Flying Phnom Penh To Siem Reap
Another air travel day. Flying PNH to REP then HAN all in a day.
Yep, flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (just in transit), then onwards to Hanoi. I would have wanted to roam a day or 2 in Siem Reap, but circumstances won't allow.
To PNH Airport
Anyway, the 45min ride from Toyoko Inn to Phnom Penh International Airport was a breeze (I guess hehe). I say that because the car just swiftly cruised along the road.
No traffic jams. Uneventful. I even got to watch (and take pics) of things like this:
We already talked about that mode of transport, like here and here, right? Observing them during this visit made me think they're not really a nuisance or disturbance on big roads, like those in Thailand or India. I now think it depends on - ah many things!
But let's not discuss that here. Otherwise, this story of a quick domestic flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will become very long hahaha! Basta, they're ok in PNH.
Probably their being on "ride-hailing services" like GrabTuktuk or PassApp (in above picture), partly helps to make drivers behave well as drivers should. So, less hassle.
Why does that probably help? Well, by nature of the hailing services apps, a driver or even the passenger, is always traceable with all the actual transaction time-stamps.
There is now easily accessible evidence to prove any misbehaviors.
Outside PNH Airport
Anyway, here was entering the airport's departure area. Feels like home 'no?!
Look at the number of parked motorcycles at right, and where they are parked. That was what I mainly wanted to capture. Something we can learn from them - Respect.
Yes. Repect for the majority of vehicles/owners that/who need to park - nearest the terminal as possible (of course) for convenience. And a roof to protect motorbikes.
Yun ang "respect". Respect for what is truly important for the nakararami.
Sa atin ang katabi ng terminal building parking yan para lang sa sasakyan ng mga boss (aka mga dios). Sa mga dukha alipin utusan passenger or staff, bahala kayo kung saan.
Alright, I was off the hotel's free airport transfer - just a sedan, since I was alone.
I was early. No rush. I even had time to take a picture of the car as it departed. It's a Camry. While uncommon on our streets (kasi high-end), dito mala-Vios lang ang dami.
And this next picture I purposely took - to remember that I envy their situation...
That's at the airport departure curbside, after the white Toyota Camry of Toyoko Inn dropped me - while you see a Tuktuk that also dropped-off other airline passengers.
Tapos sa airports natin bawal ang jeep, tricycle or motorbike? Istoryahee, it is not in the types of vehicle that bring or get passengers, it's in how airports maintain order.
Ang ibig sabihin lang nyan, ang mga 'authorities' (na itinuring) natin don't really know how to manage 'passenger and vehicle movements' - kaya ang napapag-deskitahan lang nila, mga sasakyan ng maliliit na tao, hindi yun sa mga boss nila, na karamihan red plate pa, na ang tagal nakababad sa departure or arrival curbside. That's reality!
Tapos la-lang-langin natin dahil Cambodia lang?
Look at the trees at that parking lot picture above. Or this open food court at left.
Behind those is lang naman where you take a train ride to city center, if you want to.
Here. The train waiting area is this one w/ a blue roof. Signage says Royal Railway.
This airport truly equitably offers traveler conveniences for rich or poor passengers.
And when I say convenience for all, I mean it is really for all, kung sino ka man!
Even well-wishers (naghahatid o naghihintay) have somewhere to comfortably stay.
Oh, look at the left edge of that picture above. Can you see the signage? Ito yan...
Nasa tapat lang ng check-in counters o! Pero sa atin, nasaan ba ang smoking areas natin? Wag na kasi ipokrita, mas grabeng polusyon ang dulot ng land vehicles natin.
Eto pasko, meron din silang pa-raffle na nalalaman! Hindi lang tayo ang ma-gimik!
But what I really like is that booth at the back - kasi wala pa tayo mga ganyan-ganyan. "Car Park Payment Point" pala ang tawag nila sa mga booth na iyan. Bilib ako dyan.
Kita nyo ba ibig kong sabihin? Sa likod ng Christmas Tree!
Pay first before you even enter your vehicle. So when you exit from the parking area, no bottlenecks. Maliban pa yan doon sa mga me RFID - like we have at our tollways.
Convenient di ba? Hindi ka susugod doon sa labasan kung hindi ka pa nag-bayad.
Inside PNH Airport
Alright, I went inside to check-in for my domestic flight to Siem Reap.
Not very clear in this picture, but let me tell you anyway, that there's really not much of a distinction between where is check-in for domestic and/or international flights.
How and Why is that? Well, there are only a handful of domestic flights in Cambodia even from here as capital city. So it is impractical to have a full scale domestic wing.
Let us elaborate on that. Ito ang "in fact" heheh! From here (PNH) there are only two domestic destinations, Siem Reap (REP) where I am going, and Sihanoukville (KOS).
Total, less than 10 flights a day (some even flown by international airlines like VN).
After check-in (pila sa kanan) you head left to the food galleries or your gate upstairs.
Hey, I like that phrase "food gallery". It's nothing but a "food court" kumbaga sa atin. But I like how they termed it. 'Food Gallery', alta sociedad ang arrive. Mala-museum!
But I didn't have to go far. 1PM na. See that kiosk above? Yun ang tinarget ko! This:
That is Egg & Bacon Cibatta. Plus Coke, equals 24,600 Riels or 42 Yen or 6 USD. Yan ang sabi ng resibo na yan! So mga P500+. Aw, presyong airport din kung sa atin pa!
Good I wasn't very hungry yet, even if it was already 1PM. Why? Because of the free buffet breakfast at Toyoko Inn. Kung gutom ako, baka ang 6$ eh naging 7$ hahaha!
Okay, after that 'heavy snack', and after mag-yosi, I proceeded upstairs for my flight.
Feels like the same at many of our airports, right? You go up to the departure gates. In this case, that would be Gates 01 to 03. Tatlo lang? Yes three lang, me angal ka?!
Kasi nga, remember, there are only 2 domestic destinations from this airport, at ang pinaka-madami na daw (cumulative), ay isandosena, but usually 8 to 10 flights lang.
FYI lang (kahit 'di ko na-piktyuran), at the other end, straight behind me as I took that picture above, were escalators to immigraion and the gates for international flights.
Signage says International Departures, Gates 04 to 21. Ano, lalaban tayo? There are so many flights from this little airport, to so many countries, every day. Umaatikabo!
Tourism in Cambodia is fast peaking or picking up, that the air travel industry, along with their government already declared this airport congested. Gagawa sila ng bago!
Yep, I heard that announced in January 2018, but not clear on the target finish date. Hmm, the next time I come here, it could be to that planned new airport. Eh di wow!
Pwede bang pag-nayari na yan, punta na you, at read nalang me your kwento? Go!
Anyway, so I reached the domestic side pre-departure area. Ito yun. Ang tahimik!
Sana-ol o! I love waiting for my flights at pre-departure lounges that are not chaotic.
'Di naman sa walang flight hehe. Maaga pa (3PM). My flight was departing at 4PM.
In fact, when I checked the FID TVs, there was a Vietnam Air Flight VN3812, leaving also at 4PM, and going to Siem Reap too! Eh 4PM din kami. Ano inin, paprumba? Ye!
Boarding at PNH Airport
Nice circular 'satellite gate' similar to MNL T1. You can see all the 5 gates here.
Yes, ang Gates 1 to 3 ay lima naman palang gates. Meron kasi A & B ang Gates 1 & 2. Mine was boarding at Gate 1B. Why so? Di ko na inalam, boarding na eh hehehe!
My flight had many passengers but not full. And I noticed, majority are foreigners.
For an old airport (being Cambodia's 1st commercial airport), facilities are worldclass.
And this is even just the domestic wing of this passenger terminal building.
Hey I know something. Let me tell you, at least those of you who are not yet familiar with PNH. This started as Pochentong (military) Airfield in 1924, and only started as a civil airport in 1969. It was renamed to Phnom Penh International Airport in 2003.
And here was my customary "picture of my plane" as I entered to board the aircraft.
Oh, good that I took this pic. I just remembered, it's not yet fully official (pending too many industry paper works), but they are renaming themselves into "Air Cambodia"!
Let's not be wary about that though. It will remain the same Cambodian flag carrier, even if it changes its name (again, for the nth time). Hayaan. Walang basagan ng trip!
It probably leads the world in the frequency of airline name changes:
- Royal Air Cambodge [1956]
- Air Cambodge [1970]
- Royal Air Cambodge [1994]
- Cambodia Angkor Air [2009]
- Air Cambodia [when the new airport opens]
Like other airlines, its logo, livery and even colors also changed with the times. This, by the way, is owned at 51% by Cambodia government and 49% by Vietnam Airlines!
I call that: ang mabuting mag-kapitbahay, nagtutulongan. Syempre walang lugi!
Departure from PNH Airport
So I boarded, and pushback was at 1547H, 3-minutes ahead of schedule. O di ba?!
Oy, they only have 2 A320s, 1 A321 and 3 ATRs for a total fleet of 6 planes. But they are not a budget airline. Of note lang are their mga "safety cards" na gutay-gutay na!
Parang Air Asia, Jetstar Tiger Air, Scoot, etc., warak-warak na ayaw pang palitan!
Sabagay, nababasa pa naman. But, malinis pa ba ang mga yan? Wag na hawakan!
Anyway, bye for now Phom Penh International Airport. I'll see you again (no choice)!
This plane came from that gate at right. The seemingly green aerobridge color isn't paint. That is actually glass - transparent but with a green tint (see pictures above).
Curious? That plane in the middle (almost invisible because of its tail-position and the time of day) is Thai Airways (TG) while the one at left (Ch.com) is Spring Airlines(9C).
That is already the international side of the airport. And here are two bigger planes.
At right is a B777-300ER of Qatar Airways (QR). and at left is a B787-800 Dreamliner of ANA or All Nippon Airways (NH). Small airport yet lots of flights from everywhere!
Landing at REP Airport
Make the long story short, and...
At 4:45PM here we were landing at Runway 23 of Siem Reap International Airport.
Arrived! At just about an hour of uneventful flight from south to north of Cambodia!
Did you know that many tourists ride vans or buses when traveling between the two cities? It is only 320+ kilometers, and takes about 5 to 6 hours on a bus (at 25 USD).
The $25 is pinaka-mahal at sosyalin na aircon bus na daw. I heard meron naman $9 lang daw. I think it is as far as from Araneta Cubao, up to San Fernando in La Union.
Pwede di ba? I actually wished I could try that 'adventure', but I did not have time, at pinag-bawalan ako nung mga kontrabida ng life ko na me hawak ng kaldero. G'nun!
Blocks on at 4:54PM, the setting sun already casting a golden light on Siem Reap.
A hazy register on the camera - since my window faced that setting sun. But I could still see the goings-on down at the tarmac. That AirAsia plane has also just arrived.
I remembered my photography tutors. In the golden hour, people's skin look great!
Cabin interiors; ay, even the hair of that manong afam beside me; they all look crisp!
Oist, natawa ako. Parang ako lang ang oriental sa flight na ito - in the heart of Asia!
Pero hindi di ako magpapatalo ng lubos-lubosan, karamihan sa kanila mas punggok kesa s'akin hehe! Ika nga ni Melanie Marquez: thank God for my long legged hahaha!
So okay, I welcomed my long legged royal highness to Siem Reap! One "bitter-sweet" warm golden hour afternoon svakom to the Temple Town in the Kingdom of Wonder.
At ano nanaman iyang bittersweet - bittersweet na yan? Well, ang ganda ng panahon, but I was just in-transit at this airport on my way to Hanoi, remember? Me party dun!
Tara, lets talk about this transit and all.
In my next story!
Yep, flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (just in transit), then onwards to Hanoi. I would have wanted to roam a day or 2 in Siem Reap, but circumstances won't allow.
To PNH Airport
Anyway, the 45min ride from Toyoko Inn to Phnom Penh International Airport was a breeze (I guess hehe). I say that because the car just swiftly cruised along the road.
No traffic jams. Uneventful. I even got to watch (and take pics) of things like this:
But let's not discuss that here. Otherwise, this story of a quick domestic flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will become very long hahaha! Basta, they're ok in PNH.
Probably their being on "ride-hailing services" like GrabTuktuk or PassApp (in above picture), partly helps to make drivers behave well as drivers should. So, less hassle.
Why does that probably help? Well, by nature of the hailing services apps, a driver or even the passenger, is always traceable with all the actual transaction time-stamps.
There is now easily accessible evidence to prove any misbehaviors.
Outside PNH Airport
Anyway, here was entering the airport's departure area. Feels like home 'no?!
Yes. Repect for the majority of vehicles/owners that/who need to park - nearest the terminal as possible (of course) for convenience. And a roof to protect motorbikes.
Yun ang "respect". Respect for what is truly important for the nakararami.
Sa atin ang katabi ng terminal building parking yan para lang sa sasakyan ng mga boss (aka mga dios). Sa mga dukha alipin utusan passenger or staff, bahala kayo kung saan.
Alright, I was off the hotel's free airport transfer - just a sedan, since I was alone.
And this next picture I purposely took - to remember that I envy their situation...
Tapos sa airports natin bawal ang jeep, tricycle or motorbike? Istoryahee, it is not in the types of vehicle that bring or get passengers, it's in how airports maintain order.
Ang ibig sabihin lang nyan, ang mga 'authorities' (na itinuring) natin don't really know how to manage 'passenger and vehicle movements' - kaya ang napapag-deskitahan lang nila, mga sasakyan ng maliliit na tao, hindi yun sa mga boss nila, na karamihan red plate pa, na ang tagal nakababad sa departure or arrival curbside. That's reality!
Tapos la-lang-langin natin dahil Cambodia lang?
Look at the trees at that parking lot picture above. Or this open food court at left.
Here. The train waiting area is this one w/ a blue roof. Signage says Royal Railway.
And when I say convenience for all, I mean it is really for all, kung sino ka man!
Oh, look at the left edge of that picture above. Can you see the signage? Ito yan...
Eto pasko, meron din silang pa-raffle na nalalaman! Hindi lang tayo ang ma-gimik!
Kita nyo ba ibig kong sabihin? Sa likod ng Christmas Tree!
Pay first before you even enter your vehicle. So when you exit from the parking area, no bottlenecks. Maliban pa yan doon sa mga me RFID - like we have at our tollways.
Convenient di ba? Hindi ka susugod doon sa labasan kung hindi ka pa nag-bayad.
Inside PNH Airport
Alright, I went inside to check-in for my domestic flight to Siem Reap.
How and Why is that? Well, there are only a handful of domestic flights in Cambodia even from here as capital city. So it is impractical to have a full scale domestic wing.
Let us elaborate on that. Ito ang "in fact" heheh! From here (PNH) there are only two domestic destinations, Siem Reap (REP) where I am going, and Sihanoukville (KOS).
Total, less than 10 flights a day (some even flown by international airlines like VN).
Hey, I like that phrase "food gallery". It's nothing but a "food court" kumbaga sa atin. But I like how they termed it. 'Food Gallery', alta sociedad ang arrive. Mala-museum!
But I didn't have to go far. 1PM na. See that kiosk above? Yun ang tinarget ko! This:
Good I wasn't very hungry yet, even if it was already 1PM. Why? Because of the free buffet breakfast at Toyoko Inn. Kung gutom ako, baka ang 6$ eh naging 7$ hahaha!
Okay, after that 'heavy snack', and after mag-yosi, I proceeded upstairs for my flight.
Kasi nga, remember, there are only 2 domestic destinations from this airport, at ang pinaka-madami na daw (cumulative), ay isandosena, but usually 8 to 10 flights lang.
FYI lang (kahit 'di ko na-piktyuran), at the other end, straight behind me as I took that picture above, were escalators to immigraion and the gates for international flights.
Signage says International Departures, Gates 04 to 21. Ano, lalaban tayo? There are so many flights from this little airport, to so many countries, every day. Umaatikabo!
Tourism in Cambodia is fast peaking or picking up, that the air travel industry, along with their government already declared this airport congested. Gagawa sila ng bago!
Yep, I heard that announced in January 2018, but not clear on the target finish date. Hmm, the next time I come here, it could be to that planned new airport. Eh di wow!
Pwede bang pag-nayari na yan, punta na you, at read nalang me your kwento? Go!
Anyway, so I reached the domestic side pre-departure area. Ito yun. Ang tahimik!
'Di naman sa walang flight hehe. Maaga pa (3PM). My flight was departing at 4PM.
Boarding at PNH Airport
Nice circular 'satellite gate' similar to MNL T1. You can see all the 5 gates here.
My flight had many passengers but not full. And I noticed, majority are foreigners.
And this is even just the domestic wing of this passenger terminal building.
Hey I know something. Let me tell you, at least those of you who are not yet familiar with PNH. This started as Pochentong (military) Airfield in 1924, and only started as a civil airport in 1969. It was renamed to Phnom Penh International Airport in 2003.
And here was my customary "picture of my plane" as I entered to board the aircraft.
Let's not be wary about that though. It will remain the same Cambodian flag carrier, even if it changes its name (again, for the nth time). Hayaan. Walang basagan ng trip!
It probably leads the world in the frequency of airline name changes:
- Royal Air Cambodge [1956]
- Air Cambodge [1970]
- Royal Air Cambodge [1994]
- Cambodia Angkor Air [2009]
- Air Cambodia [when the new airport opens]
Like other airlines, its logo, livery and even colors also changed with the times. This, by the way, is owned at 51% by Cambodia government and 49% by Vietnam Airlines!
I call that: ang mabuting mag-kapitbahay, nagtutulongan. Syempre walang lugi!
Departure from PNH Airport
So I boarded, and pushback was at 1547H, 3-minutes ahead of schedule. O di ba?!
Parang Air Asia, Jetstar Tiger Air, Scoot, etc., warak-warak na ayaw pang palitan!
Sabagay, nababasa pa naman. But, malinis pa ba ang mga yan? Wag na hawakan!
Anyway, bye for now Phom Penh International Airport. I'll see you again (no choice)!
Curious? That plane in the middle (almost invisible because of its tail-position and the time of day) is Thai Airways (TG) while the one at left (Ch.com) is Spring Airlines(9C).
That is already the international side of the airport. And here are two bigger planes.
Landing at REP Airport
Make the long story short, and...
At 4:45PM here we were landing at Runway 23 of Siem Reap International Airport.
Did you know that many tourists ride vans or buses when traveling between the two cities? It is only 320+ kilometers, and takes about 5 to 6 hours on a bus (at 25 USD).
The $25 is pinaka-mahal at sosyalin na aircon bus na daw. I heard meron naman $9 lang daw. I think it is as far as from Araneta Cubao, up to San Fernando in La Union.
Pwede di ba? I actually wished I could try that 'adventure', but I did not have time, at pinag-bawalan ako nung mga kontrabida ng life ko na me hawak ng kaldero. G'nun!
Blocks on at 4:54PM, the setting sun already casting a golden light on Siem Reap.
I remembered my photography tutors. In the golden hour, people's skin look great!
Oist, natawa ako. Parang ako lang ang oriental sa flight na ito - in the heart of Asia!
So okay, I welcomed my long legged royal highness to Siem Reap! One "bitter-sweet" warm golden hour afternoon svakom to the Temple Town in the Kingdom of Wonder.
At ano nanaman iyang bittersweet - bittersweet na yan? Well, ang ganda ng panahon, but I was just in-transit at this airport on my way to Hanoi, remember? Me party dun!
Tara, lets talk about this transit and all.
In my next story!
Comments
Post a Comment