Final sightseeing

It’s quite an irony that I had been learning Thai massage at Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medicine School but hadn’t actually visited the wat this trip.   Since we had some time before check-out and the evening departure, I thought it would be good to go along with Mum and step-dad.

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After check-out, we lunched at the hotel.  Lunch was discounted from THB160 to THB110 after 1400, which suited us well!  We taxied to Suvarnabhumi airport before 1500.  It only took about 30 mins and THB230 using a normal taxi, comparetd to THB1000 using a limo taxi.

I checked in for my Emirates flight to Auckland via Sydney.  Because I had booked my flight in August 2006, the departure tax at the airport had been raised.  I had to cough up another THB700 but fortunately I had enough bahts left.  Otherwise it would be a mad scramble to the ATM or money changer.  I used all all but THB2!

Even though Mum’s flight to Singapore was scheduled for after mine, their counter opened after.  I guess Jetstar is a shorthaul airline here and they don’t need to open 3h prior to departure.

Airside, the airport’s design (essentially a glass cylinder with floors floating inside) had been a sun and heat trap during the day.  The upper level was stifling. Walking distances were also large.

I said goodbye to Mum and step-dad as we went our separate ways.  At my boarding gate, I learned that there was a liquid ban for my flight, despite an earlier check for liquids, aerosol and gel.  So, any drinks purchased at the airport may not be brought through to the boarding gate.  After disposing my bottle, I found that there was a water bottle in the gate area.

My Emirates Boeing 777-300ER  wasn’t too full today.  I managed to have three seats for the first leg to Sydney.  It was very noisy just behind the wing, so despite the evening departure I didn’t get any sleep.