Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a great start. I think we still are having a few pieces of that dreaded jet lag left from our recent trip, but we’re on our way to finally being fully back to normal.
So after sharing with you the summary of our month-long vacation to my hometown, General Santos City in the Philippines, also known as GenSan, I thought I might as well share with you the very long flight we took to get there. It’s not the most exciting for some, I guess, but knowing that at the end of our long trip is our much-awaited vacation, not to mention, seeing our family again after many years, it was still exciting albeit tiring and totally worth it.
Gorgeous sunset over the pacific.
HOW TO GET THERE
Our journey started in our city of Asheville, North Carolina with a flight to Chicago, connecting on to Tokyo, Japan, then on to Manila, Philippines and finally, a domestic flight to my hometown GenSan. The total travel including layovers was more or less 22 hours not to include the few hours that we stayed overnight in the NAIA Terminal 2 in Manila before our flight the following day to GenSan. We left Asheville in the morning of June 18th (US time) and arrived GenSan around noon time on June 20th (Evening of June 19th – US time). We have a 12 hour difference.
General Santos City or GenSan is located in the southernmost part of the Philippines. It is known as the ‘Tuna Capital of the Philippines” and the home of the famous boxer, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. The flight from Manila is less than 2 hours via Philippine Airlines (PAL).
TOUCHDOWN CHICAGO
We left Asheville at 9:30 A.M. on June 18th via United Airlines and was in Chicago in less than 3 hours. We had less than 2 hours layover before our next flight to Tokyo.
Our son took this photo of the Windy City when we were about to land. He got the window seat so he got the good view of the city from the plane.
Before our departure at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the hubs was busy talking to his bro’.
On board United Airlines to Tokyo.
TOUCHDOWN TOKYO/NARITA
The flight from Chicago to Tokyo was more or less 12 hours. This was the longest flight we had. Then we had to wait for 3 hours before our flight to Manila.
Too lazy to walk after the long flight. 🙂
Our son was delighted by this cute stuff at the Tokyo/Narita airport.
TOUCHDOWN MANILA
We arrived in Manila at around 9:00 P.M. on June 19 at NAIA Terminal 3 on board ANA. Both United Airlines and ANA gave us excellent services with very charming flight attendants. We had to transfer to NAIA Terminal 2 for our domestic flight to GenSan the following day, June 20th. We only had like 8 hours before our flight to GenSan so instead of staying at a hotel, we decided to just stay at the airport. The waiting seemed to be so quick because we were already allowed to check-in at 2:00 A.M. But we didn’t get a good night sleep at all. And that’s why I looked like I just came out of the bedroom the following day when I finally saw my family. In short, I looked haggard, not to mention, I forgot to take photos when we landed in GenSan. 🙂
The hubs giving Jollibee (Philippines’ famous fast food mascot) a high-five. This was at NAIA Terminal 2 in Manila where we had our dinner that night we arrived.
Our travel to GenSan may be long, but the good thing is, it was a smooth trip and we never ran into delayed flights or any problems at all which we were so thankful for. And I will never forget the heat that I felt on my cheeks as soon as we came out of the airport. Only in a tropical country you would feel such heat, but I will never change it for the world. The joy in seeing your family again after a long time was definitely priceless and I bet they felt the same way.
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This is part of the world we have not visited.. Been thinking about it and doing some research. We like to read up on other peoples experiences and where they stayed and what they did how they liked being there.
I would love to see Gensan in person one day! I’ve always wanted to visit the Philippines.
Gensan sounds like a great place. I would love to visit one day. I’m a huge fan of visiting new countries.
What cool photos! I’ve never been to the Philippines before but I always hear how great it is. One day, I hope!
Wow that’s a long flight! I’ve only ever been in the plane for 3 hours, max. Spent more time in the airports! haha. We would love to travel overseas one day!
Wow this sounds like it was a long trip. I look forward to reading all about your adventure there.
Wow what a long trip! I don’t know if I could leave once I landed in Tokyo. I’d love to visit there some day.
There is a lot of cute stuff to see in the Philippines I hear. I have a friend who visits quite often. I would love to travel there one day if I get the chance! Beautiful place and people.
That was a long journey, but well worth it. I’ve heard so much about Gen San from my mom who visited a couple of weeks ago. I would love to go there one day.
Sounds like you had an amazing trip!! I would love to travel to the Phillipines one day!!
I would love to go to the Phillipines! I am happy you got a taste of Toyko with the 3 hour layover.
Sounds like a smooth trip for all of you. I am glad that there is no problem in Philippine airport nowadays. I was concerned about the tanim-bala thingy before.
I have never thought about traveling this far away from home. I couldn’t imagine what the language barrier would be like as well as the plane ride, you are brave!
What an amazing trip! I will be following along for sure.
Looks like a lot of traveling! That shop at the Toyko airport looks really cute, my kids would be begging for those toys! Can’t wait to hear about the rest of your trip, sounds like an amazing place to visit.
It’s quite a journey! I miss going home to the PH! I’m glad that you had so much fun though. The trip will always be worth it especially when you get to see the family back home.
I’ve never been to the Philippines before and I’ve been planning to do so for the longest time! My friend would always boast about the beaches there! I think it’s quite a journey but it’s totally worth it.
I have always wanted to visit the Philippines. I never heard of Gensan but it sounds like an absolutely beautiful destination.
I’m really glad that your family had a fun trip! It’s always good to be home after many years!
Wow now that is a long flight! The longest I have been on a flight is probably 8 or 10 hours. How fun you got to visit your hometown again!
I haven’t traveled here yet, but can’t wait unitl I move in the spring. I will be closer to a great airport with more competitive prices. – yolonda
What great pictures, this sounds like a cool adventure
I would love to visit PH! My mom and dad just arrived from ASIA and they spent 22 hours on a plane and 12 hours delayed time.
Long travel but worth it. The longest trip I ever made was 4 hours but because of overlays, it was more like 7 hours.
I have heard about people over nighting airports but never actually tried it. How did you manage that part? Clearly sleep didn’t come easy from what you said! If I didn’t have kids I suppose that would be fantastic and peaceful time to read a great book!
It wasn’t the most comfortable nights, but it was already time to check-in before we know it. 🙂
I’ve never been to the Philippines but I would love to visit some day. I bet the food is good.