The Day of Departure - February 2011
There was a taxi waiting at the bus stop, ready to take us to Clark airport if the bus did not arrive.
The bus arrived at 7am.
We were so thankful.
I asked the bus lady about the bus departing times from Megamall and she said:
7am, 8am and 12 noon.
Happy travels!
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Wednesday 9 February 2011
We took the taxi down to Megamall today. They have a 7am bus leaving Megamall for Clark.
*sigh of relief*
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Tuesday 8 February 2011
We could not get through to any of the six telephone numbers for Philtranco. Five were disconnected and one was answered by a lady but the calls (we tried four or so times) were followed by silence. Well, we could hear some muffled background noise but that was about it.
So I texted the working number and thankfully received a response. Muchisimos gracias Philtranco lady!
[insert wide smile here] From Megamall to Clark, the bus times are 7am, 9am, 12 noon and 9pm.
But we are going to Megamall tomorrow just to make sure.
While we are there, we will also shop.
Yay!
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Dangers of impulsive buys on Air Asia - not knowing that "Clark (Manila)" is not Manila Manila, where you assumed it to be. Clark is in actual fact about a two hours bus ride from Manila city (this fact which I discovered as of recent... with much horror). Kind of like how Busselton is to Perth. Far.
The drama now is that there are contradicting bus timetables online for the trip back to the airport.
Philtranco is Air Asia's shuttle bus for airport transfers. But on Philtranco's website, it states that the earliest departure is at noon. My flight is at 11.40am. On another website, it shows a timetable of the bus leaving the Megamall (Manila city) at 7am. On Air Asia's website, there is a schedule also noting this 7am departure BUT only dates up to March 2009.
On sites like trip advisor, travelers have kindly advised alternative early morning bus routes leading to Dau which is the closest bus drop off to the airport which then requires a jeepney ride to the airport as there are limited, if not no taxis available.
And taxi drivers are reluctant to do a two hour drive from Manila to Clark for numerous reasons. While it is all hearsay, at least I am made aware of the high chances of being rejected for a taxi drive to Clark even when I am willing to pay the price.
The plan from here is to call up Philtranco tomorrow morning to confirm the departure times. If it does not work to our (my sister and I) plan/not-super-good-planning-on-my-end-since-it-was-a-birthday-gift-for-her-to-destress-from-the-very-hectic-work/study-lifestyle-that-she-has-got-going, then we will have find other bus services or resort to alternative bus routes to Dau or somehow find a taxi service that is willing to go to Clark.
Oh... by the way, I am already in Manila.
Here's to trying NOT to freak out.
hi. was the bus almost full?
ReplyDeleteHey Vin,
ReplyDeleteI would say the bus was about half full. Or half empty depending on how you look at it :)
The bus lady asked if we made a booking and we hadn't. Not sure how they take the bookings since they do not do them at Megamall.
Might want to try making a booking on their online form?