VII. Communication/Technology/Photography

*PHONE: The Philippines does not have the convenient phone card system that is popular in Thailand and the local long distance kiosks are outrageously expensive. Your best option is buying a cell phone and purchasing a 500 piso load card to check in with work or other people back home. There are many cell phone dealers across the street from Margarita Station on Fields and at Nepo Mall in Angeles City. I would avoid Savers Mall in Balibago as they are overpriced and cater to impulse buying bargirls. Depending on the type of phone you want, you can purchase a phone from 1,200 pisos to 5,000. Cell phones are a must if you are staying longer than a week because all the girls will contact you via txt messages. It’s a fun way to keep in contact with the girls and will save you money in the long run. I think the best place to buy second hand and new phones is Nepo Mall. Lots of options there. The girls will come over for afternoon sessions before work, when the get off work or on their day off for about 500 pisos for short time....this is what they would receive from the bar for an all-nighter, so everyone wins. It’s also a great way to get back in contact with a girl the next time you arrive or to track down a popular girl who will usually work whenever she feels like it. Do not make calls from your hotel room as the hotel will gouge the shit out of you and you will be shocked how expensive it is, same goes for internet cafes. If you have a phone from Thailand, you will be able to use those phones in AC. Some Thai phones are already unlocked and ready to go, depending on the service provider and the brand of the phone. The only phones that will work from the USA are the triband models and the phones must be unlocked.

One of the best new inventions is the technology in VOIA. Sign up with a provider like Vonage and you can get a soft phone with various minute packages. Just get a high quality headset with mic and attach it to your laptop with high speed broadband and you are ready to call the states with a local USA number and local prices. If you plan to travel a lot and have to keep in contact with your office, then this is a must. I pay $10 a month and it gives me 500 minutes anywhere in the USA and Canada and the international rates are competitive.

*INTERNET: Internet cafes are readily available up and down Fields Ave. and vary from 50 to 80 pisos per hour. The internet café in the back of Margarita Station and at Rick’s Café are both fairly quick. The one in back of Margarita Station has a CD Burner if you need that service for some reason. Kokomo’s Hotel has a desk top computer with internet access. Orchid Inn Superior rooms have internet access as well for those of you bringing laptops. Clarkton Inn has a laptop in their café for internet access and another computer in their business center. Hana Hotel has a small business center with internet access as well. You will soon find out that some of the cafes will block your access to nude pics. I have used to broadband at Central Park, Royal Amsterdam and Swiss Chalet and all are fast.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I have come to find out that a digital camera with 3 megapixel minimum is essential in AC. I would recommend finding a camera that is small and portable. Good idea to bring extra memory and burn copies onto a CD as the memory becomes full at Rick’s Café business center. There is also a few places that will burn copies for you or print pics from your memory stick on MacCarthur Blvd and a Kodak Center next to ChowKing on Fields. Filipinas like to wear this bluish/white makeup that is not noticeable in person but the flash can make their faces glow with a regular camera and make a hot girl look aweful. Digital cameras can eradicate this problem or minimize it depending on the quality of camera you have In the bars, almost all of the managers will allow you to start snapping photos. Even if you start snapping away at the smaller bars, they will not stop you as they want their bar promoted. It’s advisable to ask a girl to take her picture before you do so. Don’t just go in and start snapping away at girls before meeting them as they might get pissed. This is where a digital camera comes in handy as the girls love to look at their pic instantly. Anyone with one of those new Canon photo makers will be a huge hit as you can make pics instantly in your room and give them to the girl before you leave.

*MISC TECHNOLOGY: Not all hotels carry 220v outlets so contact the hotel ahead of time prior to arrival. Many electronic items, including laptops have dual voltage but it can be a problem for electric razors, phone chargers from home, or portable music (MP3, Discmen, ghetto blasters). Many times AC will experience temporary brownouts but most hotels have backup generators, so you shouldn’t be inconvenienced for very long.