Once you set foot in the terminal of Suvarnabhumi International Airport the immediate impression is of being inside one of those modern German airports.

The aluminium structure, with cable-stayed glass facade, gives the impression of modern authority and spacious comfort. The terminal stretches out like a monster worm.

The roof of the terminal structure is made of fabric membrane, a synthetic material, which is transparent and looks like canvas. The fabric membrane is not only beautiful to look at, it keeps out the rain while allowing light to brighten the terminal.

"I feel like we're in Munich airport," I said.

"No, it looks more like Dusseldorf. Have you been there?" asks Somchai Sawasdeepon, the general manager of the Airports of Thailand Plc, which is responsible for every development aspect of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The reason the airport has a German "accent" is because its architect is German-born Helmut Jahn, who owns Murphy Jahn. His previous designs include Chicago Airport and the Sony Centre.

Somchai is proudly showing us around the gigantic terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which, once it opens on September 28, will rival any airport in the region. Apart from Hong Kong airport, Suvarnabhumi is second to none in the region.

Make no mistake about its size. There is a passenger terminal complex connected to the concourse buildings. The combined area of both buildings is 563,000 square metres.

The airport will be able to accommodate an annual 45 million passengers, 76 flights an hour and three million tonnes of cargo handling a year.

It has to deliver because it cost more than Bt113.77 billion.

Somchai has been working night and day to make sure the transition from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi between September 27 and 28 will be smooth.

"If it has to be open, it has to be open. If you would like to wait until everything is ready, then you might have to wait forever. Because in real life, nothing is perfect," he said.

"But we can assure you that as of today, we are 100 per cent ready to operate the commercial aviation to meet international standards. All the tests have been done."

From the Nation Tower on Bang-na Trad, it takes us about 20 minutes along the Bang-na Trad Road to reach the new airport. Once you pass the Tanayong real estate project, with its huge condominium structures, you make a left turn into the airport. From there, it's four to five kilometres before you reach the terminal.

Will the gravity of the airport shift civilisation to this part of Bangkok? You will have to make your own judgement after the opening.

Our first visit is the VIP terminal but the door into the section is chained, as the airport is not yet open. Security is tight to prevent petty theft. There is still some internal decorating to be done.

"Don't worry, it will all be completed in time," notes Somchai.

We walk inside the VIP area before going out to the boarding area. The airport has a special VIP section installed to welcome members of the Royal family. This section is also in the process of being decorated. But you can see it will be in a grand Thai style, with wood panelling.

The seating area is vast. The seating structure is made of aluminium, which may last for a hundred years. Workers pay attention to minute details of the floor as they race against time.

"Thais are good at beating deadlines," said Somchai as he points to the shopping areas, which are still being fitted out.

"Once we're open, the duty-free shops here will rival any where in the region - even better than Dubai," he claimed.

You have to wear sports shoes if you want to visit most of the shops in the duty-free area because of the sheer length of the terminal. Outside the terminal, you can see the control tower standing like a Tower of Babel. At 132.2 metres, it is the world's tallest.

We then emerge out of the boarding area, go through the immigration counters (where are the e-passports?) to the check-in areas. There are hundreds of luggage pieces and all kinds of bags in front of the check-in counters.

The airport has just completed a rehearsal of how the luggage will travel from the check-in, along the running belt before going to the baggage handlers who will actually stow them on the aircraft.

Somchai said the test-runs are going well as the airport has recruited hundreds of people in the military to help carry the luggage during test runs.

Since the airport is big, we take a golf cart to visit some other places inside the terminal. It looks cool because you feel like you're a VIP.

We are driven to Level 2 of the concourse area where giant sculptures are on display. This represents the highlight of art in Suvarnabhumi.

Originally, the airport's authorities wanted to place the Suphanahongse Royal Barge to honour His Majesty the King - who bestowed the name Suvarnabhumi - inside the airport. But the King viewed that the swamp area of Nong Ngu Hao might not be appropriate to house the Royal Barge, and recommended a Scene of the Churning of the Milk Ocean instead.

We stand in awe in front of the giant sculptures: Lord Vishnu presides over the churning of the milk-ocean - representing indefinite prosperity.

Somchai is still living happily at his home in Muang Ek in Rangsit. He has to drive a round trip of 140 kilometres to work every day.

Asked whether he will consider moving to somewhere nearer the airport, he said he is happy where he is. "Once I get on the expressway, it only takes me 40-45 minutes to reach the airport. It is not that far," he said.

But between now and the opening, Somchai will have several sleepless nights.

Thanong Khanthong

The Nation