From Kota Kinabalu to Vancouver, British Columbia (and all the educating pit stops) - Post 1

How long has it been? 10, 11 months? There's a lot to write actually but I can't seem to put it in writings. And this one too, it's just hard to find a moment of self-realization to begin walking down the memory lanes. Yes, I've been writing and I used to love writing; it's a way for me to talk about something, or anything. But all writing forms that I'm currently doing are all academics. Forgive me, but it was not fun at all and slowly, my passion for writing seems to fade. I hope by writing this post, I could, again, help myself to love what I used to love doing.
To start this post, I recently I went on a trip to Vancouver, Canada. Located in Western Canada, in British Columbia to be exact. I am not going to talk about Vancouver in this post, not just yet, but I am going to chinwag the journey that I have undergone until I reach my main destination.

Kota Kinabalu to Manila

You see, flying to Vancouver is not that cheap, to be honest. So trying to minimize the cost, I booked 2 different airlines, with few layovers along the journey. There are many routes going to Canada actually but at the time of my booking, these airlines were the cheapest. First, I flew with Cebu Airlines from BKI (Kota Kinabalu) to MNL (Manila) and it took about 2 hours and 10 minutes. This was the first time I witnessed flight Attendants organizing games on a flight!

I landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, a new terminal among 4 terminals in that airport. In order to catch my 2nd flight, I need to go to Terminal 1. All the terminals are not located near to each other so to go to a particular terminal, you have to take either a taxi which cost you more or you can take the bus, like what I did.

 

It is not free contrary to what was posted in many forums regarding this airport. I stumbled upon a comment in a forum saying that it was not free anymore (used to be free) and I can confirm this now. However, please note that it did not leave every 15 minutes, at least in my case, the driver decided to fill in the bus with people. I waited for 40 minutes before the bus made its way so if you are in a rush, taxi will be your best option considering the traffic in Manila (from one terminal to the other, you bound to experience the streets of Metro Manila). It was another 30 minutes or so before I reach Terminal 1. It was not that far but yes, we were caught in a traffic jam!

I reached Terminal 1 at about 10 p.m. (I reached Terminal 3 at about 8.10 p.m., interrogated for about 5 minutes by the immigration officers and was out of the airport at about 8.30 p.m.) Then it begins, the long hour of waiting for my next flight at 7.50 a.m. the next day. Believe me when I say, Manila Airport is not the airport you want to spend the night at especially Terminal 1.

Manila to Narita, Tokyo
I checked in at about 5 a.m. with Delta Airlines and waited inside the boarding area. I managed to performed a little bit of 'body-washing' when I was still at the waiting area. It's just too strict in Manila Airport!

Upon check in, an officer again interrogated me and this time, it was a little bit tough. I was asked to put down my hand carry bags of which I have two, a travel bag and a small sling bag for my documents and my books. The lady interrogated me with these questions:
1. Where did you stay in the Philippines? Here, at the airport.
2. When did you reach the Philippines? Last night.
3. Where do you want to go? Vancouver, Canada.
4. What is the purpose of your visit to Canada? Visiting a friend.
5. Where in Canada does your friend lives at? Salsbury, Vancouver.
6. How long will you be staying in Canada? 2 weeks
7. May I see your passport, your boarding pass and your travel document? Yes - handing her all of that. 
8. May I see your return itinerary? Yes. (Showing my returning flight schedule in a book - I have pasted and sticked all my traveling documents in a book so I don't need to hold sheet of papers). Nodding and looking at me.

9. Where did you learn to put all your traveling documents like this? (still looking at the book, flipping page by page) - a friend of mine, she doesn't like to hold many papers.
10. Okay. (Giving the book back to me). Who prepare all of your bags? I did.
11. While you were waiting for this flight, did anyone give you anything that is now inside of your bags? No, nobody gives me anything.
12. Just a word of advice, please do not accept anything from any people that you need to put inside your bag or carry with you on the plane. This way sir, you are free to go. Have a nice flight. - Thanks. Nod and smile.
I did not expect that!
At least not until I reach the US.

First time boarding a Delta (first time on a 747-400), it was quite an experience. The Business Elite looks so comfy and luxurious but I was in the Economy class :(  wish I was repositioned there, haha.
To learn more about the flight, I leave the details for Google to help you guys out.

  

It was a 4 hour 25 minutes' flight.

To be continued ...


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