When you are a long-haul airline pilot you get to see in more detail a lot of the places that only appear on many peoples trip as a stopover. So is it worth breaking your trip and spending just a little time in some of these locations? Well read on and I will give you the low down on some of them, of course, it will all depend on which airline you are using.
NEW DELHI - INDIA
India’s capital is served by Indira Gandhi Airport which is the hub for Air India among others, with connections to Nepal and the Subcontinent. If you stay here you get to see ruins, tombs and a side trip to the Taj. If you stop it will pay to make time for a few days in Delhi. You should see the Chandni Chowk market of Old City which hums to the bustle of traders and snack carts, and is best explored on foot. On the edge of this lies the 17th century Red Fort, and its dusty red walls that still recall the regal glow of its Mughal past. You can escape the hustle among the tombs of the peaceful Lodhi Gardens, before finishing in the mausoleum of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. This palatial complex was built in the 1560s and its sandstone walls come alive in the glow of a setting sun. If you can stay longer then take a trip to Agra which takes about three and half hours by train which drop visitors off close to the Taj Mahal. Side-trips to the UNESCO listed Keoladeo National Park offer some of the best bird spotting in India. If you are a UK citizen then you require a visa which costs from £110 prior to travel. Visa processing very strict and the smallest error will mean that you need to re-apply so this is one case where an application company can be money well spent. Travel from the Airport to Connaught Place in the centre is less than £1 and trains take 25 minutes.
BANGKOK THAILAND
The Thai capital is served by Suvarnabhumi Airport which is the hub for Thai Airways, with connections on to Australasia and South-East Asia. While its claim to fame is being good for backpackers, Bangkok is actually a city of phenomenal temples and great food. It can even be done in a day if you have little time to spare. Bangkok traffic is chaos, so escape it on Chao Phraya River’s express ferry. First, stop at Tha Tien pier for the Wat Pho temple, a pretty, rambling compound famed for being the birthplace of Thai massage and home to the city’s largest reclining Buddha. Then cross the water to see the impressive Wat Arun, best seen at dusk. Further downriver, a short stroll from Maharaj pier lies the sprawling wonder of Bangkok’s Grand Palace. When here visit its Wat Phra Kaew temple to see its famed emerald Buddha. Then escape by taxi to Or Tor Kor, Bangkok’s best wet market, which boasts a fine food court and curries of every hue. If you decide to stay a little longer then take a minibus, which departs from the Victory Monument, for the 1.5 hour journey to the ancient Siamese capital of Ayuthaya. Another good tip is to hire a private longboat to take you to the famed Damnoen Saduak floating markets which are 70km away. No visas are required for UK citizens for stays of up to 30 days. Travel from the Airport to Phaya Thai Station in the centre is less than £1 and trains take 30 minutes.
NEW DELHI - INDIA
India’s capital is served by Indira Gandhi Airport which is the hub for Air India among others, with connections to Nepal and the Subcontinent. If you stay here you get to see ruins, tombs and a side trip to the Taj. If you stop it will pay to make time for a few days in Delhi. You should see the Chandni Chowk market of Old City which hums to the bustle of traders and snack carts, and is best explored on foot. On the edge of this lies the 17th century Red Fort, and its dusty red walls that still recall the regal glow of its Mughal past. You can escape the hustle among the tombs of the peaceful Lodhi Gardens, before finishing in the mausoleum of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. This palatial complex was built in the 1560s and its sandstone walls come alive in the glow of a setting sun. If you can stay longer then take a trip to Agra which takes about three and half hours by train which drop visitors off close to the Taj Mahal. Side-trips to the UNESCO listed Keoladeo National Park offer some of the best bird spotting in India. If you are a UK citizen then you require a visa which costs from £110 prior to travel. Visa processing very strict and the smallest error will mean that you need to re-apply so this is one case where an application company can be money well spent. Travel from the Airport to Connaught Place in the centre is less than £1 and trains take 25 minutes.
BANGKOK THAILAND
The Thai capital is served by Suvarnabhumi Airport which is the hub for Thai Airways, with connections on to Australasia and South-East Asia. While its claim to fame is being good for backpackers, Bangkok is actually a city of phenomenal temples and great food. It can even be done in a day if you have little time to spare. Bangkok traffic is chaos, so escape it on Chao Phraya River’s express ferry. First, stop at Tha Tien pier for the Wat Pho temple, a pretty, rambling compound famed for being the birthplace of Thai massage and home to the city’s largest reclining Buddha. Then cross the water to see the impressive Wat Arun, best seen at dusk. Further downriver, a short stroll from Maharaj pier lies the sprawling wonder of Bangkok’s Grand Palace. When here visit its Wat Phra Kaew temple to see its famed emerald Buddha. Then escape by taxi to Or Tor Kor, Bangkok’s best wet market, which boasts a fine food court and curries of every hue. If you decide to stay a little longer then take a minibus, which departs from the Victory Monument, for the 1.5 hour journey to the ancient Siamese capital of Ayuthaya. Another good tip is to hire a private longboat to take you to the famed Damnoen Saduak floating markets which are 70km away. No visas are required for UK citizens for stays of up to 30 days. Travel from the Airport to Phaya Thai Station in the centre is less than £1 and trains take 30 minutes.