Flying Siem Reap To Hanoi
Let's continue on that previous story...
Domestic Arrival at Siem Reap
So I arrived at Siem Reap via a domestic flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was only transferring at this airport - to an international flight bound for Hanoi, Vietnam.
A lovely day. Most passengers (include me) could not help but shoot a pic "or more"!
This red roofed building (the original) is now called Terminal 2 - Domestic Terminal.
Expansions were done in 2006. The newer structures are to the right (not in photo).
I looked to that right for this "from the tarmac view" of T1 - International Terminal.
Nostalgia-evoking, as it nears closure, in favor of their new airport rising farther east.
You probably didn't know...
As of this writing, this airport is "the last remaining" in all of Southeast Asia, that is: "purely single-level" (horizontal edifice, no escalator nor aerobridge, what for anyway?); still used for "international flights" (domestic, is also single level); and, "still beautiful"!
When that new airport is finished (made by China), then this will be "gone".
This is why I said this was a "bittersweet situation" in the previous story. Happy I got here now after many years, but 'badtrip' as I wished I could stay, even for a day lang!
Di ba? Airport pa lang, andami nang kelangan makita at balik-balikan. Haizst!
Anyway...
Domestic Arrival Area
Entering arrival area. This definitely looks better than years ago (2 decades na yata)!
Hey I wanted to tell you this: see the 'lady guards', mounted on animals, flanking the entrance? They're very common (as in thousands of them) at the Angkor Wat ruins.
They are called 'Devata' - symbolizing protection, congeniality, harmony, welcome in ancient Khmer cultural beliefs & traditions. They are beautiful female guardian spirits.
Now children... alams na kung saan nanggaling ang tinatawag nating 'Diwata'.
Those are/were inspired by the Hindu-Buddhist mythology from India, na alam natin kalat na sa ating magkakaratig na mga bansa, bago pa man dumating si Ferdinand!
O ha! Travel is education!
Teka wait, I mentioned Angkor Wat. Isn't that here somewhere in this city? Yes it is, and only about 6 kilometers, on a straight road from this airport - at pwede lakarin!
A backpacker told me they walked. But many others told me they ride the tuktuk all the way there. I say it's still best to use a "legit" tour company like Klook, Viator, etc.
Yan. Kasama yan sa ngitngit ko, too near yet too far hahaha. Ba't dadaan lang ako?!
Haay cannot be talaga eh. So next time nalang.
Domestic Baggage Claim Area
Waiting for checked baggage to come out, the claim area looks nice and clean!
Behind fellow passengers waiting, that is 'the one and only' baggage carousel there. Parang kasing-igsi lang nung sa Tacloban Airport, but mas maganda ang ambiance!
Note: as I said in Phnom Penh, there are only 3 airports in Cambodia. So imagine na lang, kung iilan lang ang domestic flights nila daily. But, maganda ang arrival area o!
That bright door at left? Sa labas na yan. Nice and simple.
Here here, this is how their domestic arrival area looks like from the outside.
I was even first to see the person meeting me. I plucked him from out of that crowd kung crowd na ba ang tawag sa ganyan heheh! I took that pic while smoking sa tapat.
Tapat? Yes, the curbside and parking area, tapat ng domestic departure entrance.
And mind you, official meeting already ensued, as we stood there smoking. O di ba? But I noticed, ang tahimik ng domestic departure area nila. Walang mga "nag-hatid"!
Let's interpret that picture further more: yung manong na naka-shorts at manang na naka-high-heels were awaiting for arriving passenger/s (kaya doon sila naka-tingin).
At the entrance door to the departure check-in hall is manang lady guard at manang janitress, busy na sila, nag-ma-marites! But where are all the departing passengers?
Nasa loob na? Eh yun mga nag-hatid at namasyal lang, wala? Maybe not their style!
I have to guess, maybe Cambodians, yes Khmer people, are not like us - yung tipong iisa lang ang aalis, pero ang naghahatid, na pakalat-kalat sa airport eh isang barangay?
Maybe they are not like that. Kaya ayan, ang linis ng airport hehehe!
Domestic To International Transfers
Anyway, it was already past 5PM as we smoked (and held our meeting) standing at that parking area. We decided to walk to the international terminal, in the middle of meeting, dahil aba, 7:05PM ETD ko to Hanoi. One last glance at domestic terminal!
That left side is 'arrivals' (dyan ako galing), doon sa kabilang dulo is 'departures'. But I guess everything I said above will be useless to many of you, unless you come and fly here domestically within 2 to 3 years, because by then, this airport will be closed.
Okay, facing back to the left and walking on, you can see the international terminal.
Di ko alam kung sino sila. Kinunan ko lang ng picture to show that I was not unique.
Yes, meron din naman ibang mga naglalakad from domestic to international terminal because you would probably be a PWD to need transportation on this distance. Da!
The 2 buildings (T1 and T2) are less than 50 meters apart. So walkable. Yet the walk will likely be around 200 meters, since T1 departure is at the far end of the building!
Doon sa dulo - na hindi na makita sa picture ko hehehe! Shhhh, hush na lang. Tutal, masarap naman maglakad dyan, wag lang umulan! Anywhere is flat at ground level.
Did you know we have something like that in the Philippines? Yep, transferring from CEB T1 to T2! Magkatabi lang ang mga buildings, but the walk is a bit far. A bit lang!
Behind that blue signage above, is the big name of this airport, and here it is:
For photo-ops! Plus, their parking area is like a lovely garden. Pang photo-ops din oi! I would have wandered around even just at those vast spaces with too few vehicles.
Ang siste, I was talking to my contact - we were in an important discussion, even as we walked or smoked. Dyahe naman isama ko sya sa mga posing-posing ko hahaha!
On that walk, this is the first you reach on the international side - Arrivals.
And that is it for a "crowd" at their "international arrivals". Mabibilang mo iyang mga nag-susundo. And I observed, most of them are drivers/staff of booking companies like Klook, tour companies, and hotels. Wala yun mga pami-pamilya na nag-iiyakan!
Aba iba sa atin. Kahit saang arrival area pa yan - mapa-domestic o international, eh "drama in real life" ang scenes. At minimum ang isang platoon na sasalubong di ba!
And I love it that I'm re-experienceing these scenes again, because in the past, nung kasagsagan ng aking kapusukan (sa trabaho!), I never bothered about those things!
Past the 'arrivals' door, continuing on our walk to 'departures' there was this...
Mala-simbahan na katahimikan. Ilang simcard kaya ang nabebenta ng mga batang iyan sa isang araw heheh! And mind you, that's the very front hallway of the airport, connecting public arrival and departure areas, just beside the main vehicle roadway.
Kung sa atin ito, surely mga isang batalyon ang tao dyan! But here, Tahimik. Look!
Hapon yan, 5:11PM, and you'll see later, andami namang flight at pasahero sa loob.
Siem Reap International Check-in
Until we reached the end of the building - which is where departures entrance is:
'Wag ismolin. Note that just beside that door (kaliwa) is a Starbucks. Yet no crowds!
Nilapitan... this was about 5:15PM, eh 7:05PM ang ETD ng VietjJet Flight VJ958 ko.
Timely. We saw that my flight's check-in was already open. Can you see it? VietJet's red logo up at the lower middle of the list in that FID board. It says "checking-in". Ye!
I went to check-in while my ka-meeting had coffee at Starbucks to wait for me.
My flight was checking-in at counters 05 and 06 but I knew that the check-in line for my royal highness was counter 07, immediately after that manong in fuscha! Bakit?
Ah, long story hehe.
Keep traveling, and you'll eventually reach that "special child" status. Otherwise...
Yan. Ganyan ang pila for my flight - kasi kakabukas pa lang ng check-in counters. Aw you already know that phenomenon, right? What I call the check-in "opening surge".
When your check-in counters open, all those who were supposed to be "on time" are there scrimmaging to be served first heheh! Even club members do experience that.
Kasi lahat kayo nag-isip to be there in time for the opening. Kaya ganyan! Best thing to do (if you are impatient) is, don't come on the dot. Show up at just a little bit later.
Fact: the length of a queue is inversely proportional to time - according to me hehehe!
Alright, I was done with check-in, I moved away from the counters for these photos:
That is the entirety of Siem Reap's international check-in counters. Just one straight line of 36 counters, all at ground floor of a single level building w/ Khmer-style roof.
Khmer-style roof? Yes, viewed from outside the building. Inside, it looks like this.
I don't really know if that's ancient or traditional Khmer. But I like it. Some panels are fitted with transparent and/or translucent glass for more natural light. Kaso 5PM na!
I went back to Starbucks to wrap-up my meeting! Shhh, nagta-trabaho nga pala ako!
Siem Reap International Pre-Departure Area
I still had a few minutes of meeting (kwentuhan) at Starbucks just by the door to the check-in counters then did my immigration formalities and proceed to find my gate.
I saw that "Christmas Tree" along the hallway, and I should say "admirable enough". I say that because it was crafted by Artisans Angkor - a social business enterprise.
I would've wanted to roam more outside of the airport and even just at the check-in counters. But I was in a "business situation" - di pwede mag-inastang tourist hehehe!
So I contented my self with things I saw at this airport's pre-dep area - tutal bago rin naman lahat sa aking paningin - since the last time I was here was many years ago.
Many things on sale are authentic Khmer products, from food to art to bling-blings.
Aside from food and drinks, there are museum-style displays at the concourses.
Those panels display significant information about human and natural history, plus information on Siem Reap's and Cambodia's education, technology, commerce, etc.
And... boarding time was 1835H, but at 1815H, hindi maiwasan, I still had this:
Hindi lang naman Coke, SML at Marlights tayo adik hehehe. Kasama rin naman yan Beef Bowl sa mga kina-adikan since they 1st opened at Robinson's Galleria -1992 pa!
O ha? Did you even know that?
Finally, isa pang hindi maiwasan, and this is one of the best-situated I have been to!
Grabe ang smoking lounge nilang ito. Malaki maluwag at nasa kalagitnaan ng lahat! Maybe because this airport is only one floor na pahaba - kaya inilagay nila sa gitna!
Departure for Hanoi, Vietnam
Boarding commenced at 1935H. Delayed! Ah, I expected that, because I saw in their FID Boards (yung TV Monitors) - LATA or Late Arrival of Turnaround Aircraft. Ganun!
If the plane arrived late, it naturally has to depart late due to 'standard aktibedades'.
And walkathon ini! Very much like how it is done at our MNL T4, right? But, I already told you about that earlier during arrival (above), right? No 2nd floor, no aerobridges!
For a lot of you my fellow roamers - na makakati ang mga paa - I know you will love that walk. Photo-op, kodak, selfie, groupfie opportunity while walking to your plane!
Even the views of each of the gates are now a rarity among international airports.
You're as if looking at entrances of some building in a park, right? All because there are no aerobridges here. Ah yes, in the daytime you will see fantastically more of it!
Oist, me 'bridge over a moat' epek pa yan (on foreground di nahagip ng camera). You can see it on some youtube videos. I'm not sure if it is a real canal or arte-arte lang!
Like I said above, if you want to see these - for your later nostalgia - come experience this airport with 2 years (it is 28DEC2018 as I write this) as this will soon be replaced.
Seated inside the plane, no more great views for my phone's camera. It's night time.
That single-level terminal will remain in my memory - for long, because of this blog!
Alright, pushback at 1937H, going north to Hanoi for almost 2 hours in dark skies!
That was 10minutes after takeoff, we must have still been in the area of Siem Reap.
After 97 minutes of "flying in the dark", the descent to Noi Bai International Airport.
The evening lights, they look more "abundant" with the naked eye than my Samsung phone's. So I just guessed we were 'diving-in' from the south since I was seated left.
Yes, 6A is left side window. Then, that would probably be central Hanoi and/or Long Bien and/or Gia Lâm, or all of them, thus, we were entering VVNB HAN Runway 11L.
A satisfying day. And, already happening was a Christmas-cum-NewYear Party, yey!
After retrieving luggage from the baggage carousel, approaching immigration, that was the last shot I took. Nasa labas na si Klook driver, said his WhatsApp message!
I rushed out excited, and he drove me straight into the party. Yey!
Now that the party is over, will/can I roam Hanoi? I doubt, but let's see!
Domestic Arrival at Siem Reap
So I arrived at Siem Reap via a domestic flight from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was only transferring at this airport - to an international flight bound for Hanoi, Vietnam.
This red roofed building (the original) is now called Terminal 2 - Domestic Terminal.
I looked to that right for this "from the tarmac view" of T1 - International Terminal.
You probably didn't know...
As of this writing, this airport is "the last remaining" in all of Southeast Asia, that is: "purely single-level" (horizontal edifice, no escalator nor aerobridge, what for anyway?); still used for "international flights" (domestic, is also single level); and, "still beautiful"!
When that new airport is finished (made by China), then this will be "gone".
This is why I said this was a "bittersweet situation" in the previous story. Happy I got here now after many years, but 'badtrip' as I wished I could stay, even for a day lang!
Di ba? Airport pa lang, andami nang kelangan makita at balik-balikan. Haizst!
Anyway...
Domestic Arrival Area
Entering arrival area. This definitely looks better than years ago (2 decades na yata)!
They are called 'Devata' - symbolizing protection, congeniality, harmony, welcome in ancient Khmer cultural beliefs & traditions. They are beautiful female guardian spirits.
Now children... alams na kung saan nanggaling ang tinatawag nating 'Diwata'.
Those are/were inspired by the Hindu-Buddhist mythology from India, na alam natin kalat na sa ating magkakaratig na mga bansa, bago pa man dumating si Ferdinand!
O ha! Travel is education!
Teka wait, I mentioned Angkor Wat. Isn't that here somewhere in this city? Yes it is, and only about 6 kilometers, on a straight road from this airport - at pwede lakarin!
A backpacker told me they walked. But many others told me they ride the tuktuk all the way there. I say it's still best to use a "legit" tour company like Klook, Viator, etc.
Yan. Kasama yan sa ngitngit ko, too near yet too far hahaha. Ba't dadaan lang ako?!
Haay cannot be talaga eh. So next time nalang.
Domestic Baggage Claim Area
Waiting for checked baggage to come out, the claim area looks nice and clean!
Note: as I said in Phnom Penh, there are only 3 airports in Cambodia. So imagine na lang, kung iilan lang ang domestic flights nila daily. But, maganda ang arrival area o!
That bright door at left? Sa labas na yan. Nice and simple.
Here here, this is how their domestic arrival area looks like from the outside.
Tapat? Yes, the curbside and parking area, tapat ng domestic departure entrance.
Let's interpret that picture further more: yung manong na naka-shorts at manang na naka-high-heels were awaiting for arriving passenger/s (kaya doon sila naka-tingin).
At the entrance door to the departure check-in hall is manang lady guard at manang janitress, busy na sila, nag-ma-marites! But where are all the departing passengers?
Nasa loob na? Eh yun mga nag-hatid at namasyal lang, wala? Maybe not their style!
I have to guess, maybe Cambodians, yes Khmer people, are not like us - yung tipong iisa lang ang aalis, pero ang naghahatid, na pakalat-kalat sa airport eh isang barangay?
Maybe they are not like that. Kaya ayan, ang linis ng airport hehehe!
Domestic To International Transfers
Anyway, it was already past 5PM as we smoked (and held our meeting) standing at that parking area. We decided to walk to the international terminal, in the middle of meeting, dahil aba, 7:05PM ETD ko to Hanoi. One last glance at domestic terminal!
Okay, facing back to the left and walking on, you can see the international terminal.
Yes, meron din naman ibang mga naglalakad from domestic to international terminal because you would probably be a PWD to need transportation on this distance. Da!
The 2 buildings (T1 and T2) are less than 50 meters apart. So walkable. Yet the walk will likely be around 200 meters, since T1 departure is at the far end of the building!
Did you know we have something like that in the Philippines? Yep, transferring from CEB T1 to T2! Magkatabi lang ang mga buildings, but the walk is a bit far. A bit lang!
Behind that blue signage above, is the big name of this airport, and here it is:
Ang siste, I was talking to my contact - we were in an important discussion, even as we walked or smoked. Dyahe naman isama ko sya sa mga posing-posing ko hahaha!
On that walk, this is the first you reach on the international side - Arrivals.
Aba iba sa atin. Kahit saang arrival area pa yan - mapa-domestic o international, eh "drama in real life" ang scenes. At minimum ang isang platoon na sasalubong di ba!
And I love it that I'm re-experienceing these scenes again, because in the past, nung kasagsagan ng aking kapusukan (sa trabaho!), I never bothered about those things!
Past the 'arrivals' door, continuing on our walk to 'departures' there was this...
Kung sa atin ito, surely mga isang batalyon ang tao dyan! But here, Tahimik. Look!
Siem Reap International Check-in
Until we reached the end of the building - which is where departures entrance is:
Nilapitan... this was about 5:15PM, eh 7:05PM ang ETD ng VietjJet Flight VJ958 ko.
I went to check-in while my ka-meeting had coffee at Starbucks to wait for me.
Ah, long story hehe.
Keep traveling, and you'll eventually reach that "special child" status. Otherwise...
When your check-in counters open, all those who were supposed to be "on time" are there scrimmaging to be served first heheh! Even club members do experience that.
Kasi lahat kayo nag-isip to be there in time for the opening. Kaya ganyan! Best thing to do (if you are impatient) is, don't come on the dot. Show up at just a little bit later.
Fact: the length of a queue is inversely proportional to time - according to me hehehe!
Alright, I was done with check-in, I moved away from the counters for these photos:
Khmer-style roof? Yes, viewed from outside the building. Inside, it looks like this.
I went back to Starbucks to wrap-up my meeting! Shhh, nagta-trabaho nga pala ako!
Siem Reap International Pre-Departure Area
I still had a few minutes of meeting (kwentuhan) at Starbucks just by the door to the check-in counters then did my immigration formalities and proceed to find my gate.
I would've wanted to roam more outside of the airport and even just at the check-in counters. But I was in a "business situation" - di pwede mag-inastang tourist hehehe!
So I contented my self with things I saw at this airport's pre-dep area - tutal bago rin naman lahat sa aking paningin - since the last time I was here was many years ago.
Aside from food and drinks, there are museum-style displays at the concourses.
And... boarding time was 1835H, but at 1815H, hindi maiwasan, I still had this:
O ha? Did you even know that?
Finally, isa pang hindi maiwasan, and this is one of the best-situated I have been to!
Departure for Hanoi, Vietnam
Boarding commenced at 1935H. Delayed! Ah, I expected that, because I saw in their FID Boards (yung TV Monitors) - LATA or Late Arrival of Turnaround Aircraft. Ganun!
And walkathon ini! Very much like how it is done at our MNL T4, right? But, I already told you about that earlier during arrival (above), right? No 2nd floor, no aerobridges!
Even the views of each of the gates are now a rarity among international airports.
Oist, me 'bridge over a moat' epek pa yan (on foreground di nahagip ng camera). You can see it on some youtube videos. I'm not sure if it is a real canal or arte-arte lang!
Like I said above, if you want to see these - for your later nostalgia - come experience this airport with 2 years (it is 28DEC2018 as I write this) as this will soon be replaced.
Seated inside the plane, no more great views for my phone's camera. It's night time.
Alright, pushback at 1937H, going north to Hanoi for almost 2 hours in dark skies!
After 97 minutes of "flying in the dark", the descent to Noi Bai International Airport.
Yes, 6A is left side window. Then, that would probably be central Hanoi and/or Long Bien and/or Gia Lâm, or all of them, thus, we were entering VVNB HAN Runway 11L.
A satisfying day. And, already happening was a Christmas-cum-NewYear Party, yey!
I rushed out excited, and he drove me straight into the party. Yey!
Now that the party is over, will/can I roam Hanoi? I doubt, but let's see!
Comments
Post a Comment