Angeles Angst
by greengrasser@yahoo.com

Not all vacations go smoothly. I was in Angeles City for a little more than two weeks in Sep 2007. Here are some irritants that I experienced, when the exchange rate was about 46.5 pesos per US $1.

1. Hotel prices at decent hotels have gone up from about $25 to $30.

2. My favorite buffet at Molly Malones eliminated two entree selections and its german potatoes and moved its white rice and mixed vegetables from a side table to the steam table. However, the price of 300 pesos remained the same, although the beer price has increased to 50 pesos.

3. The advertised 6 pm dinner buffet at the Amsterdam Hotel restaurant on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 was cancelled without notice. I returned on Friday at 6:15 pm and the waiter said that the buffet table would be ready at 6:30 pm. Instead I ate Molly Malones' Friday turkey.

4. The Alaska Club has an overhead sign in front that says customer appreciation on Thursday with all local drinks for 50 pesos. Inside a mama-san and a waitress told me that the price of a local beer was 75 pesos. I asked again at the cashier desk. One of the waitresses standing by said 50 pesos. I ordered a San Miguel beer or pilsen or SMB. She brought me a SM light. I guess I should count myself lucky, becase in some PI places, SM light cost more than SMB. The bottle was already opened, so I drank it.

5. Viper Room has a big sign in front that advertised 49 peso local drinks during happy hour. When I inquired inside, the waitresses quoted me a higher price and said happy hour was over. I persisted and they ackowledged it was still happy hour. When I got the bill, it said 50 pesos. I did not quibble over 1 peso, but I resolved not to go back into the club, at least during the rest of my trip.

6. Bunny Ranch waitress said that the happy hour price for a beer was 80 pesos and regular price was 85 pesos.

7. Tender Touch has a big sign outside that said Fridays and Saturdays, happy hour 4 pm - 10 pm, tequila for 50 pesos. At 9:30 pm on a Saturday night, a waitress said that the price of a tequila was 135 pesos. I told a male door barker and he insisted that the price for a tequila was 50 pesos.

8. Shano's, a new gigantic-large Irish pub (ground floor of Bourbon Street style condo) next to Wild Orchid, has a sign in front that said draft for 30 pesos. Inside a sign over the draft spigots said not working.

9. DMZ waitress named Rose sneered at me a Filipino word and made a vulgar gesture towards me from behind the bar. I was nodding off from too many beers, but I heard and saw what she did. I asked for the owner or manager to complain about her disrepect. Other waitresses and cashier said that the owner and manager was not in the club and would return in a week. Rose denied her vulgar word and gesture and said that the two dancers behind her would back her. Then she shouted at me, fuck you.

10. Voodoo had a sign in front that said Dog House party on Tuesday, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm with free food, etc. I stopped in a little after 8 pm, bought a beer, and received a raffle ticket. Another customer gave me his 7 raffle tickets. About 8:15 pm, ten raffle drawings were made. Some guy named Marcus seemed to win every drawing. I did not win anything. The friendly customer said that he never won anything and thought that I might win. About 8:30 pm, the raffle guy said that the free food would be coming out soon. I left before seeing any free food.

11. New condotelle (combination condo and hotel), named Lexus, re-started construction in Sep 2007, which was noise-disturbing to me, its next door neighbor Swiss Chalet hotel, and others in the area.

12. Le Mirage Apartelle, located above Carousel club and next to Dollhouse club, had a September promo of 1,500 pesos for its mid-sized room regularly priced at $38. Room number 2 was nearly three times the size of its king-sized bed, with dvd player, sofa, glass coffee table, 25-inch tv, cable tv service, waist-high refrigerator, in-room combination safe. However, it had the following problems: 1 - noisy after midnight due to honking trikes/jeepneys, hammering after 4am, and during the day due to a new building under construction. 2 - toilet was set on a pedestal making it confortable to sit on only by long-legged six-foot or taller persons. 3 - toilet overhead lights did not allow one to see self in mirror enough for shaving or putting on make-up. 4 - large shower had shower head pointing towards permanent shower opening, which allows for water spray outside the shower. 5 - no table for writing. 6 - closet cabinet with two drawers needs a longer luggage shelf and more shelves. 7 - tv remote did not work. 8 - cable tv service had no image every 30 seconds (hotel maintenance people said that all rooms had the same problem with the cable tv service). 9 - two bedside table lamps had low-wattage candle-type bulbs.

13. Trike drivers quoted me 200 to 250 pesos to go from SubDelicious up to Friendship Bridge and return. I told them that I know the price for one-way was 50 pesos. After going through ten drivers and a lot of haggling and walking away, one driver was willing to go for 100 pesos. But, he refused to drive slowly, which I wanted in order to check out the changes in the scene.

14. Peddlers are a constant irritant. Viagra-cialis peddlers must think that an old dude without a girl by his side is in need of chemical stimulants. Umbrella peddlers cannot seem to believe that a foreigner walking casually in the rain, similar to locals, is not in desperate need to buy an umbrella at double to quadruple the normal price of 50 pesos. Girls (extortion scam) and old women peddling their bodies on Angeles streets must be finding really stupid foreigners and must think that I am one of the stupid guys.

15. DVDs with several movies. Vendors wanted anywhere from 90 pesos up to 180 pesos for a single disk. I explained that dvds with up to 16 movies or a television series were selling for 70 pesos in Manila. One vendor claimed he paid 80 pesos to his supplier.

16. Bar fine runners. Before I paid bar fines, I worked out an agreement with the girls for six hours of mattress actions and two-to-three boom-booms (pacing my old codger's heart). I gave them 500 pesos to go eat dinner (one less bother for me was to feed them) while I would return an hour or two later to take them out of the club. But, after the first boom-boom, they turned into runners.

17. Three-timer bar fine. I found one dancer who satisfied my mattress needs, although she was a runner. To ensure that she would go out with me again, I generously tipped her. After three bar fines, I told her that I was leaving Angeles City the next day. She replied that she was going to the bank tomorrow.

18. Angel in Angeles. I met the most beautiful Filipina in PI. Tall, slim, elegant, quiet manner, mid-20s. She was the one I had been searching for over the decades of vacationing in PI. Five months in Club Lancelot as a waitress. She definitely had good taste, because she was never enthused to see me. To paraphrase Woody Allen, any club (or girl) that would have me as a member (lover) I would not want to be member (or lover) of. My luck was bad as usual. She said that she already had a customer who comes in late to bar fine her. Nevertheless, every night I bought her a lady's drink, told her how beautiful she was, and tipped her 500 pesos. Small payment to soothe the soul or was it prescient pre-divorce settlement.

19. Dancer tip. It is my habit to pick a bar fine from the dancers on stage. If I see a dancer who is my type and smiles at me and I do not bar fine her, then I tip her 100 pesos. During my two weeks in Angeles City, I only tipped one dancer.

20. SM Clark. One afternoon while shopping in SM Clark, the music played was a Christmas song by Bing Crosby. Did someone have a Thanksgiving meal already?


Keep on mowing.
GreenG


--------------

Angeles City Hotel List
in Walking Distance of Clubs
by greengrasser@yahoo.com


Below is my list of hotels in close proximity (easy walking) of Balibago clubs on Fields Avenue. Most are listed already. See sites like www.balibago.com/where_to_stay.html, www.margarita-station.com/hotels.html, and www.beelinetravel.com/angeles/index.htm. They also arrange for reservations.

I listed contact data for a few hotels that may not be available otherwise.

You should, of course, check current reviews of these hotels by other travelers for price increase, amenities provided and not provided, advantages and disadvantages, etc.


.....Along Fields Avenue:

BLUE NILE EXECUTIVE. www.thebluenilegroup.com/index.php/BlueNileExecutiveHotel

GOLDEN NILE (hotel?, under construction). www.thebluenilegroup.com/index.php/GoldenNileI

HOTEL ROYAL AMSTERDAM. www.hotelroyalamsterdam.com/location.htm

THE ORANGE LION. www.orangelionhotel.com

WELCOME INN. www.welcomeinn-angelescity.com (according to its business card), 1007 Fields Avenue, 045-892-0106, -3510, reservations@welcomeinn-angelescity.com. Has 6 standard rooms (1,500 pesos) and 4 deluxe rooms (3, 500 pesos for jacuzzi, computer, dvd player, etc).

KOKOMOS MOTEL.

LE MIRAGE APARTELLE, above Carousel, next to Dollhouse. info@apartelle-mirage.com, 63-456-256-518. Has 14 deluxe rooms ($28), 5 premium rooms ($37), and 6 junior suites ($49)

(new hotel/club under construction, next to Carousel)

DOLLHOUSE HOTEL. www.dollhousehotel.com, 1035 Fields Avenue, 045-892-2720. Has 2 deluxe rooms (4,500 pesos), superior rooms (5,000 pesos), and executive rooms (5,500pesos).


.....Along Perimeter Road:

APARTELLE ROYAL, above Camelot. www.apartelleroyal.com/standard.htm

L'TINIO.

NATALIA APARTELLE. http://natalia.fuseat.com/

9 FIVE 0 APARTELLE, above JJ's market.

EURO TOUR HOTEL INTERNATIONAL. eurotour_hotel@yahoo./com, 045-892-6913, cell 0928-504-5697. Has double bed for 1,400 pesos, twin single for 1,600 pesos, and suite for 3,000 pesos.


.....Along or one block from Santos Road:

PACIFIC BREEZE HOTEL, behind or next to Bourbon Street Estate Apartments (www.rovimar.com). www.pacificbreezehotel.com, 1888 Vian Street, 63-45-625-6494, cell 0928-500-0675. Has 10 deluxe rooms for $41, executive room for $48, executive plus rooms (with bathtub) for $50, and other rooms at $65, $75, and $90..

WILD ORCHID. www.wildorchidresort.com/links.html

other small hotels next to BJ clubs.


.....Along or one block from Real Street (parallel to Perimeter Road, runs into Santos):

SWISS CHALET.

LEXUS Condotelle (under construction). www.thelexushotel.com

CENTRAL PARK.

(new hotel under construction, on back side of Central Park, Rosario Street).

ANCHORAGE INN.

EXOTIC ISLAND HOTEL, above the former Blackjack club. 6 rooms, 1,250 pesos.

ORCHID INN.

ROY's PUB and APARTELLE.


.....Along Narcisco Street:

HOTEL TIGER, two short blocks from Perimeter Road. www.tigerhotel.co.nr, 126 Narcisco Street, 045-892-3333, -5555. Has 7 standard rooms for 1,000 pesos, 24 deluxe rooms for 1,200 pesos, and other higher-priced rooms.

MEDGAR EXECUTIVE APARTELLE, three short blocks from Perimeter Road. www.medgarinac.com, 146 Narcisco St., 045-323-5202, 63-928-671-9333. Has deluxe rooms for 1,700 pesos, executive rooms for 2,400 pesos, and other higher-priced rooms.


Keep on mowing.
GreenG

Yoiu know you sound like suh a gem. I can't imagine why any hot young filipina would run from you after only one boom boom and not stay for dinner. Shocking. I don't blame you for complaining.

Sorry about the buffet screw up

GG-- I find it hard to fathom anyone remembering such worthless trinkets, let alone having them rise to the surface when recalling a trip to AC. As such, I hope the report was in jest.

All the best, dm

Guess I will cancel my trip next month. Gormet German Potatos was the reason I was going to AC...

3 - toilet overhead lights did not allow one to see self in mirror enough for shaving or putting on make-up.

Wise idea to shave before you put on your make-up - or so I've been told.

Sorry your trip was a bummer,

EA

This is what happens when a Woody Allen backpacker type grows up to be a monger...sheesh.

You just listed 20 good reasons why YOU shouldn't go back to Angeles.

I will be going to A.C in November hope they get the potatoes on the right table by then

"old women peddling their bodies on Angeles streets must be finding really stupid foreigners and must think that I am one of the stupid guys."

Sorry, I might have contributed to that problem. To be fair, the grandma promised to do all kinds of sick, twisted, kinky perverted type stuff for 300 pisos and I was pretty drunk and thought what the hell. She was remarkably athletic for a lady her age and generally delivered on what I ask of her. But when I paid her the 300 she argued with me that I should pay more on account of what I had her do and that now her pussy was sore, which pissed me off so I threw her out of the room and later I did see her back out on the street trolling for more stupid foreigners.

Remember you probably paid $1000-plus for a air ticket to get there, don't let 50 peso extra for a drink get you down. I know it's the principle of it, but remember its like $1 dollar get over it, you'll have alot more fun!!

I Am sancho,

You were ripped off. I get the same propositions all the time from little old ladies in TJ.

You should save your money and go back down south to Mexico. After all, it will save you a long trip to SEA.

Master bates.

I don't like potatoes. So I'm good.

Sancho, you blamed soju for making you fuck the old hooker in Seoul, now you blame promises for making you fuck old hookers in the PI. If you fuck an old hooker in Thailand, what will your excuse be then, she diverted your attention with a bug kabob or something?

Well there was that one incident with the skanked out old Sukhumvit street whore in Bangkok. I actually went to her apartment, in bumfuck I don't know where the hell I was, Bangkok. She did feed me fish bowl type gourami fishes but I do believe the alcohol played a major factor in that incident as well. Maybe I need to quit drinking.

All this talk about potatoes is giving me ideas though.

Sancho; One question....Did she take out her false teeth? Dude you have not lived until you have recived a gum job.

RG.

I sincerely hope this report establishes once and for all that AC is a horrible place for you guys to visit, the bars are all unfriendly, and the girls really hate poriners. I can see no reason why any of you should ever return to AC .

I think all of you guys should begin a boycott of AC in support of the despicable treatment suffered bt Greengrasser. Tell all your friends as well.

Seriously !

Let me point out a couple of things about my short report.

I said "irritants" in my opening paragraph. That mean some annoyances. They were not my reasons for not going to Angeles City. For some others, some of those irritants are reasons for not going to Angeles, or, conversely, reasons for going to Angeles.

I listed these irritants, so that others will know that such things do happen and knowing in advance may assist others to avoid them. Also, if any club owners, manager, or others should read my list, then they will have ideas on how to improve club operations.

I did not list all the good things that I experienced, because of limited time and there are many rosy reports that describe available girls, thrills, orgasms, etc.

I did enjoy my Angeles City visit and will return. However, my experiences with Filipinas were better in Manila than in Angeles City, albeit much more expensive.

I first visited Angeles City in the early 1980s when the US Air Force had a base there. Back then, it was really tough to find an available pretty girl because all the pretty girls already had a young American airman-boy friend(s) and were not interested in a bar fine with an older man. By comparison, it was easier to find an available pretty girl in Angeles City in Sep 2007 than in the early 1980s.

Keep on mowing.
GreenG

Greengrasser,

18. To paraphrase Woody Allen, any club (or girl) that would have me as a member (lover) I would not want to be member (or lover) of.

Actually it was Groucho Marx who coined that phrase and not Woody. To be exact, Groucho said: "PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER".


Cheers,


Cubanut

>>>I did not list all the good things that I experienced

Which really, really, REALLY made your report read like absolutely nothing pleased you. I gave up and stopped reading somewhere around the point where a 1 peso (that's $0.02 dude!) overcharge on a drink was enough for you to mark a club off your todo list. That was just petty beyond imagining.

Nice compilation of hotel info though.

I did laugh at your frustration about bar employees being ignorant of promotions advertised for their bars and restaurants. That happens ALL THE TIME there, and I have gotten in the habit of confirming all that stuff ahead of time before ordering, as it saves a lot of arguing with peon drones who couldn't change anything even if they did make a mistake.

Re: giving p500 every night to girls who apparently don't like you, sounds rather pathetic to me, but, as always, it's YOUR money.

I really liked your report and hope that every member reads it and considers it before traveling to AC .

You run into shit all the time there . Some of it due to stoopidity or ignorance , some of it intentional and meant to rip you off.
In a third world shit hole like AC you cannot sweat the little things or your trip will be ruined. You'll spend your time and efforts hassling over pesos and will have frequent buzzkill. Now that's not to say you should get pissed off in the event of a major ripoff .

If you are the type that has to have all the T's crossed and the i's dotted give AC a wide berth . If you can relax and go with the flow - unless it turns into a torrent - AC is a blast .

GG, Do you bathe regularly?

I'm tempted to say only when he is sure they are not overcharging for the water, but I'll refrain. Just a joke (funny or not).

I laughed and enjoyed the short story and it only makes me miss the place even more an I cannot wait to get back there in December. Even a bad day in AC is a good day to me.

G, I wish you had stuck with the tongue-in-cheek aspect of this write-up because if you are to the point where you are seriously complaining about where things are on the buffet table, then maybe you need to take a break from the PI. Your irritants are called life in a developing country.

Cubanut,

Glad that you caught the quote reference should have been for Groucho Marx. I didn't want to be the first one to mention it.

MM

I was in SM Mall in September also and they were playing many Christmas songs. I told my Filipina sweety beforehand that we would celebrate our Christmas in September so when all of these songs started playing it blew me away. I thought I was having an acid flashback from the 60s. My sweety told me later that in the PI they begin the Christmas holiday buildup in September.

I love the SM mall and wish I was there now. It will be a long winter for me and I cannot return until the merry month of May.