dazedandconfused

I'm a bit crushed by Swedeman's revelation I'm hoping that there is a convincing explanation for all the smoke and mirrors and that she really is a he.....

She really is lovely. Sigh. Thanks, in advance of the PBG....

Me too, me too....

Hi Route65, nevermind about Noon (!) - how's the music there? Living up to expectations / the info on the flyers?

BB, the one above takes the prize as 'Best in Show' so far!

Ha, I thought you might say something like that Well......it certainly helped to focus the mind a bit! I'm pretty sure as well that it will feature on the rounds later this year. Couple more sweethearts below.

Ahhhh, we're on on my current favourite subject! I'm having to strictly ration the hours I'm on line looking at this stuff - otherwise I won't be good for much else. Some very nice pics above Gents. Some ones I have recently errrr..... enjoyed are below:

Agree with azza on Pacific Breeze - good place and it has a nice friendly atmosphere. If you wish to spend a bit more money (around $85-00 USD upwards) then the Angeles Beach Club or Lewis Grand are hard to beat. ABC is a bit unique and funky whilst rooms at the Lewis Grand are huge with decent balconies. Both have pools but the Lewis Grand is more outdoors based with little cabanas dotted around so you can stay in the shade, and has a couple of outdoor jacuzzis poolside. Both are at the upper end of Fields Ave - about 5-10 mins walk down to the main LB activity - and both are LB friendly. I prefer Lewis Grand but that's just me.. You can also have a good evening buffet (kind of) at ABC that is open to all.

Sorry Ernesto, did not make myself very clear - was just pointing out that your description of needing a 'strong portion of imperturbability' was very very good and was well written, All the best.

Yup, it widens out at the 2nd Road end with bars/ shops either side and a central row of bars in the middle. This shot at the beginning of the bars looking down towards 2nd Rd..... It looked like a place worthy of more night-time exploration on my last trip...

Low season tb?

Recently released or just about to be released are two new independent movies about ladyboy life in the Philippines: 'Shunned' came out last May and broadly follows the trials and tribulations of being a ladyboy in the capital City. It also had a screening at the Cannes Film Festival. The interesting thing for some of us is that many of the girls featured will be recognised by anyone who has spent any time at Mixed Nuts / Birdies Cage in Manila during the past few years. One of the main actresses (ahem) is Mimi Juareza who until relatively recently was the slightly strict Mamasan (aka Mama Mimi) at Birdies Cage. Her good friend, and also erstwhile Birdies Cage regular, Katrina is in the movie too. Here are a couple of links: https://www.facebook.com/Shunned http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3007422720/tt2826512?ref_=tt_ov_i Possibly of more err...critical interest is 'Quick Change' which gets released here later this month. Mimi takes the lead role and looks very fine. In the trailer link below she is the one in the leopard skin print dress, in the blue top and later seen administering the drugs. Mimi and Katrina have been on the scene for a long time. They are both cool ladies, good people and it's great that they are both getting some work outside of the usual grind..... https://www.facebook.com/QuickChangeTheMovieCinemalaya2013

I might join you! White Beach and Sabang are about 35 mins apart (Puerto Galera town lies between them) and although its easy enough to travel between them in the day it's likely to be a hassle at night-time - especially late in the evening. I am sure that there are absolutely no taxis there so transport is likely to be on the back of a motorbike or on a trike on small badly lit roads.

Hi Snick, its been about 18 months since I was last there so maybe someone else has more up to date info but here is what I know: PG is the main town in that part of Mindoro and is one of the main access points from Manila. In reality when people say they are going to Puerto Galera what they really mean is heading to one of a string of beaches along the coast from PG. Sabang Village (about 15 mins in a trike from PG proper) has the largest amount of bars, restaurants, accommodation etc. It also has the most professional Dive Centers in the area so it's a good place to stay for the diving. IMHO the two best operations - and they are excellent - are Atlantis in Sabang Village itself and Asia Divers / El Galleon Beach Resort which is a few mins walk around the headland on to another beach. If pushed I would say Asia Divers just take it in terms of nice resort, with lower rates and a friendly team. Diving in the area is very good with some great drift dives. Sabang is not a place of great beauty and it's mostly all about GG's but there are usually a few LB's hanging around at night. More popular with international tourists. White Beach which is further along the coast (about 20 mins on a trike) has a much nicer beach and is more popular with local tourists. There are a few Dive Centers there (a bit average compared to those in Sabang) but the overall emphasis is more on beach life rather than in-water stuff. This is where the LB's all hang out - quite a lot of them in fact - they work in the bars and restaurants, do fire-shows, run a few informal cabarets and generally cruise at night. I would say 5 - 7 nights in the area works best and maybe split your time between the two centers. DO NOT GO AT EASTER TIME, it's hell on earth. Everyone is travelling, half of Manila pitches up and you can't move for folks! To get there take a ferry from Batangas Pier - nearly all of them drop off at Sabang Village and some make drops at White Beach as well. Hope this helps.

Ernesto, that is a wonderful line. I may have to borrow it and use it myself some time.....with your permission.

Definitely a Hicky. Vinegar on the fish not the chips please!

Orange March? Jeez really? FFS - What's wrong with these people? DB's used to be owned by a couple of 'faces' from one of the main Chelsea firms from back in the day but I'm not sure they are there now - coincidentally I read yesterday that one of them is now here in the PI running a fish and chip shop in Subic Bay! Anyway, too far off topic. Thanks for breaking the news Misters Route and Cox. House looks like a very nice bar to visit...and presumably plays some tunes more to your liking Route65?!

Hi pdogg. Works fine for me (but tbf was OK before as well). I usually sign up via the Forum thingy rather than LR. Only difference I now see is that when I sign out a different 'box' pops up telling me that I have successfully logged out.

You should be able to throw some Goo Goo Muck around at (Hot) Fever on Soi VC...... Apologies!

Hi randi, I know that you've been into Cebu a few times and it's an ok place. I'm not sure though that I would nominate it as somewhere to retire to based on the quality of health care provision. There are however other benefits available in the City.... Huff Post does have it right about booming private health care here in the PI. There are two standout hospitals in the Manila area (St Lukes in Fort Bonifacio and Asian Hospital in Alabang) that provide above and beyond World class care with attendant facilities and reasonable prices. There are as well several others in town that are just a notch down the ladder. Dept of Tourism is heavily promoting the place as a destination for Medical Tourism. The concept of MT - especially in developing countries - always makes me feel a wee bit uncomfortable but the new Hospitals here are large corporate businesses and set up to make considerable profits. Cheers.

Fair play Ernesto - very very few non-Filipino tourists currently make it down to Zamboanga (and possibly with good reason) so to head there on a LB safari is above and beyond the call of duty! It's been interesting to read all about your experiences

Hey Soc999, good to meet you, albeit briefly. Looking forward to hearing and seeing more. Enjoy Cebu!

Thanks! Last couple of trips I have ended up standing in more or less the same place there and thinking 'Oooh the huge plant pots are nice'. It's a bit worrying that one of my abiding memories of Pattaya, of all things, is the flipping garden displays

Central Festival, Beach Rd side?

So…. I saw this earlier today in Manila and my immediate thought was 'cool, pdogg and bumblebee are really on top of things, have already moved on from Hotels (in just a few short days) and into Transport and are, as I drink my coffee, rolling out the LBR brand into new markets in the Asia region'. Or something like that. Then I thought 'that's a nice touch as well, an LBR taxi dedicated to shuttling around itinerant BM's in the sometimes chaos that is Manila' Finally I sat back and thought, 'the little tinkers, they didn't open up the franchise and give a piece of the action to those who live here'. I interrogated the driver at length but he flat denied knowing either a bumblebee or a pdogg. Insisted that his Boss was called Lito Cruz.