To Davao International Airport
As said in the previous story, I went to the Davao International Airport via Marco Polo's Airport Shuttle, but do read on, as I have every detail below (plus more), in whatever kind of vehicle you maybe riding!
I am sure you my fellow travelers would seldom or never get lost on your way to the Davao Airport - as you would not usually be driving on your own, since there is no park-n-fly in this place. If you were on a public utility vehicle however, you may be anxious to know. This is where you veer right to the airport.
They call this the "Diversion Road", "Buhangin Road", "Maharlika Highway" or "Carlos P Garcia National Highway" - also known as "CP Garcia Highway". O ano, laban ka sa padamihan ng alias?! Some people even call this "Airport Road", but no, this is not and that's already too much. This is a national highway!
To be literal about it, there is no "Airport Road" per se in Davao City. Avoid using the phrase unless you are going to the "Old Airport Road" or the "Catitipan Airport Road" - which are both on the other side of the runway, leading to the old airport building that is now a military office/camp (I think), beside which is MINDA (Mindanao Development Authority) Building. Very far to the new airport, skirting the runway!
Look at the picture above again.., on that corner is where you turn right to the airport, and that road is called "Airport Terminal Entry Road". A landmark is: there is a mall (Sta Lucia?) at left as you turn right.
I am telling you the above because.., there's a corner before this, that looks very similar - turns right at a stop light. There's a sign at the stoplight itself (similar to that unreadable one above), it says "Airport Cargo" but it's too high, too small, no arrows, and the word "Airport" in 'Airport Cargo' confuses people. There ought to be a sign that says "CARGO TERMINAL" like above that says "PASSENGER TERMINAL".
Anyway, the landmark to this corner going to Cargo Terminal is a Toyota Service Center at left. If you can still see a Toyota Davao City to your left-front, do not turn right yet. You should see a mall at left!
Why the topic? Well, last time I was in this city (with 2 colleagues), when our taxi was passing by that "cargo" corner, one of my companions (seated at the back) saw the phrase "Airport Cargo" but only the word "Airport" seem to have entered her brain and she suddenly shrieked telling the driver we should turn right. Mr. Driver (nerbyoso yata) made a very abrupt screeching halt in the middle of the highway, almost causing a truck to bump (or probably run over) us from behind! Buti "almost" lang. Otherwise...
Simba ko.., otherwise.., Goodbye Philippines Goodbye Earth kaming lahat hahaha!
Anyway, let's move on! Here the Marco Polo Shuttle already entered the Airport Terminal Entry Road..,
Many of you will recognize this "ceremony", right? Yeah, the first of many security checks as you enter a Philipine Airport! The "shelter" here is at least permanent and good-looking, unlike at any of the four Manila Terminals! I also admire that covered walkway. Not just for passengers but for employees too.
Yes that walkway, because, if you commute via the jeeps, you get off at that corner in the first picture above. Then you walk to the terminal building which is NOT near (it is probably close to a kilometer - definitely more than 500 meters)! The sun or rain could ruin your "demeanor". So, that "roof" is useful.
Just FYI, there's also such a covered walkway at the other side (the Airport Exit Road) and there's also the same thing at the "Cargo Terminal Access Road" we discussed above (they really look the same)!
As we got nearer the passenger terminal, I saw that pitifully ill-placed Durian Monument again..,
It's a marvelous work of art that many visitors to Davao do not get to see due to its awkward location!
It's not all "just" like that. The other side shows the inner part of the fruit with human figures depicting the natives (cultures) that converged to become what is now known as Davao City. But it sits at such a "blind" corner of the airport's parking area that not many people get to pass by, pause by or pose by!
I wish the authorities can relocate this 'Durian' to the middle of the two sets of 7 flagpoles fronting the building. Do they (14 flagpoles) even have a meaning anyway? [Aha, that one we have to research on]. But now I recall, at the old airport the man (boy?) holding a durian was at the very front of the building.
Anyway..,
Still on the above picture, if you look closely, to the right of the Durian, by the corner, almost behind the kalachuchi, is a green signage that say "JEEPNEY ONLY" which is a big "DUH"! Well, what do we know, maybe in the (near?) future, they might really be allowing commuter jeeps to "pass" here. I remember there is a jeepney stop sign at the opposite end of this parking area before turning left to the exit road.
In fact, look at this picture as the shuttle approached the terminal building to deliver me...
This left lane, which should be the "jeepney only" lane according to the signage, as you can see, is the only lane in use nowadays for all vehicles going to the arrivals or departures areas. Well, it can fit two vehicles (sedans) though tightly, but (obviously) this gets jammed. That wider right side of the island which goes to the building's curbside is closed. Why? Who knows, they'll say 'security reasons' again!
Security reasons pala ha? Now let's look at this, as I fell into a very long line to enter departure area...
As I took this photo, I was not last on the line, there were more people behind me. That woman facing the camera was also rushing to join our line. This line makes a u-turn at the blue arrow and goes back to the red arrow for passengers to enter the door. But how many in this pic are not passengers? Many!
Yun, ang safety and security risk! Haiszt!
Anyway, after check-in, I went up to the pre-departure lounge, passing by these artworks..,
From how they're placed, I think this is a temporary installation, but I wish they'd become a permanent fixture in this airport. They're pleasing to see, and worthwhile to closely look at during delayed flights.
Delayed flight? Whose got a delayed flight? Ako!
But let's talk about that in my next story...
I am sure you my fellow travelers would seldom or never get lost on your way to the Davao Airport - as you would not usually be driving on your own, since there is no park-n-fly in this place. If you were on a public utility vehicle however, you may be anxious to know. This is where you veer right to the airport.
To be literal about it, there is no "Airport Road" per se in Davao City. Avoid using the phrase unless you are going to the "Old Airport Road" or the "Catitipan Airport Road" - which are both on the other side of the runway, leading to the old airport building that is now a military office/camp (I think), beside which is MINDA (Mindanao Development Authority) Building. Very far to the new airport, skirting the runway!
Look at the picture above again.., on that corner is where you turn right to the airport, and that road is called "Airport Terminal Entry Road". A landmark is: there is a mall (Sta Lucia?) at left as you turn right.
I am telling you the above because.., there's a corner before this, that looks very similar - turns right at a stop light. There's a sign at the stoplight itself (similar to that unreadable one above), it says "Airport Cargo" but it's too high, too small, no arrows, and the word "Airport" in 'Airport Cargo' confuses people. There ought to be a sign that says "CARGO TERMINAL" like above that says "PASSENGER TERMINAL".
Anyway, the landmark to this corner going to Cargo Terminal is a Toyota Service Center at left. If you can still see a Toyota Davao City to your left-front, do not turn right yet. You should see a mall at left!
Why the topic? Well, last time I was in this city (with 2 colleagues), when our taxi was passing by that "cargo" corner, one of my companions (seated at the back) saw the phrase "Airport Cargo" but only the word "Airport" seem to have entered her brain and she suddenly shrieked telling the driver we should turn right. Mr. Driver (nerbyoso yata) made a very abrupt screeching halt in the middle of the highway, almost causing a truck to bump (or probably run over) us from behind! Buti "almost" lang. Otherwise...
Simba ko.., otherwise.., Goodbye Philippines Goodbye Earth kaming lahat hahaha!
Anyway, let's move on! Here the Marco Polo Shuttle already entered the Airport Terminal Entry Road..,
Yes that walkway, because, if you commute via the jeeps, you get off at that corner in the first picture above. Then you walk to the terminal building which is NOT near (it is probably close to a kilometer - definitely more than 500 meters)! The sun or rain could ruin your "demeanor". So, that "roof" is useful.
Just FYI, there's also such a covered walkway at the other side (the Airport Exit Road) and there's also the same thing at the "Cargo Terminal Access Road" we discussed above (they really look the same)!
As we got nearer the passenger terminal, I saw that pitifully ill-placed Durian Monument again..,
It's not all "just" like that. The other side shows the inner part of the fruit with human figures depicting the natives (cultures) that converged to become what is now known as Davao City. But it sits at such a "blind" corner of the airport's parking area that not many people get to pass by, pause by or pose by!
I wish the authorities can relocate this 'Durian' to the middle of the two sets of 7 flagpoles fronting the building. Do they (14 flagpoles) even have a meaning anyway? [Aha, that one we have to research on]. But now I recall, at the old airport the man (boy?) holding a durian was at the very front of the building.
Anyway..,
Still on the above picture, if you look closely, to the right of the Durian, by the corner, almost behind the kalachuchi, is a green signage that say "JEEPNEY ONLY" which is a big "DUH"! Well, what do we know, maybe in the (near?) future, they might really be allowing commuter jeeps to "pass" here. I remember there is a jeepney stop sign at the opposite end of this parking area before turning left to the exit road.
In fact, look at this picture as the shuttle approached the terminal building to deliver me...
Security reasons pala ha? Now let's look at this, as I fell into a very long line to enter departure area...
Yun, ang safety and security risk! Haiszt!
Anyway, after check-in, I went up to the pre-departure lounge, passing by these artworks..,
Delayed flight? Whose got a delayed flight? Ako!
But let's talk about that in my next story...
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