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Singapore, Singapore (SIN) - Changi Intl.  Image

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95%
4.65 

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Bangalore India- Home sweet home
How I wish I get stranded here everytime I fly !
Apr 14, 2003 08:30 AM 6516 Views
(Updated Apr 14, 2003 09:13 AM)

Accessibility:

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Taxi/Rent-a-Car:

If there is one airport in the world where you do not mind being stranded for a few hours than Changi would be many peoples first option. I was in awe of it the moment I landed there from my IA-Bangalore-Singapore flight en-route to Hong Kong. (And I also started to wonder how on earth did the Singapore authorities allowed dirty and third-rate IA to land on their tarmac!


Singapore Airport has been voted many times as the best airport in the world and to be honest it is not surprising why. Singapore International Airport, or Changi as it is known, is somewhere you do not mind arriving an hour, two or even three hour early! Because, Changi is not just an airport but is a mini wonder with facilities that you can enjoy even when you are somber with jet-lag (or hopelessly waiting for delayed-by-a-day Indian Airlines flight!!). Lets us take a look at what makes so many people drool over Changi:


GETTING IN AND OUT OF AIRPORT:


You have the choice of buses, taxis, and private limousines. Taxis are very regular, and well organized. You will be charged a 3$ surcharge if you are hiring a taxi from the airport will, and if you take the taxi between midnight and 6 in the morning there will be the 3$ plus a 50% surcharge on the fare. Taxis also charge extra for peak hours, CBD, and ERP, but all these charges are outlined on an official form in the taxi that explains the charges.


THE DESIGN:


The planning behind Changi is exceptional. Be it accessibility, usability, convenience, safety – anything that is related to air travel - Changi designers have addressed each issue and have excelled at that! Changi is presently split into two terminals (1 and 2), with arrivals and departures on two separate levels, arrivals being the lower and departures the upper level. Terminal 1 is the older of the two terminals, but still offers you almost identical ''''activities'''' as the newer terminal 2. The airport lounges at Terminal 1 are all on the second level, and are all of pretty good quality.


BASIC AMENITIES:


Needless to say the basic amenities like waiting lounge, seating, check-in area, boarding area, restrooms, are truly of exceptional standards and in fact measure upto those in a 5-star hotel. The toilets are clean, and accommodating; lounges are fresh and airy; help and assistance is available round the clock.


FOOD:


There are numerous food and beverage outlets, such as Burger King, Delifrance, and a few restaurants serving Asian and International dishes before and after the immigration check. After immigration there are an amazing assortment of Duty Free shops, high quality airport lounges, some food and beverage outlets from fast food to food court style cuisine, some nice pubs, and in Terminal two even some entertaining amusement style parks themed along Science and such. So many outlets with different food and beverage ensure you never go hungry.


ENTERTAINMENT a-la KILLING TIME:


For those of you who are couch potatoes, there are umpteen numbers of viewing screens throughout the terminal with many televisions set up to different channels such as HBO, BBC, CNN and Discovery.


There are computer slots, where you can plug in your laptop and connect to the Internet using your own account free of charge for as long as you like.


For smokers though there is only one place to puff away, it really adds upto the pleasure along with the smoothness of 555. It is better to stick to that place alone. Because the Singapore airport police do not buy that Oh I did not know sir stuff. However smoking rooms are large in each terminal, and they are situated pretty much straight in the middle and against the airport sidewall and so easy to locate. You can sit and smoke outside or inside, but there is always pretty much enough room, either way.


SHOPPING


Though the shopping experience cannot match that of what u experience inside the Singapore city, it is still fun. In fact, the shopping facilities are better than some of our shopping malls back home in India. There are two book shops with excellent books, four electronic shops selling everything from televisions, digital cameras to your basic battery, jewellery shops, watch shops, a post office, a silver shop, exchange counters, and of course the standard perfume, alcohol and tobacco shops, and even a small supermarket. The Duty Free prices for tobacco and liquor are said to be one of the cheapest in the world here and especially so compared to other Asian airports; so make the most of it.


TARMAC:


This may be one of the basic necessities to be called as an International airport, but having experienced the bumpy rides on the pot-hole filled tarmacs of our desi International airports, one cannot help but to notice the wide and best-laid tarmacs. In fact the whole airfield is a delight to watch from behind the glass windows- especially so while enjoying a dum out of Marlboro.


SPECIAL:


I dont know whether any of you have observed it. Changi airfield spans a large area and part of it extends beyond the airport entrance. So, there are many public roads running besides or across the pat of tarmac, albeit at a lower level. I heard you say whats the big deal about it. The big deal is when you are in a Taxi in/out of the airport, keep your eyes open and if you are lucky u will see a REAL BIG flier taxing on the tarmac, which right ahead of you (on a different level!!! So while the aircraft is taxing on the runway, you are moving in a taxi right below it under the bridge!! What a fantastic view. Sadly I did not know it (neither did my cousin who is in Singapore for the last 2 years!) and so cudn’t get any pic :-(


Some of the things that you may need to know- just in case you get stranded by an IA flight:


Business Center: Located in the transit hotels of Terminals 1 and 2. (7 am to 11 pm ) Offers workstations with Internet access, photocopiers, fax, telex, facilities and meeting rooms. Secretarial and language services are also available upon request.


Cactus Garden: Level 3 of terminal one departure /transit lounge this unique garden houses 20 varieties of cacti native to North and South America.


Electronic Luggage Lockers: Are available in both Terminals 1 and 2.


Fitness Center: Located in the transit hotel in Terminal 1, the gym offers you use of gym and exercise equipment, for Sin $ 10. A shower is included in the price with towel, shower gel and shampoo, are provided.


Hairdressing Salons : Located in the transit hotels, the unisex salons are open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sundays in Terminal 1 and from 11am to 9pm Monday to Saturday in Terminal 2.


Lost and Found : If you have lost something at the airport and not on an airline please call Singapore (1800 toll free within Singapore) .


Medical Services: These centers can be found in both Terminals, and are open from 8am to 12 midnight. The center in Terminal 2 located at the basement is open 24 hours.


Shower and Sauna : Hot showers are available for only Sin $ 5.15 or you may wish to enjoy a steamy sauna. The sauna which includes shower is Sin $ 10.30.


Prices and timings may (not) have changed.


With so much to offer Changi is really a travelers delight. After seeing all this, being an Indian, u cant help but to start wondering will we be able to boast of one such thing -if at least not in our life time- by the time our kids start to have kids!!


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