Sydney International Airport and Our PAL Experience

I haven't travelled internationally since 2008 and the Sydney International Airport has changed for the better.

On the day we travelled to Manila, we arrived four hours early at the airport but there were a few people waiting on queue at the PAL check-in counters.  

After we checked-in we immediately had heavy breakfast at Asakaze, a Japanese-Korean resto.  I had my favourite Beef Bibimbap while the Husband had Pork Katsudon. 

I'm grateful that Sydney International Airport has renovated the place.  It's not yet as big as Dubai or Singapore Airport but at least, the place has improved.  They now have a bigger Duty Free.

They now have a bigger lounge for passengers waiting for their next flight.

A spacious lounge as you passed thru Duty Free area surrounded by more shops.

A cafe for those wanting to have coffee and pastries.

More and longer walkators to get thru to your assigned gate.

We flew via Philippine Airlines.  It's been awhile since I flew via PAL and it was a first time for the Husband.  Our departure from Sydney got delayed.  Thank goodness for carpeted waiting areas and available power points.  Husband and I got to charge and play with our gadgets while we waited 40 minutes for our plane to arrive.

We got the old PAL plane.  We didn't have monitors infront of us.  We just had this small TV a few meters infront of us so we can watch whatever's PAL is playing.  The Husband, being his first time to ride PAL, was amused with the plane being old and low-tech.

We had fish for lunch because according to our PAL flight attendant, they've ran out of the beef dish.  When traveling via plane, they always have two options for your main meal.  Since there were so many kids on the plane with us, the beef dish ran out fast.  Good thing, we didn't have any allergy with seafoods.  The dish was ordinary.  Nothing really spectacular.  PAL seriously needs to improve on the food they serve to passengers.

They used to give real cutleries but now they just give cutleries made of hard plastic.

After lunch, they asked if we wanted drinks.  The Husband tried Manila Beer.  I just had tea.

And they gave out Salted Peanuts.  Happy hour!

We napped after we ate.  When we woke up we brought out our tablet and watched the movie "Life As We Know It".  After that,I started my "Modern Family" marathon.  I've seen all the series a couple of times but it never fails to make me laugh.

After an episode or two, the Husband called my attention.  

We knew we were in the area of the Philippines.

We saw water.

And then, we saw land!!!!!

Touchdown was 6:00PM, Philippine Time.  The pilot landed the plane with great ease.  We didn't even feel that we landed already, it was really amazing.

Hello, Manila! We are home.