CREW LAYOVER (MALAYSIA)

*Layover - Time between flights. aka a rest or a stay on a particular hotel/destination which isn't a flight attendant's base. (Accdg to my memory) rofl!

Now, let me walk you through on this 'layover' thingy that most of you see from your Facebook's newsfeed when your crew friends would post pictures stating Layover in -- (particular destination). Layovers vary from time to time. In my case, it depends on what line of schedule you've got from the bid. Yes people, we don't just receive lines from nothing, we bid for it,  according to SENIORITY. I used to not get the lines and destinations that I want when I was a Junior Flight attendant, but when I started flying for like a year and now flying for almost 2 yrs --- plus our Airline started hiring new crews, my seniority went like 'Hey!! *double snap*' Your girl, has arrived! Me getting what i want. Me likey. ahahha Ignore the dumb statement guys, bear with me :) Mind you, Seniority is not just a something-something --- We bid for aircraft positions via seniority and Lines (destinations, day-off, expense rate, and layovers) are all based on seniority. And sometimes -- receiving our hotel keys and rooms are also based via seniority --SOMETIMES. hehe. 

Now let me show you how we do layovers. We get International layovers at 100+ hrs, 97hrs, 50 hrs, 37 hrs, 26hrs, and unfortunately -- 16 hrs ( This sometimes happen on London flight, but we get 27hrs most of the time) 

The most previous Int'l Flight I had was 2 days ago KUL Flt. aka KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. This is considered as a long haul flight, duration is around 8hrs, 35 mins flying time. Flights like KUL and other int'l flights are mostly scheduled on night flights. That is why most Flight Attendants suffer from Insomnia-- and Panadol Night, Melatonin and Sleeping pills are our Best Friends! (Ooohh!! But once we get our own stress-free rests, like days off and open days, we try to recover our sleeping patterns and be asleep like minimum of 10hrs and at times, maximum of 13 hrs. Beat that!) 

Flight schedules also vary in time, Sometimes I work in the morning like 3am- 10am, then after 4 days, then shifts to another pattern. Sleep just doesn't come easily on me unlike some people (rolls eyes) Mr. Sandman is always late, plus counting sheep is not that effective. So as expected, I didn't get any sleep right before this flight. 

So, Once the Aircraft makes a touch down, then deplanes,  ze lovely crews (hihi) bid their thank you's and goodbyes then we say "Oh! Hello there layover!"

Travel time from the airport to our Hotel would sometimes be an hour, or if the road is busy, plus 30 minutes on the expected arrival! Shessh! (Btw, most of the crew would be asleep while on the bus, with their sunglasses on, the crew bus windows are transparent, so people on the road would see us, them girl needs to camouflage--wenk,wenk!) 

We stay in Double Tree Hilton Hotel (Naks! Sponosor. chos! ) 

Once we arrive on the reception, they always give us their complimentary yummy cookies. Ugh! This, I've got to say is one of the best cookies I've ever tasted in my life. Crews are more excited to receive their cookies than their Room keys ( Oops! It rhymed.hihi) 

Now, to my room.. I got the 20th floor. (May inuwi si nanay, si nanay, sa bahay--joke!)

ROOM TOUR VIDEO! (yess! level-up! ahahaha) 

Right after this, 'Took a rest for like 30 minutes, then finally decided to go out with my crew friend. We are craving for Asian cuisines, we were deciding whether we go for Chinese or Jap food. We had Jap! :) 

This resto is inside Sungei Wang Mall, since we're in a mall-- Look what I've got for myself! :) hihi.

Timing was perfect that I was able to catch up with one of my besties who is having her vacation in Malaysia. We got to meet up, and bonded in the Hotel Lobby where they are staying.

Since I never have gotten any sleep at all-- I was wide awake for more than 24 hours ( oha!) I decided to end the night early and went back to our Hotel. 'Got so hungry that night so my friend and I decided to eat at the hotel. Again, deciding whether Chinese or Jap?

First Choice .. Sorry my "faux" model is a bit stiff. haha

Second Choice... (Tarush ang posing mo girl! Hinga-hinga din ok?)

-- And Japanese it is!

Napaka- tarush! Loving the hand towel. haha

California Maki never failed me --- it was soo good that we had two orders plus the crab thing maki (forgot what it's called) --- that the server has recommended is--ok?? Haha.

Another Vid .. Pls bear with my vanity.TAKE NOTE! I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY SLEEP HERE FOR LIKE 27HRS (Gaaaahhhh!! Pasensya na mga teh! MAARTE TALAGA AKO.) 

It's getting late so we have to end the night. Now back to my hotel room.. I still managed to take a selfie with my bare newly washed face. Ahahaa. (O. Wag ng umangal. K?)

That's just it FOR NOW guys, 'Will be posting what we did the following day next time (as you see, your girl is gonna be on flight for ze next 4days) Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. :)

TOTE BAGS & TROLLEYS (What's in my bag?)

Before working as a Flight Attendant in a Middle Eastern Airline, I used to work at Ninoy Aquino Int'l Airport as a ground staff about 2 years ago. I worked at the Admin Department of a Low Cost Airline-- and sometimes, there would be moments where in we'd be distributed all around the field (wenk! wenk!) This usually happens when the airline needs more manpower due to busy seasons 

We would be assigned on Check-in Counters, Arrivals, and the most favorable of all -- (drumrolls please!!)  Departure Area! Whenever I get to be assigned in the Departure Area, We'd get to see the Cabin Crews and Cockpits as they would enter the gate, And everyone would be staring at them! The airline where I used to work normally doesn't have any layovers in their flight destinations, may it be Domestic or International (now that's sad)

TOTE BAGS AND TROLLEYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ULTIMATE TRADEMARKS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ALL OVER THE WORLD and I was very much curious of the stuff they do carry along in their bags (Ahaha, Pinahalatang Chismosa), - - and why on earth would they bring a trolley bag with them, when infact their flights are just on  a round trip basis? (diba???)

So if you are as curious as I was ... (not that you're chismosa too ha, ahaha) 

Based on our training and Airline standards, I learned that aside from your own personal stuff and necessities, a crew has to bring with them their Manuals (in my case, we have our CABIN CREW OPERATING MANUAL, and CABIN CREW STANDARD MANUAL) licenses and line checks, booklets, cabin shoes and flashlights. And even if our flight FOR THAT DAY is just via round trip, They advised us to bring an extra set of uniform, plus clothes to wear for the layover, and some toiletries --- just in case we experience an aircraft technical problem and be forced to have a layover (So--- that was the reason) 

So these are the bags  that our Airline has provided for us...

The red tag and the key chain are given to me by my friends. Aren't they the sweetest people on earth?( you know yourselves, ayiiieee!! kilig to the bones! ahaha) 

 Here's a look of the stuff I have in my tote bag...

Now let's start :) 

1) Pouch-contains my license id, GACA card, and line checks (you'd be dismissed from the flight if you don't have these on your briefing) 

2) Make up kit 

3) Extra clips & hair bonds 

4) Alcohol

5) Apron

6) Biscuits - This is a must have, A wheat meal chocolate biscuit that tastes soo good. Great for the ones on diet

7) Wallet

8) Stick notes - This is very helpful if you have the galley position

9) Oil blotting sheets – My face is so oily that you can fry on it (wenk,wenk)

10) Peanuts – Great alternative for chips and junkfoods

11) Candies

12) Apartment Keys

13) Phones – It’s as important as your wallet. Tama? Ahaha

14) Perfume – Girl needs to smell fresh

15) Flashlight

16) Dry Shampoo – No more greasy & messy hair in an instant. It's my go-to solution if  I have to go out asap on a layover

17) Power bank

18) Wide tooth comb

19) Universal Adapter with usb chords – Very useful on layovers, incase your charger won’t match the plugs on the hotel

20) Lotion – The pressure inside the aircraft can make our skin dehydrated, most specially our hands, as we get to wash it a lot.

21) Tooth Paste & Toothbrush- Girl! You've got to be kidding me if you don't know what this is for. Ahaha

22) Passport

23) Ipod

24) Earphones

25) Vitamins & Supplements

26) Book – This is my 5th book from Paulo Coelho, & if you haven’t read any of his books, Start with THE ALCHEMIST :) 

27) Medicine/ First Aid kit

And for the Trolley ---

1) Pair of pajamas

2) Set of uniform

3) Cabin Crew Operating Manual

4) Wet Tissue - It's like the mother of all tissues and hanky

5) Cabin Crew Standard Manual

6) Sewing kit - You'll never know when buttons would be popping out from your wardrobe.

7) Cabin Shoes- It's not advisable to wear heels on flight. Once seatbelt sign turns off, change your heels to a flat-and-comfy footwear called 'THE' cabin shoes. Trust me, it'll feel so good to wear these flats right after wearing those damn heels!

8) Toiletries - Hotels have 'em. But I bring my own thang! Well you have a choice if you want to use them but uhh-- I prefer to use my own stuff

9) Salad Tuna (hihi) 

10) Pair of Intimates, Inner Shirt, & Stockings - Of course naman no! Diyos ko! Ahhaha

'HOPE THIS GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT ABOUT THE STUFF WE USUALLY BRING WITH US WHEN WE GO TO OUR FLIGHTS :) 

SINGLE LADIESSS!!!

Valentine's Day just ended a few minutes ago and I was stuck in our flat for the whole day, yes you got it right. No need to explain the context sweetheart. lol. I tried to avoid getting into Facebook and Instagram all throughout the day, and man! I survived! haha. Now I kind'a feel sorry for myself. just kidding. So I spent the whole day watching YouTube beauty gurus and Vloggers, til I stumbled thru Weylie Hoang's video about the things she will do this 2014, I know - I know 1st of January sailed for like more than a month now, but it's better late than never, right?
As you see, I got thru a hard breakup years ago, and yes I have gotten over the guy LONG---LONG BEFORE, but the anger had been hanging with me for the past years and boy I was really furious. Good thing I stumbled down to a few blogs til I read Patty Laurel's open letter about love and I realized that I have to let go and forgive those people who have wronged me in the past. YOLO - yeah right. ahaha. I do get to only live once and I came to a conclusion that it's time to let go of the anger, and finally live the life that I should have lived these past few years. I guess maturity took place (My mom's gonna be so proud of me when she finds out!haha)


Now here are the things that I should do --- oh sorry. That I WILL DO (now that sounds more promising. hehe) for the year 2014 :)
1) START BLOGGING ( ehem!)
2) TRY TO CONTROL MY TEMPER AND COMPOSURE ( MOST SPECIALLY TO PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS)
3) LEARN TO BE MORE HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDING
4) CIVIL SERVICE EXAM
5) READ ATLEAST ONE BOOK A MONTH
6) MAKE AN EFFORT TO GO OUT AND EXPLORE ON LAYOVERS --- NOT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE SHOPPING MALLS, BUT ATLEAST TRY TO EXPLORE THE CITY, GO
TO THE PARK, WATCH MOVIES, VISIT HISTORICAL SITES.
7) HEALTHY LIVING
8) BE FORGIVING
9) TRAVEL MORE AND THIS TIME --- TRY TO EAT THEIR DELICACIES
10)ALWAYS SHOW YOUR LOVE ONES HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU



Do not look for love. Let love find you. God has His perfect timing, and I tell you, He is never late. Most of the friends that I got sometimes pressure me to settle and just go for it --- and at times I get affected by that pressure, most specially when I turned 24 last yr (ohhh yess!! Pre-Quarter Life Crisis) But it just didn't feel right. I want to say yes, because I want to. Not that I need to. As what Patty Laurel said on her Blog, Don't settle down sa 'PWEDE NA' .  And there was this other quote that I saw in Instagram saying, YOU CAN'T RUSH SOMETHING YOU WANT TO LAST FOREVER --- And I sure am not rushing (anymore) ahaha. Remember when you were younger and believed strongly about Fairytales and at that young age you're so ready to get married at 22 or 23, because you thought that at those age you're mature enough, and saying I LOVE YOU, means happily ever after? ahaha. I had those times, and going back thinking about it, Boy! I wanna cover my face with shame. lol. I said those things when I was 18, Now 24. Man, 'had my first job at 21, as an Airport Ground Staff, then started flying when I turned 22. Now in the present, ofcourse objectives and limits have changed. Maturity is taking in. And I am embracing all the things that are happening in my life. To all the girls out there -- who are single and are still waiting for the right guy to knock on their doors ---Don't be pressured. Take this opportunity to love and know yourself more. Improve your skills, or better yet discover new ones. Meet other people, and enjoy life to the fullest. Do the things that you have always wanted to do, and finally make it to a reality.



To my future lover: (Yes baby, your girl can be as cheesy as a cheese cake --God! did I just say that??)
- I have loved you since then. While waiting on you, I will travel alot --- by the time we meet, I promise to tell you about the journeys that I had been thru, and one day, we could go to those amazing places, I'll try my best to be good on directions, as I tend to get lost alot, so please do bear with me if we get lost on our trips.hehe. I have been pressured lots'a times, but damn, I know that they are not you. I know that saying YES to you is always gonna be easy, and I will wait for that day till I finally say that word. I promise to be more understanding, I do hope that there is an improvement to my cooking(hehe). And no green tea 5 times a day is not too much --- for me. lol. Right now, your girl is trying to learn alot about herself and about the world, she's trying to become a better person (disregard my cuh-raaazzy tantrums) Trying her best to fill in the times she missed when she was not spending it wisely.And once we cross paths--- (it's gonna be love at first sight! joke!!!) or maybe we have already met, I'll be ready. We'll both be ready. Let's be strong for one another, never loose grip to what we have. You are worth the long wait. I'll be seeing you :)