I usually have some semblance of self-discipline as a monger, but recently, I've been finding myself losing what little remained -- in the grandest of fashions. One day in late August, I found myself dropping my briefcase and books one day, after a long and arduous week in the rat race, and lunging with reckless abandon at an opportunity to get back to SEA and to earn gobs of miles on NWA. For the first time, I didn't know my exact destination, nor did I bother booking hotel rooms. My hasty exit was so drastic and unexpected, my clients, my staff and my monger friends alike were calling and emailing as to my whereabouts.

TYPHOONS & LAYOVERS

I tried mightily to get out to Jakarta, then LOS looked like a possibility, but the airline gods frowned upon both destinations this trip. Then I spied an unreal deal for NWA Biz Tx to MNL, coupled with double elite miles and double regular miles. The potent concoction of free FF miles plus endless supplies of hobbying sealed the deal, a few days before departure.

TYPHOON #1

No wonder there were so many seats open on my outbound flight, I should've remembered how horrendous it is to fly through a typhoon. Suffice it to say that during that flight I converted to Christianity, Islam and Bhuddism, two times each. Miraculously, we made it to Narita, but I ended up getting stuck in Narita airport for 18+ hours. Damn, all that horror and we were so close. I actually had to sleep in the airport floor as all the stranded passengers took up the seats, benches, and restrooms.

Finally got to Manila, in pretty bad shape -- with aching back, headache, and jetlag.

Luckily, the Copacabana Hotel in Pasay City had rooms, with no reservations. Nice apartment type hotel with a kitchenette and a powerful A/C. I was so jetlagged and tired, I ended up forgetting to unpack and just crashed and slept through most of the best hours of the first night, which is unheard of. But I did manage to get myself up at around 2:30 am with the help of a hotel alarm clock, a wakeup call from the lobby, my cellphone alarm, and my blackberry alarm. I dragged myself to EDSA, half asleep and chomping down tylenol.

EDSA

As many of you know, The Copa is right across from the EDSA Entertainment complex, but damned if you can cross that street without a close call. But in my dire state, I actually had 2 close calls crossing the street that night, none of the drivers will stop for you and the cars, jeepneys and oxcarts are barreling down at you at 50mph. I think Filipino drivers get enraged at the sight of a guy crossing EDSA in the wee hours wearing flipflops, a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, similar to how bulls get pissed off at the color red.

After the 20 minutes it took to cross the street, I made a beeline into the Complex and checked out most of the clubs, Pitstop, Space Girls and Firehouse, etc. The Firehouse and Space girls Clubs always had great talent and I wasn’t disappointed this trip. The other go-gos were not to my liking. I was the only monger in the entire damned complex that first night and actually felt a mesmerizing power of knowing that I, and I alone, could have any one or more of the gals in the complex.

Here are some pics of an EDSA gal. I’ve said this before, IMO, there are prettier girls in Manila, perhaps it’s the way that the Manila girls know how to wear makeup and how well they dress up. If only the lady drinks (325 pesos or more) and the whacked out expensive barfines could be tamed, Manila could be in the running for monger haven.

Photos: EDSA Gal K 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

I actually took “K” to the COPA in a taxi as she looked at me with alarm at my suggestion to cross the street on foot to the COPA. I was running on fumes at this point, and as some of the pics will show, I took a picture of K staring at down at me and trying to awaken me as I teetered in and out of consciousness in bed. Don’t recall how I consummated the deed with this gal, but the pics seem to indicate something magical occurred physically while my brain was fried and incapable of conscious movements.

DOMESTIC ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX

Had to check out this new complex as well the 2nd night. Recall that this is the new entertainment complex where the Owner of My Fair lady opened up about 6 or 7 new clubs. The DEC is located in what looks like some industrial buildings, it’s close to the airport and about 10 minutes from Pasay City.

Unfortunately, despite it’s potential, the place was absolutely deserted and each club was smallish, about 10-12 dancers and square footage wise, very small compared to the other bars on Burgos and EDSA. The gals were so lonely, that they (and the door men) were hollering at me to visit their bar. I was the only monger at each of the 4 or 5 bars that I visited. Tragically, My Fair Lady was similar in name only to the famous My Fair Lady Bar that used to be at EDSA. From the looks of it, this complex needs to pickup business or it may go under soon.

Only saving grace for this bar was that there were plenty of fresh off the bus types. Also, if you want to be the lone monger and have all the attention to yourself, this may be the place for you. The barfine was $1k, but the ladydrinks were on the high side.

Suffice it to say that during that flight I converted to Christianity, Islam and Bhuddism, two times each.

C'mon Merlin. We ALL know you would never stop worshipping at the altar of the Pussy !

Sounds like you had a great time in the short period you were there. Some very fine young ladies as usual. You seem to ferret them out like no one else can.

Look forward to debriefing you . We missed you at dinner the other night. Once again Don Marco ,and this time Blazers,missed the hotties at Hollywood Thai. There was only a dude - owner's brother-waiting tables. Micky was the only pooying in the place besides the owner and cooks. DM is getting dubious about our stories of the quality of the waitresses there.

Merlin, that walk across the street from the Copa to EDSA truly seems like a life-or-death game of chicken for the pedestrian.

I see where you had to go through Detroit to get back to LA. Happy trails to you! I'm not near the traveler most of the guys on this board are, but that Detroit airport, surprisingly, is perhaps the best I've ever seen (not that I like spending a lot of time in airports).

I hope you choose to write a looong detailed report on this trip. I'd kill to be back in Manila right now...

KM, it must be Murphy's law that you and I are the only ones to see the hotties at Hollywood. Actually, recently found out that Beer is no longer there :-( Glad to hear you guys had fun, and I'm sure you know that nothing but a mongering trip could've kept me away from that dinner. Let me know when you're free.

Gregorio, I was also pleasantly surprised w/Detroit airport; I'll try to post some more on Manila as I actually stayed there longest this trip.

"If only the lady drinks (325 pesos or more) and the whacked out expensive barfines could be tamed, Manila could be in the running for monger haven."

Merlin, I talked to a Firehouse beauty in July who was new. She said her first customer paid the P750 barfine after only 1 LD then kicked her out of the Aloha Hotel at 3am with nothing, not even taxi fare.

When my kasama, who once worked at Champagne in AC, told her about the AC system where she would be guaranteed at least P500, the Firehouse girl seemed VERY interested.

Great, I prefer the all-inclusive, pre-pay system of AC as well. Although some guys have complained that the AC system may encourage runners, I didn't have too much problems with such (maybe 2 runners) out of all my trips.

But the Manila gals may have more to gain as their post-barfine tip, as you know, could yield 1500-2000 pesos.

Unfortunately, the barfine at EDSA and the Domestic Entertainment Center is now 1K to the bar.