More photos of the beautiful Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Out of the ground to daylight

From its opening in 1998,  KLIA has garnered many awards that place it in the top ten  of airports worldwide for design, efficiency and passenger service.  Japanese designer Kisho Kurasawa was commisioned in the early 1990’s to create a design that was both elegant yet understated, open yet intimate.  One visit to this airport would convince you that he was very successful.  I have post other photos of this airport.  I would recommend a visit to the earlier posting.

G corridor

Models sans runway

For Chinese New Year

Splash of color

Bangkok Airport closed, Singapore to Bangkok by car, part three

Hat Yai to Bangkok

After a restful night, we woke up around 700am for the final “push” to Bangkok.  I had arranged for my driver to meet us in Hat Yai.  He had driven from Bangkok the previous day and was well rested for the return to Bangkok.  If you don’t have a pre-arranged driver, don’t worry about it.  In downtown Hat Yai there are many transportation businesses to take you north to Bangkok (or south to Malaysia) via car, van, bus or even rail.  There is no difficulty arranging this.

After I had the breakfast buffet at the hotel I went out for a short walk before the long journey to Bangkok.  We estimated that it might take about 12 hours to Bangkok which turned out to be accurate.

Local restaurant in Hat Yai

More places to eat

Where to eat?

Within a couple of blocks of the hotel were lots of little restaurants for breakfast, mainly Thai or Chinese-style, whereas the hotel cafe had a buffet that was mostly Western with some limited Thai or Chinese food.  Either way, the food was good.

We started out about 830am for the long drive to Bangkok.  The highway were very good although not of the limited access type like in Malaysia.   Therefore, you had to be alert for all types of vehicles.  In a couple of stretches of highway, there was a cow or two in the median.

We only saw one accident scene during the entire trip from Singapore to Bangkok and this was just north of Hat Yai.

Only accident seen on trip

The highway to Bangkok has lots of petrol stations, restaurants and large superstores like Tesco-Lotus.  In fact, we stopped several times for petrol and a couple times just to stretch our legs.  The best stop was at the Tesco just south of Nakhon Si Thammarat.  In addition to many Thai restaurants in the food court, there were several Western so it was easy to find something to eat.

By 500pm, we were considering a stop in Hua Hin, a great beachfront resort three hours south of Bangkok.  Hua Hin is replete with five star hotels, seafood restaurants, and things to do but by this time we wanted to finish the day in Bangkok.

Last stop for coffee before Bangkok

We finally made it to Bangkok around 900pm and still felt pretty good given the 12+ hours it took to complete the day’s trip.

The two day trip was efficient and quick using five different vehicles.  A rental car from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, a hired limo from KL to the Malaysian-Thai border, two taxis over the border and a private van to Bangkok.  This trip could have happened with one fewer vehicle or with different segments using other means of transportation like buses, trains and planes but how often can you take a road trip through three countries in two days.  Although the approximately 2000 km trip would have been easier in three days, two days were not insufferable.  To emphasize, there was not one problem that occurred during the trip and I would recommend this journey to anyone.  If there is any one lasting memory, it’s how friendly people were during the entire route.

Bangkok at last

Across the Chao Phya River

Planes and trains – Kuala Lumpur Airport Express

Calm expression

Between the great airport in Kuala Lumpur and the “Airport Express” train to Kl Sentral Train Station, there are plenty of opportunities to take photographs.

Whom shall I call?

Welcome smile

Fly with us?

Which one? Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok Airport

The tube

There are many great airports in Asia.  From the mega airport in Beijing to that little jewel of an airport in Kuala Lumpur.  These photos show some of my favorite airports at their finest.

The underground

Flowers along the path

The sign

The World’s Most Beautiful Airport – Kuala Lumpur International Airport

There are a number of airports that would lay claim to the title of world’s most beautiful.  In any group KLIA would be in the running.  The exterior does nothing for me.  But the interior is magnificent. The keys to KLIA are the use of shadow and light and the attention to detail.

Light sabres

Airport masts

Waiting for the train

Lighten up

Time to go

Starbucks Kuala Lumpur at the Curve Damansara

It’s amazing how many Starbucks there are.  At the Curve Shopping Center, there are three.  All with ten minutes from one another.  And all busy.

My favorite drink?  Besides an espresso doppio, it’s Green Tea Frappucino.

Starbucks for the computer geek

Inside out

Count the laptops.

Two of three

Roaming Kuala Lumpur, The Curve Shopping Center, Damansara

About two years ago I “discovered” the Curve Shopping Center.  It was brand new back then.  As you would expect from a “new” shopping center, there are shops to appeal to everyone.  In addition to clothing boutiques, there is an IT floor, camera shops and a large number of restaurants that appeal to anyone’s thoughts for dinner.   There is also a extra-large Border’s Bookstore.  Nearby is a cinema complex.  Another shopping center is within five minutes by foot.

The highlight is the restaurant area that has both indoor and outdoor seating.  It is quite laid-back and the perfect place to eat dinner.

Take a look:http://www.thecurve.com.my/

Restaurant row, indoor and outdoor seating

Curve "circles"

Bubba Gump restaurant

Restaurant row at night

Official Airport Websites

I’ve added the websites for Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore Airports to the left sidebar.  I will add others in the coming weeks.