Clark, Diosdago Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)
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| AA Notification |
I was supposed to depart from KLIA LCCT at 9 am, then Air
Asia changed the flight at 9 pm and scheduled to arrive at 00.30 in the next
day. It was not planned before and i was shocked hearing this info.
KLIA LCCT
After short one day trip to Batu
Caves and Petaling Street, i came back to LCCT Using the same bus without
purchasing new ticket since i bought round way ticket. I was sleeping again
along the way to go to LCCT. There was nothing to see along the way actually,
so i am not disappointed. I lost my cap in KL, I forget where i put it on.
Arriving in LCCT very early to
catch my flight, I decided to go surfing on Internet since i had bought
Malaysian Power plug in Petaling Street for 8 RM. I was still worried about
myself in DMIA since in many information told me that This airport was not
operating 24 hours and none was allowed to sleep in This Airport. I tried to be
calm and keep surfing. I used this opportunity to talk with my friends and chat
with them in the same time. after 2 hours, i decided to check-in, in here i
used self check-in. It was so easy and i did not need to queue in the check in
counter since i did not book the baggage. That’s the reason too why i checked-in
by using this facility so that they
would not pay attention of my bags which might exceed the threshold for 7 kg.
Once i finished checking-in, i
went to Immigration, i passed the immigration and also the belonging security
check. The lounge inside the airport was fascinating, it was far from the name
LCCT. It was about 2 hours before the flight and i had not yet took any shower
yet since the previous day and i was sweating a lot in KL. I wandered and
finally found shower room. the room was quite big without any hanging port to
hang our belongings. In order to keep my belongings safe and dry, i put all on
the very corner of the shower room and splashed my body slowly to keep my
belongings. About 10 minutes i finished showering, i changed my clothes ans
pant. I was using long pants with long sleeve shirt, and then i used only short
pants(sport short pants) and T-Shirt. I was different with any others
passengers who looked so fancy with their outfits.
I was so thirsty and i forgot to
tap water to my bottle outside and there was no any free-tap water available
inside the boarding room. i bought one small bottle of Mineral water for 1.5 RM
in shop upstairs. This shop sells many sweets made from spices. They had
free-try-for-costumer sample. I tried all the products for free to keep my stomach
full. They were so spicy-ishly sweet and i was happy to have them for free.
After this, my flight was finally called to depart. The flight took more than 3
hours and it became the longest flying i took so far (till may 2013).
Diosdado Macapagal International Airport
Flight was smoothly arriving in
the LARGE Landing area i ever saw, it looked even LARGER than Changi Airport i
think for landing area. I was still worried about what i could do to save my
life without spending money for hostel. And also i read before that DMIA was
far from city center, no more bus in the midnight since the last bus/jeepney
leaving DMIA at 10.30pm.
I kept positive. I walked out
from the aircraft and in the halfway i remember my book which i put my money
inside. I run again approaching the aircraft and walked into it. The stewards
there was shocked knowing his passenger coming back to cabin. He asked me what
i left. I said that i left my book. However, the book was not there and i lost
60 RM in the same time. I walked out again from the cabin sadly and felt
embarrassed with the cabin crews. I lost the money that every single penny was
very important.
My fear was not ending, it was
more fluidized this time. After I wrote the immigration card which i had to
state the place i would stay and the period, i was leaving them blank. I joined
the line to go to immigration. There were only 2 available counters for
foreigner. i saw group with couples of middle age Indonesians. They kept
speaking bahasa. I was standing behind one of them. When they talked to each
other they mentioned their hotel, the name was PALM HOTEL. I had no idea about
this hotel or hostel. Then when i was about to proceed myself to immigration, i
wrote PALM HOTEL, Manila to my immigration card and 1 day for the period. The
officer did not ask me anything about it and i could proceed to the next stage,
which is going out the airport. I was so shocked since the terminal was so
small for international airport.
I walked against the immigration
to proceed to exit. It was really late, no stores open, except 24 hours
convenient stores outside the arrival. I starred figuring out what i could do.
There were some hard benches and taxi drivers offered me to go to city. The
best thing and made me release all my fears was there were some people sleeping
on the bench. I found out the best spot for me to sleep.
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| Sleeping on the floor and bench in DMIA (Midnight) |
I was afraid of my belongings
since there were some people there. I hugged my bags and slept beautifully. It
was about 5 am and i was woken up by the sound of plane there. I just realized
that DMIA was the military zone airport. I was some military aircraft
equipped with some equipment i watched in war movies.
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| Good Morning DMIA |
I got flu that time, i walked in
and out to toilet until the office boys starred at me. Then when i could not
see clearly what happened out there i remembered my glasses. I sought it to
toilet and i did not find it until the officer approached me asking what made
me go back and forth. Then he actually found my glasses and gave it back to me.
That was the best first impression in the Philippines, also the first time i
interacted with Filipino in The Philippines land.
The sun came up and the heat hit
the area of DMIA. The helicopters and flight passengers started coming, the
shops also started opening. When i was walking, there was a guy shouting “DARI
DEPOK MAS?” (are you from depok?). I was so shocked that somebody knew Bahasa
and where i am staying in Indonesia. He
recognized me from the goody bag i brought stated UNIVERSITAS INDONESIA. Then
we talked to each other and he planned to stay only 2 days in Manila and he was
waiting for PhilTranco, bus to go to Manila. Anyway, his name is Putra.
I knew that in DMIA (and in the
Philippines) that we had to pat Terminal Tax and it cost me 450 PHP in DMIA,
However it was discounted since in NAIA (Nino Aquino International Airport) in
Manila costed 600 PHP. I knew then why DMIA was called THE MOST AFFORDABLE
AIRPORT in Asia.
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| Cheap Breakfast? |
Since i had no any Peso, i
Withdrew in ATM for 1000 PHP and i had to pay the charge for 100 PHP. I was
hungry and finally i had money that time. i went into Convenient store. I
bought Banana, Bread with custard inside, and also mineral water. They costed
me 51 PHP.
My flight was at 12-ish in the
midday. I went into the airport. I did not print
my Ticket and at first the door lady asked me about it. she at firat did not allow me to get in. i showed them my passport then they allowed me.
I myself saw how small this airport, but they were equipped with wifi, and also it was very nice in this small airport.
Expense in DMIA
ATM Fee 100 PHP
Breakfast 51 PHP
Terminal Fee 450
total: 601 PHP
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| Pampanga Province from above |
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