Smooth as silk to Bangkok

Nelia Neri (of Sunstar) and I (for The Freeman) were guests of the Tourism Authority of Thailand through the invitation of Dave de Jesus, Marketing Representative of TAT -Philippines. We joined three other writers from Manila at the Thai Airways Business Class counter in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Monday, May 1.

Although we were not able to get our upgrades to business class, we were able to wait in the Royal Orchid Lounge before departure.

The Thai Airways (TG) flight attendants look so slim and regal in their national attire...and so delicately beautiful...that it makes you proud to share a common Oriental ancestry with them. In just two hours and a half, we were descending towards Bangkok. Upon arrival at Don Muang International Airport, our plane had to wait awhile before it taxied to a halt on the runway far from the main terminal. We had to take a bus that passed through huge hangars and bodegas along the way, making our eyes grow wide with amazement as to how Thailand has prospered after the numerous Asian economic crises. Don Muang is a dynamic hub, judging from the numerous aircraft of various makes and sizes, sporting multinational names. I spotted one with Viennese Philharmonic on it - no wonder such a big group can be at any point on the globe, if one can afford to hire such renowned musicians!

To underscore Thailand's prosperous status, a new international airport is about to replace Don Muang in the second half of 2006. Suvarnabhumi International Airport (pronounced: su-wanna-poom) sits on a 32-square kilometer prime land that has part of downtown Bangkok in it. While Don Muang presently serves about 37 million passengers in a year, the new airport hopes initially to cater to about 45 million upon its completion. It has 360 check-in desks and 120 aircraft gates, accommodating larger aircraft like the two-deck Airbus 380s.

As they "bequeath" the use of Don Muang to the Royal Air Force or to domestic air travel, Suvarnabhumi International gears for 100 million passengers in the future, if the need will arise. The terminal building has roof overhangs to shade the interiors from the fierce heat of the Thailand sun. (I could hardly breathe when we went shopping, walking through the sun-drenched streets of Bangkok's Chinatown.) Its design is an eclectic mix of western and Asian cultures, the design consultants being an American and a Thai. Predominant Thai influence is the V-shaped ceiling patterns, not unlike the roof shape of traditional Thai houses. Chris Kucway writes in Sawasdee, Thai Airways' in- flight magazine: "Constructed from locally manufactured glass and Teflon-coated fabric, (the terminal) also boasts an energy-saving floor-cooling system. But that's all very high-tech, and this, after all, is Southeast Asia, so there's a definite turn to greenery within the building. Palm trees and other plant life will be found in abundance on most of the seven levels of the terminal proper."

There will be two runways -3,700 meters and 4,000 meters long - parallel to each other, with a taxiway each - cutting much on downtime by allowing simultaneous departures and arrivals. Upon full completion, there will be four parallel runways, enabling the airport to handle 76 flights per hour! With the upcoming grand celebration in June of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th year on the Throne of Siam, as well as the Bangkok Grand Sale from June 1 till July 31, not to mention the International Horticultural Expo for His Majesty the King in Chiang Mai on November 1, 2006 till January 7, 2007, the new international airport will surely be up to the influx of visitors eager to savor Thailand.

Landing in Bangkok, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, will be as smooth as silk. Sawasdee kaa, Krung Thep!! Kop koon, Dave...and Tourism Authority of Thailand. We had a grand time in Bangkok and were upgraded to Business Class on our flight back last May 5.