For those who are about to read this.... FYI.... if you only are interested in barhopping,, barfining,,, etc... dont waste your time..cause this has none of that. If you want to know about other places in the PI besides MNL and AC... then continue on...

Trip had been mucked up by my employer Uncle Sam,, 2 x and halved....so no side trip to AC was do able. Some time in Manila but very little.

Got to MNL on time with NW #71. Beelines Anna had helped me through all the changes the driver was there. Stayed at Copacobana overnite.
Went to EDSA it is really looking thin in the scene there only FIREHOUSE was packed with customers and had by far the prettiest girls. Of course this was the Monday after EASTER..so that might explain somethings.
CASINO.... Had some lookers but nothing much going on a few customers.... a semi fight broke out among a few girls when a guy came in with a girl from another bar,,,,evidently he had barfined from there a few nites before and then trotted in with a girl from some where else...so the proverbial "hel hath no fury like a woman scorned" took place..... some screaming crying etc... kind of funny but sad 2.
PITSTOP: Damn quiet.... went in there both arriving nite and departing nite and was the ONLY Customer in there.

Place upstairs from Bows and ARROWS or whatever it is..... first time there.... nice lineup again 3 customers..... had a coffee and left.

SPACE GIRLS: Think they all went to AREA 51.... saw a few customers.... got a coke,, they gave me a glass of coke VS the whole can then charged me like 250 p shiiiiitttttt......forget that

Samaba: not bad lineup.... funny it changed the next week when i was going home which was a Thurs nite visit... more girls but none looked like they had been there the nite of my visit. Pretty dead and lame. Had some interesting videos.

Cotton CLub... Always my favorite the damn manager guy the pinoy ....always recalls my first visit,,, which was with GC and his girl.... he even rememberd the first girl that I took out from there.
A few customers Korean or Japanese not sure... but not as many girls as last times and the girls were swarming around like sharks...... had a few rum cokes and left for departure on PAL next AM.


Driver arrived,,, warning about COPA internet... 250 for 30 minutes whether you use it for all or a few. Go to mall of Asia where there is some internet cafes and more reasonable prices.

Did not have reservation on PAL to TACLOBAN.... but got a ticket and caught the last flight to LEYTE for the day.
1 hour flight,,, arrive Tacloban at 1545.....and then start the hotel search.

BEELINE did not have any recommendations.... BIGBALLS in his review mentioned MANHATTEN... I looked at the big hotel list for TACLOBAN picked the El Dorado or something... got a driver outside 250 from the airport to downtown,,, on the way told him wanted a beach view...he said only the Macaurther Park had that..... so it is not real far from the hotel.
Got there at reception...very open in fact no doors to go through except in your room. No reservation ...no problem,,,, got room 40 a nite with comp breakfast. Gave the cabbie the whole 250... even though half that was probably suffcient.

Called my girl who was waiting in Tacloban with her cousins. She shows up and we all eat at the resturant.
Hotel has nice beaches.... 2 pools... seemed there were more visitors for conferences than for staying overnite.

Resturant: my girl 2 cousins and 1 child ate for about 900p several dishes and drinks.
Room was ok... some things to complain about but really not worth mentioning here. Exception being that I requested a fridge but never had one available. np.....

My girl and I would go eat at around 800 am every day.. and our room was made up by the time we came back. There was a buffet but it was available only for the conferees..... so you order al la carte.... on Saturday they let you have the buffet but think it is really left overs.

Tacloban: As BUD says only place for a Mickey Dees if that your taste.
We ate at ROYAL seafood.... sort of reminded me of FORTUNE in AC. Also one day at SHAKEYS PIZZA.

Saw the Madonna of Tacloban,,,, for sightseeing there.
To my knowledge there is no SAVERS or ROBINSONS Mall in TACLOBAN. also had left my cam battery converter at home.... no place in the city had it..... so my picture taking was very limited. Did find one in MNL at ACE Hardware of all places.

Mac Monument....walking distance from Hotel.... He did return there... also for me it was a pilgramage my uncle had been on one of the ships..... that dropped anchor there..... got his photo on shore with some locals ....my my thngs have changed Unc.... if he were here he would enjoy.
There is a hill 384 think that was listed as site of bloodiest battle on Leyte or at the landing.... ask your guide for that.

Hotels in Town.....saw the Manhatten facade.... not sure what inside looks like only it is on the malecon so to speak and noisy maybe.
ALL ASIA HOTEL....on Zamora street did ventrue in the lobby looked clean...reasonable rates....will post room rates later when find the brochure that took from there.

BUDGET HOTEL... saw this one as we came into town...from the MPR.... actually MPR is located in PALO.... guess it is a suburb....Budget looked .......budget...like a 2 story semi new hotel...but sign said basic rooms...from what could tell mmmmmm no aircon. FYI

Excursions: Went to Mahpalag to meet my girls family.... and it was definately out of the western Firecreek,,,where the cowboys say " this is the tail end of nowhere" was probably the first white guy to enter her barangay.
When we got to Mahpalag,,,, I saw nothing that indicated a city bldg..other than a school...... the post office was alongside several sari stores.... could not tell the difference.
The bridge to her house was out so the ferry was open... an 8 x 12 with 20 5 gallon anti freeze cans for buyouance....mmmm moto driver goes over first then we join.... then another footbridge out of the River Kwai..... Driver leaves his bike and comes along.
About 20 of my girls relatives come to see me...and so got to see the highlands of Leyte .... in the rain... and it was semi cold rain.
Then off to BAYBAY...
Hotel Paloma on Mabini street looked new .... we only stayed in BB for 3 hours,, last ride to Tacloban is at 1700.

At MPR on Thurs Fri, SAT nites... they have live band playing Lounge Lizard music. Every one around the area comes not only guest.... several BAKALAS were there and they would make John Travolta BLush...... no woman went without being asked to dance.
Room service ends at 0100. and the place is eeriely quiet.... in fact one nite we stepped on the beach at nite around 0300 it reminded me of how quiet Boy Scout camp was on Martin Island back home in 1969..... QUIET...... only the roar of the surf.

DIVERS: a guide told me of the diving near...and the name evades me...but he said unless you are already pre certified you have to pay a fee of 200 usd think .

Went to Sonhoton caves arranged through the hotel. cost was around 100 usd for HK and myself all inclusive plus lunch.
Left @ 0700 driver was early in fact. Got to Samar via the bridge linking Leyte and Samar.. to St. Margerets think. Boat is arranged up river we go. Guide 2 boatmen and us. Caves are dry.... river trip is scenic wth villages lots of kids on the banks,,,, river traffic and alligators on the bank... HK saw one it excited her.... uh yah me 2.
Caves are intresting if you are into that....and the fact that they were only found around 1968 by an Austrian Priest.... makes them realtivly new for tourist. My guide was adamant about people touching things and though we never wanted to touch the stalagtites or anything... he did give me a little acess closer to some things since told him of my Park Service duty in the 70's. Needless to say take nothing but pictures....leave nothing but footprints.
We talked about cave drawings and he also enlightned me about cave diving which there are only 2 certified cave divers there.
Mr. Gomez think was the guide.
On the trip back a tour coming up river hailed us and he boarded the trip back...loaded with generous japanese tourist.

Got back to hotel by 1400 just in time for a swim.

Overall this place was very relaxing. For the adventurous one think there is lot more to see and do. Next time am going to try the diving....

PT later.. Manila and the walk down LA CAFE LANE.

FYI... got some pics mostly though landscapes... have had some trouble posting them in Trip Report due to IMAC going to a WINDOWS system.... maybe will try to post them later in other section.

Hi, thanks for the report. Some questions, comments, though:

1: What did you pay at Copacabana, and how did you book it? I paid p1600 there 3 years ago as a walk-up, but I think the price has gone up lately. Very curious about this.

2: My experience with Beeline customer service has been horrific. How did you get good service with them? Expensive international phone calls? Sweet talking emails?

Thanks again, and your response to these questions would be greatly appreciated.

Rufus glad to hear you enjoyed it. I would definitely like to hear of the diving. Sounds liek abeeter place to bring a girl than look for one no?

Porker: THink the Copa rate is 50 usd a nite... am looking for my room rate sheet got from them and will make sure to mention it in PT 2 of the report.
As for BEELINE... have always had a rapport with Anna there she has always managed to respond to my emails promptly and helped when all the confusion about cancellations and re booking... all with no problems... hope that helps.

Bigpoppa... Balicasag is the big dive area that I was clued into by some locals. a cottage is 36 usd then there are dive rates dont know if this is all inclusive or not... go for like 3 days/2nites for 3600p to 6400p depending on type of room. Group rates available. Yes it is better to bring your own lady...but I had lots of girls come on at the malls with my girl there... she was not the jelous type cause she knows shes got me hooked. But as for nitelife like AC or Manila...think Cebu would be closest venue there...or back to Luzon..... but enquiring minds want to know so all is open for exploration.

Asia Stars Hotel is the one I visited in Tacloban... think in report said it was something else....no pool but 24 hour room service.. AC and a generator...rates were Deluxe 1000-1300p.... Junior suite 1350 p.... executive 1600p...