I think your birth certificate will do.
If you are able to come down early Friday, I'll be at the Matehuala bar running around after the girls.
Am a big no-miss. I always use a dark Polo that has my "Amigomio" name on it.

(Message edited by regio on September 19, 2003)

Mac, you're SUPPOSED to be able to prove citizenship to get a tourist card, and that can be done with a passport OR birth certificate (supposed to be certified). Payoff money should NOT work, but this IS Mexico, so you never know. If you can't get one, you might try coming on the bus anyway. I have been asked for a tourist card/visa exactly ONCE, and when all I had on me was a copy of my visa, they tried very hard to get a bribe out of me at the checkpoint. at the 20 KM mark.

Re: coming from the border on the bus: There is a customs checkpoint at the bus station and at the 20 KM mark. At the bus station you are supposed to push the button, and if it's RED you will be asked to have them go through your bags, and they SHOULD ask for your tourist card/ID there. I rarely get a red light, but it's random. At the 20 KM mark they are usually more worried about luggage and what people are bringing in, but one time very late at night an army guy came in and asked for my visa as I don't look remotely Mexican. I have never been to Reynosa, but there is supposed to be a customs checkpoint upon entry there too.

Once you get to Monterrey you will have absolutely no need for a tourist card. Nobody gives a shit.

Gregorio, you flatter me. Maybe by the time I hit 50 I will have seen S. America for myself.

Oh, and for anyone thinking of driving, this is all going to be a LOT more complicated. The tourist card will be the least of your worries, but you will absolutely need one of those in addition to the permits for your vehicle.

This thread concerns the use of cell phones in Mexico, and it is not information that can be provided by your local cell phone carrier. I provided this information to a seasoned Monger that requested it from me for another Monger who was going to be visiting Monterrey. I thought it was very good information, and I wanted to pass it along for general consumption here in our forum.

Determining whether my US cell phone would work in Monterrey was a big experiment for me on my last trip. No one at the customer service departments for the cell phone company would guarantee that my cell phone would work in Monterrey.

The cell phone must be operating on the same frequency range and system type as what is in Monterrey in order for the phone to work. I actually traded my old cell phone in for a new model with wider frequency and system access ranges before I left for Monterrey just so I would have a better chance of it working. My new phone will operate on TDMA800/1900 and GSM850/1900 and AMPS. I believe the phone company told me the system in Monterrey operates on the TDMA system, but they didn't tell me the frequency range, and they weren't sure of anything. They were skeptical that it would work at all, and they wouldn't guarantee anything. The risk was totally mine. I actually signed a new (2) year service agreement just to get the new phone at a relatively low cost (It cost me nothing in exchange for a new agreement being signed). My old phone had some damage, and I needed a new one anyway so the (2) year risk was not too bad. I always need a cell phone anyway.

When I first arrived in Monterrey, it didn't seem like the phone had signal. So, I assumed that it wasn't going to work. But, later I was adjusting the "system settings" feature on the phone, which has a selection where the phone will automatically detect and use the system that is present. Apparently, it detects the system present, locks on, and starts using it. But, you have to make sure the phone is set up for automatic detection or it may appear not to work. But, everything worked great!!! It was a great experiment that worked perfectly!

When I am in Monterrey, in addition to making phone calls, I can text message back to or receive text messages from any phone in the US that is text message capable for only 10 cents(US) per message. I am using the phone now to communicate with my wife while I am in Mexico because the cost to call is very expensive ($2 a minute at a pay phone). My wife can also send me text messages over my cell phone from her computer through email, or she can text message me using the same model phone for the same amount (10 cents US).

I'm not sure yet, but when making phone calls, if the cell phone has roaming capability, and depending on the plan I'm signed up for, it may be that I will only be charged roaming charges while making calls in Monterrey and/or from Mexico back to the US. I haven't gotten my bill from the cell phone company yet, so I may be shocked at the actual cost I accumulated on my last trip. I used the cell phone a lot. I will let you know the damage when the bill comes.

This text messaging thing is a Mongerer's dream for a couple of reasons. First, it is very cheap, only 10 cents per message. Second, the wife can send an email over her computer to my cell phone and it shows up as a text message. She never calls my cell phone while I am in Monterrey unless it is an emergency. I can Monger around without the prospect of being interrupted by a call from my wife on the cell phone. It is perfect because you are not out of touch in case there is an emergency at home because she can call your cell phone and talk to you in person. But, if you are busy with other um, activities, and you choose not to answer, she can leave a voice mail on the cell phone . The great thing is you still have your freedom to monger around without having to be careful about when the wife might call, etc...Thirdly, I think the text messaging feature will work almost anywhere in the world, not just in Mexico. It works wherever your phone is capable of making calls. It is perfect for Mongering around!!! I hope this helps some of you with your activities...good luck.

Spongebob

That is interesting and useful info Spongebob, I just hope your wife doesn't have spy software installed on the computer you sent this message on...

I used my cell phone extensively while in Monterrey. Sprint is the service provider.

A 45 minute hotel room phone call to work was around $200 (I know, I know, that is ridiculous, but it was a conference call and I did not have my battery charger with me for my cell phone).

I learned from my mistake because on my second trip, the same length of call on my Sprint phone was only about $25.

I do pay for service to Mexico through Sprint so that may have something to do with it. The reception was excellent.

No spy software...But, I bought her a seperate computer anyway just in case. Mine is locked down when I am gone.

Sprint has an alliance with Pegaso for roaming coverage in a few cities in Mexico, but I think that Pegaso merged with Movistar, so God knows what the Sprint coverage in Mexico is. I was able to send and receive via extended roaming while in Monterrey with my Sprint phone last May, though.

Pegaso did merge with Movistar, so you guys with Sprint must have national coverage here in Mexico.

Do there exist in or around Monterrey, love hotels, like in other parts of Mexico, complete with private jacuzzis?

Yes: the Capri which is in the neighborhood of the Matehuala Club and there are others, but those short term hotels are like 10 to 15 minutes away from the downtown area.
The Capri goes for 350 pesos for the room with jacuzzi.

I've been doing some reading about a now defunct strip club in Texas that used to, on certain nights, lock the doors and turn the strip club into an 'all-you-can-eat' brothel for the upfront cost of around $200. I'm currious if such a place exists down here. I love the Matehuala and Infinito and the Massage Parlors, but I would love to see something like this. I guess it would be similar to certain German FKK clubs where you just pay the entrance fee and everything else is included.

Anything down here like that, or anywhere?

Sorry Mac... nope.
Never in my life have a I heard of such thing here, except the usual stuff as lesbian shows and sex shows, but done in a small scale and usually they don't last long cause the girls move, etc.

That's what I thought... Sex shows would be cool though, are there any better places to look than others?

Mac, Don Gume is supposed to have them Fridays and Saturdays, late at night, after 2:00 am, including both or one of each: lesbian show, sex show.
There is a lesbian show at the Arcoiris, BUT, this joint is a gay club that's turning lesbian. Thing is that the show is being done by 2 Matehuala girls that are live-ins, and they are so popular that the guys don't care and go just to see them do there stuff.

Never heard of Don Gume before. Is it a SC like Matehuala or something?

BTW, I hope to come down the weekend after this one- Fingers crossed...

Common ordinary lap dance club, not top of the list more on the level of the TVO. It's on the same street as the Matehuala (Madero Ave.) and the Plaza del Arco Hotel, but way to the East, like 10 minutes away.

Regio,

Don't forget to mention Zuku Zuku, if it's still open that is. I had a real good time there back in 2002.

Monterrey, for my money, has the nicest looking girls in Mexico--on the street, in the stores, or better yet in the strip clubs. It must be something in the water.

A bit off topic, but if you like good norteno music, Monterrey is hard to beat. Just a couple of blocks south of the main bus station, near Hotel Nuevo Leon, there are some good places to enjoy live music. I think "Jefe's" is the name of one...Hope this helps.

Now the dilemma--go to Monterrey for around $250 roundtrip on the bus, or go to the Phillipines, over $1,200 on the plane. HEY BOSS IT'S DA PLANE!

Zuku Zuku is STILL open and still has some nice girls.
But most of the action is back in the downtown area...

I Need a Woman

Porker, Regio, listen guys, you sound like a lot of fun. I'm flying in on the 18th for some biz then off to Culiacan for a few days. Love to hook up and say hi and buy you a beer.

I was thinking (with my small head of course) about an all nighter for as close to free as possible. What, oh great ones, do you prescribe?

I've read about the hotels and the skanky ones sound great although I might opt for something with facilites so I can scrub up for an important business meeting the next day.

Worst case scenerio is a back booth with some skank ho but I know Monterey has more to offer and you guys seems to have it together. I'm bringing my (Spanish speaking) employee up from Guadalajara but he has a dick too and I'm not into that. So your info could help us out big time. I'll be checking back regularly for your reply.

Gracias,
Country John

When you get here, I don't think you'll be able to find Porker with change in his pocket. He went to the Phillipines for Easter vacations and he really goes wild over there. I think he returns on the 16th.
And yes, Monterrey in some ways is better than TJ, and yes, Explorer is right: you can get girls for all nighters, but here it really is expensive to get one that can acomodate you.
Cheapest you can find is the Matehuala and Infinito where they'll charge you 3000 pesos plus 350 bar fine for 6 hours.
Send me an e-mail (am registered), I'll send you a Monterrey map I send the guys that come down here so you can get an idea of the city.

And check this hotel:

http://www.safihotel.com

Might serve you well. Not that expensive and of course, not cheap at all. And 5 minutes away from everything...

(Message edited by regio on April 05, 2004)

Regio, Thanks man. . .

I appreciate the info. 3000 pesos for 6 hours, ummm, that's a lot of pesos. I am very easy to accomodate however so I'm open to alternatives (as long as they are 100% female).

I sent my email address via private message on this board for the map.

Maybe Porker will need someone to buy him a beer when he returns so I'll keep the invite open.

Best,
Country John

Yeah... I'll send Porker an e-mail.
By the way, he might be posting his adventures on the Asia Board.

Question for the Monterrey denizens....

I met "Venice" in AB recently. She is a Monterrey transplant. She said she was a dancer there and planned to dance at AB. Her immediate plans were to stay for a few weeks and return home. I assume she is here to test the waters regarding her earning potential in TJ vs. Monterrey.

She said the strip bar scene in Monterrey is bad right now. The clubs were importing foreign dancers from as far away as Europe(!?). The presence of these 'undocumented aliens' was causing a brouhaha, to an extent that local news stations were following the story. The cameras kept the customers away.

So, the question: is her story accurate?

Just wondering...Bosco

How to deal with a 'girlfriend' and still have lots of fun?

I know many of you have had this situation- UnspongeBob I remember a couple of your posts of the top of my head.

I've been to Monterrey quite a bit and met a fun girl that I keep in touch with via email and phone. I'm coming down to visit in a little bit and was wondering what the best way to break off and have some 'other' fun is? We will be staying together... Very excited to see her and have some wild times, but, then again, it is a long trip to just see one person ;)

Bosco... the totaly upscale clubs have the foreign dancers. By upscale I mean you pay tabs as high as 500 up to 1000 dlls just to have some contact with the girl.
I don't even step on this clubs cause they are expensive and get nothing in exchange.
Your girlfriend is only expresing her point of view of her bad luck here in Monterrey, that's all.
She didn't even tried working at the other local clubs, which are many....

How hot is it and when does it start to kool?
Regio and Porker and others thanks for your input I will be saving my pennies nickels and dimes and will be planning a trip around september.
Regio will you be there to show a tuff guy around?

Milkman, it depends, but May-October is usually pretty damned hot (High 80's-Low 90's with humidity), and Lord help you if there's a heatwave. It's 100x worse as many places try and survive with swamp coolers rather than air-conditioning, and CENTRAL AIR is a concept that hasn't ever been grasped in 95% of the girlie bars or restaurants in MTY outside of the upscale areas.

Mid-December thru Mid-February can get pretty cold too, but heat is easier to come by in most places than A/C.

Oh, and Regio is always around and a fantastic host. Might have to buy HIM a drink or two, though, Milkman, and I know that's not your specialty!

That´s right Milkman, we've been hitting mid 90's around this days, cooling today to the upper 80's.
And yes, Iam always around but free only on certain days (am married).

Country John Returns To Monterrey. . .

Just can't stay away from those fabulous Monterrey women. Lining up some biz meetings and this time I'm hooking up with Regio. We'll see how things shape up. Right now it looks like June 29/30/July 1. Alert the authorities.

Country John

We'll block the city gates and hide the women.
Don't worry about that... they'll be safe from you!

Regio, arriving in Monterrey on June 20 and will stay until perhaps Tuesday evening, then off to GDL until Friday. I'll stay at PDA again, hopefully we will get a chance to hook up. DanTheMan will be with me to watch my back and who knows who'll end up watching my front!!

Country John

Sorry... weekends are imposible for me. I'll try to give you a call on Saturday.
At what time do you arrive?????
Send me an e-mail or a PM with details.....

(Message edited by regio on June 16, 2004)

Regio, I'm arriving Sunday at about 3PM and wil head directly to PDArco. My partner will not make it until Monday at 3PM. I understand about your weekend. I leave for GDL on Tuesday evening. Hopefully we'll get a chance to hook up!!

Any place you can think of where english is spoken? I think I asked you this before and it came back NO but I need to ask again!

Country John

OK... how about lunch on Monday??? Take you to the Obsession Mens Club....

Girls that speak English: The Poisson Men's Club. Expensive, but very nice girls going around. Maybe at the TVO too. Less expensive but geared to squeeze your money.
C'm on, CJ! The girls love to break the language barrier! Even if you don't speak Spanish the girls enjoy trying to communicate with the client!!! It's part of the romance!!!

(Message edited by regio on June 17, 2004)

Regio, sounds like a plan. Lunch on Monday would be very cool. Any of these places open Sunday evening or do I have to "order out?"

I'll do the research on TVO. I'm on a tight time schedule (again) so I want to get the most BANG for my buck. I'll be back in touch. Any other hombres in town?

Country John

Pasarelas and Harem on one side of the spectrum, Infinito and Matehuala on the other side are open on Sunday.

Gee, Regio, what side of the spectrum would you say I'M ON?

Buying jarras is for suckers unless you have a pocketful of cash you want to burn. OH, and generally NOT get laid, unless you treat your booth romance girl like a hooker and throw money in her face to go to the hotel. In which case you should keep in mind that she'd have gone anyway without the jarra.

Come on Porker!!! You are denying your friends a GFE without the jarras!!!!
And you are calling them suckers for that!!!!!!

There are two opposing ends of the spectrum, and many choices in between...Both ends of the spectrum achieve the same end result. You can spend money so the girls will get to know you as something other than just another "John," and hopefully they will deliver something more than just a luke warm performance. My goal has always been the GFE.

Of course, there is also the other end of the spectrum, which is also the cheapest alternative, and that is to just make friends with your hand.

I have always thought that the fun is in the hunt, and in romancing the girls. In Monterrey, that takes a willingness to spend some money. So, if you have the money, spending it on jarras can potentially deliver a very good GFE. I have proven this theory many, many, times, and I believe in spending whatever money it takes, within reason and according to budget, in order to get what I want. Of course, if the money were not there, it would be a different story...and, of course, I still worry when I spend it, just like anybody else does. However, if you just keep everything is perspective, you will realize that you are still not spending anywhere close to what you would spend if you are married or have a steady girlfriend.

Also, if you are used to spending money on girls in the USA, then Monterrey is actually very inexpensive, no matter how you compare it. So, you must choose where you fit into the spectrum of choices. I prefer to spend the money, but that is not to say that I ridicule those who choose not to, or that I criticize those who can not afford to.

As for the language issue. I feel that I have had excellent success with limited Spanish speaking abilities. I think the girls find my limited Spanish speaking ability to be "cute," because I am something of a novelty for them. Girls love baby talk, and I perceive that a Spanish version of baby talk is how I probably sound when I am trying to speak my level of Spanish to them. I speak in very basic choppy Spanish sentences, and I actually believe it initially serves me better than if I were fluent in the language. However, I believe that as I get to know the girls more intimately over time, it would be a tremendous asset to have the ability to communicate with them with more fluency. In other words, my limited Spanish helps me get into their heads and their hearts, and of course my money gets me into their pants. But, I believe my limited Spanish speaking abilities hinder my efforts when I want to take things to another level. So, limited Spanish is great for ST, but not so good if you want to see a specific girl or girls more regularly. That is why I am continually trying to improve my Spanish speaking abilities. I am coming along slowly but surely.

I seem to fall in love with these girls at the drop of a hat. Actually, I think it is probably more of a crush than a feeling of love. But, when I speak of taking things to another level with these kinds of girls, I'm not really even sure what I am referring to, even in my own mind. Sometimes, I wonder why I would even want to take it to the next level, and I even find it difficult to define what the "next level" is. So, I have tried to adopt a philosophy that says, "be careful with what you ask for." So, I try to keep my emotions in check, and everything in proper perspective. Of course, this new philosophy opposes the spirit of a true GFE. As you can see, I am at least as screwed up as most of us...probably more so. :-)

USB, glad you're having a good time in Mexico, but I'll say it again: Jarras are for suckers. You spend 350 pesos for 45 minutes (if you're lucky) or so of ego stroking. Buying two of those and then paying 150 bucks or so to get a girl back to your room should have her licking the toejamb from between your toes between multiple epsiodes of balling your brains out.

But you are inDEED one of the lucky ones that actually gets to unload YOUR pump after spending all those pesos to prime HERS. I would certainly HOPE that most guys that go to places like Harem and Pasarelas are married and don't have to resort to using their hand at the end of the night when all they get out of their booth romance experience is some stained boxer shorts.

I honestly have no frickin' clue why there are so many of these places in Monterrey or what guys get from the experience. And you can say I'm biased by poverty if you want, but these places are to Mexico what strip joints are in the U.S. --A place to separate lonely, horny guys from their cash without actually giving them anything. The beauty of a place like the Matehuala is NOT just that it's cheap, it's that it's HONEST and strips away all the bullshit.

Porker, I understand why you think it's for suckers. But, it's all a matter of money, and a willingness to spend it in order to get what you want. The GFE is available in Monterrey, and in order to get it, you are going to pay the going rate, which is more expensive than other places like SE Asia, Colombia, BA, Rio...etc.

Even in Costa Rica, where I will be visiting the end of June, it is supposed to be less expensive than Monterrey. Apparently, it falls somewhere between the least expensive destinations in SE Asia and Monterrey. I have had feelings of reluctance to spend the money to visit Costa Rica because it is an unknown to me. If I find that a GFE is difficult to achieve, I will probably feel bitter about having spent the money to go there. But, I realize that I must have a postive attitude about the experience, or my chances for a GFE are significantly diminished. I am even considering a side trip to Colombia during the trip to Costa Rica, but now we're talking more than just money...Colombia is supposed to be an unbelievable venue for the GFE, and the girls supposedly make the girls in Thailand look like dogs. But, now we're talking about whether we are willing to get our asses shot off, a hand grenade in our soup, or a bomb under the bed. So, as I said, everything is relative to your tolerance level (cost, safety, travel distance, time, etc...).

I don't think the GFE is important to some guys, and they can be satisfied in Mexico for significantly less money by patronizing the massage parlors, Matehuela, Infinito, Gavenchy, etc...but, you do not get a GFE under those circumstances. If the GFE is important to you, then in Monterrey, it's going to take money, a willing attitude to spend it, and a faithful attitude that the you are going to get what you came for.

It takes more than just a willingness to spend the money. It requires an accepting attitude that what you will be eventually receiving in the GFE is worth the expenditure. If there is a bitterness over spending what the market demands to achieve a GFE, then that bitter attitude will show through and spoil the experience.

The locals in Thailand and AC can not afford to spend the going rate on their own girls there. You don't see many locals participating in that whole scene there in SE Asia. The money we spend in those venues is chump change compared to what we have to spend in Mexico for a GFE, so our attitudes are upbeat and positive about what we are spending in SE Asia, and we get great GFE's as a result.

The reason I have a positive attitude in Monterrey, where it is comparatively expensive, is because the opportunity for a GFE in the USA is virtually non-existent. I'm sure you can appreciate my jubilation at what is available to me in Monterrey. It is like a man dying in the desert who has stumbled upon an oasis. If you're dying the desert of thirst, you don't worry too much about what it costs, or whether your getting icewater in a silver chalice.

It is all relative...The locals in SE Asia, who can not afford to spend what we consider chump change compared to Mexico, and a fortune compared to the USA, are probably really bitter about what they have to spend. Some of them resent their own venue because they can not afford it, and they resent us because we can.

Anyway, the GFE DOES exist in Monterrey, and it IS obtainable to the same extent that it's available in SE Asia, but it does cost more, and it requires more effort. However, when you factor in the cost for travel, etc...there is NO WAY it is more expensive for you than the cost of SE Asia. For me, it is probably about the same as SE Asia because of the travel cost to Monterrey. But, for you, it is cheap compared to what I spend to reach my oasis(s).

Like everything in life, it is merely a matter of attitude. If you have a resolved and positive attitude about it, then you can enjoy yourself, even while you are spending money that you would rather not be spending. However, if you employ a bitterness over spending the money, then you are just poisoning the well, and you have limited your own potential for the GFE.

USB I gotta call bullshit. In SEA the P4P scene for locals is much much larger than the scene that caters to westerners. The scene for locals has a much greater price range with a good part of that price range lying above the entire narrow price range found in the market geared to westerners. You just didn't see locals in the western oriented Thai venues, because these venues are filled with brown skinned Isaan girls who the locals consider ugly and unworthy of paying to have sex with. The locals don't resent us, they laugh at us for paying to fuck the dark skinned, uneducated low class country girls. Hey, I tell the locals here that they are missing the big point. We are dumping money into the economy but we are not competing and driving prices up in their preffered market segment. It's all good.

In the Philipines, the top of the P4P food chain is found in the Karaokes around Manila whose customers are mainly local businessmen.

As with Mexico, and everywhere, the top of the P4P food chain is not affordable to the masses.

One last point. I think its wrong to portray SEA as more third world than Mexico. I am sorry but I have spent more than enough time in Mexico to know it's the place where a monger is most likely to be a victim of violent crime, theft, or fraud. While I have yet to go to Columbia I have met some people who live there and it sure sounds like life in the cities of Columbia is sure as hell a lot safer than life in the cities of Mexico. It's just irresponsible of the Mexico mongers to not disclose how dangeroous a destination it is.

Excuse me...
You are wrong.
Totally wrong......... worse than wrong, you just can't , TRUELLY CAN'T compare Mexico with Columbia.
I agree that some parts of Mexico, like lets say Mexico City, are extremely dangerous, but Monterrey is the safests city to monger around.
I've been checking the scene for 23 years night after night and I haven't seen bombings, shootouts, killings or terrorist attacks on cities like they do in Columbia.
Please, do not start slinging mud at my city. You do not even know 1% of what Porker and I know of it...
When I met Porker, even with my time going around, he opend my eyes to new venues I had never even heard of.
And he is a wittness of all that can be done here without risking a single hair of his neck.

OK Regio,

You have anectdotal evidence from living in Monterrey and me from other parts of Mexico. So I invested some time (Ok 15 minutes) to look up some crime statistics. What I found was surprising (but not to you) and I owe you and the city of Monterrey an apology.

The only quantitative thing I found was the murder rate per 100,000. Probably not the best measurement of monger vulnerability, but death does suck. Here are some statistics for various Latin American countries

Caracas 133.0
Rio de Janeiro 49.9
Sao Paulo 39.2
Bogota 24.3
Buenos Aires 10.9
Miami 7.3
Montevideo 6.7
Monterrey 2.9
Santiago 2.0

Monterrey is very good, Bogata bad, the Brazilian cities awful, and what the hell is going on in Caracas?

Also, maybe not surprising to those of us who had to spend serious time in Mexico (but contrary to popular perception), the cost of living ain't cheap. According to and index where the cost of living in NYC is 100


Rio de Janeiro 48.6
Sao Paulo 49.4
Bogota 43.9
Buenos Aires 44
Miami 83.7
Mexico City 71.6
Monterrey 67.5
Santiago 50.5
Tiajuana71.6

Al ot of other Mexican cities in the 70 range as well.

Of course who knows how these indice numbers are calculated.

All info I believe is for 2002.
I got this info from the following document
http://www.americaeconomia.com/FilesMC/ciudades2004-sp.pdf

I think it's hard for any of us to approximate how bad crime is because the likeliness of a crime occuring relative to the likeliness of it not occuring is relatively low for anyplace we visit. Furthermore, as participants on sites such as this we tend to be more cautious and aware of the dangers around us, and less likely to fall victim to a crime than your average tourist that might be walking around with a bulging wallet visible in his back pocket.

While I agree that cities in Brazil and Colombia are more dangerous in regards to violent crime, and I base this in large part from the opinion of locals I have spoken with, I think the likeliness of crime overall occuring is more likely in the Mexico border towns, although this has improved significantly. One of the most unusual things that I can say about Tijuana specifically is that the police themselves seem to contribute to the crime problem with shakedowns. Fortunately it seems the police are rarely involved in violent crime, though, and just limit themselves to lining their pockets a bit.

I guess my comments about the “dangers” of certain mongering destinations may have been slightly misinterpreted. When I refer to the "dangers” that are inherent in certain destinations, I am more specifically referring to the dangers associated with civil unrest and the instability of government in those regions, and governments inability to maintain order, rather than the effects of random crime.

Regarding my fear of venturing to Colombia, it is more a concern that stems from the activities of rebel forces, and the potential to be caught in the middle of civil unrest that has me concerned. I am concerned about traveling to a small country where there have been over 135 kidnappings in a year, and where bombs are known to be going off far too often. So, I think my concerns are valid. But, as many mongering reports have indicated, many of us travel to Colombia without incident, so I may throw caution to the wind and take a chance anyway. The rewards seem like the risk may be worth it.

As for Mexico, Monterrey is a very safe city. I have walked the downtown streets of Monterrey numerous times late a night, and never had a problem. That is something I would NOT attempt to do in any major US city at 3am in the morning. So, IMHO, Monterrey is much safer than what I am used to here at home. That doesn’t mean that I am not cautious. I am always very aware of my surroundings when I am on the streets in Monterrey, and I am not careless with my safety.

I have heard about the random crime that is a part of life in TJ, and there may some validity to concerns held by mongers traveling to TJ for fun. I have not visited TJ, so I can’t offer a reliable perspective on whether the crime rate there is any worse than the inner cities in the USA. I have visited all of the border towns, and I consider them to have a higher potential for being the victim of a crime than what I have observed in Monterrey, but no more potential than the inner cities of the USA.

Regarding my comments about SEA, I do not believe that SEA is a “third world” destination. I did not indicate that I believe SEA is “third world” anywhere in my post. I merely made reference to the difference in the economy, primarily in Thailand, compared to Mexico. So, I don’t know where that interpretation that I said SEA is “third world” came from. I don’t believe SEA to be third world just as I do not consider Mexico to be third world.

Regarding the services that are available to locals in Thailand versus what is available to Westerners, I must defer to the comments made by Monger X regarding the services that are available to locals in Thailand, I am sure that Monger X is probably correct in that assessment. But, my post made reference to a comparison between the cost of Mexico, and the cost of services that Western visitors typically patronnize in Thailand. I doubt if Westerners would have access to the prices paid by locals, and I’m not sure Western visitors would even want the same services that are desired by locals. The locals may be laughing at us when we choose the bronze dark skinned girls, but given the choice between a bronze beauty and a lily white provider, I am not ashamed to say that I will choose the bronze, preferably flaca, girl everytime. Obviously, East and West have very different preferences. It is supply and demand that governs cost, along with the local economy.

First, USB, GFE is easily available out of the Matehuala if you pay for a salida, as I'm sure you know better than I do, and while you're still paying a relatively high amount of money, at least you're getting LAID. Buying jarras (pitchers of ficha drinks that cost an average of 350 pesos each) gets you NO happy ending unless you back that up with 1000's of pesos to actually get the girl back to your hotel room. Where she does the work of a prostitute. If you're spending that kind of money, you had damned well BETTER be getting GFE.

Re: Monterrey being safe, I certainly feel very safe there. The crime I'm most likely to be a victim of would be armed robbery of a tour bus. I agree with D'art that TJ is dangerous and that the danger I'm most aware of is being shaken down by the cops, as it has happened to me on multiple occasions.

Porker, I agree...it is not necessary for me to buy a bunch of fecha drinks at Matehuela. When we were there together last time in the afternoon, I bought that girl a drink just to say hello, and then it was downstairs for the interview. But, the drink was for my benefit, and it helped ME to determine if I wanted to take her downstairs. But, you are still correct because it would have been just as cheap to skip the drink and cut right to the chase by taking her downstairs. So, I guess you may be technically right about Matehuela, or Infinito, or Gavenchy. Why spend the money on drinks if you don't have to. For me, it was the time downstairs that clinched the deal anyway. At first, when we were having drinks together, and I asked her to leave with me, she wasn't going to go with me. She was telling me a story about a jealous boyfriend, and all that stuff. But, after we went downstairs, she changed her mind. With her, I guess the drink didn't really help me. It was the activity downstairs that sparked her interest. But, in other cases, I have sometimes needed everything in the right combination to set the proper mood, and buying a drink or two, or a jarra, or two, or three, has clinched the deal.

So, I agree with you...It depends on the club you are in, and whether it is necessary to go all out. If it isn't necessary, then why spend the money. However, with some of the clubs, it seems to have more of an advantage buying drinks than in others. But, you are right, where you are having to buy drinks, it's really going to cost you.

Obsession, and my girlfriend, Lily, are a good example of where I feel that I need to buy a drink or two. I just feel that it stimulates a better feeling between us if I patronize her at her job. Maybe it's not necessary, but I believe it is advisable to at least buy her one drink while I am there. I know you believe it's a waste of money, and that she would probably meet me outside the club anyway, which is probably true, but I feel better having patronized her at her day job...understand? I guess I just have a soft heart...you would call that "being a sucker" :-) Oh well, I'm a sucker for the chicas...it's true. Anyway, if you factor in the drink at Obsession and the $80 Lily charged me to come to the hotel, I am still ahead of what it costs me a Matehuela to take a girl out of there for a couple of hours. Lily was with me for what amounts to under $100 including the drink, and it costs me $135 at Matehuela with the house charge of $35 tacked on to the fee. Also, Lily was with me for about 3 hours, and the girl from Matehuela was only there for 2 hours. So, things seemed to work out very well with my strategy to buy a drink for Lily at Obsession.

I know...you still think I am spending too much dinero no matter how I slice it :-) Don't worry, I just have to find a way to over charge one of my customers to make it back HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!