Happy Landings

Top L to R: the runway, Samui Airport sign, international arrival, baggage handling.

Bottom L to R: check-in counter, snack bar, departure gate, Captain and crew.

Happy body art on Bangkok Airways.

It's been many months since we went any place.

Ko Samui fitted our idea of a quick get-away: flight time is under 2 hours and a 3-night stay is enough.

Samui airport deserves special mention.

It is an open airport: your flight lands and takes off on a runway that is in the middle of tropical vegetation. All airport processing - arrival, immigration clearance, baggage claim, check-in, departure - is done in a cluster of open wooden huts. The feel of the place is definitely kampong.

It was a sweltering 36C/97F humid evening when we arrived. The air was stiflingly still. There is not a single air-conditioned place in the airport to duck into. So we wilted while we helplessly waited for our baggage in the baggage claim hut.

We are soon to realise there are simply very few air-conditioned places on this island.