Philippine Travel Notes

This air route has been on for a time now. It started as a regular route via a hype-up (or command?) of the president (Duterte) to decongest MNL by moving some flights to CRK. Was that 2016? I guess so. Hmm, before I proceed, let us do some 'tsismis'.., I heard, many stakeholders in/at/of Region VIII were vehemently opposed to the Department of Transportation picking TAC as one of the cities with flights to/from NAIA that would be transferred to Clark. How vehement? Ah, many of them (such as business chambers) trooped to their lawmakers or leaders that be, for the needed intercession to Malacañang! Lo and behold.., by the end of 2016August, the Regional Development Council VIII (RDC8) submitted a resolution to the DOTr declaring opposition to making MNL-TAC-MNL flights become CRK-TAC-CRK. I remember there was even an online (hashtag) campaign for this - the #NoToClarkForTaclobanFlights. So what happened? Interesting! At first, all 3 airlines (PAL, Cebu Pacific and Air Asi...

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-hail...

Arrived! Suostei Cambodia! Susadei Phnom Penh! Nice seeing you again! Oh wow you have changed for the best! I silently said all of those, after what I have seen from the air ! This place has a very special place in my memory and in my heart, for I have seen it in its 'backward past' or should I say its 'lagging-behind-all-of-ASEAN-situation' then. Let's continue my arrival encounters from the last story . A modern airport terminal compared to what this was that I saw in the 1990s. Airport personnel are not anymore sloppily dressed in khaki airbase-like uniforms! Those folks down there were having a briefing (I'm sure of that). They're surely part of the ground servicing crew (cleaning, etc.) waiting for their cue to step into action. When will that "action" be? When all of us passengers have already disembarked. Look at my fellow passengers. Happy to note that the world has started pouring in! Some of them came from Doha, some of t...