Ben and I joined our ward temple trip to the Cebu Philippines over Thanksgiving. We started our trip on the glamorous Jet Star Airlines- one of Asia’s most prestigious budget airlines. Now, I was an avid supporter of Southwest Airlines in college as I flew back and forth from Denver to Utah on long weekends and holidays. After flying on various Asian Budget Airlines, I can see that Southwest is the exception to the rule, the Ferrari of Budget Airlines.
Luxurious amenities aboard JetStar Airlines:
Leg Room-Now, my husband is no Michael Jordan, at his self proclaimed height of 5’12” he has to sit sideways in order to fit his legs in the space provided.
Ala Carte Ordering-Sure you can get tickets for a very low price. We have booked flights to the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia for roughly $100.00USD round trip per person, but that just includes the ticket. The minute you add on any checked baggage, carryon baggage above 10lbs, beverages (including water), blankets, pillows, travel insurance you are charged extra. You even have to pay extra to sit with members of your party.
Auctioneers : Our flight was a red eye, but to get the most out of us the crew left the lights on to ensure we were awake enough to buy the many items they were selling. Imagine sitting for a 4 hour red eye flight where the crew is auctioning off everything from hand sanitizing wipes and pillows to milo and at one point I could have sworn they were selling foot massages in isle 42…ok I may be exaggerating, but oyu get the picture.
Ok, I am should stop complaining, we absolutely love that we can jump on a plane and pay less than the price of one of Ben’s speeding tickets to be in a completely different country with new customs, culture and religions.
One of our first excursions was going snorkeling in the beautiful water of the Cebu Strait. We were even able to experience a new type of snorkeling called “Snorkel Plus Snorkeling”. Four people hold onto the large orb, which is weighed down. The snorkelers then share one tank with four hoses. It is better than snorkeling because you can go ~20 feet below the water level, but you don’t have to be scuba certified. We loved it. After snorkeling around various islands we rode up to a large hut on the water, walked down a long boardwalk and onto a small island where we had a traditional BBQ Filipino lunch and listened to great Filipino music-a local band singing Jimmy Buffet songs.
Leg Room-Now, my husband is no Michael Jordan, at his self proclaimed height of 5’12” he has to sit sideways in order to fit his legs in the space provided.
Ala Carte Ordering-Sure you can get tickets for a very low price. We have booked flights to the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia for roughly $100.00USD round trip per person, but that just includes the ticket. The minute you add on any checked baggage, carryon baggage above 10lbs, beverages (including water), blankets, pillows, travel insurance you are charged extra. You even have to pay extra to sit with members of your party.
Auctioneers : Our flight was a red eye, but to get the most out of us the crew left the lights on to ensure we were awake enough to buy the many items they were selling. Imagine sitting for a 4 hour red eye flight where the crew is auctioning off everything from hand sanitizing wipes and pillows to milo and at one point I could have sworn they were selling foot massages in isle 42…ok I may be exaggerating, but oyu get the picture.
Ok, I am should stop complaining, we absolutely love that we can jump on a plane and pay less than the price of one of Ben’s speeding tickets to be in a completely different country with new customs, culture and religions.
One of our first excursions was going snorkeling in the beautiful water of the Cebu Strait. We were even able to experience a new type of snorkeling called “Snorkel Plus Snorkeling”. Four people hold onto the large orb, which is weighed down. The snorkelers then share one tank with four hoses. It is better than snorkeling because you can go ~20 feet below the water level, but you don’t have to be scuba certified. We loved it. After snorkeling around various islands we rode up to a large hut on the water, walked down a long boardwalk and onto a small island where we had a traditional BBQ Filipino lunch and listened to great Filipino music-a local band singing Jimmy Buffet songs.
One of our first excursions was going snorkeling in the beautiful water of the Cebu Strait. We were even able to experience a new type of snorkeling called “Snorkel Plus Snorkeling”. Four people hold onto the large orb, which is weighed down. The snorkelers then share one tank with four hoses. It is better than snorkeling because you can go ~20 feet below the water level, but you don’t have to be scuba certified. We loved it. After snorkeling around various islands we rode up to a large hut on the water, walked down a long boardwalk and onto a small island where we had a traditional BBQ Filipino lunch and listened to great Filipino music-a local band singing Jimmy Buffet songs.
After spending the morning under water we figured we would even things out and get as high above water as we could.
These incredible tuk tuk’s are the Philippines economic mode of public transportation. The Tuk Tuk drivers weave in and out of traffic picking up passengers on busy dirt roades. The best part, sometimes they don’t come to a complete stop so you have to jump on and off and run up to the driver to pay your fair all while the driver is still scooting along the road. Oh, and you don’t have the nasty restriction of seat belts or windows.
Additional modes of transportation.I think Ben was hoping we would be able to find a place to rent these bad boys.
On a more serious note, the highlight and primary purpose of the trip was our visit to a local orphanage and the Cebu Philippines LDS Temple.
One of the Young Men in our ward organized a clothing, hygiene kit, backpack drive for a very poor orphanage outside of Cebu. We drove about 45 minutes out of the city to get to a remote village where the orphanage was located. I remember driving around in circles because the bus driver couldn’t seem to locate the tiny shack that was humbly placed between two meager houses.
When we arrived, dozens of beautiful Filipino children timidly peaked out beyond the cracked concrete walls to greet us. They were hesitant at first, but were excited that we had come all the way from Singapore just to visit them. There was a small cluster of girls standing behind one of the orphanage workers, they couldn’t quite figure out why we were there and looked at us with their adorable yet perplexed faces. We knew our time with them was short and hoped they would warm up to us. I remembered placing a small bottle of hot pink fingernail polish in my purse two days before-not something I usually carry, but a busy work week prevented me from being able to prepare my toenails for 5 days of flip flops- I didn’t even have to say a word, the minute I pulled out the Barbie pink polish their eyes lit up. What little girl doesn’t love getting their nails painted; the hard truth was, none of these sweet girls had. They beamed with joy as we carefully painted each of their tiny, soiled fingers. I have never wanted to such a good job as I did at that time.
Ben stayed busy talking and playing with the young kids as he helped them stock the gifts we brought under their makeshift Christmas tree. We could see beyond the front court of the tiny complex back into a very small house made of concrete, sheet metal and fabric. I was completely shocked that such sweet and precious children could live in such humble circumstances. Despite their more than modest home, the children were very happy and excited to show us around. The time we spent in that orphanage was short, but precious, something I will pray to always remember.
Before leaving, our large group piled into the courtyard with small children sitting on our laps, tucked in between chairs and scattered around the floor; we sang “I Am a Child of God” and “God Be With You ‘Till We Meet Again”.
