How I got to Subic Bay and Avoided the Banditos
Aug 30 '01 (Updated Nov 19 '01)
The Bottom Line If you visit the smaller provinces, expect some very interesting experiences. Be as prepared as you can, know what kind of plane you're flying, and pack your own Milky Ways!
Sometimes it's very good to know the things you should avoid when visiting a country. In my case, I wish I had somehow avoided the entire trip from Manila to Subic Bay.
I had originally published this review under a specific airline. However, it seemed a better fit to just share with you my overall experience. I hope you will be better prepared for what to expect if you visit one of the smaller, outlying areas from Manila. Warning: Check in advance to see what kind of plane you will be flying.
How do you get to Subic Bay from Manila?
I had two choices:
a) ride in a bus for hours on an often washed-out jungle road frequented by banditos or
b) take a flight on a turboprop airplane
Bandito Road vs. A Propeller Plane
I was faced with this decision after spending a week in Manila at a meeting and heading to Subic Bay to help film a video.
As exciting as the possibility of being robbed or kidnapped by banditos seemed -- I could make the National Enquirer, maybe Katie Couric would interview me, or there might even be a book possibility -- I opted for the plane.
The Terminal
I had been sheltered inside the beautiful, clean and cool Shangri-La Hotel for several days so I was ill-prepared for what I faced that day when I arrived at the terminal.
After spending a week in the Philippines I had developed mad cravings for two things -- Pizza Hut Supreme Pizza and Milky Way bars. As we were on the bus going to the airport I told one of my traveling companions, "I would give $20 for a Milky Way right now!"
Arriving at the hot, crowded airport shortly before lunch time I saw long lines at the snack bar. I knew they wouldn't have any Pizza Hut pizza (or at least none that I would attempt to eat), so I went to the gift shop where they also sold bottled water and snacks.
Small Gift Shop
As I was browsing around looking for snack food that might sustain me during my next three days at remote Subic Bay, I saw a small shelf of Milky Way bars. I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw them. They weren't $20, but they were pretty darn pricey. I think I paid roughly the equivalent of $3 for that candy bar, but I didn't hesitate.
Bottled water in hand, I carefully tucked the Milky Way into my carry-on bag as I looked for a place to sit in the crowded terminal. It seemed that there were no separate gates, just one big waiting room with a single entry/exit point to the planes. The terminal was not very impressive. It was loud, hot, and crowded. The seats all seemed to be occupied.
Beware of Hoof and Mouth Disease
Then I saw it. It was something called a foot bath. A rectangular box made of two-by-fours about 4-feet square. It was filled with what looked like wet, nasty, squishy, air conditioner filters or giant sponges. Gross!
A large sign proclaimed:
"All passengers must walk through foot bath to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease to the outlying provinces."
O.M.G.!
I was glad I hadn't started eating my prized Milky Way since my stomach did a quick flip-flop. I wasn't about to put my bare feet into that grey, yucky squishy tub.
The Tarmac/Barnyard
Then I looked out onto the tarmac where there were several planes being readied. I thought perhaps I was hallucinating. There, in a far corner, were live goats being loaded onto a plane. Then a crate of chickens. I looked around, half expecting to see Old McDonald or Noah. More and more animals were headed toward that plane. I remember thinking: I wonder where those poor suckers are going with all that livestock?
The plane they were loading with the barnyard menagerie was fairly small and had propellers. In fact, all the planes I saw outside had propellers. No jets were visible in this area of the airport at all. Those banditos were sounding better by the minute.
The Wait... and the Milky Way, At Last!
Finally, I found an empty seat and decided to have my Milky Way lunch. I would put the foot bath and the goats out of my mind and focus on my luscious, chocolate delight.
Then I opened the wrapper.
~~gasp~~
This is not what a Milky Way was supposed to look like. Milky Ways are brown and smooth and shiny.
This was a white, crusty, misshapen rectangle hiding inside a Milky Way wrapper. My heart sank. I smelled it. It still smelled like chocolate (a little bit). I was starving and didn't think one bite could kill me.
Ah... it still tasted (almost) like chocolate. A bit dry, but the caramel inside was still recognizable and tasty. Thinking this might be the last chance I would have to eat a Milky Way for at least four days, I savored every bite between sips of water. Why didn't I pack my own Milky Ways?
Boarding
Finally, it was time to board. There were several other people in my group so I got behind them in line. I would let them check out the foot bath first.
As the line drew closer to the exit, there was only one way out -- through the foot bath. Fortunately, everyone was walking through with shoes intact! Things were beginning to look up.
I squished my way through the foot bath, hoping that smelly concoction did not find its way inside my shoes. Then we started our walk to the plane. And not just any old plane, mind you. But the one I had watched being loaded with animals. We were headed straight for Noah's Ark!
As we climbed the narrow stairway and entered the plane we were hit by a huge blast of exceedingly hot air. I only thought it was hot outside in Manila. It almost took my breath away inside the plane.
I immediately began to feel perspiration running down my face. Hoping they would start the plane and air conditioning soon, I found my way to my seat. I was, of course, seated on the last row by a window. (The aisle seat I requested was not available so I climbed in the small row and sat down.)
Rather, I should say I squeezed into the tiny seat. This was without a doubt the smallest airplane seat I had ever encountered. The seats were obviously designed for people of smaller stature than I. My seat mate, fortunately, was tiny and had ample room. At least she wouldn't be hanging over her seat into mine. Or so I thought!
The Flight Over the Jungle (Or too many Tarzan Movies)
After what seemed an eternity and when my body was fully drenched in sweat (I could no longer consider it perspiration at that point) they finally started the plane. It took a while but by the time we had taxied around and taken off, the plane was finally starting to get cool.
Take-off was uneventful and the propellers were doing their job correctly. My seat belt was so tight (trust me, there was not a fraction of an inch to spare) I could barely breathe. I tried to relax a bit and not think about the fact I had been so worried about the foot bath that I had broken my cardinal rule of flying: Go to the bathroom before getting on the plane.
When the flight attendants starting serving soft drinks I was torn about whether I should partake. I was getting a bit dehydrated from all the water that had been dribbling down my face and back. But I didn't want to have to climb out of that seat to go to the bathroom.
I opted for dehydration and asked for napkins instead. (I was still pretty soggy from the pre-flight bake.) I could only imagine how hot those poor animals must have been in the cargo area. I had visions of those the hens laying hard boiled eggs the next day.
The loud droning of the engines reminded me of old Tarzan movies. I thought it was quite apropos as I looked out over the jungle and saw the road that I could have been traveling. We seemed to be flying quite low, so there was always a good view of the scenery below.
~~~
Then I had visions of what usually happened in the Tarzan movies about the time Tarzan and Cheetah heard the droning plane engines: the sound of a sputter, then a loud whining sound, and finally a crash!
~~~
The jungle was really starting to get to me and, yes, I desperately needed to go to the bathroom. By this time my seat mate had fallen soundly asleep and now had her head lying on my shoulder. I was pinned to the window, with a seat belt cutting off my circulation, my bladder about to burst, and a young lady sleeping on top of me. (At least I knew the young lady. She had been in charge of the meeting I had just attended and I knew she was exhausted. I really didn't want to wake her up and I kept thinking we would arrive any minute.)
There wasn't a lot of turbulence, but it was enough to make the plane lurch a bit each time we encountered it. My bladder was screaming but I was determined that I could manage the rest of the flight.
Safe Arrival
At long last, we began to make our descent and the beautiful waters of Subic Bay came into view. I could see how gorgeous the reefs were through the clear water and began to wish I had brought my dive gear.
Thankfully, my bladder and I were allowed to deplane before the goats and chickens and I found my way inside the small terminal before disaster struck.
Subic Bay
There wasn't much to find in Subic Bay and most of my time was spent working. Since we were filming a video of the FedEx hub there, I mostly saw the road and the hub, along with a couple of hotels and restaurants. The largest restaurant we visited had ox tail on the menu, if that tells you anything about the exciting cuisine. Needless to say, I passed on that one.
There are a lot of warehouses and a good bit a transportation activity in Subic Bay, but overall it was pretty small and quiet. The hotel in which I stayed had a very small casino, so when I did have a few moments to spare there was some entertainment.
Subic Bay is definitely not a tourist attraction; however, there might be some good scuba diving -- the reefs really looked great. I didn't get a chance to find out.
The thing I remember most about Subic Bay was that it was miserably hot and humid. In fact, I don't think I've ever been so hot in my entire life.
Return Flight
Happily, I was a better prepared for what to expect on the return flight and managed to get an aisle seat. Yes, I did go to the Ladies Room first!
The seats were still small and uncomfortable for me, but the flight went smoothly and we arrived safely back at Manila. In fact, I was so exhausted that I slept for part of the way back with no visions of Tarzan or Cheetah dancing in my head!
Conclusion
If I had been offered another means of transportation (other than Bandito Road) back to Manila, I probably would have taken it.
I dreaded the idea of the prop plane and the small uncomfortable seats on the return flight. I kept having visions of the propellers stopping and the plane crashing into the jungle. In fact, I think I dreamed about Tarzan every night I was in Subic Bay. I will spare you the details.
Needless to say, I thought I was in the lap of luxury when I sat down in my Northwest Business Coach seat for the cool, comfortable flight back to Memphis.
Now that is flying!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not my intention to make fun of anyone or anything except myself in this review. If I can't laugh at myself and how I react in uncomfortable situations, then I'm in BIG trouble!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 347 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
|
|
|
© 1999-2008 Shopping.com, Inc.