I have been a jet setter, I guess since I was a kid. However on average, I only have an hour or two as for my “flying hours” in flights which are mostly within the Philippines. Last June though, it was my first time breaking my 3-4 hour record with the longest and farthest transit I had so far (mababaw ang kaligayahan) involving an aircraft and several layovers—my trip from Cebu to Yogyakarta. The first leg was from Manila to Kuala Lumpur (MNL-KUL).
While Cebu to Manila is basically routine, going out ofthe country via Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 3 was my first time (my Singapore trip the previous year was in Terminal 2). It was raining hard that night in Manila’s largest terminal. Our flight was around 8:45PM, so we had a lot of time wandering in the terminal together with my colleagues.
By the time we were in the immigration though, things were a bit—intimidating. Immigration officers don’t flash a smile even if we exerted efforts in smiling. A lady immigration officer that processed my documents asked where will I go, I said Yogyakarta via KL. She asked what work do I have, I showed to her my employee ID. Then the irking part, despite their knowledge that it was a group going to Yogya for a Google summit, she asked for a personalised letter coming from the company. I said to her directly that I have none, and showed to her my return trip ticket. After all that inquiry, she stamped my passport and I’m officially “out of the country.”
Geez, for a rainy evening, mukhang may pinagdadaanan si ate. I heard that she even asked for a senior immigration officer when she processed some of my colleagues. Although I understand her nature if the job (and the headache of human trafficking and drug mules between Manila and Kuala Lumpur nowadays), she could have been a little less harsh. Smile girl. 
For the rest of three hours that we were inside Terminal 3’s pre-departure lounge, I never expected this area to be this huge! Only a few restos and shops are still open. That is why I had a difficulty in looking for an affordable place to buy food (I’m missing JD Bakeshop in Iloilo Airport). After that, “Passengers of Cebu Pacific flight 5J 501 for Kuala Lumpur…” then our journey have started.
The flight was uneventful. First time taking an LCC going outside the country. Since it was a late night flight, almost all people went asleep for that more or less four hour trip to Malaysia’s capital. It was turbulent for the first hour or so, but settled down during the rest of the flight. Unfortunately for the three of us, we were placed at the seats before the emergency exit row, hence we couldn’t recline our seats. Aray! We couldn’t sleep that much. Although I was rewarded with a view of the night sky lit by the Moon, and a sea of clouds (not knowing that some of those clouds are already that haze that pestered Malaysia and Singapore for several weeks).
Then by midnight, we were at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and disembarked at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). Haze was blanketing the airport back then. Visibility was a bit poor and it smelled like someone is preparing for a massive dinner of satay back then (due to forest fires in nearby Sumatra). Towels on, noses covered. We walked towards the entrance of the terminal.
While Manila’s immigration was intimidating, Kuala Lumpur’s immigration was a breeze. Asked a few questions, stamped the passport, and had a warm welcome smile.
The rest of the transit to follow…
