NEW YORK TO TAIWAN (Part 1)

 NEW YORK TO TAIWAN, Part 1

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Introduction

Traveling outside of the U.S. for the first time after the Pandemic seems unreal to me. My thoughts were mostly "what ifs". What if I will get COVID? What if the rules in the Philippines will suddenly change? So many "what if" in my thoughts. Probably, the long years (gasps) of inactivity in this once active soul, impacted my positive thoughts about so many things in life, (drama?), lol. 

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This travel back to my comfort zone, hmm, Blogging? hides the inner feelings to achieve more of what this life has to offer. Daughters have grown up. Grandchildren have become little achievers at this early stage of their lives. The wifey have her activities that made her whole as a "granny", a retiree, a "searcher" of those true, good, and beautiful things in life. Heavy Dai? 

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But life has to go on, and it is also in being active and being an achiever of those little things that make life a meaningful experience in the twilight years of one's life. Bah, "daw overacting si Tiyoy aw?" Lol. 

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Life is always a search for something new, something meaningful, and something to look forward to. It could be having a family, bearing a child, rearing the child, having a career, engaging in creative hobbies, planting trees, and maybe writing a book, and many others. Life is always a search to perfect one's existence. 

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Now, gathering enough information from varied sources do not make me feel comfortable about traveling but I have to feed my mind with positive thoughts that today's travel is better than, say, two years ago. 

Anyway, here I am getting ready to start a new adventure in the Philippines in this post Pandemic season. 

Each flyer is allowed 2 pieces suitcases weighing 50 lbs. each and a hand carry weighing 7 kilos.

 

Filling Up My Suitcases

Only what is important have to be in my luggage. The airline allows two (2) suitcases and each one should weigh not more than 50 lbs. each, or not more than 22 kilos each. To be sure, that this grampa will not be stressed at the luggage check-in counter, I made sure that each luggage weighs less than 10 lbs. or less than 2 kilos each. In my experience, the airline's weighing scale is not the same as my electronic weighing scale at home. Therefore, to avoid hassle or irritating inconvenience, my suitcases weigh less than the required weights. 

(Honestly, when I double checked my suitcases, one weighs 46 lbs., and the other weighs 40 lbs. But, as I said, the airport weighing scale is not the same as my electronic weighing at home. I thought the weights of my suitcases have reached a maximum allowable weight but when I checked-in my suitcases, they were below the 22 kilos allowed.

"Nugon nu? Tani gin tuduhan ko pa tampok", haha.

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The airline allows one hand carry and a purse or backpack. My hand carry weighs 7 kilos because it is what the airlines allow. My backpack, where I placed my laptop, was not really loaded (or so it seems, lol) or bulky. I've been doing the same thing in all of my travels, and I found it ok. 

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Things to do before flying. 

I also visited the website of the Philippines' Bureau of Quarantine to register my travel information as well as my Vaccination Record. 

If you are traveling to the Philippines, you need to register with the Bureau of Quarantine for a One Health Pass and to obtain a "bar code". You have to present this to the airline's boarding gate. Here's the link for One Health Pass. Be ready with your Vaccination Record/Card as well as your passport information and others. 

One Health Pass

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It's Flying Time

A very early morning flight is, sometimes, confusing. For example, my schedule is 1:00 a.m. of September 1, I planned to go to the airport at 8:00 p.m. of September 1, to catch my 1:00 a.m. flight. I almost panicked as if the moment was real when I realized that going to the airport at 8:00 p.m. of September 1 means - I Missed My Flight!!! which happened very early today! haha...this is, indeed, crazy. "Na murag muragan si Tiyoy" haha. This is just an example.

So, realizing this mistake, I now know when to go to the airport which is August 31 at 8:00 p.m. so I can catch my flight few hours to early morning at 1:00 a.m. of September 1. To keep me at ease, I set my alarm to remind me of that schedule. 

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Leaving on a Jet plane by John Denver

Source: YouTube and AlwaystheSunO. Thanks.

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JFK International Airport

I went straight to my airline check-in counter to present my ticket and check-in my luggage. As usual, I presented my Vaccination Record, my passport and state identification card. 

The check-in counter clerk tagged my two suitcases and placed them on the conveyor. He also placed a tag on my hand carry and a backpack. I continued on to the Security Counter. It was a ritual of removing all the metals in your body, belts, cps, coins, even papers, and placing your laptops, cell phones, coats, caps, eyeglasses, and many more on the "labador" for X-raying, lol. 

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My Tips:

1. Don't wear any jewelry because you will find it stressful when you have to remove them in the Security Counter. Put them all inside your purse or backpack and wear them only once you are through with security check. 

2. Remove your belt and other metals in your body while on the queue and be ready to place them on the tray. 

3. Wear easy to wear and easy to remove shoes. 

4. Empty the mineral water container before reaching the security check.

5. Gather more information in the web regarding this, to help you find ease and comfort on this stage of airport check-in and security experience. 

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Be sure you have everything with you before leaving the security check area. I have two items - my hand carry and my backpack. 

So, before leaving the security check area, I counted in my mind - first, 1 hand carry, second, a backpack. Check! Now, I walked to the Gate. (Basi bala ma senior's moment si grampa kag may ma limtan, haha.... I might experience senior's moment and forget something.)

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Don't convert dollars to pesos, you will go hungry!

As I walked towards the Gate, I searched for something to eat. I looked at the cupcake and saw the price, I multiplied it with P55.00, bingo! I'm not hungry anymore! haha...

Then I moved to the next store, saw a banana and the price in pesos is P275.00 a piece. OMG, how can I eat if I kept on multiplying the dollars with the peso? So, I told myself to stop converting. 

Finally, I made a choice, I will not buy anything but wait for boarding time. I am sure, the plane will serve dinner an hour after takeoff. 

I walked to the passenger's area near the gate, opened my backpack and I felt something at the bottom and when I checked it, it's Granola Minis mixed berries and chocolate chips! Yea, I have some "fillers", lol. 

 I remember, my daughter Tsa handed these to me so that when I will be hungry, I have this ready in my pocket. Ayos.

After eating, I closed my eyes pretending to be napping. I set my iPhone's alarm though at 12:01 a.m. afraid that "ma deep sleep si Tiyoy kag ma baya-an ka eroplano.", lol.

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Boarding Time 

Still in full "armor", and wearing the mask, I joined the queue and finally made my way to my seat in the airplane. I selected the aisle seat as it is easy for this grampa to maneuver to the restroom anytime mother nature calls, haha. "Budlay kon tigulbang na kita, sigi pa laday, haha," 

At last, it's "lafang" time. 

My favorite is always Chicken. I eat white meat not red meat. Chicken served with rice, vegies, and clear soda not cola. After dinner, it's sleeping time. 

EVA Air

I've been flying with E. V. A. Air for several years, and I really enjoyed the amenities of the airline, their hospitable crew, and of course, lots of "lafang". Lafang is Life, lol. 

Lafang time again before landing.

The plane crossed the international date line, and of course, the time zone. Tracking the plane's flight path, I saw on the tv in front of me, that it was about two hours before touchdown at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. 

The crew were busy preparing the meals. Scents of food being heated in the galley (kitchen in the plane) sends a signal that breakfast was about to be served. 

A hot Shredded Chicken Congee with Corn Kernel and Lettuce served with fruits, sliced green and red pepper, a bun and butter and steaming coffee. 

The once quiet economy class was abuzz with activity - the crew was busy serving the breakfast, someone's requesting soda instead of coffee, my God, ano ba yan? haha...Soda is life?  Others requested for chicken and beef. 

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Arrival at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport

Aerial photo taken from my cellphone showing the approach to the airport. 

It was a little past five in the morning when the aircraft landed at Taipei. All connecting passengers were guided to the lane where they were led to the gate of the airport train that took them to the next terminal where the aircraft EVA Air will fly them to Cebu. 

My first impulse when I reached C3 Gate was to look for a shower room so I can freshen up and change clothes before flying to Cebu at around seven in the morning. But first, I have to take my vitamins and medicine. I normally do not drink maintenance drugs while flying. I schedule my meds when I am on land not in the air, lol.

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I approached the airport staff and asked him to tell me where the Shower Room is, and he said, "I don't exactly know where it is because it was just opened." I agree with him, few travelers were aware that, at last, Taipei International Airport has a Shower Room to serve the needs of the travelers. 

After realizing that the Boarding Time was 6:35 a.m. I decided not to go to the Shower Room because I also do not know where to locate it. Next time, maybe, when I have enough time, I will post this info in my next blog. 

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I really wanted to take a shower after a long-distance travel from New York to Taiwan. I always do this when I fly Korean Air because Incheon International Airport has Shower Rooms on the upper concourse of the airport terminal.  Now, I just use my creativity to freshen up before I fly to Cebu.

*Update: In one of my stopovers on Taiwan Airport, I was able to locate the Shower Room on the upper level near the restaurant area. So, I took a shower, changed my clothes which were already sprayed with Escape by Calvin Klein. At last, I felt clean. So, the next time I will be in Taiwan Airport, I know where the Shower Room is. 

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Taiwan International Airport 

 I returned to the C3 Gate and waited to board the plane. It happened quickly as if the airline staff were in a hurry to go to Cebu, lol. 

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Watch out for Part 2 - Taiwan to Cebu. Bye, 再见 zai jian. 

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Before you go, please LIKE my Facebook Page, and SHARE this blog with your friends. Thank you, have a nice day. 

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Hindi Ako Iiyak 

Performed by The Flippers

Source: YouTube, The Flippers uploaded by Nyn M.P

Thanks. 

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TAIWAN TO CEBU (Part 2 of New York to Cebu) - Touristang Pobre

Touristang Pobre

 September 6, 2022.