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nmc
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Arrived at Suvarnabhumi today via China Airlines. The captain came on and said we would have to hold for ten minutes because of weather. I just assumed that the traffic control equipment had gone down, and the staff was down there giving it a good kicking.
Once we offloaded the airport struck me as shockingly ugly. All cement, steel and concrete. But I guess different strokes. The line I chose for immigration was quite slow but others appeared to be moving. I can't complain about that because since I had to report my passport stolen, I'm usually the guy holding up the line.
There are two currency exchanges in the baggage area and many once you clear customs.
When I got to the baggage area there were bags coming out but at a trickle. It's always a lottery at any baggage pickup but the crowd wasn't thinning as quickly as I am used to seeing here.
Didn't have any trouble finding bathrooms. The problem is that there are only three urinals and three commodes in the two I went in. If they are all like that it is hard to imagine someone was thinking about 800 flights a day when they designed them.
I followed the signs out. I didn't see a taxi stand so I flagged one down and didn't quite have the door closed when a security guy stopped us and said I would have to go downstairs to get a cab. Wha? I just came out of customs and walked out the door. I don't even think I was at departures. But apparently they do have guys watching for tourists getting into available cabs where they aren't supposed to.
I went downstairs and the signage is terrible. Couldn't have found the shuttle bus if I wanted to. I found the taxi queue and it wasn't too different from Don Muang. Really long line but it moved fast.
Didn't have to argue about turning on the meter.
203 Baht fare to Sukhumvit Soi 15. 50 baht airport fee. Its stamped on the slip they give you. 65 baht tolls. I wasn't watching the clock but it was around 30 to 45 minutes.
Through my broken Thai I got the impression from the cab driver that things at Suvarnabhumi are much better today than they were yesterday.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:23 am on Sep. 29, 2006
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oldhand
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Arrived on Friday it is a disgrace Hong Kong new airport
cost US$1 billion this crook of s**t US$4 billion when they start investigating where all the money went there
is no way Takin will be landing there!
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 1:45 pm on Sep. 30, 2006
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DaffyDuck
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Punctuation. It's not just a good idea.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:15 pm on Sep. 30, 2006
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Mr Alan
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Quote: from nmc on 5:41 am on Sep. 29, 2006
I can't complain about that because since I had to report my passport stolen...
What happens when your passport is stolen? They let you in anyway?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 6:20 pm on Sep. 30, 2006
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nmc
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I lost it on Koh Samet last year. Got a temporary in Bangkok and then replaced it when I got back to the states. Ever since, whenever I go through immigration the officer gets a quizzical look and there is a delay. As often as not, a supervisor is called over. Never a problem. Just takes time.
Flew out of Suvarnabumi yesterday. Opted for the convenience of the hotel limo bt500 all in from Sukhumvit. Except for the five baht the son of a bitch was short on the toll. Saturday morning at 10:00am and it took about twenty minutes. I don’t recall ever getting to Don Muang any faster.
The exceptionally large check in terminal is something to see. The check-in counters are perpendicular to the entrances. Don’t see how they will manage the queues at peak times. Maybe something is coming.
When I checked in the lady said my gate was “very far.” It’s actually located quite close to the passport check but they funnel you through the shopping mall, which is quite long. The stores were all open, staffed and stocked but not many customers. Who buys wristwatches and face moisturizers in an airport?
It’s one of those airports in which, once you go through security into the gate area there are no more shops, cafés or things to do that I could see. The chairs are made of metal. Not bad but cold. Those travelers who think it is a good idea to go through public airports in their gym clothes might be uncomfortable. I don’t think my chair ever warmed up. Between that and the lack of post security check amenities, I wouldn’t want to face a long layover here.
Plane left 50 minutes late. But it may have been the airline’s (EgyptAir) fault.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 7:07 pm on Sep. 30, 2006
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DaffyDuck
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Quote: from nmc on 8:25 am on Oct. 1, 2006
Ever since, whenever I go through immigration the officer gets a quizzical look and there is a delay. As often as not, a supervisor is called over. Never a problem. Just takes time.
Happens only the first 1-2 trips after the 'new' passport. I had this happen in a year where I had, essentially, three passports - an original one that expired, a temporary, and the final, new EU passport.
First time I came in with the new EU passport, I had that same quizzical look experience from the, arguably cute, immigration officer girl. Yep, called a supervisor over with the same quizzical look, at which point I asked if there is a problem - and she apologetically asked me if I had multiple passports. Made me laugh, as I explained the situation, and offered to show her the prior (expired and invalidated) passports which I brought with me. Sigh of relief, and she stamped me in.
Total extra time, maybe 5 minutes. Haven't had an issue since then. Funny though to read about your experience.
Regarding airport design - it is unfortunate that management treats passenger shuffling as a revenue source, and tries to funnel passengers whenever possible through longer passages peppered with stores, designed to fleece as many consumers as possible. Might actually work if they had products that people wanted 
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:35 pm on Sep. 30, 2006
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Janitor
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New airport experience update.
Came back into LOS on Friday using new airport for the last time (left via DM on Wednesday - a nostalgic moment - not!)
Overall experience was pretty good considering the place had been open for less than two days.
I was as prepared as I could be - took hand luggage only, and got a friends driver to pick us up.
Immigration was a breeze, but the amount of space for queuing suggests it will be a rugby scrum when things get busy....
Worse piece of design ever, it seems is the arrivals hall, which seems smaller than DM. Net result, massive crowds as you come out of customs, impossible to find anyone, get through the corwd. Unbelievable. Biggest terminal ever built, and the arrivals hall is tiny. Not like HK -
Stupid people!!!
Advice to all traveling - be really clear on where you are being met, ideally outside, because inside the arrivals hall it is impossible to find anyone...
4billion baht - don't make me laugh
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 11:49 pm on Oct. 1, 2006
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PussyLover 69
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Quote: from Janitor on 1:07 pm on Oct. 2, 2006
4billion baht - don't make me laugh
I think it is US $ 4 billion..........
Anyway the cost of construction is 'high' because of the corruption and the 'kickbacks' to various people
TIT - "This is Thailand" !!!
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:58 am on Oct. 2, 2006
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Yurune
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the TRT ordered kick back from one company alone was 6bn baht. Not so much a bribe, that's not how it works, more of a good you have the job, now add 6 billion in for us payable in cash.
Biggest terminal ever built
Not for long....... LHR T5
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:49 am on Oct. 2, 2006
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