Driving Log: Manila to Angeles City, Philippines

[@davidgifford7748]

omg I turn my back for six months and Richard is in PI? I spent a month one weekend in Olangapo in 1986 courtesy of floating city CVN-70 Carl Vinson as an nuke EM. This visit, especially the first day, blew my mind in about 14 different ways. I still can't get over it. Mobbed by dozens of cute women, kids cleaning my shoes with a toothbrush if I dared stand still, crossing over shit river while drunk (momentarily came to my senses), pickpockets, drop dead gorgeous girls with no teeth, killer pizza and beer, and watching some moving picture by myself in the movie theater on base there. My mind is still spinning like a top.

[@FreeTheAnimal]

Hey shipmate. First time Olongapo was '84. We ere stationed in Yokosuka, Midway battle group (I was on USS Reeves, then later 7th Fleet Staff, USS Blue Ridge). From '84-'89, dozens of trips to Olongapo. I lost count. Spiced up with trips to Manila and Angeles, too. I did a day trip drive Angeles to Olongapo with a 50/50 mix German / Filipina gal freelancer I met at breakfast that morning. She was born in Olongapo. Anyway, the place is a shadow of its former self. '86 is when I visited Pattaya for the 1st time. Not even in my field of vision this would one day be home. It's a lot more like the old Olongapo than is Olongapo, Angeles, or Manila. PI basically sucks, now.

[@byteme9718]

No one visits Angeles for a burger.

[@FreeTheAnimal]

What do you think you know? My first visit to Angeles was in 1986. How about you? Tell me all about it.

[@byteme9718]

@@FreeTheAnimal 1998. A long while after Clark closed. I've been told about what it was like then and seen what it was after.

[@FreeTheAnimal]

@@byteme9718 It's basically Korea Town, now. I'm not super familiar with the post-Clark history or when it got revived again by tourists rather than stationed and passing through military...lots of retired military expats there still...and a number of them are calling it quits, moving to Thailand where I live (4 yrs+, now, and likewise, my first visit here to Pattaya was 1986). Until this visit in January '24, first in 35 years (1989 was my last), I was a Navy guy stationed in Japan for 5 years, '84 - '89. So, mostly it was Subic (dozens of times). I hit Angeles once on vacation for about a week and had a blast in what was a bit different vibe from Subic. Other times were just passing through, fliing into, or out of, Clark AFB.

[@byteme9718]

@@FreeTheAnimal Perhaps the word you're looking for is tainted. I've been to Subic a few times too. I'm not too judgmental, it is what it is. The far greater wrong is how the US destabilised the previously successful Philippine economy by deposing Marcos.

[@davegroves1924]

We'll never hear from this guy again. "Like New Orleans" my ass. Actually a mini Bangla Road. 600 prostitutes in 30 bars there on Angeles City's Walking Street compared to the 3,000 in 200 bars on Bangla Road in Patong, Thailand.

[@FreeTheAnimal]

Oh shut the fuck up, moron. Jesus, you little fucks who think you know something and scour around to prop up your self-esteem by taking shits on simple videos. I've been to the PI over 50 times, starting 1984 when I reported to USS Reeves for duty. Stationed in Yokosuka, we were frequent visitors and I flew into Clark a number of times and once spent a week in Angeles back in the day. After Reeves, I was a staff officer on 7th Fleet, embarked on Blue Ridge, also stationed in Yokosuka, also a frequent visitor to Subic. In addition to the dozens of ship visits over 5 years, I twice took extended leave of a month in the area (Subic, Barretto, Angeles, Manila). I also visited Thailand enough times and took enough leave to spend about 6 months in the country from '86 - '91. I used to prowl Bangla when it was a dead-end dirt road with about 6 beer bars, a couple of motels, and only 1 massage parlor, no happy ending. During 2021 (Jan 1) and 2022, through March 2023, I lived in Rawai, 20 min south of Patong. You could say I know Bangla pretty well. Prior to that, I lived in Chiang Mai, Si Sa Ket out in Isaan, and Jomtien. Since March 2023 I have lived on Pratumnak Hill right above Walking Street, Pattaya. It's 3 minutes down, on my MC. You're dismissed, you miserable, limp-dick fuck. And incidentally, the reference was to Bourbon St and SPECIFICALLY, getting a room above the all-night action, of at least until about 4am. And that was absolutely the case. Now fuck off.

[@davegroves1924]

@@FreeTheAnimal Seem to have hit a nerve.

[@FreeTheAnimal]

No, you're just a fucking idiot and this is how I treat fucking idiots on the internet for 30 years already. Every fucking time.