Boy, there were a lot of mishaps. But they were something I’ve enjoyed and laughed about. There were some lessons here and there, which I hope you’d come to learn as well.
I was packing my things two nights before our departure when I remembered about bringing US dollars during a trip. Immediately, I messaged my friend, whom I consider as my mom, who works as a manager in a bank that I would purchase some US dollars from her the next day. So, I got that covered. Check.
Next, I made sure I had all reservations and tickets printed out. Check.
I called my friend, who I would be traveling with, to ask if we needed to reserve tickets in the bus. No need, she said. And based from my own experience, I concurred with her.
I calculated the time I needed to wake up and prepare in order to make it at the bus stop. I had to shake off my self from the temptation of sticking to certain “structures” in my daily life.
As it turned out, this trip was not I expected it to be. There were several major hitches. But there were no regrets because I found the entire journey liberating. Nonetheless, there were some lessons learned that I’d like to share with you if you are one who prefers a smoother travel experience.
1. Buy your bus tickets in advance.
Our flight to Kuala Lumpur (KL) was from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, which is located in Pampanga, the second province north of Manila. Karen, my companion, and I had taken out-of-the-country trips separately with Clark as our point of exit. Both of us had experienced that we only had to wait in SM Megamall for the bus and all will be well.
This time around, since it was a Catholic holiday, we didn’t anticipate the influx of travelers bound to Clark. Many of them bought their bus tickets in advance while others boarded the bus from the main terminal. So, there we were on the aisle standing with several other passengers for one and a half hours! With us were Malaysians and two German ladies scrimping for space just so we make it for our flight. Good thing the lady seated near me offered the hand rest to me where I could sit during the entire ride. The brighter side of things was that situations like this bring out good Samaritans on the road.
2. Check (and re-check) your printed tickets for details.
Somehow, exchanging your money from your port of destination is a safe bet when traveling. Better to have the currency of the country your visiting on hand before you get there. Well, exchange rates might vary from place to place but we decided to change our Philippine pesos into Malaysian ringgit while still in Clark. Don’t forget to allot a certain amount to pay for travel tax, terminal fees, or excess baggage (yes, review the baggage allowance policy of the airline you’re taking).
I totally forgot that we purchased a promotional ticket that didn’t include check-in baggage. It was a good thing that I only had a backpack and a shoulder bag so I was able to hand carry all my stuff. I had to leave behind my umbrella since it wasn’t allowed in hand carry luggage. And when I thought I had everything sorted out from my end, my friend was told by Air Asia’s ground crew that she printed out the wrong ticket. She brought mine which she thought was her ticket. The airline staff at DMIA were friendly enough to print out her ticket. The sad part, however, was that we weren’t seated together in the plane (which happened again on our way back home even when we requested for it).
3. Make sure you don’t have pointed objects in your hand carry.
Okay, so I had everything on my back. On occasions like this, it’s always better to bring a limited amount of liquid per airport regulations. My umbrella was already gone. The next one that was confiscated was my broken scissors inside my vanity kit.
4. Pack light.
When we arrived at KL, we immediately inquired how to buy tickets to the LCCT transit train. There was a booth near the arrivals’ exit door but tickets could also be purchased right at the bus stop. We opted to spend a few hours in between flights in Putra Jaya. Since we had our baggage on our backs, it was quite taxing, especially in instances when we had to walk. Although having one luggage, especially a backpack, is a convenient way to go from one place to another. I usually travel light, but Karen has beaten me with her smaller bag.
5. Be ready with insects.
In our walk around Putra Jaya, we got into the more vegetated areas where there were plenty of mosquitoes. I brought my Off lotion but I never got to apply the insect repellant, so there I was being feasted by the blood sucking insects.
6. Familiarize bus routes.
Being in a new place and using the public transport, like buses, could delay you sometimes. We had to wait for several minutes for our thru-way bus to take us to the express train station. Also, being unfamiliar of the bus routes could also get you lost along the way. There are cities that provide a directory of the bus numbers and their routes. This time, we just went round and round Putra Jaya, not knowing how long it will end until we’d get to our destination. As it turned out, we had to pass the same bus stop two or several times before we shift to a different direction. Because of this, we underestimated our time in Putra Jaya that we missed the train schedule, which led to us missing our flight to Langkawi.
7. Stick with the flight’s schedule, not yours.
There were about seven of us on the LCCT transit who were taking the same evening flight to Langkawi. We got to the counter 10-minute late. We pleaded and pleaded but the plane was closed and we weren’t admitted by the Air Asia crew. It was our fault, we admit it, but we were expecting some sympathy or help on what alternative we’d have to get to our destination. Karen was assuring me that check-in counters close 15 minutes prior to the flight schedule, but for Air Asia’s case, it was 20 minutes before the flight. You might encounter some delays along the way, like getting lost, or missing a train, or having a vehicle engine. Yet, whatever reason you have, whether valid or not, the airline will stick to their schedule, not yours, so better bear with that. One lady who was with us at the counter even explained that she really needed to get to our plane because she has some emergency to attend in Langkawi. The crew only shrugged and remarked, “if it was really emergency, you should have been here earlier.” Well said (even when my sympathy goes to the lady).
8. Enjoy the trip.
Okay, we had to stand the entire bus ride from Manila to Clark. I had to put everything on my back as my carry-on luggage and leave some stuff behind. Karen printed the wrong ticket. We got lost in Putra Jaya. And missed our flight!
Seems like a bad day? I’ve always (but not all the time) applied maximum tolerance to people and situations when traveling. If the situation (or the travel companion, in some instances) is bad enough, I wouldn’t ruin it further by whining and complaining. Throughout the day, Karen and I were just laughing our hearts out over our boo-boos.
Sounds crazy? I guess so if all in the name of a memorable travel experience. Despite the mishaps, I never got to seriously worry during this trip, which was quite a feat for my subtle obsessive-compulsive personality.
So, did we make it to Langkawi? That’s for you to find out in my next posts. In the meantime, learn from my experience and enjoy your own journey.
I don’t understand why you would strive to not be a control freak on a trip like this. While it’s great to have a carefree attitude when you’re going around and being a tourist, airline, money, and time regulations still occur. It’s odd that you would want to let go of your orderly self, even forgetting to check baggage fees and liquids! There’s a difference, I think, between being carefree and being careless, and it’s okay if you are careful!