General Info

[GregLondon]

Those of you familiar with the Phils cell phone system will be aware that most locals inc most of the girls sign up to various daily / weekly or monthly promos which give them either a fixed number of calls / texts for a certain charge or unlimited calls / texting for a higher charge. If you end up doing alot of texting / calling which is likely if you are dating girls from the dating sites these can save a few dollars a day compared with the normal charges.

Most of the plans are for intra network calls Smart / Talk and Text (smarts budget conscious brand) is the most popular network though a little more expensive. Sun is the up and coming network and is especially popular amongst young city girls as its the cheapest and most of their mates will probably be sun users. Globe / TM is now the third largest network. For newbies if you have a single SIM phone I would go for a talk N Text SIM, if you have dual SIM phone (Samsung and Nokia now offer budget dual sim models which the China phones have offered for some time, but China phones have notoriously bad build quality and battery life) , I would suggest TNT and SUN.

The promos work by texting various codes to specific network numbers. The because change their promos with monotonous regularity so keeping up with the latest deals can be tricky.

Help is at hand though from this site.

http://www.symbianize.com/showthread.php?t=185230

Which is well worth book marking.

It also explains what you need to do to passload, ie transfer some of your load to your honey so she has load to contact you.

[Econo Tech]

Regarding money exchange in Manila airport.

I will fly into Manila airport then fly right out 3 hours later to Palawan.

Should I exchange my money at the airport or wait til I get to puerto Princessa?

TW

Better to change in PP, as, from my experience, the money changer at the mall there opens a bit late.

And if it is your first time to PP, you will know life there is on a pretty slow lane. Sloooww lane.

[Econo Tech]

So the officious idiotic rulecentric Singaporean Immigration jerk in his little spiffy uniform said " Stop now! If you cross the yellow line again you will be arrested" This is just a line painted on the floor, before the doors that go to Immigration. No one is violoting any inportant or high security space before or after the said yellow line.

PSSST. The guy who does that is not immigration. He is a private security police. Next time look at his badge. It will say CISCO Auxiliary police. No sir, not immigration.

[Econo Tech]

i agree with the singapore immigration thing. i had personal experience with it. never mess with these folks. they are very serious in what they do. they took away two bottles of chivas from me, just because it was not packed according to their standard. i was coming from cebu. i told them that i will re-pack it. but they did not budge. i tried to argue a bit. as did not wanted to loose that much, but they started preparing some slips. sensing danger. i smiled and apologized for the mistake and let them have it. got in flight on time.

as you can see, the mistake was not mine. apparently. after researching online. they do not accept any duty free liquid items from cebu airports as it is not recognized by singapore customs for safety etc. not sure about the rules now. but be careful

mate, that's a bit odd, as living here for a long time, never had any stern immigration guy, and if you read my posting, they do have a fun way of life. like letting me off with a carton of cigs, and holding a guy with a pack just because he was trying to prove something.

as for chivas, no- it is not about packing. you can only carry 1 liter of liquor. end of story. nothing to do with how it is packed.

and safety is not the area of customs. that is the area of the airport aviation security force.

after all, while a lot complain about singapore, do we have the problems of drugs, robberies, murders, random hits, [CodeWord124]? and that is something that only singapore can offer

as comparing malaysia generally, it all depends on whom you have faced. i have had crackpot immigration guys in malaysia just pull me off the line just because they like it.

as for "do not cross the line" it is taken seriously, because of simply there is ample space in the airport to do your kissing, and bye byes, and add to it. singapore has the busiest airport in the region with a lot of transit pax. they had be in control, as when there is a rule. why break it?

damn. some people have fun only pushing their luck and then blaming that it is the fault of the security guy. .

cheers,

let's get back to the subject. now.

[Lushington]

Regarding money exchange in Manila airport.

I will fly into Manila airport then fly right out 3 hours later to Palawan.

Should I exchange my money at the airport or wait til I get to puerto Princessa?

TW

I have been to PP but did'nt try changing any money there. But I would change your money at Manila airport considering you are going to a small city like PP.

I really enjoyed the food and sights at PP. Especially the Underground River.

Have fun TW!

[Lushington]

well, i don't think you will get exchange for exotic currencies in manila. i have not seen indian rupees for sure. because i'm from there. and tried to get some change. however, if you are going to hong kong. you will get all the above currencies.

also, contrary to what folks would think. the best exchange you will get is in manila airport. so get them there, rather than waiting to go to hkg or sin or bkk and thinking you will get better change there. i made the mistake and paid heavily for the mistake at hong kong airport. good luck

thanks for the heads up starchild! appreciate it!

[Tally Wacker]

regarding money exchange in manila airport.

i will fly into manila airport then fly right out 3 hours later to palawan.

should i exchange my money at the airport or wait til i get to puerto princessa?

tw

money changers at manila airport

interested if anyone has experience changing other currencies beside usd at manila airport.

i have indonesian rupiah, chinese yuan and indian rupees.

anyone changed these currencies into pesos at the airport?

i realise the rate will be a bit lower.

would it be better to chage these at angeles or even malate?

thanks in advance,

lush

[FreebieFan]

I agree with the Singapore immigration thing. I had personal experience with it. Never mess with these folks. They are very serious in what they do. They took away two bottles of chivas from me, just because it was not packed according to their standard. I was coming from Cebu. I told them that I will re-pack it. But they did not budge. I tried to argue a bit. As did not wanted to loose that much, but they started preparing some slips. Sensing danger. I smiled and apologized for the mistake and let them have it. Got in flight on time.

They are a case of officialdom gone mad.

At the entrance to the Singapore immigration departure a while ago my Indonesian gf and me had a long farewell smooch at the gate. Theres a sign that says " don't cross the yellow line" well we smooched and hugged and crossed the yellow line before the entrance doors to immigration and passport control.

So the officious idiotic rulecentric Singaporean Immigration jerk in his little spiffy uniform said " Stop now! If you cross the yellow line again you will be arrested" This is just a line painted on the floor, before the doors that go to Immigration. No one is violoting any inportant or high security space before or after the said yellow line.

Except this jerk who's job it was to "man" the yellow line"

Singaporeans have very little sense of humour, little sense of the outside world, and a cockeyed view of the world that says the centre of the world starts at Changi.

And after 5. 5 years in Malaysia and 50 trips to Singapore yes, I know my subject matter quite well. You Singaporeans in the wider world know exactly what I'm taking about. Especially all of you who have emigrated to more relaxed environments.

[Starchild2012]

The most funniest was I was entering Singapore with a carton of Cigerettes, and Singapore doesn't allow even a single pack of duty unpaid cigeratte and in the random scan I was caught, and while the officer was about to launch into a lecture of being a resident and knowing the law, the guy behind me was checked by another officer and he had just a single pack of smokes, and when asked. He started to challenge the officer. The officer who was handling me turned to me and said "drop your carton into the rubbish and walk out, I have something more interesting to do. " and while I walked out. I saw the guy who challenged the officer being held while I was waiting for another friend arriving about the same time. And last I saw. A couple of Men in Blue turned up and escorted him off. I was told the fine for a single packet of duty unpaid cigerette is just upto 300$ plus plus. Or jail in lieu. The guy sounded Aussie, nah. The Singapore Customs didn't bother.

Cheers

I agree with the Singapore immigration thing...i had personal experience with it...never mess with these folks..they are very serious in what they do...they took away two bottles of chivas from me, just because it was not packed according to their standard..i was coming from Cebu....i told them that i will re-pack it...but they did not budge..i tried to argue a bit..as did not wanted to loose that much, but they started preparing some slips..sensing danger...i smiled and apologized for the mistake and let them have it.... got in flight on time...

As you can see, the mistake was not mine.. apparently..after researching online...they do not accept any duty free liquid items from Cebu airports as it is not recognized by Singapore customs for safety etc...not sure about the rules now...but be careful

[Starchild2012]

interested if anyone has experience changing other currencies beside usd at manila airport.

i have indonesian rupiah, chinese yuan and indian rupees.

anyone changed these currencies into pesos at the airport?

i realise the rate will be a bit lower.

would it be better to chage these at angeles or even malate?

thanks in advance,

lush

well, i don't think you will get exchange for exotic currencies in manila...i have not seen indian rupees for sure..cos im from there...and tried to get some change...however, if you are going to hong kong...you will get all the above currencies.

also, contrary to what folks would think...the best exchange you will get is in manila airport...so get them there, rather than waiting to go to hkg or sin or bkk and thinking you will get better change there..i made the mistake and paid heavily for the mistake at hong kong airport..good luck

[Wicked Roger]

I will shut up now and turn my attention to that one thing that interests 100% of guys on the board - guess what?

Cricket RK ?? :D:D...well there are long straight wooden things and balls...

Or a peach...I know what you would prefer most (and for Christmans ;))

[Lushington]

money changers at manila airport

interested if anyone has experience changing other currencies beside usd at manila airport.

i have indonesian rupiah, chinese yuan and indian rupees.

anyone changed these currencies into pesos at the airport?

i realise the rate will be a bit lower.

would it be better to chage these at angeles or even malate?

thanks in advance,

lush

[Tally Wacker]

I will shut up now and turn my attention to that one thing that interests 100% of guys on the board - guess what?

I give up.

Is it Cebu Hotels or How to produce more rice?

[Red Kilt]

.....................
Since when has there been a rule on this forum that any tips /advice offered has to be relevant to the majority of readers? I suspect that our American cousins and indeed most non Aussies/Englishmen have little or no interest in the extraordinary events being played out at Adelaide but this has not stopped (nor would I want it to) you and others exchanging thoughts on the matter...........................

Hey Greg I didn't make any reference to any "rule". I agree - there isn't one. If I read something not relevant to me I just (usually) click on by.
I generally find much of what you contribute here to be relevant and worthwhile, and I hope I can buy you an espresso doppio or something weaker next time you pass through Manila.
I will shut up now and turn my attention to that one thing that interests 100% of guys on the board - guess what?

[GregLondon]

You have too much free time GL. Why are you so defensive of a point of view that is pretty irrelevant to most of us?
All of your points are speculative and are purely your own opinion as to what might or might not happen.
For those of us who don't want to flaunt with breaking various travel requirements, we will do as we always have and buy return tickets.
If other guys want to follow your advice, then so be it.

BTW, to Mattrick and others: I have NEVER lectured anybody here, and I can't "rain on other guy's parades" unless they allow me. I always give my own opinion and leave it to others to decide whether it is good advice or otherwise. I am as adventurous as the next guy but not in things that have a possibility of coming back to bite me if it doesn't go according to plan. The world is already spooked enough without me adding unnecessarily to it all by drawing attention to myself in any immigration/customs activity.

I am fully aware, as I have made clear several times over that this is not relevant for most people who live pretty organised lives where they know which country they will want to be in over the next few months and therefore can most sensibly and cheaply book return /onward flights. However not everyone lives that kind of lifestyle and some of us prefer to have the flexibility to go where we want, when we want according to who we meet and where we feel like going. That's my situation and why for me this rule is a completely unnecessary and pointless donation of $250 to an airline. Am I the only person in this situation? No - the bloke I was standing behind in the check in queue was in the same situation and he ended up shelling out $250 because he didn't know how the system works.

Since when has there been a rule on this forum that any tips /advice offered has to be relevant to the majority of readers? I suspect that our American cousins and indeed most non Aussies/Englishmen have little or no interest in the extraordinary events being played out at Adelaide but this has not stopped (nor would I want it to) you and others exchanging thoughts on the matter.

Yes all of my points are my point of view on the basis of my experience. I have made it unusually clear what that experience was so that anyone in this situation can make their own decision as to how to deal with the issue. How does this differ from 99% of other posts in this forum which are almost inevitably the writer's opinion/point of view based on his experience?