It was time to join for the next part of the trip, going from Bangkok to Singapore, with a connection to Sydney.
Bangkoks new airport, Suvarnabhumi, has had a lot of press in the time since opening, especially for some construction flaws. But it has earned widely praise for its design and architecture. I can not totally agree with that. It is very greyish, and to my taste, ceilings are a bit low in certain parts.
Albet there is a lot of light, it does not look comforting or inviting. Design of KLIA / Kuala Lumpur International Airport or the new Hong Kong airport are better in that respect, as they offer more polished metal than plain concrete, and brake strict technical structures with the warm tone of wood.
To me also the "passenger flow design" is a bit strange, meaning mainly where security controls are located. Here in Bangkok it is designed that you have several fairly large groups of gates, that share one security control together. After this control you may still have a long way to walk up to your gate, and you can not exit the security area again... This is a bit odd to me.
Anyway, first part of the trip was in an real classic airliner, Thai Airway's Airbus A300-600
(Photo taken in Singapore Changi)
I have not flown on any of the A300 Series aircraft for years, and even my last A310 experience may be about 10 years ago, when our national carrier still had them in service.
It is very obvious how cabin interior design has changed in the last decades, allthough this aircraft, HS-TAS, is only 14 years old. It is nice to experience this "old airliner style" from time to time. Flight was flawless and we arrived perfectly on time in Singapore.
I had planned for a four hour brake here, as german Television RTL has requested for an interview with me on the A380 inauguration flight comming up. As I stated before, I like that kind of attention, and so I was more than happy to spend my - else maybe boring - brake with them, shooting and interviewing in Changis departure hall.. I'm looking forward to the airing, it was quite fun to work with them.
As time passed quickly our flight to Sydney was already prepared for boarding. This time I'll still fly the old Queen of the Skies, before returning in two days on the A380.
I still find the 747 to be a very elegant looking aircraft, but I have seen the A380 in reality only for a short second when I arrived from Frankfurt in Singapore, being prepared on the apron maybe for some tests.
Flight was well boked on this leg of my trip again, and by accident I had my seat located next to two german ladies who were tripping to Australia for a 3 week exploration. They gave me some quite strange looks when I told them that I was going all the way down only for two days.
As I took the night flight, departing at 8.30pm in Singapore and arriving at 05.30 in Sydney I spent most of the time sleeping, as to have as much energy for Australia. It will be my first time in down under, so I have quite a tense sightseeing programme. And as the hotel surely would not let me check in that early, I prepared for an immediate start in the early morning.
We touched down punctually, after a short 7,5 hours flight. Australian immigration is a bit different to the others I know so far. They are very strict on importing any raw food and plants, as they fear of pests and diseases. It is controlled quite strictly , with draconian fines imposed.
But I took also this "small challenge", as I did not carry anything edible with me except than a pack of jewing gum, so I finally may announce: I am there - my first time in Australia.
And off was the head. Poor 747, lost your nose.
