Back to Manila

[Fatboy]

a very good observation of our state of living sir. cost of living here is pretty much low compared to most countries. i hope you enjoy your stay here.

Thats why there are so many expat's, your net worth is tripled X4, X5 depending on where you move, its very easy to retire to a spot like the PI, and the hussle and bussle of America and early heart attacks stays right where it belongs-in America. Like Jay refered to PI time, smae goes for Africa, when you get there forget about efficancies cause there arnt any your on Africa time and once you firmly understand that there is no better way to live. Less pressure=better pool game=happier life.


kindest regards

Eric<--------------Soon to moving somewhere, hopefully within a year or two, got to go shopping first and see where I want to spend 8-9 months a year & the rest of the time in America(I think).

 

[Fatboy]

Thanks Andy. I'll be directing the Seminole event at Hollywood Billiards, so I'll probably have to show up if I want to get paid.

I am a "natural" parent. Plain old intercourse, nothing more exotic than that.

A friend of mine is comming to town, hollywood that is....... right about that time.


Jay I will be getting into LA about when you do, so lets hook up this week sometime, I know your hours will be off a little, so I'll drive to your house and we can hang out and mastermind the next revolution in pool. or perhaps the first revolution in pool:grin-square:, or go eat at Sizzler down the street(on the square its the best sizzler ever-on the whole Sizzler blows, Jay assured me this store was different, he was right it is GREAT on the square probably the only good one there is).


safe travels home,

best

Fatboy

 

[Fatboy]

What's really weird is that they have even have some ceremonial crucifictions every year with a several people actually crucified. Yes, I'm talking nails thru the hand, the whole bit. It is considered an honor and a privilege to be one of them. These people are revered for their courage. I'm a little too squeamish to even witness this.

P.S. I celebrated by taking a day off from pool. :thumbup:

Jay do they let the people die? or just hang there for a while. That must be painful.

 

[teedotaj]

Jay do they let the people die? or just hang there for a while. That must be painful.

lol God no the just hang in there and the nails they use arent big. and i think they are supported instead of just hanging by the nails which would be deadly.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, any chances that you'll be playing tom night, Tues, before leaving? If ever, where? I might drop by just to say hi :wink:

I am heading to One Side tonight to meet Darwin. Come on down if you can.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay do they let the people die? or just hang there for a while. That must be painful.

There was a photo in yesterday's newspaper of a lady hanging on the cross with relatively thin (but very real!) nails thru her palms. Her body was supported somehow at the waist, and on her legs. I think they only stay up there until sunset. It is a ceremonial but very graphic depiction of the crucifixation of Christ.

This is also shown on the local television news. There is little if any censorship here, unless it's sexual in nature. If there is a shoot out during an arrest and the perps are shot dead, you will see their bodies on the TV news and in the newspapers. Same goes for victims of car accidents or assasinations.

There is well armed security everywhere here, including at the entrance to fast food joints (a lot of money is handled here), 7-11's and Western Union offices. A typical bank has one or two outside guards, one with a sawed off pump shotgun and the other with an AK-47 or M-16. Inside there will be one or two similarly armed guards. In other words, bank robbers beware. The U.S. style bank robber who walks in with a hand gun and passes a note to a teller wouldn't have a chance here. He would be shot dead on the spot. These guards with guns do not mess around. Like the U.S.A this is a well armed populace, with hand gun shops in most malls. A business owner or security guard has no problem getting a permit to carry. You see well armed security guards everywhere, including the entrance to all malls!

Yes, there are shootings every day, most being politically motivated in some way. The others can come as the result of an argument over property or a woman. Sound familiar? Just yesterday, an official was executed on a busy street in Quezon City in broad daylight. Something about a dispute over control of transportation routes (jeepneys and trikes). He was hit ten times in the body by four gunmen who commandeered a trike and escaped. This is exactly how it was reported too. Usually they know who is behind stuff like this and sometimes they are actually caught and prosecuted. And sometimes not, as we already know. What most often happens if the gunmen are cornered, there is a shoot out with the police. More dead bodies and one day on the news and then forgotten. Even drug dealers are often executed during arrest attempts. There is no mercy shown by the police here. You resist, you die!

I know this all sounds brutal, but there is actually far less serious crime here than in the cities of America. Most criminal activity here is some kind of fraud or scam. Potential criminals here know what consequences they face for their actions. There is more of a deterrent effect here. Criminals know they will be dealt with swiftly and severely if apprehended.

 

[jay helfert]

A friend of mine is comming to town, hollywood that is....... right about that time.


Jay I will be getting into LA about when you do, so lets hook up this week sometime, I know your hours will be off a little, so I'll drive to your house and we can hang out and mastermind the next revolution in pool. or perhaps the first revolution in pool:grin-square:, or go eat at Sizzler down the street(on the square its the best sizzler ever-on the whole Sizzler blows, Jay assured me this store was different, he was right it is GREAT on the square probably the only good one there is).


safe travels home,

best

Fatboy

I'm due home on Wednesday evening. Call me on Thursday and we'll hook up.

I finally spoke with the "Examiner" handling Jalo's passport application yesterday. She made our appointment for Tuesday, April 13. I'm leaving it up to Bunny to handle this. She will be armed with all the necessay documents, plus some extra stuff I will supply her with - a photo record of our relationship, plus a letter from me detailing how we met, and have continued our relationship for nearly four years now. Hopefully this will all prove successful. I sure wish I could have scheduled this appointment while I was here. I remain cautiously optimistic that all my efforts will prove fruitful.

The fee for a U.S. passport here is $150. Bunny will have the money with her when she goes in on the 13th. Think good thoughts please.

 

[almostgood]

My question for you is; Are there separate places to shop to find the native prices on goods compared to raised prices because of tourists activity? is this understandable?

 

[jay helfert]

My question for you is; Are there separate places to shop to find the native prices on goods compared to raised prices because of tourists activity? is this understandable?

Prices in malls is naturally higher but still relatively low by our standards. Exceptions being the electronic stores selling laptops and flat screen TV's. Same prices as we pay in the West.

The best deals are to be had in the smaller local markets that serve the local citizenry. Probably 20-25% lower than mall prices. There is one huge market in Pasay City called Baclaran. All filipinos know this marketplace with hundreds of stalls, like a giant outdoor swap meet. We shopped there yesterday and bought a couple of outfits for Jalo (140p/$3 each after negotiating). Bunny and her auntie Diane each got a nice pair of shorts for 200p/$4.50. I would have paid much more (double or triple anyway) for the same or similar quality goods in a US store.

One of the straps on my sandals broke and I took it to a local shoe repair shop. It cost me 30p/70 cts. to get it fixed. Such a deal! Very typical. I bought Bunny and Jalo a high quality (standing) fan to put upstairs where they sleep. It cost just over $20, with no tax! No taxes on anything here, one price fits all! A fan like this would be in the $40-60 range at a home supply store in the USA. Maybe more.

 

[almostgood]

thank you for the info. the more you talk about PI the more I want to move there.

 

[jay helfert]

thank you for the info. the more you talk about PI the more I want to move there.

You wouldn't be the first who made this move and never regretted it. For a single man with no ties it's a great move imo. Of course you must either have some assets or fixed income. Of course many foreigners open businesses here. Many of the major hotels, night clubs and restaurants are foreign owned.

 

[almostgood]

You wouldn't be the first who made this move and never regretted it. For a single man with no ties it's a great move imo. Of course you must either have some assets or fixed income. Of course many foreigners open businesses here. Many of the major hotels, night clubs and restaurants are foreign owned.

thats good to hear also. Thats what I was day dreaming about. A huge room. maybe more later. And Jalo is gorgeous.

 

[blackpearlmaker]

Good luck on meeting with darwin, i'm sure you will not disappoint on him. He's also a good pool player. He's a good guy.
He visited my shop last saturday and he tell me about you..
Good luck Jay!!!Enjoy!!!:thumbup:

Take care,
Al

 

[Fatboy]

I am heading to One Side tonight to meet Darwin. Come on down if you can.

see you in 20 mins.

 

[Fatboy]

There was a photo in yesterday's newspaper of a lady hanging on the cross with relatively thin (but very real!) nails thru her palms. Her body was supported somehow at the waist, and on her legs. I think they only stay up there until sunset.

"only til sunset"<---------not a problem, sign me up(soon as I weigh 80 pounds)

 

[Big Perm]

What most often happens if the gunmen are cornered, there is a shoot out with the police. More dead bodies and one day on the news and then forgotten. Even drug dealers are often executed during arrest attempts. There is no mercy shown by the police here. You resist, you die!

I know this all sounds brutal, but there is actually far less serious crime here than in the cities of America. Most criminal activity here is some kind of fraud or scam. Potential criminals here know what consequences they face for their actions. There is more of a deterrent effect here. Criminals know they will be dealt with swiftly and severely if apprehended.

Sounds like the perfect place to live, I know where to retire now

 

[jay helfert]

Good luck on meeting with darwin, i'm sure you will not disappoint on him. He's also a good pool player. He's a good guy.
He visited my shop last saturday and he tell me about you..
Good luck Jay!!!Enjoy!!!:thumbup:

Take care,
Al

Thanks Al. I met up with Darwin at One Side. He's a super nice guy. We played Ten Ball for a while and pounded on me good.

I'm having trouble adjusting to this new cue. It's way too long (59"+) and maybe needs some weight added also (18 oz.). It's still a good cue, but like most cues, they sometimes need some fine tuning to suit your style.

I continue to have trouble with my cue ball control and can't seem to get any good follow on the ball. I'm leaving it with Darwin; he has a guy who can take 1.5" off the shaft and put a Triangle tip on it. I may ask him to put a longer or heavier bolt in the butt too.

The local game maker at One Side brings another hustler in to play me some One Pocket. His name is Eric. I just don't feel that comfortable playing a good player when I'm uncertain about my cue ball control, so essential in One Pocket. So I tell Eric I will play him some Bank Pool. Naturally he acts like he knows nothing about banks, but I tell him it is the simplest game in the world to play. All you do is shoot every shot a bank shot, and you can shoot at any ball. In about two minutes I have explained the game to him and he is ready to try me out. I want to play for 500p a game but he says only 300p at first. Okay.

I don't mind playing a good player Banks because I know I only have to keep the cue ball in play. Just avoid scratching and you'll be all right. I win the flip and proceed to scratch on the break. Nice . I now need six balls to win. We go back and forth for several innings, until I catch up at 3-3. Then I run two and win the game. The second game is over in two innings! I break and make a ball, then run three off the break. Eric's buddies are laughing at him. I ask Darwin later what was so funny. He tells me they said, "The Hustler got hustled!" Eric fails to make a ball on his turn and I run two, The second game is over in about two minutes. Eric is not happy and leaves the poolroom owing me 300p. They tell me he is going to the bank ATM to get money. I'm a little pissed he would make a game with me and only have 300p in his pocket.

Darwin reassures me that I will get paid, meanwhile telling me this can be a problem here with some of the local hustlers. For only 300p I didn't ask him to post, just pay after each game. He did pay me after the first game. Maybe 15 minutes go by and still no Eric. I see that he has left his cue with some young kid. I go over to the kid and tell him that if Eric does not return I'm "garnishing" the cue. No one in the there says a word. They know that Eric has done the wrong thing here. I think someone calls Eric, because shortly he returns and pays me the 300p. Now he asks me to play One Pocket. I told him we only played two games of Banks, not enough to make any changes yet. I can see the guy plays good, he did fire in a couple of banks. It is no soft game for me, but I like it a lot more than One Pocket right now. Eric refuses to play any more Banks. I think the quick last game got him mentally. I tell him that when I come back (with my newly repaired cue) I will play him some One Pocket. Game over!

 

[jay helfert]

Now Darwin takes me to the nearby Malate Poker Club. I sure wish I had found this place sooner. We walk in and the first person I see is Efren. He gives me a big smile and comes over and hugs me. My man Effie!

He points out Francisco who is sweating the big game. It is a 10,000p buy in with 100p-100p blinds. There are nine players but they offer me a seat, so it will be ten handed. I'm in action! Am I a sick puppy or what? It is a fast and lively game with four or five players seeing most every flop, which has often been raised to 5-700p. Naturally I go into tight mood waiting for a good hand. Finally (after about 15-20 minutes) I pick up K,9 suited in late position. It has been raised to 500p and several people have called. I decide to take a shot and call. The flop comes King high (K,Q,4). The early raiser bets 700p and everyone folds to me. I call. The turn pairs the four and now he bets 3,000p. HMMMM. He could easily have A,K and I'm dead to a nine. But somehow I put him on an under pair or maybe A,Q, so I call. The river is a ten, which I don't like. Now he shoves all in for 6,000p more. He has me covered but I feel committed to this pot. I have to trust my read. I call for my last 5,900p. He turns over the Q,J of clubs for a pair of Queens. Thank God he didn't have Q,T. I would have been sick. I win the pot with over 20,000p in it. SWEET!

I keep playing for another hour or so and dribble off over 4,000p in chips. It's nearly Midnite and Bunny is texting me, "Where r u?, When u come home?" I quit and cash in 17,500p, a nice little win. It's an 8,000p night, plus Darwin buys a book from me. He asks me if I'd like to eat and I am hungry so I agree. We go back to One Side for a late dinner. Darwin wants to treat me but I tell him that it's my treat since I'm winners tonite. After dinner he drives me back to my hotel where poor Bunny and Jalo are waiting outside for me. It's 1 AM and she wants to eat. What can I do?

 

[Klink]

Great posting Jay and it's nice to hear and see in your posts that you have seem to calmed down and are more comfortable with your situation.

Good Luck!

 

[jay helfert]

thats good to hear also. Thats what I was day dreaming about. A huge room. maybe more later. And Jalo is gorgeous.

Thanks! Even the filipinos stop and look at Jalo. I think mostly because she has a distinctive fil-am look. The mothers even bring their little ones over to look at her. She is a very popular baby in Pasay. At night when she is sleeping, I sometimes find myself staring at this little bundle of joy. Stay well my dear. :lovies: