Jaunted

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Inside Paribatra, the Helicopter Departure Lounge at The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok

The 34th floor may not sound like so high, but in an area with no other skyscrapers to challenge it, the Peninsula Hotel Bangkok's Helicopter departure lounge might as well be in heaven. Named "Paribatra" after HRH Prince Paripatra Sukhumbhand, Prince of Nakorn Sawan, the Pen's helilounge is one of those sweet secret spaces often heard of a city, but rarely visited. The only ways to access this one? You must either book a helicopter flight transfer for a grand chunk of change or rent out the place for a private function with others who appreciate aviation history; in other words, it's hardcore.

We managed to sneak around the helilounge recently, and though the helipads remained out of reach (for now), we did sink our heels into the rich carpeting, get up close with jet engine parts as wall decoration, and drink in what may be the best view in Bangkok, of Bangkok. You see, The Peninsula sits on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, opposite like 90% of the central district. Therefore, The Peninsula is essentially gazing over at the metropolis, with the helilounge winking.

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Finding Buddha at Bangkok International Airport

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport is massive, and this is something that must be experienced the understand. From the moment you step into the check-in area of BKK, it's all space and all filled with fellow travelers. Perhaps your eyes are drawn to the lines of counters for exotic airlines, or perhaps you're distracted by the numbers of western tourists dressed like they just crawled out of a rice paddy, but regardless there's one huge focal point smackdab in the center of the terminal: a Reliquary Urn of the Lord Buddha.

Kind of like the rest of the airport, it's giant and shiny. The multi-tiered golden reliquary is also surrounded by a garden of Thai flora, and it's pretty much the most ideal photo backdrop in the airport as evidenced by the flow of people posing in front of it.

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McDonald's Has a Monopoly on Airport Food in the BKK Domestic Terminal

Flying domestic in Thailand through Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport? You've got one choice for grabbing some food in the terminal, and we're not kidding. It's McDonald's.

We spotted this airport food nook after stepping off a Bangkok Airways flight into BKK from HKT (Phuket) last week, and were shocked by their less than appetizing catchphrase: "The Only Restaurant in Domestic." Well, that may be right but the threat of it doesn't mean that we're going to give into a burger and McDs sundae when we're supposedly in the capital of awesome food. Where's the Pad Thai to go, at the very least?!

[Photo: Jaunted]

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The Positives and Negatives of United 747 Business Class Between Tokyo and Bangkok

Following a harrowing last-minute upgrade and 11.5 hours in so-so Biz Class from SFO to NRT, we were finally ready to experience the updated seats and in-flight entertainment on United's 747 from Tokyo-Narita to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi.

That may sound like a reasonably short flight, but nu uh—that's another 6.5 hours of flying, which makes it totally worthwhile to have a nice seat and a nice TV and a nice meal for this last leg of a very long, very tiring journey.

We've already dug into the meals here, so now let's discuss the finer points of the seat and service in Biz Class on this 747:

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United's Business Class Meals Between Tokyo and Bangkok

No warm nuts. No warm nuts! How dare an airline take away the pleasure of a little warm nuts before a long flight? Answer: when it's United between Tokyo-Narita and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.

Following a $600+ upgrade to Business Class, an 11.5-hour flight from SFO to NRT and some filet mignon, we were excited for a little more local fare on the 6 hour and 30 minute flight. And we got it. Kinda. If Trader Vic's-recipe dishes can be considered thusly.

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Bangkok Opens Handy Dandy Train Service from Airport to Downtown

Nothing beats skipping the rental car counter in favor of a high-speed rail link to downtown, and that’s why we’re excited to hear that Bangkok just opened dedicated service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to downtown.

As with any public works projects there were tons of delays, cost overruns, and other hassles; however, the train finally opened up last week, linking tourists, business people, and everyone else with easy access to the airport. The plans were first approved back in 2003, and it was actually supposed to open along with the airport in 2006; it certainly has been a long time coming.

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Thai Airport Standoff Proves World Is Indeed Flat

Suvarnabhumi Airport has finally reopened, though it promises to be a total disaster in the near-term as hundreds of thousands of tourists try to flee Bangkok. The eight-day standoff illuminated how important airports are--and how their closure, for whatever reason, can cut off entire countries from the outside world.

For every inconvenienced tourist, it seems, there was a FedEx package that couldn't get through. The International Herald Tribune reports that ritzy hotels had to shake up their menus without fancy imported food available and orchid growers had to dump inventory on the domestic market, at one-third the price they're used to getting. Japanese restaurants ran out of sushi, and wine reserves were going fast because people "don't have much else to do these days" the food and beverage director of the Four Seasons told the newspaper.

But perhaps the most globalized industry of all, tourism, took the biggest hit, with officials predicting a 30 to 40 percent drop in vacations this holiday season. Worries about the future of the $17 billion-a-year industry--both because of the airport closure and the on-going political crisis--even forced the country's central bank to cut its interest rate by a full point Wednesday. As the head of Thailand's tourism office told a local paper: "Even the tsunami was over in just one day."

Related Stories:
· Bangkok Feeling the Pain of Isolation [IHT]
· Bangkok Airport Resumes Operations [NYT]
· Bangkok Airport Crisis coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JasonDGreat]

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Had Enough? How To Get Out Of Bangkok

Possible further airport hell averted! The latest reports out of Bangkok have it that Suvarnabhumi could be reopen as early as December 5, though other estimates say rebooting BKK could take at least another week or longer.

Don't order your last celebratory bowl of Pad Thai just yet, though: With as many as a few hundred thousand other people clamoring to get out of the country, flights are bound to be the definition of overbooked for days if not weeks. What's the best exit strategy, then? For now, it's the Vietnam-era U-Tapao airfield, a 90-mile drive south of Bangkok, which is currently operating some international flights.

Among the carriers making connections to international airports that won't be total nightmares for the rest of 2008 are AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines. AirAsia in particular has lots of flights, including departures to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Shenzhen and Singapore.

Related Stories:
· AirAsia "Rescue Flights" [Official Site]
· Bangkok Protests: What to Do if You're in Thailand [Telegraph]
· Bangkok International Airport Still Protest Central [Jaunted]

[Photo: AirAsia]

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Bangkok International Airport Still Protest Central

These People's Alliance for Democracy protesters don't quit! Almost a full week after seizing control of both airports in Bangkok, the PAD is still occupying Suvarnabhumi and no commercial flights are arriving or departing, though some empty planes are being moved to other airports in the region.

The tourism minister of Thailand says the PAD's actions have stranded 240,000 tourists, though as an employee of the current government, we're a little dubious of the accuracy of that figure. Still, there's no denying that several thousand holidaymakers have been inconvenienced by the airport closure. PAD is handing out water as a PR gesture, but most of the reports from BKK we've seen show passengers more interested in getting the hell out of Thailand than hydrating.

Even if protesters clear out of Suvarnabhumi today--and that doesn't seem likely, does it?--it'll be at least another week before it's back in business, the director of the Airports Authority of Thailand has said. In the meantime, regional hubs Changi Airport in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur International in Malaysia are open as usual. If you can get the change fee on your ticket waived because of possibly-coup-inciting protests, let us know!

Related Stories:
· 240,000 Tourists Stranded in Thailand [The Nation]
· Thai Protesters to Focus on Airports [NYT]
· Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Still Shuttered [Jaunted]

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Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Still Shuttered

Protesters calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat overwhelmed Suvarnabhumi Airport Tuesday night, some bombs reportedly exploded nearby and BKK remains closed today, with People's Alliance for Democracy camped out in the terminal. The New York Times described the scene:

Confidently striding across a makeshift stage, Mr. Sondhi added: “Are we going to stay here tonight? The answer is definitely, Yes!” Stranded passengers were evacuated by airport staff from the terminal throughout the day Wednesday, many of them sent to Bangkok hotels. “Canceled” flashed across the flight schedule screens and check-in counters were empty.

Protesters set up cooking equipment and prepared vats of food in the terminal building, giving parts of the building a festival-like atmosphere. But with tension running high among both demonstrators and government supporters, the possibility of further violence remained high.

Reportedly PAD supporters have even occupied the control tower. Airport officials are now calling on the army for help to restore order and get Suvarnabhumi open again.

Related Stories:
· Thai Army Chief Advises PM to Quit [NYT]
· Thai Protests Heighten Crisis [WSJ]
· Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Shut Down by Protesters [Jaunted]

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Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport Shut Down By Protesters

Departing flights out of Bangkok's international airport have been canceled, news wires are reporting, though BKK's website makes no mention of service interruptions.

Protesters affiliated with the People's Alliance for Democracy swarmed Suvarnabhumi International and forced its closure, an airport spokeswoman told Reuters, while other PAD supporters rallied at Don Mueang International, also in Bangkok. If you're scheduled to fly, now would be a good time to call your airline to confirm your seat--or rebook.

Despite the seemingly endless protests and at times violent clashes between the PAD and its political rivals, parts of Thailand's capital remain as safe as usual, says Bangkok-based blogger Newley Purnell:

It’s the early evening, darkness has fallen, and people are heading home from work. Taxis cruise by along the road outside my window. People jog around a scenic park. And motorcycle taxi drivers ferry people about. It’s business as usual.

Related Stories:
· Reports: Bangkok Airport Shut Down [CNN]
· Thai Flights Disrupted as Protesters Storm Airport [Reuters, via WaPo]
· Bangkok Protests: Shots Fired [Newley.com]

[Photo of BKK: rogerwp]