Manaus

Some of your mellow mongers in Manaus in November?

[QUOTE=Brazil Sol]Anybody in Manaus in November? (4th-5th Dec.)
Some of your mellow mongers in Manaus in November?[/QUOTE]

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

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 [url]http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/geral,casos-de-malaria-aumentam-106-em-manaus,509948,0.htm[/url] (in Portuguese).

[QUOTE=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?..............[/QUOTE]
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.

[QUOTE=Sperto]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.[/QUOTE]

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.

[QUOTE=Forest]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.[/QUOTE]
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.
[url]http://remulos.com.br[/url]

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.


[QUOTE=Sperto]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.[/QUOTE]

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

[QUOTE=Forest]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![/QUOTE]

Sperto, I think you indicated in an earlier post that Manaus has daytime forró on the weekends. Where can I find those clubs? Your (excellent) yearly update doesn't seem to mention them.

[QUOTE=SlutLover]Sperto, I think you indicated in an earlier post that Manaus has daytime forró on the weekends. Where can I find those clubs? Your (excellent) yearly update doesn't seem to mention them.[/QUOTE]
There are clubs working daytime on weekends. Clubs with swimming-pools, restaurants, bars and live forró bands. I'm not updated on these clubs. Just ask a taxi-driver and he will take you a good club, or even better ask some girls which club they prefer.

Some clubs are no fun at all, just for families and older people.

[QUOTE=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.[/QUOTE]Right on the money.

In Brasil as everywhere else, top-level girls want top-level guys.

I'd even say that it is even MORE true in Brasil than everywhere else, as brasilian women put a bigger emphasis on looks than Europeans, Russians or Asians.

[url]http://www.tarifadetaxi.com/manaus[/url]

Mentioned in earlier posts. Is this hotel girl-friendly?
As always, your help is very much appreciated.

[QUOTE=SlutLover; 1095493]Mentioned in earlier posts. Is this hotel girl-friendly?

As always, your help is very much appreciated. [/QUOTE]Slutlover, how was Manaus? An update would be nice.

[QUOTE=Sperto;1103355]Slutlover, how was Manaus? An update would be nice.[/QUOTE]This is a quick comment. I'll write a full report soon. I'm still there.

Certainly a good place for non-pros (4 one-night stands in 7 nights out with three weeks' Portuguese, didn't try any day game though) but I find it expensive. Taxi there, well, a bit of negotiating is possible, taxi back, expensive for sure. 10-15 reais to get in, once there I find that people claim a God-given right for the gringo to pay the entire company's drinks (I try to gently resist, though). At the end of the night, I tend to find that 150-200 reais are gone. Add to this 100 reais for accommodation or food, and you get to 300. Fine if you are going for a week, but to stay longer term it's not the cheapest option. I do suspect, though, that with fluent Portuguese the place is a dream. I have a better success rate here than I had in Kiev with totally fluent Russian.

Am about to book a ticket to Porto Velho, with (from what I can see) R$35 air-conditioned hotel rooms and compact nightlife, and maybe on to Rio Branco.