Life in the Philippines

Happy Easter. I’ve said that in three different countries today to countless security agents. Eighteen hours, three airports so far and at current count I’ve been through six different security checkpoints and three immigration lines. I don’t question security, I dont have any problem with it, and I understand the need. I’m not sure I understand the need for multiple layers doing the same thing but what do I know? The oddest one today was the one that runs you through the scanner and rechecks everything before letting you have a seat at the gate. So the cup of coffee you just bought to enjoy while waiting for the plane can’t be taken to your seat and there is no place to sit other than the gate area. International travel tips that I would offer start with wearing easy access shoes. This on and off of tie shoes is a real pain. Stick the laptop in a part of the bag you can get to without to much trouble because you’ll be pulling it out multiple times. Dont over stock the snack foods because the first customs point (every country you stop in) won’t let you take them through. Some airports check your passports three or four times. Just keep it handy, no sense digging for it every time. Don’t believe the boarding announcements that says there will be progressive boarding. Well I guess it is progressive. It goes like this: Business/First Class, Elite status frequent flier folks, travelers with kids or needing help to the plane…and the third progression is ALL OTHERS. 60 rows of seats, 7 passengers across, almost full flight, just board when you want. Talk about a long wait as there is no logic to who is getting on when so there are multiple waiting periods as the people stop at their seats to load their carry on in the overheads. It’s a good thing they start boarding an hour before departure!
And then after all of this I hit US Customs…where you still are required to move your bag from customs through the inspection point, to your connecting flight. All other countries so far didnt require this for flights passing through.
I’ve got one more flight today then I am stable on the ground for a couple of days. By the end of a one week period I’ll be gathering more International Travel Tips which I’ll have the pleasure of trying out twice more before April is over. It’s gonna be a long month.

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