As stated in my previous post, I fit the profile of the American Sex Tourist. Retired 60ish, overweight, balding (nope, NOT ME). The Philippines are a 3rd world country and the local red light district is only a 70P taxi drive away. A companion can run, from my research, from $20 US to $120. Not going to go there…..wouldn’t be prudent…..not what I came here for. (Jokes from Facebook: I’m not into 3-somes. If I want to disappoint 2 people I’ll just have dinner with my parents; Why would I fly 6000 miles to disappoint women–I can do that cheaper at home).
So, what did I do to try to set up contacts here? I looked into the Expat Forums online and didn’t really want to buddy up with an expat as the forums did not have a lot of positivism (at least during my initial research)
I got a 3-month membership to Filipinocupid.com. Initially as a non-paying member I received several hundred messages that I couldn’t read (had to join). I browsed the system and then joined. I sent out about two dozen intro messages, stating that I wasn’t looking to get married right away (all the women wanted to get married), and that my trip was to see Tarsiers, swim with Whale Sharks and Thresher Sharks, possibly get a massage by four 200-lb pythons at the zoo, etc. I was looking for information about where the locals go, what to do, safety, etc.
The replies were varied. Most were “great to meet you” and nothing more. A few offered to be my personal tour guide for my entire trip (with assumed compensation / gifts), and a few more were honest replies to help answer any questions I may have. Some have traveled extensively throughout the Philippines and were able to give me guidance. I got lots of phone numbers (first reply), Facebook pages, and many Skype addresses (haven’t hooked up Skype).
There was one…there always is one. She is a junior high science teacher getting her MS in teaching Science this spring. I told her I HAD to see the Tarsier sanctuary as they are nocturnal and my MS was completed studying owls in sourhern California. Side Note: I actually would like to help the sanctuary in any way I can. I gave my new friend online references to my thesis work. We have email chatted sporadically over the last month and we are going to meet tomorrow, in a public place, during daylight hours (sort of like I-Spy).
She has agreed to meet me at the mall and help me get a phone (as I was exhausted and intimidated there today), then we probably will have dinner together and then decide if we will ever see one another again.
If we hit it off: Great. If we don’t, Great..we can still chat online about teaching and research.
Hopefully I can get my strength back quickly so I can travel and see the sights.
FINALLY. For a blog this has been very photo absent. I don’t want to brandish my $600 Galaxy Note phone (actually bought for $300 used…but it looks $600) or my $400 pocket underwater camera to take pictures. I’m going to use them in my travels, but plan to get a cheap phone with an blog-worthy camera in it tomorrow. THEN… photos.
Yay