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Hermanolobo
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Havana Cuba 29th January 2005
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This first report is a short one because the Internet keyboards are weird and the whole thing is a bit slow.
My Portuguese friend[The Studman] got us off to a good start. He pulled the singer in the rooftop bar. This gave us the chance to meet the right people and be shown the right places.
It is impossible to compare Cuba with Thailand because they are so totally different.
Havana is more expensive than Bangkok and there are quite a few police about, albeit discretely. I was walking from Ambos Mundos Hotel last night[Hemingway's favourite gaff] along a street called Obispo when I saw two street ladies being shown the back seat of a police car. Yes they are still clamping down on lady nightworking.
So far I have had about three chances of some lady action but I did not fancy them so I didn't bother. I shall be getting the Portuguese bedwarming report sometime this afternoon.
There does not appear to be the abundance of women that there are in LOS but perhaps I am looking in the wrong places.
Had my first scam last night the taxi driver gave me a dodgy 5 peso note !
Whether the singer's friend who sold me the box of allegedly genuine Cohiba cigars sold me some duff ones time will tell when I get to LOS and one of the expert members has a puff ?
Havana is full of culture and music and I have found a surprising amount of people who speak English. My Spanish is a bit rusty.
For instance I was in the Nacional Hotel last night to see some of the Buena Vista Social Club group.
Quite an experience.....
to be continued.....
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:48 am on Jan. 30, 2005
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PickyBanker
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enjoy Cuba...it's not the same as BKK, but there are plenty of women available....but they are not cheap...i was there 2 years ago for 10 days and had lots of women ($60-$100), of all sizes and shapes...but I still prefer BKK...getting the women into your hotel room is very difficult and you have to bribe several people at the hotel...best thing is to get a 'room' for a week just for the times you need to bring a girl back to someplace...we found a small apt., with 2 rooms (rented it for $100 for the week) and took the girsl there instead of the hotel....a note on Cuban cigars...never buy ANY cuban cigars outside of the factory store....the factory stores are expensive, but genuine...EVERYTHING else sold in cuba is made using BANANA leaves!!!!....i am a cigar afficionado and have dne my homework on this...cigars that are made in cuban cigar factories are counted under the very strictest of rules and boxes of the real stuff simply don't disappear form the factory floor!....good luck....
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 11:21 pm on Jan. 30, 2005
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thaiaficionado
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Just curious, how much for a box of Monticristos? I paid S$330 (about $200 USD) at the duty free shop in Singapore Wednesday for Nbr. 3s. Much prefer Nbr. 1 or Nbr. 2s, but they didn't have Nbr. 1's, and 2s were just too expensive, as were Cohibas. 
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:50 pm on Jan. 30, 2005
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Hermanolobo
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thaiaficionado & PB,
Now I understand why a friend of a friend called an old geezer in the Bar Montserrat a 'banana'
I got a box of 25 Cohibas + a box of exicutos for 120 Peso's or $120.
The large box was from a friend of a friend (very nice lady) - He was with a colleague and they would not put the official seal on the box until I was satisfied.
Maybe a scam but I got the impression that some get round the system. I shall save you one for the next time I see you ?
I rarely smoke but even the ones from the old 'banana' seemed OK. The lady friend's cousin had a puff and thought it was OK ? I bought a Cohiba from the bar in the Montserrat in its metal tube. Again seemed OK but I am the last person in the World to be an expert. I noticed the Cohibas I bought in boxes had the name 'Cohiba' around the cigar itself in embossed gold whereas 'old bananas' ones didn't ?
Beer-
Some of the knowledgable members say that the beer is not so good. I drank 'Bucanero' and 'Crystal' -
I preferred Bucanero (the stronger) but my Portuguese mate preferred the Crystal. To my taste they are both better than Singha or Chang !
Mojitos-
I had mine without sugar. Completely refreshing.
Language-
My Spanish is rusty so I understand more than I can speak. I found a surprising amount of people speaking English !
Food-
Again some of the members say the food is not so good ?
I had one iffy meal on the last night in Chinatown but generally I had no complaints. Some of the pork was especially good ! I have never tasted such tasty chicken or eggs !
Matinje (women) The available ones mostly black and tasty but did not seem in abundunce. Impossible to take back to my hotel (Marina Hemingway) Too much sharp security. A heavy observant police presence.
It would be possible to take them back to their 'poor' flat but I did not want to risk it with a quick contact.
People-
Lovely, gentil, very well educated. A few scam merchants trying to rip you off as an official guide.
Most of the crime seems of the petty variety (I'll find that out when I smoke the cigars?)
Music,
Mind bogling ! Totally professional !
Old Havana-
Astonishing if you like culture. Reminded me a bit of Lisbon in Portugal.
The cars-
Amazing old American ones but mostly Russian Ladas. A taxi driver told me they are very cheap to buy.
Quite a few new VW's, Peugots and Skodas.
First impression ?-
Spain under Franco in the mid-1960's ?
The places where the tourists did not visit !
That appears to be the similarity ??
I was there as a 13 year old school kid.
More to follow....................
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 12:12 pm on Feb. 2, 2005
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Hermanolobo
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Comandante ‘Hermano Lobo’ & The man from Porto (not Jose Marinho)
We take the free shuttle bus from the Marina Hemingway. I rather like staying there amongst the yachts. I see yachts registered in Miami and Delaware. Americans are forbidden to visit by the White House ! HHhmmmmm ????
The cars ! I cannot believe the cars ! Old American classics. The ‘work-a-day’ cars
are Russian Ladas. The first impressions are definitely South Beach Miami. Very
similar with Art Deco style buildings.The bus moves close to and an old fort and we are left with a ”be back at 2330 or otherwise it’s a taxi”.
The immediate culture is of ancient forts and Spanish colonial style. The Plaza de Armas our first stop is of a square with many trees. A statue of a historical figure surveys the scene. I think I quite like this. Wandering around with my thumb in my bum and my brain in neutral a young Cubana implores us to visit the Mirador on the
fifth floor, great views she says! OK we agree. Lady in the lift with a welcoming smile. I first notice a natural smile without request for the silver to cross the palm.
Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara de la Serna is an icon everywhere. Apparently ‘Fidel’ wants to keep a low profile till he dies.
We wander through the restaurant and take a seat amongst the open sky. I first notice
a lighthouse at the further most point. A statue of Christ watches over us across the
bay. We first order Mojitos. I demand no sugar. “Sin azucar !” This is a most refreshing drink ! What do we want to eat ? “What do you recommend?” The pork
is very tender senor!” Very tasty too, a spicy sauce (picante) but not hot like Thai.
The group start to play. Yeah this is my style ! I take a photo. The pretty black girl with the exceptional voice flashes a look of recognition. After a few very well sung
songs she requests to join us. Fine by me. Especially fine by my Portuguese companion. The chemistry is instant and profound. We are getting an instant ‘intro’ into something ? The band join us. I order beers all round.
The band finish at nine and my Portuguese friend and the singer seem to have found a mutual affection.
We go Vedado the ‘China Town’ of La Habana. Another good meal. Not great but good. Jet lag and I start to nod-off. Maybe it’s the strong Bucanero? The singer says she wants me to meet her cousin tomorrow. ‘Matchmaking?’ Getting to know one girl through another could be the system here.
A Lada back to the Marina and I begin to catch up on sleep. Quiet place comfortable bed and I am out like a light.
Already a different experience a different style. Impossible to compare with Thailand as they are so different.
Maybe the smiles here are real ?
Another immediate impression is the live music everywhere. Bars restaurants everywhere, but so professional !
I begin to miss the ‘on demand’ sexual relief available in Thailand. And yet……..
There are so many new distractions. New colours, new tastes.
I begin to miss my Thai ladies, Thai food but not much else. There seems to be so many other things to see and do. I look at the ancient canons embedded in the streets to denote a walkway. A powerful lump of metal up to its mid-drift in concrete. Yes, this is different. But where are the ladies?
What will the ‘sobrina’ cousin be like?
Fat and forty no doubt ?
Viva Habana
Viva la musica !
Viva Cuba Libre
Viva Comandante ‘Che’ !
Eerrrrr……… ‘Comandante Hermano Lobo’ ?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:44 am on Feb. 3, 2005
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Noknoi
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Viva Batista!!!
Viva TR!!!
Viva Kennedy!!!!
Viva Jeb Bush's Wife!!!
Viva Jeb Bush's Son!!!!
Viva Cecilia Cruz!!!!
Viva Miami!!!!
Viva Fulanito!!!
Viva Daddy Yankee!!!
Viva Agent (CIA) Alex Rodriguez!!!!!
(this is the Cuban-American CIA agent that popped Che and has one of his ears-I met him in 80s. He was at my university getting his MBA)
Viva Gasolina!!!!
Viva Bush!!!!
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:34 am on Feb. 6, 2005
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BigDUSA
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Comandante Hermano Lobo,
Throughly enjoying your report. Keep em coming.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:52 am on Feb. 6, 2005
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Hermanolobo
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Obviously Noknoi is of the 'Redneck' fraternity !
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Quote: Noknoi,"Viva Agent (CIA) Alex Rodriguez!!!!!
(this is the Cuban-American CIA agent that popped Che and has one of his ears-I met him in 80s. He was at my university getting his MBA) -"
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"Cuban-American CIA agent that popped Che" = Not quite correct!
Thanks for the tip about his whereabouts.
Noknoi,
What's it like to be in bed with the C.I.A. ?
Ever meet Philip Agee ?
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 7:49 am on Feb. 7, 2005
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Hermanolobo
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Next day we went to meet the singer at her flat.
Some of you might know the picture associated with the Buena Vista Social Club.
a dusty street with an ancient American car ?
Well a street just like that is how we arrived in La Habana Vieja. Getting out of the
Lada taxi in the bright sunshine we were faced with the poster vision of a street in
Havana. Climbing old stairs reminded me of some of my relatives’ places in Lisboa.
We moved along narrow balconies that brought back for me anyway, many memories.
The singer’s mum was sitting at the kitchen table copying musical notation from her
piano lessons. Not seen that one in Thailand ?
Friendship and warmth all round. The singer rang her ‘prima’ – I think I am getting an
instant girlfriend ? The ‘prima’ arrives. Pretty hot stuff for a forty year old but not my type. Nice enough person just the same. I shall go with the ‘flow’.
We leave with lots of cuddles. A neighbour comes out and says to the singer, “Two men ! You are doing alright these days!” I collapse in laughter. I have not forgotten that much Spanish ?
Our next stop is the Museum of the Revolucion. I take pictures of the Russian tank
outside. A GAU-170 I think ? Fascinating place ! Blood stained uniforms and even
Che’s socks and inhaler ! These people have been struggling against Imperialists since 1850 something or other. First the Spanish then the Yankees !
Outside is the ‘Granma’ (enclosed in a glass building) the boat that brought ‘Che’ and Fidel from Mexico in 1956 to fight a war of liberation. There is the engine from the U2 shot down in 1962 and the Russian T-34 tank used in the Bay of Pigs fiasco.
We walk down the Zulueta to a hotel where more friends are playing some great music. We move on though past the Capitolio (smaller version of the building in Washington ).
There are lots of waves and smiles to people in flats above a bar called ‘Monserrat’
These singer and her cousin (prima) know a few of the locals ??
Bar Monserrat. How can I convey a place that is old but has style and atmosphere ?
The singer and her ‘prima’ know the musicians who are playing. The musicians are amazing !
I really could not describe the soul and style only that it is very very good !
The old ‘banana-man’ arrives and dumps a few fake Cohibas on our table.
‘Prima’ shifts through them finds a nice torpedo and nods approval. 2 Pesos !
She fires the thing up for me. If they are made from banana leaves she has not detected it. From the colour of her teeth she has had a few torpedoes in her time !
I really can’t believe the music. It’s sublime !
Cohibas, Cuban music and Bucanero beer = I’m in heaven !
We then go to a ‘basic’ supermarket for chicken, beer and a few other provisions.
Back at the flat in Old Havana the chicken and rice are cooked. Bueno !
In Havana I have never tasted chicken so tasty or eggs so ‘eggy’ in flavour.
Organic ? Free free range ? This is stuff that has been really strutting around the
farmyard, no chemicals just chicken that one would have tasted 100 years ago.
What have we done to ‘our’ World? Where food has no taste unless flavoured
with herbs and garlic ?
Havana has no McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC or Burger King.
There are only natural products that we have perhaps lost ?
Whatever happens to Havana in the future I am not sure but UNESCO has given them a lot of money to preserve the culture of a city without these multi-national franchises, it has a lot going for it ! I have tasted the difference. Scary ! What are we eating in the West and believing it is food ?
Next report = I meet the Buena Vista Social Club !
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:50 am on Feb. 7, 2005
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