As much as I would love to post daily in Ambot-ah, I’ve oftentimes found it difficult to come up with a full post in a frequent and consistent manner. Creative writing just doesn’t ooze out of my system effortlessly and I end up with a lot of days (even weeks) when I don’t have anything new posted in this blog. So, I decided to do a “daily photo blog” section for Ambot-ah! Travel Blog. It’s going to have higher quality photos I’ve taken during my travels minus the long write-ups and the watermarks :) It’s located at the home page but you can also find an archive of previous daily photos here. I’m hoping I can religiously keep posting everyday for at least one year.
Want to view Google Maps in your native iPhone or iPod Touch map app even if you’re online? Here’s how I did it!
So why is it important for me to have access to offline Google Maps? For one, If I’m traveling to some unfamiliar place, Google Maps are extremely helpful to explore the area and get from point A to point B. The iPhone/iPod Touch has a built-in maps application but can only be used if there’s WiFi internet around. Even if you do get connected online, once you close the maps app, all stored (chached) maps are cleared and if you open the app again, only a small portion of the map will be available for viewing. If you’re an iPhone user, you can always connect to the internet through your wireless carrier but you will still be depending on whether there’s a cellphone signal or not.
photo by stevegarfield
I’ll try to explain the steps to viewing maps offline in a simpler way but this initial guide is more targeted for power users (should know what “jailbreaking” and SSH are) and also iPod touch users since I don’t own an iPhone.
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So how does the new Smart Bro Share it measure up in speedtest.net? I have saved screenshots of my speedtest.net results taken from different days and times.
When I connected to Smart Bro Share it for the first time; 8:30 pm
Two Hours Later; 10:30
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Recently, Installed a Smart Bro Share-it connection here at home. I originally planned it to be a replacement for my Smart Bro Plan 999 (the one with the canopy / antenna) but due to connection problems I’ve been having recently with Smart Bro Share-it, I decided to keep my Smart Bro Plan 999 at least until next month so that I can have a back-up connection. Now I have two internet connections, my Smart Bro Plan 999 (up to 1mbps) and Smart Bro Share-it (up to 2mbps). Naturally, I did some speed tests to measure how my “combined” bandwidth would add up. First I did a speed test of both connections separately:
Smart Bro Plan 999 Speed Test
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I just recently installed a Smart Bro “Share It Unlimited” internet broadband connection for P999 per month. Smart Bro’s newest unlimited wireless service promises speeds of up to 2mbps and comes with a free HSPA modem, which doubles as a WiFi router. I’m so excited to finally be able to share my experiences now that I have it connected to my home network.
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If you’re doing a complex task over and over, one way to help you do things more efficiently and help you remember key steps is making a mindmap about it. I’m currently starting to make a living out of blogging, and experimenting on starting new blogs to make my own little blog network. Starting a new blog takes some time and effort, and for it to become successful, bloggers have to be diligent in setting it up and promoting it. So I decided to systematize my workflow on starting new blogs by making a mindmap for it. Here’s how my first draft looks like:
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It’s been almost three years actually that I’ve used SmartBro as my internet provider. I pay P999 every month for my unlimited internet at 384kps, which is actually a bit lame and more pricey compared to internet access in other countries. I’ve hang on with them for so long because their line is, I think, the most reliable IP in Iloilo City. My friends have had experiences with Bayantel, PLDT myDSL, and Globelines, and they said their internet access have hiccups from time to time.
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I’ve recently discovered a great tool to easily manage my growing number of blogs by downloading programs based on a simple concept called Mind Mapping. Mind Mapping is basically a term for “listing down your ideas”. The term was quite daunting at first because Mind Mapping seems like one of those complicated techniques that an obsessive compulsive person might use. I later realized that it’s awesome and has actually simplified the way I run my blogs and has made my work a lot faster.
Photo by Auzigog
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There are a lot of informative websites about making money online. One such site that I have come across on and am subscribed to is MoneyBlogger, which has a lot of insightful articles that helps me in learning more about monetizing my blogs.
Currently, MoneyBlogger is holding a contest and the winner gets to receive an iPod Nano. Isn’t that cool? Definitely, I would want to have that thing in my pocket and all I have to do is have a blog :D
Ambot-ah is a blog about my life as a travel blogger, nurse, and freelance photographer. After my college graduation, I decided to make a living out of blogging and live out my many passions. Join me on my travels around the Philippines and South East Asia. Read my helpful backpacking journals, budget travel trips, do-it-yourself itineraries, blogging pursuits (making money online), and photography tips. 
