Manila

[QUOTE=DCups;1679518]It is too far to walk, Mogwai. Take a taxi or a jeepney IMO. The jeepneys are fun and real cheap but if you're taller than 5'6 make sure you don't hit your head getting in like I did.[/QUOTE]You can also meet girls on jeepneys very easily but you can't mention sex or anything like that until you get off the jeepney I have gotten off before my destination just to chat them up if I got the look, and scored that way. If that doesn't bare fruit then all you have to do is get on the next jeepney in about 5 minutes. And yes, watch your head.

Happy jeepney rides L A T.

I will add my vote for walking. Twice on my last trip I had dinner at Greenbelt 3 and took a nice 15 minute walk to P. Burgos St. If you go at night it won't be too hot and if you stay on the same side of Makati Ave. as Greenbelt you will get to see the young women jogging in and around Ayala Triangle Park along the way.

[QUOTE=DCups;1679518]It is too far to walk, Mogwai. Take a taxi or a jeepney IMO. The jeepneys are fun and real cheap but if you're taller than 5'6 make sure you don't hit your head getting in like I did.[/QUOTE]I don't know what your definition of fun is but I'm 6 feet so I cannot sit straight up in a jeepney (like most of us can't no doubt), all the time straining my neck to peek through the narrow window openings to see where we are LOL!
I don't mind walking, I walk quite a lot actually, but in the night time in Manila I'd rather take a taxi or jeepney most of the time.

Thanks for the replies guys. It's now clear to me that P. Burgos Makati is the place to be and not Burgos Street Pasay.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1679762]I don't know what your definition of fun is but I'm 6 feet so I cannot sit straight up in a jeepney (like most of us can't no doubt), all the time straining my neck to peek through the narrow window openings to see where we are LOL!
I don't mind walking, I walk quite a lot actually, but in the night time in Manila I'd rather take a taxi or jeepney most of the time.

Thanks for the replies guys. It's now clear to me that P. Burgos Makati is the place to be and not Burgos Street Pasay.[/QUOTE]It is one thing to take a jeepney in Makati from P Burgos Street to the malls but an entirely another to take one across Manila, even during the day. Yes, if you look Philippino, fine. But if you look like a Westerner, you stand a really high chance of being mugged. Jeepneys are all the time being held up by armed robbers. And those armed robbers and their lookouts are going to pick the jeepney with the foreigner in it because he will be the one with the money.

Many of my friends were mugged in Manila (although never in Makati which is one of about 2 or 3 safe areas in Metro-Manila).

If you are a Western guy, then pay the money for the taxi. It is not much. And you lock the doors and close the windows, especially at night. Stay safe.

[QUOTE=JPF;1679636]I will add my vote for walking. Twice on my last trip I had dinner at Greenbelt 3 and took a nice 15 minute walk to P. Burgos St. If you go at night it won't be too hot and if you stay on the same side of Makati Ave. as Greenbelt you will get to see the young women jogging in and around Ayala Triangle Park along the way.[/QUOTE]You will get there more quickly too if you walk, especially between 8 to 10 pm on most nights (except Sunday).

It's a pleasant stroll and you can meet the ladyboys and others in the strip on the opposite side to the Ayala Triangle (in front of the hotels). They are not threatening; just decline and keep walking (unless, of course insert big smiley).

[QUOTE=Simian;1680180]It is one thing to take a jeepney in Makati from P Burgos Street to the malls but an entirely another to take one across Manila, even during the day. Yes, if you look Philippino, fine. But if you look like a Westerner, you stand a really high chance of being mugged. Jeepneys are all the time being held up by armed robbers. And those armed robbers and their lookouts are going to pick the jeepney with the foreigner in it because he will be the one with the money.

Many of my friends were mugged in Manila (although never in Makati which is one of about 2 or 3 safe areas in Metro-Manila).

If you are a Western guy, then pay the money for the taxi. It is not much. And you lock the doors and close the windows, especially at night. Stay safe.[/QUOTE]Not disputing that robberies (armed or not) in jeeps and PUVs don't happen, but I think the fear of crime is overblown - [URL]http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-violent-cities-in-the-world-2014-11?op=1.[/URL] (In writing this I read several news reports and the Philippines wasn't cited. Latin America & Brazil are the hot spots.) I use public transport (jeeps and MRT / LRT) regularly during daytime hours and have never encountered a problem personally. I was with a friend who was pick pocketed in the street near Amazonia, and I know Filipinos who have been robbed in taxis and in their own cars. When traveling my wallet is in my front pocket, I don't carry a large sum either, and I don't use my mobile to maintain situational awareness. Most crime is petty and those criminals are opportunists who look for the distracted or napping. Of countries I've visited or lived in I [I]perceived[/I] Italy, Guatemala, Mexico, RSA, Russia, and the USA to be more dangerous... far more than the Philippines. I think travelers feel the Philippines is unsafe because of the all the well-armed security guards and also because people speak English well enough to tell us scary stories. If one is overly fearful of crime book a holiday in Liechtenstein.

I was in LA Cafe last night and bought the 3 girls who surrounded and 'harassed' me from the moment I sat down a drink. I had to pay something like 750 P for 3 Red Bulls. Geez, is that normal? I think it's pretty steep. I believe they even called it ladydrinks but I'm not sure about that (it was noisy).

Picked a 25 yo cutie with a great body (some baby fat, big tits, firm ass) but she was disappointing in the sack. I should have taken the very sweet and rather pretty 'MILF' (around 30 I think) that was part of the group of 3 but she was too skinny to my taste. Oh well.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1680219]I was in LA Cafe last night and bought the 3 girls who surrounded and 'harassed' me from the moment I sat down a drink. I had to pay something like 750 P for 3 Red Bulls. Geez, is that normal? I think it's pretty steep. I believe they even called it ladydrinks but I'm not sure about that (it was noisy).[/QUOTE]Hate when that happens! Should have told the three hangers on to get lost. Yes Red Bull is expensive let alone as a ladies drink! Don't like their LD policy as it is suppose to be all FL. There are a few mamasans hiding in the background as well.

[QUOTE=BukoMax;1680275]Hate when that happens! Should have told the three hangers on to get lost. Yes Red Bull is expensive let alone as a ladies drink! Don't like their LD policy as it is suppose to be all FL. There are a few mamasans hiding in the background as well.[/QUOTE]And what exactly is this LD policy? Can you refuse to buy the girl a LD and buy her a 'normal' cheaper drink instead?

I went to Harrison Plaza this afternoon. I expected something similar as Robinsons but Harrison is older and worn out and much less posh than Robinsons.
I was there between 2:30 and 4 PM and hardly saw any WGs. I have walked up and down the entire mall 3 times (it's not that big). In total I've seen maybe 5 or 6 WGs and they were all average or below average looking.
One slightly older girl (early 30's I think) acted as a pimpete / mamasan when I told her I was looking for girls between 18 en 25. She introduced me to two young girls (22 and 25) and they were OK in the looks department, more or less, but they had the attitude of seasoned Pattaya Beach Road late night pro's if you know what I mean. So I passed.

The 'mamasan' told me the best time to go there is around 11 AM. Then there are many girls sitting at the square in the middle of the mall she said.
However tomorrow I'm moving to Makati so I don't think I will check it out anymore this holiday.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1680305]I went to Harrison Plaza this afternoon. I expected something similar as Robinsons but Harrison is older and worn out and much less posh than Robinsons.
I was there between 2:30 and 4 PM and hardly saw any WGs. I have walked up and down the entire mall 3 times (it's not that big). In total I've seen maybe 5 or 6 WGs and they were all average or below average looking.
One slightly older girl (early 30's I think) acted as a pimpete / mamasan when I told her I was looking for girls between 18 en 25. She introduced me to two young girls (22 and 25) and they were OK in the looks department, more or less, but they had the attitude of seasoned Pattaya Beach Road late night pro's if you know what I mean. So I passed.

The 'mamasan' told me the best time to go there is around 11 AM. Then there are many girls sitting at the square in the middle of the mall she said.[/QUOTE]Spot-on description of the place. It would take a lot of RTTF to garner all that, but that's it in a nutshell. I'll PM you with something related.

[QUOTE=Simian;1680180]It is one thing to take a jeepney in Makati from P Burgos Street to the malls but an entirely another to take one across Manila, even during the day. Yes, if you look Philippino, fine. But if you look like a Westerner, you stand a really high chance of being mugged. Jeepneys are all the time being held up by armed robbers. And those armed robbers and their lookouts are going to pick the jeepney with the foreigner in it because he will be the one with the money.[/QUOTE]Let's rethink this logic. Let's say you're a seasoned Filipino "holdapper." You get to choose two out of three settings for doing your holdups, and the choices are: jeepneys, ATMs in less well lit and less well-traveled locations, or near Western Union outlets. Which two are you going to choose?

Yes, there are occasional jeepney robberies, but think for a moment about what kinds of people are most frequently jeepney passengers. Westerners? Well-heeled Filipinos who have their own drivers? Business people traveling between meetings? No to all of these. With the exception of H and me most jeepney passengers are those who can't afford other transportation options. They don't have a lot of money in their pockets, and they aren't sporting expensive watches and jewelry. I concur with H: the risk of being robbed in a jeepney is overblown. Jeepneys are loud, belch nasty fumes, have low ceilings, and make a lot of stops, but frequent robberies are not one of the major detractors. There are three good reasons to take a jeepney: they are cheap; they go places where other forms of transportation, including taxis, don't often go; and there are so many more of them than any other kind of public transportation that it's uncommon not to be able to get one when you need it. Otherwise, take buses, taxis, FX taxis, or the LRT/MRT--whatever makes you feel safe.

[QUOTE=Mogwai;1680305]I went to Harrison Plaza this afternoon. I expected something similar as Robinsons but Harrison is older and worn out and much less posh than Robinsons.
I was there between 2:30 and 4 PM and hardly saw any WGs. I have walked up and down the entire mall 3 times (it's not that big). In total I've seen maybe 5 or 6 WGs and they were all average or below average looking.
One slightly older girl (early 30's I think) acted as a pimpete / mamasan when I told her I was looking for girls between 18 en 25. She introduced me to two young girls (22 and 25) and they were OK in the looks department, more or less, but they had the attitude of seasoned Pattaya Beach Road late night pro's if you know what I mean. So I passed.

The 'mamasan' told me the best time to go there is around 11 AM. Then there are many girls sitting at the square in the middle of the mall she said.
However tomorrow I'm moving to Makati so I don't think I will check it out anymore this holiday.[/QUOTE]I have never actually took one out of there but I did scout it out for the purpose of reporting my findings on ISG. I would talk to the pimpete as you called her and see what info she may have. She could have a few phone numbers of other girls. I spoke to a pimpete and was told that Sundays is the best time.

[QUOTE=SkipKost;1680729]Let's rethink this logic. Let's say you're a seasoned Filipino "holdapper." You get to choose two out of three settings for doing your holdups, and the choices are: jeepneys, ATMs in less well lit and less well-traveled locations, or near Western Union outlets. Which two are you going to choose?

Yes, there are occasional jeepney robberies, but think for a moment about what kinds of people are most frequently jeepney passengers. Westerners? Well-heeled Filipinos who have their own drivers? Business people traveling between meetings? No to all of these. With the exception of H and me most jeepney passengers are those who can't afford other transportation options. They don't have a lot of money in their pockets, and they aren't sporting expensive watches and jewelry. I concur with H: the risk of being robbed in a jeepney is overblown. Jeepneys are loud, belch nasty fumes, have low ceilings, and make a lot of stops, but frequent robberies are not one of the major detractors. There are three good reasons to take a jeepney: they are cheap; they go places where other forms of transportation, including taxis, don't often go; and there are so many more of them than any other kind of public transportation that it's uncommon not to be able to get one when you need it. Otherwise, take buses, taxis, FX taxis, or the LRT/MRT--whatever makes you feel safe.[/QUOTE]I agree with you skip, nobody wants the pocket change that you would find traveling on a jeepney.

If you don't feel safe in a jeepney then perhaps you should stay in your hotel and watch your flat screen and order take out pinays from online. Nobody is going to rob an empty pocket and that is basically what a jeepney is carrying. As for pick pockets, all you need to do is put your wallet, and your expensive watch, in your front pocket and be aware of your surroundings.

Just my 20 pesos, L A T.

[QUOTE=SkipKost;1680729]There are three good reasons to take a jeepney: they are cheap; they go places where other forms of transportation, including taxis, don't often go; and there are so many more of them than any other kind of public transportation that it's uncommon not to be able to get one when you need it.[/QUOTE]For me it's the third reason why I take the jeep. Sure, I can wait around for a taxi, or I can hop a jeep and be on my merry way to my destination. For short daytime rides of 5-20 minutes they're perfectly fine.