Flying to Manila: Taipei Layover, eTravel Issues, and a Storm

We are headed to the Philippines. This was a big one — a longer-than-usual vacation to visit family and friends, reconnect with where I grew up, and check out the car culture over there. I washed the Teslas and the Rivian before we left (not leaving them dirty), and we headed out.

Quick Tesla check for those who care — Model Y at 85% state of charge, Model X at 81%. Left the Rivian R1T with my friend Richard (aka Chi Chai) who was kind enough to drive us to the airport. Pretty sure he was excited to play with the truck while we were gone.

Ontario International Airport

We flew out of Ontario International — got through TSA no problem and headed to check out the Aspire Lounge. Bad news: China Airlines had booked out the entire lounge for premium passengers. So even though we’re members, we couldn’t get in. The trip was not starting great.

But here’s where it got cool — I was walking around in my Manny Pacquiao shirt looking for beer when a couple, David and Eve, approached me. Eve is Filipino and they had extra pizza that was going to waste. I ended up buying them a round of beer, we hung out, and they were headed to New York for a wedding. Made some new friends before even boarding. Shout out to David and Eve.

The 15-Hour Flight to Taipei

We flew China Airlines — about a 15-hour flight to Taipei with a layover, then another 2 hours to Manila.

The food was okay — we got one dinner and one breakfast. I didn’t sit with the family because the seats got split up. I ended up crammed in a tight spot with strangers. All I could do was laugh it off once it was over.

Taipei Layover

We landed in Taipei around 5:35 AM on a Sunday — everything in the airport was closed. Stores, restaurants, the lounge I was looking for — all shut.

Google Fi automatically connected the moment we landed — no SIM swap, no roaming surprises, just a notification saying welcome to Taiwan. If you want that same hassle-free international experience, grab $60 off with my Google Fi referral link.

I’ve never actually set foot outside this airport. I’ve always wanted to visit Taiwan because of all the tech YouTubers I follow going to Computex. My rule is — if the food is made with the local water, I count it as having eaten there. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out the vending machines (language barrier, even with Google Translate), and we didn’t have enough time before boarding. Maybe on the flight back.

Fun fact: the dollar is equivalent to about 32 NT (New Taiwan Dollar). They use LINE Pay here instead of Apple Pay.

Arrived in Manila — The eTravel Disaster

We landed in Manila after the 2-hour connecting flight. And then we hit the wall.

The Philippines has this eTravel system — a QR code you’re supposed to scan and fill out. Here’s the problem: on iOS Safari, the website doesn’t load properly. You either need to download an app or use the free airport Wi-Fi, which is painfully slow. And every person — including kids — needs their own form filled out.

As a tech person, this one really got under my skin. This is literally what I get paid to design properly, and the implementation was rough. No paper backup, no fallback. If you’re flying to the Philippines, do yourself a favor and fill out the eTravel form before you land.

Manila After the Storm

We made it through eventually. My brother-in-law handled the forms while I stepped outside to calm down.

Manila had just been hit by a storm — signal number one (they go up to signal four, which is the worst). Heavy rain, flooding, knocked-down trees. The power had gone out but came back. They actually turn off electricity during powerful storms here as a safety measure. Some water pipes broke around the area too.

One tip: when you arrive in Manila, there are plenty of people willing to help you with your luggage for a tip. They’re really good at it, but if you’re a foreigner, expect them to ask for more. If you don’t need help, just politely tell them upfront.

Good Morning, Philippines

We stayed at Abby’s mom’s house in the southern part of town, near Laguna. I was up at 1 AM thanks to the 15-hour time difference. No water because of the broken pipes. But I was excited.

I’d planned to surprise my cousin, but she had her own surprise — when I called her, she was at the airport heading to Japan for her granddaughter’s birthday. We’d catch up the following week instead.

One thing I noticed right away: the internet here is actually fiber — real fiber, where upload and download speeds are symmetrical. Unlike what many American ISPs call “fiber” where you get 1 gig down and 20 Mbps up. The Philippines got that part right.

The family here drives a Hyundai Grand Starex (an 11-seater van — we all fit), a Toyota Grand HiAce, and an Isuzu MU-X. No EVs yet — electricity here costs as much or more than gasoline, so it’s more practical to stick with gas vehicles for now.

What’s Next

This is just part one. I’m planning to explore where I grew up, meet up with car enthusiasts, and show you the vehicles and culture of the Philippines. Read part two — tricycles, family, and the streets of Liliw, Laguna.

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This post is based on our travel vlog. Watch the full video above for all the moments, reactions, and footage from our Philippines trip.