Stories of Places, People and Photography in the Philippines and Beyond
For many aspiring pilots, the journey to earning their wings can be very exciting. It offers scenic views and opportunities to take on new adventures. It also requires understanding fundamental aviation topics such as aerodynamics, aircraft systems, navigation, and meteorology, just to name a few. However, a crucial aspect of pilot training in the Philippines and in other countries that often gets overlooked is airspace knowledge.
Encountering a bad airport is enough to ruin anyone’s trip before it has even started. If you are like me, traveling out of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport more than once a month, you’ll appreciate how much good airports can relieve stress. Traveling is a stressful business especially if you have to do it for a living so a little bit of luxury and comfort goes a long way.
So with this in mind, here are just some of the world’s most tourist-friendly airports.
Being in one airport at a time is amazing, but being in two at the same time is ultimately rare. How is this possible, you ask? Well, the Gold Coast’s runway is in both New South Wales and Queensland – and just minutes away from the beach. It is the gateway to one of Australia’s most visited destinations.
Gold Coast Airport, formerly known as Coolangatta Airport, has recently been named the Best Regional Airport Australia/Pacific at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, yet again. This is the third time that they are receiving the award, with millions of travellers voting for them. There were 14 million respondents from all over the world, with 550 international airports participating. The airport just recently launched its unmanned check-in counters, too, where passengers can check-in through a kiosk. There are 25 kiosks available, which saves the passengers from the hassle of falling in line for check in. Just goes to show that the Gold Coast Airport is definitely one of a kind!
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the managing body and operator of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), participated in the 22nd World Routes Development Forum, which was held recently in Chengdu in the Sichuan Province, China.
I must admit, Iligan City is one of those cities in Mindanao that sees little tourist because of its smeared reputation from past “bombing” incidents in the city. I even remember a friend telling me that “I have to dodge bombs there before I can visit the waterfalls”. But I learned many times already from past visits to Tawi-tawi, Basilan and even Cotabato to not hastily judge a place by how media perceives it. One thing I know for a fact, Iligan City has plenty of waterfalls, 23 of them documented, and for a waterfall chaser like me, I know I’m gonna have a field day in this city. More apt this time is that Iligan Bloggers Society, organised a Waterfalling Adventure Tour event, where in 5 days, we get to explore 7 waterfalls, experience the festivities and culture of Iligan. I only have to shell out a minimum amount, my flight ticket and I don’t have to trouble myself in logistics . How can I resist that? I signed up immediately and was lucky to be one of the participants to this year’s tour. It’s time to experience Iligan!
I’ve always been used to airports as a place I just usually drive in and fly out. It’s not a place I would stay too long unless I end up with a long layover in between flights. Singapore Changi Airport is a lot different though. While I have been to this airport several times already throughout the years it was on my recent visit that I got to know it more. I got an invitation from Samantha Lee, Corporate Communications Manager of Changi Airport, last year about a tour of Changi when I’m in the Singapore. Fortunately, the invite was still open so I took it up on my recent visit there. She and her associate made us discover that there’s a lot more to see in Changi Airport enough for me to say that it’s definitely a destination in itself.
It was only my second time to Indonesia and I was really excited since I’ll be traveling independently. I was fortunate enough to travel to Indonesia a month before, prior to my trip. It was an on assignment to cover an event for a magazine in the North of Sulawesi Island. The trip was a great introduction to Indonesia and made me familiarize myself with the airports and transportation. But then again, traveling independently is a different thing, no guides to point the direction. I was traveling to Central Java this time. I’ll be flying from Jakarta to Yogyakarta then a Prameks to Solo. A trip which I would consider as my first venture to Indonesia.
