In Transit From Toronto To Cagayan De Oro

I could not resist getting a cup of Nescafe 3-in-1 thirty-seven thousand feet up in the air, fully aware that I've just paid 40 times more than one sachet of instant coffee is worth. Certain smells stick in your memory, and that sweet, powdered milk-y scent released by hot water hitting a cup of that mix had me.

At the end of this leg I will have been in transit a total of 26 hours, from the time I left home in Toronto to landing at Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro city. I'm used to running on little sleep, but the tiredness will surely catch up with me tonight.

The attendants on my Cebu Pacific flight just announced everyone's favourite part of the trip. In Tagalog, she says, “I am your host today and if you guess the title of the song I’m about to sing, you win a prize!”

It's been a long and interesting day. Through the time changes and re-acclimatization to Philippine operating time (i.e. airport procedures that could be specifically improved in a number of ways for tourists), I'll have a lot to write about in the coming weeks. I still feel a little unsure I've included too many activities and destinations in my itinerary, and slightly overwhelmed by the work all this data- and research- gathering will entail.

But if I've gotten pretty excited over hot tofu pudding at the Taiwan Airport (during a 6 am stopover) and am excitedly thinking about all the fruit I intend on eating at the market tomorrow…I think I'll be okay.