Travel day #1
In stark contrast to previous trips, we were mostly prepared this time around.
That being said, we had not left any moments of free time to deal with the unforeseen.
Fortunately, there was no unforeseen, just non stop final prep without a moment to draw breath!
Ibo (our driver) arrived 10 minutes early and proceeded to load the baggage. This did not pass without comment!
Advising that this time round we were 20kg lighter than the previous trip seemed to have no effect, at least not in a positive way!
We head off, ahead of schedule, only to find a stationary A3, apparently an accident was causing traffic delay. Our skilled driver makes suitable adjustments to our heading and we make our way across country to the M3.
Before long we arrive LHR T3 and head for the Emirates checkin desks, all of which have been replaced by machines it seems.
First we have to get our baggage tags printed and attach them ourselves. Then we move to another machine that weighs and consumes our baggage where a helpful assistant advised that we should dump our camera bag on some dodgy looking red trolly, will we ever see it again?
A long crawl through security and a Boots meal deal later and we find ourselves at gate 7 with boarding set for 13.20.
7 hours later we find ourselves in Dubai. Following a short walk (about 2 miles) we arrive at gate C7 for the next flight to Manilla. Watched a few good movies on the plane: ‘Living’, ‘Corner Office’ and ‘Asteroid City’, all recommended.
The waiting area near the gate was rammed, not a spare seat anywhere, we wondered around for a moment then someone very kindly pointed out a short corridor that lead to a ‘quiet area’ with rows and rows of empty seats with fancy leg rests, obviously a well kept secret!
After not very long it was time to go to the gate. Once at the gate they start boarding by the various different categories, they had just called the frequent flyer gold member types then they called our group so we make our way slowly to the gate like slow moving cattle, a series of short shuffles as everyone from everywhere is trying to get into the same single file when it becomes obvious that there were still a few goldmembers making their way through.
Jo successfully tailgates her way through to board, obviously looking like goldmember material, I however fail to make the grade and am disallowed, imagine the horror, did they not recognise me?
‘I’m with her’ I announce, at which point i am immediately granted access and so we board, goldmember style in advance of the remaining passengers.
… Which was just as well as it turned out.
Now then, I often marvel at what some folk count as their single piece of carry on baggage though on the UK to Dubai sector, everyone seems to get theirs stowed without much fuss.
It has however, been our experience, that, on flights into the Philippines, if you haven’t got at least several pieces of over sized carry on baggage including the occasional flat screen tv, microwave or other random Dubai purchase, then you are in the minority!
Much time is spent whilst the cabin crew play 3D tetris with all the obviously over sized and over numbered pieces of baggage that the passengers on this flight count as their single piece of carry on.
Finally, it’s all in, the warning ‘please be careful when opening the overhead lockers’, has never been more appropriate!
We both managed to bag some sleep on this leg and before long we found ourselves on the ground in Manilla.
Passport control was a breeze, no more form filling, nor much of a queue and then straight into baggsge reclaim, time to tell if that box of camera kit, last seen on a dodgy trolly in LHR would ever be seen again!
.. And there it was, followed 20 minutes later by the rest of our bags, result!
Baggage reclaim was the usual hectic affair with everyone trying to get a good view of the belt. Jo stood back with the trolly whilst I grabbed the bags as they came along.
I noticed that Jo was in conversatuon with a couple of young filapino chaps who seemed to be staring my way. There was a young couple to my left who had some very fancy baggage (and a lot of it). She was wearing some very fancy sunglasses which I thought was a little odd as it wasn’t that bright in there! It Kind of reminded me of the glasses that Julia Roberts wore in the film ‘Pretty Woman’ . They got all their bags and she asked if I could step aside to let them out of the way. Which I did.
Turns out she was Nadine Alexis Lustre, filapino movie star and singer! Google her!
Our pickup was there and before long we were moving through Manilla on our way to Anilao.
We arrive at the usual spot for the beach pickup where team Anilao were there to get us, nice to meet some familiar faces.
We head around the corner to the resort where more familiar faces are there to welcome is back, including one who had a cold bottle of Red Horse ready for me, thank you Nina!
Into our favourite room which has been all refurbed with new furniture, new doors, new fridge, new air conditioning and a swanky new mirror in the bathroom with multi colour lighting and built in clock.
A quick un pack then pass out ready for diving in the morning.