Ticket within a Ticket

Call this an inception moment.

My airline ticket from CX going to HKG came with another ticket! It's a ticket to a film that I've always wanted to watch, featuring one of my all-time fave actresses - Julia Roberts!

"Ticket to Paradise" is a rom-com that's been on my radar since the trailer dropped. Unfortunately, they didn't show it here in MNL, mainly due to the fact that most theatres were closed. 

So, when it appeared on the entertainment console, I immediately pulled it up and watched it.

Gosh, Julia hasn't lost her touch when it comes to rom-coms!

CX-cited

After a few years of being apart, I'm reunited with my favourite airline!

Hello again, CX! It's so good to be back!

(Last) Flight of Dragons

When I was still living in HKG, my 2 favourite and frequently used airlines were CX (Cathay Pacific) and KA (Dragon Air.)

CX was my default airline when I'd fly back to Manila or Tokyo, while KA was my usual choice for budget flights going into the Mainland.

Eventually, Dragon Air was folded into Cathay Pacific and became Cathay Dragon. It was a merger that excited me, and I was able to fly using this carrier for a few times.

About a week ago, it was announced that CX will shut Cathay Dragon down. The pandemic has hit the airline industry hard, and unfortunately, this was one of the airlines that suffered.

It's sad news. But I'm hopeful that when things go back to normal, Cathay Dragon will find a way to fly again.

Aristocracy

One of my favorite CX stories is the one about the foodie habits of its flight attendants.

Once the last flight from HKG to MNL lands, the flight attendants are brought to Sofitel where they rest until the first flight the next day. And en route to Sofitel from NAIA, they pass through Roxas Boulevard.

According to Tanya, before they go to Sofitel, the FAs - particularly the HK Chinese - insist that they drop by Aristocrat Restaurant to buy chicken barbecue.

For them, it's one of the best tasting dishes. So much so that they have to make a brief stop, everytime.

I don't blame them, though. It's really good stuff.

I should know. I had it again recently! Yum!

Irritants and Elements

While I was in the CX lounge at the NAIA this morning, there was this fellow who was irritating everyone within his vicinity. In the hour and a half he was there, he kept on calling his friends and telling them that he was "at the business class lounge of Cathay Pacific." Personally, I found it amusing how he kept on interjecting that line in all of his conversations. Example:

"Good morning. Nasa house ka pa ba? Ako? Nandito ako sa business class lounge ng Cathay Pacific."
or
"Wala, nangungumusta lang. Kumusta ka na? Ako, ok lang. Naghihintay ng flight ko sa business class lounge ng Cathay Pacific."
or
"Ang aga ko nga dumating ng airport. Kanina pa nga ako dito sa business class lounge ng Cathay Pacific."

The lady sitting across me was amused and miffed at the same time. When he made his nth call, she mumbled: "Yes, we all know where you are..."

I was just too happy when they announced the flight was boarding and the guy hurried to the plane.

When I arrived in Hong Kong, I alighted at the Kowloon Station and was finally able to see the newest mall in the area - Elements! The mall is named as such because it's divided into 5 areas which represent the different Chinese elements such as wood, water, earth, fire and metal.

Based on HK standards, it's pretty huge in terms of floor area, but it's only 2 or 3 floors high. In terms of merchandise, they have the 2 fast fashion obsessions here - Zara and H&M. There's HMV, threesixty, and an area devoted to high end brands like LV, Versace, Gucci and their ilk.

On the whole, the mall is spacious, spanking new, and it has a lot of interesting "element" details. There are sculptured wooden sofas and metal installations. I particularly like the fountain near Zara and H&M. The best part is, there's a free shuttle bus that passes by my house and goes to the mall.

Looks like i'll be laying off IFC for a while. I think I've found my element.