Airport Buses

Where to board: The Terminal 1 bus platform is located on the southwest side of the first-floor arrival lobby. The Terminal 2 platform is located on the northeast side of the first-floor arrival lobby. Ticket counters are located in the arrival lobbies.

Ticket Prices: NT $100 – 140 per person (around Php 150 – 225)

Travel Time: 1 hour

Hours of operation: Approximately 05:00 – 24:00

Stops: Most buses stop at the Taipei Main Station and Songshan Airport, as well as near Metro stations and major hotels. However, the routes by the bus companies are not identical. Please double-check the map at the ticket counter.

Airport Taxis

Where to board: Taxis queue outside the north side of Terminal 1 and the south side of Terminal 2. Airport taxis charge a 15% surcharge to the figure on the meter, and highway tolls represent an additional charge.

Typical fare to Taipei: around NT$ 1,200.

Hours of operation: 24 hours

Telephone inquiries:
Terminal 1 Taxi Service Center: (03) 398-2832
Terminal 2 Taxi Service Center: (03) 398-3599

High-speed Rail

Unfortunately, I’ve never tried the train but I heard it is really convenient too.

Where to board: You can catch the 705 bus to the Taoyuan high-speed rail station from either Terminal 1 or 2.

Bus fare: NT$30

Time interval: 10 – 15 minutes during peak times

Hours of operation: 06:15 – 22:45

Inquiries: 0800-241-560

AirAsia flies to Taiwan four times a week, with fights departing Clark at 12:05 p.m. and arriving at Taoyuan airport at 2:00 p.m.

You can book your flights via AirAsia.com
Follow AirAsia on Twitter: @AirAsiaPH
Follow AirAsia on Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines

For tours and hotel accommodations visit AirAsiaGo.com.
Follow AirAsiaGo on Twitter: @AirAsiaGoPH
Follow AirAsiaGo on Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaGo.ph

Today, August 7, 2012 in Jakarta Indonesia, AirAsia Group launched their regional hub in Jakarta Indonesia – location separate from the operations of their different AirAsia headquarters, yet a place full of economic growth and opportunities as explained by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandez.

I was psyched to be a part of the press con, together with other publications and media such as CNN, Al Jazeera, NBC, Fox and many more.  It’s a milestone event for me as a hybrid journalist/reporter/blogger.  Just as this day is a milestone for me, same is true with AirAsia asean who aims for the world to be accessible for everyone.  This expansion and a focused location for company strategies marks the beginning of AirAsia Groups growth and expansion plans.

Part of the press con was a pocket interview with one of the people behind the success of AirAsia himself, Tony Fernandez.

1.  What is your “dream destination.”

Tony: I wouldn’t say a destination really, but to see a football match in a stadium in Rio.  Hawaii would be nice too.

2.  Speaking of “dreams” what are your current dreams for AirAsia?

Tony:  Two things. (1) For AirAsia brand to be as well known as Coca-Cola in Asia, and that (2) AirAsia could evoke nice feelings from the people

3.  What is the secret of Tony Fernandez?

Tony:  Good people.  I couldn’t have built this without the fantastic people surrounding me.  It’s like a current, I give energy to the people and they give it back to me

4.  Tricky “Miss Universe” type question…

Tony: (laughs)

Me:  If you were to choose one: Quantity or Quality? Which is it?

Tony:  That’s a hard question! It depends, for passengers I’d want quantity!  But seriously, I would choose quality.  I would rather have 1 great marketing manager than 25, 1 great tasting fried chicken than 25…

5.  Any message to Filipino travelers?

Tony:  Yes, I think Filipinos were starved of international travel.  It’s either Hong Kong, Singapore but AirAsia wants to offer more destinations, more accessibility.  I want to make Philippines smaller, and also bring more tourists in the Philippines as well.

I enjoyed my interview with Tony as he is very accommodating, humble and honest.  I do hope that his noble dreams will come true, because as a traveler, I would want to have more direct flights and accessibility to different destinations in the Philippines and the world!

On another note, I think I like being a hybrid journalist.  Currently, I see it as a challenge I think I would be good at.  You know me, when something gets me interested, I’m all out with passion in going after it. 

Who says you can only have “One” dream?  Me, I dream a lot… and some of them, I have already achieved and once I do the feeling is GREAT! 

Keep on dreaming and achieving guys!

Much love,

Flaircandy

disclaimer: Interview transcript above has been paraphrased, essence of the thought stays.

One of the world’s largest low-cost airline’s regional base was officially launched in Jakarta today.

AirAsia aims to commit to the Asean region which it considers its home.  The new regional base aims to focus on the regional expansion strategy of the group.

It was great to be surrounded with media all over the world from publications and TV stations I look up to worldwide. 

Just like this moment is significant for me in the world of media, AirAsia’s goal is the same for the whole world to be accessible to everyone.  To make the world smaller for everyone to travel more, truly apt for their mission “Now everyone can Fly”

Writing my dedication to AirAsia on the wall!

Congratulations AirAsia! I’m glad to be a part of your history!

AirAsia Philippines’ first flight to Kuala Lumpur!

We boarded Flight PQ 7455 at 3:15pm and arrived minutes earlier than the scheduled 7:00pm arrival.

This new daily route complements Malaysia AirAsia’s existing Kuala Lumpur –  Clark – Kuala Lumpur morning flights which have been in operation since 2005.

All aboard!

“The additional frequency to Kuala Lumpur provides yet another link for Filipinos and Malaysians in the areas of business and tourism.  But more important, we want to draw tourists from Malaysia to our amazing beaches and natural wonders in Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, Davao and here in Central Luzon.  If we are able to draw even a fraction from Malaysia’s 24.5 million tourists, this will impact on our tourist arrival record for 2012, which means more jobs, more food on the table, more opportunities for every Filipino” AirAsia Inc. CEO Maan Hontiveros.

True indeed, my friends from Malaysia Angeline and Satkuro have already flown early on from Malaysia to Clark, then hoppin on the plane directly to Kalibo!

The new route will be operated with brand new Airbus A320.

early on, AirAsia Philippines celebrated with friends from Media

It was great being a part of this! I made new friends!

With me on the flight is Upper Viceo of PHL360.com

I’ll blog more about my trip to Malaysia in the next post!

More photos here.

Book your AirAsia flight tickets online via http://www.airasia.com/ph/en/home.page

Philippines’ AirAsia call center also accepts booking of regular fares via +632 588 9999 from Monday to Sunday at 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (GMT +8)

Interact with AirAsia via:

Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines

Twitter: twitter.com/AirAsiaPh

Air Asia Philippines Inaugural flight photos.

First flight to Kuala Lumpur!

Book your AirAsia flight tickets online via http://www.airasia.com/ph/en/home.page

Philippines’ AirAsia call center also accepts booking of regular fares via +632 588 9999 from Monday to Sunday at 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (GMT +8)

Interact with AirAsia via:

Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines

Twitter: twitter.com/AirAsiaPh

I have heard of the yummy Penang Island *drools* The first few people I got to know in Malaysia were in Penang and now I’d love to call them friends And if you may ask where I got to have many friends in Malaysia, it’s all because of this. I really love these guys.  I know that I’ve only gotten to know most of them online, but I feel like I’ve known them for years.  They also came by the Philippines to say Hello I blogged all about it here.  Actually, I just realized… I blogged a lot about them.  Pretty much, they have influenced me a lot I guess when it comes to blogging.  They were also the first blogger friends I had.

Okay lah, time to blog about me and Ed’s jet-setting adventure to Penang and KL!

Ed and I booked tickets like a year ago Why? Coz they were only for Php 621 (to and fro KL).  Cebu Pacific went ZERO fare and I believe this has been the most inexpensive ticket I have ever bought!  A few days after, Air Asia went super sale too!  And so we bought tickets from KL to Penang.  They were selling a ticket each for only RM 19 all in (RM 19 = Php 266 – ish). BINGO!

After a year…

(well almost)

I was on my car on the way to NAIA 3 and look at the weather… @_@

At the airport… I got hungry so I ate a little bit of unique donuts from Mister Donut.

I got lazy taking pictures of myself.  Also, at that time, I felt ugly so no pictures la la la…

anyway, I took pictures of these tips I found on Smiles magazine

This one too… I was planning on following this but… I got lazy and tired too because I brought some work with me while on vacation.

We left NAIA 3 at around 10-ish (can’t remember well)

and… touchdown LCCT yaye!  It was around 1:30 am then

Ed was busy checking stuff via LCCT’s wifi.

We got sooooooo hungry and it was so bad for both our diet

I still felt ugly but what the heck… *click*

I ate a cheeseburger meal by the way which cost RM 11 (P 160) @_@

Ed ate Spicy Chicken burger thingy… It was so spicy he was sweating like crazy XD

We had to wait for 5 hours for our next flight to Penang.

Tune Hotels is just nearby and had I known they had a 3-hour resting promo thingy then I would have booked a room and slept.

But, I didn’t know that so we waited at LCCT *faints*

Of course after 4 hours of waiting I got hungry again and ate something… Chrysanthemum tea is my favorite tea of all time and I love the Iced tea better!

I don’t know why but I can’t seem to find Chrysanthemum teas here in the Philippines so I often buy them when I’m abroad.

I didn’t know what was wrapped in this banana leaf when I bought it and I was surprised –

It’s Nasi Lemak wee! (bought everything at RM 10 or Php P145) @_@ expensive!

Nasi Lemak is like their favorite breakfast meal consisted of Rice steamed with coconut oil.

On the side are anchovies (Dilis) and shrimp paste (kinda like bagoong with tomato sauce and chili)

Oh yaye boarding time!

I guess we were so tired by then that we got grumpy over AirAsia.  There were around 20 planes on dock and we had a hard time looking for our own plane.

We almost went to the wrong plane which was supposed to go to Johor Bahru (south of Malaysia near Signapore).

We spent like around 30 minutes looking for the plane.  It wasn’t only me and Ed, the entirety of us passengers got lost lol

haaaaa… finally we found ze plane to Penang!

okay I look so demn tired at this time as you can see but I can still manage to smile as always

In flight Beautiful sunrise ^_^

I seem to notice that sunrise and sunsets are more colorful in the Island of Penang

they also call it “Pearl of the Orient”

and as you know, the Philippines is also “Pearl of the Orient”

no wonder I can relate so much with the people in Penang

Touchdown Penang!

We were supposed to take a cab as Satkuru suggested which should only cost about RM 60 – RM 70 I believe ( I can’t remember)

But, we were a little bit adventurous and we took the bus for only RM 2.70

We took the bus 401 which should take us to the Jetty port Bus station which is on the rightmost part of the map below

Jetty means we’re near Georgetown (near TuneHotels)

When we arrived to Jetty, we took another bus (Bus 101 Php 1.3) that took us directly to Tune hotels.

So, if ever you’re visiting Penang and you’re on a budget, and you’re wondering how to get from Penang International Airport to Tune Hotels (tunehotels.com)

then, just follow what we did. Bus 401 to Jetty Port.  Another bus 101 to Tunes

So how many hours now no sleep ah?

I still managed to flash a smile for the camera

*click*