MANILA IN JANUARY - Report #1

How do you survive a 20 hour trip across the Pacific?
Here are some tricks: travel light, including your hand carry. Homeland security checks in the U.S. are quite rigorous now, so you're better off if you minimize your luggage. Besides, it's easier to move around with fewer baggage (Ha - a pun!). Also consider your footgear, because you have to remove your shoes at the X-ray section before you get into the "sterile" area of the airport. You're so much better off if you wear slip-ons, rather than lace-up shoes. And don't bother bringing water, gels, perfume, etc. in your hand carry. You risk having them taken away from you.

Next, a week before your date of departure, you should call your airline and request for either window or aisle seat. I myself like aisle seats; although some people like window seats.

Airline food is now quite terrible, so it's a good idea to throw in some snacks in your carry-on - seriously, the food I had in Cathay was supposed to have been sweet and sour pork and it was not edible. Some domestic airlines charge you a few bucks for snacks that are nothing to brag about. Some people like to bring an empty bottle of water, which you can fill up once you're past the security check area.

Bring a book or magazines to read in the airplane. There are movies to watch of course, but sometimes, it's just nice to read quietly.

In the airplane, make it a point to get up and walk around. Stretch, bend your knees, do a bit of exercise because those long trips are murder.

All for now!

(I'm in Manila - arrived without any incident. It's not that hot; in fact it's cloudy right now. More development in Makati, near the Greenbelt church. The dogs are still there; apartment fine. Oh, it's 40.87 pesos to one dollar.)