Coming To Manila, Day 0: Leaving New York

So after a few fits and starts as to when exactly I was going to make my return to Manila, the decision was made earlier this year to plan the trip for November of this year.

And also, after several months of planning, purchasing tickets, and just talking about the whole trip with TJC (who gamely agreed to accompany me) it was hard to believe that November 9, 2007 had finally come and I was going to be my on my way to JFK that evening and then headed for Manila, via Seoul, shortly after the stroke of midnight of the 10th.

As I said goodbye to my co-workers as I left work on the 9th, it finally began to hit me that I was finally going to return to the Philippines after 13 years! I headed off to the airport that night, and in spite of constant and sometimes heavy rains, I got there earlier than anticipated and without delays. The car service I called was actually early to arrive, and I thought I would get to the airport around 10 PM, instead I got there around 9:30. TJC arrived around 10:20 PM and we checked in without a hitch.

We went through security without any problems as well, and we arrived at our gate a good hour or so before boarding. As we just sat there, we saw the flight crew arrived. There were easily 30-40 flight attendants on the flight! Discussion commenced on whether our flight needed that many attendants or perhas the flight attendant lounge was in the area.

Since we were flying Asiana, there were lots of Koreans waiting with us, and our focus turned to picking out Korean girls who would be good for our friend Stew (who is of Korean descent). The count by the time we had boarded was at 9 (including some flight attendants). I texted Stew and said so but no reply; party pooper!

Considering it's 1 A.M. New York time, I just wanted to sleep. The flight attendants however, refuse to let you as they are about to serve food shortly after takeoff. They'll wake you up to hand you hot towels, traveller kits, etc. I finally stop fighting it and decide to stay awake while TJC continues his rebellion.

In a surprise, the flight attendants give you a menu for the entire flight. For the first meal, you get a choice between Western Style (crab meat salad, steak and apple tart), or Korean (Bi bim bab, soup and fruit). I go Western, TJC goes Korean. The menu calls this a "heavy snack", where I come from, it's called a meal.

TJC is fascinated by the Coke cans they have and a) takes a picture of one and b) asks for one to keep. I ask for their cider out of curiosity, which is basically Sprite. It wasn't bad though.

They then served wine with the "heavy snack" and I partake, liking how they roll.

Finally, after they clear the trays, am able to go to sleep! They start showing The Simpsons movie though and I was damn pissed because I wanted to watch it, but I was so sleepy. I tried to debate whether or not I should stay awake at least until the Spider-Pig part, but I fell asleep during said internal debate so that was that.

Woke up at 8:30 A.M. New York time, as my body was telling me I was late for work already so I better hurry up. TJC is fast asleep; I look at the projection screen and saw that we crossed the International Date Line not so long ago. As I do so, Possible Girl #10 for Stew passed by.

Decide to go back to sleep, got woken up for breakfast, and saw that we were only 2 hours away from Seoul. The long part of the journey was almost done!

Arrived at Seoul-Incheon; everything is closed as it is around 5 A.M. local time, except for Welly& food courts. Decided to try the Abalone porridge and it was pretty damn good. TJC got the Pumpkin porridge, and it was alright he said. Wandered around Terminal, and TJC almost fell off an escalator that started up all of a sudden. More people in the airport now and noticed that the in-thing amongst Korean couples seem to be wearing the same exact outfit as their significant other. There were easily 20-30 couples in the airport alone whom we saw doing that.

Boarded our connecting flight, slept for most of the 4 hour plane ride. Woke up about an hour away from Manila and was getting more excited by the second.

Finally landed in Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, and that's when I thought to myself:

"I am finally home".