(( my e-NutsHeLL ))
i have them for the longest time..
i have them together with someone else i know…
have you been working too hard?..
or were you giving it up to join the other partner who was stolen?…
i tried to keep it going for me..
just this last time…
in the forest of ubin…
please please please…..
mini…
how mini?…
this mini…
thank you delphine!!…
Hi There,
i want to highlight the extra ordinary service attitude of Mr Rowel A.Regala of the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport office.
After getting down from an earlier domestic flight to try get on the connecting flight back home to Singapore. i was shocked to see that my flight isn’t on the departure board. After a few asking arounds, i realised that the flight i was booked on was actually flying out of Clark Airport instead, and that i heard is about 4 hours away.
i was devastated. i had missed my flight….Jetstar’s only flight back to Singapore is gone (i remembered only Jetstar for that split momemt because i arrived in Manila on Jetstart) and i just broke down as my mind went blank not really knowing what to do as i look at the departure board and not really seeing any flights that go back to Singapore. Yeah, it was a point when my mind wasn’t really registering anymore even though i realised later that there were flights back to Singapore. i was alone in this foreign country, my very first time to the Philippines. All i want now is to go home and i was also looking forward to a friend’s wedding dinner that evening.
SQ suddenly came to mind and it felt like a last resort since i was on a casual holiday trip. i made it alive to the SQ office after some struggle at the airport with my heavy luggage – the lift was down and i had to sign in my name etc. i started my attempt to get on the earliest flight possible. Although i was in a panic mode and just not really hearing things properly from the staff in the office. Many of them were patient with me and try to make me feel as comfortable in this situation as possible. They were polite and really doing their best for me. 2 over booked flights & long waiting list, i could only get on the last flight back home to Singapore. Mr Rowel was the office in charge of booking my ticket. Having my passport & my credit card & my Kris Flyer card, he did all he could from booking my ticket to taking the initiative to call the bank to get approval for the transaction. i have always known that calling the bank with regards to credit card is a painful process of waiting and holding on to the line. So i really really am very grateful that Mr Rowel took his own initiative to do that for me especially when i was already in a very bad shape from a long morning of drama, or should i say trama.
i was waiting in the SQ office for a long time, feeling insecure about things, wondering what else will crop up. But when Mr Rowel, finally came to me, all he said to me was “This is your ticket home Miss Tan, your passport & your credit card. i am sorry that there’s a double charge on your card, but i have cancelled it and this is your reference. i will call the bank again later & tomorrow to make sure that it wouldn’t be a double charge. The earlier flight has close already, so you can go down & check in your luggage early so you don’t have to push them around till your flight in the evening.” i was happy. Happy that everything has been sorted out for me, thanks to Mr Rowel. i have had experiences where i have to call the bank myself again & again…long holds…checking out of things etc. All of which i do not need at this point of time. Mr Rowel was so kind to take off those extra stress from me.
When i went downstairs ready to check in, i was stopped by the airport staff because there is still at least 4hours to my flight and too early for me check in. Another panic attack for me. After much explanation, they still refused to let me go into the queue to check in. i was then asked to see the manager over at the business class counter. And when i did, i was surprising greeted by Mr Rowel again!! “Hello Miss Tan, you can just check in your luggage at this counter. Don’t worry, we will put your luggage on the right flight back later.” i was very very grateful. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Was the first thing that burst out from me to Mr Rowel as he gave instructions to the staff at the counter. i was even more grateful when the extra 5kg from my overweight luggage was granted to me without extra charges. i had missed my flight home (which i paid prepaid excess baggage fees already), booked a full priced one way ticket. i really appreciate the exception that SQ was able to make for me.
And the next piece of good news from Mr Rowel – “Miss Tan, i will like to invite you to our Kris Flyer lounge so that you can take a rest there. You have had a long day since morning & there’s still more than 4 hours to your flight home. So you can maybe just go there, have something to eat and rest while you wait for your flight.” i never thought i will ever had a chance to, and now i do. All because of the good intentions of Mr Rowel, who was so kind and understanding of my situation.
All these things that Mr Rowel was able to do for me lifted me up bit by bit from my bad situation. And i can’t say enough “Thank You”s to him & a few other guys in the SQ office who also had try to help me in their own ways.
After 4 hours in the lounge, i was finally boarding. At the gate, i see Mr Rowel again. i said to him “Thanks for all your help to get me home!! i am so happy that i am really going home!!”. i turned around to wave my final good bye to him and was happy that he happened to turn around to acknowledge it too.
Sorry for the long story, i just never forget the trouble i had while i was travelling and how much help i have received from your people. i really really am very grateful and appreciative for everything that Mr Rowel has done. He being so understanding, sympathetic and sensitive towards a customer’s needs and troubles really make me remember him. He could have chosen to do things by the book, do only what he was required to and not obliged to go the extra mile, but he did. i feel that i have to write this to share, and hope that other people be influenced by his real heart in a customer service role.
Good luck to him and God Bless!!
Thank you for your attention.
Cheers,
Miss Chris Tan.
Singapore
not only about having a mini..
but the mini attitude…
what can i say…
alex monroe
~ net-a-porter
my first morning..
i woke up..
ate breakfast…
& ran to the beach less than 100m away..
no matter how many pictures i take of this place..
no matter how many angles i try to capture of this place..
i don’t think i will ever do justice to this amazing place created by God..
i don’t think i will ever capture the correct shade of blue that God has bless this place with..
i couldn’t resist running into the water…
or sinking my feet into the ever so fine sand…
not here…
delphine & i had a date…
set even before i was back from my trip…
i thought i was all going to be ordinary simple dinner..
guess not…
hard rock cafe….
old school prom setting just like on tv…
i think i haven’t been here for at least 5 years or more…
my first reaction when i saw “hard rock cafe” on del’s sms…
“wa….so tourist!!”…
apparently it hold one of uncle kenneth’s soft spot…
chilli crab dip….
it’s all chilli crab believer’s dream come true…
without all the hassle….
my order?…
it’s manila in almost google map view..
this is a new airport of a new country that i am visiting…
i sure wasn’t expecting anything fancy since it’s still another asian country..
to be honest..i would rather it be the simpler the better…
all i need is to see a conveyor belt where my luggage can come out from..
and a counter where i can stamp my passport…
here we are..
manila ninoy aquino international airport mabuhay…
i am not even sure if i am supposed to read all of it together… 
for some strange reason..
the word “bauhaus” comes into my mind when i see this…
don’t ask me why…
i came by their duty free and thought it’s interesting..
you have see the things from far..
and get the service people to take it down for you to see…
kind of like no-touching-unless-you-really-really-want-to-buy…
doesn’t this look like a cardboard tank?..
i didn’t know how to take it seriously to be for security purpose..
waiting for the airport shuttle…
which turned out to be such a strange ride…
they load the people..
then the load the luggage…
all in the same space..
and that’s my sammy…
through this trip..
i learn that sometimes..
you really cannot be cheapskate & always be booking the cheapest flight around…
i always thought that budget airline probably just serve bad food…minimum service…little leg room..
but zest air…
(“asia’s most refreshing airline” it claims)
sure “enlighten” me about the importance of paying for the right airline…
my slightly overweight sammy…
i can never understand how to pack it minimally…
my diving equipment + minimum sets of clothes (not even a set a day since i can do laundry there)
maybe it’s all the toiletries & the glass bottle of 川贝枇杷膏…& all liquid stuff…
i was hopeful that my luggage will be lighter after i finish showering off all the shampoo and drink all the rest that i can…
fortunately it doesn’t cost a lot for the access…
maybe only about $3/kg..
great!!..
(for everything else i may not like about this place..)
a serious message but…
i don’t know about using the word “joke” in a serious message..
i don’t know why i find this interesting…
but i just wanted to try it…
(yupz..feeling very hopeful that the inside will be a nice surprise..)
ok….erm…
it’s interesting because it’s uninteresting…
the burst of taste from inside was kind of cool when you take the first bite..
sorry if someone is expecting something really tasty..
this is just a lite version…hehe..
i decided it was worth a 2nd one…
salami & cheese roll..
boarding pass + airport tax + transfer coupon…
airport?..
i thought i was in a polyclinic…
tired people (like me)…
crying babies…
everyone was just hanging on to their dear lives…
all in hope to go to their desired destination..
some were lucky that their flights were just delayed..
because for the longest time that i have sat there..
i have heard many flight cancellations…
the worst thing that an airline can ever do to anybody…
cancel a flight…
i don’t want to imagine that many of these passengers were going home…
to their families…
i don’t want to imagine that many of them travelled a long time to here…
to take a plane…
i don’t want to imagine that many of them bought goodies…cakes & sweeties..
to share with everyone else…
*sigh…..
this was supposed to be a temporary stop..
a quick check-in-and-board-the-plane-very-soon kind of terminal…
with all the uncomfortable chairs and minimum facilities etc…
but many of us ended up
after many announcements of flight delays…
from morning till evening..
they made an announcement for food redemption with your boarding pass…
i wasn’t very interested to eat…
but i was interested in the food…
like…what are they going to feed me?…
erm…
it sure doesn’t look very exciting..
but the block of rice looks kind of fun..hahaha..
it’s so solid it actually still holds in place when i pick it up..
a serious brick of rice..
it actually means the washroom..
it’s funny to see it..
even more funny when you hear it…
“i am going to the comfort room” sure needs some getting used to…
debbie from new wave divers told me i should get a blind man massage while i was there to loosen up from the long day i already had…
even while i was at it…
i was still pretty stressed about the announcements..
i was paranoid about falling asleep and missing the announcement & then missing my flight..
at 5.15pm..
i made it out of the boarding gate and see the plane…
i was supposed to leave manila at 1230pm…
but after at least 5 announcements & a free meal later..
this is really happening…
for real…
it had come to a point that i gave up believing the announcements..
it had come to a point that i just want to see the plane that i am getting on…
to believe…
and so i finally got to kalibo airport…
a mini airport with a mini conveyor belt…
here comes sammy!!…
the first few in the line..
and now…
to the final leg of my journey…
well…almost…
the last 10-15mins of boat ride to the island….
of boracay…
i am finally that close..
so i am not the only one amused by the whole safety jacket thing..
approaching land…
land of boracay…
finally finally finally….
now….for the really last leg of my journey…
10mins ride to hey! jude…
where i will stay while i dive the next few days..
sammy gets her rooftop ride..
the first thing i did was to jump into the shower…
get into an easy change of clothes and head out hunting for food..
they have early sunset here..
so it felt later than just 9pm on my watch..
doesn’t help that i had a really long day too..
i left home at 430am in singapore..
and i only made it into my room at hey! jude at about 9pm…
absolutely crazy..
worse than a long haul flight to norway…
so to reward myself from all that “drama” in the day..
i jumped right into the pancake house just outside hey! jude the moment i see it..
for some comfort food on my first night here…
waffle!!!! with lots of maple syrup!!!…..
and fried food!!!…
i set out at 430am on the 15th october..
in search of the legendary acclaimed “world’s best beach”..
i like morning flights…
(well..except for the waking up part..)
the sky is always so filled with colours at sunrise..
all this in the lunch box is jason’s share…
banana *anything* is jason’s soft spot…
and of the many kinds & types of banana cakes + bread…
this…
…from a less than ordinary bakery that’s also a provision shop…
…on an island far far away….
…costing less than sin$2….
actually made it to my top favourites..
it naturally become a super must try for jason…
i am actually quite impressed with myself…
that i checked this banana bread into my luggage and it still came out ok..
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