Above: Effective aircraft air-conditioning in the tropics creates a photo that may terrify some nervous flyers.
Manila nightstop
Leaving Camiguin
Today I leave Camiguin for Cebu then Manila as a nightstop in preparation for an early departure to Taipei tomorrow. Since I booked my flights in January, options have changed and there are reasonably-priced flights from non-stop Cebu to Taipei. Damn! But the layover in Manila is pretty easy with hotels only across the road from Terminal 3.
My flight departing Camiguin isn’t till 1520 which is great for a 1200 check-out and lunch thereafter.
I spent the morning indoors attending to matters relating to the landslide back in New Zealand which doesn’t seem to be progressing.
Thoughts on Camiguin
While it isn’t blessed with many nice beaches, it’s fortunate to have White Island, a sandbank handy from Yumbing.
It’s also dotted with hot and cold springs, and also waterfalls. They’re all very reasonably-priced and mostly refreshing.
Tourism is low-key. Information on what to do and people to take you to the sights are quite hard to find. I had hoped to fit in a dive or two, and have a massage or two as well.
Nearby dive operators seen on Google Maps weren’t operational and I wasn’t keen enough to stop at the ones I saw while travelling further away from Yumbing.
I didn’t see any open massage places. My regular eatery had a relative that did massage. She was an older lady. It all seemed good until she said it was “very sensual” and she comes to the hotel.
My stay of 4 nights or 3 full days was probably just a day too many. But it gave me lots of time to relax and catch up with errands online.
First to Cebu
I got to Camiguin airport about 2h before my 1520 Cebgo flight to Cebu. They checked my Camiguin Covid-19 QR code before being allowed into the terminal.
Security didn’t allow me to take my empty bottle airside. The rules seem a little inconsistent as I was allowed on my previous flight. Also, for some flights I was required to take my laptop out for scanning but others I wasn’t (they had the same conventional scanners).
We left about 10 mins ahead of schedule and would have been easily 30 mins early if it hadn’t been for one passenger who somehow got held back just before boarding.
Landing in Cebu for my connection to Manila, I exited into the check-in area rather than airside or the public area. So, I had to go through security to get airside, but not the initial security to get into the airport building. It’s always interesting to see how different countries have different passenger flows. I’m used to airside-to-airside transit with no repeat of security for domestic connections.
With 3h05 connecting time, I walked and explored food options until I was ready to eat. Airport food was pricey but I used it as a chance to get rid of tatty small notes and coins so that they wouldn’t be wasted in case money changers in Taiwan didn’t accept the former.
Finally, to my Manila nightstop
The 1920 Cebu Pacific flight was operated by a new Airbus A320neo configured with pre-reclined thin seats that were pretty comfortable. Unlike Scoot which charges for in-seat power, power-supply is free via USB slots. The air-conditioning was very effective and created a lot of condensation which looks like smoke in photos.
We took off with lights dimmed rather than off, like Singapore Airlines. I’m quite used to some airlines requiring complete darkness.
I had ordered a sandwich for this flight using some credits. There had appeared to be some disruption to the flight and my aircraft hadn’t been through Manila perhaps, where the meals are loaded. So, my pre-order wasn’t fulfilled. The crew offered me packaged food and drinks to the value of PHP200.
After happily consuming the chicken bun and pineapple juice, I pulled out my phone and checked what I had paid on my ticket. It appeared that I had paid PHP316 for the meal add-on. That’s the price of a nice restaurant meal and I had just received one bun and a drink!
I told the crew and after showing her the receipt, I said I’d be happy with another chicken bun valued at PHP200. They kindly obliged.
[Edit: Later, I realised that PHP200 was the price of the add-on at time of purchase but I had added the option post-purchase which took it to a higher price, plus some formatting issues with the ticket with regards to taxes put it up to PHP316. Oops!]
Even though we landed early in Manila, it was about the scheduled time of 2050 by the time we disembarked. It’s a pretty late arrival but I had been subject to two reschedules since booking.
I mistakenly exited to the public area and had to re-screen to get to the overhead bridge to get across the highways to my accommodation. I had booked an apartment located in a development complete with swimming pools. Such a pity it’s only a one-night stay.
Everything went smoothly with gaining access past security and the concierge and I settled into bed around 2200 with my alarm set for 0345!