Wailuku, Maui
Been back on the Island for two days now. I haven't had the chance to post earlier because I busy cleaning what with all the dead little black insects scattered all over the kitchen floor, countertops, inside the cupboards and closets - you know, those black insects that like to eat the rice, well, they multiplied when we were gone to about a million of them turned the brown rice into flour and even munched on some wood at the same time, how awful! Anyway, they were all dead when we came probably after the Incite Pest people came for their regular spraying. Plus the dust accumulated this past two and a half months was quite thick that you have to go through the floors and shelves twice or thrice to get them out. So much for that right now....
Let me back track and tell you about our adventure the day we left, supposedly left, Manila.
On Wednesday evening my parents, Mang Boy included, took us to the airport after having dinner at a nearby KFC. We got to the airport at exactly 8p.m. Getting into the terminal, checking in, and going through immigration was a breeze. We were inside in less than 30 minutes. So we went straight to one of their lounges, the Club Manila lounge, where we go ourselves a 30 minute back, shoulder and head massage. Peter helped himself to the buffet food they had at the lounge while I stuck to just drinking water. By 9:45p.m. we left the lounge for Gate 2. A few minutes later boarding began. Peter and I were one of the last people to board since we had seats in the forward section of the plane. We got comfortable, sat there and waited until it was ready to take off. We were waiting for the doors to close but instead the pilot comes on the PA system and informs us that while they were checking the flight panel, one light didn't turn on. Upon further investigation, and about 30 minutes of waiting, they needed to replace that part of the engine. We waited. The pilot gave us updates every 15 minutes. Then finally a Continental representative came on line and told the Honolulu bound passengers that we have missed our connecting flight so we will need to stay overnight and either take the same flight the next day or transfer to the Philippine Airlines flight. There were also other passengers connecting from Guam that were going east bound further than Honolulu. So we left the plane along with the other 12 Honolulu bound passengers, and passengers that were going on through to Newark airport. It was a bit chaotic on the gate area because the people wanted to know how they were going to their destination. One lady manager seemed to have it under control.
We got off the plane at almost midnight. Three Continental representatives took charge and took us to where we the bus would pick us up and drop us off at the Manila Hotel. While we were boarding the bus these three reps were arguing between themselves. It was somewhat of an indication that there was something amiss here. I had an experience like this before with Northwest and told Peter that I thought we should have some print outs of our itinerary. So Peter asked them but they simply said that it will be taken cared of at the Hotel. Once everyone was on board the rep. took a final count, got our boarding passes and left. We left the airport at almost 3a.m. (We later found out that the plane finally took off at 4:30a.m.) At the Manila Hotel registration counter Peter again asked about the intinerary and all they said was that we will get a print out about our schedule tomorrow morning. So we took that as a sign that all is well. We were able to get a good night's rest.
In the morning we went down, had our complimentary buffet breakfast which was a bit disappointing - the food was either bland, too watery, too sweet or too meaty. We had enough time to tour the grounds before going back to the room and get some more sleep. By 11 a.m. we got a reminder call about our 12 noon departure for the airport. We got ready and went down to the lobby to wait. By 10 minutes to 12 noon I told Peter to check with the transportation desk, fortunately due to our initiative the shuttle was already outside waiting. The other Honolulu passengers (well, we kind of got to know each other by then) followed us and go in the shuttle while we waited for a few more who were running late. While waiting we got to know the 4 young seamen better. They were hired by the Serenade of the Seas docked at the Honolulu Harbor and was scheduled to leave that week. They weren't sure if the ship was still there when we arrived or if someone was told to pick them up the next day. Peter and I talked story with them and learned about their jobs and their scheduled cruise trips. They were really excited and very young. Anyway, the last two people finally arrived so we left for the airport immediately.
The shuttle driver took us to the PAL/NAIA 2 Centennial Terminal. All of us asked him who was supposed to meet us there. He said he was only told to drop us off and leave. So left to our own. Peter, Mr. Yip (a young Chinese American) and this guy from Waipahu took charge and led us all to the ticketing office to talk to the Supervisor. The guys told her of our dilemma and asked if she could contact Continental for us to check whether someone was going to meet us at the PAL terminal. She called but no one at Continental answered the phone. She checked the computer to see if we were all booked for the flight, all fourteen of us were. But she said there's no way they could let us all in even with a booking if we didn't have the FIM (flight interruption manifest) from Continental. So we waited. We waited for a half hour then Mr. Yip asked if he could try calling Continental. While he was doing that a PAL representative came. We thought that he was the one who was going to escort us into the Terminal. But no, he couldn't do that without the FIM. He was giving the Continental people until 2p.m. that afternoon to come and fetch us (the flight was scheduled for 3:30p.m.). By 2:20p.m. one sweaty guy in Continental uniform came and looked for us. He had all our FIM and was just waiting for our luggages to arrive from the other terminal. Peter went with him to make sure we don't lose him. A few minutes later he came back and told us to come with him. It was really quick after that: we grabbed our luggages, walked through the gate entrance, the x-ray and body check points, checked our baggages, on through to the terminal fee booth (which was waived since we paid it the day before), and the immigration booth. Fortunately the gate was near the immigration booth that all of us were able to make the flight - well, I'm sure they would have waited for us. Whew! That was an experience. We were all relieved that we made it to the PAL flight bound for Honolulu and the plane was not even full, so some of us were able to stretch and sleep well.
The flight was 10 hours and it didn't feel that long. The attendants did their best to make us all comfortable. The food was a surprise, it actually tasted good. And they now clean and disinfect the lavatories mid-flight. Overall PAL has improved since the last time we rode with them.
We arrived Honolulu at 7:45 a.m. Immigration and Customs were a breeze so we were out of the terminal by 8:15 a.m. We met our 4 seamen friends out by the waiting area. They asked Peter to help them call the shipping company for pick-up. He was only too happy to help. He called the number on their information sheet and it was a mainland number, Georgia to be exact. He asked for a local number which was incorrect but was able to get the correct number from that previous number. He got a hold of their supervisor and told him of the situation but he simply said that these 4 guys will just have to take a taxi because no one was picking them up. Well, we felt that it was now our responsibility to take care of these 4 seamen so we rushed to the car rental company and upgraded our compact car to an SUV so we can take them all to Aloha Tower. At the Tower, we went with them to find Pier 11. We walked up and down the cruise lobbies only to find that the Pier 11 lobby was the first door we passed. The boys were so relieved to find the right place. We could see it in their faces how happy and thankful they are that we were there to help them. I took a picture of them and Peter right outside Aloha Tower which I hope to email to one of them soon.
I believe that everything happened for a reason. I am just glad that Peter and I were able to do something for someone else. From misfortunes comes a blessing.
Been back on the Island for two days now. I haven't had the chance to post earlier because I busy cleaning what with all the dead little black insects scattered all over the kitchen floor, countertops, inside the cupboards and closets - you know, those black insects that like to eat the rice, well, they multiplied when we were gone to about a million of them turned the brown rice into flour and even munched on some wood at the same time, how awful! Anyway, they were all dead when we came probably after the Incite Pest people came for their regular spraying. Plus the dust accumulated this past two and a half months was quite thick that you have to go through the floors and shelves twice or thrice to get them out. So much for that right now....
Let me back track and tell you about our adventure the day we left, supposedly left, Manila.
On Wednesday evening my parents, Mang Boy included, took us to the airport after having dinner at a nearby KFC. We got to the airport at exactly 8p.m. Getting into the terminal, checking in, and going through immigration was a breeze. We were inside in less than 30 minutes. So we went straight to one of their lounges, the Club Manila lounge, where we go ourselves a 30 minute back, shoulder and head massage. Peter helped himself to the buffet food they had at the lounge while I stuck to just drinking water. By 9:45p.m. we left the lounge for Gate 2. A few minutes later boarding began. Peter and I were one of the last people to board since we had seats in the forward section of the plane. We got comfortable, sat there and waited until it was ready to take off. We were waiting for the doors to close but instead the pilot comes on the PA system and informs us that while they were checking the flight panel, one light didn't turn on. Upon further investigation, and about 30 minutes of waiting, they needed to replace that part of the engine. We waited. The pilot gave us updates every 15 minutes. Then finally a Continental representative came on line and told the Honolulu bound passengers that we have missed our connecting flight so we will need to stay overnight and either take the same flight the next day or transfer to the Philippine Airlines flight. There were also other passengers connecting from Guam that were going east bound further than Honolulu. So we left the plane along with the other 12 Honolulu bound passengers, and passengers that were going on through to Newark airport. It was a bit chaotic on the gate area because the people wanted to know how they were going to their destination. One lady manager seemed to have it under control.
We got off the plane at almost midnight. Three Continental representatives took charge and took us to where we the bus would pick us up and drop us off at the Manila Hotel. While we were boarding the bus these three reps were arguing between themselves. It was somewhat of an indication that there was something amiss here. I had an experience like this before with Northwest and told Peter that I thought we should have some print outs of our itinerary. So Peter asked them but they simply said that it will be taken cared of at the Hotel. Once everyone was on board the rep. took a final count, got our boarding passes and left. We left the airport at almost 3a.m. (We later found out that the plane finally took off at 4:30a.m.) At the Manila Hotel registration counter Peter again asked about the intinerary and all they said was that we will get a print out about our schedule tomorrow morning. So we took that as a sign that all is well. We were able to get a good night's rest.
In the morning we went down, had our complimentary buffet breakfast which was a bit disappointing - the food was either bland, too watery, too sweet or too meaty. We had enough time to tour the grounds before going back to the room and get some more sleep. By 11 a.m. we got a reminder call about our 12 noon departure for the airport. We got ready and went down to the lobby to wait. By 10 minutes to 12 noon I told Peter to check with the transportation desk, fortunately due to our initiative the shuttle was already outside waiting. The other Honolulu passengers (well, we kind of got to know each other by then) followed us and go in the shuttle while we waited for a few more who were running late. While waiting we got to know the 4 young seamen better. They were hired by the Serenade of the Seas docked at the Honolulu Harbor and was scheduled to leave that week. They weren't sure if the ship was still there when we arrived or if someone was told to pick them up the next day. Peter and I talked story with them and learned about their jobs and their scheduled cruise trips. They were really excited and very young. Anyway, the last two people finally arrived so we left for the airport immediately.
The shuttle driver took us to the PAL/NAIA 2 Centennial Terminal. All of us asked him who was supposed to meet us there. He said he was only told to drop us off and leave. So left to our own. Peter, Mr. Yip (a young Chinese American) and this guy from Waipahu took charge and led us all to the ticketing office to talk to the Supervisor. The guys told her of our dilemma and asked if she could contact Continental for us to check whether someone was going to meet us at the PAL terminal. She called but no one at Continental answered the phone. She checked the computer to see if we were all booked for the flight, all fourteen of us were. But she said there's no way they could let us all in even with a booking if we didn't have the FIM (flight interruption manifest) from Continental. So we waited. We waited for a half hour then Mr. Yip asked if he could try calling Continental. While he was doing that a PAL representative came. We thought that he was the one who was going to escort us into the Terminal. But no, he couldn't do that without the FIM. He was giving the Continental people until 2p.m. that afternoon to come and fetch us (the flight was scheduled for 3:30p.m.). By 2:20p.m. one sweaty guy in Continental uniform came and looked for us. He had all our FIM and was just waiting for our luggages to arrive from the other terminal. Peter went with him to make sure we don't lose him. A few minutes later he came back and told us to come with him. It was really quick after that: we grabbed our luggages, walked through the gate entrance, the x-ray and body check points, checked our baggages, on through to the terminal fee booth (which was waived since we paid it the day before), and the immigration booth. Fortunately the gate was near the immigration booth that all of us were able to make the flight - well, I'm sure they would have waited for us. Whew! That was an experience. We were all relieved that we made it to the PAL flight bound for Honolulu and the plane was not even full, so some of us were able to stretch and sleep well.
The flight was 10 hours and it didn't feel that long. The attendants did their best to make us all comfortable. The food was a surprise, it actually tasted good. And they now clean and disinfect the lavatories mid-flight. Overall PAL has improved since the last time we rode with them.
We arrived Honolulu at 7:45 a.m. Immigration and Customs were a breeze so we were out of the terminal by 8:15 a.m. We met our 4 seamen friends out by the waiting area. They asked Peter to help them call the shipping company for pick-up. He was only too happy to help. He called the number on their information sheet and it was a mainland number, Georgia to be exact. He asked for a local number which was incorrect but was able to get the correct number from that previous number. He got a hold of their supervisor and told him of the situation but he simply said that these 4 guys will just have to take a taxi because no one was picking them up. Well, we felt that it was now our responsibility to take care of these 4 seamen so we rushed to the car rental company and upgraded our compact car to an SUV so we can take them all to Aloha Tower. At the Tower, we went with them to find Pier 11. We walked up and down the cruise lobbies only to find that the Pier 11 lobby was the first door we passed. The boys were so relieved to find the right place. We could see it in their faces how happy and thankful they are that we were there to help them. I took a picture of them and Peter right outside Aloha Tower which I hope to email to one of them soon.
I believe that everything happened for a reason. I am just glad that Peter and I were able to do something for someone else. From misfortunes comes a blessing.
posted by Mimi | 9:53 AM
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