Going on a Trip
Unit 6 · English for Today — Class 8
Airport ✈️ · Immigration 🛂 · Bangkok 🌏 · Floating Market 🚤 · Adventures Abroad 🗺️
🎯 Learning Objectives
After studying this unit, students will be able to:
Main Story — Mita, Zara and her parents travel from Dhaka to Bangkok 🇧🇩 ✈️ 🇹🇭. Follow their exciting journey through immigration, announcements, landing and the famous Tha Kha floating market!
🏙️ Zara lives with her parents in London. They have come to Bangladesh to visit Zara’s aunt and uncle. She is very close to her cousin Mita. Both the families have visited many interesting places together in Bangladesh — it was great fun 🎉. Then they decided to visit some places outside Bangladesh too. They decided to go to Thailand 🇹🇭.
But Mita’s parents were too busy with their work, so they could not go. However, Mita was going with them.
🏛️ Mita, Zara and her parents are at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. They are waiting in the lounge. Mita is very excited 😃 — this is her first time to board a plane! They are flying by Bangladesh Biman. Mita is hoping to have a great time in Thailand.
Mita’s uncle brings forms for all of them to fill in before going through the immigration. He gives one to Mita and says: “You have to give some information about yourself in the form. The immigration officer will check your passport and stamp it. And then you are ready to travel.” Mita, Zara and her parents start filling in the forms 📝.
- Why is Mita excited?
- Why aren’t Mita’s parents going with her?
- What does an immigration officer do at the airport?
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 1 (At the Airport)
Mita’s full name is Mita Sultana Ahmed. She was born on 6 May 1998. She got her passport on June 09, 2010. It is a five-year passport 📘. It will expire on 8 June 2015. After that she has to renew her passport. Her passport number is AB 9842251. She is going to Thailand by Bangladesh Biman, Flight BG 88 on 14 July 2012 ✈️.
Mita got her visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka 🇹🇭. Her visa number is T 9115138. The visa was issued in Dhaka on 29 June 2012. The visa is valid for three months. It will expire on September 27, 2012.
Zara’s parents Mrs Jhuma Islam and Mr Mazharul Islam, together with Zara and Mita, fill in their departure cards and move towards the immigration counter. Mita stands in front of one of the booths 🏠. She hands in her passport and the departure card to the officer.
The immigration officer goes through Mita’s passport, visa and the departure card. Then he begins asking questions:
🛂 Officer: “Are you travelling alone?”😊 Mita: “No. I’m going with my aunt, uncle and cousin. They are right there on that counter.”
🛂 Officer: “Is this your first visit to Thailand?”
😊 Mita: “Yes.”
🛂 Officer: “How long are you going to stay there?”
😊 Mita: “Seven to ten days.”
🛂 Officer: “Where are you going to stay?”
😊 Mita: “In a hotel.”
The officer is talking as well as going through Mita’s papers. He finds the papers OK ✅. He smiles and stamps her passport. The officer keeps the departure card, and returns the passport to Mita.
“Have a safe journey.”
“Thanks!”
Mita waits for her aunt, uncle and Zara on the other side. Once all of them are done, they walk towards the passengers’ departure lounge 🛋️.
- What are the three things needed at immigration?
✅ Answer: Passport · Visa · Departure Card
Mita, Zara, Mr and Mrs Islam all sit at the lounge with their hand luggage. Mr Islam asks: “Mita, Zara, are you two carrying any liquid, lotion, gel or cream in your carry-on luggage?” “I have a small lip gel in it. Why Uncle?” “Well, if it is a very small one, there is no problem. But if you’ve more than 100 ml, you have to put it in the checked-in luggage. These are not allowed on board in hand luggage. For security reasons, the officials who do the baggage checking will seize and throw them away.”
They all go through the security checking and wait in the enclosed area 🔒. All the formalities are done ✅. Now they are waiting to board the plane!
Mita, Zara and her parents board the plane after their row number is announced. Mita gets a window seat 🪟 — seat number F23 C. Zara sits beside her on an aisle seat and her parents sit behind them.
- Who had a small lip gel in the hand luggage?
- How much liquid or gel is allowed to carry in hand luggage?
- Why are liquid, gel and cream not allowed on board a plane?
- Which row is Mita sitting in?
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 4 (Boarding the Plane)
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome on board Flight BG88 to Bangkok. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes.”
“Please fasten your seat belt and secure all baggage under your seat or in the overhead compartments. Keep your seats and table trays in upright position for take-off.”
“Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones. This is a non-smoking flight. Smoking in the lavatory is prohibited 🚭.”
“Thank you for choosing Bangladesh Biman. Enjoy your flight! 🙏”
“Good afternoon passengers. This is your captain Rashid Akbar speaking.”
“We are currently cruising at an altitude of 10,058.40 feet at airspeed of 643.74 km per hour. The time is 1:25 pm.”
“The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Bangkok approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule 🎉.”
“The weather in Bangkok is clear and sunny ☀️. The temperature is 32°C this afternoon. If the weather is good we should get a great view of the city as we descend.”
“The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes to offer you a light snack and drinks 🥤. The in-flight movie will begin shortly after that. Sit back, and enjoy the flight!”
| # | Announcement Info | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Destination | Bangkok 🇹🇭 |
| 2 | Name of the Airways | Bangladesh Biman |
| 3 | Flight no. | BG 88 |
| 4 | Captain’s name | Rashid Akbar |
| 5 | Cruising altitude | 10,058.40 feet |
| 6 | Airspeed | 643.74 km/hr |
| 7 | Expected arrival | 15 min ahead of schedule |
| 8 | Bangkok temperature | 32°C (Clear & Sunny ☀️) |
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 5 (Announcements on Board 1)
“Oxygen and the air pressure are always being monitored 🌬️. In the event of a lack of oxygen, an oxygen mask will automatically appear in front of you. Pull the mask towards you and place it firmly over your nose and mouth. Secure the elastic band behind your head, and breathe normally.”
“If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask first, and then assist the other person 👶.”
“In the event of an emergency, please assume the bracing position — lean forward with your hands on top of your head and your elbows against your thighs. Ensure your feet are flat on the floor 🛡️.”
“A life vest is located in a pouch under your seat or between the armrests. When instructed, open the plastic pouch and remove the vest. Slip it over your head. Pass the straps around your waist and adjust at the front. To inflate the vest, pull firmly on the red cord 🔴, before you leave the aircraft.”
“This is a non-smoking flight 🚭. We wish you all an enjoyable flight! ✈️”
| Part A | Part B (Answer) |
|---|---|
| Oxygen and air pressure | are always monitored ✅ |
| If you are travelling with a child | put the mask on your nose and mouth first, then help the child 👶 |
| Life vests are placed | under the seat or between the armrests 🪑 |
| The card with other safety information | is kept in the seat pocket 📋 |
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 6 (Announcements on Board 2)
🛬 The plane landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 4:55 p.m. The name ‘Suvarnabhumi’ is pronounced as “su-wan-na-poom”. The name is derived from Sanskrit, which means 🌟 golden land. The name was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadie.
📍 The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30 kilometres east of Bangkok.
The airport has two parallel runways, both 60 metres wide. One runway is 4,000 metres long and the other is 3,700 metres. It can handle 76 flight operations per hour ✈️. It can handle 45 million passengers and 3 million tonnes of cargo per year.
🏛️ The airport passenger terminal is 563,000 square metres — it is the fourth biggest passenger terminal building in the world 🌍! The airport is expanding in Phase 2, raising its capacity to handle 65 million passengers per year. The airport also has two 5-storey car park buildings that can house 5,000 cars 🚗.
| Bangkok Airport — Info | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name | Suvarnabhumi Airport |
| Origin of name | Sanskrit |
| Meaning | Golden Land 🌟 |
| Chosen by | King Bhumibol Adulyadie |
| Distance from Bangkok | 30 km east |
| Number of runways | 2 (parallel) |
| Length of runways | 4,000 m & 3,700 m |
| Width of runways | 60 m each |
| Flight operations/hr | 76 |
| Passengers/year | 45 million |
| Cargo/year | 3 million tonnes |
| Car parking | Two 5-storey buildings (5,000 cars) |
| Future capacity | 65 million passengers/year |
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 7 (Reaching Bangkok)
🚕 After completing immigration, they all came out of the airport. Mr Mazharul Islam went to the taxi counter and bought a ticket. They stood in a line and waited for their turn.
Soon their taxi came and they all got in. Mita’s uncle gave the driver his address: Happy Condo, 18 Rachada Pisek Road. The driver nodded and started for the destination. Mita was very excited 😃. She held Zara’s hand and whispered: “Oh Zara, I can’t believe I’m here with you and I’m so happy!” Mita had never ridden a car at such high speed. She was a little scared 😟. It took about one and a half hours to reach their destination.
🌸 Mita looked around and saw a garden of trees and flowers welcoming her. There was a small fountain at the middle of the garden, bringing in cool breeze. Mita loved the place 💛.
🛗 Mita brought a suitcase as well as a piece of carry-on luggage. She carried her luggage to the elevator and pressed a button that said 6 (but her uncle’s apartment was actually on the 7th floor). It was a nicely done two-bedroom apartment. Mita and Zara were going to share the same room 🛏️!
Mita read about the floating market on the internet, and wanted to see one. Mr Islam said: “Well, then you have to wake up very early tomorrow. The market sits early in the morning and is over before noon. We are going to the Tha Kha floating market tomorrow!” “Wow!” cried out Mita and Zara together. “Thank you, uncle!” “Thank you, dad!” 🎉
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 8 (The Destination)
☀️ It was Sunday. Mita, Zara, Jhuma Islam and Mazharul Islam woke up very early. They quickly got ready and started for Tha Kha floating market. They planned to have breakfast at the market 🌅. They reached the market place sharp at 7 a.m. The canals were surrounded with coconut palm trees 🌴. They hired a boat — the boatman started to row slowly, taking them to the centre of the market.
🚤 There were boats everywhere. The sellers were mainly elderly Thai women. Their small boats were laden with bundles of lotus flowers 🪷, farm-fresh coconuts 🥥, fruits 🍊, vegetables 🥬, local food, and delicious sweets 🍮. The sellers and buyers rowed their boats slowly. The sellers displayed their goods and the buyers chose their pick. They could have a little chit-chat as buying and selling went on 😊.
The Tha Kha floating market is more traditional than other floating markets, with few tourists. Originally, it used to sit only six or seven days a month depending on the phase of the moon 🌙. Nowadays, trade takes place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays too.
The main buyers here are the Tha Kha natives. People seem to know each other very well — everyone was seen smiling and calling each other by name 🤝. The locals did not notice Mita and others much; they were all busy buying and selling.
🍽️ They passed an hour and a half at the market and enjoyed the experience. Then all of them were hungry. They rowed near the boat of an elderly woman who was selling food. She welcomed them with a smile 😊. They bought the traditional and very popular food called:
After Pad Thai, they ate Kanom Krok 🥞 — a coconut pancake which is very sweet 🥥.
The Tha Kha people are simple and easy going. They are very friendly and polite. They do not understand English or any other language, yet they have a way to communicate with Mita and others.
- What kind of market was it?
- Why did the boatman row slowly?
- Who were selling goods? How were they selling?
- What were they selling?
- What was the atmosphere at the market?
🎯 MCQ — Lesson 9 (The Tha Kha Floating Market)
📘 Important Word Meanings — All Lessons
| 🔤 Word | 📖 Meaning |
|---|---|
| lounge 🛋️ | A comfortable waiting room at the airport |
| immigration 🛂 | The government office at border where passports are checked for entry/exit |
| expire ⌛ | To come to an end / stop being valid |
| renew 🔄 | To get a new or updated version (e.g. of a passport) |
| visa 🪪 | Official permission (stamp/sticker) to enter a foreign country |
| valid ✅ | Officially accepted and still in effect |
| departure 🚪 | Leaving a place / outgoing travel |
| seize ✂️ | To take away by force / confiscate (e.g. prohibited items) |
| enclosed 🔒 | Closed off / surrounded on all sides |
| formality 📜 | An official procedure or required rule to follow |
| lavatory 🚻 | The toilet / restroom on a plane or in a building |
| cruising ✈️ | Flying steadily at a fixed height and speed |
| altitude 📏 | Height above the ground or sea level |
| descend ⬇️ | To go down / move to a lower level |
| schedule 🕐 | A planned timetable / according to a fixed plan |
| destination 📍 | The place you are travelling to / the final stop of a journey |
| exit 🚪 | A way out / an emergency door or opening |
| monitored 👁️ | Watched / checked continuously |
| assistance 🤝 | Help or support, especially when in difficulty |
| assume 🧘 | To take on / adopt (a position or role) |
| bracing position 🛡️ | An emergency position: lean forward, hands on head, elbows on thighs |
| pouch 👜 | A small bag or pocket used to store things |
| firmly 💪 | Tightly and strongly / without loosening |
| turbulence 💨 | Sudden, bumpy, irregular air movement during a flight |
| derived 📚 | Taken from / originating from a particular source |
| parallel ↔️ | Running side by side / next to each other at equal distance |
| cargo 📦 | Goods or freight carried by a ship, plane, or vehicle |
| capacity ⚡ | The maximum amount something can hold or handle |
| fascinate ✨ | To attract and charm someone very strongly |
| floating market 🚤 | A market where goods are bought and sold from boats on water |
| laden ⚖️ | Heavily loaded / filled up with goods or things |
| chit-chat 💬 | Casual, friendly and light conversation |
| natives 🏡 | The original / local people who live in a particular place |
🗺️ Unit Summary — Journey at a Glance
🏛️ L1–L3 — Mita and Zara’s family arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport, fill in departure cards, and pass through immigration.
🛫 L4 — They board Flight BG88, Mita gets a window seat. Liquids over 100ml are not allowed on board.
📢 L5–L6 — Flight announcements cover safety rules: seat belts, oxygen masks, life vests, no smoking. Captain announces they’ll arrive 15 minutes early.
🇹🇭 L7 — They land at Suvarnabhumi Airport (“golden land” in Sanskrit). It’s the 4th largest terminal in the world.
🏙️ L8 — Taxi to Happy Condo on Rachada Pisek Road. They plan to visit the Tha Kha Floating Market next morning.
🚤 L9 — At the Tha Kha market, they eat Pad Thai 🍜 and Kanom Krok 🥥. Mita takes many pictures with the friendly elderly sellers 📸.