Most obscure airport you've flown into?
Jul 3rd, 2007, 05:59 AM
#41
1) Sultan Syarif Qasim II, Pekanbaru, Indonesia (PKU)
One pitiful, poorly maintained runway, and by far the nastiest airport I've ever been in. I currently live in Indonesia, so unfortunately I have to go through there a lot.
PKU calls itself an International Airport, but there's only one international flight per day - the 35 minute flight to Singapore.
2) Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (DHA)
The old airport back in the mid 90's - UGH. We'd arrive exhausted after flying in from the US, and have to stand in line for hours in a hot, crowded holding area waiting to clear immigration. Then we'd wait some more while Customs rifled through our luggage. The Immigration and Customs officials would often get up and leave for prayer or a cup of tea, abandoning scores of people waiting in line.
One pitiful, poorly maintained runway, and by far the nastiest airport I've ever been in. I currently live in Indonesia, so unfortunately I have to go through there a lot.
PKU calls itself an International Airport, but there's only one international flight per day - the 35 minute flight to Singapore.
2) Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (DHA)
The old airport back in the mid 90's - UGH. We'd arrive exhausted after flying in from the US, and have to stand in line for hours in a hot, crowded holding area waiting to clear immigration. Then we'd wait some more while Customs rifled through our luggage. The Immigration and Customs officials would often get up and leave for prayer or a cup of tea, abandoning scores of people waiting in line.
Jul 28th, 2007, 08:04 AM
#44
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Carrybean, I saw a scale in there, lol! Funny thing was, the pilot knew that the goat was a pet of the owner of the Anegada Reef Hotel. He had them call her to come get it. Talk about a small place!!
Aug 1st, 2007, 05:53 PM
#46
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LlindaC, I was only there for a weekend but was amazed at how there really isn't much there at all other than the gorgeous beaches. Heard lots of stories of people finding bits of gold not far from shore after storms.
Sure wouldn't want to be there in a tsunami.
Sure wouldn't want to be there in a tsunami.
Aug 2nd, 2007, 07:34 AM
#48
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Awaiting arrival of plane at North Luangwa National Park in Zambia last October. Arrival lounge was a bit spartan, but had lots of room to stretch out!!
http://www.pbase.com/greendrake/nluangwaairport
http://www.pbase.com/greendrake/nluangwaairport
Aug 2nd, 2007, 09:35 AM
#49
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Buchanan, Liberia. The airport was destroyed by warfare but apparently has reopened to private/charter flights. I think its current airport code is UCN or GLLB (I forget whether we used the "regular" airport or the Lamco one).
We caught a flight from there to Senegal, along with about a half dozen goats in the aisle.
When we flew to Liberia, we landed in Monrovia and then drove through the 240 square mile (one million acres) Firestone rubber plantation, which, alas, is notorious for its inhumane working conditions.
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/june2007/jun-07-liberia.htm
We caught a flight from there to Senegal, along with about a half dozen goats in the aisle.
When we flew to Liberia, we landed in Monrovia and then drove through the 240 square mile (one million acres) Firestone rubber plantation, which, alas, is notorious for its inhumane working conditions.
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/june2007/jun-07-liberia.htm
Aug 2nd, 2007, 04:21 PM
#51
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RE: Ticket folks doing the metal detector
I fly from Pendleton OR (PDT)all the time and while we do have TSA folks now, the airline folks check you in, guide the plane in, take you tickets and move luggage to baggage claim. The TSA folks are mostly retired people and they are very thorough!
As for remote, I have two. A lovely grass strip the ruins at Copan with a hut for an airport and lots of machine gun toting guys to guard the plane.
Last fall, flying to Rome from Seattle we had an unexpected landing at Goose Harbor in Canada due to a death on the plane.
I fly from Pendleton OR (PDT)all the time and while we do have TSA folks now, the airline folks check you in, guide the plane in, take you tickets and move luggage to baggage claim. The TSA folks are mostly retired people and they are very thorough!
As for remote, I have two. A lovely grass strip the ruins at Copan with a hut for an airport and lots of machine gun toting guys to guard the plane.
Last fall, flying to Rome from Seattle we had an unexpected landing at Goose Harbor in Canada due to a death on the plane.
