Intro

I had just returned from LoS when I received a PM from Merlin informing me that he and KM would be hitting AC the week of Feb 5th or so. I thanked him for the info, but quickly dismissed the idea—hell I was out of funds and had worked stacked up well beyond comfort levels. However, my curiosity got the best of me—the next day I happened to come across a conference in Manila 1/31-2/3 (and 2/7). A call and a fax to the organizers and I was in like flint although the formalities of booking the trip dragged on for a week or so. Meanwhile the number of other hombres heading to AC that week quickly mounted and this trip was showing some great potential.

You just get back to the USA and turn around just because Merlin PM's you? Not even Mitch is that easy.

So you got flew to the other end of the world to be a part of Merlin and The Monger Mafia Meet in Manilla?

I like it!

This is shaping up to be a trip of Epi Proportions.

Hey Deeg,

It doesn't take much arm twisting to get me scouring travelocity these days I'm already counting down the days till my return (23 days)!

The mafia fleet never really matriculated, but that story is better left for Part 2: AC.

Hope all is well SOB.

DM, re: Monger conventions, now we gotta lean on Merlin to get HIM there in March, di ba? I've given up on getting dyed-in-the-wool Latin America guys like DG to Asia...

Thanks for the great start to the report. I've never really given Manila a chance as AC is so close and so much more familiar. But, BTW, I can't see the first set of pics you tried to post. MIGHT be my 3rd world dial-up connection (stranger things have happened), but any chance there was some kind of error?

repost coming...

Regarding Asian Monger conventions: There does appear to a gathering critical mass on the weekend of March 25 in Batam. There will certainly be Porker, Blazers, DM, I, and two newbies. Also, while unconfirmed I there a pretty good chance that Crazier will be there as well. That's six or seven right there. We will have to live large one night and get one of the Karaoke rooms at Planet or Pacific Disco That look over the dance floor and have ourselves a free lancer orgy.

Merlin you out there? I am sure you can make it if you are truly dedicated to your addiction.

Damn that's quite the rollcall. I'd try and make it, but there wouldn't be a spinner left on the island with all of you bastards there.

My addiction is AC specific I'm afraid.

Nevertheless, It's quite the roll call there. Just when I thought I was getting back into the rat-race another trip to get obsessive about. I'll have to move mountains to get to this one; but at least in Indonesia I won't have to do all that juggling of GFEs. I'll keep you posted.

Wait - are we talking Indonesia? ???

AND Manilla?

Damn... I've been seing some pretty nice stuff outta Indonesia and Manilla lately...

should I broaden my horizens?

That's quite a roll call -- u horn balls just stay away from hollywood

The karaoke room above sounds like a plan! deeg u in?

I'm rolling into town the 25th early afternoon and heading back to bkk on the 29th.

Deeg, there are more than enough palm size spinners to go around in Batam. The good news is that there are also lots (well relative to other locations in Asia) of great large racks. The best part is that the girls tend to have very high sex drives

Merlin, AC bases will likely be covered both before and after Easter weekend. I'll be there after.

DG, don't go to Asia. You're MUCH better off happy as a clam where you are instead of enjoying what's now the great unknown on the other side of the globe.

But you DO get a RIGHTEOUS amount of frequent flyer miles for flying in that direction if you should somehow decide to JUST DO IT!

>There will certainly be Porker, Blazers, DM, I, and two newbies.

Well hell, I may just have to join in instead of staying in LOS that week.

Rated "PG" come on down. I will check and see if the Regency (Formerly Melia) Panorama can give us a good group discount rate. Am I becoming a tour guide?

I just put a FF ticket on hold, taking me to BKK and SIN. oh... and cambodia too...

Might I ask a few questions of the Asian contingency?

1. Will I be able to rent an apartment or hotel in BKK and Batam w/hi speed internet connection in the room? If so, at what cost?

2. Do I need a visa to visit any of these countries?

3. I assume I take a ferry from SIN to Batam? How much does this cost?

Thnx
DG

DG, you need visas for both Cambodia and Indo (beware each visa sticker takes up 1 full page each and, found out the hard way, that you MUST have at least one full blank page upon arrival or be prepared to pay some bribes). Good news is that both countries will do it for you as you arrive (unlike Brazil where you need it before departure).

FOR CAMBODIA: Pickup the VISA application when you board your flight in BKK and fill it out. Remember that you will need at least one passport sized photo to obtain the VISA, keep more photos if you want to visit Angkor Wat and want a 3 day pass. As soon as you arrive in Phnom Phen, they will have an assembly line to process and issue the VISA before you get to the Immigration checkpoint. It is $20.00 U.S.

INDONESIA: I recall they have the applications printed up for you when you purchase the Ferry ticket and they give the visa to you when you arrive in Indonesia. Perhaps MX could provide more details.

LOS: visas issued as you arrive, just show your passport.

As for DSL connections. BKK has plenty of hotels with it, I usually like to stay at the Grand President (see info on this site) and found their connections good.

Deeg,

For Batam the website Bataminfo.com will give you a description of the Singapore to Batam how to.

The cost of the the ferry between Sin and Batam is $28 SIN. Just get yourself to the Harbour Front Ferry terminal. Then go to the ticket counter for "Current Departures" and they can sell you a ticket for the next departure. The two best companies are Penguin and Wavemaster. Make sure you get a ticket to Batam Center not another location.

For DSL in Batam, the only place I know is Planet Holiday hotel. This is a nice place and will cost you either 70 or 80 SING dollars a night. Planet Disco is on the first floor of this hotel.

I hope we can meet up when you are in town.

Merlin and MX

Thanks for the help. After being deported from Brazil for not having a current visa, I'm a little wary about arriving anywhere without a visa.

My passport hasn't had a blank page in it for quite some time, so I'll have to contact the embassy about getting fresh pages.

Thanks for all the help. Hope I can make it all happen.

Deeg--

If your really going, just arrange to meet an hombre in SIN and hop over the Batam together...

It really is a simple affair and nothnig to lose sleep over.

DM, the cherry boys and I arrive in SIN on 3/23 in the afternoon and will hit the ferry tout de suite after that.

Phoenixguy, even if you can take just a couple days for a trip to Batam, it might be worth it. The flights to SIN are certainly cheap enough from BKK.

Deeg,

I can personally attest that getting new pages added to an US Passport is extremely quick and easy at the US embassy in Singapore. And it is free.

DeeG

Just arrive in Singapore during the work week (and not on an American holiday) and pop over before lunch to add the pages. You'll be out of there in under 15 minutes.

The VoA at Batam Center is a breeze - just bring $25US for the Visa, otherwise they'll gig you HARD for the exchange rate. You can also get a SIM, hit the ATM and exchange money inside the ferry terminal in Indonesia.

E

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I'd tour Asia with "Porker and the Cherry Boys"

Thanks for all the help lads. I'm doing the research on this end to see what I can do to make it happen.

And with the double miles promotion on AA, I might be changing my ticket to a paid one, and earn 45k miles w/the promotion + Platinum status. Triple miles is good.

DeeG>> In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I'd tour Asia with "Porker and the Cherry Boys"

Sounds like a Ron Jeremy movie...except I doubt he is gay

I think Porker & the Cherry Boys' first single is going to be 'Looking for the Trashy Blonde Indo Cum Driplet Licker'. SURE to be a HIT!!!

Deeg,
Another Ron Jeremy reference and the Gay card, all in one post. Ouch!
BL

Bwana Lik

Get back to the Latin American threads where you belong. I came over to Asia to get away from my past. Can't you all just let me be?