Traveling with no check in luggage - share your experiences

[Tohto]

On 5/13/2024 at 9:45 PM, Carbon82 said:

Latest updates. @therock I am caught by surprise this evening that there are still eatry in major shopping mall which do not accept cc payment, nothing but Peso in cash, even USD they don't accept.

I don't remember paying cash at any eatry during my last few trips, but maybe I stay at a new town in Manila previously, instead of near the airport this time. Lesson learnt, always ask the eatry if they accept cc payment before you place your order. 

And traffic congestion during evening peak hours are real bad, from the expressway exit to my hotel, which is directly opposite the airport, that 3Km stretch or thereabout, took us around 40 minutes! If I walk, I will reach the hotel earlier, probably even have time for a quick shower before dinner. 

And the last, what an eventful dinner. Beside having to head back to the hotel to get some cash to change into peso (my colleague has USD), queue half way at the bank and suddenly the whole building black out!! But just like our ERP system, whole building no power supply except for the casino on the ground floor. Their back up power all allocated to the casino I guess

I remember saw a report not long ago from one of their minister say they are going to open the biggest casino and integrated resorts soon in Manila among ASEAN country. And can take over Singapore. 

But they forget their infrastructure. 

[therock]

Thanks, I'm staying a few mins walk to the conference and I'll eat at the Asia Mall nearby mostly.. my old students will also meet us there instead of eating at the more renowned places, our reunion will be in the Mall to avoid travel time..

The main issue will be getting from the airport, but my last trainee is going to come to the airport and get me.. if there's a jam, I guess I'll get more catch up time..

 

Are mangoes in season right now? 

[Mkl22]

On 5/13/2024 at 3:36 PM, Tohto said:

The airport is basically slow and inefficient. 

You are too kind. The most F up airport I have been so far!🤣
but I must add it was 10years back 🤣

Edited May 13 by Mkl22

[Mkl22]

On 5/13/2024 at 10:23 PM, Tohto said:

I remember saw a report not long ago from one of their minister say they are going to open the biggest casino and integrated resorts soon in Manila among ASEAN country. And can take over Singapore. 

But they forget their infrastructure. 

Hahaha… all I know about their govt and civil servants is summed up in this picture. 🤣

[Carbon82]

On 5/13/2024 at 10:23 PM, Tohto said:

I remember saw a report not long ago from one of their minister say they are going to open the biggest casino and integrated resorts soon in Manila among ASEAN country. And can take over Singapore. 

But they forget their infrastructure. 

Infrastructure is one thing, natural disaster is another. Typhoon, earthquake can interrupt power supply in the affected zone.

We are fortunate not to have any of the natural disasters here, but we are at risk if complacency set in. 

 

On 5/13/2024 at 10:46 PM, therock said:

Thanks, I'm staying a few mins walk to the conference and I'll eat at the Asia Mall nearby mostly.. my old students will also meet us there instead of eating at the more renowned places, our reunion will be in the Mall to avoid travel time..

The main issue will be getting from the airport, but my last trainee is going to come to the airport and get me.. if there's a jam, I guess I'll get more catch up time..

Are mangoes in season right now? 

I didn't see any mango along the way from hotel to my workplace and when I check with my counter part there, she said that this is not mango season yet. 

BTW, e declaration is also needed for exiting the country, quite troublesome having to fill the form again... 

[Tohto]

On 5/16/2024 at 9:11 PM, Carbon82 said:

Infrastructure is one thing, natural disaster is another. Typhoon, earthquake can interrupt power supply in the affected zone.

We are fortunate not to have any of the natural disasters here, but we are at risk if complacency set in. 

 

I didn't see any mango along the way from hotel to my workplace and when I check with my counter part there, she said that this is not mango season yet. 

BTW, e declaration is also needed for exiting the country, quite troublesome having to fill the form again... 

Yes, fresh mango by their law are not allow to carry out.

My last visit I bought in supermarkets, wrapped using newspaper and keep in the luggage.  Since hit yet ripped so it is still hard.  Take thè risk lucky never get caught. My Philippino colleague who travel together said they hardly check.

To be frank, I felt Thai honey mango is better.

[bsswan]

On 5/13/2024 at 10:23 PM, Tohto said:

I remember saw a report not long ago from one of their minister say they are going to open the biggest casino and integrated resorts soon in Manila among ASEAN country. And can take over Singapore. 

But they forget their infrastructure. 

Okada maybe? They even have their own lounge at the airport.

City of Dreams was the first 10-15min from airport, maybe eight to ten-years ago? The idea was rollers roll in, a few minutes to the resort, then roll out.

Okada is a little further away, but on the waterfront and looks great. They've a new highway directly from the airport as well.

[therock]

From my trainee in Phil.. 

 

 

Edited May 20 by therock

[teomingern]

On 5/20/2024 at 12:17 PM, therock said:

From my trainee in Phil.. 

 

 

Looks like all governments trying doing away with physical arrival cards. for entering a country and using a digital arrival card and expecting everyone to carry a phone with good internet connection to get the digital arrival card filled...

[Tohto]

On 5/20/2024 at 3:01 PM, teomingern said:

Looks like all governments trying doing away with physical arrival cards. for entering a country and using a digital arrival card and expecting everyone to carry a phone with good internet connection to get the digital arrival card filled...

I hope their airport internet connection better be good.

In Philippines many area has poor or no connection.

[therock]

Do it before you fly la.. and upon return do it in the hotel first 

[teomingern]

On 5/20/2024 at 5:37 PM, therock said:

Do it before you fly la.. and upon return do it in the hotel first 

Die die must remember... cos if you arrive, then realise never do, then go no good wifi or internet... then you're dead... susceptible to requests for special donations...

[bsswan]

On 5/21/2024 at 12:08 PM, teomingern said:

Die die must remember... cos if you arrive, then realise never do, then go no good wifi or internet... then you're dead... susceptible to requests for special donations...

The WiFi there is okay, just before the immigration hall, even after connecting a VPN........ I did forget the Manila one, once.

I forgot another somewhere, cannot remember where but maybe Japan and, also, airport WiFi was pretty good. It could be I filled up everything but forgot to get the two QR codes as screenshots. This is something also to remember........ would be fine if I could ever remember stuff.

[teomingern]

On 5/22/2024 at 12:49 PM, bsswan said:

The WiFi there is okay, just before the immigration hall, even after connecting a VPN........ I did forget the Manila one, once.

I forgot another somewhere, cannot remember where but maybe Japan and, also, airport WiFi was pretty good. It could be I filled up everything but forgot to get the two QR codes as screenshots. This is something also to remember........ would be fine if I could ever remember stuff.

I did my digital arrival card while queuing for immigration in Japan last year too... totally forgot about it... I had to do for 4 persons... was a bit stressed but was super happy to have fast airport wifi... I only installed my ICC data SIM after I got past immigration and had a breather to put it in... memorably I could not unlock my wife's phone's SIM card tray... used a paper clip and it all got bent... went around the tiny arrival hall and finally asked the SIM card shop and incredibly they didn't have a pin and until I went to the mobile wifi counter and they had one and it took a significant amount of effort from the chap at the counter to help open it up...

[bsswan]

On 5/22/2024 at 8:40 PM, teomingern said:

I did my digital arrival card while queuing for immigration in Japan last year too... totally forgot about it... I had to do for 4 persons... was a bit stressed but was super happy to have fast airport wifi... I only installed my ICC data SIM after I got past immigration and had a breather to put it in... memorably I could not unlock my wife's phone's SIM card tray... used a paper clip and it all got bent... went around the tiny arrival hall and finally asked the SIM card shop and incredibly they didn't have a pin and until I went to the mobile wifi counter and they had one and it took a significant amount of effort from the chap at the counter to help open it up...

I kinda gave up on ICC for Asian travels, just add the package to my Singtel. I used a few times for trips to Europe.

I got an EU SIM from ICC a couple years ago, arrived in Europe and got a SMS from Three(UK) asking me to register. I did and I still have that SIM (and number) that still gives data, calls and SMS around the whole of EU just by buying the GBP10 package. Will top up in a few days for my June trip......... good thing as well SG/MY etc. is on Three's worldwide coverage so I can use my UK data package free of charge here, and around, free.

Key is to try reduce stress 😏

[Carbon82]

@therock this is how Manila airport look like. Beside the bad traffic which I share previously, wifi is pretty OK for me. 

Abundant of dried mango and snack in the supermart. 

[therock]

Thanks bro

How much money should I change? 

What's the cost like per meal?

I understand voltage and time zone are the same, but the plug is US style 

Water isn't potable I understand? But it seems my hotel has a water cooler to get water and there are kettles...

[teomingern]

On 5/22/2024 at 8:51 PM, bsswan said:

I kinda gave up on ICC for Asian travels, just add the package to my Singtel. I used a few times for trips to Europe.

I got an EU SIM from ICC a couple years ago, arrived in Europe and got a SMS from Three(UK) asking me to register. I did and I still have that SIM (and number) that still gives data, calls and SMS around the whole of EU just by buying the GBP10 package. Will top up in a few days for my June trip......... good thing as well SG/MY etc. is on Three's worldwide coverage so I can use my UK data package free of charge here, and around, free.

Key is to try reduce stress 😏

Wow! I thought the SIM expires after a set number of days depending on the package you pay for? Mine was a 30 day Japan 30 GB SIM...

My last trip in Europe I bought an EE card in UK and used it throughout Europe too... I wonder if that applies now... but anyway got this ICC lobang now, it's just easier to buy in Singapore... install the SIM on board (pray no 'severe' turbulence) and it just becomes live once you land in wherever the SIM is meant for... literally quite shiok... ha ha...