Getting all ready to check out of the hotel.
As Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri provided quite a few complimentary bottles of drinking water, plus an automated beverage machine serving coffee, mocha, hot chocolate etc, I didn't even manage to open the second bottle of 5-liter drinking water purchased from the convenience stall.
Biding goodbye to our hotel room which provided us with a great stay for the past few days. One key takeaway; should I buy a dryer as it was so convenient to have clean, dry and warm clothing to wear after just a few hours!
Booked a cab through the hotel.
Cost in total - 500 baht.
Traffic was smooth and before long, we sighted the humongous signboard announcing the lanes that would lead to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
After a while, two things shall welcome us to the airport; the golden statues of kinnaree and the 132.2-meter high Suvarnabhumi Airport's Air Traffic Control Tower.
Rushing to check in our luggage.
I always make full use of the maximum capacity allowed. Knowing I only had 50 kilograms in total and after the lesson learnt in Taiwan, I was conservative in my shopping and the four pieces of luggage was, thankfully, just one kilogram short of 50.
Six of the twelve guardian giants; all masked up, I believe I have spoken about them before since I visit Bangkok so often but couldn't quite remember the details. Some call them yakshas whereas other said they are Ramayana Giants, a character from this story known as Ramakien.
The boring passage leading to the immigration counters; I recently watched a video from a YouTuber he mentioned that Singapore Changi Airport is the best as the operator strives to give you a relaxing experience. Passage as above does give a sense of foreboding fear.
More photographs of the iconic sculpture which came from a tale known as "The Churning the Ocean of Milk". Those who have watched Avatar 2 recently will remember this anti-ageing ingredient known as Amrita that was extracted from the tulkuns (whale-like animals); this same amrita was also mentioned in the tale.
Shopping time! Not really as I don't really shop for branded although I do enjoy window shopping for unique stuff like memorabilia, food, local products etc.
A large section under renovation. If memory serves me well, they used to house a lot of eateries. Let me add; expensive eateries and it's better off to dine at the publicly accessible eateries before you clear the immigration for departure.
Not sure if the medication would be cheaper at the airport pharmacy. Singaporeans love to buy medication when they are overseas like in Malaysia and Thailand as prices are lower and you usually don't need a presciption.
McDonald's and Bonchon Chicken; my sister just got back from Bangkok before the New Year and was grumbling about how bad Bonchon Chicken was at the airport. Must be the same branch.
Perfumes and cosmetics; I do need to purchase some perfume soon!
Going to the right side of the "The Churning the Ocean of Milk" sculpture. I planned my route in a way that it would eventually lead me to my boarding gate.
Air travelers departing from Bangkok and forgot to buy souvenirs can consider these boxes of rice crispies. Samples are available and my favorite is crab curry! One box was about 145 baht.
Nearing the departure gates for my flight.
As there were quite a few passengers clearing the last hurdle for departure and the plane had yet to open its gate, I was in no hurry to join the queue. It's so much more restrictive once you are within the gate!
Let's indulge in a cup of Gloria Jean's mocha.
And a selfie before I boarded the plane.
Always nice to take Singapore Airlines; so glad that I only managed to secure the tickets at quite reasonable price. With the air travel industry improving, I guess I would go back to my budget airlines soon.
Must remember to take the earphones!
I forgot about it when I flew from Singapore to Bangkok.
Window view - nowadays, full service airlines don't allow you to select seats for economy lite and value fares and I am too stingy to pay extra. Hence, I always pray the lovely counter staff would give me a window seat!
This would allow me to take more photos and also time-lapsed videos of taking off and landing. And it's just so therapeutic to be able to look out and look at the cottony clouds.
Google Image search is amazing; I managed to find out that the tall building at the back is Assumption University Suvarnabhumi Campus and that temple with wired domes (I think it was still in its incomplete, structural phase) is Wat Sri Rattana Thammaram.
Going to miss Bangkok.....
That was the feeling I had then.
Watching Reunion Dinner (团圆饭) - "a 2022 Singaporean Mandarin-language Chinese New Year comedy drama film" starring Lawrence Wong. It's an entertaining movie!
Inflight lunch was beef with potatoes and a cake that tasted like chendol. Not bad tasting although not amazing enough for me to remember much about them.
View above the clouds!
Always fantasize I could sleep on them.
Peninsular Malaysia. Everyone is aware that East Malaysia doesn't mean the east coast right? For those who are unaware, East Malaysia consists of Sarawak and Sabah and located across the South China Sea about 600 kilometers away.
Estimated three more minutes to arrival at Changi Airport!
Entry would be via the runway alongside Terminal 3.
This is already in Singapore's territory. Given our land constraint, the only way is to expand via land reclamation. Total land mass increased about 22% since 1965 (year of independence)!
The land of Singaporean men; national service, a rite of passage that almost all of Singaporean men would undertaken when they reach young adulthood. Pulau Tekong is where most of them would start their basic military training. I can even see my company in the picture; Viper! And I am most afraid of snakes.
Shipping; the traditional lifeline of Singapore.
Rolling across this bridge that connects both runaways of Changi Airport. It's quite amazing when you travel to the airport via car / taxi / bus and a humongous plane just nonchalantly crosses the overhead bridge.
Another look of the SQ airplane that sent us safely from Bangkok to Singapore. To be frank, I do get a bit nervous whenever I take the plane, especially what happened during 911 and also the mysterious disappearance of MH370.
Wah, so good for Changi Airport to provide this although I always support our taxi uncles and aunties. One key benefit, the taxis have a bigger boot for my luggage!
One last thing to do; buy duty free liquor! No Absolut Vodka also okay; I can meet the limit with Suntory beer, Somersby Apple Cider, Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc or even Raffles Light. Man, I do sound like an alcoholic!
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