The rip-offs are getting incessant. Almost as bad as Mexico.

Old money expired December 31.

If you have a significant amount of leftover pesos in your money-belt, be advised that no one will take the old bills now. You can trade them in at a bank, no sweat, but make sure you're not flying in and depending on old bills to get you out of the airport. (Google for more information.)

Escape from MNL:

Last time (three months ago) I exited the airport building and walked right up to the meter-taxi booth --no line. The taxi driver took off without starting the meter and tried to charge me 500 pesos for a ride that runs 220 on the meter. We settled on 300. Not bad.

This time, they had the meter-taxi booth across the road, still in Bay 19. On the airport-side of the road, also in Bay 19 (nice and confusing), are the rip-off prepaid taxis. They quoted me 1700 pesos to Makati. Out of the question.

So I waited in the meter-taxi line for forty minutes and got a metered ride (220 pesos).
They also (apparently) did something so that you cannot get to Uber via MNL's Wifi. Nice of the airport Flips to collude with the crooked taxi drivers.

One of you once called MNL the world's worst airport. As monger venues go, I would not disagree much with that.


Short-changers abound.

In bars and restaurants, I've had to tell waitresses to bring me my change.


Oh, yeah --the main thing

I haven't seen one girl on Burgos that I would touch. I bet EDSA's the same way. Don't feel like fighting traffic to check it out.


Conclusion

It was a mistake to come to Manila. I just hope that this information helps somebody, if only to cross Manila off his itinerary. If I could rewind a few days, I would have just continued on (a flight) to Cebu or another venue.

The things I liked in the past about Makati aren't here. Even the food sucks, except for the hotel breakfast buffets. Persistent pushers crowd Burgos selling useless junk (fake Viagra, stun-guns, etc.). The skanks won't take "no" for an answer.

The rats and cockroaches are competitive with those of Bangkok, though.


Confidential to Hombre

I am using a public computer, so if you soon suspect my account has been hijacked, just reset its password.

Also, today I went to an Internet cafe named Netopia near Greenbelt 1 and couldn't get in to this site. Their blocker software gave me a message regarding "content." Just FYI.

i think kojax is one of the few clubs worth visiting on burgos (or manila for that matter). naturally it is the most expensive. there is another bar with the same ownership that is okay also but i forget the name. if you show up at kojax they'll be more than happy to escort you to their other bar.

i actually pay a doorman/security guy 100 pesos to do the escort. it is great. he shields me from all the BS that happens as you stroll down the street. well worth the money. touts are bad but beggars that appear to be a few days away from death are fucking horrible.

as i've noted in a few threads and chats, fort bonifacio is a brand new area. generally clean and quality restaurants. i can't even eat the food provided on burgos. i ordered some tacos at filling station and took one bite and left them to rot on the plate while i enjoyed my beer. so this bonifacio place is like heaven to me.

Well it could have been worse. At least you didn't get a bullet planted on you. Good info here, I'll keep Manila on my been there done that list. I guess my old souvenir Philippine pesos are truly souvenirs now.

My only complaint about the airport in Manila was that after going through security, they used stanchions to confine you and the other passengers to the immediate gate area, like livestock. IMO, they were too eager to show Uncle Sam that they're fully on board with the overzealous TSA (Can we have more foreign aid please?). This itself is what makes the bullet scam possible.

Taxi at the airport. Others have cited the solution for years. On the arriving-passenger level (ground level) go back inside the terminal. Entrance into the terminal allowed for non-departing passengers is through Door 1. Then on the right side of the terminal, take the escalator up 2 levels, or elevator at the rear of the terminal up to next level. You are now on the departing-passenger level.

Next, walk back to the front of the terminal, turn right, and walk to the far end of the terminal, where you can exit. Walk outside to the middle island where taxis are lined up. Warnings - these are regular taxis and are not monitored like the two types of taxis on the lower or arriving-passenger level; before entering the taxi, ask the driver to use the meter. If he says something like a flat fee quote or "plus 200", go to the next taxi in line. The line for the taxis on this level is shorter than the line for the metered taxis on the arriving passenger level.

Price comparison, taxi from airport to Ermita:
Arriving-passenger ground level:
(1) Non-metered taxi, which are regular sedans without any taxi signs, over 600 pesos.
(2) Metered taxi, with Airport painted on the sides of the vehicle, nearly 300 pesos.
Departing-passenger upstairs level:
(3) Public metered taxi, about 170 pesos on the meter.

Touchable Girl. To be honest, I let Junior tell me which girl is appealing. So, many nights are spent alone. Sometimes, I see a desirable girl in a Burgos club, an EDSA Complex club, or L.A. Cafe. I view it as a matter of luck. It can also be a matter of timing, such as April and May which are the summer months when colleges are out for vacation, and the days before Xmas when money for gifts is sought.

Similarly, I have the same luck in Angeles City and Bangkok. And sometimes get a little more lucky in Pattaya.

Filipino cuisine. I say, it does not exist. But, Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmerman enjoyed Filipino cuisine. For example, balut is a cooked egg of a partially born bird. It looks rotten and supposedly tastes ok. But, Manila is loaded with chain restaurants, especially USA chains; so, edible food is available everywhere, especially the large malls.

Sad to hear this recent assessment of Manila. I have not street or club mongered there much.

Good to learn about money changeover, still have 5000 PHP left over from trip 26 months ago.

I never hear Anthony Bourdain disparage any cuisine except McDonalds, but I always enjoy watching his off the beaten path adventures.