*The first in a tour of air travel around five continents
I say Asia. Then I say airport. Then you say ‘gross’. Why is it that we automatically assume that every airport that is not Heathrow will be the most revolting dump in the world? And why is it that if I say Asia you will think of dirty, basic, antiqued airports?
Because, you see, this is very unfair. I’m going to tell you the stories of two wonderful Asian airports here, Singapore Changi and Colombo Bandranaike. Sure, many airports around Asia will be pretty nasty, but it’s the same in Europe. Ever been to Heathrow?
Why we assume Asian airports to be dirty...
If we’re going on holiday to Asia, we could well end up at Chennai airport or perhaps in Bangalore (opinion coming after Christmas). In these situations, you will end up at a dump, but that does not mean every airport in Asia is absolutely horrible, does it?
But what happens is that most airports around this continent are poor and underfunded, corrupt and in desperate need of renovation. And because most of the airports are like this, we assume that every airport in Asia is just a dark box.
This is not always the case...
I’m now going to move on to study my two chosen airports in more depth, and give you more information about why they are worth a visit, who flies there, etc. Please remember that my trip to Singapore was about a year ago so I may forget details.
COLOMBO BANDRANAIKE AIRPORT
Colombo International Airport, based at the capital of SriLanka, was rocked by terrorist attacks in July 2001. But they have picked up the pieces and are now trading as usual. More about the terrorist attacks later on, and what happened during them.
I would like to say here that SriLanka is safe. You will not be mobbed by terrorists if you stick to the south, and in fact you will probably be safer in southern SriLanka than you will be in those safer parts of Ireland. So don’t tell me I’m wrong – I’m not!
Welcome to Bandranaike...
When you land, regardless of the airline you are travelling on, a stairwell painted in bright colours and with ‘SriLankan’ written down the side will greet you at the door of the aircraft. You will all disembark and a huge wake of heat and humidity will hit you.
Unfortunately, you have to get in to a bus to make the thirty-second journey to the terminal, so you will have to forget the heat for the moment. Get your passports ready! And it’s out of the SriLankan Airlines bus and instead a walk in to the CMB terminal.
How you could have arrived...
Several airlines fly to Colombo, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda and of course SriLankan Airlines. I’m going to talk to you a little about SriLankan Airlines, which I have grown to love. I am also in the process of rewriting my opinion on SriLankan Airlines.
SriLankan were also affected during the terrorist attacks at CMB – they had to ground six of their twelve aircraft. But they now fly a fleet of nine – three aircraft were destroyed. This is a shame because they are an excellent all-round airline.
You can check out their new website, www.srilankan.lk. You will find information about the 26 destinations they fly to from Colombo, so it is pretty easy to get to your favourite holiday destination without much trouble. (See separate op for SriLanka info)
Back to Bandranaike...
Your passports will be checked in the clean airport environment and you will be free to collect your baggage. This is done easily and then outside you go, to the recently refurbished arrivals area where you will meet a driver that I recommend you pre-book.
You will notice a large security presence at the airport but do not be intimidated by the armed guards – they are there for your safety to help you if there is an undesired situation. You will leave the airport through the thick fence and welcome to SriLanka!
And back to England...
You’ve made your journey so unfortunately it’s time to go back home again. So you arrive through the tight security measures, and the chances are you’ll be catching the UL504 CMB-LHR flight, at three in the morning if you were not aware of that fact.
You will notice something interesting at CMB. Passengers are all scanned before entering the airport to check in. You will first have everything scanned and rigorously checked and then will enter the airport. Not common practice, but very interesting.
Once through, you will have to fill in another form, who’s purpose I do not understand. You will then have your bags scanned again and then will be allowed to check in. This is often a friendly affair with the smiling check-in girl who will take your bags.
And whisk through passport control, all immaculate. Wife shouts, ‘Come on! The flight will leave and we wont have any time to buy duty free!’ So we get through and have a third scan would you believe, and we’re through to the area I call the ‘holding pen’.
Duty Free...
You will be surprised by the range of shops and eateries there are at Colombo. And wow, the facilities there are in the SriLankan Airlines lounge. You can buy many things at the airport – but I’m not sure if LHR immigration would let you take them home.
Everything is dirt cheap, and often of great quality. Well, enjoy those last SriLankan moments, as soon it will be back on that plane for the long journey back home to London. Sounds appealing, doesn’t it? Buy lots of souvenirs – they’ll make you happy.
On Board...
Well, you have to go back home now, back to work or school or the retirement home. And unfortunately the chances are you wont experience any delays to keep you in SriLanka for longer, either. It really is a terrible shame having to leave that island.
You will take off on that rocky runway – a true reflection of the SriLankan roads, and you’re on your way home. Journey finished, and of course the work begins. The holiday may not last for ever, but with a bit of luck, the memories will.
SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT
I’m only going to write a little bit about Singapore International. Firstly because this is the Colombo category and secondly because my memories of this place are a little rusty and I don’t want to start dishing out false information to you. Here goes…
Welcome to Changi...
This airport is maintained very well; very clean indeed. There are always people around polishing the floor or doing something which will seem incredibly pointless. If you’re bored, then you can always sit down at one of the television points for entertainment.
The channels available include BBC World Service and many other reputable sources of news and information. For another type of information, you can listen out for the clear, multi-language announcements and the large flight status boards around the airport.
Friendly Singaporeans...
I was once stranded at Singapore Changi at two in the morning. But the SAA (Singapore Airport Authority) likes to keep passengers entertained. So because a 747-load of passengers was stranded, they organised for a CHOIR to come and sing at 0200!
We were very pleased to receive this treatment, completely oblivious to what time it was (jet-lag, ugh), and then we realised that this choir had been bought in specially for us at two in the morning when they should be in bed. But it was a great performance.
Shopping...
There are lots of very cheap shops at Singapore airport selling some top-quality goods. It’s worth having a look to see if you can spot anything that takes your fancy, even if it is just to kill time rather than be sitting around in the highly-miserable ‘holding pen.’
So make the best of your visit here and but whatever you can. But I urge you – do not eat at the airport – it is expensive and the food is often absolutely disgusting. Not the ideal memory of that great holiday of Singapore or indeed of the Changi transit centre.
Summary...
So to be very honest with you, I believe that many of you are wrong about your impression of Asia’s airports. Many of you will try to avoid them, but if you ever visit Singapore again, you’ll kick yourself if you’ve dodged a visit to it in the past.
*Awaiting your comments and thoughts.
Please note the ratings given are for Asian airports in general.
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