Philippines related site, check it out.

[Lancer]

Ben, we can have you met in Cebu and brought to the dock. Dolores has an uncle in Cebu. He might hit you up for a few pesos though... Plus you'll want to reimburse him for his taxi rides.

Alternately you could fly into Manila on Philippine Airlines (PAL) and catch a connecting flight straight into Tagbilaran. More expensive but alot less hassle and we will meet you ourselves. If you do this route definately use PAL, other wise you don't only have to change planes, >>you have to change airports!<<. PAL has their own terminal so they do both international and domestic in the same building.

Zkribbler wanted to ride the Supercat or we might be going that route. Might not be though.

[Lancer]

From the previous page:

"If you're joining us you might want to print this page.

In case one of our planes is late going into Hong Kong...

Talk to the airlines and get another flight into Cebu.

In Cebu you might have to go through customs. If the guys at customs start going through you bags give them $5. This is the way of things. If you don't they might confiscate something. If I'm there I'll take care of it for all of us.

Before you exit the airport you should change about $100 at one of the little banks. They post their rates. For this you should get aprox 5400P. It's 55 P/to the USD but they don't give this. Get a few hundred in small bills. 50s 20s and 10s. Alot of 10s if you want to help the poor that you will meet. A 10P is not even 20 cents so no big deal and they will be very grateful.

When you exit the Cebu airport you will need to grab a taxi to the docks. Once you pass the security guys a bunch of free-lance porters in regular street clothes will ask if you want a taxi and offer to carry your bags. The majority will take you to a taxi and accept a tip. They get something from the taxi driver too. There might be some rip off artists among them but I've never had anything stolen. If you use one give him 50P. We don't recall what the taxi to the docks costs, but ask the driver first and you should get a fair price. On the ride ask which dock the Supercat to Tagbilan leaves from and go there. Confirm at the Supercat desk that you're buying tickets to Tagbilaran. This will cost you around 1000P, or almost $20. Once in Tag, grab a tricycle to the bus depot. My guess is maybe 150P. They'll drop you in front so just go through to where the buses are and find the Dory Bus to Jagna. (Pronounced Hagna) If you have a seat don't get up and wander around, it will be standing room only by the time you leave. The driver or helper will stow your bags before you board. If it's too full you can always wait for the next one. The trip to Jagna will last about an hour and 20 and cost maybe 30P. If you don't get your change back right away don't sweat it. When they get change they'll give it to you. I've only had to remind the guy once. They'll drop you in Jagna at the market. You're tired so don't forget your bag. Give this guy 10P. There will be tricycles around but they might get occupied before you can retrieve your bag and be ready. They will be back...
When you have him show him a paper with 'Jotojot family' and 'Pondol' written on it. If that guy doesn't know go to the next. Most of them know the house but I once had one from out of town that didn't. This might cost 20P because of your bag. Once at the house, you win!

I've PMed our phone # to most of those traveling with us, make sure you have it. I don't want to post it. Call us from anywhere and we'll either advise you or try to meet you...but if you're just behind us we might not be home yet to get your call, so please print this and bring it. "

Very well written. Insightful and interesting.

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben, we can have you met in Cebu and brought to the dock. Dolores has an uncle in Cebu. He might hit you up for a few pesos though... Plus you'll want to reimburse him for his taxi rides.

That's not a problem. I don't know yet when I will be going, as I haven't set a date yet with my folks, but I know it will be sometime in October.

Could you get me in touch with your travel agent? This way I can know whether it matters when I go in October with respect to the price of the ticket.

Zkribbler wanted to ride the Supercat or we might be going that route. Might not be though.

I'll have to consider PAL, but I have travelled on ferries fairly frequently as the only way to get to Vancouver Island for a reasonable rate is on the ferry there.

Besides, it would be cool to be on the water,to get a chance to see the islands.

[Lancer]

"Besides, it would be cool to be on the water,to get a chance to see the islands."

I'll ask you how "cool" it was after you've been traveling for 24 hours.

Btw, we can do this. We can grab a WG&A or Negros Navigation ship for maybe $30. You get a cabin of your own and 2 meals a day...though they are very basic. There's eaterys too. A cruise to Manila takes about 32 hours. Another $30 to go home though.

You can look at the ships. Search WG&A and Negros Navigation. Look at the schedules from Tagbilaran to get the ship name and then maybe the'll have a pic under 'our fleet' or something like that.

In fact I'll have to go to the VA in Manila sometime, that might be the time to do it.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'll ask you how "cool" it was after you've been traveling for 24 hours.

Granted. I'm just looking at the cost, to fly again from Manila.

Besides it looks like I'll have incentive to get up early in the morning.

Sky above 10°N 124°E at Sun 2004 Oct 10 23:04 UTC

[Lancer]

Cool

Sent you a PM Ben. Same # of flights plus Travel Agent ph#.

[Ben Kenobi]

I've always wanted to see the Cross, and most of the Southern stars.

[Lancer]

Dolores and I want you to point it out to us.

Ben...Oerdin and his Dad might be joining us in October too. He asked for some info earlier this month and though I haven't heard anything yet, he might be calling when he gets back from Iraq.

Theben, are you bringing Bunnygirl I hope? She's welcome too of course.

[Lancer]

Bump...copy the above directions.

[Zkribbler]

Lancer,

Could you e-mail me your phone number in the Phils again? I know I have it somewhere...but it's the "somewhere" part that has me baffled.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Lancer
Theben, are you bringing Bunnygirl I hope? She's welcome too of course.

Why would he bring his sister-in-law?

[Ben Kenobi]

Dolores and I want you to point it out to us.

I could also direct you to the site, but it's kind of hard to figure out how things work, since you need to be able to convert from where you are to GMT and then to Philippines time, as well as to figure out how to enter in the date so that the generator understands.

It makes lots of sense from the astronomer's perspective, but it takes some getting used to.

Now, the cross, I posted the time that the cross will rise in the morning in October. September's one of the more difficult months to see the Cross from the Phils, but it should rise in the east at around 6 in the morning, and set at 5pm.

So you might have to wait until October to see the cross.

The cross is the little constellation of 4 stars in the lower left of the map I posted.

Ben...Oerdin and his Dad might be joining us in October too. He asked for some info earlier this month and though I haven't heard anything yet, he might be calling when he gets back from Iraq.

Cool. If Oerdin plans to go, then we could hook up and go together.

That would be fine for me, since I'm pretty open, especially towards the end of the month.

[Lancer]

Sorry Che, yet another senior moment.

Zkribbler, will do. Maybe I'll just call you.

"So you might have to wait until October to see the cross. "

Perfect!

Ben, you might want to PM Oerdin and work it out with him. If you guys travel together you will save $ on cabs and such by splitting. If you go through Cebu we only have to have one group met instead of two. That said, I'm not even sure he'll be making the trip.

Theben, post if you've seen the instructions on how to get to the house please.

[Theben]

No, I can't say that I have.

[Lancer]

Ok, this is it...

"If you're joining us you might want to print this page.

In case one of our planes is late going into Hong Kong...

Talk to the airlines and get another flight into Cebu.

In Cebu you might have to go through customs. If the guys at customs start going through you bags give them $5. This is the way of things. If you don't they might confiscate something. If I'm there I'll take care of it for all of us.

Before you exit the airport you should change about $100 at one of the little banks. They post their rates. For this you should get aprox 5400P. It's 55 P/to the USD but they don't give this. Get a few hundred in small bills. 50s 20s and 10s. Alot of 10s if you want to help the poor that you will meet. A 10P is not even 20 cents so no big deal and they will be very grateful.

When you exit the Cebu airport you will need to grab a taxi to the docks. Once you pass the security guys a bunch of free-lance porters in regular street clothes will ask if you want a taxi and offer to carry your bags. The majority will take you to a taxi and accept a tip. They get something from the taxi driver too. There might be some rip off artists among them but I've never had anything stolen. If you use one give him 50P. We don't recall what the taxi to the docks costs, but ask the driver first and you should get a fair price. On the ride ask which dock the Supercat to Tagbilan leaves from and go there. Confirm at the Supercat desk that you're buying tickets to Tagbilaran. This will cost you around 1000P, or almost $20. Once in Tag, grab a tricycle to the bus depot. My guess is maybe 150P. They'll drop you in front so just go through to where the buses are and find the Dory Bus to Jagna. (Pronounced Hagna) If you have a seat don't get up and wander around, it will be standing room only by the time you leave. The driver or helper will stow your bags before you board. If it's too full you can always wait for the next one. The trip to Jagna will last about an hour and 20 and cost maybe 30P. If you don't get your change back right away don't sweat it. When they get change they'll give it to you. I've only had to remind the guy once. They'll drop you in Jagna at the market. You're tired so don't forget your bag. Give this guy 10P. There will be tricycles around but they might get occupied before you can retrieve your bag and be ready. They will be back...
When you have him show him a paper with 'Jotojot family' and 'Pondol' written on it. If that guy doesn't know go to the next. Most of them know the house but I once had one from out of town that didn't. This might cost 20P because of your bag. Once at the house, you win!

I've PMed our phone # to most of those traveling with us, make sure you have it. I don't want to post it. Call us from anywhere and we'll either advise you or try to meet you...but if you're just behind us we might not be home yet to get your call, so please print this and bring it. "