The Beginning: Indochina trip

On my other blog, I have written all about my Indochina trip this August. I think it would still be okay if I create an entry here, kumbaga, second copy. 

So late last year, me and my college friends felt the urge of travelling this 2012. We have postponed our Sinulog plan, since we don't have that much time to plan it, and we thought that a great way to find ourselves is to go and visit new countries. And somehow, regalo namin sa mga sarili namin bilang mabubuting taga-pagbayad ng buwis sa Pinas. 

Malaysia and SG were our first plan, but finding out that it would break our bank accounts due to high accommodation and travel expenses, without much of the immigration stamps (Oo, habol namin ang immigration stamps para sa mga passport namin), we dished it out and settle for an Indochina trip. 

Our Indochina Trip: Manila - HCMC - Phnom Penh - Siam Rap - Bangkok - Manila

From a common friend and backed up by blogs that I was researching (pinapangatawanan namin ang pagiging researcher), we found out that it would only take us a little over Php 20,000 - airfare included - in visiting three countries - Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. So armed with that  motivation, we decided to pushed through it and look for cheap airline tickets. We have three missions here:

(1) Spend only Php 5,000 for round trip tickets

(2) Spend only Php 5,000 for accommodations

(3) Spend only Php 5,000 for inter-country travels and tours

I am not much of a hurry, since we are planning the trip by August this year and I am pretty sure that there will be seat sales before then. Luckily last week, Cebu Pacific was on 95% on their destinations, including Vietnam, so I mocked book it and resulted to Php4,500 tickets, all in for the three of us. Not that bad. So, Manila - Vietnam was good to go, pero paano naman kami babalik ng Pinas?

Cebu Pacific Air Red Eye Flight: Manila to HCMC 

I tried out Tigerairways, a budget airline flying stationed in Clark Airport, and decided to check what was in store for us. I managed to come across a 1,100 Thai Baht fare, Bangkok to Clark (roughly 1,400 base fare). Taxes are not included then, but we were able to book a Php10,500 tickets for the three of us. 

Tiger Airways Night Flight: Bangkok to Manila

In summary, we have Php 5,300 of our airline tickets at magtitipid na lang kami sa costs for accommodations, food and souvenirs. 

Step 1 is already achieved and we are good to clean up our itinerary. And we are 5 months away from the trip.