My flight to Kaohsiung is at around 5pm. Arrived at the NAIA3 airport (it's my first time to leave from here since it has opened a few months ago) at around 2pm. The checkin process is a breeze and there are very few people around. Right now, relatives can still enter the airport. In the other 2 Manila international airports, this is not allowed.
While waiting in line to checkin, a security guy asked if that was the only stuff I had. He was with 2 other guys, and they seem to be interested to share my weight limit for checkin bags.
I felt quite uncomfortable at first (heard about warnings of taking stuff on behalf of other people). Turns out only one of them is the traveller, and the other 2 seem like security personnel at the airport. Agreed to go along and pretended we were travelling together and that we are friends (it is quite an inconvenience but just thought of it as helping out a fellow Filipino).
I guess Cebu Pacific made some changes to their baggage limit, according to my fellow passenger. It is my first time to fly using this carrier so I was not really aware. I did not care much about it as my bag can even pass as a handcarry. I could have saved a few pesos if I had chosen to Go Lite but already paid for it so might as well use it (and even saved my fellow passenger a few thousand pesos).
The flight was not at all filled. But most of us were seated together around the middle. Not sure if there was a scientific basis for that but after the flight took off, some people were allowed to transfer to have more space.
We arrived in Kaohsiung ahead of schedule. Upon arrival, we filled out a form prior to lining up at the immigration. It was fast, no questions asked.
I was supposed to meet Rene at a nearby MRT station. I had difficulty talking to some airport personnel as most of them do not understand or speak English. Good thing they have a few personnel who do and was able to ask directions how to go to R4 MRT station.
Turns out there were a lot of exits for R4 station alone. I waited for Rene at exit 6, which is just a few steps away from the airport arrival exit. But he came out from another exit. We eventually met up at the arrival area instead.
The MRT costs NT30 (currency is New Taiwan Dollar) per way going to Central Park station (which is the nearest station to our budget accomodation Kaohsiung 202).
Kaohsiung 202
I was able to find this budget accommodation online. It was easy to reserve as it is only an email away without a need to pay a reservation fee or provide credit card details. Martin, the owner, responds within a day or two.
I was quite bothered though that there were some mixed feedback regarding this accommodation. Upon staying here, I understood why. It occurred to me that since the owner had a dorm and apartment style accommodations, most of the negative feedback were at the dorms and the positive were from those who stayed in the apartments. Fortunately for us, we stayed at the apartment.
Rene stayed at the 2-bedroom apartment with 3 of his colleagues when they arrived on Feb 28. This had an LCD TV with cable, wifi access, aircon and fan, and a sofa and kitchen. It only costs, NT1400 a night. On the other hand, we stayed at the studio apartment (just beside the 2-br apartment unit) a week later which also has the same amenities except for the kitchen (TV is not LCD but with cable as well) and this cost us NT850 a night.
I was not expecting much but instead the place impressed me. The unit looked neat and well-furnished. The location was also nice, as the balcony is overlooking the Love River. It is almost like staying in a hotel but at a price of budget accommodation.
Security is not an issue here. Entrance to the apartment is locked by metal doors. The studio unit looks like a hotel room from the inside.
The bathroom looks neat, shower has hot water and toilet paper is also supplied.
There is a double bed, a sofa and ref (not shown in the pic but it's beside the bed). The door (at the left pic) leads to the balcony which has a washing machine and a window overlooking the Love River.
I do have some negative experiences as well. The drainage at the shower is not very good as the water does not sink well. I also woke up one night feeling a cockroach crawl on me. There were also a lot of mosquitoes buzzing at my ear while sleeping and the next day saw a lot of mosquito bites on my face (since it's the only exposed skin I did not cover with a blanket).
Overall though I would say the place was worth the price. Just make sure to put some OFF lotion to scare off the mosquitoes and be on the lookout for cockroaches.
Related posts:
A few days in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Day 4 - March 10, 2009)
A few days in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Day 3 - March 9, 2009)
A few days in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Day 2 - March 8, 2009)
A few days in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Preparation)
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