February 17^th, 2010

No, not the Asian Escapades map that I’m always linking to.  That one is great in its own right for Angeles and Subic (and Wayne’s AC Map before that), but this one I just found the other day…..this one is simply AMAZING!   It has clickable, detailed maps for just about EVERY worthwhile location in the ENTIRE Country!

It really goes above and beyond anything else out there.  Want to find out what hotels are located near LA Café in Ermita?  No problem.  Want to take a “video” walking tour through the alley-way’s of Sabang in Puerto Galera?  Got you covered.  Want to see the inside of Wet Spot Bar in Subic?  You got it.  Want to see exactly where your hotel is located on White Beach in Boracay?  Done.

The detail and precision is unbelievable, and to accomplish that on such a large, country-wide scale is truly remarkable.  Leave to the Japanese to put something like this together.  This map should be an absolute essential for any Philippines traveler—-monger or otherwise.

January 16^th, 2010

There are so many great resources online these-days that mongers can plan out their AC trips like Operation Desert Storm.  Almost every business in AC worth anything has its own web presence by now, and there are all of these super-helpful tools like AE’s interactive map and PIatNight’s Bar Data Sheets available; things that completely remove all of the guess-work.

Sure, for most veterans, they may seem unnecessary and like “overkill” maybe, and there are even some newbies out there who might prefer “guesswork” and exploring it all on their own.  However, there are a lot of people discovering AC who are not veterans and who want as much info as they can get.  I would venture to say that because of the internet, the “word” about AC is spreading at an exponential rate compared to 10 or 15 years ago when it was mostly just “word of mouth”.  Using some of these tools is like using an electronic “fish finder” gadget on your boat versus simply casting your rod overboard and hoping for a bite.

Now, while I wouldn’t call going to every last bar in AC to gather this data “hard work” exactly, it still must’ve been slightly tedious to accomplish accurately (especially after a few San Migs).  So, a lot of credit should go to the guys at PIatNight for doing it for us.

Newly updated for January 2010, here are the PIatNight Bar Data Sheets.  You’ll find the operating hours, (incl. Happy Hours), ladies and local drink prices, and EWR prices for each & every bar on Fields Ave and Perimeter Road.  Simply “right click” to download yourself a .pdf copy of each.

Fields Ave Bar Data Sheet
(click to download .pdf file)

Perimeter Road Bar Data Sheet
(click to download .pdf file)

January 5^th, 2010

Since it’s a whole new year, I decided to spot one of the newer hotels in town this month.  Overall, The PJ Ramada Hotel looks like a fairly decent place to stay in AC these days.  Their website is efficient and straight-forward and the room rates are a nice bargain compared to a lot of places in town presently.  They range from $22 to $37 bucks, give or take depending on the current exchange rate.  Ramada’s has all of the modern amenities one would expect in 2010, including free Wi-Fi internet.  They are located on Narciso Street, across from the Tiger Hotel; basically, the side road off of Fields that is directly across from the Checkpoint Jeepney Terminal.  Use AE’s map and you’ll see it better.  They don’t actually have Ramada’s on the map yet, but find Medgar Hotel and it’s right near there; just opposite side of Narciso St.  Anyway, here’s a few pics of the place too:

Street View

The Rooms

MORE

Poolside

Overhead Location Map

December 28th, 2009

Well, it’s the end of 2009, so there are New Year’s Eve parties scheduled just about everywhere; too many to mention really.  If you’re in AC, it will be a happening time; just look out for the fireworks—-they go crazy with them there.  I don’t know the exact numbers on how many Filipino’s lose fingers each New Year’s Eve, but I know it’s a lot.  Here are just a few of the places you could spend the last nigh of the decade:

Lost In Asia
Lost In Asia will be open to around 11pm on New Year’s Eve.  Weird, since the ball drops at 12, I know.  But here’s the good news:  To take a girl out after 7pm will only be 1000 pesos.  And if you show your PIatNight.com membership card, you’ll get another 10% off.  (*note – you MUST show your card!)  They will be closed New Years Day, so it is between you and the girl what happens that day.  The girls will get double salary on Saturday, January 2^nd, so expect lots of happy girls that day. They will also continue their popular Saturday and Sunday promotion of 130 peso ladies drinks (including a local drink for you).

New Year’s Eve Specials at Lost In Asia

Eruptions Resto-Bar
Eruptions Resto-bar will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party all night.  If you don’t already know, it is located on the first left before Gentleman’s Club if your heading towards Perimeter from Fields.  You can find it easily on the Asian Escapades Interactive Map.  Their doors will open at 3pm and close when the party is done.  Yes, they will extend their hours past the usual midnight closing.  Local drinks are 50 pesos, ladies drinks are 100 pesos and there will be FREE finger food and BBQ favorites.

New Year’s Eve Party at Eruptions

ABC Hotel Sky Bar & Lounge
If you like class, then The ABC Hotel’s Sky Bar & Lounge might be the place for you on New Year’s Eve.  It is probably the classiest joint anywhere on Fields.  As a matter of fact, when you ride past the ABC Hotel, it sorta sticks out like a beautiful flower in a steaming pile of shit.  To join The Sky Bar’s New Year’s Eve party, all you’ll need to do is pay the 300 peso entry fee.  I’m not sure what all that will include other than enjoying the fireworks and the company of some fine ladies in a fine establishment.

New Year’s Eve Party at ABC’s SkyBar & Lounge

June 19th, 2009

This is something I always dreamed would be available, and now it is.  Thanks to the guys at AsianEscapades.com, there is now a free, totally interactive, click-able strip map of the hotels, bars and restaurants of Angeles City.  It really is quite extraordinary.  It takes Wayne’s AC Map, which is very good mind you, about ten steps further.  On each icon, you can click and get an outside frontal view of each establishment, along with a small photo album of it as well.  (i.e. – lots of bargirl pics)  It is basically like going on a virtual barhop down Fields Avenue.   This is an awesome tool to prepare with if you’ve never been there, or if you want to reminisce about your last trip.  We all should be thankful to those guys who must have put in a tremendous amount of work to put this together.  Very well done.   And if that weren’t enough, the page offers other little goodies, like this super promotional “Angeles After Dark” video.  If watching that doesn’t get you excited about AC, then you’re a limpdick mo-fo who doesn’t have any business going there anyway.

Interactive Angeles City Map