Browse Tag

flights

Philippines: Aerial view of Mount Mayon; arriving at Coron

By Mithun Divakaran
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Dec 01, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 30th May, 2013

Today was my last day in Legazpi. I had to head to the airport for my 12:40pm flight to Manila.

Backyard Legazpi coconut trees — Woke up to a view of the backyard not too different from what it’s like back home at my village

After breakfast, I checked my e-mails, packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and hired a cycle taxi to take me to Legazpi airport (I could take it easy as I had the time). Legazpi airport, like most regional airports isn’t very big and they weren’t even beginning the check-in procedures 1.5 hours before the scheduled flight time.

Legazpi airport Mayon volcano background — From the departures lounge I got to see Mt. Mayon… cloud-free

Magayon volcano smoke Legazpi Philippines — Still smoking

Legazpi airport runway Mayon mountain — At the time of check-in, I specifically asked for a window seat on the right-hand side of the plane, so that I could see Mt. Mayon at take off

Flight take off Legazpi — To head to Manila, the plane takes off…

Legazpi aerial view — And then turns around

Mount Mayon volcano full view from sky — Truly the world’s most symmetrical volcano

Magayon volcano full view from sky — I guess seeing it from an airplane is obviously the only way one can see Mount Magayon in its entirety

Here’s a video I shot:

Mount Mayon aerial view from plane — Goodbye epic mountain I had a tough time photographing without the clouds

I landed in Manila at 1:45pm and I had to then make my way to the next gate for my connecting flight to Busuanga Airport (Busuanga is the main airport serving Coron island). I had lunch from the airport itself as my flight would only depart at 3:15pm.

Continue reading “Philippines: Aerial view of Mount Mayon; arriving at Coron” »

Philippines: Flying from Manila to Boracay, White Beach

By Mithun Divakaran
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Sep 21, 2013
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Philippines, Travel

Date: 20th May 2013

Although I told myself I would avoid as many early wake-ups as possible on this Philippines trip, I knew there would be certain days I would have no choice but to wake up at dawn. Today was one such day. Janet and I had to leave together at 6am. I had to be at NAIA Terminal 2 for my 11:45am PAL Express flight to Boracay, and Janet had to be in office by 7:30am.

Once we reached Manila, Janet and I took the MRT to Pasay.

Wow.

The morning rush. I barely had any space to stand, and was squeezed in an awkward position for much of the journey. I was sweating and just hoping Pasay would reach soon. When we did, I got out and stretched for a while to ease my aching back. Then I thanked Janet for hosting me and we said our goodbyes. She took a jeepney to office and I took a jeepney going to the airport.

NAIA Terminal 2 departures — I checked in and hung around upstairs as I still had plenty of time

DHC 8-300 Philippines Airlines plane Manila — When it was time to board the flight, I realized I would be flying one of these — a Bombardier DHC 8-300

Taking off from Manila naia airport — The take off was a bit rattling

Flying over Philippines — But the flight smoothed out later

Aerial view Philippines clouds blue ocean — Philippines looks beautiful above ground just as it does down below

DHC 8-300 engine fan spinning — I played around with the camera’s shutter speed

DHC 8-300 engine fan freeze frame — This is shot at 1/8000th of a second 🙂

Cloud above island Philippines — I love island spotting

Aklan Kalibo island Philippines — It’s barely an hour-long flight to Aklan province

Continue reading “Philippines: Flying from Manila to Boracay, White Beach” »

Thailand: Flying to Chiang Mai; views from Doi Suthep

By Mithun Divakaran
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Aug 21, 2013
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Chiang Mai, Thailand, Travel

Date: 22nd November 2012

We had our hotel book us a van taxi to take us to Phuket airport. Our Air Asia flight was at 10:35am, and even though the van taxi had to pick up other passengers, we all got to the airport on time. We didn’t have breakfast, so the Dunkin Donuts at the departures area was where we stopped first after checking-in and collecting our boarding passes.

Air Asia Phuket flight interiors — It’s been a while since I flew Air Asia

Flying over Chiang Mai Thailand — There weren’t any delays and the flight left on time

Phuket tributary Thailand from sky — Goodbye sun and sand

Archipelago Phuket islands from sky — Quite an archipelago

Clouds over hills Thailand — One and half hours later, we were flying over Chiang Mai province

We landed on time, and ready and waiting for our arrival was the driver assigned to pick us up from Chiang Mai international airport. The driver was courtesy of Rux Thai, the hotel we were staying at. Rux Thai is where I first stayed at when I came to Chiang Mai in 2009, and again when I returned in 2010. Needless to say, I booked at Rux Thai a third time after I e-mailed them and got a good deal (฿500 per night) for a twin room on the ground floor for three nights. Continue reading “Thailand: Flying to Chiang Mai; views from Doi Suthep” »