Suvarnabhumi--Bangkok's new international airport

  

       The name for the new international airport in Bangkok was chosen by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

        Suvarnabhumi is the transliteration of the Thai word for “the golden land”. Please do not pronounce the “I” at the end of the word as it is silent when you read it in the Thai script. “Su-wan-na-poom” is a close English phonetic spelling.

       Nakhon Pathom , is one of the oldest cities of Thailand, and when over 1500 years ago Buddhism was introduced to this area of southeast Asia, it was at the north end of the Gulf of Thailand. There is some speculation that Nakhon Pathom was the capital of the area Suvarnabhumi which meant “Golden Land” or “Golden Peninsula” and was the traditional name for what is now the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos and perhaps Myanmar region. The new airport is designed to serve this area and it is hoped that within five years it will be well on its way to having the capacity to handle up to 100 million passengers and 6.4 million tons of cargo a year.
The new airport had been in the planning and construction phases for many years. I have seen published reports that claim it was over 40 years from the beginning plans to the actual opening of the new airport. The official opening was on the 28th of September 2006. At that time, Suvarnabhumi ‘s one terminal replaced the three terminals at the old Don Muang Airport which was located north of Bangkok.

        The new terminal is one of the largest terminal buildings in the world. Under its one continuous roof is more than 138 acres. The control tower at 433 feet is either the tallest or close to the tallest control tower in the world. Overall, the airport covers more than 8,000 acres. Even before the grand opening I had read all the statistics and had tried to brace myself for my first experience with this new airport. The size was enormous and a few of the statistics I learned were : over 200 passport control checkpoints (130 for arriving passengers and 72 for departures), arriving passengers had 26 custom control checkpoints and there were 8 for those departing, there were 22 baggage conveyor belts, over 100 moving walkways, 102 elevators and 83 escalators. When it was time to depart from my trip to Thailand, there would be over 360 check-in counters for those of us with luggage and another 100 additional counters for passengers without luggage. My mind was running wild and I could envision kilometers of walking just to get to an information booth, money exchange or restroom. How would I possibly get from the international gates to the domestic gates and what had happened to my favorite little airport restaurant? That restaurant had been my priority destination on all flights for several years. It was the place I could get my first and, on each trip, my last authentic Isaan meal in Thailand.

        In short, I was one of those who loved the security of the old Don Muang Airport and my approach to the new terminal was with more than a little trepidation. Everything in Don Muang had become like second nature and now I was being forced to learn a new location with different ways and ideas. My first arrival at this huge new airport was in November of 2006. When I stepped into the new airport I was astounded by all the open space. I was both amazed and impressed when I started from my arrival gate into this new terminal. It did seem sort of sterile and cold, almost like hospital antiseptic, but I did not suffer from the horror stories I had seen reported in the press, nor did I feel totally overwhelmed. It was new, yes, but I found it very easy to find my way around. Signage had been much improved from the earliest reports I had read. I found a money exchange and, since the exchange rate in the airport is usually as good as anywhere else, I changed a couple of hundred U.S. dollars into Thai Baht. I had found on several earlier occasions that this was a good idea and saved many problems later on. Then it was on to immigration (passport control checkpoints). At Don Muang, this could take some time but here the lines moved fast and it was only a short time until I was on my way to reclaim my luggage. Even though my luggage has wheels, I loved the availability of the free carts to carry you luggage. I loaded my luggage onto one of the carts, walked through customs and met my ride to the hotel in a very short time.

        Although the ride to my hotel was longer than from Don Muang, it was much easier due to the construction of a good highway infrastructure to service this new airport of the “Golden Land”. As I was whisked away in the hotel taxi, I once again was so amazed and had to marvel at the development of this magical city. The old and the new were next to each other. The new sky train was evident, and of course we were using the new highways above the city that bypass much of the local traffic. So much had changed since I had first seen this land 40 plus years earlier, yet; somehow, it was still the same.

Flights to Bangkok

        

       Nothing seems to be more challenging than to find a great carrier for your trip. It is a long trip and you want to be as comfortable as possible.

       My first trip was with the Peace Corps way back in the ‘60s. It was a great trip. We left Columbia, Missouri, on I think Ozark Airlines, and spent the night in San Francisco. The next day we boarded Pan American Around the World Flight #1 (or was it 101), bound for Tokyo. The thing I remember most on this part of the flight was the stop for refuel on Wake Island. It seemed so amazing to me that anyone could find that small island in the middle of the Pacific. Also, it was a little scary when the airplane started to descend and I couldn’t see any land below. When we reached Japan, we were given a 24 hour layover before continuing onto Bangkok.

        The stopover in Tokyo turned out to be a wonderful experience. It was my first time being in a foreign country. I don’t remember much about the airport, except for actually seeing Mt. Fujiyama. I do remember being in a first class hotel for my first time. The hotel was so beautiful and absolutely amazing. Just because it was available, I ordered room service for the first time in my life. I don’t remember the food, but, it was good and I am sure it was something I had never tried before (I was so daring back then). After a quick night’s sleep it was time for a little exploration of Tokyo. Three or four of us asked the concierge to get us a taxi. We wanted to see something in Tokyo besides foreigners. We were treated to what can only be described as a daring ride through Tokyo traffic and deposited someplace. When we disembarked from the taxi not one of us recognized where we were from any travel magazines or National Geographic we had ever seen. However, we did get our wish. We didn’t see any foreigners or anyone else that spoke English. We did see a beautiful temple, walked for hours in the sleet and cold and only had Coke Cola for nourishment. Thank heavens, the concierge had insisted on giving us a card from the hotel with the name of the hotel in Japanese. We were able to return safely and meet the rest of our group and continue on to our destination in Bangkok. The rest of the trip went smoothly except for some rough air pockets over the South China Sea. We arrived in Bangkok in the middle of the night.
That first flight taught me many things, not the least of which was that I always want to arrive at my destination in the daytime and not at the wee hours of the morning.

        My next trip to Bangkok was in 2000, when I returned for a Peace Corps reunion and my first trip back since I had left Thailand so many years before. Somehow the seats on most of the domestic carriers in the U.S. had gotten smaller and closer together and again I was scared to death of the long flight. I was afraid I would wind up permanently crippled, from the small seats before I arrived in Bangkok. To add to the problems, I was taking my three grown sons. They were/are not small men, and I wanted this to be a good experience for them and not an endurance test of their will power. I started checking the internet for any information I could find on airline carriers to Bangkok from the U.S., the seat size, the various classes, layovers, etc. I was amazed at what I found.

        First, and most important, is the fact that shopping for airline tickets for international flights is not like trying to find the cheapest or best tickets for a flight in the continental U.S. I continued my search and reading on the internet for about four months and then armed with the information I had received, enlisted a travel agent to get the seats I thought I wanted.
                1) After checking out the arrival time of the various airlines at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, I decided I wanted a foreign carrier, as they were the only ones to arrive during daylight hours.
                2) I wanted the larger seats that were available on most carriers in business or first class.
                3) I didn’t want to pay for business or first class.
                4) I had discovered a fourth class that was between economy and business class that sounded good for me.

        Things have changed in the last few years. There is a new airport in Bangkok. (More on that later) Seats are still getting smaller, and prices are constantly on the rise. I still use the basic criteria I used in 2000 and have even used several different travel agents. But, each flight has been on Eva Airways. I have found their Evergreen Deluxe category fits my body type and wallet best. Flights are comfortable and on time, food is terrific and service is wonderful. There is plenty of room to get up and stretch during the flight without blocking the aisle. Everyone has their own TV monitor. There are many stewardesses available to assist to your every whim for the long flight. One extra benefit for me is that I can catch the flight in Newark and fly across the U.S. without being in a cramped economy seat to catch an international flight on the west coast.

        Because Eva, stops in Taiwan, I have learned that I like to make a layover in Taiwan before I go on to Bangkok. This has the advantage of starting to get my days and nights turned around sooner. Also, I am more refreshed when I get to Bangkok. Someday, I will probably take another carrier so I can have the layover in Tokyo, Manila, Seoul, or maybe even Kuala Lampur, but that is for someday. I just bought my tickets for the tours in November and I am once again on Eva Airways.

Why Thailand?

In my mind, Thailand is my second home. I lived there for only two years in the 1960's as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rural Community Development, but have revisited many times since 2000. The Thai people seemed to welcome each visit and with each visit it is harder and harder to leave. The friendliness and graciousness of the people, the beautiful landscapes, the tempting foods, and the Thai culture make one feel so relaxed and welcome. The Thai people forgive us "farongs" our shortcomings and accept us as we are. With each visit I try and do something new or see a new location or witness a new event. There is so much to discover and learn in this amazing country. While I lived in the fabulous northeast (Isaan) part of Thailand, I have had the opportunity to travel to many other parts of the country. Yes, they are all equally fantastic. Each area I have visited has its own charm and beauty. I can relate only my impressions and ideas and do not want anyone to think that my comments are anymore than that. I hope to offer some history, news, travel tips and suggestions, and answer questions of a general nature on my Thai experience. Since this is my first blog post, I am anxious and nervous about what will happen. I do not expect to write something every day but do hope to post often or at least once a week. Hopefully you will have comments and questions to help guide this blog. The idea of this blog came as a result of questions and comments I have had from my web page http://www.h2t3tours.com/ and my You Tube Channel H2T3tours . Please feel free to check them out and offer any suggestions or comments you might have.