Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali
This was my last picture in the previous story. Yeah, I reached this airport without traffic..,
Departure wing entrance is to the left. The structure at right is their parking building (Gedung Parkir).
See this? At 8:31AM, I walked 'on the walkalator' from the curbside to the departure area alone!
Some call this "Bali International Airport", others "Ngurah Rai International Airport. They're the same.
Even downstairs (arrival area) was also not busy. Well, the elevator repairmen (in red) were busy hehe!
For them to be repairing that elevator at this hour of the day, is an indication that it is not a busy time.
Look, this is Ngurah Rai International Airport's Departure Lobby, devoid of crowds. How swerte of me!
This is not common, even at domestic airports that I've been to. And Bali is a highly touristic province!
At least there was the usual bottle-neck at the x-ray machines entering the check-in counters..,
Otherwise, it was really a welcome surprise.., mahinahon.., walang kalaban.., wala masyadong pila!
My flight's check-in counter was not crowded too! Maybe I was just early - how nice it is to always be!
Oh yes and by the way, I took Jetstar this time. This is also a Low Cost Carrier (LLC), or sa binisaya pa "budget airline" - Jetstar Asia, code 3K, based in Singapore, 49% owned by Qantas Group of Australia!
As I was checking-in (walang pabalik-balik dito!), I looked around, and it was not at all crowded!
Did you notice a difference to our airports in the Philippines? They have commercial shops even at the check-in counter areas. Hmm, di kaya magulo dito pag peak hour? Whatever, this time, tahimik so far!
So I entered through to immigration, so I could go find my boarding gate, in case malayo ang lalakarin. Ah, there's a similarity to Mactan Airport -- after immigration, the path is crooked (as in paliku-liko). Do you know the reason for that? So you have no choice but to pass by and see as many duty free shops!
Umaasa sila na sa kaka-ikot mo, me makikita ka ring mga tinda na bibilhin mo. Ganun yan. And this is very common to newer airports nung mga pulubing bansa. Many times I think hindi ito makatarungan.
Anyway, as I walked, I encountered this "photo-op" area in the middle of the concourse.
Aside from the drums, you will notice there are also masks. Passengers are supposed to hold or wear them and have their pictures taken. I wanted to, but I was alone, so I dropped the idea. Alangan selfie! Lalabas na ang pathetic ko naman! Maybe soon, authorities should create more selfie-friendly scrims!
Hey I saw that name again! They are an international brand with a lot of stores all over the globe.
I'm usually not interested in anything they sell. I am just fascinated with the name "Dufry" which I think is an aberration or even bastardization of the phrase "duty free" (their business) - for easy recall. Cool!
Look here.., this is where I started 'weighing' if this international airport is really passenger-friendly..,
I just emerged from immigrations and the duty free shops (behind me) and I saw that sign saying 'this way to gates 3 to 9'. Nge! Why is it arranged like this? Ang haggard naman kung Gate 9 ang flight mo!
In my curiosity, I grabbed a screen-print of this map from this airport's website..,
The red dot is where I stood, looking at the concourse that passengers must walk or run far to the left!
As a passenger, you will naturally think "bakit ganun" di ba? Why is the start of your check-in activities located at right, then you have to make a run for it if your gate was anywhere from 5 to 9. As an airline operator also, you'll really scratch your head if your gate assignment is 5 to 9 - far from check-in area!
Well, that's all they could come up with, so be it. Walang basagan ng trip, bisita lang tayo! But actually, if I may reflect about it, I think it's not really because of a dumb architect. Rather, it is probably brought about by the handicaps or limitations of already having a building before designing. Yung palipat-lipat papalit-palit ka, mahirap yun. Remember, this was previously the domestic airport, binago nila in 2013.
But there's something "grand" if you look at that hallway picture above again. Beside Gate 3 is this..,
O ha? The smoking room with clear glass walls, right in front of waiting passengers, blocking the view to the outside where planes pass by! I am sure that's to the consternation of many non-smokers haha!
I went in - if only to get a feel of 'how it is smoking with a better view than what non-smokers have'!
The signs on the wall btw say "Dilarang Bersandar" - sa Tagalog "Bawal Sumandal"! Similar words 'no?
You would probably wonder, as I did, why is the smoking room in the middle of everything. Why not far at say, Gate 6 or even Gate 9? Hmm, I strongly suspect, whoever made the smoking room, succumbed to the suggestion/s of 'powers-that-be' like people in government, politicians, wealthy businessmen or 'all of the above'! Imagine nga naman si immigration officer palalakarin mo ng malayo just to smoke?!
Everything is near to that smoking room, including coffee shops, since coffee partners best with yosi!
And by the way, tunay na Hard Rock Cafe yan. Their big cafe is at their Hardrock Hotel on Kuta Beach.
Anyway, I had ample time, so I walked the whole length of this concourse all the way to Gate 9!
Wala lang. Just to see and experience, on how it is being in this supposedly busy airport nowadays.
The hallway is mostly empty (which I liked), but there are some 'entertaining' whatevers on the sides
There's an upside-down house.., there's also this booth na parang winter ang dating..,
Pa-piktyuran kunohay, just like the drums earlier, eh paano nga ako magpipictorial sa mga yan eh nag-iisa ako! Wala rin akong tripod. Even if I had, parang di ko carry mag-posing-posing dyan sa mga iyan!
Nice concourse kung tutuusin. Maaliwalas, tahimik, maluwag. Gate 6 is at a lower level (not ground).
I was thinking though, hindi ba dapat meron 'walkalator' sa lugar na ito. Mahabang lakbayin ito for the seniors. Hindi pa ako yun, umayos ka! Yung mga medyo mas matanda sakin ng mga 10 years naman!
Walls also have the standard flight information boards.., aside from the live announcements.
Ayun ang flight ko, third row sa right-side screen! Jetstar 3K-244 to Singapore at 10:45 sa Gate 6.
Look at the right side of this photo. They have a 'walkalator' between Gates 7 and 8! Para que pa, 'no?!
Feeling ko, nilagay nila 'yan para masabi lang na meron sila. Utak Pinoy din 'no?! Dahil kung tunay ang saloobin mo na 'comfort and convenience', mula Gate 3 all the way to Gate 9 meron dapat walkalator!
Anyway, pansin nyo sa kaliwa meron nag-iisang recliner chair kaso me nakahiga na? I wanted to try it too! How it feels to lie there alone in a lone reclining chair amidst this vast hallway! So, naughty me, I made all kinds of noises at kung anu-anong kabulastugan, umalis lang 'yong nakahiga doon. Success!
When I looked back.., ayun na sya sa bandang kanan o, nag-free-internet na lang hahaha!
There's free wifi all over this airport (erratic), but there is also that wall with a PC for those who care to go online using a desktop, also for free. And nasa malayong lugar from where all the hustle and bustle is happening! Advantage in a way, dahil, tahimik sa lugar na ito, kasi nga walang anything else dito 'no!
There are outlets to charge your gadgets without competition since few humans come this way!
And that is aside from USB ports that are available on the PC. But did you know that PC monitors also have USB ports? And that you can plug your phones there to charge? Yep, even if others use that PC!
Alright, I did not stay long in that 'recliner' as I was done trying it out (it's lonely hehe), and my gadgets have finished charging, and I wanted to see more of this 'fairly new' Ngurah Rai International Airport!
So I roamed more, looking more out the window to see goings-on down at the ramp and the runway.
"Angkasa Pura" is their 'airport authority' here, comparable to our MCIAA in Cebu or MIAA in Manila.
I saw my plane (Jetstar) was already at Gate 6 (but the way there is via an escalator to a lower floor)
But I didn't go down there yet, as I suspected there would be nothing to muse about by the gate itself.
I was more fascinated seeing Tiger Airways arrive (same flight I came in from Singapore days ago).
Of course I also noted that familiar "red white blue and yellow" colors of that next airplane. Alams na! Nanaginip ako syempre na doon ako sasakay.., kaso mahal yun, tapos sa T2 ang dating, maglalakbay ka pa going T3 just to get on another plane to Tacloban. Mahal na, hasol pa! So, via Singapore nalang!
At 10:10AM, I went down to my boarding gate. What a quiet set of fellow passengers.., so I thought!
Kay pagka-rigodigo, haruy nagkaabot an grupo wakanga! Hin aringasa, nangarakngakan la in nga mga igkasi hit kan vice mayor mga ginikanan hahaha! Durungan nag-iiristorya may naguliat, may napisnga!
At 10:16AM, boarding! I like how this airport tried (at least) incorporating 'wood' into the interiors..,
Look at that door. That's after my boarding pass was checked papasok na sa air-tube. Parang office!
Look! A wood carving above, as I entered the aerobridge. A dragon? Maybe it has a cultural meaning.
Siguro naman that's not a depiction of the "Naga Banda" - juskopo 'wag muna! Try asking around what is "naga banda" in Bali, para matawa ka sa sinasabi ko hehe! Hmm, maybe it also means the 'ba-rong'.
Eto magaling.., I was aiming for a shot of the aerobridge.., tas dalidaling sumingit yan si manong!
Hinahabol nya yata yun mga babaeng nasa unahan.., ayan tuloy, puro likod nya ang aking larawan. Da!
Pushback at 10:35AM - our ETD was 10:45AM. So 10 minutes ahead!
Letting arriving airplanes land on the runway first.., so we had to wait for some bit..,
Eto pa isa, but you know this, right? Priority yung mga lalapag muna, kasi, aba mahirap na, y'know!
Our turn finally! Taking off from Runway 27 at 10:48AM..,
I think that beautiful looking building over at the side is their Bali Logistics Park.
But this is getting too long na!
Let us talk more about my actual flight to Singapore in the next story!
See this? At 8:31AM, I walked 'on the walkalator' from the curbside to the departure area alone!
Even downstairs (arrival area) was also not busy. Well, the elevator repairmen (in red) were busy hehe!
Look, this is Ngurah Rai International Airport's Departure Lobby, devoid of crowds. How swerte of me!
At least there was the usual bottle-neck at the x-ray machines entering the check-in counters..,
My flight's check-in counter was not crowded too! Maybe I was just early - how nice it is to always be!
As I was checking-in (walang pabalik-balik dito!), I looked around, and it was not at all crowded!
So I entered through to immigration, so I could go find my boarding gate, in case malayo ang lalakarin. Ah, there's a similarity to Mactan Airport -- after immigration, the path is crooked (as in paliku-liko). Do you know the reason for that? So you have no choice but to pass by and see as many duty free shops!
Umaasa sila na sa kaka-ikot mo, me makikita ka ring mga tinda na bibilhin mo. Ganun yan. And this is very common to newer airports nung mga pulubing bansa. Many times I think hindi ito makatarungan.
Anyway, as I walked, I encountered this "photo-op" area in the middle of the concourse.
Hey I saw that name again! They are an international brand with a lot of stores all over the globe.
Look here.., this is where I started 'weighing' if this international airport is really passenger-friendly..,
In my curiosity, I grabbed a screen-print of this map from this airport's website..,
As a passenger, you will naturally think "bakit ganun" di ba? Why is the start of your check-in activities located at right, then you have to make a run for it if your gate was anywhere from 5 to 9. As an airline operator also, you'll really scratch your head if your gate assignment is 5 to 9 - far from check-in area!
Well, that's all they could come up with, so be it. Walang basagan ng trip, bisita lang tayo! But actually, if I may reflect about it, I think it's not really because of a dumb architect. Rather, it is probably brought about by the handicaps or limitations of already having a building before designing. Yung palipat-lipat papalit-palit ka, mahirap yun. Remember, this was previously the domestic airport, binago nila in 2013.
But there's something "grand" if you look at that hallway picture above again. Beside Gate 3 is this..,
I went in - if only to get a feel of 'how it is smoking with a better view than what non-smokers have'!
You would probably wonder, as I did, why is the smoking room in the middle of everything. Why not far at say, Gate 6 or even Gate 9? Hmm, I strongly suspect, whoever made the smoking room, succumbed to the suggestion/s of 'powers-that-be' like people in government, politicians, wealthy businessmen or 'all of the above'! Imagine nga naman si immigration officer palalakarin mo ng malayo just to smoke?!
Everything is near to that smoking room, including coffee shops, since coffee partners best with yosi!
Anyway, I had ample time, so I walked the whole length of this concourse all the way to Gate 9!
The hallway is mostly empty (which I liked), but there are some 'entertaining' whatevers on the sides
Nice concourse kung tutuusin. Maaliwalas, tahimik, maluwag. Gate 6 is at a lower level (not ground).
Walls also have the standard flight information boards.., aside from the live announcements.
Look at the right side of this photo. They have a 'walkalator' between Gates 7 and 8! Para que pa, 'no?!
Anyway, pansin nyo sa kaliwa meron nag-iisang recliner chair kaso me nakahiga na? I wanted to try it too! How it feels to lie there alone in a lone reclining chair amidst this vast hallway! So, naughty me, I made all kinds of noises at kung anu-anong kabulastugan, umalis lang 'yong nakahiga doon. Success!
When I looked back.., ayun na sya sa bandang kanan o, nag-free-internet na lang hahaha!
There are outlets to charge your gadgets without competition since few humans come this way!
Alright, I did not stay long in that 'recliner' as I was done trying it out (it's lonely hehe), and my gadgets have finished charging, and I wanted to see more of this 'fairly new' Ngurah Rai International Airport!
So I roamed more, looking more out the window to see goings-on down at the ramp and the runway.
I saw my plane (Jetstar) was already at Gate 6 (but the way there is via an escalator to a lower floor)
I was more fascinated seeing Tiger Airways arrive (same flight I came in from Singapore days ago).
At 10:10AM, I went down to my boarding gate. What a quiet set of fellow passengers.., so I thought!
At 10:16AM, boarding! I like how this airport tried (at least) incorporating 'wood' into the interiors..,
Look! A wood carving above, as I entered the aerobridge. A dragon? Maybe it has a cultural meaning.
Eto magaling.., I was aiming for a shot of the aerobridge.., tas dalidaling sumingit yan si manong!
Pushback at 10:35AM - our ETD was 10:45AM. So 10 minutes ahead!
Letting arriving airplanes land on the runway first.., so we had to wait for some bit..,
Eto pa isa, but you know this, right? Priority yung mga lalapag muna, kasi, aba mahirap na, y'know!
Our turn finally! Taking off from Runway 27 at 10:48AM..,
But this is getting too long na!
Let us talk more about my actual flight to Singapore in the next story!
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