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| The chocoholic's backpack |
No journey is ever
complete without a few bumps along the way. The first bump of our first
backpacking trip came right at the beginning when we missed our flight to
Vietnam.
No, we weren’t late for
our flight. In fact, we were already at the Mactan Cebu International Airport two
hours before our 6:15 PM flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA),
where we’re supposed to take a 10:50 PM connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh. Between
the 7:30PM estimated arrival time in NAIA and let’s say, the estimated boarding
time of 10:20 PM, we had more than two hours of layover. We even checked in
online so we can avoid the long counter lines. Besides, we took the term backpacking
literally to heart and we carried one backpack and a smaller handbag each so no
check-in baggages and more mobility for us. We were more than confident we’d
catch the flight. The one thing we forgot: to factor in the moody, often
tempestuous weather that the rainy season brings. June is, after all, the start
of that season.
Our flight to Manila was
delayed for about an hour. By the time the plane took off, I was very anxious. We’re going to have to make a run for the
international airport as soon as we touchdown. The flight was a little
turbulent – something I’m quite used to. I was a little relieved when I started
seeing the buildings as we were about to land although I noticed the plane was
shaking from the turbulence a little more than the usual. Like what I normally
do before landing, I closed my eyes and waited for the landing thud. Instead, the plane accelerated,
turned its nose upwards, and flew steeply back into the air. I quickly turned
to my travel buddy with horrified eyes. It didn’t help that the week before the
flight, the airline hit headlines when one of their planes overshot a runway in
Davao airport. I recalled one passenger’s testimony of his experience. How
convenient. Times like that, you NEVER want to remember things that can only
aggravate your already frazzled nerves. Not one passenger said a word but we
were looking at each other with meaningful expressions. We really thought we
were in trouble.
Then the PA system
cackled to life, breaking the uncomfortable silence and the captain explained
that he had to abort landing due to zero visibility. Phew. He said he’d try to land the plane again but while we’re
still circling the skies, he received a different order: all flights are to be diverted
to Clark. Uh-oh. I told my travel
buddy Maan we could get off in Clark and spend our dollars in Subic if
everything else fails. Of course, that was just a joke in an attempt to lighten
the situation. But deep inside, I was fighting my dwindling hopes. We landed in
Clark safely and smoothly. Thank God, we’re
alive! But we were stuck there, in our seats, inside the plane for 3 hours.
At around 1AM, the plane received clearance to go back to NAIA.
By the time we arrived in
NAIA, our plane to Saigon already left. The Cebu Pacific crew offered to put us
and several passengers in the next flight and even extended their hospitality
by graciously booking us in a nice hotel with free breakfast, lunch, and dinner
for the next day before being shuttled back to the airport to take our
rescheduled flight. The rescheduled
flight would have sufficed but hey, the free accommodation, shuttle, and meals
did not hurt one bit either. In fact, the gesture was truly appreciated.
After all the paperwork
was completed, we were shuttled to St. Giles Hotel in Makati. After assuring
our parents we were safe, we finally slept at 4AM. What.A.Night! Despite hitting an unexpected snag in our plans, I am
still extremely grateful that I lived – to tell the story and to write it.
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