Departing for Philippines on Nov.13, 2006
It's finally confirmed - I'll be flying Cathay Pacific airlines on Nov.13th and will arrive in Manila late at night on Nov.14 - it's about a 22 hour flight after one plane change in Hong Kong (most people hear that and go "what???...22 hours?)
...I just get excited though, it doesn't stress me out in the least - I enjoy flying, and will enjoy seeing HK's airport for the first time (Tokyo's Narita & Seoul's Inchon airports are fabulous to fly through, so we'll see how HK compares)
I do get quite tired during the 2 flights though (especially during the Tokyo/Korea/HK to Manila leg), as I can't fall sleep on the plane - maybe because of the pressurized cabin.
But what helps me negate any jet lag, is that when I finally make it to the hotel in Manila around 1am, I'm so tired that I can just go right to sleep, and then wake up around 7am without any jet lag whatsoever - my body clock just sets itself 12 hours ahead without any difficulty, every time.
The most stressfull part of the beginning trip is actually after clearing Immigration in Manila's airport and heading out with my luggage into the general population outside the international arrivals area - after one last security check to make sure I have the correct baggage tags, you have to step outside into the heat and journey over to the arrivals area, where locals meeting their friends & family have to wait accross the street packed in behind a barricade, and the shouting gets a little chaotic at times when big crowds are there.
Then you're ganged up on by local taxi/transport hawkers looking to sell you a P150 taxi ride for P400 (about $8.00/USD)......I've found I can pretty much wade through them by holding my cellphone to my ear, pretending to make a call, and they don't really bother me too much...then I'm just left to negotiate that P400 fare down to around P300, as local cheaper taxis are not allowed to drive into that area seeking fares.
...more later.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES