New Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

For most people come with the new Bangkok airport for the first time to see anything that would be worthy of all the other new international airport that has developed in recent years. Most new airports are usually large crate or tent like affairs, with little or no aesthetic appeal, and this falls right in the pile of boring designs. Most of those who had been through the old airport in Bangkok preferThe new character, because she had a very special. Wanted to keep the old airport, which is understandable, as you know where everything is as if you have to go to catch your favorite airline, as well as where and what the procedure for getting your luggage and the quickest way through the Customs and get a taxi home or to your favorite Bangkok hotel when you return to a business man or tourist Thailand.

When people have a problem with the new Bangkok airport, itwould be with the way that they set up the taxi rank. In the past, we went out through the doors at the end of the customs area, past the money changers, then sedans, and out the doors and in the cue for a taxi. You would dispatchers where you want to go to say, and off we went, it was a very smooth and efficient process. The taxi rank at the new airport is located on the ground and it is not marked, so that the first time that you are through, you need to find out that the price received toThe city has not yet risen overnight to 800 baht, but you are on the charter taxi stands, which are mainly unsuspecting tourists I suppose fleece. So if you are reading this and you will make in Bangkok for the first time at the new airport, you notice that you have to go catch a plane down to the meter taxi from the baggage claim. If there are in Thailand always out on the counter.

The good news is, as some of the best international cities in the world, asSingapore, Chicago and San Francisco you can get to a mass transit rail directly to the airport, this is probably done soon, and you can see the progress on the road in Bangkok, the BTS line as they renew it. If this project is completed you have access to the entire city, and you can do it quickly, regardless of the hour. In the last two trips from the airport into the city, was the rate all together around 350 baht with the tolls and taxes taxi to the airport, an increaseof around 100 baht, was the time to find the hotel on Suhkumvitt only about the same, even when the distance increases .. If you are from or have your travel time to Pattaya should especially during busy travel times decrease.

More@www.myhotelvideo.com Location: The hotel is located about. 300 m (about 5 minutes walk) away from Suvarnabhumi Airport. There is a free shuttle service to all 15 minutes abfhährt from the terminal. Don Mueang International Airport is approx. 30 km from the hotel. Facilities: …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE7dOJuVcvQ&hl=en

El Aeropuerto de Suvarnabhumi (se pronuncia Suwannapum, en Tai significa País de Oro) fue al fin terminado en septiembre del año 2006, tras 4 décadas de planificaciones. Cuenta con una sola teminal, pero es enooooorme, una de las más grandes del mundo. La torre de control sí que tiene el privilegio de ser la más alta del planeta.

Este gran aeropuerto, diseñado por el estudio Murphu/Jahn de Chicago, constituye hoy uno de los símbolos del país y de Bangkok. Está formado por una colosal estructura abierta y multifuncional, muy atenta a las características del lugar, en especial a las lluvias y altas temperaturas. Se ha recurrido a materiales y a tecnologías muy innovadoras, como en el caso de las vigas reticulares de acero, las superficies de cristal serigrafiado y la cubierta revestida de material translúcido, lo que han garantizado una barrera contra las altas temperaturas del exterior.

Está en proyecto la construcción de una nueva terminal y dos edificios satélites, para dar cabida a los vuelos de bajo coste. En la actualidad cuenta con un volumen de 40 millones de viajeros al año, aunque cuando finalicen las obras (que aún no han comenzado) se prevee que esta cifra pueda incrementar hasta los 100 millones de viajeros por año.

Al bajarnos del avión:

Normalmente los vuelos procedentes de Europa llegarán a Bangkok a primerísima hora de la mañana, entre las 6 y las 9. Después de más de 12 horas de vuelo (en el caso que cojamos uno directo, de otra manera serán de 15 en adelante) la llegada a Suvarnabhumi va a ser desconcertante. Recorreremos cientos de metros de pasillos por una cinta transportadora hasta llegar a una gran sala de control de pasaportes. En ella debemos hacer la cola para pasar el control y presentar la tarjeta de entrada, la cual te dan para rellenar normalmente en el avión, o puedes recoger en esa misma sala.

Tras pasar este control, salimos directamente a la sala de recogida de equipajes. En ella las cintas indican los vuelos procedentes de Mumbay, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapur, Kuala Lumpur, Saigon, Katmandu… en ese momento es cuando empezamos a ser conscientes de que acabamos de llegar a Asia. En esa misma sala de recogida de equipajes hay un mostrador de cambio de moneda.

Una vez que pasamos el último control salimos al Hall de Llegadas situado en el Nivel 2 del Aeropuerto, y ahí es donde comienza nuestra aventura en Tailandia…

Cómo ir del Aeropuerto a Bangkok:

El Aeropuerto se encuentra a unos 30 km del centro de la ciudad. Cuando salimos de la sala de recogida de equipajes nos van a abordar decenas de “taxistas”, lo cual nos va a dejar en ese momento un poco fuera de juego. Como primer consejo, os diría que no tengáis ninguna prisa en salir del Aeropuerto y llegar al Hotel. Tomaos vuestro tiempo y, si podéis, decidid antes cómo vais a hacer el desplazamiento hasta la ciudad. Yo os puedo dar algunas indicaciones, vosotros tomaréis la decisión según las ganas de aventura que tengáis. No hagáis ningún caso de esos falsos taxistas y, si os preguntan, decid siempre que no es vuestra primera visita al país.

Veamos los medios de transporte:

En tren:

Actualmente se está construyendo el acceso en tren, que conectaría con la línea Sukhumvit del Skytrain. En un principio esta obra debía finalizar en el 2007, se retrasó hasta octubre del 2008, y dura y dura… Es muy curioso porque hay veces que compruebas como en unos meses las obras avanzan una barbaridad, y sin embargo otras veces apenas notas la diferencia.

En bus:  

Desde la zona de Llegadas (Nivel 2) salen los autobuses Airport Express con aire acondicionado, haciendo 4 rutas hacia los principales centros hoteleros de Bangkok, la primera línea llega hasta la zona de Silom, la línea 2 llega hasta de la Khao San Road (área de mochileros), la línea 3 llega hasta Central World por la calle Sukhumvit, mientras que la línea 4 llega hasta la estación central de trenes Hua Lamphong por Vistory Monument. Estos autobuses cuestan 150 bath.

Si bajamos hasta el primer nivel, nada más salir a la izquierda veremos una parada donde podemos coger un bus lanzadera gratuito hasta el Transport Center. Una vez allí hay líneas urbanas hasta bastantes puntos de la ciudad, además de otros destinos como Pattaya, Nong Khai… Las principales líneas salen con mucha frecuencia. Los autobuses van hasta Minburi (núm. 549), Happy Land (núm. 550), Victory Monument (núm. 551), Estación On Nut BTS (núm. 552), Samut Prakan (núm. 553) y Aeropuerto Don Muang (núm. 554). Estos autobuses cuestan algo más de 30 bath.

Parada de autobuses en en Transport Center

En taxi:

Los taxistas tailandeses pueden ser los personajes más graciosos con los que nos podemos encontrar. Hay que mentalizarse de que en el 90 % de los casos nos van a intentar engañar, pero conociendo un par de trucos podemos evitarlo y disfrutar del trayecto con una buena conversación, y escuchando los consejos del taxista, consejos que casi nunca debemos hacer caso alguno.

En Bangkok hay bastantes compañías de taxis, que se distinguen por el color (rosa fucsia, amarillo y verde, rojos…). También hay taxis con taximeter y sin taximeter. En el segundo (sin taximeter) hemos de negociar el precio antes de salir, y normalmente nos van a cobrar bastante más de lo que realmente pueda costar la carrera. Nos van a llevar por la ruta que más les convenga e intentarán convencernos de parar en una tienda con la excusa de que le paga la gasolina a cambio de llevar turistas.  Siempre que subamos a un taxi en Bangkok hay que exigir el Taximeter. Si no lo pone, directamente nos bajamos y buscamos otro. De otra manera, el trayecto Suvarnabhumi – Bangkok puede costar desde 600 bath en adelante.

A la salida del aeropuerto nos abordarán los taxistas piratas, nosotros ni caso. Justo a la salida del Nivel 2 (Llegadas), en la parte izquierda suele haber una señora sentada en una mesa plegable (esta mesa  a veces tiene un cartelito verde, y otras no tiene ninguna señalización, pero se distingue rápidamente), a esta señora debemos darle el nombre y dirección del Hotel o Guesthouse. Ella lo escribirá en Tai y nos localizará un taxista al que le dará la dirección y le explicara cómo llegar, aunque siempre es recomendable imprimir el mapa del Hotel o Guesthouse que aparece en su página web. Este trayecto nos costará según lo que marque el taxímetro, aunque también deberemos de pagar el peaje de la autovía que cuesta alrededor de 60 bath. El trayecto definitivo, sin contar el peaje, puede salir por unos 300-350 bath.

Buscad este cartelito a la salida del Aeropuerto

Si viajamos en pareja o con más gente, el taxi es la opción más cómoda, y a veces también barata. Lo que nunca debemos permitir es subir a un taxi ilegal o sin taxímetro, ya que nos podemos arriesgar a vivir nuestro primer timo en Tailandia. Si nos lo dan, hemos de tomarlo con filosofía, no permitir que nos amargue el viaje, pensad que este timo significa que pagaremos como mucho 1000 bath (20 euros) por un trayecto de casi una hora.

Limusina:

Para alquilar una limusina, deberá dirigirse al mostrador de limusinas que se encuentra en la zona de Llegadas (Nivel 2). Existen seis tipos de limusinas y hay un total de 380 vehículos a su disposición.

Enlaces relacionados:

• Página oficial del Aeropuerto de Suvarnabhumi: www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com
• Guía mundial de aeropuertos: http://www.guiamundialdeaeropuertos.com/airport/278/airport_guide/Sudeste-Asi%E1tico/Aeropuerto-Internacional-de-Suvarnabhumi.html
• Guía del aeropuerto de Bangkok: http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/
• Principales aeropuertos del mundo: http://www.airportdesk.es/
• Portal de arquitectura: http://www.arqchile.cl/aeropuertointernacional.htm

Como apasionado de Tailandia, y como friki de internet y las ofertas de viajes, continuamente estoy buscando las mejores ofertas para viajar a Bangkok. Acabo de encontrar el vuelo más barato que nunca he visto y además con la mejor compañía con la que he volado hasta allí, Qatar Airways.

Con Qatar tienes vuelos desde varios aeropuertos españoles a Bangkok vía Doha. Si tienes suerte, puedes hacer escalas de menos de 2 horas. Si no la tienes, puedes estar allí esperando hasta 14 horas, lo cual en un aeropuerto de estas características puede ser algo desesperante (hablo con conocimiento de causa).

Los aviones suelen ser Airbus 340, para mi gusto los más cómodos si viajas en clase turista, pues la distribución de los asientos es 2-4-2, perfecta si viajas solo o con pareja. Como entretenimiento a bordo tienen la pantalla individual en el respaldo del asiento delantero, con su mando también individual donde puedes disfrutar de películas, series, documentales, juegos… Varias comidas por vuelo, bolsita de regalo con artículos de 1ª necesidad (neceser, calcetines…).

Se trata de una de las 5 compañías aéreas catalogada con 5 estrellas, lo cual es una garantía. Qatar Airways acaba de ser elegida como la que ofrece la mejor clase turista del mundo por Skytrax, premios basados en un estudio de ocho meses de duración en el que participan 16 millones de viajeros de más de 95 nacionalidades diferentes.

Interior de la cabina en clase turista

Condiciones de la promoción:

• Ofertas válidas en www.qatarairways.com/es
• Vuelos de ida y vuelta, incluyendo tasas y suplementos
• Plazas limitadas y sujetas a disponibilidad
• Período de compra: hasta el 14 de octubre de 2009
• Período de vuelo: del 1 de noviembre 2009 al 31 de mayo de 2010

Pincha aquí para ver la oferta 

Un tema que suele preocupar bastante a los viajeros que planean un viaje a Tailandia son los trámites de la Visa. La verdad es que para un viaje normal el trámite es bastante sencillo, pues si la duración del viaje es inferior a 30 días no es necesario realizar este trámite.

Si vais a realizar un viaje de menos de un mes debéis hacer lo siguiente: en el avión os darán una tarjeta de entrada, la cual tendréis que rellenar con vuestro nombre, dirección, número de pasaporte, motivo de la visita, código del vuelo y alojamiento durante el viaje (si no sabéis o no tenéis aún alojamiento, simplemente rellenad esa casilla poniendo “tourist”). También os pedirán el motivo del viaje, vuestro trabajo, ingresos…

En la otra parte de la tarjeta os piden los mismos datos, pero para la vuelta. Ésa es la que os graparán en el pasaporte para retirarla a la salida del país.

A la llegada al aeropuerto, recorreréis un pasillo interminable hasta llegar a una enorme sala de control de pasaportes y visados. Ahí es donde, después de hacer cola y una espera de unos 30 minutos, debéis presentar la tarjeta que rellenasteis en el avión. Si por algún motivo no os la dan en el avión o simplemente estabais dormidos en el momento que la guapa azafata la repartió, podéis conseguirla en la misma cola.

Aeropuerto de Suvarnabhumi

De allí pasaréis directamente a la sala de recogida de equipajes, donde también podéis cambiar dinero. El siguiente control es el de equipajes, y de ahí a la salida, pero para este largo capítulo (“Cómo sobrevivir en el trayecto de Suwarnabhumi a Bangkok”) dedicaré otro Post.

Seguimos con el tema, para estancias superiores a 30 días se distinguen varios tipos de visados:

• Turista (estancias de 60 días): 36 euros. Sólo entrada única

• No inmigrante (90 días): 57 euros la entrada única, 130 euros la entrada múltiple.

• Tránsito (3 días, 15 días para los miembros de tripulaciones o 30 días para los participantes en eventos deportivos): 21 euros.

Todos los visados deben ser utilizados en el periodo de tres meses desde se fecha de emisión, excepto los visados de no inmigrante de múltiples entradas, que tienen una validez de seis meses. Se pueden obtener extensiones del visado en el Departamento de Inmigración de Bangkok.

Para el visado de turista, deberéis presentar los siguientes requisitos:

- Pasaporte válido durante al menos seis meses.

- Impreso de solicitud cumplimentado.

- Dos fotos recientes de tamaño carnet (4 x 5 cm).

- Tarifa, sólo en efectivo.

- Prueba de solvencia económica para cubrir los gastos de la estancia (mínimo de 20.000 baths por persona o 40.000 baths por familia).

- Billete de salida/regreso pagado.

Si el visado que vais a solicitar es de otro tipo, pueden pedir otros requisitos como una carta de invitación si se trata de un evento deportivo, carta del empleador en el país de origen o del socio en Tailandia si en por un viaje de negocios, o el visado para el siguiente país si se trata de una visa de tránsito.

El año pasado estuve algo más de dos meses viajando por el Oeste y Norte de Tailandia, Laos y Camboya. Respecto al visado tuve un par de incidentes:

En primer lugar se retrasaron los planes, y salimos de Tailandia hacia Laos algo más tarde de lo que había pensado. Al final me sellaron el pasaporte el mismo día que me cumplía el permiso de 30 días. Si hubiera salido un día más tarde, habría tenido que pagar una multa (creo que de 500 bath – 10 euros por día de retraso).

Río Mekong. Paso fronterio de Chiang Khong. Tailandia - Laos

En segundo lugar, tenía un número limitado de entradas en Tailandia. Esto se hace porque muchos extranjeros que viven en Tailandia no tramitan su visa, sino que cuando les vence el permiso, se van a Laos, Birmania o Malasia y vuelven a entrar, con lo que consiguen un nuevo permiso de 30 días y se ahorran la tasa de la Visa. Yo me pasaba de entrada durante ese año (era mi 5ª entrada en el país). Entré por el paso fronterizo de Poipet con 20 dólares en el pasaporte, pues me dijeron en la embajada española que o pedía una visa especial o no me dejarían entrar. Intenté tramitarlo en la Oficina de Inmigración en Bangkok, en la Embajada de Tailandia en Vientianne (Laos), Camboya… todo inútil. Al final no me dijeron nada y yo me hice el escandinavo, es decir, tiré hacia dentro (Tailandia) como si no pasara nada.

El pasado mes de noviembre cambiaron esta normativa. El permiso de estancia para los que lleguen vía aérea continúa siendo de 30 días, pero si lo haces vía terrestre pasa a ser de 15 días. La diferencia es que puedes entrar y salir las veces que quieras, siempre que no sobrepases el límite de 15 días. Se puede ampliar una semana más en cualquier oficina de inmigración, pagando la correspondiente tasa (creo que son unos 1900 bath).

La gran mayoría de los viajeros que van a entrar en el país no van a necesitar estas recomendaciones, pero si tenéis pensado hacer un viaje largo, os viene bien tener en cuenta estas normativas, tened en cuenta que si solicitáis un visado de turista y salís del país antes de los 60 días, perdéis el visado, a no ser que tramitéis una visa con entrada múltiple.

Podéis obtener más información:

Embajada de Tailandia en España:

Calle de Joaquin Costa 29, 28002 Madrid, España

Tel: 9156 32903 y 9156 37959. Fax: 9156 40033 y 9156 24182.  e-mail: madthai@wanadoo.es

Oficina de Inmigración en Bangkok:

Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 ó 3101-10 ext. 2264-5;  www.police.go.th/frconten.htm

I’m back. Somewhere between my first and second footsteps into the terminal at Suvarnabhumi (pronounced soo-wun-a-poom) the remarkably distinct scent of Bangkok pushed into my nose and triggered the sensation of coming home. Adopted home, anyway. I was elated and smiling like a fool. It’s difficult to describe the scent itself, but it’s a melange of Thai food (which is constantly in preparation everywhere), incense, air fresheners, wood charcoal, fetid canal water and car exhaust. All at once, though, it smells like nothing else that exists. If I were put on a plane, blindfolded, and taken to several different cities, maybe on some reality program or game show, and then asked at each one, “Is this Bangkok?”, I’d get it right every time. It’s neither foul nor fragrant. It just is, and unmistakably so.

The airport is a favorite hunting ground for touts wishing to peel some cash from the unsuspecting. For this reason, those of us in the know used to go up to the arrivals floor and go for the metered taxis as they drop off their fares, also avoiding the 50 baht airport fee. To my astonishment this practice is no longer possible as a barrier has been set up dividing the taxis from the sidewalk. So I was very pleased after reluctantly heading for the public taxi line that, not only was there no line to speak of, my driver didn’t even attempt to forgo the meter and give me an inflated flat rate price. A good omen.

The driver, Mr. Choochart, then pleased me even further by being friendly and talkative, and thereby giving me a chance to remember that I haven’t forgotten all the Thai I’ve learned on previous stints here. He told me he had been waiting for a fare for four hours. Probably an exaggeration, but as I mentioned there was no line for taxis. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the taxi drivers waiting in line for the passengers, and not vice versa. Although September and October are generally the lowest months for tourist arrivals here, it feels exceptionally low right now, and I can’t help but think that between the airport closure, the siege of the ASEAN summit, and the recent flare up of the southern insurgency, Thailand may finally be feeling the pinch of its recent string of bad press.

After a spirited discussion on the usual hot topics with taxi drivers, food and women, he dropped me off at my new residence off of Sukhumvit 71. It looks like this:

Our Place

It’s a five bedroom townhouse, of which four are now occupied. It’s a fair amount of space for a place pretty close to center of the city. After chucking all of the accumulated crap that was in what was pretty much a  temporary storage room, and giving it a scrubbing, I’m settling in nicely.

The next major undertaking I’m going to attempt is acquiring a tourist visa for Myanmar, which, hopefully, I will be traveling to on the 22nd of September. Details forthcoming.

J

P.S – More photos on Picasa.

Airport hotel Bangkok -  Hotels Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport Hotel

Welcome to AirportHotelBangkok.net. We provide links to authentic Airport Hotels in Bangkok. We have selected the most popular Airport Hotels near the principal Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Short term visitors transiting through Bangkok often find that convenient, speedy access to airport terminals can be very important. The location of these Airport Hotels Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) makes staying there an ideal transit stopover for your next destination.

All these Hotels have a No Credit Card Option.

http://airporthotelbangkok.net/

Useful Suvarnabhumi Airport Links (Please click below):

• Bangkok Airport Rail Link
• Suvarnabhumi Airport
• Bangkok Airport Limo
• Hotels Suvarnabhumi

Aeropuerto Internmacional de Suvarnabhumi, en Bangkok

Bangkok. 26 de julio de 2009

Al fin llegué esta mañana después del viaje más cansado de todos los que he hecho hasta el momento. Los últimos días en Granada antes de salir fueron una locura. No pude preparar nada hasta el mismo viernes 24, unas pocas horas de coger el vuelo para Madrid. Allí hice noche en el Hotel Tach Barajas (www.clementhoteles.com/es/barajas.htm). Buen precio, muy buen hotel y servicio de transfer al aeropuerto desde las 6 am. Pues precisamente a esa hora tuve que coger la furgoneta para facturar a tiempo de coger el vuelo, así que a las 5:30 am diana…

En el vuelo a Amsterdam no me dio tiempo a descansar demasiado. Normalmente son los gordos calvos de frente colorada los que no te dejan dormir por los ronquidos, esta vez fue todo lo contrario: la mujer en cuestión era opulenta, pero de color. Creo que holandesa, y madre mía como roncaba.

En Madrid Iberia no tiene acuerdo con China Airlines (o eso es lo que me dijo la chica de facturación, así que al llegar a Amsterdam a las 11:20 tuve que pedir la tarjeta de embarque para Bangkok y asegurarme de que mi equipaje seguía facturado. El aeropuerto de Schippol es uno de los más incómodos que conozco. Cuando llegas y te enteras de la puerta de embarque del siguiente vuelo ves un cartel que te indica tu puerta a más de 20 minutos caminando, sin tener en cuenta que debes pasar otros dos controles.

Embarqué al fin en el Boeing 747 con destino Bangkok muerto de cansancio. Tuve la suerte de tener como compañero a un chico que tendría mi edad, y con pinta de cansado también. Así que enseguida dejamos claro que con una simple sonrisa y un Hi! como saludo cumpliríamos con todo el protocolo. Él me respetó, yo a él, y a dormir.

El aeropuerto nuevo de Bangkok es alucinante. Tras cuatro décadas de planificaciones, se inauguró oficialmente en septiembre de 2006. Cuenta con una de las terminales más grandes y con la torre de control más alta del mundo. Adquirió el nombre de Suvarnabhumi (“tierra dorada”) por Su Majestad el Rey Bumibol Adelyadej. Es enorme, moderno, cómodo y con mucho estilo. A las 8 estaba fuera y Pui esperándome. Tan guapa como siempre, me llevó a comer algo para asentar el estómago después del vuelo. Fuimos a un restaurante autoservicio en el mismo aeropuerto. Allí me tomé un Kwai teao, el primero de los muchos que voy a tomar este mes por aquí, pues es mi comida favorita. Es una sopa con pasta, verduras, pollo o cerdo (o ambos), especias y picante al gusto, que puedes rebajar con azúcar. El tema de la comida tailandesa merece un post aparte.

Un delicioso kwai teao

Apenas descansamos un rato en su apartamento, pues en seguida fuimos a Pantip Plaza a comprar algunos accesorios para la cámara de fotos.

Pantip Plaza es la meca de todo friki. Un centro comercial de 7 plantas dedicado exclusivamente a la tecnología. Desde cámaras de fotos hasta ordenadores, televisores, música, y todo tipo de accesorios. Los precios suelen estar un 15-20% más barato que en España, aparte que dependiendo de lo que gastes, puedes pedir la Hojita amarilla (Refund application for tourist) para que te devuelvan los impuestos en el aeropuerto a la salida del país. Ahora mismo no recuerdo cuánto se paga de impuestos, pero puede ser un 7/8 %, que se agradece a la vuelta cuando la economía puede estar casi bajo 0. La visita a este centro comercial es algo que recomiendo a cualquiera que pase unos días en Bangkok. Visitando Pantip y Chatuchak en fin de semana, no hay porqué calentarse más la cabeza con las compras, y el asunto compras en Tailandia da para mucho…

Pantip Plaza

El  caso es que hemos decidido no perder mucho más tiempo y salir mañana mismo para Huahin. Hemos encontrado una buena oferta en Bann Kang Mung (www.baankangmung.com), pues reservando una habitación varios días entre semana sale bastante más barato, sobre unos 25 euros la habitación a pie de playa, con aire acondicionado, TV por cable, baño… Lo mejor de todo la situación. Visitad la web, seguro que os convence como a nosotros.

Así que esta tarde hemos ido a un templo para hacer una ofrenda. Pui ha estado yendo los últimos meses todas las semanas para pedir por mis oposiciones. Y después de terminar todo con éxito (tras un laaaaaargo calvario con sus zancadillas y desegaños), hoy tocaba llevar cerdo y huevos como agradecimiento.

Acabamos de hacer la reserva para dos noches, así que en 3 días os contaré lo mal que vamos a pasar estos día a pie de playa, disfrutando de un merecido descanso visitando todas las playitas y templos que podamos y limpiando mi aparato digestivo a base de arroz, pasta, verdura, picante, picante y más picante…

Y esta noche, a celebrar nuestro encuentro con una romantica cena en Beer Park. Es un típico restaurante Tai, no por la comida, sino por el ambiente. Ponen bastantes platos deliciosos, en especial el Khao Pad Kai (un arroz con pollo, verduras y especias varias). Musica en directo y bastantes mosquitos. Siempre que vengo a Bangkok cenamos allí por lo menos un par de veces en semana. Una cena para dos puede salir por unos 300 bath (6/7 euros).

Musica en directo en Beer Park

Seguiremos informando a la vuelta de Huahin.

HDR image of an interior view of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand.

The People’s Alliance for Democracy vows to file complaint with the Administrative Court against the Prime Minister if investigators responsible for the airport protest cases refuse to repeal terrorism charges against the group.

Core leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, or PAD, will meet investigators at the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road tomorrow following the summons over their leading role in last year’s forced closure of Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

Suwat Apaipak

The group’s lawyer Suwat Apaipak said core leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, Weng Tojirakan, who filed a complaint with police to press terrorism charges against the PAD, is not an eligible plaintiff and the case is a false allegation.

Suwat cited Article 135/1 of the Criminal Code as stipulating that a constitutional demonstration or rally against the government calling for its assistance or justice is not considered a terrorist act, so the case against the PAD has no merit.

The PAD lawyer also revealed if investigators refused to repeal the terrorism charges, he will file a complaint with the Administrative Court against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and national police chief Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan in return.

TAN

The People’s Alliance for Democracy on Tuesday sought the replacement of police investigators handling the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports blockade case.

The PAD’s request was made in a petition for justice submitted by lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua to police chief Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

Thirty-six leaders of the PAD have been summoned to report to police on Thursday to hear criminal charges, including acts of terrorism, in relation with the blockade of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports late last year.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya also lodged a petition seeking justice, asking police to review and withdraw all charges filed against him, set up a committee to probe investigators handling the case, and temporarily halt the investigation.

The petition was handed to police chief Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan by Nitithorn Lamlua, Mr Kasit’s lawyer.

Mr Kasit is one of 36 people summoned by police to hear criminal charges, including acts of terrorism and violation of the emergency law, in connection with the PAD’s blockade of two airports from Nov 25 to Dec 2 last year in a drive to out the  Somchai Wongsawat government.

Mr Nitithorn said Mr Kasit had already reported to police to hear charges against him. Mr Kasit denied the charges and asked for 30 days to submit additional testimony, saying that the charges were unfounded and exaggerated.

The lawyer said Mr Kasit’s speech made on the PAD stage on Nov 30 was to express his opinion and criticise the government – action allowed by the constitution. He was not part of the occupation.

The terrorism charges against Mr Kasit were unreasonable because he caused no damage to Suvarnabhumi airport.  Moreover, the PAD’s protest at the airport was not in violation of the emergency law.

Mr Nitithorn said other PAD suspects in the case would report to police on Thursday as required to acknowledge the charges against them.

Mr Kasit would continue to perform his duties as foreign minister until such time as the prosecution decides to indict him on terrorism charges,  the foreign minister’s lawyer said.

Assistant police chief Lt-Gen Wuthi Puawes, head of the investigation team, said police had sufficient evidence and witnesses to substantiate the charges.

At the same time, the prosecution has postponed its decision whether to indict nine leaders of the anti-Thaksin group for the seizure of Government House last year for 30 days.

The decision was originally set to be made on Tuesday.

In this case, nine PAD leaders have been charged by police with causing public disturbance and instigating unrest in connection with the seizure of Government House. They are Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananont and Therdphum Jaidee.

A source at the Criminal Litigation Department of the Office of the Attorney General said the postponement was allowed after the suspects asked police to interrogate 38 more witnesses and the police have not yet finished their work.

The prosecution has set Sept 10 to make the decision

BangkokPost.com, Published  14/07/2009

Foreign Minister Disputes Terrorism Charge

The police officer in charge of the People’s Alliance for Democracy’s airport closure case say he is disheartened by accusations that he has been unfair. Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister has sought nullification of the terrorism charge against him, saying the accusation has no merit

Nitithorn Lumlua, the lawyer representing Foreign Minister Kasit Priomya, today submitted a complaint to national police chief Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan against the terrorism charge cited in the summon issued to the minister for his participation in the People’s Alliance for Democracy’s closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport last year.

Nitithorn said the accusation is false.

The lawyer is also calling for establishment of a committee to investigate the police team responsible for the airport closure cases and for this team to cease its duty.

The minister has submitted his written clarification on the case, saying there is no evidence to show he committed wrongdoing or was involved in directing the rally. He said he did not take up arms and was merely exercising his constitutional right to express his opinions.

Meanwhile, assistant national police chief Police Lieutenant General Wut Puavej admitted to feeling disheartened after the PAD submitted a complaint against his role in heading the investigation. He said he is considering departing all PAD-related cases as there is distrust in his performance.

However, the officer assured he has done his best in the investigation as there was strong evidence leading to the summons against the suspects.

In another case, public prosecutors have postponed arraignment of nine PAD members for allegedly instigating social disorder, which is punishable with a seven-year jail term. They are also facing charges of instigating chaos, punishable by three years in jail.

The charges stem from the PAD’s occupation of Government House during the administrations of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat.

The prosecutors’ arraignment decision has been postponed to September 18.

The delay resulted from a request by those accused, asking for questioning of 38 more eyewitnesses. Moreover, one of the accused, Sondhi Limthongkul, is still in the recovery period after surviving an assassination attack in April while others cannot attend the arraignment session as they have to prepare to meet with police investigators this Thursday to hear charges relating to the Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airport protests.

The nine named in this case are Sondhi Limthongkul, Major General Chamlong Srimuang, Phipob Thongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Amorn Amornrattananont, Therdphum Jaidee and Chaiwat Sinsuwong .

TAN

National police chief asked to intervene to cancel terrorism charge for Kasit

The defence team of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya on Tuesday filed a petition asking the national police chief to override the investigators in accusing him of trumped-up offences, including an act of international terrorism

Kasit reported for questioning last week related to his involvement in the Suvarnabhumi Airport seizure in December. He denied all charges filed by police and promised to submit his statement in writing within 30 days.

His defence lawyer Nitithorn Lamlua said the petition for a review of charges was an additional step to ensure justice for his client.

“From my examination of the police work, Kasit has been unfairly charged, the police re-enactment of the airport seizure is lopsided and biased and there is no evidence how the socalled international terrorism took place,” he said.

He said the investigators seemed to have fabricated the terrorism offence without any evidence to back up.

If the airport seizure were to be classified as international terrorism, then the investigators should be able to explain who were in the terrorist cell, what was Kasit’s role, who was his controller and where was the meeting to hatch the terror attack, he said.

By The Nation

Leaders of the yellow shirt movement are vowing to take police and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to court for incriminating them on terrorism and criminal charges over their blockade of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports last year.

Lawyer Suwat Apaipak yesterday said the accused would file criminal and malfeasance charges against the police and Mr Abhisit.

PAD's Lawyer Suwat Apaipak

Police last week said they would charge 36 People’s Alliance for Democracy leaders and key supporters for occupying the two airports from Nov 25 to Dec 2 last year in an attempt to overthrow the Somchai Wongsawat government.

The 36 PAD leaders and supporters, including Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, will face terrorism charges.

They have been ordered to report to police next Thursday. Mr Kasit reported to the police on Monday and denied all charges.

Mr Suwat said the accused found the charges to be baseless because the siege of the two airports “caused no damage to aviation”.

The rest of the accused PAD members will deny the charges when they report to police and then lay criminal charges against the police investigation team and Mr Abhisit, he said.

The prime minister was included because he allowed the police to proceed with the action. Mr Abhisit and the police will face criminal charges for malfeasance and false incrimination, the lawyer said.

Core PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang yesterday insisted he and his colleagues were not worried about the charges because they were the product of a false allegation.

“We believe the charges are exaggerated and disproportionate for actions of ordinary citizens like us,” Maj Gen Chamlong said. “We’re determined to take legal action against everyone involved in this move against us.”

National police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon said the PAD had every right to file a countersuit against the police.

However, he insisted the police had exercised their utmost prudence in considering witness accounts and evidence before deciding to press terrorism charges against the PAD leaders.

The cabinet yesterday approved 8 million baht in compensation for state agencies and private companies which helped passengers stranded during the airport closures, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

The Transport Ministry initially had proposed the government endorse about 678 million baht in compensation for affected businesses.

But the cabinet said airlines, including Thai Airways International, and Airports of Thailand had to seek compensation from those who caused the damage to their business.

The cabinet also acknowledged a report of total losses of 19 billion baht to the aviation industry as a result of the airport closure.

By: SURASAK GLAHAN and PRADIT RUANGDIT

Bangkok Post, Published 10/07/2009

Photos By: Manager Online

Airport Seizures: PAD Leaders Vow to Sue PM, Officials over Charges

Leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy are vowing to sue Prime Minister Abhisit and police for incriminating them on terrorism and criminal charges over their blockades of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports last year.

The 36 core members of People’s Alliance for Democracy or PAD and key supporters have faced criminal and terrorism charges for occupying the two Bangkok airports from November 25th to December 2nd last year in an attempt to overthrow the Somchai Wongsawat government.

 
Somsak Kosaisuk a PAD key leader and New Polictics Party leader said the accused members believe the charges are groundless and said the gathering at the two airports caused no damage to aviation and was within the scope of constitution. Somsak added that he and other accused PAD members will deny all of the charges against them when they report to police on July 16th. He also added that he and the members are ready to fight against all charges and will not escape abroad.

Meanwwhile, another core PAD leader Major General Chamlong Srimuang has insisted that he and his colleagues are not worried about the charges, because they are false allegations. Chamlong noted that he believes the charges are exaggerated and disproportionate for actions for ordinary citizens. Thus, he and the accused members will file criminal charges against the investigating police and MPs for malfeasance and false incrimination.

He added that the Prime Minister is included because he allowed the police to proceed with the actions.

TAN

 PM Affirms Fair Trial for Airport Seizure Cases

The Prime Minister has insisted the legal action currently faced by the key members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy are not brought on by the government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has insisted that his government did not intervene in the cases against the People’s Alliance for Democracy or PAD nor was he and his officials negligent in the case. The PM said he will ensure justice for all sides and will let the legal process run its course for the case

Abhisit reiterated that he and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban cannot judge those involved in the case and all actions related to the PAD’s cases are made within the scope of law.

The Prime Minister also stated the reshuffle of the Foreign Minister post can be made if the legal action he is facing affects his work but the decision over the matter will not have an impact on the ASEAN meetings.

Suthep Thaugsuban

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said core leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy are eligible to countersue the Prime Minister but commented he should be the one to face the group’s lawsuit as the National Police Office falls under his supervision.

Suthep reiterated the summons for the PAD core leaders and supporters for the forced closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport last year are not a ploy to discredit the group’s New Politics Party.

The Deputy Prime Minister added Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, one of the PAD supporters summoned for the airport protests, will not resign over this issue in the near future, particularly before the ASEAN meetings in Phuket later this month.

He also insisted a recent poll which suggested the majority of the public want Kasit to step down after the ASEAN meetings will have no impact on the government’s decision on his fate as its judgment will be based solely on his performance.

Suhep said Kasit’s work over the past six months in office shows he is an excellent and professional diplomat.

Meanwhile, appointed Senator Khamnoon Sitthisaman said the PAD is eligible to file a malfeasance suit against the Prime Minister and the court will judge whether the charges of terrorism against the group are plausible.

Khamnoon also expressed dissatisfaction about the possibility that the Prime Minister will remove Kasit from the Cabinet after the ASEAN meetings.

The senator said the premier should not put pressure on the embattled minister but if Kasit really decides to bow out from the Cabinet, it will most likely be from pressure from the government’s key members rather than the airport closure case itself.

He also reiterated the matter will not dampen the PAD’s relationship with the ruling Democrat Party as this issue is the party’s internal affairs and Kasit is not a PAD core leader.

TAN

RELATED POSTS

Kasit, PAD leaders charged- AIRPORT CLOSURE CASE TO GO TO COURT; PROTEST GROUP WILL DENY COUNTS

Kasit not to resign, denies being terrorist

New Politics Party leader: Suriyasai ready to counter police’s terrorism charge

We think what the hell, let’s get as much sun as possible because we won’t have any ‘til July back home in The Best Place On Earth. Catfish and I are lounging by The Guesthouse pool, and I’m ogling the last of the female bikinis.

There’s a group of born-again Christians from the U.S. staying here, but mercifully they’re leaving shortly to go proselytize to some perfectly-contented savages somewhere upcountry. Why must Christians enforce the good news?

Next door to The Guesthouse is a spa in someone’s home, and we go in for massages. It costs 250 baht for one hour, but we tip, so 350. Yesterday’s massage at the other place down the street has my bruises protesting, but my masseuse is either inflexible or cruel, or she knows exactly how much manipulating my body can take today. It can take a lot, evidently, because she irons out my spine like it’s a 20-year-old pair of fiberglass pants. I focus on my breath and try to ignore the air conditioner humming away on the ceiling.

My treatment finishes first so I wait in the other room for Catfish. He comes out with his masseuse, both looking all misty eyed. Despite the pain, I feel more grounded, less punchy. Perfect for going shopping.

At the ATM I get dinged with a 20 baht commission fee plus whatever my Canadian bank decides to extort. We walk to the neighbourhood market (khet taalat) where I buy a case of Twin Lotus toothpaste, some Mekong whiskey, and incense sticks. We eat Pad Thai with tons of chilies. I notice another vendor down the block putting out steaming bowls of noodles with pork and fish balls. We’re not famished, but the food is irresistible, so we hustle over to get a bowl.

Now it’s 01:00 and I’m drinking Mekong with Coke on the second floor of The Guesthouse. Catfish has crashed in the room, but I’m still keeping awake, enjoying the warmth and relative quiet. We gotta be at the airport in five hours.

The wake-up call scares me into consciousness.

I grab my two bags and go down to the lobby and tell the front desk guy that I’ll see him next year and thanks for everything. On the street we get into the first taxi that stops and I say airport to the driver. My brain’s foggy, yet I sense that we are heading northeast instead of southeast. It’s still dark, and the taxi’s racing on and off elevated expressways, but I have the feeling we’re going to the domestic airport instead of the international. I bring it up with a woozy, coffee-deprived Catfish who asks me if I’m sure of this. I tell him I’m dead sure. The driver doesn’t speak English but senses urgency in our voices. We can’t fuck around; we must be at the airport by 06:00.
“Don Muang—no,” I say to the driver. “Suvarnabhumi. Suvarnabhumi. OK?”

I keep repeating this until the driver catches on and nods his head and pulls a U-turn at the first opportunity. We just lost 30 minutes so now we’re really flying on and off the expressways. Catfish is relieved, and I don’t know how I knew what I knew, but even the driver is laughing along now. We’re gonna make it.

At Suvarnabhumi International Airport the driver wais and hands us our bags. I breathe the beautifully warm humid air for the last time and wonder if ending up at the domestic airport would’ve been such a bad thing after all.

Bangkok, Thailand

April 26 – 29, 2008

Queen Sirikit

King Bhumibol

After about 12 hours on the road (from Siem Reap, Cambodia) and a serious case of backpacking burn-out, we finally arrived at our last stop, Bangkok. Sawasdee!

Ginn

Road-weary, sleep deprived, and with Cambodian dust press-powdered on our faces, we just hoped for some downtime from roughing it out for almost a week in two countries. Thailand did cut us some slack, but our short stay had its ups and downs.

Ginn, the Guru

First off, thanks to my Bangkok-based friend, Ginn Lietz, for setting us up to our digs. That was one of the “ups” of this leg. He also took time in outlining our itinerary, considering our limited time in Bangkok and even more limited wherewithal. Oh, and Ginn, thanks for the breakfast and “The Secret” audiobooks (hmmm I think it does work – I “secreted” another trip and, whad’ya know, a journey to Japan just fell on my lap! But I digress….).

Fool House

Ginn booked us in My House Hotel, a guesthouse near his place, the Phaya Thai District, which is slightly off the beaten path. It is made accessible, though, by the nearby sky train’s Ari station. At 920 baht ($33) for a twin room, it was a good enough deal. Queen-size bed, TV, mood lighting. Clean and roomy too, although there was a decidedly septic-tank stench emanating from the bathroom sink in my room.

My House Hotel

My House Hotel, however, was less homey as its name would have us believe. We instantly suspected it to be a “love hotel” (a “motel” in Philippine English, perhaps in the mold of Sogo) because of the constant stream of local couples going in and out. But that turned out to be the least of our concerns.

Upon arrival, we were greeted, not by the typically Thai prayer-like gesture of hands pressed together while bowing, but by a rude front-desk staff. She dismissively informed us there had been no booking made for us. Worse, she did not bother doing anything about it. We protested, but she just shrugged and went about her clerical business as if that would make us slink away into the darkness of night.

Now, that should not be the sort of treatment you accord a guest, especially when they had just been through a hellish bus ride without air-conditioning for half a day. And especially if you call your hotel a “house”! Voice-raising and eyebrow-soaring ensued on both sides of the desk until the issue was resolved. It was almost nightfall and we were too pooped to find another hotel. We had to get our rooms, but not before being needlessly hassled. My Hell Hotel – that one cranky staff made it so.

That was one of the “downs”. I never had a friendly conversation and cultural exchange with a local, as I had in Cambodia and Vietnam.

The Kingdom of the Elephants

Operation Dumbo Drop

During dinner in some hole-in-the-wall restaurant near our digs, we felt a rubbery nozzle slither down our backs. It turned out to be a baby elephant’s trunk, panhandling with its human companion. It was to be my only elephant sighting in my entire Indochina trip. I snapped a photo of the duo as they left; I didn’t try to while they were at it as I suspected the man would bug us if he discovered we were tourists.

The sight was also disconcerting to me, no matter how cute the baby elephant was. I caught its eye and it had that sad stare of a caged animal. My heart bled for this adorable Dumbo who should still be trailing its mother, not some human beggar. I had recently seen an Animal Planet show that revealed the plight of these abused elephants used for begging in Bangkok streets. I thought the practice had been outlawed by the Bangkok government, but this experience proved that it still happens – and I witnessed it on our first night in the city.

If only these elephants are celebrated as in the triple elephant monument, and not abused into forced labor.

Three White Elephants

Bangkok Public Transport: From Rarefied to Undignified

BTS Sky Train

Avoiding the world-famous Bangkok traffic jams in the morning, we took the elevated train they call BTS Sky Train. I was impressed: modern, efficient, clean, and cheap. The stations were spacious and platforms allowed more room for passengers to form a line. There was none of the pushing and shoving I had experienced in Manila and Shanghai. Computerized ticket booths shortened lines considerably. A great view of  Bangkok cityscape can also be had: huge malls and shopping centers mostly.

Under the rarefied Sky Train, there was less dignity in public transportation on the streets. The cabbies behaved like their despicable counterparts in Manila. They would refuse you for whatever reason they saw fit. And if they did consider taking you in, they would negotiate an insanely overblown non-metered fare.

So we decided to take the ubiquitous tuk-tuk instead. The tuk-tuk (or motorized rickshaw) looks like a cross between the jeepney and the tricycle. A striking difference, though, is that they generally keep to their lane, unlike their careening cousins in Manila that weave through traffic as if they owned the streets. But fare-wise, the tuk-tuk was no better than a cab. A short distance would cost as much. Highway robbery! We ended up swallowing our pride and riding out the ruse of a cabbie who was obviously taking us for a ride.

Tuktuk in Traffic

Colorful Cabs (by the House of Commons)

The King and Thai

A curious sight in the city was the numerous billboard-size photos of the royal couple, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Reverence for the monarchy was apparent; the frames were neatly put up with an altar-like floral arrangement at the base (very much unlike the visual pollution of Filipino politicians’ pictures in tastelessly-made billboards, tarpaulins, and banners that clutter Metro Manila streets). The photos sometimes depicted each one separately (topmost photos) or together. My favorite is one that shows them as a young couple in sepia (photo below).

King and Queen of Hearts

Bangkok is a Big and Busy Bazaar!

And finally, shopping. I couldn’t decide if it was an “up” or a “down”. I was with three hot-blooded females whose DNAs are wired for commerce. Our first day in the city was devoted to doing just that. I had to concede. I needed to buy souvenirs and pasalubong too, but I could get it over and done with in an hour. Theirs took the whole day in two huge markets till the unholy hours of night.

Ayee, Tourist with Tiara: Miss Bargain Hunter

First stop: Jatujak (or as the locals would say, Chatuchak), touted as the world’s biggest weekend market. And boy, didn’t I agree with that – it was huge! And I thought traversing Angkor Wat was a killer to the quadriceps. My legs ached more here, crisscrossing its labyrinthine grids of stalls, and more stalls. Clothes, carvings, and Thai silk products are hawked by aggressive vendors who always mistook me for a moneyed Chinese (I got more “ni hao’s” here than in China!).

Bargaining was an adrenalin rush to my girlfriends; I just accepted it as a tediously necessary exercise to get I wanted. I discovered that the Thais can be obstinate in negotiations and do not readily back down and give in to your price, unlike the Cambodians in Angkor or even the Chinese in Shanghai. Bargaining is really a battle of wills, one that requires the art of war. In a word: stressful!

By nightfall, the girls hadn’t had enough. Ayee and Ikin (with me in tow) headed to Suan Lum, the night bazaar. It was actually laid-out in a more orderly fashion than Jatujak. Its covered blocks were also a relief because there was a downpour later in the evening. I found this market more convenient and less of an assault to the senses for its wider corridors and less cramped merchandising layout. Unfortunately, this bazaar will be dismantled soon to give way to property development in the area.

Donna skipped this flea market and went posh and original (as opposed to imitation) instead. She opted for the fancier, air-conditioned mall, Siam Paragon.

Gateway to Suwon Lun

Welcome to Siam Paragon

Birds in Bangkok

Hours before our flight out, a pint-size highlight came in the simplest form. Having run out of funds to get into the Grand Palace, we found ourselves walking aimlessly outside the palace walls. Yet we ran into a flock of pigeons on the sidewalk. It was hot, but we lingered for a few moments with this pleasant consolation.

Path of Pigeons

Feeding the Flock

Bye Bye Bangkok!

I must have a walked a full year’s worth in just eight days in this trip. I was just about ready to collapse in my own bed. But before that, Bangkok sent us off with a bang – its shiny and new airport: Suvarnabhumi (pronounced in Thai as “suwanapoom“).  An aside: Thai words have many silent vowels and plosives are interchanged in phonology and orthography. Pronunciation is far removed from spelling.

Slick Suvarnabhumi

Just keep in mind that Suvarnabhumi is about 45 minutes away from the city by taxi. And keep enough baht for highway toll (about 50 baht if I remember correctly).

In all, Suvarnabhumi made a good first impression with its slick steel frames and blue lighting, both easy on the eyes. Though the check-in lobby is vast and the departure hallway seemingly unending, it had a relaxing effect on me. A fitting way to cap a hectic yet enriching backpack tour – a trip I may not do the same way again, but I will be forever glad I did.

Bye Bye Bangkok