A raging craze
KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE
(Bangkok Post dd. 10aug06 // DN)
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A Thai Airways International aircraft prepares to taxi at Suvarnabhumi Airport. — SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
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Children as well as adults flock to the new airport for a piece of history. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority is offering daily tours from the city.
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Flight arrival and departure are displayed on the screen in English and Arabic but not Thai.
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A scene replicated from the Ramayana in which angels and demons churn the oceans for holy water.
When I asked mom where she would like to go on Mother’s Day, she didn’t hesitate one bit and answered, “Suvarnabhumi Airport.”
Perhaps she wanted another piece of history to add to her growing repertoire of firsts she already has in her bag. You may not know but she walked the Rama I and Rama IX bridges long before their official opening.
That is the kind of excitment the new airport has generated among the general public.
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) are offering hour-long tours of the airport - six tours daily - starting 9am until 2:30pm.
“Currently we have around 400 visitors daily and the number more than triples on weekends,” said an airport staff.
They come in all sorts, ranging from three-month-old toddlers to older people with walking sticks. Built on 20,000 rai, the airport off Km 15 on Bang Na-Trad Highway has become a raging attraction for Bangkokians and others in its vicinity.
The tour is confined to the international departure and arrival lounges.
Visitors are led in groups of 30-60 people. Showing them around are student guides posted at various points of interest.
“The air traffic controller tower is 132.2 metres tall, the highest in the world,” said a guide.
The building design, construction materials used and its glass walls ensure optimum energy saving. The main building occupying 563,000 square metres can withstand magnitude 9 earthquakes.
On display are sculptures built at a cost of 48 million baht depicting a scene from the epic Ramayana in which angels and demons churn the oceans for holy water.
There is a 30-metre-long painting by contemporary artist Panya Vijinthanasarn at the arrival lounge, 12 six-metre-tall sculptures of demons, 142 immigration counters and 22 luggage conveyor belts.
When operational, the new airport will be capable of handling 45 million passengers and 6.4 million tons of cargo annually. It is configured to handle 112 flights per hour.
Suvarnabhumi International airport is scheduled to open officially on September 28.
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The figure of the mythical demon towers a visitor at the departure lounge.
Visitors need to produce ID card or student card, after which student guides will show them around the premises.
You can drive to the new airport or take public buses. BMTA offers a choice of six routes with detour to nearby provinces that were launched last weekend.
Here are the routes:
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8am-5pm: From Bangkhen bus terminal to the airport, followed by a visit to nine temples in Chachoengsao. Fare is 259 baht. To book, call 02-552-0885.
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8am-6pm: From Fashion Island, Raminthra, to the airport, followed by visit to Bangsaen Beach in Chon Buri. Fare is 259 baht. To book, call 02-919-8711-3.
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8am-4pm: From Victory Monument (near Fashion Mall) to the airport, followed by a visit to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan. Fare is 199 baht. To book, call 02-249-4389.
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8am-3pm: From Victory Monument (in front of Pong Lee Restaurant) to the airport, followed by attractions in Chachoengsao. Fare is 250 baht, including food and drinks. To book, call 02-948-3681.
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8am-6pm: From Wat Muang bus terminal in Bang Khae to the airport, followed by attractions in Chachoengsao and Bangsaen Beach. Fare is 270 baht. To book, call 02-454-1193.
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8:30am-4pm: From Central Department Store, Rama II branch, to the airport, followed by a visit to the Ancient City or Muang Boran in Samut Prakan. Fare is 379 baht, including drinks. To book, call 02-896-2344.