize that it literally is the most recent I could've gone!

[OwnAgeSex]

Hi,

Really miss Manila as my last trip is Nov 2018 just months before the COVID.

Not sure when I can travel there again.

[WestCoast1]

I find WestCoast1's reporting about Grab pricing and customer service informative. SNIP For me, it shows how information is hidden and manipulated, to screw the passenger. Compared to other topics in Manila thread, I find his posts accurate and news-I-can-use.

Pinga 98 for ISG President!

[Pinga 98]

I find WestCoast1's reporting about Grab pricing and customer service informative. We assume that the dawn of digital age makes things transparent and temper-proof. To the contrary, WestCoast1 shows how Grab drivers and the platform deceives customers. As a frequent user of Grab service, I am amazed by his dogged information seeking, analysis and reporting. For some, his report may be a long story about "pennies". For me, it shows how information is hidden and manipulated, to screw the passenger. Compared to other topics in Manila thread, I find his posts accurate and news-I-can-use.

[MamaGuevos]

Apology gents. I don't see a taxi section, but maybe 'Stupid Sh*t' would have been a better place. Enough of the taxi for now.

The section was dropped years ago, but Westies contributions keep rolling in. He deserves praise for being one of the most informative members on the ISG, not to mention that he set me up with two amazing Filipinas about 8 years ago. So, Westie, please do not stop contributing.

[Locamotive]

You might want to strategize a sugar daddy-sugar baby arrangement, but I believe it's not cheap. Rep. Matt Gaetz might have some useful digits, but he's probably holding them very close right now as the investigation scales up.

True. Better safer and cheaper in the long. Run to just wait for Asia to open. I've not had a American woman in 15 years and from what I've seen lately plus what it would cost ST and the hassle and maybe prosecution. I can wait.

[WestCoast1]

I have to agree with Sammon. Several years ago there was a running blog solely devoted to the topic of taxis. I propose that we should go back to that and keep taxi issues out of the Manila section of the ISG.

Apology gents. I don't see a taxi section, but maybe 'Stupid Sh*t' would have been a better place. Enough of the taxi for now.

[Soapy Smith]

The $1,500/2 k USD hookers are not worth that kind of money. But if you don't mind Asians, they are available in every city in the US at a reasonable price.

I agree with Lefu's point, but in the city where I live, population about 250 K, you can get a massage, table shower and handshake for about $150. If you want the full menu, you need to go to a larger city, a drive of at least two hours for me. And then prices are going to be somewhere between $200 and $300. There are online offerings in my town for that price range, but they're not Asian, and there are significant risks of disease and police entrapment.

[Soapy Smith]

Several years ago there was a running blog solely devoted to the topic of taxis. I propose that we should go back to that and keep taxi issues out of the Manila section of the ISG.

I suspect there's a reason that blog / thread died: it's a topic that ebbs and flows, not one that continues at a steady pace. I have posted taxi stories in the past, but we had an expat in the forum, an Australian I think, long in the tooth like me, who flamed me and others who posted about taxi problems, insisting that if he didn't experience problems, others must be exaggerating. He reported a story from the news about a new LTFRB Director appointed by then President Noynoy Aquino. Some cab driver tried to cheat him on a fare and he had the guy drive him to LFTRB headquarters, walked the guy inside, and pulled his commercial driving license. Our expat insisted that this guy was going to clean up all the presumed taxi problems. Yet here is Westie, eight or ten years later, describing persistent Grab and taxi problems.

Simply stated, one government official is not going to change these taxi driver behaviors. These problems are embedded in systems and in the culture, and they're so taken-for-granted by average Filipinos that they're almost impossible to raise to the surface and reform.

I think Westie's point is to illustrate that these problems are now related to covid, and specifically that taxi and Grab meters are nearly impossible to monitor because of the new plexiglass shields in cabs. I have read about a paragraph into Westie's Grab and taxi posts, get the gist of the problem, and then move to other posts. But I'm not ready to throw in the towel on these posts because, for those of us focused on covid in the Philippines, they are informative. To me, at least.

[Lefeu]

Hahahahahahaha. You are obviously not in USA, a man here over 50 can forget it. Do we have hookers here sure, but what I've seen they would have to pay me. Only hot comparable girls I've seen here was in Vegas and those girls were 1500 to 2000 dollars, they are insane. Younger college types does that happen maybe but if your older and approach them they are likely to call the police. So yes traveling to Asia is money well spent, this country is crap. 18 months now and still waiting. If by some miracle you are in US and there is a place in this country where this is possible, please, please provide location and I will get there.

The $1,500/2 k USD hookers are not worth that kind of money. But if you don't mind Asians, they are available in every city in the US at a reasonable price.

[Soapy Smith]

Younger college types does that happen maybe but if your older and approach them they are likely to call the police.

You might want to strategize a sugar daddy-sugar baby arrangement, but I believe it's not cheap. Rep. Matt Gaetz might have some useful digits, but he's probably holding them very close right now as the investigation scales up.

[Locamotive]

Westie,

Thanks for single handedly keeping the Philippines board alive. Your resilience in staying put there for the past few years is admirable. Not sure mere mortals could have done that. LOL.

I seriously question the sanity of mongers who are planning to visit third world countries at the moment just to chase pussy. All this bureaucratic effort just for a root? Most mongers have excellent options for sex in their own countries, albeit at a higher price. But factoring in the high cost of the airfare, confusing and inconsistent quarantine requirements, loss of income, need to wear all the Covid paraphernalia and loss of tourist atmosphere hardly makes it worthwhile.

Hahahahahahaha. You are obviously not in USA, a man here over 50 can forget it. Do we have hookers here sure, but what I've seen they would have to pay me. Only hot comparable girls I've seen here was in Vegas and those girls were 1500 to 2000 dollars, they are insane. Younger college types does that happen maybe but if your older and approach them they are likely to call the police. So yes traveling to Asia is money well spent, this country is crap. 18 months now and still waiting. If by some miracle you are in US and there is a place in this country where this is possible, please, please provide location and I will get there.

[MamaGuevos]

Hey Westie,

I would rather prefer you fucking and posting pics of your pretty ladies rather than fighting with Grab. LOL.

As you know Philippine mindset is screw the foreigner. They practically never turn on the meter. Always quoting flat fare except very few honest people. I reward the honest with a good tip. Otherwise as a foreign visitor I take the loss and not let it ruin my day.

But of course you live there and need to live like a local.

I have to agree with Sammon. Several years ago there was a running blog solely devoted to the topic of taxis. I propose that we should go back to that and keep taxi issues out of the Manila section of the ISG. It's not that the issues raised aren't important for the average traveler to Manila, nor that the participants in the taxi discussion aren't otherwise excellent contributors, but it dilutes the Manila section and makes the mongering news and advice harder to find. With the lifting of the travel ban, there is so much for us to learn before making plans to return.

[Sammon]

Hey Westie,

I would rather prefer you fucking and posting pics of your pretty ladies rather than fighting with Grab. LOL.

As you know Philippine mindset is screw the foreigner. They practically never turn on the meter. Always quoting flat fare except very few honest people. I reward the honest with a good tip. Otherwise as a foreign visitor I take the loss and not let it ruin my day.

But ofcourse you live there and need to live like a local.