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Singapore Changi Airport consistently tops the polls in passenger surveys. Here are some features that I like.




Free internet terminals, and plenty of them as well.



Work desks made for laptops with power supply, so no sitting on the floor next to a powerpoint that is meant for a vacuum cleaner. There was no wireless offered by the airport, but I had my mobile phone with me and I was sent a free access code by one of the local mobile phone services.




Very comfortable lounges. Just make sure you set an alarm as the temptation to doze off could be hard to resist if you are half way through a long flight.

Labels: airport, changi, internet, laptop, singapore

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Labels: boat, bumboat, river, singapore, singapore river

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Haze from fires burning in across Sumatra and Borneo reaches Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.

Labels: fire, forest, haze, indonesia, singapore

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The First Generation - Singapore

Labels: first generation, singapore

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Labels: malaysia, melaka, trishaw

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INternational companies accommodating for local tastes and traditions. In this case the fasting month of Ramadan. Colonel Sanders probably never even heard of Ramadan.

Labels: breaking, dunkin donuts, fast, kfc, menu, ramadan

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There is a mania across Asia for serving drinks in plastic bags. In the Kuala Lumpur Chinatown I found this guy who makes the best iced coffees, and this is how the coffee is served.

Labels: bag, chinatown, iced coffee, kuala lumpur

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Labels: georgetown, malaysia, trishaw

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Labels: georgetown, mailbox, malaysia, royal

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The populated area of Koh Phi Phi Don is on a small spit of land between two bays. The tsunami washed over this land between bays. Around 70% of the Islands buildings and infrastructure was destroyed and the Island was temporarily closed afterwards. Since then the Debris has mostly been removed and businesses have restarted.

Labels: koh phi phi don, thailand, tsunami

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These traffic lights in Krabi Town are the most interesting traffic lights I've ever seen.

The statues are of homo erectus, (Manut Boraan in Thai, meaning ancient man). Remains of homo erectus were found in a cave near Krabi.



Further reference: krabipost.com

Labels: ancient man, homo erectus, krabi town, thailand, traffic light

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Tsunami warnings signs seem to be omnipresent now on Thailand beaches.

Labels: krabi, thailand, tsunami

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Labels: phuket, songthaew, thailand, tuk tuk

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I don't know if there was another memorial somewhere else or if there is a bigger one planned in the future, but I found this memorial on Patong Beach. What they were thinking putting it next to the "Big One" Supermarket?!

Labels: patong beach, phuket, thailand, tsunami

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It has been nearly 2 years since Indian Ocean Boxing Day tsunami. Phuket was quick to pick itself up and start in reconstruction, which is not surprising as it is one of the busiest tourist areas in Thailand.

I have not been here before so I couldn't tell you if it looks different to before that fateful day. There are a couple of large empty blocks on the beach front road, too big a chunk of prime real estate to be vacant, other than that it is business as usual.

Along the beach there are now tsunami evacuation route and tsunami guideline signs.

Labels: phuket, thailand, tsunami

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A friendly reminder for our North American and Continental European friends.

Labels: drive, driving, koh samui, left, thailand

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The full moon party on Koh Phangan, Thailand has gone from a small backpackers party to an international event that is included in package holidays and is even featured on postcards.

A popular way of getting there is by speed boat from from the neighbouring Koh Samui.

Further reference:
Full Moon Party Thailand

Labels: full moon party, koh phangan, koh samui, thailand

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Fried Bananas - Koh Samui

Labels: fried bananas, koh samui, thailand

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Labels: bo phut, buffalo, koh samui, thailand

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Beware of strangers. That's good advice anytime when travelling, and particularly in Bangkok, where well meaning strangers will come up to you and offer a deal of a lifetime. As the old adage goes, if it's too good to be true, it usually is.

Read here for the various scams doing the rounds in Bangkok: Scam Watch

Labels: bangkok, scams, thailand

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Looking for something different to do in Bangkok? If you are all templed out and the Go-Go Bar's of Patpong aren't your thing, then perhaps a visit to a Bangkok prison could do.

In some of the guest houses in the Banglamphu area there are travellers notice boards which have details of prisoners who would welcome a visit.

Labels: bangkok, banglamphu, prison, thailand

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A sentiment the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would now know only too well after last months military coup.

Labels: military coup, thailand, thaksin shinawatra

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Cheap beer and dodgy student cards on the Khao San Rd, Bangkok.

Labels: bangkok, khao san rd, thailand

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The Khao San Rd in Bangkok is the budget accommodation centre of Bangkok and perhaps the backpacker capital of Southeast Asia. It's also a good place to find cheap street food.

Labels: bangkok, khao san rd, thailand

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I arrived at Bangkok's new international airport one week after it had opened. Suvarnabhumi Airport replaces Don Mueang International Airport. Suvarnabhumi is the world's second largest single building and airport terminal (Hong Kong International having the biggest).

I had heard of some major delays and other teething problems that you might expect from a newly opened airport. Fortunately by the time I got there everything went smoothly. It was about 40 minutes from the aircraft reaching the terminal to me exiting the building. In all, it was 10 minutes waiting for the plane door to open, 10 minute walk through the terminal, 10 minute wait at passport control, then 10 minutes to collect my bag.

Getting to and from the airport is another matter. I got the AE2 bus service to Suvarnabhumi-Khao San Rd and that took 1 hour and 45 minutes. This was at 7 in the evening. That was 45 minutes on the expressway, then 1 hour of crawling through Bangkok's legendary traffic congestion. This time might be longer during the day, so if you are going to or from the airport, give your self plenty of time.

There is an express train that is being built to service the airport, but this will not be ready for another 2 years. It was due to be ready when the airport opened, but engineering faults have delayed its construction.

Labels: airport, bangkok, don mueang, suvarnabhumi, thailand

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The blue plaques of London aren't just the preserve of Prime Ministers and Captains of Industry. Now any old clown can get a plaque. Mind you, Joseph Grimaldi wasn't any old clown, he was the Godfather of modern clowning.



56 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4, GB. Map

Labels: blue plaque, clown, england, joseph grimaldi, london

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