General Information

I should have passed this on some time ago but forgot. I had my wallet stolen by baggage handlers at the Mactan airport when I was leaving there last time. I stupidly left it in my suitcase thinking I wouldn't have to bother with it until I got home. Well, I didn't because someone else has it.

In all fairness I did make make a stopover in Hong Kong (just long enough to transfer baggage), and I guess someone handled my luggage at my home airport, but my moneys on someone snatched it at the Mactan airport. Heads up.

Thanks for the map WW. Mattrick, I think you're recollections are a little bit off. For Raspewtin

Checking my map, it is about 8-10 km from Osemena Circle (Holiday plaza and Midtown hotels) to Ayala. It is about the same to go from Osmena Circle to downtown. I've walked both routes round trip several times, but it is an exhausting walk, especially when it's hot and humid...which is usually. I lose three to four kilos every trip. The extra beer intake is more than compensated for by the walking, the sauna-like weather and, of course, the sexercise.

Other considerations if you like walking: I sometimes walk there and then taxi back, or vice versa. Try to avoid the taxi during rush hour and avoid the walking at midday.

I've attached a map with the route in red going from Osmena circle to Ayala. Turn left after the big Cristo church. I've also circled some of the hotels that have been mentioned on this site.

If you want the map at a larger size, pm me and give your email address.

X Man

I can't imagine what would possess someone to put their wallet in their check-in baggage.

My biggest error was forgetting to take my house key out of my baggage on the way back. My baggage was delayed and I had no way to get into my apartment. Well, there was a way. I learned how easy it could have been for someone to break in.

Another tip. Put your nastiest,dirtiest clothes on top. That slows down the customs officials and probably will slow down a thief as well.

X

I searched the forum, and may I assume that the bars for take-out do not open until 7:30 - 8 PM?

Are there any bars that open a little earlier? There must be something as you can find something in Manila at 5 PM and plenty in Angeles in the early afternoon

Thanks,
Tooch

[QUOTE=X Man]Thanks for the map WW. Mattrick, I think you're recollections are a little bit off. For Raspewtin

Checking my map, it is about 8-10 km from Osemena Circle (Holiday plaza and Midtown hotels) to Ayala.
.............................................................................................

If you want the map at a larger size, pm me and give your email address.
X Man[/QUOTE]

X Man:
Thanks for the reality check. That looks like about a 10-minute taxi ride, am I close? I will probably stick to cabs for most of my trips from Holiday Plaza to Ayala, because I would rather that the ladies detect the smell of cologne, and not that of a sweaty Canadian.

Looking for gyms on google right now, and from previous replies on this board, I recall that there are some good gyms in Ayala area. Can you re-confirm this for me?

I probably don't need a bigger scan of the map, but thanks for the offer. That will be the first thing that I shop for when I check into the hotel.

Thanks again;
Raz

10KM is too far, maybe 5 or 6. It is 12 KM from Mactan Airport to Marriott and the trip to Osmena is a lot shorter, both distance and timewise. I think it was a P35 cab trip in 2000 - 2001 and was very quick most times of the day, maybe 10 minutes, depending upon traffic. I can remember Cardinal Reyes to Mango Avenue and hooking a left at a karaoke bar that my friend said was a rip off, LOL, but that's my best recollection. I would probably not walk it, too far for me. It seemed longer from downtown, i.e. City Hall to Marriott than from Osmena.

Marriott has their own small Gym that a DR. friend, located in Ayala, used. Not my area of expertise though, LOL.

[QUOTE=Tooch]I searched the forum, and may I assume that the bars for take-out do not open until 7:30 - 8 PM?

Are there any bars that open a little earlier? There must be something as you can find something in Manila at 5 PM and plenty in Angeles in the early afternoon

Thanks,
Tooch[/QUOTE]


to tooch

Most bar and brothel don't open until 8 pm and disco like sunflower and the
village is a waste of time before 11.00pm , you can find freelance in the mall
in the day time , I think sliver dollar open early but the quality of the girl is
not very good until after 9.00 pm .

fast eddie 48

Gyms I've used:

5th floor of the Midtown, near the Holiday Plaza. The equipment here was a bit old and not enough for the whole body. Last time I was there over a year ago they were improving it though. You may be able to bluff your way in here as they just write your name down and there's no computer check. Just say you're in room 1115 or something.

Marriott. Good gym but you'll have to pay if not staying there.

Waterfront Lahug. Also good but they even make you pay something if you're a guest at the hotel. That's one reason I don't stay here much.

Gyms I know of but haven't used:

Up the hill from the intersection that has Jollibee and the 'ripoff Karaoke' that Harvey Wb mentioned. It's on the second floor of an office building. I only walked in and looked at it but I remember the rate was reasonable and the equipment looked ok.

There's also a gym in Ayala which I don't know much about.

I think there is a gym on Ramos just past Holiday Plaza. Headed south it's on the left side. You can actually see people working out from the south facing rooms in the Holiday Plaza.

X

Well I've been here a week and this is first opportunity to sit down and write a bit of summary of what's been happening.

- First, the choice of internet cafes is endless. However if you want the privacy of your own little booth and no prying eyes while you type up your report, then NetXpress is the way to go.

It's on Juana Osmeta St, just down from the National bookshop on the left hand side. 24hrs a day.

The Korean place previously mentioned is not bad, but too open for my liking to type up field reports.

- Hotels: I tried Eddies but quickly moved to Holiday Plaza. At P1900 it's a great hotel - very girl friendly. After 8pm you'll find all sort of action just outside the door (if you're game enough). Across the road you'll find high price clubs with very nice girls if you want to pay that sort of price (P4000).

The hotel is also very quiet if you get a room towards to back with a view to the hills.

- Girls: Well they are everywhere, although I haven't had any luck in the malls. I'm not sure what technique you guys use there - but I wandered around aimlessly and got a few eye contacts but nothing really after that.

Every taxi driver has his "students".

One guy took me to a place called "Gate 3" - its about 15mins from Holiday Plaza in Banilad. Had a selection of around 30 girls - negotiate your way as usual, but I couldn't get it below p2000 for all night. The girl was gorgeous but a dud. Actually most of the girls I've chosen so far have been duds, either having period or just not into it.

- Nightclubs: Lone Star certainly has a good variety, but they are very pushy when it comes to ladies drinks. I think Viking has a better selection and the price is fixed at P1700.

This is my first trip to PI, and I would say it's a bit disappoiting (certainly Cebu anyway, I'm sure Manila or AC would be a different story).

Seems to me most girls have had at least 1 kid by the time they are 21,and by the time they are 25 then they are packing on the pounds.

I'm off to Dumanguete soon so hopefully will have something better to report from there.

[QUOTE=OzAsianLover]- Hotels: I tried Eddies but quickly moved to Holiday Plaza. At P1900 it's a great hotel - very girl friendly. After 8pm you'll find all sort of action just outside the door (if you're game enough). Across the road you'll find high price clubs with very nice girls if you want to pay that sort of price (P4000).

- Girls: Well they are everywhere, although I haven't had any luck in the malls. I'm not sure what technique you guys use there - but I wandered around aimlessly and got a few eye contacts but nothing really after that.
[/QUOTE]

OAL:

I offer these comments with the caveat that I have not yet been to Cebu, but I will be there next week. However, from the research that I have done so far, Cebu seems like one of the best cities to meet lovely young (and non-Pro) girlfriends. The most successful approaches seem to include the following:

1. Join a chat site. Establish some liasons well in advance of your travels. This has worked for me in other Asian cities, and from all results thus far, appears to apply in Cebu as well.

2. Seize the moment. When you have that fleeting moment when you make eye contact with the object of your desire, walk up and introduce yourself. It is probably better that way, as compared to her approaching you, when you think about the cultural implications.

3. Make new friends with some resident ex-pats in Cebu, preferrably ones that are married or attached to Filipinas. Try to meet potential gf's though them. Filipinas are notorious match makers. Let them try and work their magic. I have yet to exercise this approach, but plan to try it while I am there.

Cheers!
Raz

Ouch! Cebu is a hot spot, but when I was mongering, I would say maybe 20% of the P4P girls were as much "fun" to be with as girls I got to know otherwise.

My last "monger" was in Cebu, a 19 YO from the "Firehouse". A friend took me there on a Thursday night, I was leaving Saturday AM to propose to my now wife. Over the last year, he had shown me all of the "hot spots", save the Firehouse, so I wanted just a quick visit. I dragged him away from the Casino, which wasn't hard as he was having a lousy night.

When we got there, the Firehouse was empty, we were the only 2 guys. I wanted to sit against the wall, he said "No way buddy, you dragged me here" and we sat at the bar. While the girls danced lethargically, this 19 YO beauty sat next to me, told her I was just a "tourist", not BFing anyone, but I would buy her a couple of LDs. Now my friend, rich old hand that he is, is tossing 500 and 100P notes onstage and the dancers were "cured". Meanwhile, 19 YO is telling me "that one, she has husband" (will split early on you), "she has 2 kids", etc. Oh the memories of how catty they can be, LOL. OK, 1/2 hour later and we leave.

Next night, I'm back, BF 19 YO. Get to Marriott, gives me a bath, massage and great experience, she was numero uno in customer service. Gave her the rest of my pesoes and that was my last monger/bachelor party.

There's more to this story, such never give your old cell phone to a GF/Fiance/Wife, even if you think you have erased all of the numbers, LOL.

Good luck in Dumaguette.

[QUOTE=Tooch]I searched the forum, and may I assume that the bars for take-out do not open until 7:30 - 8 PM?

Are there any bars that open a little earlier? There must be something as you can find something in Manila at 5 PM and plenty in Angeles in the early afternoon

Thanks,

Tooch[/QUOTE]Yes I been few times at Sylver Dollars. Open at 4pm. Beer at 35peso.

Enjoy,

Tylenol

Yes, the Silver Dollar has a 4-9pm happy hour, however, the girls don't start rolling in until about 6:30 - 7:00pm.


[QUOTE=Tylenol]Yes I been few times at Sylver Dollars. Open at 4pm. Beer at 35peso.

Enjoy,

Tylenol[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=X Man]There have been quite a few hotel info posts lately. I've been meaning make some updates since my last trip, but haven't had the time. Let me make some quick comments in lieu of a more comprehensive post (which may never materialize).

Midtown is a good choice because it's on top of a mall, across the street from money changers, conv stores and fast food joints, around the corner from a really good Filipino restuarant inside the Kan Iraq hotel (which is a low budget option), and within walking distance of numerous bars, not to mention internet cafes and a large bookstore. Other hotels in the area are Holiday Plaza, which has rooster noise on one side (south side I think). The new remodeled Rajah is another option, but cheaper rooms might not have windows.

On the recommendation of a working girl I moved to Mango Hotel one night. Okay place but kind of a long walk to the bars and a long walk to Ayala... a long walk to anything. The money saved was not worth the inconvenience.

Someone else recommended a few places near Ayala Mall..Richmond Hotel I think. You'll have to scroll back to December to find the posts.[/QUOTE]There are 3 hotels I've had 1 month stays at while working here. I have an Apt now (8 month lease) . Mango was the cheapest but by far best value, although when I was there about 6 months ago they were going to raise the rates: I don't know how much. IF you care, what I HATE the most about the 2-3 star hotels in cebu (like mango) is they smell very bad of mildew.

Mango has tiles!!! I like the girls that work at the desk there. If you stay there, treat them with a lot of respect.

As far as getting around, don't walk anywhere for goodness sakes. Cebu is probably the cheapest for taxis of any place you'll go.