Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Another long day of travel is in front of us, so might as well get up and embrace it! Up to the lobby to check-out, Heather wants to know if she has time to go check out the pool and outside areas...sure, just don't take too long...20 minutes later, I'm running around outside hollering her name trying to find her! "But it's totally awesome out here, can't we stay a little longer?" Should have thought of that yesterday, we've got to go girl!
10 minute taxi to the airport, and we're checked-in to our airplane with 3 bags under weight again...how can this be? Totally not normal...I may have to give Heather props on packing light this trip (even though it is 3 bags, 2.5 if you ask her). Security and customs are painless...how is it that they can process more people than US airports, at a way faster rate, yet we all feel much safer and more confident in their security than we do about US airports?
Everyone is starving, so I jump in the longest McDonald's line of all time (because the only other viable option is KFC..and who wants a drumstick for breakfast (besides the 40 Chinese people in line)? 15 minutes later, I have a tray of food, but we're 40 minutes away from departure time. So gobble it down quick, I think we have a significant walk to our gate... Sure enough, out gate is 4 floors down (elevator), 2 tram stops away, 4 flights up (escalator), at the far end of the terminal with 2 long people-mover belts, oh wait, gate change, go to the other side of the terminal, 3 people-movers back, and they're just about to call our name on the P.A. system as we walk up, walk straight on the plane, everyone else is seated and waiting on us, sit down, close the doors, lets go! Made it, but just barely, luckily didn't have to run though!
3 hour flight, they talked the first 30 minutes and last 30 minutes. We had 3 seats on 1 side, and 1 seat on the other, but no one in the other 2 seats, so momma layed down for a nap(supposedly didn't sleep, but didn't move either), and daddy rode in the middle with 1 girl on either side, playing constant entertainer instead of catching up on the blog like I had planned! Touchdown in Cebu, Philippines; stroller isn't available to pick up from gate check, typical! Long line for immigration with 300 Mainland Chinese people on vacation, all wanting to take Milan's photo; as she and Heather thought it was a good idea to travel in her princess dress today...
Baggage collected, out the front door we are greeted by 2 pretty Filipino women wearing matching uniforms (very official looking), who ask us if we need a taxi and where we're going. The Port will be a flat rate of $475php ($5usd)...but I read about these guys, the official taxi stand is at the far end, so I decline and walk us to the end. The cars are a little smaller here than in Hong Kong so I know all our stuff won't fit comfortably, so I'm inclined to wait for an SUV Taxi, while Heather is impatient and says let's get in the first available. Ok...trunk full, back seat with 2 backpacks, a stroller, 2 little girls, and Heather; while I'm in the front with the small check-in on my lap, chest, and face. About 90 seconds after setting off, it's apparent that the AC is less than sufficient, then it quickly turns to hot, then stiffling, then down-right unbearable. Traffic sucks, the sun in beating down on the car, can't roll the windows down because we'll die of carbon monoxide poisoning, the girls are sweating, Heather is sweating, I'm sweating, even the Filipino driver is sweating! The driver is apologizing profusely and driving like a bat out of hell to get us there quicker...which isn't doing anything but adding to the misery...I begin to think we're all going to die of heat exhaustion, when finally the port comes into view...Filipino's have never seen a family of white people bail out of a taxi so quickly!
I'm pretty sure I got took in the port terminal with all the fees and extras; $50php per check-in bag, tip for bag porter to take bags 50 feet, ticket cost (obviously unavoidable), but then you have to pay to enter the terminal...all said and done, it was like $18usd...so I didn't make a fuss and just enjoyed the fact that it was all inside and air conditioned!
The ferry is a fast boat, with mostly inside, air conditioned cabin space, but I didn't research it enough and let the ticket lady tell me Milan didn't need a ticket because she is 3; little did I realize that ment she didn't have a seat...normally that wouldn't be too big of a deal, except she is tired and moody, and so is Maclaren, plus Maclaren has a bit of a fever and runny nose. So as things would work out, Heather and Milan get the 2 together on one side, and I stuff into a little bitty middle row seat, with Maclaren on my lap for the entire 2 hour commute...the misery just continues for me!
At the tagbilaran arrival 2 hours later, we quickly gather our bags and jump in our hotel shuttle car, blissfully with a great air conditioner this time. 30 minutes later, with a welcome drink in our hand, we know we're going to love this hotel, it's a boutique 20 room hotel with tons of charm, culture, and art!
- comments