May 15, 2025 · MNL → TPE → LAX

This trip is extra special: my brother is getting married, and me and my brother is making the journey from Batangas all the way to California. This post covers Day 1 — from our early morning Jollibee stop on SLEX to biting into a legendary Double Double in In N Out.

Finally, the moment I have been waiting for — for a long time. I really thought I was not going to make it because the application process was absolutely nerve-wracking. But here we are. America, here I come.

Welcome to my 30-day North America road trip! I’ll be documenting the whole journey starting with the USA leg first — and yes, Canada content is coming so stay tuned. Let’s go! ✈️

Trip details at a glance:
📅 Departure: May 15, 2025
✈️ Route: MNL → TPE → LAX
🗓️ Duration: 19 days
💰 Roundtrip ticket: PHP 82,000 (return flight out of Vancouver)

The Journey Starts: Batangas to NAIA Terminal 1

We left Batangas at 6AM. Before heading to the airport, we stopped for breakfast at Jollibee along the Total Gas Station on SLEX — because no Filipino trip truly starts without it. We arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 at 9AM, where we met Auntie Liding, my dad’s sister, who would be joining us for the whole trip.

📌 Important Reminder for Filipino Travelers
Pay your travel tax (PHP 1,620) FIRST before filling out your eTravel declaration form. This is now required — you cannot complete the eTravel form without settling the travel tax. Budget extra time for this at the terminal.

Flight 1: Manila to Taipei (EVA Air)
Departure: NAIA Terminal 1 · 12:40 PM
Arrival: Taoyuan Terminal 2 · ~3:00 PM

There was no delay on this leg. The EVA Air cabin was comfortable — 3×4×3 seating, in-flight meal, entertainment system, and free Wi-Fi on board. Baggage allowance was 2 check-in bags at 23kg each (note: you cannot combine both into one bag), plus 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag that must fit under the seat.

Layover: Taipei Taoyuan Airport

We arrived around 3PM and had a few hours before the next flight. My brother, his wife Malen, and I checked out the Oriental Club Lounge at Taoyuan Terminal 2 and it was worth it.

The Oriental Club Lounge
How to get in for free: Present your JCB credit card along with the lounge key access membership app and your boarding pass. You get 3 hours of free access.

What to expect:
🍜 Beef noodles (a personal favorite — highly recommend)
🥟 Steamed buns
🍮 Dessert counter
🥤 Unlimited drinks with ice
🛋️ Spacious seating throughout

The variety of food and drinks was impressive, and there were plenty of seats to relax. If you have a long layover at Taoyuan, this lounge is a must, it makes the wait go by so much faster.

Flight 2: Taipei to Los Angeles (EVA Air)
Departure: Taoyuan Terminal 2 · 7:40 PM
Arrival: LAX · 4:30 PM local time (May 15)
Duration: ~13 hours

People dread long-haul flights, but honestly — I didn’t feel the 13 hours at all. I watched Cars and then slept through most of the flight. If you’re a good sleeper while traveling, a 13-hour flight is very manageable.

What’s included on the flight:
Generous legroom for economy class
2 meals served during the flight
Blanket and pillow provided
Entertainment system with movies in multiple languages (limited selection but varied)
The food was bland — but that’s expected for aircraft meals. No delays, no turbulence the entire route.

Arriving at LAX

We landed at LAX at 4:30PM local time on May 15.

A few things to note about the arrival experience:
Immigration is a bit of a walk from the gate after landing — give yourself time.
There is a dedicated line for tourists, but it moves at a reasonable pace.
The whole process from landing to clearing immigration took close to an hour.

🛂 What the Immigration Officer Asked Me
Q: Purpose of your visit?
A: Attend my brother’s wedding
Q: How much cash are you bringing?
A. I’ll be withdrawing and using cards throughout the trip
Q: How long are you staying?
A. 19 days
Q: Any food items?
(Declare honestly — no surprises)
Family tip: If you’re traveling as a group, the officer allows the whole family to approach the same window together, you don’t need to split up. I went first since some of the group stopped at the “Welcome to LAX” sign for photos before heading to the desk.

Temecula: The First Night in America

After collecting all the luggage, we met up with Mom, Aunt Baby, Uncle Jim, and Yves who came to fetch us from the airport. We made the drive to Temecula  about 1.5 to 2 hours from LA depending on traffic — where my parents live and where we’d be based for the next few days. The weather was also pleasant at 23 degree Celsius when we arrived.

But before anything else: In-N-Out Burger.
🍔 In-N-Out Burger, Temecula

We grabbed takeout and I ordered the Double Double and it lived up to every ounce of the hype. The patty was juicy, the menu is refreshingly simple (no decision fatigue), and the whole experience just felt like the perfect California welcome.

If you’re visiting Southern California for the first time, In-N-Out is non-negotiable. Go.

Day 1 done. Long, exciting, and a little overwhelming — ending with a paper-wrapped burger and the whole family under one roof. The trip is just getting started.

Up next: Disneyland! Watch out for the next entry.