I had booked this trip whilst we were still in Hong Kong (read about that here). The time came for me to head to the airport (I had already packed my clothes and goodies).
Getting to the airport was a bit of a pain. Peterborough to London was fine. King’s Cross to Heathrow wasn’t, though. The Piccadilly Line was closed for works, so I had to get the Elizabeth Line from Farringdon. It’s such a pain as the lift that you need is so slow and is often full. I had two bags, so I couldn’t take the escalator.
I couldn’t even get a seat on the train. We arrived at Heathrow and this is where the fun started.
A couple of weeks ago, Heathrow and several other European airports suffered a cyber attack on 3rd party software that controls check-in and baggage tags (read about that here), and that is still having knock-on effects on check-in and baggage tags.
I was told my luggage would be checked all the way through to Manila, but I had to get a separate boarding pass in Shenzhen due to the issues.
We landed in Shenzhen and were told that the baggage wasn’t checked through and that we would have to collect it and then recheck it.
It was so unorganised in Shenzhen. They didn’t know about baggage. I was told by one worker that I needed to get a transit visa to collect my bags and then I’d have to recheck it and collect my boarding pass.
I asked another worker who pointed me in the direction of a customs officer who told me I just needed to go upstairs to the transfer desk. As I was doing this, another worker told me the same thing as the first.
I ended up having to give my details and my passport to them so they could check my details against the advanced passenger information from the airline. Of course, they couldn’t find mine, which was adding to the fun stress levels. I checked to see where my luggage was (I have an AirTag in it) and it said it was still in London. I asked a worker if there was a way it could be checked, but they just ignored me.
I told the guys who had my passport and details that I needed to check in again, and they said to just wait. Like I had any other choice, though.
It was about 20:15 and they finally called me up and gave me my passport. I went to immigration to get my stamp/sticker for a temporary transit visa.
I went through and I was told my baggage was actually checked through. I was also told that I just needed to go upstairs and get my boarding pass. I did this and then went through immigration again, where they had a hard time recognising my passport. Fun times!
Then I had to go through security and security in China is notoriously painful at best. They checked my drone and batteries 3 times. Just let me get gone already!
We finally boarded and then were told we had an indefinite gate hold. No reason as to why that was either. Time for me to start panicking, as I had a short window in Manila in which to make my connection.
It was fairly fast getting off the plane. It slowed right down when I got to immigration. I couldn’t find anybody to help me either. I had just over an hour to get through here and then to my next flight.
The people at the window before me had no clue what was needed for flying and so it took a while to pass. The immigration officer got through my visit pretty quick – quick enough to not watch where she was stamping the passport and she stamped it in the middle of an empty page instead of it being orderly! Grrr.
I went to the transfer bus queue and it was so long. I had to get a Grab to the other terminal. I got there and had to ask if I would make my flight and I was put in the “Final Call” desk. They finally called me up and weighed my stuff and said I could go.
I got through security and then headed to the gate (via a vending machine for food and drink). As I was walking there, a worker was calling out for people on my flight. I was only of the last few on the plane. We were so late that we had to board from the right. I have never done that before. I asked the cabin crew if I could sit in one of the seats in an empty row. They said it was fine. I was glad to be one and taking off – that was until we had some turbulence that kept me awake. I was so glad to be off the plane and through to baggage claim.
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Once I had collected my baggage, I went to meet Addy where he was last time. As I was walking there, he turned up behind me. He was in an area where non-ticketed passengers aren’t allowed. He said he spoke with security and they let him in.
He showed me a video he took that showed how fast I was walking.
He ordered us a Grab (think Uber) to the hotel and it turned up pretty quick. We got to the hotel and I could see from the outside that there’s a reason it was £15 a night! We went up to the room and immediately I didn’t like it. The AC wasn’t the best, but at least it felt a little colder than outside.
The bathroom left little to be desired, too. The shower was awful. The water was lukewarm at best. Whenever I stay in a hotel, I like a shower that’s good enough to nearly knock you off your feet and better than a grandad with a light stream!
We had an hour or so here to sleep and freshen up. The first thing I did was to have a shower as it had been a little over 36 hours since my last one (all the air travel).
We checked out and then got a Grab to the bus terminal. The buses are just like your usual coaches back home – except a little bit crazier.
Addy was glad we got on the one we did, as it at least had working AC at every seat. That was so welcome from me.
At every stop, people who are peddling their wares come on and try and sell you stuff – this is all while people are standing in the aisles because there are no free seats.
Addy & I got lucky getting the seats we did. Some drunkard (I presume) was lying across four of the five back seats, so I nudged him a few times and he got up and then got off the bus (I presume again).
What was impressive was the conductor going round asking people where they were going and then punching a paper with the start and end stop and the price – all while the bus is moving.
It cost us ₱263 each. In old money, that’s around £3.40. She then hands over the punched paper as our ticket.
I was starting to get irritated on the bus after about 30 minutes. The seats were cramped. There was nowhere for my legs to go, so I was cramped too. A mother was parenting with a phone and it was being super loud that even Addy was getting irritated.
We were on the bus for around 3.5 hours. It was excruciating, especially after spending 16 hours on 3 flights in cramped conditions, too.
We got off at Kidapawan Terminal and got my bags. I noticed the zip on my small one was apart, so I had to look in the car to make sure nothing had been taken – it hadn’t. Phew!
We checked in and then headed upstairs to the room. We were told it was 309 on the third floor. The third floor is actually two steps up from the second floor. A small but mighty distinction, apparently.
This room seems to be OK. The AC is working at least. The shower doesn’t look the greatest. It looks like you need a degree to work it!
We dropped our stuff off and then headed out to Hill Side so we could get some chicken and fries and rice. It was every bit as good as I remembered, too.
The entire bill for 2 portions of fries, 3 half chickens with unlimited rice, 4 bottles of water, 2 orange and pineapple juice was… drum roll… ₱775 – which is not even TEN FAT FINGERED CHARLIE/DEAD LIZZIE (depending on the note you get) POUNDS.
Compare that with £18 in Harvester for the below.
The views from Hill Side were really amazing. The mountain views were really nice. Judge for yourself.
After a couple of hours here, we left and went to the Taosuvan Falls. Addy said they were really good. He wasn’t wrong.
The cost is ₱35 per adult for entry, which goes to the upkeep.
We started walking down and Addy pointed out the falls. I genuinely couldn’t see any waterfalls, but I certainly could hear them.
We got to the bottom and it was stunning. Again, judge for yourself!
It was really cool to be here. It started to rain a little when we were here, so we went to look for shelter. There were some picnic benches under stands and we took cover there. As soon as we did, the rain got heavier.
Addy said he wishes it would flood so he could see it. He quickly followed up that he just wanted the river to get higher after I reminded him we may not be able to get home.
The rain got heavier and he was getting his wish. I loved the rain. I also loved the thunder and lightning.
We could tell the river level was rising as the water started to get brown from the washed-out mud.
I said I wanted to go out and have a look and get some pictures and videos.
We decided that since the rain had pretty much stopped, it would be time to head up and back to the van.
It was good to go the way we did as we got the money shot of the waterfalls.
After we were done here, we decided to head out and keep everything crossed that there was no flooding. No such luck, I’m afraid. A river had burst its banks and was flooding the road, so we had to wait for it to recede.
We were here for around 15 minutes until the water had receded and the road was passable.
After here, we headed to see one of his sisters and there was a power outage because of the rain. It was a surprise for them to see me, as they weren’t expecting me back until November. We swapped vans and then headed to see his mum and pick up his clothes before heading back to the hotel.
I was so tired on the way back that my reaction time to him was super slow. I remember pulling up to the Jollibee car park and the next thing I remember is waking up not knowing where I was. I had been asleep for about 10 minutes and he didn’t want to wake me.
All in all, this has been a really good day.
Total steps: 8,033
Total miles: 3.74
Total kilometers: 6.02
After getting back to the hotel last night I didn’t have a very good sleep. I am full of cold, so we didn’t do anything but sleep in and then go for the bus to go to Davao and then sit in the mall until it was time to go to the airport.
That’s exactly what we did too. We stopped in the SM Ecoland mall there and had some KFC. Addy was tired from his travel sickness meds and I was tired from this stupid cold.
The drive here seemed to take forever, even though the bus said it was non-stop to Davao.
We stayed there for about 3 hours and then I went to the mall to get some food for the flights and then we booked a Grab and then headed to the airport.
Addy was only allowed to go as far as the door for entry to departures. We stayed here for about 30 minutes and then I headed in.
I checked in and was asked if I would like an exit row seat. I said yes to that straight away. I went through security, but wasn’t sure if there were any shops beyond security so I tried to buy some drinks in the restaurants there. They all closed pre-19:30 (I mean, it’s an international airport, so it’s dumb they close early). I got drinks and then asked if I could leave that area to go and sit downstairs so I could drink them.
They said yes and I went and sat downstairs. I hate airports at the best of times, so I was super irritated by this point and just moved stuff out of the way so I could sit down.
I messaged Addy and told him I wanted him to go get the bus back to Kidapawan so he wasn’t out super late. He did that and I went through security and sat waiting for boarding time.
Boarding was fairly easy and I dutifully took my exit row seat and just sat there hoping it was a smooth flight. It was and I was so glad for that. We did, however, leave late and I was concerned about making the transfer in Manila.
We got to Manila and I got off the plane as soon as I could. I then went to get my luggage and then to the transfer bus. This is where I was super concerned, as it said the transfer would take 24 minutes and that would give me a little over an hour to check in my luggage and then get through immigration and security.
It turns out it was only a few minutes to Terminal 1.
I checked my luggage and asked if I could have an aisle seat on this next flight (I already had one for the way to London). The guy found me an aisle seat, which I was glad about.
I then went to immigration and I got annoyed at the immigration officer there. I was trying to ask her to stamp the passport on a certain page and she just stamped it wherever she felt like and it was on an already full page! Grrr.
Security was fairly quick, thankfully, and I was through to the gate in about 10 minutes. Result.
I had taken my meds when I was near the gate and I was starting to get super tired. I just wanted to sleep on the plane. I asked the flight attendant if I could have the seat behind me since the row was empty. She said I could after takeoff. It was about 45 minutes before I the seatbelt sign went off and I could move.
I was glad to move seats because it meant I could lie down and sleep.
As we were coming in to land, the turbulence was really bad. The worst I have had for a long time.
In the video below, you can see how bad it was. I’m not shaking the phone. I am holding it in the same position, but the turbulence is making it move. You can also hear the plane shaking.
It was the same for the rest of the flight. I was pretty sure with it being this bad that we would end up having to do a go-around – not that it would bother me since it would eat up into the long layover time.
We finally landed safely and then I was the last off the plane as I wasn’t in any hurry to get gone.
We went through the transfer counter and then through security again and were set on our way.
I went to find some food and something to drink. All I could find was Fanta orange and some Pringles. Oh well, it filled a hole. I just had to play the waiting game, which was now only 5 hours instead of the 8.5 had we landed on time.
I decided I would treat myself (and hopefully just me and not the toilet too) to a Dairy Queen Blizzard at Shenzhen airport (though disappointed they didn’t turn it upside down to show how thick the blizzard was).
So far, so good with it. I made it to the gate, where I promptly fell asleep off and on for about an hour until they called us for boarding. Once that announcement was made, I joined the mad rush to get on and get some overhead locker space.
I managed to and then went to the bathroom to get some tissue to clean my glasses. I came back to the seat to a flight attendant asking me if I wanted a belt extender (whilst others could hear). I said no and she said I should, since it would be more comfortable for me in case of turbulence, as the seatbelt sign would probably stay on for the flight. I told her again I would be fine and she left it. I then showed her how the belt fitted with room to spare.
I noticed that the doors had closed and the row in front of me was free. I asked the flight attendant if I could sit there and they said once we had taken off I could. It took about 40 minutes to climb and for the captain to turn off the fasten seatbelt sign. As soon as it was off, I put my stuff on the seat so nobody else could have it. It was nice to have a row to myself.
I found some AirPods in the plane toilet and let the cabin crew know and they came back with some water, crackers, peanuts as a reward.
Then, a couple of minutes later, another cabin crew member came and told me to put my seatbelt on. It was on. I went from hero to villain really quick!
I don’t know why I had that DQ. It started to cause havoc with my stomach on the last part of the flight. I might make it home today. Ha.
The rest of the flight was uneventful and I just sat and watched some stuff I had downloaded. No sooner had I done that than it was time to start our initial descent to Heathrow.
The flight was 12.5 hours and it didn’t feel like it. I think that’s because I had a row to myself.
I got off and walked as fast as I could to immigration to avoid any potential queues. No luck! It was still fairly quick to get through, though. I then went and got my luggage and went for a meal deal so I could have something to drink on the tube.
I got the tube and it was fairly empty the whole way into Central London.
Thankfully, there were no delays on the train either. I was so happy for that, given that there’s a storm making its way across the country.
Total steps: 43,222Total miles: 19.85
Total kilometers: 31.95
View all of my Kidapawan media here