Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I just thought of another risk associated with Bangkok prostitution: the "Crying Game" effect. If one is so brazen and reckless as to pay for sex there he just might find himself in a most awkward position of finding out a rather startling truth. >>> I know someone that had this happen to them in Las Vegas.
Originally Posted By barboy "I know someone that had this happen to them in Las Vegas." I hope the person whom you know did not pay BEFORE the main event!!! **** I could only guess that if he (I feel safe in assuming that the one whom you met or know is a biological he who was looking for a biological she) had gone to an authorized/legal pro house which are found in certain counties in Nevada then there would have been no "Crying Game" effect.
Originally Posted By barboy "Funny isn't it that HKDL is one of maybe only two parks in the world that when real Disney fans are even offered the ability to go there will ACTUALLY PASS IT UP!!!" Well then I must be a minority because I spent 13 hrs on a plane over the Pacific just to see the place. There is so much founded negative criticism about HKDL with it's anemic attraction lineup. But there are also some redeeming qualities to the place too that few are willing to admit: Bricked Main Street vs asphalt elsewhere a very polite and helpful cast the most elaborate Jungle Cruise Golden Mickey's show the most beautiful backdrop of any park in the world with the mountains the finest of the Legend of Lion King shows The best meet and greet system/areas of any park with their different gazebos dedicated to specific characters very uncrowded which makes touring so very nice. The place has a lasting charm on me but I admit that the attraction lineup is woeful.
Originally Posted By Mr X I agree that the mountains are beautiful...really make the park seem more spacious than it really is too (that's a good thing!). As for the characters...I don't care for that but I really hate ANY "character lineup" sort of thing. To me, the "magic" of it is to have them walking around interacting (like they do at DisneySea and MOSTLY at TDL except for Mickey, Minnie and Pooh). But rude people mob the poor characters, so what can ya do I guess. *shrug*
Originally Posted By WorldDisney << just spent 7 nights in Tokyo(Shinagawa/Mira Costa---- IN THE SNOW--- what a sight Disney SEA was! and then I hopped on a plane to Manila, Philippines last night ---the sweatbox/tropical/sex industry/3rd world/ pickpocket and scam capital of the world. I enjoy life here far more than the 1st worlds of US, France, Hong Kong and Japan.>> True, but the difference all those places have a Disney park. The Philippines doesn't....yet . Anyway, in agreement, I'm in the Philippines right now, been here about 5 times now and at a place called Subic Bay. LOVE IT!!!! Philippines is third world in every sense of the word, but the people are nice, sunny everyday and San Miguels are less than a dollar, what more could you want .
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Be back home tomorow though . I might do my 6th trip this summer though, I really love being back here.
Originally Posted By barboy " been here about 5 times now and at a place called Subic Bay. LOVE IT!!!!" SUBIC! I was just there all day on Thursday and ate at Gerry's Bar and Grill on the beach. That's not the Philippines(might as well be in the US) you know that right? ----- you need to get into more Metro Manila, Tagaytay, and Boracay Isalnd to see the real philipppines. I'm still here in Pasig/Ortigas Center getting drunk by day and messaged by night and I leave for San Fran. tomorrow.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney LOL dude, I said I been to the Philippines 5 times already. I been everywhere from Manilla (was there for 3 days before Subic and was robbed there 6 years ago lol) to the south islands of Mindanao, Palawan, Bohol, Boracay, Leyte, Cebu and so on. I was with a friend here who wanted to come diving there and I always pick somewhere new to come (and didn't have to take a plane to get there.) Yeah, Subic is fun (and they had an incredible zoo) but the beach wasn't very nice unfortunately. I am now home . But my friend is still there and thinking about going further south either to Puerto Galeria or somewhere else for diving. Glad you had a great time. Me too . Will probably be back this summer, but I live in Asia, so not hard for me.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney LOL, a little SD....but as you know I don't need much help in that department . As for Boracay, its not Philippines anymore either unfortunately. I been there 3 times and the last time I was there in 2004 and it was night and day from when I first visited in 1999. It was a little more 'mom and pop' with just local restaurants, basic rooms and etc, then. Most average rooms didn't cost more than $15 total. There was maybe ONE brand hotel on the entire island. Very rustic. Last time I was there in 2004, it now looks like Disney bought the place and turned it into a resort. It looks NOTHING like it did just a few short years before in '99 and '01. Its now overpriced hotels, trendy shopping areas and they even have a gym, a GYM!!! I thought about going back with this trip and take my friend who never been, but it simply changed waaay too much and hate to see how much more its changed in the last four years. He was thinking of going, so might be there now. Will send him an email to see where he's going in a day or so.
Originally Posted By SuperDry WorldDisney and barboy: it seems that you both seem to be saying that you don't get the real Phillipines experience unless you experience third-world conditions like $15 hotel rooms and robberies!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^lol SD, no, not saying that but Philippines is a third world country and so when you go to a place like Boracay that feels closer to Hawaii than the Philippines, then yes it does feel more artificial then the rest of the country. It almost feels like walking into some of those Epcot exhibits of other countries. Its not to say what's there is false, but simply only a very narrowed (and super happy) version of it, that's all. With that said though, I would suggest anyone to go to Boracay hands down! One of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Shame the developers couldn't just leave it alone though. I suspect in about 10 years it will be a polluted mess much like the Red Sea seems to be getting with all the development that is happening there.
Originally Posted By barboy AAHHH----- HOME AT LAST!(2 hrs. ago), after 4 weeks out in the Pacific zones it feels good to be back again. "Philippines is a third world country and so when you go to a place like Boracay that feels closer to Hawaii than the Philippines, then yes it does feel more artificial then the rest of the country." Yes, absolutely yes. And here lies the problem from my end---- there are two Pilippines: The squalor, poor beyond poor which is 99% (or higher) of the population who make Mexicans as a whole look well off and then there is the high end stuff like Makati and the very expensive---even by US standards--- Global City(Fort Bonafacio/ Forbs Park) which is being modeled as I write this after Singapore, Roppongi Hills of the Tokyo Area and Hong Kong--- modern high rises everywhere and high end retailers. But I like drinking San Miguels with the local, friendly, painfully poor folk in the provinces on the beaches rather than shopping at Fendi and Sacks 5th like Wife does. We had a huge argument where to buy lots and land 2 years ago(she won and bought an excluive lot in Global City and a high rise 1 bed condo) So needless to say we do vacations very differently now.
Originally Posted By barboy "WorldDisney and barboy: it seems that you both seem to be saying that you don't get the real Phillipines experience unless you experience third-world conditions like $15 hotel rooms and robberies!" Pretty much, yes. I haven't been robbed yet(knock on wood) but I'll take the 3rd world conditions as I feel comfortable riding in broken down taxis, while traveling over uneven filthy streets and roadways on my way to a local karaoke bars for some 3rd world fun. Where else can one get a Pina colada or the like for about 1 US dollar and a full body 1hr massage for about 7.
Originally Posted By barboy " my friend is still there and thinking about going further south either to Puerto Galeria or somewhere else for diving." Puerto Galera would work quite nicely for that being it's in the Bantangas--- a diver's paradise. I've done two trips down there for dives. I think I might head back to the Philippines in May.... and check out Bali and/or Jakarta too since they are so close.
Originally Posted By barboy "south islands of Mindanao, Palawan, Bohol, Boracay, Leyte, Cebu" Impressive, most impressive World D..... you have seen more than I have. I've been to the Hundred Islands, Corrigidor, Bataan, way up north to Apari but not to Leyte Gulf, Cebu, Mindanao nor Palawan. You went to Mindanao....... did you know that(I believe) it is 3rd on the list for abductions/kidnaps around the world----Colombia being #1...... I need to get down there next trip.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< You went to Mindanao....... did you know that(I believe) it is 3rd on the list for abductions/kidnaps around the world----Colombia being #1...... I need to get down there next trip. >>> Sounds charming!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^LOL SD!!! Yes, only the best vacation spots! And actually I never knew Mindanao is the 3rd biggest lists of abductions, but yes, there is HEAVY security there. I went to the major city there a few years back, Davao, and honestly the amount of security carrying AK 47's and guns almost made me feel like I was in Iraq . But, it feels pretty safe to me (I guess all the guns around kind of does that ). I have a friend who lives there for about 10 years, retired, and has a Philippina girlfriend there. He's in his sixties. Davao is a great little place, nice beaches and down-to-Earth people. Its very different from fast paced Manilla. I would tell anyone not to worry about what they heard and even though the island might have its problems I'm assuming, Davao is as safe as anywhere else. Like my friend told me when I was down there, he's been there nearly a decade now and the only time he's hear about any crime in the city is mainly drug related and robberies. So yeah, you should definitely go.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney And let me clarify about being robbed in Manila. True, I was robbed, but I was simply pick-pocketed in a mall and luckily for me I only had roughly $30 U.S. at the time and my ATM, Drivers license and etc wasn't in my wallet, so I got off lucky. I also been pick pocketed in Vietnam about 2 years ago by a bunch of ladyboy hookers (yes, looong story lol), but these things happen, well, sort of . When I was 18, a mexican gang held a gun up to my head wanting me to give me my jacket at a bus stop (and I DIDN'T) and this was back in good ole L.A. where I lived four days before Christmas lol. So yes, these places aren't always the safest, but look around and I will bet you they are actually a lot less dangerous then where most people live in the West. Its a 'different' type of danger to me, being raised in the hood was a hundred times worse than what I see here any given day and probably why I like living in Asia so much more than I would like to live in Europe or the U.S.
