Maintained by
Dag Tjemsland (see Contact-page for
email-address)
* EPO = abbr. for Electronic Post Office, a physical location where customers can connect to Internet and send/receive e-mail. EPO is the replacement for GPO (General Post Office) and their Poste Restante service, which was the way of communication for people on the move in the old world.
(If you're an experienced e-mailer already, please jump to the last paragraph.)
These are the various ways to connect:
1. This option is the only available at locations which can't offer
direct Internet access. You simply borrow the local EPO's setup,
address and programs included. You have to distribute the address
to your contacts. The least desireable solution, your address
changes from place to place, and transmission may take time.
2. Remote access to your UNIX account and e-mail programs like Pine.
A very flexible solutions, almost any computer with network facilites
can do telnet, even the oldest ones. You have direct access to
your own e-mail, adresses etc. But with a slow line, operation
can be a patience test with long typing delays.
3. Utilization of a (mostly) free e-mail account via WWW-client
like Netscape Navigator or MS IE. Almost the same control over
your own incoming and outgoing mail, addresses etc. as telnet.
But presupposes up-to-date computers at the local EPO.
4. It is possible to use local programs like Eudora, Netscape Messenger
etc. by launching these programs from you personalised setup-files
on a floppy disk you carry around. But this is a bit tricky and
risky. You never know what programs are available at the local
EPO, and floppies are very vulnerable.
Internet access can be achieved by dialup connection to abroad (socalled UUCP mail transfers). This is of course very costly, but the only option for countries without their own ISP (like Burma & Laos). A final reflection: It looks like the cost level in a country is diametrically opposed to what you pay to be wired. Therefore, be prepared to be quite ripped off in countries like India and Thailand.
If prices are given for an amount of time online/offline, the period of time is minimum charge. Phone/fax numbers are written like (+86) 10 6833-616/1-5. (+86) is country code plus international code, 10 is area code, local numbers are 68336161 to 68336165. Prices are always in local currency, for a currency calculator, try http://www.oanda.com. An asterix (*) signifies information has been confirmed, either by personal visit, or by staff at the EPO. Places that somehow aren't open to everone (like guests only), is not a proper EPO, and is not included. Exceptions are made where no other are available. This guide is designed for printout as well (ca 11 pages), hopefully it will be one of your most valuable travel documents, along with your passport and insurance policy!
The only way this guide will stay useful for fellow travellers, is to keep it updated! The only way to keep it updated is to send me comments and tips on places you have been and facilities you have used. If you don't want to be included in the credit-list, tell me so. Please don't hesitate, and have a travel of you life!
Sources: Lonely Planet, Wired Magazine, Cyber Cafe Guide, EDH, Cybercafe Search Engine, Curious Cat Travel Books Cyber Cafe Guide, Internet Café Guide.
Credits: Anders Blichfeldt, Kendall Golladay, Rich Garella, Mark Lioi,
Ulysses Menezes, George Moore, David Nguyen, Garrett N. Ray, David
Salvadori, Mike Thair, Marty Wilson.