Archive for August, 2006
Will it take longer to reach Suvarnabhumi Airport than Don Muang Airport from downtown of Bangkok?Technically, the Don Muang Airport is some 20 kms. north of Bangkok while they say the Suvarnabhumi Airport is 27 kms. east of Bangkok.
Technically, the Don Muang Airport is some 20 kms. north of Bangkok while they say the Suvarnabhumi Airport is 27 kms. east of Bangkok.Remarks: However, on the inspection day, we took off from Sathorn Road (which is right in the down town of Bangkok where there are many hotels in this area), it was 44 kms. going on the expressway Rama 9 to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. It will definitely take longer than Don Muang Airport but should not be more than 1 hour 15 minutes altogether (with the Don Muang Airport – we always say 45 minutes up to 1 hour depending on the traffic).
August 20th, 2006
The name and history?
The name “Suvarnabhumi Airport” (pronounced Su-Van-Na-Phoom) was chosen by His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej which means “The Golden Land”. The plot of land occupied by the airport with an approximately 8,000 acres (324 km2) was purchased in 1973. Due to political and economic instabilities, the civil construction had been begun in January 2002. The airport was due to open in late 2005, but a series of budget overuns, construction flaws, political interference and allegations of corruption continue to plague the project. After much speculation, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced that the airport would be open by September 28 2006.
Opening date:
Official opening date is scheduled to open for commercial services at 3.00 a.m. on Thursday, September 28 2006. All commercial flights (both domestic and international) will move to Suvarnabhumi Airport as of September 28 2006. Meanwhile, it has been said that Thai Airways will be operating some domestic flights (with no passenger with international connecting) as early as Friday, September 15 2006.
Where is it located?
The airport is located in Racha Thewa in Bangphli district, Samut Prakarn Province; some 30 kms. east of Bangkok.
How to get there?:
Presently, there are 5 access routes. The 2 most convenient routes are:
* Northern Route - via the northern Rama 9 Expressway leading to Bangkok Chonburi
Motorway
* Southern Route – via the original Bangna Expressway leading to Bangna-Trad
Highway
Remarks: From our previous inspection trips - by far the best routing is THE NORTHERN ROUTE i.e. via northern Rama 9 Expressway leading to Bangkok Chonburi Motorway as there is MUCH less traffic compared to the Southern Route.
The construction of the City Airport Terminal in Makkasan (near the Siam City Hotel) and a 28.6 km high-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and are planned for completion in November 2007 (it seems that this deadline is unlikely to be met). The airport express informally known as the Pink Line and operated jointly with SRT’s planned Red Line commuter service, will connect with the BTS Sukhumvit Line and MRT Blue Line at Phaya Thai and Petchaburi stations respectively, offering airport-bound passengers a fast 15-minute limited stop from the city center.
Airport facilities and capacity?
The airport will operate as many as 76 flights per hour on 2 simultaneous runways; it will have 51 aircraft stands and 69 remote parking bays for wide-bodied aircraft and handle over 3 million tons of cargo annually. Facilities to be completed in the 1st phase will include:
* A 563,000 sqm. passenger terminal
* 120 parking bays (51 with contact gates and 69 remote gates)
* 132 m. Air traffic control Tower (the tallest in Asia!)
* A 190,000 sqm. cargo terminal
* First-class hotel with 600 rooms operated by Accor Group under the Novotel
brand
More on the FAQs shortly!
August 20th, 2006
Thai Airways International is gearing up to begin using Suvarnabhumi Airport for domestic flights from September 15 2006, if the idea is given the green light as expected.
TG plans to move flights to Pitsanuloke, Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani from Don Muang to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The national flag carrier will offer a daily flight to Pitsanuloke from Suvarnabhumi, offer 3 weekly flights to Chiang Mai on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday and 4 weekly flights to Ubon Ratchathani on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Whether the plan should be given the go-ahead will be decided next week.
Source: Bangkok Post - August 09 2006.
August 9th, 2006
A lot of customers who are booking the hotels in Phnom Penh with us have asked for our recommendations on the sightseeing. Here are the most popular sightseeing for Phnom Penh:
IF you only have ONE DAY in Phnom Penh:
You should start the morning with The Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda followed by National Museum to see the finest collection of Khmer sculpture) then have lunch at Friends Restaurant (or it can be called Mith Samran, a place organized by NGOs to help the street children a helping hand into tourism business. Food is great and prices are very reasonable). Your afternoon sightseeing should be Toul Sleng Museum (a savage reminder of Cambodia’s tragic past during the Khmer Rouge time) before continuing on to the Killing Fields of Choeng Ek (where prisoners from Security Prison 21 were taken for execution).
IF you have ONE AND A HALF DAY in Phnom Penh:
Do the above for your 1st day in Phnom Penh. Then on your 2nd day – you can conclude your sightseeing by visiting Wat Phnom (set on the 27-meter hill) and then its time to you do your shopping at the Russian Market (the best place in town for souvenir, fake antiques wood carving, betel-nut boxes and silver jewelry etc). If time permits, you might as well stop by at the Central Market (one of the best places to see local produces).
Best place to wind down in the evening?
FCC Phnom Penh would be an ideal place for a fantastic sunset view of the Royal Palace and the Mekhong River. Here you can have a good choices of western and local Khmer dishes for a delightful dinner at very reasonable prices. Another favorite place of ours is the Elephant Bar at the beautiful Raffles Hotel Le Royal. If you feel like having Khmer food in the evening – Khmer Surin Restaurant or Sugar Palm Restaurnt-Bar are both great for dinners in this city.
Have a great time and enjoy your visit to Phnom Penh!
August 8th, 2006
Suvarnabhumi International Airport could be opened for commercial service 2 weeks prior to the 28th September launch day but only for certain domestic flights with no connections required. However, source says that the major airlines with domestic networks including Thai Airways Internatonal, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, One-Two-Go, Nok Air and PB Air have not been consulted about starting flights on September 15 2006 at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The schedule for all internatoinal flights and the rest of the country’s domestic services to shift to the new site on September 28 remains unchanged.
Thai Airways will conduct two internationanl test flights to and from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 01. Theose flights are open only to airline employees, who were offered one-night air-hotel packages to Singapore and Hong Kong for about THB 5,000.00
Source: Bangkok Post, August 08 2006
August 8th, 2006
Mingaladon Airport has been undergoing its extension since 2003 and is expected to be completed in october 2006.
The extension of airport building is 832 feet in length and 206 feet in width. The airport building is being constructed with four passenger boarding bridges, five lifts, three escalators and security system. Work is well under way to complete the construction tasks in October.
The present runway of the airport is 8,100 feet long and 200 feet wide. The extension of the runway will be 3,100 feet long and 200 feet wide. On completion, the whole runway will be 11,200 feet long and 200 feet wide.
Source: http://www.myanmar.com
August 7th, 2006
Will you be in Siem Reap for a holiday soon? Why not try the signature spas at the Amansara and Hotel De La Paix to cool down after a long walk in the Angkor Wat!
These are what Spa Asia Magazine (March/April 2006) says:
Amansara
Amanresorts has transformed this former royal enclave of King Narodom Sihanouk into a gracious residence of utmost comfort. While still retaining the original Khmer touches, this perfect place is for explorers in search of legends and history of which Cambodia has plenty.
Signature spa rituals exclusive to this latest temple of sanctuary are Scents of Cambodia. Touch of the East, Amansara Foot Cooler and the inspiring Teap Bourn - four healing angesl from heaven.
Hotel De La Paix
Siem Reap’s most stylish, this historical landmark offers outstanding luxury and world-class spa and dining facilities. Close to Angkor Wat, it is the best place to take in Khmer spirit. In a land rich in artistic heritage of the Khmer traditions. Hotel De La Paix in its mouthpiece. It doest what it says “Respecting the Past. Embracing the Future.”
Its Spa Indochine embraces the Khmer’s sacred belief of a body and soul renewal through healing touches of human hands. This essential point is carefully illustrated through their ancient massage traditions. The signature Massages De La Paix guarantees multi-sensory benefits.
Enjoy!
August 4th, 2006
Unfortunately, there is no international carriers fly direct to Burma from the US or Europe so your best bet is fly to Bangkok or Singapore and continue from there.
The quickest (and easiest) way is to go via Bangkok. Following airlines are operating daily flights into Yangon:
Thai Airways International (TG)
The airline is flying Bangkok/Yangon or vice versa 1 or 2 flights a day (depending on which day of the week you fly). Aircraft used is AB6 or M82. Flight time is only 1 hour 20 minutes. To get more info, please check out its website on http://www.thaiair.com
Bangkok Airways (PG)
Operating 1 flight a day. Aircraft used is Airbus 320. Flight time is only 1 hour 20 minutes.
To get more info, please check out its website on http://www.bangkokair.com
Myanmar Airways International (8M)
Operating 1 or 2 flights a day (depending on which day of the week you fly). Aircraft used is AB6 or M82. Flight time is only 1 hour 20 minutes. To get more info, please check out its website on http://www.maiair.com
You can also fly Singapore/Yangon (or vice versa) by:
Silk Air (MI)
The airline is flying Bangkok/Yangon or vice versa 1 or 2 flights a day (depending on which day of the week you fly).Aircraft used is A320. Flight time is 2 hours 50 minutes. To get more info, please check out its website on http://www.silkair.com
August 3rd, 2006
Some travellers are still concerned about traveling to Myanmar (Burma) because of the current political regime. Many Burma-oriented human rights groups support a boycott of tourism (which they see as endorsing the government). For us and many other travelers - we feel that travel dollars mean work for Burmese people, and contact with visitors from abroad do help open a window to the outside world for them. We can only say that visit to Myanmar (Burma) will truly be one of your most memorable travel experiences in your entire lives!
August 3rd, 2006
Feel like having Singaporean food in Phnom Penh? Just head to the Raffles Hotel Le Royal as it will be holding Singapore Food Week during August 7-13 2006.
For one week only, Café Monivong at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh will
feature the highlights of Singaporean cuisine whipped up by special guest
Chef de Cuisine Kidd Leong from the esteemed Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
If you will happen to be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia during this time, stop by!
August 2nd, 2006
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