Cebu to Singapore To Penang

Let's continue this exciting journey from Tacloban to Cebu to Singapore to Penang!

It was a nice clear-day short-flight from Tacloban to Cebu with many things to see and wonder about! This time, it was a longer flight of more than 3-hours from CEB to SIN, but I didn't expect to see much, since most of it would be cruising high above clouds over seas of the Visayas, Mindanao and Borneo!

But let's do a 'blow-by-blow account' and see..,

Transiting from a domestic to an international flight (as usual): so upon arrival at the Mactan Airport, I made my way up to the international departures to check-in on my TigerAir flight bound for Singapore.

There was ample time, it was just somewhere around 10AM. For a 1240H departure, Tiger Air's check-in activities were just starting. I smiled realizing that (as usual) I planned well. So far, so good. Yehey!

Summer was still in the air. It was kind of every passenger's order-of-the-day! Even the airport's decor!

But, "no choice but to have lunch at the expensive restaurant" of the pre-departure area (Ulli's din ito).

CPA (Chicken & Pork Adobo): P350, plus Coke: 85, = P435. Hindi makatarungan, but what can we do?!

At least masarap naman. Those that I didn't eat are the 'atay' of the manok. I don't eat internalities 😶

What about my companion? Whoa! Oo nga pala me kasama ako. I fished the phone to check how MJ was doing on his part of this 'adventure'. There was a txt msg saying "now at T3 waiting for boarding" but I still called. Ayun nag-kwento, nawala daw, napunta daw muna sya sa T1 before going back to T3.

How did that happen? Well, when he got a cab from T4 arrival, he just said "sa international", the driver didn't ask many things but just drove to T1, where he realized Air Asia departs from T3, so taxi uli sya!

Quite an important 'lesson-learned' to remember for us mga promdi! The 'airports and airlines' thing in Metro Manila with four terminals is just terribly complicated. That is why I avoid them whenever I can.

It was doubly complicated for MJ because it was an Air Asia domestic flight connecting to an Air Asia International flight. Previously, both their domestic and international flights used T4 (Terminal 4 or the Old Manila Domestic Airport). Their international flights transferred to T3 but domestic remains at T4.

Anyway, good that MJ still had ample time to take another taxi ride to T3, although extra expense!

Anyway too, my CEB-SIN on TigerAir started boarding the same time as MJ's MNL-KUL on AirAsia!

So we expected no communication in the next 4 hours as my plane flew to Singapore from Cebu, and his plane to Kuala Lumpur from Manila! No need to go online or communicate while in flight. What for!

After that lilipad pa sya from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, while ako from Singapore to Penang where we should be seeing each other at the Penang Airport arrival lobby by 9PM - huwag lang me mawala ulit!
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Anyway, still a beautiful summer day like earlier on my flight from Tacloban, but there was "traffic"!

I mean there was a queue of planes going to takeoff. That yellow one included, I saw that we were 7th on the line, only for those about to takeoff - arriving planes are given priority (that's industry standard).

Look here.., just two more.., after those two yellow planes would be our turn to also fly. Okay, GoRa!

By the way, if you haven't noticed it yet, most runways at busier airports usually become 'congested' at around noontime. I believe it mainly has something to do with what time most passengers want to fly.

Did you also know that, whenever there's a difference at all, noontime flights are most expensive than morning or evening flights? Yes, because that's the most in-demand time slot and easily gets sold out.

Another fact: why don't those planes immediately takeoff, after the one in front of them already flew? Hmm, it has to do with what they call "flight(takeoff) separation". It is an industry rule (with scientific basis, not economic) that pilots and tower controllers must abide to ensure flight safety of all aircraft.

I heard there's a usual 3-minute rule, but with conditions. Example: if the one ahead (that just took off) is a bigger plane than the one about to take off, they have to wait a little longer. It has something to do with what they call "wake turbulence" or "Wake Vortex Turbulence", that, can cause airplanes to crash.

It's a 'nosebleed' topic, that I can probably explain in 10 pages hehehe! So 'wag na lang! But I watched it explained on National Geographic Channel sometime ago. The hangin na mutuyok after takeoff. Da!

Anyway, then it was our turn to fly.., and yeah, I got a pic just before the aircraft positioned for takeoff!

You see the red arrow I drew on the picture? That is my way to indicate where my airplane went hehe!

But I think I even got a short video clip of that takeoff. I'll place it here soon!

After takeoff, the plane turned right towards Bohol. I could see the islands that I saw this morning!

That island in the middle of the picture that looks like a letter Y lying on its side is Mahanay Island, a bigger 'half' of which belongs to the town of Talibon, while a smaller 'half' belongs to Getafe (Jetafe).

By the way, the late president Carlos P. Garcia was from Talibon. And by the way too, the name Getafe is interchangeably spelled by Boholano locals as Jetafe, BUT, it is always pronounced as "he-ta-fe"!

To the right of Mahanay, that next island is 'Banacon'. It has the widest mangrove plantation in all this country at present, and they started planting in the late 1950s. But what I remember most about that island is: they grow seahorse in big quantities for export. Plus, yummy mud crabs and blue crabs too!

The plane continued southwest, and after about 30 minutes I caught this photo I don't remember why!

But knowing me.., to have taken a shot of where we were passing, this was probably at the southern tip of the Visayas (Negros?) since there's a big island up ahead that might be northwestern Mindanao.

My watch on where we were flying over was cut due to some delectable distraction. This...

Inflight snack time. Crew told me all sandwiches were wiped out, so I settled for that soggy lasagna!

There is a lesson here that's a little hard to decipher and remember! If you're one who must partake of an inflight meal (whether free or bought), and you didn't reserve your choice via the airline's website or reservations numbers, you have to know how crews distribute inflight meals, to plan for the best seat!

Ah, maybe we should discuss that in a separate story, so watch out for it!

When I peeped out the window again, look how mesmerizingly nice clouds have arranged themselves!

I could tell from the lands I saw below, that we were already above the northwestern tip of Borneo!

See, I am familiar with those big rivers, they're somewhere in Kuta Marudo, just across Kudat.

Most Pinoys living in these areas (kung makikilala mo), are from the southern Palawan(Balabac) area. Let's not talk much about them. They do not like it. Basta many of their children have no nationalities.

Too bad the plane flew directly above Kota Kinabalu. I wasn't able to see and take a picture of it.

That river is already past (south of) Kota Kinabalu. They have a lot of big scenic rivers down there.

Then we finally started veering away from land (Borneo), continuing to the southwest even more!

That is the coast outside of Brunei, seen as we headed towards the Riau archipelago (of Indonesia).

An hour and a half more of flying over the sea, and I started to see islands, yey!

Can you believe, hanggang sa mga lugar na ito, nang-aangkin pa rin ng isla yung mga wakanga?! Yes, oo, pag-aari ng Indonesia (Natuna Island) at ang layo na sa kanila, eh kanila pa rin daw, dahil sabi nila!

Then we were over the Johor State of Malaysia - just across Singapore!

Here below (lower-right) is the mainly industrial-complex district of Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia.

But I can see Changi Airport, do you? That's easy to find.., just look where the big boats are crowding!

Here is a better description of the above picture (scene)...

Left of yellow line is Singapore, while right is Malaysia. Above the red line is Changi Airport's runway. The blue dotted line is where my flight approached to land at Changi's Runway 20R (illustrated below).

This is now the other side of that picture above. Our plane was now about to land!

Blue dot is where we were when I took that previous picture above. Anywhere left of the yellow line is Johor Malaysia, while everything to the right is Singapore. A unique international friendship situation!

Just imagine if Malaysia and Singapore didn't have good friendly relations, and Malaysia closes its air space to Singapore, how will planes land if winds come from the south? Or how will planes takeoff if winds blew from the north? Doable says my pilot friend, but a little dangerous with many restrictions!

I think I caught a video clip of that landing. Let's put that here soon pag naluto na!

Look, another interesting facet of Changi Airport's taxi ways - they cross highways and roadways!

Not really unique since many countries now have something similar, but interesting just the same!

Then it was a 'joyride', the plane taxiing about 3 kilometers just to reach its assigned gate!

And we reached Gate F32. Hmm, that meant Terminal 2, I'm now very familiar with this terminal!

After doing what I had to do at T2, I made my way to Terminal 1 for check-in on Jetstar..,

I made mention of this Skytrain a number of times, but never really got to describing it yet, right?

For an easy description, it is just like our MRT or LRT in the Philippines, but there is no driver. Ganun!

This skytrain is also smaller in length (just two cars) and doesn't need to be controlled by passengers.

Everything is automatic. There are things you can do though, in case of emergency! Nge! If you can!

Okay, after check-in at Terminal 1, I naturally went to my favorite spots while awaiting for boarding!

I checked on my companion who should have been transiting at Kuala Lumpur Airport about this time, right? Sus, just one message on FB Msgr, ayun tumawag agad (also via FB Msgr) at nagkwento, hindi daw sya nawala, although it is a more complicated transfer from KLIA Terminal 2 to KLIA Terminal 1.

That's true, it's more complicated. But this time, I think magaling ang instructions ko hahaha!

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 or KLIA1 is their original airport. Domestic flights also operate from there. KLIA2 is their LCC (Low Cost Carrier) or budget airline terminal. So, in MJ's case, he must do his arrival procedures at KLIA2, then transfer to KLIA1 for his domestic flight to Penang!

Transfer nanaman?! Baka mawala nanaman! My instructions were clear. There are 3 ways to transfer from KLIA2 to KLIA1 and vice versa: 1) via the "Free Shuttle Bus" every 10 minutes, kaso from KLIA2 dadaan pa dun sa long term parking building nila (eh kung mawala si MJ hehe); 2) the Airport Liner Bus me bayad 2.50 ringgit; or 3) Express Rail Link (ERL train) mura 2 ringgit, mabilis pa, 3mins lang!

Nag-train daw sya KLIA2 to KLIA1, and it was fast. Yey, di sya nawala!

Anyway.., back where I was..,

At dinnertime I walked to T3 for Bak Kut Teh as usual. Then, walked back to T1 to find Gate D46

I just noticed, if you have time, it's actually good to walk the length of these terminals. Meron namang walkalators pag napagod ka. There are even trucksters (yung parang golf cart) pag naghingalo ka na!

Timely, my phone ran out of power! So, time to recharge gadgets while waiting at the boarding gate!

That is how armrests of some seats at the gate look like. Just some, not all. And by the way, that blue thing is my own universal travel adaptor - that I seldom get to use anymore, because most of modern hotels, buildings, restaurants, etc., already have them, right? But at Changi, hindi kasya yun plug natin!

As you can see, there's a USB port at right, but direct to an electric outlet seems faster!

So okay nag-boarding na! This was my first time to see an aerobridge fitted for the giant A380!

Not all gates at all airports in the world can accommodate the A380. So, not all gates had to be fixed like so - there is an added third tube that goes upstairs for faster boarding of upper deck passengers.

Gusto ko akyatin yung tube.., silip lang, but the Jetstar staff won't allow me :(

Not a full flight. I noticed few passengers were seated at the back so I went to 29F (2nd to last row)!

I was ready to return to my 13F (emergency exit), in case there were passengers assigned to row 29, but there was none, so I stayed on. Nothing to watch outside as this was an evening flight! Chill lang!

Look, I don't know if this thing is new or this is the only time I took a good look of the seats..,

Those are seats 29E and F, mukhang sosyalin ang upholstery no? I think that's faux leather.

Anyway, nothing to see during the flight.., madilim! At 8:41PM here I was arriving at Penang Airport!

By the way, for me, Malaysia has many of the most absurdly designed airports that don't consider the comfort and convenience of passengers. Palakpak muna MIAA and all Philippines - hindi kayo kulelat.

Look at the picture again. Once out of the plane, you go up (at least there's an escalator). Bakit, andun ang arrival? Wala, nasa baba! After walking up there, you take an escalator going down to immigration area - na kung tutuusin e nasa level na'to naman, ayun derecho dun o! Baggage is another floor down!

This isn't just in Penang, but in most of their newer airports. Ang sarap kutusan ng kung sino man ang naging architect ng mga airports nila. All I can say is: ano akala nyo sa mga pasahero, laruang bola?

Ayan.., after immigration baba ka pa uli to ground floor to get your baggage or to exit the building!

It's irritating enough that you make passengers take very long walks inside your building. How much more irritating would it be when you make that walk up and down several floors? Grabe ang logic. Da!

Di ba naiinis ka pag ang taxi pasikot-sikot bago dumating sa destination? Nakaupo ka na nyan ha? Eh eto lakad ka ng lakad akyat-baba na walang saysay? Me duty free, pero bakit, lahat ba gusto bumili?

Anyway.., buti nalang my ride was already waiting for me. Nasaan si MJ? Ah, selfie ng selfie hehehe!

Dito ako natawa.., when I was ready to go, driver made a loud "weeet-weew" whistle, and MJ came!

You know that very loud whistle people do during concerts or even during calamities? Where they put two fingers in the mouth, and then blow that very loud shrill? Ganun! Out of nowhere MJ came hehe!

The final catch.., this airport is more than 33kms to our hotel. But it took only 30+minutes dahil gabi!

Penang International Airport is in the southeast and our hotel is northwest at almost exactly opposite end of the island that I did not care if driver passes left or right. Naka-tulog nga ako along the way eh!

What was the hotel name? Ah let's talk about it tomorrow!

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