LGK > KUL > SIN > CEB > TAC

Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to Cebu to Tacloban. Almost 35-hours of traveling by air, with enough rest stops along the way though (that's why it took almost 35 hours) and of course, fun! Aliw!

Here we were at 11:08AM, traversing the side of the Langkawi runway, almost arriving at the airport.

Runway is behind the camera. That is the sea fronting Pantai Hujung Airport (or in English that means The Beach at the End of the Airport/Runway). Mind you, there are good white-sand areas down there!

Look at the photo again, at the horizon level. You will notice there's some kind of a solid line that looks like as if it were a bridge or some road. That is what they call a "Wave Breaker". Breakwater kung baga sa atin. Parts of those wave breakers may still be visited via bikes, walk or jog. Some parts are rotting!

Hey, I only realized now, this arch is permanent and made of cement. I thought it was just temporary!

It better be permanent as they need it quite often. They just repaint the name of the event. Back there, at right, is the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre - the biggest venue on Langkawi Island, so far!

As we alighted from our Grab car, MJ took this photo asking "bakit ang papangit ng taxi nila dito"?

For the 'benefit of the doubt', since this was his first-time in Malaysia, I asked "what do you mean"? He said "I mean pangit ang color, luma ang sasakyan, at wala man lang pangalan o plate number sa gilid for easy identification". I laughed and said "well, they are notorious too, talo ang 'Pinas sa kabalbalan"!

That's the reason we took Grab. They're probably the reason why Grab came to be, in the first place!

Anyway..,

No need to, but since we passed by this ticketing office, I paused to ask these helpful young ladies!

They're not only beautiful, they're also cheerful and very knowledgeable about airline/airport matters!

Our questions were all about our flights - the two arrows (yellow and red) at the bottom of this photo.

MJ flies at 1:30PM on Malaysia Air, then I depart 25 minutes later on Malindo Air - both are domestic flights going to Kuala Lumpur's KLIA 1 (Kula Lumpur International Airport 1). This is a tricky situation!

Let's discuss that [and shoutout to my Air 101 'pupils' - your attention please]..,
Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, has 3 (yes, three as in tatlo) operating airports, all of which have both domestic and international flights. O ano, laban ka? Akala mo MNL lang ang nakakalito 'no?

On top of that, many airlines serve at least two of the three airports. Makabuang!

How is that significant to you and me the travelers? Well, when booking flights, especially if you are in transit (connecting flights) via this city, you have to pay very particular attention at which airport your flights will be arriving or departing from. Otherwise, you could miss your connecting flights or get lost!

First, there is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport or KLIA also known as KLIA 1 or KLIA Main. This has been the main airport of Kuala Lumpur for domestic and international flights since 1998. Most of the airlines from/to international destinations, including Philippine Airlines (PAL) use this terminal.

Then there's the KLIA 2 which is their "low-cost-carrier terminal" or an LCC Terminal. This is where the majority of "budget airlines" arrive-at and depart-from. Not all, as there are those that still use KLIA 1. Your very own Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia Zest from MNL or CEB, also arrive/depart at this terminal.

All of the above (KLIA1 and KLIA2) are under IATA Code: KUL or ICAO Code: WMKK

Finally there's what is called Subang Airport or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport - which was the original domestic and international airport of Kuala Lumpur until KLIA(1) started operating sometime in 1998. But Subang Airport did not cease to operate. It just stopped being Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Until today, there are still domestic and international flights landing-at/departing-from Subang Airport.

Subang Airport now use IATA Code: SZB and ICAO Code: WMSA.

The thing that passengers have to be careful about is booking flights that transit via Kuala Lumpur. In this example, we were traveling from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur, but just transiting to an onward flight to Singapore via Jetstar. We took different airlines out of Langkawi, where will they land? Kaya kaya?

I made sure either of our flights landed at KLIA1 or KLIA2 as they are just near each other accessible by a 20 minute train. I avoided Subang Airport, as that is far north, about 2 to 3 hours away from KLIA!

Okay, enough of the Kuala Lumpur transit lessons for now, we're still just in Langkawi, let us proceed!

The waiting lounge is very similar to many of our domestic airports in the provinces, right?

Well, fixtures like seats and ceilings are of better form and quality in Langkawi, than say, Tacloban's.

But even the boarding procedures are similar - nag-uunahan din ang mga pasahero sa pila, singitan!

That is MJ's flight (MH1447) boarding at Gate 5. My flight (OD2205), also already boarding at Gate 3.

After entering the gate, I looked to the right, and this is what I saw.., ayun ang kasama ko nakapila o!

That's the Malaysia Airline flight MH1447 departing at 1:30PM for Kuala Lumpur's KLIA1, sakay si MJ!

Then I looked to the left, this is what I saw.., ayun ang plane ko o, just waiting for us to be all aboard!

That's the Malindo Air flight OD2205 departing at 1:55PM also for KLIA1, sakay ang aking kamahalan!

You might be asking why were we riding 2 separate flights, when we were both going to Kuala Lumpur from Langkawi. Ah, we covered that at the start of this series of stories. This was the last best option.

In fact, you may also be asking "why did we have to pass by Kuala Lumpur when we could go straight to Singapore"? The answer is: it was/is cheaper! That is why, it is always best to know and scrutinize every possible route to/from a travel destination, then consider what is the best 'tanggapable' option!

Alright, so I boarded Malindo Air, and this was the Welcome Drink to my seat 1F (right-side window)!

Oops, I did not realize I was traveling on business class this time haha! All I could remember was I got a seat for less than 2 thousand pesos, reserved 1A, later changed it to 1F (online, w/ no extra charge)!

This is a Boeing 737-800 dual class configuration. Hmm wow, new airline new plane - big windows!

New name, though not really new in the airline industry! The name MALINDO is a combination of two country names Malaysia and Indonesia! This is owned by the Lion Air Group of Indonesia, in their aim to operate in Malaysia. Malindo is sister to Batik and Lion Air, reason why their websites look similar!

Look, my armrest at Seat 1F. Business class talaga! Hindi kunwa-kunwarian like PAL Express does!

Di ba, yung lilipad ka Manila to Tacloban, business class or premium economy kunohay ang ticket mo. Pag akyat mo ng eroplano, it's the same 3-on-3 seats. Wala lang naka-upo sa 1B at 1E to make space!

Haruy! Eto pa, all first row seats have extra leg room, right? On Malindo Air it's even more spacious!

A 6-footer, like me, would immediately be able to discern if space is wide or cramped, by comparing a shoe length to the space in question. Here, the moment I stepped into 1F, parang lumiit ako sa luwag!

Okay then.., aircraft doors closed.., stewardess reviewing her spiels.., we were ready to go!

Oh, I just noticed, they're like many airlines that, of late, relegate their safety demo to recorded videos instead of being acted out live as has been for the past many decades! Signs of a modernizing world!

Pushback at 1:51PM! That means 4 minutes ahead of scheduled departure time. Did you know that? A commercial airplane's departure is that moment it pushes back from the gate - not the takeoff time.

Look in the runway.., MJ's Malaysia Airline was already taking off while we were just pushing back.

In no time, we were already positioned for takeoff at Runway 21 heading southwest of the island..,

Good I was seated on the right side of the plane (1F) for that one last glance of the Langkawi Airport!

Hmm, I shot a video clip on that takeoff roll. I'll put that here soon!

And here is Pulau Tepor or Tepor Island that we have seen across the beachfront of Holiday Villa.

Once the fasten seatbelt signs were off, cabin crew came to spread this table napkin cum placemat!

I had to pause reading that inflight magazine, I got curious what this 'preparation' was all about! Mind you, many popular airlines don't have such linen placemats in their first and/or business class service.

And the snacks came in an elegant-looking box, accompanied by shining silver and glassware!

That's lasagna at left, and something delectably sweet at right. Sorry, I'm not good at food names. I'm better at devouring them hehe! But for a 1hour-5minute domestic flight, this service is grand enough!

And I got to see Penang Island one more time.., how lucky of me, even if from very high up above!

I could identify many of the places I earlier visited. Well, Batu Ferringhi is behind those white clouds.

Getting near..., I could identify many interesting things down there.., that's Putrajaya, south of KL!

How did I know? That's easy. The big circle you see on lower-right is the road circling Istana Melawati. That area is Presint 1 (Precinct 1), the middle of the government / administrative center of Malaysia!

A little up and to the left of the circular boulevard, you should be able to see another circle, and that is the most famous spot in Putrajaya - Dataran Putra or Putra Square, across it is the big Putra Mosque.

Anyway..,

The plane headed south to somewhere above Port Dickson coming back to approach Runway 32R..,

The outskirts of Kuala Lumpur and many cities in peninsular Malaysia teem with palm plantations.

They are nice to look at, many times the oil mills are also already located at the plantation sites!

Malaysia is now "just" the second largest producer of palm oil in the world, after Indonesia surpassed its production output in 2006. This was probably because Malaysia promised to limit expansion of its palm oil plantations, in response to environmentalists' claim that deforestation is hurting our planet.

I caught a video of some of those palm plantations during landing. It shall be here soon! :)

And so we disembarked at the KLIA1 domestic arrival area..,

Wifi is erratic in KLIA. Sometimes it's good, sometimes you want to smash your phone on the floor!

Oops teka.., I must make my way to KLIA2 as the connecting flight Jetstar departs from there!

OMG, closed! What to do? Ah ehh, ayun sa counter nakasulat, it says "Please proceed to KLIA Ekspres platform at level 1 to purchase your ticket"! Ayun naman pala eh! Don't panic, chill lang palagi forever!

Besides, there are these machines! But I could imagine.., if you are in a hurry you would panic, right?

The solution.., always give yourself ample time to stroll and walk around, to connect between modes of transport and/or to walk between terminal buildings. So you take everything 'in-stride', 'stress free'!

In-stride pala ha.., okay window-shopping muna, pasyal-pasyal, marami pang oras to go to KLIA2..,

In fact, I had time to do some sightseeing in this terminal.., and I had time to go out there!

Here, outside of the building.., to see whatever there is to see.., and.., to smoke!

Oops, I suddenly remembered I had company! Yes, me kasama nga pala ako! OMG, where could he be this time, since his flight arrived first, also to/at this terminal (KLIA1)! But no big issue, I was not really that worried (even if he was a 1st-timer), as we agreed to meet at the KLIA 2 Jetstar check-in counter!

Hey hey hey! Don't me hehe! Hindi naman sa sadista ako. Why would I want my companion to get lost, di ba? My confidence (that MJ won't get lost) came from the fact that I described all about KLIA 1 and 2, and gave very clear instructions. Remember, when he passed this way, he came from MNL to KLIA2 and from KLIA2 domestic flight to Penang! He hadn't been to KLIA 1 yet, so I made sure he knew that!

So I took the KLIA Ekspres from KLIA1 to KLIA2, thinking.., what if pumunta sa city ang damuho? Du!

Ganito kasi yan.., this KLIA Express (written KLIA Ekspres - Malaysianized kumbaga) is the very same fast train that goes to the city, non-stop. It goes from the city center (KL Sentral) to KLIA1 then KLIA2.

Ang pabalik is: KLIA2 to KLIA1 to KL Sentral (city). What if doon sumakay ang animal?! Hahaha, in my mind I said "makikita natin"! I told him it should cost only 2MYR, pag mas mahal, that's the wrong way!

I also said the ticket to the city costs something like 50+MYR and it takes half an hour going there - in case gusto nya pumunta o kung mawala sya, as our Jetstar flight to Singapore eh sa gabi pa naman!

By the way, both MJ and I do not (anymore) believe in the importance of "international roaming" from either Globe, Smart or any telco for that matter. So we don't! Our default communication is just via the many social media apps like FB Msgr, WhatsApp, Viber and so on. Why? Because there's free WiFi just about anywhere we go outside of our dear inang bayan! And most of the time, they are more reliable!

On this particular trip, we agreed to contact each other via Msgr. But up to this point, there was even no need to personally talk (yet)! Txt messages via FB Msgr were just fine anyway, so why call, di ba?

So, I arrived at KLIA2 and immediately went to find this place (outside of the check-in counters)..,

MJ does not smoke, I didn't tell him I was here, but he found me here anyway! Marunong maghanap!

By the way, that area in the pic above, is at the side of the front of KLIA2's departure check-in area. But this part of the building is actually not seen from up front. Why? Because, the entire airport building is fronted by what they call the Gateway Mall. Parang inilagay mong dikit ang SM Sucat sa harap ng MIA T1 or T2. So lumalabas ang departure area talaga ng KLIA2 eh nasa likod ng mall! Look at this photo:

That's not my photo btw, I just grabbed it (without permission) from klia2.info website, and I hope they won't mind. Anyway, the red dot is the mall, and the red line is the smoking zone in the previous photo.

Alright, since our Jetstar flight to Singapore was still at 9:20PM, we roamed around the mall, and..,

We spent time listening to these 2 buskers. They are very good singers. Dahil? Mga Pinoy eh. Period!

Back at the check-in area, pa-KFC-KFC din pag may time! And when I say 'not spicy'... totoo nga!

Tastes just like ours. Sa Thailand kasi (Bangkok, Pattaya, etc) me patanung-tanong pa na "sa-pai-see, not-sa-pai-see"? I say "not spicy"(meaning original), tas dadating ang order, maanghang pa rin hehehe!

One thing more I like with these check-in counter areas in Malaysia is: food is literally within reach!

The guy at right was in the table next to us. Everything at left is Check-in Island (Row) S. Convenient!

Here's something cute at this side of KLIA2.., there are open-air sections of the restaurants above..,

Yep, the same row of restaurants, are just behind that glass wall at right. KFC is further down there. If it's too crowded in there, you can sit at those 'al fresco' tables, if the sun is not high up and not raining!

Look at the floor and notice there's a yellow line. Do you know what that is for? Ahm.., that is for me to enjoy! That yellow tape actually have red imprints that say "Zon Merokok" and "Smoking Zone", reason why that man is standing where he is! It is the whole corner. So, non-smokers you stay out of that line!

Which reminds me.., I had a not-so-good incident at this corner, sometime ago (not on this trip)!

This corner of the terminal building is actually exactly the opposite side, the other end, of that corner above (with a green Smoking Zone signage), that we returned to later in the evening to sunset-watch!

Not just sunset views, also a good-enough place for plane-spotting, or watching them arrive/depart at "Gate Pier L" even if you're not a passenger, as this is just outside the check-in counters Row Y and Z!

Alright, nagdilim na.., we inched our way going inside KLIA2, ambling towards our departure gate.

Note: this place isn't that dark, even at night time. That big wide bright TV just affects the camera lens so photos look dark. Going under is to the immigration counters, while upstairs is another public area.

We went up the escalators to that public viewing area (and mall) and this is the view from up there..,

A wide view of all check-in counters from Row S to Z. Just like at MNL T3 and all terminals of Changi!

Let's proceed..,

No pictures from the time we entered immigration area until we reached our assigned gate, because there's no story to tell, it was uneventful, and if you're like me who don't like shopping, there's nothing much to see at the pre-departure areas of KLIA2. Puro tindahan at kainan lang saan ka man tumingin!

In fact, for me, this is a big boring place with only 2 walkalators. Nasobrahan sa duty free shops!

The gate area (pier) walkways, by the way, are also too narrow full of chairs. Talagang pang-budget-airline ang dating! And when you go down to your designated pier, tatamarin ka nang bumalik to the central duty free area since meron security ek ek at aakyat baba ka sa hagdan or escalators. Hasol!

Best thing to do, idlip! Until we boarded our Jetstar flight to Singapore, where I did not also have much drive to shoot any more pics or note any more stories kasi madilim ang kapaligiran, 9:20PM ang flight!

Oh, by the way also, you can actually ride a bus or train (direct or connecting) from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. But, do check prices. In most cases, it's cheaper to fly via the budget-airlines - 1 hour lang!

Okay, so my uneventful Jetstar ride arrived in Singapore. Sleepy but this roused me to really wake up!

Ano ang "that means" nyan, OMG! MJ and I were laughing at the thought, "na me isang taga-mainland, naglakad sa Changi Terminal 1 na walang suelas ang kaliwang sapatos"! Kasi "Made In ....." alams na!

Upon exit from the concourse, we immediately rode the Skytrain to Terminal 3 to find this..,

So I could once again have this.., na parang ang labas eh... midnight snack na rin hehe..,

Of course, I also had to introduce MJ to this (my) favorite, that I think I already equate with Singapore!

That was one good midnight snack!

After the Singapore Foodstreet of T3, we had to find our way to T1 for MJ's 2:20AM flight to Manila.

Time to separate ways, kelangan nya daw muna dumaan ng Manila before proceeding to Tacloban for work! As for me, I found some snooze as my flight to Cebu was at 8:20AM pa. Dating gawi, alams na!

Make the long snooze short, dumating ang umaga, and of course, I went to board my flight for Cebu!

Taken at 8AM as I boarded the plane. Excuse me, 'di nag-hotel, pero naligo ako ha?! Dating gawi nga!

Hey look at this picture I took just before I entered the gate's aerobridge. I said "ah, ganito pala yon"!

That smoke-like circular thing on top of the photo.., it's not a UFO hehe! It's just a reflection of Gate E7 aerobridge's ceiling light. I often see similar pics online na kesyo kababalaghan daw, eh ilaw lang pala!

Anyway, pushback at 8:24AM. Beh, late ng four minutes si Tiger Air hehehe! Yes, Tiger Air nanaman!

I just noticed I have many things against Tiger Air. But lately, many of my flights are on them. Mura eh!

Okay, flight took off, I shot a video, so I'll put that here soon, it's here!.

Nothing else to tell about my inflight experience on Tiger Air.., except that I bought three of this..,

It's a delectable snack (nakaka-adik) - nuts are crunchy outside but soft inside. Unlike what we have in our country, whether you buy at Antipolo church, the street vendors or the malls, pare-pareho matigas. I was telling myself this tastes more like those I had in Phuket, only to realize, that this brand 'Koh-kae' is also a Thai product. I wish cashew nuts in the Philippines are made like this - "crunchiliciously soft"!

After a little more than 3 hours on this flight, I saw that we were already flying above Dumaguete. Yey!

How did I know that was Dumaguete? Ah I just know hehe! Maybe because I constantly look at maps when I travel. Plus, I find it entertaining imagining the location/orientation of an aircraft while in flight!

Basta, Dumaguete lagi na, wala'y lain! Alegreha ani oi? Facts: yellow arrow is the Dumaguete Seaport. Red arrow is the end of Runway 09 of the Dumaguete Airport (DGT, RPVD) in Sibulan. And the white arrow is Liloan Port in the town of Santander, the southern-most tip of Cebu. Any more questions? Da!

Hehehe, I just really love these areas, reason why I know them well. And as if to add to my nostalgia..,

Yellow arrow is Sumilon Island, and white arrow is the Whaleshark Watching of Oslob. I miss them :(

And the plane seem to have moved ever faster northwards preparing to land. Nagda-drama pa ako e!

O ayan that's Talisay-Cebu area along Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCP), sa binisaya pa SRP ra gud, as in 'South Road Properties', as the plane descended, approaching to land at Runway 04 CEB / RPVM or Mactan-Cebu International Airport, in Lapu-lapu City, Philippines! White arrow, btw, is SM Seaside City.

In other words... flight landed! I also got a video of that. Coming soon It's here!

So tapos na? The End na? End of travel? NO! There was one more flight gino-o ko!

I arrived in CEB, but immediately made my way up to the domestic departure area for my flight to TAC.

Yep, that's at PAL's Mabuhay Lounge. As I merrily sat there, smilingly listening to the talkative antics of that bungisngis baby at left, lounge staff and supervisor (right) were too serious than usual. Busy sila!

I could feel something was brewing.

Just as I thought, in the next minutes, Sir Linus came to tell me of some 'minor changes' on my flight'!

Aircraft downgraded from A320 to Q300. No sweat. They chose a seat for me. They know my needs!

The 3:10PM boarding time came, but nothing was happening. Hmm! My ETD of 4:50PM came, when I glanced they were already approaching me to ask if they could instead endorse(meaning transfer) me to the Cebu Pacific flight, due to further delays. When I said yes, the girl quickly flew out of the lounge!

In no time, she was back from CebPac offices with boarding passes for me and 2 other passengers.

Natawa ako at receiving that boarding pass. Meron pa naman palang ganyan sa airline na yan heheh! Yung nostalgically makalumang cardboard boarding pass, hindi yun mukhang resibo sa supermarket!

Girl apologized that there was no more 'Row 2 seat' on that flight. I said I understand, but asked which counter still issues that kind of cardboard type boarding pass. She said only inside the CebPac office!

Hey, my "pupils", those are new topics to explore: 1) pwede ka pala lumipat sa ibang airline ng walang bayad! 2) who likes those cardboard type boarding passes! But let's tackle them in another blog entry!

Anyway, 5J6577 left Cebu past 8PM (I think this was supposed to be a 7:20PM departure)..,

You might be wondering about the pic? It is a UM badge on the chest of a kid. UM is Unaccompanied Minor. Kon ha waray pa.., "kairo man hit nga bata, igin-padara la ha edro"! It happens often nowadays.

Well, his seat was beside me, he's such a jolly child, so I talkatively entertained him hehe!

Flight arrived, I still caught the 'last order' at Yolanda's, and was home by 10PM. So 36 hours!

A great experience!