Swagman and the LA Cafe Manilla

[Exit Strategy]

The Swaggy bus is the big attraction for me and the free ride from the airport was a vote winner as well

If you are coming from BKK, why not fly direct to Clark Angeles then if going to Subic take Southern Cross or that crappy Swagman bus?

So many things to comment here, I feel overwhelmed

[Exit Strategy]

Just my 2 cents

Your input is much appreciated. Please keep posting.

[Scottish Gary]

To answer my own question i walked from Swagman to LA Cafe and back again at 2 in the morning with no problems at all. The place is a shit hole but if you think that's scary then you've never walked through Glasgow.
I've also been wandering about Angeles and now Subic at all kinds of ungodly hours usually with Satans daughter hanging off my arm. Maybe I've just been lucky or maybe the chances of getting a knife up your Jacksie are not as bad a the internet scaremongers make out

[stroller]

Swagman to LA Cafe and back

That's just a short walk along the main street. 'Dangerous' areas are not far away. Dangerous meaning you take a risk, specially strolling alone, it doesn't mean you get threatend or robbed every time you explore.

[Scottish Gary]

Swagman to LA Cafe and back

That's just a short walk along the main street. 'Dangerous' areas are not far away. Dangerous meaning you take a risk, specially strolling alone, it doesn't mean you get threatend or robbed every time you explore.

I didn't exactly stroll. In fact I was like one of these Olympic speed walkers. I was walking so fast folk must have thought I had on invisible roller skates. The place is a complete dump and I've no doubt I was in a high risk dangerous environment

[katie23]

@SG: Good to know that you haven't been mugged or whatever. Just be careful and alert, and I think you'll be okay. I don't know that area very well (I think Swagman is in Malate or Ermita?), but then I don't wander around Metro Manila after dark as I usually go to Manila only for day trips. If it's in Ermita, then I'm familiar with Robinson's Ermita as I sometimes went there for shopping if my day trip's venue was in the vicinity.

Do you plan to go to Boracay or are the Subic beaches/b**ches good enough for your trip? Cheers, enjoy your holiday and hope you make a pic thread!

[Scottish Gary]

@SG: Good to know that you haven't been mugged or whatever. Just be careful and alert, and I think you'll be okay. I don't know that area very well (I think Swagman is in Malate or Ermita?), but then I don't wander around Metro Manila after dark as I usually go to Manila only for day trips. If it's in Ermita, then I'm familiar with Robinson's Ermita as I sometimes went there for shopping if my day trip's venue was in the vicinity.

Do you plan to go to Boracay or are the Subic beaches/b**ches good enough for your trip? Cheers, enjoy your holiday and hope you make a pic thread!

I have to be back in Thailand on Thursday so I didn't have enough time to go to Boriacy. I probably should have went straight there instead of going to Angeles as that wasted 4 days of my trip

[katie23]

^ from the "satan's daughter" remark, your trip to Angeles wasn't entirely wasted, so I think your trip was productive, so to speak. Enjoy your holiday and happy safe travels!

[callippo]

Manila and the Philippines is much more Asian, than it can look to the unwary. Basically they try to pull this con trick on us that they're western. But they're not really. They are not any less Asian than the Thais or Vietnamese. They just look like they are less Asian.

[callippo]

To the OP: I've also been harassed by a bus seatmate, but fortunately I was able to get out of that situation.

marrying the guy isn't going to help you. He'll still harass you even after you're married.