u/WobblyTaterTot

I assume everyone here probably wasn't born yet but if anyone has any idea what I'm referring to...

Perhaps this is in Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku but .... there's a really big chance it totally wasn't. 😂

In 2008, my friend took me to a karaoke place. The only thing I can remember is ridiculously steep, ridiculously narrow stairways going practically vertical up .... inside a super narrow cramped building.

Everything was dark and carpeted and really nice. And to your right there were these tiny rooms where people were inside each one in small groups, doing karaoke.

And you could just keep going up, up, up and then pick a room and go inside one, and do karaoke. There wasn't creepy or weird but actually quite nice. But so cramped and small and the staircase is the thing I remember the most.

I think there were waitresses that would stop in and bring your drinks and food also. But it was kind of like a self service pick your own room type thing.

I'm trying to get my head around this.

I'm already frustrated about mediocre condos going for a price psqft that's almost the same as Southern California.

But even in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego's most prestigious neighborhood, filled with billionaires, the most expensive golf membership is $200k USD.

I also understand that there's a gimmick with MGC that a membership equates to "owning a share of something".

So the creative psychology is that you're just parking that money and plan to sell it for more later. But it doesn't take much thought to realize that this can't be sustained.

Eventually someone buying a share at $6 million isn't going to anticipate any profit on that when nobody wants to buy their share.

What am I missing in the logic of what's going on here?

I know it's rainy season but I landed on July 20 and I feel like I haven't seen the sun since.

(Manila)

That's like 17 days. ☁️ 🌧️

I got a condo on Aug 1 and at this point I'm thinking of doing some traveling away from my current travel to the Philippines 😂

Are we cooked till November?

I checked weather history records. It said 96% of days overcast during Aug and Sept is the norm. That's excessive.

I know this has already been discussed. But it seems to me Grab would REQUIRE working seatbelts for its drivers.

I mean the liability would be insane if someone died and it was because the car had no seatbelt.

It's a driving service for fk sake.

I'm all about the "third world adventure" mentality. But this seems reasonable.

I feel like reporting drivers for this is probably justified. Not to be a dick. Just basic, obvious safety so they get it fixed.

Not sure if there is any way to actually give that feedback?

Kind of just wondering where you've "heard" people say they're going to escape to, during the rainy season ... to get some sunshine?

So far everyone is saying Bali to me

but anywhere else that tends to be sunshiny when it's constantly raining here?

In San Diego I actively avoid giving to panhandlers because 90% of the time they're drug addicts, or just trying to buy more alcohol.

This has always made me sad because I have a heart for giving.

But I won't enable someone who is actively choosing to not work, or nurse an addiction.

What's the "culture" here with (for example) a mom who knocks on my Grab car window with her baby and has bracelets to sell, but clearly just needs money / help.

Encouraged here or still discouraged?

I'd sell my house to help a mother in need, but I didn't want to assume "the situation".

Thank you

I can't sign up for GCash. It won't recognize any of my debit or credit cards. (JP Morgan Chase Bank. A fairly large International Bank).

Doesn't work.

Can't sign up for MAYA.

Can't put a payment option into Foodpanda.

Cant buy Load on my SMART eSIM.

Can't put a payment option into LAZADA.

Can't put a payment option into SHOPEE.

I've tried literally every app and the only one that works is Grab.

Do I basically have to to the trouble of getting a Philippine bank account just to use all these apps - - - because they don't recognize or use the international Visa system - - for some reason?

I'm new to this. My first packages arrived at the Oregon warehouse yesterday.

Your HELP documents say that my packages will be listed on "The Dashboard".

Are you aware there is no dashboard in either your website or your app?

What's the Dashboard?

I am unable to see the list of items that has arrived. I do see the Bell icon with the Notifications but that list seems to be randomly changing. Things are disappearing.

Where is the permanent list of items that has arrived at your warehouse?

Strange Q:

I've been paying my friend back in the USA to receive shipments of stuff from various stores that won't ship directly here.

And driving her crazy trying to box it up and eventually ship things to me. She's being super nice about it but I'm wearing out my welcome.

ChatGPT suggested something called a shipping consolidator that'll collect my orders and when it's time to send a batch, will handle all the customs forms and ship it.

Do any of you use such a service you can recommend in the States? Thanks.