Getting to the Philippines

Darwin Airport

It has felt strange getting ready today, knowing we are leaving Australia after 6 weeks. I had a quick walk into town, enjoying a last look at Darwin's street art and the general feel of the city. The temperature of 29C but feels like 39C at 9am was less fun. However, think it might be hot and humid for a while now looking at the weather in our next places.

Darwin airport is quite small just one terminal, but annoyingly you need to have your carry on luggage scanned twice. The first time we could leave everything in our bags and this was quick and easy to get through. The second time was to get to the international departure area and was a lot slower and a bit disorganised. There were very few signs just the people repeating what needed to be in the tray and out of your bag. We have learned there is no set standard.

A little excitement was when a stressed lady in her 30s was unhappy with the look she had been given by an older couple. A very loud and verbal argument ensued, ended as the first lady spat at the other and walked away to the toilets, the couple made there unhappiness heard. Initially there were no security so this chap who we think was a baggage handler was sent across he sounded comically uncomfortable with the situation. As we went through to departures the police had arrived and were sorting it.

Generally Slick in Singapore

Arriving in Singapore and getting through customs was incredibly easy with no queues but then a bit of a struggle to find where our shuttle was due in. The area we were pointed to, was deserted, but the timetable said our bus was due in 40 minutes so it was a case of waiting and hoping. Luckily the bus did turn up and take us to the hotel.

We didn't see much of Singapore this time. Choosing a hotel close to the airport and just for sleeping but we are back here in July to see the sights when two of our children are joining us so wanted to do it with them.

An early morning for our 8am flight, at Darwin they checked our main bags all the way to Manila so it's been nice just having our hand luggage. In the airport we couldn't see our flight listed until we realised it left at 8.55am not 8.05am, always nice to get up at 4.45am for no reason! Singapore airport departure terminals have different themes we're in T2 which has a nature theme it's impressive. We've walked over an aquarium and seen a moving life sized model of a giraffe plus lots of plants.

Philippines

Another flight and we were in the Philippines and Manila. Another one night stay before we fly to El Nido for the start of the tour.

We went to a restaurant in a nearby shopping mall the food was good although choices a bit limited. The walk across was a bit scary along a main road at rush hour, one bloke and happily had a pee at the side of the path seemingly oblivious to the chaos his parking had created. It seems another country, another person urinating in public against a wall. There is loads of security guards and metal detectors at both the hotel and shopping mall, we guessing/hoping more historical than a current threat.

Our phone package doesn't cover the Philippines and although we can get WiFi at hotels we felt we needed something as a back up. I downloaded the Airalo app in Australia and been dreading setting up the esim as the instructions seemed overly complicated. But I'm pleased to say I had success. I feel very IT literate being one in several million to upload an esim for foreign travel!