Posts in Travel (5 found)
Kix Panganiban 2 weeks ago

NAIA T3 is the world's worst airport

Here I am with my family, waiting to board a flight to Sydney -- and I’m reminded of just how bad NAIA T3 really is. The whole place is packed to the brim with travelers, and it’s hellishly hot. Not just the annoying kind of hot, but the ridiculous, humid, and sticky kind of hot. It feels like being a sardine in a sauna. I honestly thought this would be one of the first things SMC’s takeover would fix. The Seating (or Lack Thereof) There are barely any seats unless you’re cool with rubbing elbows with sweaty strangers. Sure, there are paid lounges -- but with the tiny real estate allocated for them -- they’re almost always full. If you’re traveling solo, you might luck out and snag a spot, but no dice if you’re with a group like us. The Food Choices There’s also barely any decent food options to make the wait bearable. Most stalls in T3 are pasalubong shops -- and yeah, some sell short orders and snacks, but if you’re craving a real meal or a solid cup of coffee, you’re out of luck. Even worse, the few spots with okay seating are just as packed as everywhere else. A Glimmer of Hope? After sweating it out for hours, I couldn’t help but compare this mess to our last international trip from Clark International Airport earlier this year. But before I get into that, I’ll admit one small win for NAIA T3: the check-in process seems smoother than the last time I was here, especially if you arrive early. The number of bag drop desks scaled pretty well with demand from what we’ve seen (checking into Qantas), and the immigration and security check queues were decent and well-managed. Still, these tiny improvements don’t make up for the overall hassle. In Comparison to Clark International Airport It’s no contest -- Clark wins hands down. For starters, Clark is more recently built and feels a lot more modern. The place is spacious, well laid out, and the air conditioning is what you’d expect in a hot, humid country. The food and dining options there aren’t exactly world-class for an international terminal, but with plenty of seating around, that’s just a minor gripe. Honestly, being there with my family felt like a breeze compared to this chaos at T3. Tips from a Frustrated Traveler After dragging ourselves through this sauna of an airport, I’ve picked up a few tricks to make the wait a bit more bearable for me and my family. Hope these help if you’re stuck here too: Look for Fly Cafe at the far end of airside. We stumbled on it after hours of misery, and its air conditioning is solid. They’ve got decent beverages like coffee and matcha. Plus, if you’re traveling with a kid like I am, they have soft-serve and a small play area out front that was a lifesaver. The farther you are from the security check, the better the ambiance tends to be -- less crowd, less heat. The restrooms will actually be (and smell) better too, which was a relief after the chaos near the gates. The terminal Wi-Fi is trash. Don’t even bother -- use mobile data if you can.

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Max Bernstein 3 months ago

Travel notes: PLDI Seoul

I went to PLDI in Seoul, South Korea. I had a nice time. Here are some unstructured thoughts. It was great to see old familiar faces, meet new people, and unexpected (though not unwelcome) to have multiple people approach and say they read my blog. Hello, dear readers! Vegetarian food is tricky, but if you look for a “temple meal” or restaurants specifically called out as vegetarian friendly (or even full vegan), you will be okay. A lot of food that otherwise looks vegetarian probably contains fish products. If you are okay with a bit of a grey area, the Myeong-dong night market has a good fried potato cheese stick thing and a cream cheese garlic bread. Go to a chicken and beer place with friends. We spent a good deal of time looking for a cute bar vibe (and did find one secret bar!) but the best bang for buck is definitely fries and 4000 Won Cass beer. I had a nice time walking the Cheonggyecheon river (creek?). It’s separated from traffic, has fish and birds, and many people enjoy sitting alongside it. Don’t go on rainy day because it is also where rainwater flows to, but on an overcast or sunny day it’s great. Not many people online suggest the city wall walk—in fact, I did not see it mentioned on any website I looked at—but I stumbled across it coming out of the Cheonggyecheon walk and in search of a 7-Eleven. It’s a nice 15 mile circular tour of old Seoul. I didn’t do the whole thing because it was already so late in the day but I will next time. It’s a lovely way to escape the huge buildings and constant traffic and see the small homes where people actually live. Bring a cold beverage (corn silk tea is nice). It’s hilly. On the city wall walk by Naksan there is a cute cafe called cafe cogito . I had ice cream there and looked out over the city. It’s a lovely place to sit and cool off. The neighbors have a cat that goes adventuring around. After dinner, I stumbled across yet another thing that I had somehow not seen mentioned anywhere: Jongno! I accidentally wandered into the Ikseon-dong Hanok village at night, where there are restaurants and shops in a reconstructed stone-and-timber village. As I departed for the train, I also wandered into the night market on Donhwamun-ro 11-gil, which was packed and also looked excellent. It had tables and seating, giving it a very different feel than Myeong-dong. Pity I had already eaten… this looked like the place to be. Getting to and from the airport (ICN) is irritating. You can do one straight shot from ICN to Seoul Station on the AREX train (which I recommend if it’s in budget for you and/or your employer; the slower train is fine too), but you if you need to transfer anywhere, it’s up, down, and around in circles in the train station. There is a lot of transfer friction. Until next time, South Korea!

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W. Jason Gilmore 1 years ago

Two Day Rome Itinerary

Many years ago I put together this two day itinerary for friends traveling to one of my favorite cities on earth. Today I finally got around to publishing it online. The following items are arranged in order of proximity to one another. If you start at the Colosseum you can methodically walk to the Fori, then to the Vittorio Emanuele monument, and so on. You'll end at Via dei Condotti where some shopping will probably occur, at which point you can just jump on the subway at the end of the street (to the left of the Spanish Steps) and return to your hotel. The Vatican Museum is one of the most extraordinary museums on the planet, and regardless of your religious proclivities is a required stop on the two day tour. The Vatican itself and museum are situated next to one another so I recommend visiting the former first and then going to the museum: If you're feet aren't hurting by day 3, check out the Musei Capitolini and Museo Nazionale Romano, both of which house some pretty amazing Roman artifacts. The Colosseum. Consider taking the tour, it's pretty neat. There is a subway stop named Colosseo which drops you off literally right in front of the Colosseum. Fori Imperiali (within it you can also see the prison where the Romans held Peter and Paul - really amazing). Keep your eyes peeled for the stone maps mounted on the wall, they were placed there by Mussolini as a tribute to the Roman Empire. Monumento di Vittorio Emanuele. Also known as the "birthday cake", it is derided by Italians as being Rome's ugliest monument. It's worth going to the top as the view is pretty nice. The piazza in front of the monument (Piazza Venezia) is somewhat infamous in recent history as both Hitler and Mussolini gave speeches on the monument steps facing this piazza. Trevi fountain The Pantheon. Keep your eyes peeled for Raffaele's tomb. Piazza Navona. I spent New Year's Eve here once! The Fountain of Four Rivers statue was carved by none other than Bernini himself. Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi (a little known church near Piazza Navona, it is stupendous and a can't miss in my opinion) Museo Doria Pamphili (amazing art museum with Botticelli sculptures among others) Via dei Condotti (probably the most famous shopping street in the world) Spanish steps (oddity: nearby you can visit the largest McDonalds in Italy, it seats 1,200). Walk up to the very top of the steps and you'll see the home where John Keats lived. Vatican / St Peter's Square (you will spend around 90 minutes here). Be sure to visit the catacombs under the basilica. You cannot wear short shorts nor expose shoulders/midriff; they will not let you in. Vatican Museum (you will spend at least 3 hours in here) Use the subway when traveling any considerable distance across the city (for instance from Termini to the Vatican). The subway can get pretty hot depending on the time of year, but is generally easy to get around unless there is a strike. Italians drive on the same side of the street as Americans, however the similarities pretty much end there. I do not recommend driving unless you have an Indiana Jones-like thirst for adventure. You could take the train to various stops along the water, and although the train isn't without its own problems it is going to be far more relaxing than driving in the south. If you ignore this advice and plan on driving in Naples, addio. English is spoken by most shop / restaurant workers within central Rome, your luck will vary if you venture outside of the city. English proficiency will drop as you travel further south.

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Nicolas Bustamante 1 years ago

San Francisco Life: Insider Tips ♥️

I moved to San Francisco in August 2021, and it quickly became my favorite city. I love it so much that even when I go on vacation, I’m always excited to come back—sometimes I wish I didn’t have to leave at all. There’s so much to adore about this place: the perfect, temperate weather, the proximity to both beaches and stunning natural spots, the walkable and bike-friendly streets, the charming neighborhoods filled with colorful homes, the incredible food scene, and of course, being surrounded by some of the smartest people on the planet. The green zone is hands down the best part of San Francisco. It’s walkable, quiet, beautiful, and conveniently close to everything—grocery stores, restaurants, you name it. The blue zone is great too, though it has a more upscale feel and is a bit less walkable due to the hills. Still, it has its charm, just with a different vibe. The yellow zone is more affordable, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re an avid surfer—it’s foggy for about half the year. As for the red zone, I’d advise staying away, as it’s at the heart of the city’s drug crisis. Other neighborhoods are fine, a bit more suburban and not quite as close to the action, but they offer a good balance of affordability and quality living. Where to eat French : Ardoise , Routier Pasta : Bella Trattoria , The Italian Homemade Company Pizza : Tony’s Steak House : House of Prime Ribs German : Suppenküche Mediterranean : Beit Rima (Cole Valley), Kokkari Brunch : Le Marais Bakery , Wooden Spoon American Breakfast : Pork Store Cafe , Devil's Teeth Baking Company Crêpes : La Sarrasine , Croissants : Arsicault (the one on Arguello and go during the week to avoid an hour long line), Tartine (good but less than Arsicault) Burrito : Underdogs , La Taqueria Ramen : Taishoken , Marufuku Sushi : Ebisu Ice cream : Salt and Straw , The Ice Cream Bar , Philmore Creamer y, Bi-Rite Creamery Coffee shop : Cafe Reveille , Sightglass , The Mill Hot Chocolate : Dandelion Bread : The Mill , Jane Baker y, Thorough Bread Start at the Baker Beach Sea Cliff Access (12 25th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121) or park here if you have a car. Walk Baker Beach and then climb the Sand Ladder . You will then turn left and start the Batteries to Bluffs Trail till the beautiful Bridge view on Battery Boutelle. The trail is amazing. Be ready to climb a lot of stairs! I’ve hiked there more than I can count and I still love it. Lands end Trail I recommend starting here and to walk to the Lands End Labyrinth . The views are absolutely stunning and it’s hard to think that you are still in a major city! Most of the trail is kid friendly and it works if you have stroller. My favorite beaches Baker Beach Baker Beach is where I like to fish, to picnic and to play Spikeball with friends on a sunny afternoon. I love the incredible view of the bridge and the fact that’s less windy than Ocean Beach. China Beach It’s a cozier and smaller version than Baker Beach. It’s slightly less accessible since you have to go down a hill but there is a parking at the top. I like it even if I prefer Baker because the bridge feels closer. I think what bothers me a bit with China Beach is the abandoned old lifeguard station - so much wasted potential! Ocean Beach Definitely my number one beach to watch the sunset and enjoy a good bone fire! My favorite is to bike and stop at Fulton/Great Highway . I’ve been there so many times and it never disappoints. Please check fog.today first to verify that there is no fog at the beach. Favorite Bike Rides Hawk Hill By far my favorite, I sometimes bike there twice a week. Unless you are an experience biker you will need an electric bike. I like to rent them from SF Wheels or Unlimited Biking for $80 for the whole day. Climbing Hawk Hill offers the best view of the bridge. The best part? Once you reached the top, the downhill is one of the most stunning ride in California. Surfing I’m a beginner Wing Foiler and one of the best spot in the U.S is Crissy Field. I recommend parking at Crissy Field South Beach . If you are more into regular surfing, Ocean beach is a great spot for confirmed surfer. If you are new to surfing, just drive to Pacifica which is an easier spot! Self driving car : Waymo Bike around neighborhood : Castro, Duboce Triangle, Hayes Valley, Cole Valley up to Ocean beach via the Golden Gate Park City hikes : Mount Sutro to Twin Peak , Baker Beach Costal Trail , Lands End Trail Cable Car : map Sunrise : go to Corona Heights or Tank Hill Alcatraz Island : book a night tour Museums : Academy of Science (Thursday night nocture, they have cocktails and DJ) Sunset : verify on fog.today that it’s not foggy and go to Baker Beach or Ocean Beach. Parks : Dolores , bike through the immense Golden Gate Park , walk in Crissy Field Bouldering : Mission Cliff , Movement Surfing : take a lesson in Pacifica or go to Ocean Beach if you are confirmed Tennis : there are free tennis courts all over the city like in Buena Vista or you can book a court in the Golden Gate Park Jiu-jitsu : Ralph Gracie

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