Back from the PI

[thekfc]

 Experienced a little flooding,  it wasn’t that bad in the area that we were  -  only around the ankle and it quickly dissipated.  Can’t say the same for Marikina City as that place was flooded.  They said that that Mayor Lani have done a great job of “fixing” her city (Taguig).  Rivers been clean, sewers and the likes have been cleaned/updated.
 
Wanted to do a few days in the  surround areas of Cebu & Davao but end up cutting our trip short 91 day) to these areas as flights were being cancelled due to the weather – only did Talisay City (it got flooded right after we left). 
 
Got to use Terminal 3 (via Cebu Pacific),  Cathay Pacific didn’t moving in yet (they are moving this Wednesday).   T3 is an upgrade - not as great as the other airports in the region but an upgrade from T1.
 
On our way back, we did a stopover in HK & went into the city to do a little sightseeing  but ended up  diverting to Victoria Harbour as there was a protest going on in our intended areas - Occupy Central.
 
Planning to go back in the spring of 2015 with a side trip to Japan.  We would like to go to either Kyoto, Osaka, Nagayo, Kyushu or Shikoku – for Cherry Blossom season. Ueno Park was recommended to us .
 
Also while there I found out that Philippines Airlines ( PAL) will now fly to/from NYC (JFK) starting next year (March).  It will not be direct, there will be a stopover in Vancouver. That will be good news for some folks on the east coast.

[robert angel]

Glad you guys still had what sounds like a nice trip. Anytime there's flooding--heck, just a lot of rain and then you're in a densely populated area where there's some pollution, it's good nobody got sick.

[dewey4350]

Hey KFC I hope your trip was well. A little flooding is normal for the Filipinos. I've been stuck on some of the smaller islands and the ferry wouldn't run LOL. When it costs you like an extra 700usd to miss your flight you learn to adjust your trips. I have been offered flight deals from MCI here in middle America. East China air and China air on deals out of the NY airports. Can you shine any light on quality of airlines and connecting in Beijing? ? Hows that boy doing?

[thekfc]

Hey D,
How are things going?

I am used to flood, so it doesn't bother me.

I have seen some of the promotion and some of them are good but personally I would take them as I have better options.

Just about everyone I have spoken to have told me to avoid connecting in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou as flight to from these airports are prone to delays & cancellations - not because of the airlines but more on the side of The People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The PLA sometimes close a large portion of the Chinese airspace for "practice" thus creating massive delays/cancwellation. When the PLA had their big practice last July/August about 100-200 flights were either cancelled or delayed daily.  When/if there are no military practices that you would be fine.

Here is a little reading:
http://qz.com/239771/the-military-isnt-relinquishing-control-over-chinas-airspace-no-matter-how-many-flight-delays-it-causes/

East China Air, China Air & China Southern are decent Chinese airlines.

Asiana (South Korea),  EVA Air (Taiwan) & China Airlines (Taiwan) are also good airlines, usually have good deals & usually avoid the Chinese airspace (when not flying to China).

I personally choose Cathay Pacific, now just because they are a great airline but also they give me many options. 5 Daily flights out of the NYC area and when I get to HK, 5 daily flight from HK to MNL (plus 2 other wkly & also have Dragonair), so I don't have to worry about missing connections as there will be a later flight (unless it is the last flight of the day). 

The little one is fine, he actually likes flying.