Philippine Travel Notes

This was flight leg #3 (Taipei to Hanoi) in my 'exceptionally complicated' circle trip . The first interesting point was: I shot that pic at 1138H, when almost all passengers were already aboard, but our ETD was 1200H. Ah, early departure means early arrival! Okay, tara let's go sago! Aruu! Plane did not move, even if all passengers were already seated and waiting. A feeling of déjà vu ?! Oh yes, mismo actually! Same case as my CEB to TPE departure. Boarding = Loading ! Folks down at the belly of this plane (baggage & cargo hold) were still busy loading. Yes, it's not just about us passengers. Baggage, Cargo & Mail are also being loaded. Not that I was in a hurry. Per booking, I had 3 hours of transfer time at Hanoi. Go ra! I instead watched whatever I could see of a rainy outside. It must be cold out there! My phone said it was 17°C in Taoyuan and 20°C In Hanoi. Brrr! Being Pinoy from the Visayas, 26°C is my best lowest temperature. Any degree lo...

This is the 2nd leg of Another Circle Trip . Let's Go! For a 0710H flight, I was not early at the airport at 0552H. Not that late to cause any mess though. I know it isn't that crowded yet. But, I should have come a little earlier. Arrive early, to look around, and take pictures here and there. This is CEB T2 , again ! Those windows look better with the 'giant parols' as Christmas Decorations. Nice! Oh come to think of it, I did not shoot anything similar to the above 2 photos, during the last time I was here before daybreak. The colors surely made me do it this time. Well, I already talked about this "ugly" make of the floor tiles before, right? But that scene at left was new to me! I initially thought I saw a cabin crew walking. I realized, it is a standee lang pala, riding on a trolley being pushed by a staff hahaha! Or is he, really? Why does he have a backpack and wearing a cap? Di kaya pasahero sya o taong labas , at naaktuhan ko lang na kinu...

Tacloban to Cebu again. I've done this many times before. But I'm not complaining - except that I'm running out of anything to tell about this portion of my trips. Or do I? What about this Tacloban Airport, again? I keep saying, "I think I have seen and said everything about this wretched airport" be it praise-wise or rant-wise. Eh, I've been using this 'ugly edifice' ever since I was a brat. But something that the Filipina candidate (in that recently-held Miss Universe thing) said, somehow left a mark in my head. She said something about "the silver lining"! And she won pa, di ba? So I said 'that's a great life-skill' . But can I apply that here? Let's practice and find out! Practice finding that 'silver lining' in this poor, deplorable, wretched, shameful situation; and see if it makes us feel any better. I suspect it will! Disappontment is after all just a product of our own appointment hehehe! Hmm, I...

This is Part 6 of the Sights & Scenes On My Iloilo To Cebu To Tacloban Flights. Pushback: Iloilo Okay, so we departed at 11:16AM. Yes, "departed" as in abante agad since this was a small plane on an empty tarmac. No need for a tow truck to push our plane away! By the way, there was something I noticced with our schedule, though I didn't bother much about it. My ticket said 1120H, the gate TV said 1140H, yet we left 1116H. Ta! Takeoff: Iloilo This meant I would be arriving in Cebu even ahead than I expected (1210H). Yey! 1118H the plane was already positioning for takeoff at Runway 02. Looking great! Thrills & Chills I was seated right-side window of the plane, and at 1123H, I was above Leganes . Directly below me (foreground of photo) are brackish aquaculture farms of UPV near the Jalaur River. Far right is Iloilo city proper. Ahead (middle of picture) is Guimaras. Not long after Skytreats were served. They had to rush, this is a quick flight ...