I've not been blogging as i've been away away away...was in phuket on a holiday. flew back on sunday nite, and flew out to Vientiane, laos for work the very next day. I was exhausted, after returning home from Phuket. We had to immediately stop by at the t3 raffles medical to check out hubby's strained back (yaay can claim travel insurance!), i had to unpack, do the laundry, and repack for my work trip. But i was pretty excited as i've never been to Vientiane, and i've only heard cool things about it.
Flying to Vientiane is quite a chore as there aren't any direct flights in. We flew SQ to Bangkok and then TG to Vientiane. The trip also gave me an opportunity to compare and contrast 3 airports- Singapore's Changi Airport, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Wattay Vietiane airport.
Bangkok airport was alright, except that the transfer was such a pain. I don't understand airports that separate their departures from arrival. So when you arrive, you have to go through a transfer area where you will be screened for security again. It's really irritating, as you have to walk quite a distance to get the transfer area, before you go find your gate. Boss and I found ourselves in 'purgatory' between the arrival and departure levels. We could not find the 'tv' with the departure listings until some ways away. soo irritating.
at least my bum didn't hurt anymore
this was also the first time i was in BKK airport since they're 'facelift'. The metal chairs now have the cushion making them much more comfortable and friendly looking- but didn't help the aesthetics that much. still looks like an ugly warehouse with all the cemented blocks and uncarpeted floors. very cold image of a country which warmly boasts a thousand smiles. terribly incongruent, me thinks.
just one flight all night!
BUT Bangkok airport was heaps better than the Wattay Vientiane International Airport. Ok, it is a tiny airport, so i shouldn't be too critical. but still? I think there was only 3 airlines which flies into Vientiane. Laos Air, Thai Airways and Air Asia (Vietnam). On the evening of our departure, our TG flight was the ONLY flight going out that evening.
totally empty, no immigration officer in sight..
We checked in about 1.5 hours before our flight to find that the immigration officers hadn't even turned up yet! It was quiet town until about an hour before our flight. They also made boss very edgy, when 5 minutes from the flight's scheduled departure, they hadn't even begun boarding. So relax.
All in all, Changi International Airport is still the BEST Airport in the WORLD! *grin*
Labels: eveel ramblings, travel bug
