Manila

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2165276]Most complaints about taxis have involved scamming attempts. I probably have experienced these in fewer than 10% of my taxi encounters in Manila. But another problem is the incompetent or ignorant driver who pretends to know the destination but really doesn't. Last Friday night an associate and I left Terminal 2 in a regular taxi driven by a doddering old geezer. We told him to drop the associate at a named hotel at the corner of Estrada and Arellano a few blocks east of Taft in Malate and then drop me at Birch Towers on Bocobo in the block closest to Robinson's Place Mall. He repeated "corner Estrada and Arellano, said something about "Taft" (yup, right neighborhood) and "Bobobo," and off we went. He drove extraordinarily slow by Manila taxi standards and this should have been cause for concern: either that his mental capacities were beyond their expiration date or that he was unsure where he was going. Or perhaps we gave him more English than he could handle. Or all of the above.

He was doing okay going north on Roxas and then east on Pablo Ocampo, but when he started turning left on Taft I knew he was getting it wrong. I told him "derecho, derecho," (meaning straight ahead on Ocampo), but he just kept turning. (In hindsight I think he was fixated on the hotel's proximity to Taft; unfortunately it's four blocks from Taft on Estrada, which is one-way the wrong way.) he led us on a wild goose chase all the way to Quirino, turned right on San Andres for one block, then right on Leon Guinto. This still puts him three blocks too far west, and Estrada, when he crossed it, runs the wrong way. I took over giving directions at that point-kaliwa (left) on Pablo Ocampo," "derecho, derecho" (to keep him from turning off prematurely), then "kaliwa on Arellano" when he started to turn right, and finally "para dito" (stop here, roughly, I think) when we got to the hotel on Arellano.

I then repeated "Birch Towers on Bocobo, do you know where that is"? No answer. "Do you know Remedios Circle"? "Yes, Remedios Circle. " But instead of turning right from Estrada onto Taft, he turned left, south, then west on Ocampo. He then turned right on Mabini. This does eventually get close to Remedios Circle, so I suspect his only orientation to Remedios Circle was from the airport, and that his roundabout route back by Ocampo simply got him back to what he was familiar with. So his internal GPS just couldn't get him to Bocobo by the more direct route via Taft. (The next day another driver took me directly from my associate's hotel via Estrada, Taft, San Andres, and Bocobo as though the route were on the back of his hand.).

Once we were on Mabini we moved forward at about the pace of a walk. Except that it was midnight and there was no traffic. This was a giveaway that the old man had no idea where he was going. He eventually turned right onto Remedios Street but then drove on past the circle where he should have turned to the north on Bocobo. I eventually took over with instructions again, and once we got to the corner of Orosa and Pedro Gil I just told him to stop, paid, and walked the block and a half to Birch Towers with my luggage. What should have been about a 200 peso ride ran to more than 300 because of all his blind maneuvers. I don't mind the extra 100 pesos, but taking more than two hours for a 30 to 40 minute trip pissed me off, and there was no reason to have arrived at my hotel after midnight when the flight got us to Terminal 2 at about ten.

Most on the forum will ignore this post. No skin off my nose. But I posted it to offer some cultural lessons. First, Filipinos sometimes pretend to understand when in fact they do not want to look dumb by admitting they don't. I screwed up by not recognizing that his reference to "Taft" when we got in his cab at the airport was a very vague reference, and I should have pinned him down more precisely. Second, a few basic instructions can be handy when you know where you're going and your driver does not. On my first trip to the Philippines a talkative cabbie asked me if I understood Tagalog. I told him what little I knew. He suggested that some cab drivers don't understand much English, and a few words of instruction could get me by: derecho for straight ahead, kanan for right, kaliwa for left, para for stop, and dito for here. Some of our expats will have much more extensive Filipino lexicon, but these instructions have served me well on many occasions.[/QUOTE]Have you tried Uber / Grab here yet? I hear it is more reliable, fewer bad experiences. I might try it on the way out this week to the airport and see if it works, but if you've tried it already I'd love to hear your take. I know you say "you screwed up" by not recognizing the reference to "Taft" BUT how many possible details and hand holding can you possibly take care of for filipinos? Some things are bound to fall through the cracks. I suppose we should all draw out / print out map directions. But that still won't solve the million other screw ups and scams a manila driver might pull.

[QUOTE=WorldWideScout;2165322]Have you tried Uber / Grab here yet?
I suppose we should all draw out / print out map directions. But that still won't solve the million other screw ups and scams a manila driver might pull.[/QUOTE]My taxi experience screw ups don't number in the millions. They have been the exception to the rule. What I suggest works perhaps better for people who know their way around the city pretty well, or who carry a CitiAtlas with them when they travel in Manila.

I first traveled to the Phils 12 years ago for a stint of about five months. I took an apartment in Quezon City to be near my work, but I found a nearby National Bookstore and bought a CitiAtlas for about 650 pesos on my third day in country, specifically for detailed directions for getting to LA Cafe. I have always considered it one of my wisest purchases in Manila.

As noted by others, Uber has been absorbed by Grab in Manila. I have taken Grab a few times. We took Grab from my associate's hotel to Makati about a week ago. Price calculated in advance by the driver was a flat rate of 310 pesos. Return trip between the same two points in a metered regular taxi was 112 pesos (plus tip). I avoided Grab thereafter.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2165328]My taxi experience screw ups don't number in the millions. They have been the exception to the rule. What I suggest works perhaps better for people who know their way around the city pretty well, or who carry a CitiAtlas with them when they travel in Manila.

I first traveled to the Phils 12 years ago for a stint of about five months. I took an apartment in Quezon City to be near my work, but I found a nearby National Bookstore and bought a CitiAtlas for about 650 pesos on my third day in country, specifically for detailed directions for getting to LA Cafe. I have always considered it one of my wisest purchases in Manila.

As noted by others, Uber has been absorbed by Grab in Manila. I have taken Grab a few times. We took Grab from my associate's hotel to Makati about a week ago. Price calculated in advance by the driver was a flat rate of 310 pesos. Return trip between the same two points in a metered regular taxi was 112 pesos (plus tip). I avoided Grab thereafter.[/QUOTE]Surely in these days of cheap data and Google Maps or Waze getting lost is a far less frequent event?

I'll often have issues finding an exact building on a street due to bad signage etc but getting within 100 m is pretty easy.

[QUOTE=Goferring;2165373]Surely in these days of cheap data and Google Maps or Waze getting lost is a far less frequent event?[/QUOTE]Undoubtedly. My CitiAtlas: a) doesn't require a data package for my cellphone; b) never runs out of battery charge; c) never has its signal blocked by tall buildings. Its drawbacks are that it needs artificial lighting at night and sometimes requires thumbing through pages to get to a particular part of the city.

[QUOTE=Goferring;2165373]I'll often have issues finding an exact building on a street due to bad signage etc but getting within 100 m is pretty easy.[/QUOTE]And you still need to get the driver to respond when you correct his mistakes or confusion.

[QUOTE=WorldWideScout;2164470]Long story short. Back at my place she keeps asking me to go harder amd faster. She wanted a serious pounding. But then she yells "it hurts, cum fast. "[/QUOTE]I don't think she wanted a serious pounding. She just thought harder and faster would get you to cum quicker, but she miscalculated your endurance relative to hers. She came back to get the rest of the money, despite soreness, and she reasoned you'd be up for it since you didn't cum the first time. She may also have been experiencing some alcohol fog.

Days counting but moving so slow, my sales lady & ex Bar girl keep sending me msg saying they miss me so much! For sure my sales lady really reacted more authentic while my ex bar girl may be only after the Pasalubong and the Money she is expecting from me! Both of them don't talk anything on money but for sure I wlll give them as I am not a cheap Charlie, I will give them what worth for their interaction with me. But I saw the sister of my ex bar girl, I wish I can also bang her even for a night! Initially my ex bar girl ask me if I like her sister! Hmmm is this some kind of a trick? Then I ask her are you serious? Then she came a reply, she just want to test me, as she doesn't want for game only! What a F*ck! I really hope she told me it's ok honey, I stay one night with you And she stay one night with you! I really hope she offered me that as I feel her sister is much prettier than her and never experienced of banging sisters!

Cheers,

MD.

[QUOTE=WickedRoger;2164598]Well you are better man as never saw that so post the link. And answers his questions Pomp as you are so generous and tell others to be but once again you don't help a newbie who only asks question over 4 years.

So we are waiting once again.[/QUOTE]You would do well to follow your own advice and RTFF. First, you can easily find the post by VeryInterest which was recommended for Report of Distinction honors; no need for anyone else to do it for you. Second as for answering VeryInterest's inquiry, it was succinctly and completely answered by DCups even before you commented on it. There's nothing more to add. But if you had RTFF, you would have known all of this.

Yo, we all respect the 5,000 plus contributions that you have made to international mongering. So if you if you perceive that someone is not doing as you do, well then you more than make up for it with the plenitude of your reports. Maybe if you think along those lines you won't be so quick to be hostile to the newcomers on the forum with that RTFF Squad crapola.

Been in Manila and it was one of my best time, been there last month for business, stayed in Makati, strolling around Makati is great, for me that was the best city in the Philippines, I have been to Manila, Angeles, and I forgot the other one, but I spent most of my time in Makati, actually just areas around my hotel, now I would like to share my experience there, well, in Makati, you can see a lots of beautiful pinay girls, I believe they are high class girls, I wanted to ask if they are for hire or not, but to my worry that they will act improper, I just stayed in a bar, looking to hook up at some girls, and yes, the girls came and ask me if I have a companion, and said none, then ask me if I want, and replied, yes sure, but how much? The ladies drink at that bar is kinda cheap, it's like 200 of their money, a bit of chitchat with the girl, actually she's pretty and sexy, I asked her if she will go to my hotel, she replied, I need to pay a barfine for her to go out on that bar during her duty hours, and the fine is per hour, per hour would be 3,500 of their money, which makes me think that it is so expensive, then I just told the girl, well I'll come back and get some cash, and she said yes, then I knew I can get an outcall somewhere in the web, I google and came up to Manilacourtesans, wow, to my surprise, they have a lots of lovely ladies, now my attention was at the website already and not on the girl I met on the bar, I tried chatting on their chatbox and they replied, I ask one girl, I won't mention, for privacy, and the operator said that girl is available, she asked me for my hotel where I stayed, got my name and mobile number, and told me she will call me again when the girl is already at the lobby to meet me, after 45 minutes close to an hour, the operator called me to meet the girl at the lobby, I was nervous that the girl would be not the same as on the picture, but to my amusement, she was the girl I clicked and booked, booked her for 2 hrs just to test the water, and damn, she was so good. I gave her 500 tip for extra miles, then the following day, I tried bookings another girl from their site, and same thing happenned, the girl was the same at the picture, but now, I avail their 12 hrs, I Booked the most hot on their site, now this was way better than my first, she was so horny and wet. Well to cut the long story short, if you will be visiting Manila, be careful with bargirls, better try Manilacourtesans for much easier satisfaction.

[QUOTE=Pompetus;2165758]You would do well to follow your own advice and RTFF. First, you can easily find the post by VeryInterest which was recommended for Report of Distinction honors; no need for anyone else to do it for you. Second as for answering VeryInterest's inquiry, it was succinctly and completely answered by DCups even before you commented on it. There's nothing more to add. But if you had RTFF, you would have known all of this.

Yo, we all respect the 5,000 plus contributions that you have made to international mongering. So if you if you perceive that someone is not doing as you do, well then you more than make up for it with the plenitude of your reports. Maybe if you think along those lines you won't be so quick to be hostile to the newcomers on the forum with that RTFF Squad crapola.[/QUOTE]Of the 5,000 reports, how many are just telling people to RTFF, or telling them that they're manager class? LOL Maybe 50%? Agree that this type of passive aggressive behaviour only puts newbies off. The Philippines board in particular is quite ruthless and it doesn't need to be

This missive is geared toward those who frequent the lower-end offerings in the Ermita area of Manila and are somewhat price sensitive and willing to accept average-looking providers. Those of you with higher standards and bulging wallets might want to ignore my story.

A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days in Manila on both ends of a trip to China. I'm retired and on a fixed income and I'm not that much of a nightlife kind of guy. So I went looking for daytime and early evening freelancers at Ermita's well-known lower-rent areas: LA Cafe', the first floor of Robinson's Place Ermita, and the mall side intersection of Adriatico and Pedro Gil streets. Unfortunately the Amazonia Bar has departed the Earth. May its soul rest in peace.

There were plenty of somewhat average-looking providers available, and I asked a few about their prices. 6 months ago the standard price for short time was between 1,000 and 1,500 pesos. But it appears 2,000 pesos is their new price, and most were resistant to cutting their rate to 1,500.

When I would decline and walk away, some would capitulate and say they would be okay with 1,500. But through experience I have learned that in the room they will attempt to guilt me into paying the extra 500. I hate being put in an awkward situation when I'm about to do the deed so I try to avoid haggling whenever possible.

One night I had a couple of beers at the LA Cafe' and decided to head down to the Duck Inn, located on Del Pilar Street about half way between the LA Cafe' and United Nations Avenue. Along the way I passed Hussy's Bar, which has been around for years. I always assumed it was an unsavory "clip joint" so I never visited. But after passing the door, I heard a voice say, "Sir, where are you going"?

Turns out it was a Hussy's GRO in her mid-20's, wearing a mini dress, 4 inch heels, and looking sexier than most of the LA Cafe' women. So I turned around, said Hello, and asked about drink prices. She said customer's beers are 100 and ladies' drinks were 195, which was certainly acceptable to me.

There were about 6 women there, all dressed in a somewhat sexy manner. There were 3 western patrons having a great time too. So my newfound friend and I sat at the bar and enjoyed a couple of drinks and had a very nice no-pressure conversation. After talking about our love of dancing, she asked if I wanted to take her to a club to go dancing. I asked about her barfine and was surprised to hear it was a mere 1,500. So after paying the fine plus 600 for drinks, we headed out the door.

I won't go into great detail about the night's events, but we hit it off famously. The next day was a free day for me, and she asked about my plans. As I didn't have any, she suggested we go on a day trip via bus to Tagaytay. All she asked for was an additional 500 pesos to cover the fee the bar charges girls when they are absent from work. It also equals how much the bar takes out of a 1,500 peso barfine.

I really enjoyed our two days together and could tell she was a sweet girl with a somewhat hard-luck story. So before I checked out of the hotel, I pulled 2,500 pesos from my wallet and handed it to her. She pushed it away and I could tell she didn't want to take it. But I told her that as a single mom, she really needs the money for her kid. To that she shook her head in agreement, took the bills, gave me a heartfelt hug and thanked me.

So during the taxi ride to NAIA I asked myself, "Why is this gal content with netting 1,000 pesos out of a long time barfine while the Ermita freelancers were holding out for 2,000 for short time"? I just have a feeling the local freelance cartel made an edict that 2,000 was to be the new asking price, and most men just go along with the flow and pay it.

Finally I arrived back in Manila and headed to the LA Cafe'. Armed with this newfound knowledge, l felt better equipped to negotiate from a position of strength. I saddled up to the bar and eventually bought a lady a drink. Finally we started discussing price, and she said her short time fee was 2,000. I replied, "Hey, I can go down the street to Hussy's bar and their barfine is just 1,500". And without batting an eye she replied, "Ok I will go for one-five". Back at the room I got pretty darned good service and she didn't try to upsize the price or even ask for a tip.

Just remember, capitalism is good, knowledge is king, and the cheaper the grapes, the sweeter the wine.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2165276]First, Filipinos sometimes pretend to understand when in fact they do not want to look dumb by admitting they don't.[/QUOTE]This. Not just when they don't understand, but when they feel you want an answer. My Filipina wife drives me mad doing this: "Do you know where the USB charger is?" - "look on the table honey" - "it's not there, did you see it there?" - "no". ARRRGGHH. Just tell me you don't know instead of leading me on a wild goose chase.

Also, I found this funny rather than annoying. Decent restaurant at Mall of Asia overlooking the baywalk. I order a meat dish and some vegetables from the "Vegetarian" section of the menu. The veg turns up with shrimp, pork, and octopus floating in it. I ask the waiter "Isn't this supposed to be a vegetarian dish?" - "Yes, it's a vegetarian dish, sir," he says. Completely deadpan a split second later he adds "With pork. ".

[QUOTE=KeenEyeJoe;2165906]So I went looking for daytime and early evening freelancers at Ermita's well-known lower-rent areas: LA Cafe', the first floor of Robinson's Place Ermita, and the mall side intersection of Adriatico and Pedro Gil streets. [/QUOTE]I have been surprised in my last couple visits to the area by the numbers of women plying the street trade at the intersection of Adriatico and Pedro Gil. My sense is that this has developed because of the traffic of Koreans and Middle Easterners around the businesses there that cater to them. I also saw a few on the other side of Pedro Gil in front of McDonalds--and a few LBs. These women can be quite persistent. If you don't respond to the first "Hello, sir," they will follow you for a distance down the street.

Interesting observations about the Hussy's and LAC equation. But if your report sends more mongers to Hussy's, will those prices escalate and the "sweet" girls there become more hardened?

Your story of the woman you took to Tagaytay suggests there are exceptions to the sweeping generalizations that are prevalent in the forum about the mercenary instincts of Filipina p4ps.

Did you hear a ding from her phone. She probably got a text from the white guy who is sending her money, saying he just arrived and heading to her place of which he is paying for.

[QUOTE=WorldWideScout;2164470]I get a spinner from la cafe. I just got in from Angeles so i was too tired to talk her out of a lady drink. So already out 350 p from the get go LOL.

Long story short. Back at my place she keeps asking me to go harder amd faster. She wanted a serious pounding. But then she yells "it hurts, cum fast. ".

A sentence that for sure will Prevent me from cumming. I stop immediately. She yells it hurts again at which point she freaks out and runs to the bathroom and starts usng that toilet butt blaster on her pussy like it will cool it off.

I was just hoping this isn't some scam.

I specify that I am not into fucking her if she is not into it and it Hurts. She promises "no drama it really hurts. ".

I talk her into a discount (not a big one, prob just covered the drinks, so still out around 1500).

But wrf. Anyone else come. Across that weirdness? So strange.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=KeenEyeJoe;2165906].........I really enjoyed our two days together and could tell she was a sweet girl with a somewhat hard-luck story. So before I checked out of the hotel, I pulled 2,500 pesos from my wallet and handed it to her. She pushed it away and I could tell she didn't want to take it. But I told her that as a single mom, she really needs the money for her kid. To that she shook her head in agreement, took the bills, gave me a heartfelt hug and thanked me.....[/QUOTE]Whenever a girl refuses money in such circumstances I tell her it is not for her but for her child/ren, add parents / dependents.

[QUOTE=SoapySmith;2166049]I have been surprised in my last couple visits to the area by the numbers of women plying the street trade at the intersection of Adriatico and Pedro Gil. My sense is that this has developed because of the traffic of Koreans and Middle Easterners around the businesses there that cater to them. I also saw a few on the other side of Pedro Gil in front of McDonalds--and a few LBs. These women can be quite persistent. If you don't respond to the first "Hello, sir," they will follow you for a distance down the street.

Interesting observations about the Hussy's and LAC equation. But if your report sends more mongers to Hussy's, will those prices escalate and the "sweet" girls there become more hardened?

Your story of the woman you took to Tagaytay suggests there are exceptions to the sweeping generalizations that are prevalent in the forum about the mercenary instincts of Filipina p4ps.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the info about street providers hanging out in the area around McDonald's down by Taft Ave and Pedro Gil street. I'll be sure to check it out when I'm there next month.

Concerning your comment about the environment changing at Hussy's, I'm certain that only a small number of LA Cafe' patrons consistently read the Manila section of the ISG. And my article will disappear into the morass very quickly, so I don't anticipate an uptick in Hussy's customer count.

I'm thankful I lucked into finding a gal who found me desirable even though there is more than a 30 year gap in our ages. I'm also thankful I was able to board a plane the next day and fly home to Mindanao and leave her behind.

Excessive GFE is wonderful in the short-term and it's happened to me quite often now that I've been permanently living here for the past 4 years. One common denominator is that I've exclusively been dating the lower-priced women whose customers are mainly Filipinos instead of the higher-rent ones who have a lot of exposure to westerners. Some of my best experiences lately have come from the 700-1,000 peso streetwalkers that hang out around the Central Bank building in Davao City. There are some real gems whose conversational English is weak but are genuinely attracted to foreigners.

But I've learned the hard way that having these gals become smitten with me can provide medium-term complications if I allow them even a small amount of access into my real life. Hell hath no fury like a Pinay who's learned she isn't your one and only.

On a moralistic side note, I always use a condom for intercourse and never eat at the "Y" with service providers. Except this week I let my guard down. In Manila I took a G Point bar freelancer back to my room and had a ball-draining night. Unfortunately I ran out of condoms and made the stupidly unfortunate decision to bareback her in the morning because my raging hard-on took control of my brain after she swore she was "clean". Thank goodness I didn't have a bullet left in the chamber so no ejaculation occurred.

But 5 days later (yesterday), my local physician gave me a shot in the butt, two pills to wash down with water, and a short lecture. It was my first encounter with the penile-tip pain of an STD and I don't want to go through this again. Back to putting my trust in Trust condoms.