Went to see my friend, A , in Davao, Philippines in late August. She picked those dates because the big festival in Davao, Kadawayan, happens in late August. I decided to fly SIA again, it was a good experience last time and Silk Air has a direct flight to DVO, bypassing Manila.
Check in and security at EWR were no problem as the flight leaves at 11:00 PM and there are not too many flights at that time. I hung out at the bar for a while and boarded about 10:30. I was pleasantly surprised to find the flight only 3/4 full and the seat next to me empty. It meant that I would have no one to talk to but I also could spread out and be more comfortable. I had a Tiger beer or two as they handed out the menus:
Tasty Beginnings
Smoked Salmon with Thai style glass noodle salad
The Main Event
Seared beef fillet, cabernet sauce, creamed spinach with parmesan cheese and roesti potatoes
or
Braised Chicken with ginger and spring onion
I chose the beef and it was very good. I did not like what was on the AVOD system this time, the main movie was SpiderMan 3 and it seemed they did not have as many show as last time like Doctor Who. Some of the Globe Trekkers were the same as my last flight 19 months ago. I slept for a while and watched some movies on my laptop. Here is the breakfast menu:
The Main Event
Ah Yat-Style braised ee fu noodles with prawns and leafy greens
or
Griddled Hotcakes with scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, and cherry tomatoes
I had the hotcakes, which were ok. We landed in Changi, and I went to the The Plaza Premium Lounge to take a shower and relax during my 3 hour layover. It was a nice place, set up like a First Class lounge. it was $S30 for a 5 hour stay. I then went to the gate and boarded the flight to Davao.
The flight was not crowded and there were many empty rows, but they put me in a row with two big Aussie guys, and I am pretty big myself, 6-2, 250. It was a little tight, but after we took off I changed seats. Silk Air actually has good meals but I was not hungry and passed on the meal. The Silk Air FA's were very good but they have one of the worst outfits in the air. A pale green dress that is hard to look at. The had this show on the monitor called Just for Laughs - Gags, and it was hilarious,sort of like a better version of candid camera. I wonder why that show is not show in the US.
I got off the plane and went thru immigration and met, A, she had to get a special pass to meet me as you are not allowed in the airport at all unless you have a ticket. I was to find out that security in the Philippines is very very tight. Took a van and went to The Marco Polo Hotel. More later, but here are the pictures from the trip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4917966...426457/detail/