Manila

[QUOTE=Random99;1735989]Dude. I am sure this is not your first time for pay-for-play. You are starting to ask questions that veer on a subjective question of dislikes and likes. There is no right or wrong answer, but all to each individual's taste.

It seems like you have already answered your own question as you don't mind having a good repeat experience rather than hunting for a "possible" better one. LOL, I feel like your next question will be: should I use a condom or not? And if so, how do I put a condom on?[/QUOTE]I agree totaly. I am sorry as I started this due to some of his first questions felt legit and could be hard to find any answers on through here (I specified this in my reply to him) Now the guy in detail goes on and on and he will not arrive here until September, haha. But he seems to have got himself a willing crowd helping him out. I only hope they can take it through pm bcs this continuing until September will be boring stuffs.

[QUOTE=EngineDriver;1736033]Other things that Newbies need to know about Manila is that it is hot, humid, traffic is insane and noisy. If you are hanging out in Ermita / Malate, there are large holes in the sidewalk, beggars everywhere and you risk being run over by a Jeepney if not careful. If you are from the UK or Australia, look the other way when crossing the street! If you try to do too many things in one day you will fall over in a big heap. So just pace yourself.[/QUOTE]Yeah, watch quite literally all around you. Holes in the pavement / sidewalk, big lumps of metal / stone / cable sticking out of the pavement / sidewalk, cables string at low heights, cars without lights on at night, vehicles driving where vehicles shouldn't be driving (so even in a one-way street look both ways), pickpockets.

It's a lot to take in. But it's fun. I probably haven't seen the worst Manila has to offer but I've felt a lot less safe in parts of London. Oh, and don't get drunk, accept an offer to play a game of cards, walk with cash / phones obviously visible and / or unprotected, eat raw salad, or have drinks with ice chipped from blocks (most bars are ok). If I wear jeans I usually split money between both front pockets.

[QUOTE=Hutzesq;1735961]
Random99 - I looked up Caf Havana, it appears to be open every day. But I appreciate you thoughts on the scene there. Here is the website for it.

[URL]http://ljcrestaurants.com.ph/cafe-havana/[/URL][/QUOTE]Apologies. I guess I confused it with the holidays around Easter. P Burgos was closed a few days during Easter as well and I trekked over to LA Cafe (as they are open 365 days a year).

[QUOTE=Hutzesq;1735961]
Assuming I decide to stay in Makati but want to cab over to LA Caf around 8-9 pm on Saturday or Sunday, how long would that take? Is weekend traffic better in Manila?
[/QUOTE]There is no direct route to LA Cafe from Makati and your taxi driver will take you on some side streets. From my memory, it normally takes about 20-30 minutes.

[QUOTE=Random99;1735838]For both places, LA Cafe and EDSA, do not take the taxis that are sitting outside unless they turn on the meter (which they most likely won't). Flag a taxi as they go by and ensure they turn on the meter, so you don't have to get into a money fight when he drops you off at your destination.

Just be polite about the meter as some drivers will insist on a flat fare. Don't get angry or start a fight and you may need to get out and flag another taxi. Typically, they'll try to at least double a meter fare when quoting a flat fare.

Some drivers will refuse to take you to certain places. It's illegal, but it still goes on.[/QUOTE]A lot of drivers are ass holes. They see a white face and immediately try to take as much advantage as possible. I would get so mad before, but now I try not to. Filipinos can be very nice- but when it comes to taxis and such they pretty much try to get whatever they can.

[QUOTE=OneIpole;1737329]They see a white face and immediately try to take as much advantage as possible.[/QUOTE]Welcome to Asia, this statement applies to virtually everyone you might come into contact with in Manila, from the taxi driver to the girl in the bar, you are judged by your appearance and are fair game thereafter. Your job is understand the difference between a harmless ruse that might cost you an extra 50 pesos from the outright ripoff that might cost an extra 500.

For guys with no familial ties in Phil (or Thailand) you are, at best, a walking wallet.

[QUOTE=CallSignPapa;1737421]Welcome to Asia, this statement applies to virtually everyone you might come into contact with in Manila, from the taxi driver to the girl in the bar, you are judged by your appearance and are fair game thereafter. Your job is understand the difference between a harmless ruse that might cost you an extra 50 pesos from the outright ripoff that might cost an extra 500.

For guys with no familial ties in Phil (or Thailand) you are, at best, a walking wallet.[/QUOTE]Let's not limit this to Asia either! Happens a lot in South America and North Africa from experience, and I imagine the rest of Africa, Middle East etc too. I've even seen Hispanics being charged more in the US than Americans, even though they don't tend to be more well off. Multi-tiered service basically.

[QUOTE=OneIpole;1737329]A lot of drivers are ass holes. They see a white face and immediately try to take as much advantage as possible. I would get so mad before, but now I try not to. Filipinos can be very nice- but when it comes to taxis and such they pretty much try to get whatever they can.[/QUOTE]There are good ones and bad ones. When I lived in the phils, only took a cab once per week as I could walk to work and also drove myself. So quite familiar with the roads from TT in the south to Subic in the north. If the driver knows you understand the area well. Even providing directions on which streets to use, you can almost never be ripped off. In five years there, I can only count 3-4 times total that I feel I was overcharged. So I think the issue is being overblown.

[QUOTE=OneIpole;1737329]A lot of drivers are ass holes. They see a white face and immediately try to take as much advantage as possible. I would get so mad before, but now I try not to. Filipinos can be very nice- but when it comes to taxis and such they pretty much try to get whatever they can.[/QUOTE]One wanted to charge me 3 x the meter rate to get to my place yesterday. Three others didn't know my destination even though it's about. 75 km from where I was trying to get a ride from. Two others just refused to bring me here.

[QUOTE=Kaywhy;1737572]
In five years there, I can only count 3-4 times total that I feel I was overcharged. So I think the issue is being overblown.[/QUOTE]The taxi issue crops up on this board around every 6 months.

As always, there are posts from those for whom every taxi driver is a crook.

For others, like me, who has lived continuously in the Philippines for 18 years, and guys like KY who can count on one hand the number of times there has been any irregularity with a taxi driver. It just never happens that drivers either refuse to take me or don't want to use the meter.

I cannot speak for KY, but for me, I can only assume it's because I usually get picked up at my condo in Ortigas or at a mall taxi stop or at Greenbelt in Makati. I am always well-dressed and don't look like a tourist on the streets of Ermita / Malate. I never use GrabTaxi or other Apps; they are always regular cabs on the street.

It's almost like some of us live in a parallel universe. Taxis in Manila give me no angst whatsoever.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1737581]The taxi issue crops up on this board around every 6 months.

I am always well-dressed and don't look like a tourist on the streets of Ermita / Malate. [/QUOTE]Why grown foreign men continue to wear shorts after 6. 00 pm in Asia is beyond comprehension. Have you ever seen an Asian man out at night wearing shorts? If men wear jeans or long pants and closed shoes when they go mongering at night, it would certainly make an difference in the treatment they got from WGs, taxi drivers and other service people. Wearing shorts at night shows lack of respect. Keep the shorts and flip flops for daytime cruising.

I have seen fat, white mongerers wearing colored wife beaters, shorts and flip flops when they go bar hopping. It is not a good look and despite the size of your wallet, the girls are all laughing at you behind your back.

[QUOTE=EngineDriver;1737587]Why grown foreign men continue to wear shorts after 6. 00 pm in Asia is beyond comprehension. Have you ever seen an Asian man out at night wearing shorts? If men wear jeans or long pants and closed shoes when they go mongering at night, it would certainly make an difference in the treatment they got from WGs, taxi drivers and other service people. Wearing shorts at night shows lack of respect. Keep the shorts and flip flops for daytime cruising.

I have seen fat, white mongerers wearing colored wife beaters, shorts and flip flops when they go bar hopping. It is not a good look and despite the size of your wallet, the girls are all laughing at you behind your back.[/QUOTE]ED,

They do as they can and on vacation. I see many pinoys similarly dressed at night (you clearly don't hang out where I do). And pinoys love to walk around with their t shirts / vests / singlets pulled up to expose their stomachs (as keeps them cool I was told).

If the girls laugh no worries as lots fish in the sea and those that wear don't care as they know they will hook one.

Many white fat mongers come here plus a few very fat white women in tow. Now that is a horrible sight in their shorts at any time of the day LOL.

Size of wallet is all that matters to some girls trust me on this. Some don't care as long as you have the cash and pay but are respectful. If you are a fat whitely etc who is a cheap charlie then I even I would say don't see the guy (discussed many times on the board).

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1737581]Taxis in Manila give me no angst whatsoever.[/QUOTE]Exactly. I've had a handful of attempted rips off, i.e. refusing to use the meter, and a couple of successful ones due to my own stupidity by being distracted. In one case I wasn't paying attention to see the meter had long been running and in another the driver failed to turn it on. Really no worries. Before going to an unknown-to-me location I check google maps to get an idea about the route. When I enter the taxi I make sure the guy turns on the meter. Taxi break downs have happened more frequently, though still quite rare. When that has happened the driver didn't even charge me. I only recall a few times when the driver has been rude or reckless. The reputation of Manila cabbies being dishonest is undeserved. I've experienced more hassles in other countries including "developed" ones.

[QUOTE=RedKilt;1737581]

I cannot speak for KY, but for me, I can only assume it's because I usually get picked up at my condo in Ortigas or at a mall taxi stop or at Greenbelt in Makati. I am always well-dressed and don't look like a tourist on the streets of Ermita / Malate. I never use GrabTaxi or other Apps; they are always regular cabs on the street.

It's almost like some of us live in a parallel universe. Taxis in Manila give me no angst whatsoever.[/QUOTE]With respect RK, I think your experience is quite removed from the average first time, or relatively new visitor to Manila, who's first experience will be the airport which (if they've neglected to RTFF) is ripe for some serious overcharging by taxis. They'll then potentially have a similar experience when they go from hotels to destinations like Burgos, EDSA etc, which also clearly mark them as tourists irrespective of attire.

I haven't had too many issues with taxis (beyond the occasional "I add 50 pesos because it's rush hour" and consider the odd overcharge part of doing business in Manila, it's tourist tax and you'll find the same in Moscow, Kiev and Bangkok.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1737669]Exactly. I've had a handful of attempted rips off, i.e. refusing to use the meter, and a couple of successful ones due to my own stupidity by being distracted. SNIP I only recall a few times when the driver has been rude or reckless.[/QUOTE]Concur. The number of taxi problems in Manila has dropped (for me, an occasional warrior) by 95% in the last 3 or so years. Not sure why, but cabbies have gotten much better.

[QUOTE=Hutsori;1737669]The reputation of Manila cabbies being dishonest is undeserved. [/QUOTE]Disagree. The legacy of rotten cabbies doing the gringo-tango is deserved. On visits prior to a few years ago, on a typical trip I would hail 2+ dozen taxis. Usually 3-4 would try to take advantage somehow of the situation.

I don't normally take taxis, as when I'm in Manila I prefer to use Uber for the daily treks between Makati and Ortigas and back. However, I do take the, Moccasionally for shorter trips around Makati and I can't remember the last time a taxi driver tried to cheat me. It still amazes me that guys who spend thousands of dollars to get here and play get frantic over the possibility of losing a dollar or two.

GE.