Bangkok Envy (Part I)
February 20, 2002 | 12:00am
I spent a few days in Bangkok, Thailand in between Christmas and New Year’s Day. At the check-in counter in the new wing of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the lines were long to Asian destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and even Vietnam. This dispels notions that people are afraid to fly nowadays. Well, at least not Pinoys who are raring to get out of Manila. It was obvious, though, that the most popular holiday destination of the moment is Bangkok.
It was near chaos at the Philippine Airlines check-in counters. Clearly, officials were not prepared for the flood of passengers anxious to board their flights. Our flight was due to leave in 20 minutes, the "final call" being announced over the airport speakers, yet there were still about a hundred of us, waiting impatiently in the long immigration queue. Of course, the flight had to be delayed. At any rate, we were taking PAL – (which people have taken to mean Plane Always Late).
Then after a brief flight, we were in Bangkok. No long waits at the immigration counters, despite the influx of arriving passengers. Half-empty suitcases, soon to be bursting at the seams with shopping items, are collected at the baggage belt almost instantly. Numerous tour operators awaited their clients as they hauled them one-by-one, with a peculiar "chaotic-order," aboard vans and buses to their respective hotels.
We followed our tour leader from the airport to the bus – which dropped us off at our hotel. Our guide explained (in broken English) the itinerary for the next few days. Included in the US$350 package was the round-trip ticket, four days and three nights at the hotel (with free breakfast buffet), a day tour of the city’s temples and famous floating market, a river ride and so on.
But nobody really cared. What we really wanted to do was shop. Loads of it! We were in Bangkok, after all, not Vienna.
It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, but quickly learned that anyone contemplating on taking a trip to Bangkok with the intention of going on a shopping spree must be fit.
(To be continued)
It was near chaos at the Philippine Airlines check-in counters. Clearly, officials were not prepared for the flood of passengers anxious to board their flights. Our flight was due to leave in 20 minutes, the "final call" being announced over the airport speakers, yet there were still about a hundred of us, waiting impatiently in the long immigration queue. Of course, the flight had to be delayed. At any rate, we were taking PAL – (which people have taken to mean Plane Always Late).
Then after a brief flight, we were in Bangkok. No long waits at the immigration counters, despite the influx of arriving passengers. Half-empty suitcases, soon to be bursting at the seams with shopping items, are collected at the baggage belt almost instantly. Numerous tour operators awaited their clients as they hauled them one-by-one, with a peculiar "chaotic-order," aboard vans and buses to their respective hotels.
We followed our tour leader from the airport to the bus – which dropped us off at our hotel. Our guide explained (in broken English) the itinerary for the next few days. Included in the US$350 package was the round-trip ticket, four days and three nights at the hotel (with free breakfast buffet), a day tour of the city’s temples and famous floating market, a river ride and so on.
But nobody really cared. What we really wanted to do was shop. Loads of it! We were in Bangkok, after all, not Vienna.
It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation, but quickly learned that anyone contemplating on taking a trip to Bangkok with the intention of going on a shopping spree must be fit.
(To be continued)
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