Comments on: Sometimes you can judge a Country by its Airport…

By: Rodinhood

Rodinhood — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:23:01 +0000

Prateek – with new regulations on the liquids you can carry, soaps (gels) and shampoo etc become difficult… also why would you ever carry this on your person? In many international airports you get a kit that has a toothbrush, a shampoo and soap (or in the bathroom) that is easy to use… also, as far as towels are concerned.. how and where do you carry a wet towel?? I am amazed at your suggestions!!

By: prateek

prateek — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:08:59 +0000

I didn’t think it was too much to ask passengers to carry their own towels and soaps. There ARE shower rooms, and they are FREE – next thing you’ll ask is for a courtesan to give you a shower and wipe your back Moreover, I’d rather use my own towel even if its available at an AIRPORT.

By: Rodinhood

Rodinhood — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:58:25 +0000

noted with thanks and made the changes.

By: waleczny

waleczny — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:57:01 +0000

“On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia

By: noname

noname — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:28:42 +0000

“At about 3 am, as the train crossed into Czechoslovakia, …”

hmmmm…Czechoslovakia became Czech Republic in 1993…

By: Sachin

Sachin — Sun, 02 May 2010 07:44:17 +0000

Your experience, eye for detail and expressing power is amazing Alok. Knowing you for last 10 years and reading all your blogs, I have become a fan of your ability to express yourself.
I will soon share my experience of a recent visit to Nigeria and Istanbul. I am sure it will again prove the same point.. Airports are the true
reflection of any country…

By: rodinhood

rodinhood — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:57:30 +0000

amazing – was this in hitchhiker or thank you for…

By: Namrata

Namrata — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:54:21 +0000

hi Alok,

will write a longer comment with my recent experiences later in the day, but here’s what Douglas Adams said – remembered it while reading this post & googled it:

“It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on Earth has ever produced the phrase, ‘as pretty as an airport.’ Airports are ugly. Some are very ugly. Some attain a degree of ugliness that can only be the result of a special effort.”

By: Ananda

Ananda — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:10:16 +0000

Very interesting blog post Alok. You have evidently put a lot of time and effort into it. The post was very engaging, informative, humorous and thought provoking.

It raised two questions that I continue to chew on :

1) How the culture of globalisation subsumes the legacy of local civilisations : In a world where all airports and high street malls are beginning to look like each other (not in terms of your ‘eye for detail’ perspective but in a macro sense), I feel that the primacy of efficiency has drowned the ability of humans to live a life of balance that is the cause of so many modern day social travails.

2) How historical events fashion current day collective attitudes : Like your Czech example, it would be insightful to explore what motivates people of various nations to develop certain overarching common traits and habits. It would throw light on how so much of what we do and believe in are not personal choices by a result of historical programming.

By: Saurabh

Saurabh — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:09:30 +0000

Interesting post. My rather limited experience with airports in the UK, France, Switzerland & Germany has not been too great. They mostly seem cosmopolitan but sloppy, & often customer service is inconsistent.

I am curious to see what you felt about US airports. I think they do a pretty good job of information / displays, standardized amenities esp. wheelchair access & are usually family friendly. Of course, we have our own share of sloppy, uninterested airport employees too.