Even though my alarm was set for 0600, my bodyclock woke me at 0530. My flight to Clark near Manila was at 0945. I checked out at 0615 and managed to get a bus at 0640 after having just missed one. At this time, there wasn’t much traffic and I was at the airport around 0710.
There wasn’t a queue at check-in, security or immigration so I was airside in no time. But the complimentary lounge I wanted to use had a queue out the door. Once inside, it was busier than many of the gate areas and actually less relaxing. But stayed an hour and fuelled up for free here with food and coffee before taking the train to my gate at the new concourse (gate number 2xx range).
I got to the gate about 40 mins before departure and was surprised to see the tail of the boarding queue. I hurried on board but people kept straggling through until we closed up for an on-time departure.
The 2h flight to Clark went quickly. Cebu Pacific has really uncomfortable seats which feel quite upright with no lumbar support. But when reclined, the lumbar is too prominent. I wonder how seat designers get away with such flawed designs! The other thing I noticed from previous flights was that there is no carpet on the aircraft; only vinyl that looks like carpet! I’m happy with that if it keeps the price of the fares low! Cheaper to buy and less cleaning, maintenance etc.
We arrived and the airbridge wasn’t in use. Presumably, Cebu Pacific is like AirAsia and tries to save on the extra charge imposed by the airport authority, claiming that it is reflected in the price. As I was midship, I was one of the last to disembark to join the end of the long but fast-moving queue.
Despite the requirement to view my exit ticket, they didn’t ask for it (all airlines require it strictly at time of check-in though). When I offered, the officer seemed to trust me and declined the offer.
There were no buses to SM City Pampanga or Robinsons Starmills where my hotel was located. A sign suggested that it would be PHP1100 so I offered that to a driver that asked me. He then put me in a combined vehicle and I protested as it should be just a share of that fare. I got put into a private vehicle for the same price immediately.
The Sogo Hotel is a chain of windowless hotels. I think they specialise in short stays of a couple of hours so people can have sex in the relative privacy and comfort compared to their own homes with the extended families. It was very clean and comfortable enough.
I was more than ready for a late lunch and ventured into the 37 degC heat (but it wasn’t too humid). The very good-looking mall, SM City Pampanga was closed (being Maundy Thursday). But nearby Robinsons Starmills was open; strange.
I had a grilled chicken whole thigh (small) with rice then did a small shop-up of milk, fruit and a few bits; plastic bags are banned in the city of San Fernando so everything was put into brown paper bags (double bagged). After a rest, I returned for an awesome grilled stuffed squid in the evening.