By 3AM, my airport private transfer vehicle arrived promptly. Maybe it’s the early morning freedom but the driver was fast. I arrived at Don Mueang Airport by 3.30AM. Now I have a good problem to have.
I started to wander around the area near the departure. There were two area – international and domestic. And in the way between were restaurants. So I grabbed a meal to eat at the only native-food restaurant I spotted.
I ordered the only food I saw that fit breakfast – pork and basil, rice and egg. With a packet of stinky fish sauce and a big glass of blueberry juice. The other meaty meals looked good but likely those will hit hard later, and I don’t want to ever use a plane toilet in a budget airline at 8AM. This one was the only one that looked like breakfast. Should be fine. Good choice for me too, it came out quick.
I then entered the departure hall proper, checked in the duffel bag, went through the usual checks, and soon I was off to the shopping areas. Man, the airport’s size was deceptive, I’ll really admit. Thought it was small at first, and the arrival area was, shall we say, on the point, but the departure areas were BIG. Lots of shopping options, though not as humongous as Changi, and a veritable feast of what-can-you-buy, but if you have the money. Some were still closed, but I can imagine peak hours at that hallway, must be packed.
I already bought what I wanted, but I had one more repeat urge that I bought – Thai milk tea. I already drank two of them in Bangkok, but the one in the airport, Pang Cha, has a Michelin recommendation. Had one for maybe less than 200 baht, and while I had kind of raised my eyebrow at the price, I couldn’t dispute the drink’s taste being superb. Whatever tea they use and whatever ratio of tea and milk they employ, it definitely worked.
Mine was in gates 1-7, so time to leave. There were also stores near the departure gates that sold stuff, but they were not to my “oh I have to buy that” liking. Besides, I did not fancy carrying two bags. One carry-on luggage was all I had, and I made sure it stayed that way. I was mega sleepy too. I was antsy to get on the plane so I can finally sleep. By 7AM or so, I finally got in the plane, and after a few minutes after takeoff, I slept immediately after leaning my head on the side (I always book window seats). It’s so easy for me to sleep when I am really sleepy.
By 10AM, we landed on Changi safe and sound. I then hurried to get a ride back to my apartment, and by heavens Changi often have the smoothest arrival handling. I possess a working pass, so I went thru the automated gates after a scan or two, and voila, in less than a minute I was through. Maybe not, I had to fill out the health declaration online as soon as the plane landed and I switched to Singtel to submit it maybe 10 minutes ahead of me going to the gate.
I picked up my big duffel bag at the luggage carousel (fortunate that when I came to it, the bag was there right away), and by 11AM I was on the road, as Grab’s drivers were aplenty at that time. By 12PM, I was back at my apartment room.
Thailand trip, done.
Briathrail // Albert 2MNG 
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