Philippine Travel Notes

Time to leave Hanoi but not going home yet. I needed to be in Vientiane, so let's go! This would only be Leg No. 9 in my circle trip of 13 flights. Still a long way to 'home'. Yet as always, let's do this blow-by-blow ! A Reliable Taxi Service From Hanoi West Lake to Noi Bai International Airport is about 25kms - expectedly about half an hour (or even less) by taxi, no traffic because this was a noontime trip. Yes there is Grab Car in Hanoi since 2016 (Grab Food even started just last October) . But I wanted to try this taxi service - touted as 'reliable' by their tourism department. Flat rate, yet just a few VND more expensive than Grab. But the more interesting part about " Taxi Group " (the taxi service) is "it" along with some others, being 'endorsed' . Yes, endorsed by government as a private/consortium but reliable taxi service. And, that branding deal - only those labeled "Intercon Westlake" may qu...

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 fligh...