Philippine Travel Notes

== This story is a continuation ( topic #3 ) of a travel article I shared earlier == There are two kinds of these useless scanners as of now. There were even three, that third one was at every boarding gate - buti wala na ngayon. The 'first one' actually looks good (high-tech eh), and many passengers think it has significant use. The truth is, it's never needed! Why install it in an airport, when all it does is create a choke-point or another place where the weary passenger has to fall in line again. THAT is the ' first one '. As you can see in the picture there are three scanners. To the left (not in photo), after a building post is another three of them. That would make it six such useless nonsense. Those 6 scanners create a bottleneck of humanity to start (or add to?) the passenger's impatience or irritation. No, not the beautiful girl, just the equipment! Those girls are in fact very cheerful, friendly and helpful. Even if I do not know their names, I co...

== This story is a continuation ( topic #1 ) of a travel article I shared earlier == This can be at any international airport in the Philippines. A time-wasting "ceremony" that we have to deal with as Filipinos during international departures. This Travel Tax thing yes, really still a nuisance. The process as of this departure (12/23/2016) 1] You check-in with your airline's check-in counter. After your boarding pass is printed, that agent will tell you to go to the Travel Tax Counter (itatabi muna yung boarding pass mo). He/She will usually tell you "balik ka dito pag nakuha mo na yung receipt". Good agents will say this: "di na kelangan pumila"! 2] So, you go to the Travel Tax Counter. There would usually be 2 positions. One person "only checks" documents. Dyan ka pipila, give your passport and ticket (or show the electronic copy in your phone). DO NOT give your P1,620 yet! If you tuck it your passport, that person will return the...