Colin O'Neal's Santo Domingo

New gay porno movie featuring Dominicans.

Catastrophe Averted/Pet Peeves

Photo by Paul Culver

Last night a major catastrophe happened. My monitor for my computer had a blow up. For a computer junkie, this was monumental. It was 9:30pm last night, so I ran to Plaza Llama, the local Walmart type store, thinking I could pick something up cheaply. Besides overpriced flat-screens, they were offering USED monitors for $200 (U.S.) and up. As one who surfs the Internet religiously, I knew that this was a ridiculous price. Luckily, I called Mario Sessions, who is coming tomorrow, and he is bringing me a flat-screen.

In the meantime, I have borrowed a monitor from a Dominican friend from around the corner.

Tragedy averted.

It is Christmas-time, and everyone is trying to get their money together for presents. For the last couple of weeks I noticed the police in the airport parking lot. I thought, that's nice. That was until a group came over to inquire how we were doing. I gave them my best "don't even THINK I'm going to give you any money look." I was cordial, shook their hands, and proceeded to get in the car and lock the door. I hear they are getting really aggressive now. Bottom line, unless you are in a generous mood, DON'T give the police any money. It sets a bad precedent.

One other pet peeve that has been on my mind lately. People have been taking cabs from hotels (Jaragua, Hilton, InterContinental, etc.) to the Colonial Zone, and have been charged OUTRAGEOUS amounts. FYI, it does NOT cost RD$300 pesos to go from the Malecon to the Colonial Zone. It should cost no more than RD$120-$150 pesos. If you need a cab, tell the front desk to call you a cab. They will tell you, "you can pick up a taxi out front." BULLSHIT. Just tell them they overcharge tourists, and would prefer a taxi company. A good one I use is Aero Taxi (809.686.1212). They are efficient, come in about 3 minutes, and in 5 years of using them I have only been overcharged once (and I complained about it).

Lastly, please don't change money at the airport. The airport used to give the best exchange rate. Not anymore. The exchange rate is about RD$33.20 per $1 (U.S.), and they are offering RD$30 pesos per $1 (U.S.). That is highway robbery.

Okay, lesson over.

As ever,
The Monaga Blogger

Hola!

What a great weekend! I know I said it in the last post, but it bears repeating.

Honestly, I have a writer's block now. Don't really have anything to say. Let's see ... Great weekend. Said that. Good friends visited. Almost drowned at the river. Great meals and interesting conversations. Met some great new people. Hung out with Paul Culver and took photos. Did I mention that the weather is really nice (yes, hot in the daytime, but ...).

If you are in the NYC-area tonight, check out the EscandoNights Party at Umbrella.

Drag performer, Ikenna, who performed at the second Dominican Island Heat, opened her very own cabaret in Berlin, Germany. Congrats!!!!!!!

Baseball Player Hurt in D.R. Car Crash

D.R. Tourism Numbers are Down

D.R. Travel News: JetBlue & Ritz-Carlton

Playa de Samana

On a beach in Samana, Paul Culver comes across a young man out for his excercises.

How Was Your Weekend?

Photo courtesy of Paul Culver

I hope everyone had a great weekend. And for those in the States, I hope your Thanksgiving was nice. I promise to write more later. I'm on my way to my favorite beach-front restaurant.

I also have some emails to return. Promise.

Mas tarde!

Happy Thanksgiving

Its that time of year again. Time to get together with family and friends and give thanks for all your blessings. I have many, many things to be thankful for.

All the Americans in my circle have been asking the same thing, "what are we doing for Thanksgiving?" Last year David Lee had dinner at his house, but it is a lot of work and preparation. After the last party I put together, I needed a break. I think we will get together and celebrate it with a nice simple dinner this Sunday. Any day that you have people around that you care for is Thanksgiving.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Until soon,
Me

Hola

Dominicans on Hi5

What a beautiful weekend. Even with a few showers here and there, the weather has been beautiful. The humidity is much lower and it is breezy at night. This is my favorite time of year, weather-wise.

There are many tourists in town. Most of the establishments were filled to capacity this weekend.

Here is are some articles of interest:

N.Y. Mets Helping Victims of Tropical Storm Noel

Dominican Republic Fights Leptospirosis

Heroes of HIV: HIV in the Caribbean

Travel to Bahia, in Brazil

Third-Annual Dominican International Film Festival Wraps Up

DR Seeks to Purchase Shell Oil's Share of Refinery

Yohenly de Bonao

Wherever the photographer Paul Culver travels, be it India, Brazil, and recently to Colombia, he likes to see if he can meet people online before he gets there. Paul photographed a guy the last time he was here. He sent him an email to see if he knew of any models he could photograph. He says yeah, but you would have to come to Bonao. No problem. Bonao is only an hour or so outside Santo Domingo.

So off we head to Bonao. We get there, and meet the models, and find out that the "A" model can't make it. We have to come back on Saturday.

Damn.

We are then taken to a gym and given the consolation of photographing Yohenly.

What a nice day at the river ...

Dominican Gymnast

Paul Culver is back in town, and took some photos of a beautiful Dominican gymnast. Hold on to your seat.

Also, JetBlue has announced non-stop service between Orlando, Florida, and Santo Domingo. The service starts in March 2008. There is an introductory fare of $79 each-way, which must be purchased by November 27, 2007.

Eukliptus

Ruskin, pictured at the right, has added another option to the nightlife scene in Santo Domingo. Eukliptus, which is a restaurant serving typical Dominican food in the daytime, is now open at night. It is located in the Colonial Zone @ Calle Mercedes on the corner of Espaillat.

Ruskin said that he and some "friends" have taken over the operation only at night. They don't have any responsibility for the restaurant. Whoever the "friends" are, they have put a few pesos into the place. There is a flat-screen television and and what people like most, air-conditioning.

Stopped by last night, and there was a nice crowd there. The drink prices are DEFINITELY something to cheer. The Presidente's and Cubalibre's are RD$75 pesos.

Ruskin is a great guy, and I'm happy to give any support I can to him. Next time you are in town, stop by Eukliptus, and say hello to Ruskin.

Gay Delinquents

Over the last several weeks I have been told by some police sources that there was going to be a crackdown in the Colonial Zone. There is a new Police Chief, and he is very close to the Cardinal of the country. Petty crime has been on the rise. A couple of months ago there was a daring robbery at the American Airlines office on El Conde. Employees were tied up and the place robbed, in broad daylight.

One thought is -- true or not -- that the increase in crime is because of the drug-addicted Buggarones who congregate in the area looking for gay tourists. Some tourists have commented that are here now are noticing how the police congregate around Paco's and pick up anyone, if they think they are a Buggaron.

Then, there is the matter of some tourists coming to visit and acting like complete assholes. It has gotten so bad that the Hodelpa Caribe Colonial Hotel has removed all seating out front. I have received several emails from people who had stayed at the hotel for many years, talking about the change in the attitude of the staff. Other hotels are changing their "guest policies" as a way to discourage Gay guests.

Well, if you had guests staying at your hotel who thought it okay to perform a sex-act in a public restroom. Or my favorite, the guests who thought it was a hoot to have the shoe-shine boys show there dicks, in order to get a tip. All this done without any regard to the country and its people. Maybe then you could understand the attitude change.

WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!!

The Dominican Republic is NOT Costa Rica, Brazil or even Puerto Rico. There is no government agency actively trying to get Gay tourists to visit. The country is still very Catholic and unofficially could be described as homophobic.

I say all this to say, I know that the majority of Gay visitors come, and spend money, and have a good time, and treat people with respect. But it is always that small minority who will try their best to fuck everything up for everyone else. If complaints from people living in the Colonial Zone continue, and the Cardinal (who was quoted as saying we don't need any degenerate foreigners sullying the sacred Colonial Zone) gets involved, then it wouldn't be hard to see how a crackdown would not be beneficial to Gay tourists or Gay Dominicans alike.

I'm just saying ...

Another beautiful Dominican man online.