I've been to Hong Kong three times now, within the first two quarters of this year. I'm getting used to flying business class as well. Takot ko rin namang hindi makasakay ano. Last weekend's HKG trip with my CX friends was "Roster Magic," as we call it, thanks to the Roster King Jerjer who was able to manipulate our schedules for six of us have weekends off.

From what I remember, after coming back from HKG last April (overdue writeup!!!), we already planned on going to Macau in June. All seven of us agreed on that: Carla, Marie, Apol, Rozz, Yvette, Robee, and me. (Mas madali kasing mag-enumerate pag by DOJ!) But due to the increase in fuel surcharges, we decided to split into two groups: Carla, Apol, Robee, and I will be going to Ocean Park while Marie, Rozz, and Yvette will push through with the Macau trip. Nevertheless, we still decided to go together on the same weekend.

Roll call: that was 7 of us, plus Niko, plus Carla's mom and sis, and Rozz's mom and bro. I think that was the "biggest HKG trip" to date. So... we agreed on taking different flights because it won't do us any good if we insisted to travel together.



the Kumpletong Picture


I wasn't really planning to buy business class tickets for this trip, but when the Regal Hotels in HKG offered free accommodation for CX staff (w/ food vouchers, of course), I made up my mind to just spend on the tickets. After all, I didn't want to stress myself over not getting on the flight to HKG since almost all CX staff from MNL availed of the free hotel. So, we went hotel-hoarding that all of us had our own rooms, breakfast coupons, and HKD500 food vouchers.

I decided to take CX906 (11:05am) last June 13 even if it meant that I'd be traveling alone to another country for the first time. Prep for long haul flights! haha. A bit before 10am that morning, I got a call from Robee and the magic words came -- BN307, 88A. *ahem* I'll be having a window seat on the upper deck!

I arrived at the HKIA past 2pm (delayed kasi!) and checked-in at the Regal Airport Hotel at around 4pm after meeting up with Yvette, Rozz, and the Achacosos. Crae and Tita Cynthia stayed in my room (tig-iisa nga kasi kami ng kwarto!) while Rozz, Yvette, and I went to Causeway Bay with the Lims. Attempted shopping, walking-walking, people-spotting (ay grabe!!! kinilig?)... The five of us were about to have dinner at the Regal Hong Kong Hotel when the CX902-ers texted us that they didn't get on the flight. Among the five of them, only Apol got on the 8pm flight. We then met up with her at around 11pm after coming back from the rainy walk around Causeway.

The following morning, finally, Marie, Niko, Carla, and Robee arrived in HKG. The Lims went ahead with the Macau trip, while Marie, Niko, and Yvette decided to join us in Ocean Park. When we got to the Ocean Park terminal, seryoso, it crushed my world to find out that the extreme rides were closed. Impromptu itinerary -- we ended up going to Stanley Market and Mong Kok instead, then had dinner buffet at the Regal Kowloon Hotel. Walking tour ito.



Shet, sarado ang rides.




Stanley Market na lang.



May hyperopia pala.

Because of our unplanned itinerary that Saturday, I didn't get to do my 50 First Dates and Romeo and Juliet photoshoot (again), and generally, we didn't have very fabulous pictures to show off. Sorry na sa photoshoot addict. It must have been a factor din that the weather wasn't nice at all, that the outdoor pics needed editing in order not to look gloomy, and that there were too many of us to stage a "photoshoot na kinarir." We simply weren't prepared and we weren't able to go to a lot of places, unlike the first two trips. You get what I mean, right? This recent Hong Kong trip wasn't really that sulit. As Robee put it, "Para kaming nagbakasyon para magpagod." I just kept on thinking that at least, I got to experience the upper deck and that the hotel and food were free. And I was with my CX friends. *awwww...* HAHAHAHAHA.




Ayoko tumawa!




back to the hotel after dinner.




We *heart* HK.


Then, Sunday morning came. That Sunday morning of the 15th when Marie, Niko, Rozz, and Yvette took CX901 back to Manila. Yvette had to take that 9am flight because she needed to be back in MNL for her 4pm flight to Abu Dhabi. As they headed for the immig counters, I realized that it would be the last time I'll be seeing Yvette for a looong time. (Ok, another entry na lang ito.)

We then headed back to the hotel to freshen up (haha hindi pa pala naligo?), since Robee, Apol, and I still had a few hours to go to CX City and Citygate before our flight at 2pm. We went back to the airport at around 12pm to go on standby, feeling good that we'll get on the flight since it was generally open.

I thought that I won't be blogging about being on standby since I easily got on the flights to and from HKG. But standby stories are not necessarily just about getting on the flight or not, but also about who you get to meet at the airport. The last time we were on standby for the HKG-MNL flight, we were barely talking to each other because of the tension of not getting on the last flight out of HKG. This time, it was good to feel relaxed, making chika with the Pinay ISM who was featured in CX World last May(?).

Ms. Lilibeth was seated across us, talking with another FA. I wasn't exactly eavesdropping on their conversation, but when I heard her say "Pokwang, Chokoleit, and Patrick Garcia," naging attentive ako bigla! As in OMG!!! hahahaha fangirl. Basta ang naaalala ko, this guy cabin crew from American Airlines started talking with Robee, na kakilala pala yung CX FA na kasabay nilang mag-standby sa CX902 nung June 13, tapos nagchichikahan na kami to kill time.

We talked about the last time when we had to go on standby for the last flight out after getting bumped off, tapos kakumpitensiya pa yung mga senora sa date of joining... at iba pa. Para kaming nag-iinterviewhan dun at ang fun niya mag-comment, seryoso. Easy to talk to talaga. KAYA... bago kami maghiwa-hiwalay, bago dumaan sa immig, talagang tinanong ko pa siya about Patrick Garcia, "Kasi po, grade 3 pa lang ako, crush ko na yun!" And well, "Gwapo siyang bata." OMG. Hahaha. Hyperventilation.

On the way home, on board CX919 na luma, ayun, parang wala kaming ginawa ni Robee kung hindi magcomment, lahat na lang pinapansin! Maluwag yung flight, at puro puti yung co-passengers namin. Itong si kuya, humingi pa ng extra cake! Eh bakit ba, nagbayad naman kami. HAHAHA. Ano pa ba.. it was my first time to see an episode of Dexter, kasi hindi ko siya inaabutan sa TV. At ang highlight ng flight naming yun, pag-land ng CX919, saktong pag-alis ng Etihad flight ni Yvette for AUH.

And that was finally goodbye.


Pictures here:
Friday
Saturday
Sunday