jetlagger
Established Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2011
- Posts
- 2,241
Considered it's about time for my latest TR of my recent trip to Philippines, Vietnam, China & Singapore..
I apologise in advance for posting this in parts & shall try to add the appropriate photos.
PART 1-
My good friends in Singapore told me - 'What a snack" - 'We did ten Euro countries in 12 days".. !
Well ok, As an Australian... We seem to fall below the 'par" so please excuse my 'non performance" - well at least in this regard.. I exclaimed..
So hear is the 'gig"..
My situation-
'On hand" & additional..
An idle O/W ticket to MNL
Had a few committed appointments with suppliers in China - timeframe limited.
A committed hotel booking & river adventure in Saigon
A meeting & catch up with friends & collection of goods in SIN
Journey back to Gold Coast..
Within 14 days..
I rattled my mindful self for several hours & considered that I best utilise my SQ ticket to MNL.
After a hard weeks work I found myself back on the trusty SQ 333 BNE/SIN.
I have become so accustomed to this flight, I seem to just drift off to sleep the moment i board.. It's a straight 7 hour run up to SIN.. always without any hitch.. always a delight on SQ..my seat, my style.
Short walk in SIN for the customary transit of my SQ SIN/MNL flight & we are shortly venturing off eastwards to my love/hate relationship with MNL again..
I believe at last count this would be my 85th arrival to MNL so i'm kind of resilient to all negative factors & am optimistic about my visit here.
3 short hours later & I find myself at the top of a short queue at immigration.. 20 mins later i'm in a taxi with luggage intact heading toward hotel.. This is truly a record.. Never before.. I'm impressed! The countless letters.. complaints etc have been 'taken on board" & perhaps rectified & activated..
So fortunately.. 30 mins later I find arrived at the Pan Pacific Hotel Manila.. 1 welcoming doorman & 3 smiling bellboys greet me & proceed to take my luggage.. My welcome was impressive.. Welcome Back 'Mr jetlagger" It's so nice to see you again!
To be honest.. despite my all frequent travels to Philippines. haven't set foot in this lovely hotel for some time.. At this point I felt quite guilty.. Had to confess & redeem myself explaining my less than loyal following.. But without prejudice the lovely reservation angel mentioned that all is fine & that a 'as matter of course" we have upgraded you to one of our suites. Fine.. So I followed the personal butler to my abode... Yes it was very delightful..
Personal butler service 24/7.. for any request.. ? 'Yes Mr jetlagger"... really got me thinking..?
My room was definitely oversized for my needs.. I was quite astounded.. Though I sometimes reflect back on my backpacking days- $3 mattress & Khao San road - BKK. I am delighted!
My quality sleep was followed by a wonderful buffet in the pacific lounge on the 21st floor.. This has always been a highlight & return drawcard for me returning to this hotel.
The food variety & the view is absolutely wonderful.. I have yet to experience a wonderful spacious restaurant/lounge with a view & service to match yet..
Though my stay here was short... I was looking forward to the next return visit..
I managed to spend the day away from heat & hustle of Malate - MNL visiting my old haunt of Makati for the day..
I was delighted of shopping & visiting my favourite church before embarking on my next stop to the airport for my flight to Vietnam..
Part 2-
My adoring hosts at Pan Pacific afforded me a late checkout & some lounging options partaking in sampling of more delicacies & washed down with a few -oops- several large glasses of my favourite San Miguel beer - an all consuming vice of mine which to this point I have failed to tame.
I was feeling well rested & contented to enjoy all too many more San Miguel beers when I realised it was time to head to to the airport..
So with a car whisking me towards T3 in MNL where I arrived some 1 hour 30 mins before my Cebu Pacific flight MNL/SGN was departing at 2200, time to enjoy a couple more 'sneaky drinks" in the bar & onwards for the sub 2 hour flight.
As for Cebu Pacific, they are on of Philippines leading LCCs, with a diverse range of DOM & INT destinations. I usually share my flying between the two carriers whilst in the Philippines, as I find both operators & products are quite good, whether LCC or not.
On this occasion, I am seated in my favourite 1A, on this one class route & the flight as most are in Philippines are usually full.
Flight was a standard, with the unique fun & games with prizes etc.. Seems Cebu Pacific has ceased the dancing arrangement for the safety demo.. I do miss it somehow!
Arrival was smooth into SGN airport.. & as I had a prearrangement for Visa On Arrival - there was a separate booth to line up, before proceeding through immigration.
This must be the most ridiculous concept ever.. for Vietnam anyway.. A large queue was swiftly forming from various flights all into SGN. I watched the snail like pace for around 45 mins to place a stamp in my passport.. Was fortunate I was at the front of the queue.. Poor buggers behind.
So with the mandatory Visa I proceeded through immigration & out into the wilds of SGN arrivals where I was being coaxed by various "taxi" services to my hotel.. As usual, the rate varied so damn much & was quick to negotiate a reasonable price for the ride to hotel - some 25 mins away.
Saigon has a great range of quality hotels to choose from, & so I took a punt as a 'green horn" to this city.. decided on the Hotel Nikko.
Stay tuned..
TBC..
I apologise in advance for posting this in parts & shall try to add the appropriate photos.
PART 1-
My good friends in Singapore told me - 'What a snack" - 'We did ten Euro countries in 12 days".. !
Well ok, As an Australian... We seem to fall below the 'par" so please excuse my 'non performance" - well at least in this regard.. I exclaimed..
So hear is the 'gig"..
My situation-
'On hand" & additional..
An idle O/W ticket to MNL
Had a few committed appointments with suppliers in China - timeframe limited.
A committed hotel booking & river adventure in Saigon
A meeting & catch up with friends & collection of goods in SIN
Journey back to Gold Coast..
Within 14 days..
I rattled my mindful self for several hours & considered that I best utilise my SQ ticket to MNL.
After a hard weeks work I found myself back on the trusty SQ 333 BNE/SIN.
I have become so accustomed to this flight, I seem to just drift off to sleep the moment i board.. It's a straight 7 hour run up to SIN.. always without any hitch.. always a delight on SQ..my seat, my style.
Short walk in SIN for the customary transit of my SQ SIN/MNL flight & we are shortly venturing off eastwards to my love/hate relationship with MNL again..
I believe at last count this would be my 85th arrival to MNL so i'm kind of resilient to all negative factors & am optimistic about my visit here.
3 short hours later & I find myself at the top of a short queue at immigration.. 20 mins later i'm in a taxi with luggage intact heading toward hotel.. This is truly a record.. Never before.. I'm impressed! The countless letters.. complaints etc have been 'taken on board" & perhaps rectified & activated..
So fortunately.. 30 mins later I find arrived at the Pan Pacific Hotel Manila.. 1 welcoming doorman & 3 smiling bellboys greet me & proceed to take my luggage.. My welcome was impressive.. Welcome Back 'Mr jetlagger" It's so nice to see you again!
To be honest.. despite my all frequent travels to Philippines. haven't set foot in this lovely hotel for some time.. At this point I felt quite guilty.. Had to confess & redeem myself explaining my less than loyal following.. But without prejudice the lovely reservation angel mentioned that all is fine & that a 'as matter of course" we have upgraded you to one of our suites. Fine.. So I followed the personal butler to my abode... Yes it was very delightful..
Personal butler service 24/7.. for any request.. ? 'Yes Mr jetlagger"... really got me thinking..?
My room was definitely oversized for my needs.. I was quite astounded.. Though I sometimes reflect back on my backpacking days- $3 mattress & Khao San road - BKK. I am delighted!
My quality sleep was followed by a wonderful buffet in the pacific lounge on the 21st floor.. This has always been a highlight & return drawcard for me returning to this hotel.
The food variety & the view is absolutely wonderful.. I have yet to experience a wonderful spacious restaurant/lounge with a view & service to match yet..
Though my stay here was short... I was looking forward to the next return visit..
I managed to spend the day away from heat & hustle of Malate - MNL visiting my old haunt of Makati for the day..
I was delighted of shopping & visiting my favourite church before embarking on my next stop to the airport for my flight to Vietnam..
Part 2-
My adoring hosts at Pan Pacific afforded me a late checkout & some lounging options partaking in sampling of more delicacies & washed down with a few -oops- several large glasses of my favourite San Miguel beer - an all consuming vice of mine which to this point I have failed to tame.
I was feeling well rested & contented to enjoy all too many more San Miguel beers when I realised it was time to head to to the airport..
So with a car whisking me towards T3 in MNL where I arrived some 1 hour 30 mins before my Cebu Pacific flight MNL/SGN was departing at 2200, time to enjoy a couple more 'sneaky drinks" in the bar & onwards for the sub 2 hour flight.
As for Cebu Pacific, they are on of Philippines leading LCCs, with a diverse range of DOM & INT destinations. I usually share my flying between the two carriers whilst in the Philippines, as I find both operators & products are quite good, whether LCC or not.
On this occasion, I am seated in my favourite 1A, on this one class route & the flight as most are in Philippines are usually full.
Flight was a standard, with the unique fun & games with prizes etc.. Seems Cebu Pacific has ceased the dancing arrangement for the safety demo.. I do miss it somehow!
Arrival was smooth into SGN airport.. & as I had a prearrangement for Visa On Arrival - there was a separate booth to line up, before proceeding through immigration.
This must be the most ridiculous concept ever.. for Vietnam anyway.. A large queue was swiftly forming from various flights all into SGN. I watched the snail like pace for around 45 mins to place a stamp in my passport.. Was fortunate I was at the front of the queue.. Poor buggers behind.
So with the mandatory Visa I proceeded through immigration & out into the wilds of SGN arrivals where I was being coaxed by various "taxi" services to my hotel.. As usual, the rate varied so damn much & was quick to negotiate a reasonable price for the ride to hotel - some 25 mins away.
Saigon has a great range of quality hotels to choose from, & so I took a punt as a 'green horn" to this city.. decided on the Hotel Nikko.
Stay tuned..
TBC..
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It's easy to say that when you can wake up in your home country, have breakfast in Malaysia and be in Indonesia for morning tea, without even stepping on a plane. Different view of the world from Australia though, and plus, the Philippines, China & Vietnam can each be as intense as half a dozen European countries! Looking forward to hearing more.
