Quote:
Originally Posted by naytik
Looks like Burgos is the way to go then. I want to go there. Just need to make sure I watch my back coz I don't look local.
Definitely want to try 168 as well. Just need to find the time to squeeze it in. Traffic is the biggest concern there.
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my safety steps, since the first time I went to Manila like years ago (and more for those who haven't been to third world countries .. )
1) don't show off expensive phone/jewellery - get a cheap phone for use outside the hotel
2) Travel light (that's me- others may differ)
3) avoid making friends with strangers who want to 'help you' or claim to be your hotel security/staff etc, and if they persist just walk back to the hotel - almost all of them are seasoned confidence tricksters, who will whack you in one way or other once you let your guard down - and a reward of 1,000 peso or more is great, vs doing nothing -
4) if you feel something is not right, including the girls looking very Under age, leave the place
5) always, for Fxxk Sake, always keep small change in one pocket - 50s and 100s, so if you need a favour from a security and need to tip him, in a bar/club or anywhere, to get you a meter taxi, you don't need to pull out your wallet, and you can one-up the taxi drivers in Manila who never ever have change, so if you give a 1,000 peso, don't expect anything back, even for a 100 peso ride. And the small changes come useful when somebody harass you and you are stuck, and haven't experience any escape process- give a 50 peso and swiftly disappear .. (I never did it, but I guess it may work .. )
6) if you see a big group of fellows, sitting, congregating, unless it is day time, avoid them ..
I stick to all 6 of above, if I am alone and drinking. If I am with one of my local friends, I don't mind letting my guard down ..
for some real scams, that are not meant to scare you, but reality
I personally know guys who had to give their iphone, watch and jewellery, in exchange for cops not pressing charges for buying viagra :P no kidding
I personally know guys who met new friends, who took them to bars, and suddenly the bar bill for one beer was 10,000 peso - apparently it is consumable (you can drink for 10,000) but what can you drink for 10,000 and not get drunk ?
I personally know enough guys who fell for simple tricks and lost wallets etc (not enough to write here .. and not meant to scare you .. )
Then again, the world favours the brave. I know friends who took chances, asked taxi drivers to bring them to casas, ended up in dorms where girls waiting for overseas jobs are being cooped up and you can pick what you want -I did that twice, but the driver was referred by somebody and my local friend tagged along with me .. - before i felt it not right - feels like buying meat really- and the travel is a bit scary driving through some very ulu ulu places, with squatters etc.
I also know guys, who bravely chatted up strangers, and got rewarded richly (me too, at times did get lucky and other times, was made to look silly .. )
Go guts, no glory
Then again, my threat level detector goes extremely high, only in Manila.
In the Provinces, I take jeepney, go shopping alone, and go to bars alone, keep all my money in one wallet - stumbled out and taken taxi by myself, and never got taken advantage of or robbed (though you must know never to get into any gambling, drinking, or betting with locals .. )
Heck, in one of the islands, I was even sent back free to my hotel, because I spent 2000 peso there - in the empty place, and then the restaurant felt I was drunk, and the tricycle fellow the engaged refused payment, I had to call the front desk to force him to take the money.
PS, sorry for the long winded post, again