Ninoy Aquino International Airport

March 4, 2011 – This is one of the most exciting days of my life. My first international trip and it’s Europe baby yeah! Thanks HP!

I checked in to the counters and found out that the online check-in for KLM strictly enforces a 1 baggage policy. I had bottled sardines and dried mangoes in a box for my colleagues in Belgium. I had to go to this packaging counter and they strapped the box to my luggage for 70 pesos. I check in my baggage again, fall in line to the immigration counters for VISA checkpoint and 750 pesos terminal fee. After a few security checks I go to the gate where the plane to Amsterdam will depart.


I took a 14 hour KLM flight from Manila to Amsterdam Schiphol airport. This is the longest travel medium I have taken in my life next to the exhausting 11 hour trip to Bicol (Never again!) when I was starting to travel.

I was an hour early for my flight so I bid my friends goodbye. I just continue on reading a Maxwell book to kill time.


Boeing 777-300ER Manila-Amsterdam flight

It was boarding time for the Boeing 777-300ER Manila-Amsterdam flight. The take off was very smooth. I was seated in a window seat and I could see the HP McKinley office from the top and the whole McKinley Hill.


I am not able to sleep during trips and I tend to maximize materials to keep me from boredom. There are several onboard entertainments such as TV clips, Music, latest and archived full screen movies and games. I was able to watch 4 movies and some shows below.

The mechanic
Harry Potter 7 Part 1
Burlesque
No Strings attached
US Open
Heroes of Football

On board food is quite impressive for me. This is my first time so I don’t really have a bench mark. J Nonetheless they serve a full set of meal for Dinner and Breakfast in my Philippine body clock. Also there is unlimited soft drink, water, juice, wine, and coffee and it’s all in a click of a button (the service button). :)


I was waiting in line to use the restroom when I noticed a familiar face in the aisle seat near the restroom. The conversation goes:
“Katt Manso!” I said.
She said “Yes?” I was embarrassed at first but I kept composure and introduced myself.
“It’s me Keen! From HP drive 2007 Batch?! You know with Cat Herrera. We were seated together with Joey during on boarding!”
And then she smiled and said “Uy, Keen! IKAW PALA YAN ANG TABA MO NA!!”
WHATTA REPLY!


Thanks Katt this is so memorable! :)

Found out that she is going to Germany for a KT session as well. It was a good feeling knowing there are other HP employees on the craft as well.

Since almost all people where sleeping already I prompted to cut the conversation and just told Katt to catch up at the Schiphol airport gates.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

It was past 6 in the afternoon Europe time when we arrived. We were greeted by a magnificent sunset and 5 degree Celsius cold March weather.


I caught up with Katt and her “HP friend” (that I forgot the name. Sorry naman!) Katt introduced me to him. Let’s call him “HP friend”.

Katt and HP friend are on their way to a customer site in Southern Germany and France (Strasbourg if not mistaken) for a Knowledge transfer session and on site work. We explored the big Amsterdam Schiphol airport and proceeded to our gates for our connecting flight. We later found out that our connecting flight gates are also contiguous with their Gate 7 and mine at Gate 8 going to Stuttgart Germany.



I still don’t have a single Euro in my pocket going to Europe. I only have my AMEX card which the company provided me. I was scared at first because it did not withdraw any cash at Schiphol airport. I called the AMEX hotline +632 840 7400 and to my relief there is ongoing maintenance in the system!

There are no terminal fees in European airports! This is included in the fare. I find this very comfortable.


We went to the immigration checks, passed and proceeded. Me and HP friend were showing off our passports like tourists.hehe

We arrived in our respective gates and talked while waiting for our flights. We bid our farewells and goodbyes. HP friend and Katt were the first to depart to their destination and I went on to my gate to board the Stuttgart bound plane after 30 minutes past 8.


The weather outside was already 0 degrees and I can see water vapor coming out of everybody’s mouth. It was very cold and I can feel it even if I had a shirt, a coat and a jacket on.

Stuttgart Airport

The KLM flight from Amsterdam to Stuttgart was 1 hour and 30 minutes. They don’t have entertainment but they did offer some nuts as treats. This reminds of Philippine airlines flights.


I arrived in Stuttgart Airport and successfully withdraw EUROS from the ATM. It was a relief.


I took a black Mercedes Benz cab to my destination Boblingen which was 20 minutes intercity trip from Stuttgart that cost me 40 Euros.

Boblingen – Hotel Bohler

I arrived at Hotel Bohler in Boblingen easily.

The price is quiet affordable and the staff are very friendly. It is managed by 2 generations of Bohler’s family. I arrived around 11:30PM at hotel and checked in. The room is very beautiful and you don’t need to turn on the air conditioner due to the very cold weather. You need a heater!




All of this happened from 11AM Philippine time to 11:30PM Central Europe Time (CET) Friday. A very long Friday of travel… I did not spent a single euro. AMEX is powerful in Europe! :)

I explored Boblingen on Saturday and Stuttgart on Sunday.

Till next time. Bye.

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