How I Got Here Part Two

So when I left off my last post about my journey I was enjoying my last few American moments in NYC. But all too soon it was time to reboard the plane and enjoy(?) my longest ever flight... the 14 hour jump over to Mumbai (most of you probably still know it is as Bombay).

I was in the same seat I had been in for the trip to New York, but for the international portion they left at each seat a nice pillow, a pretty plaid blanket, and a little leather pouch full of goodies. The leather pouch contained bright red fuzzy socks to wear during the flight, an eye mask, ear plugs, a notepad and pen, a cucumber facial mist, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a really nice chapstick type thing. Again the travel gods were watching out for me since I had forgotten to buy a travel toothpaste tube in New York to get me through the overnight. I immediately took off my shoes and put on my fuzzy socks and got ready enjoy the flight.

The person sitting next to me was also from Dallas and heading to India for business. He asked where I work and would you believe he actually knew what my company does?? The funny thing is he knew because he works for a competitor! I thought about asking him about a job, but decided that would probably not be smart... He did give me his business card at the end of the trip, so I can at least contact him in the future if I need to ;)

Delta is nice enough to hand out a menu to those of us sitting in "Business Elite" so we can make our meal choices for the next few hours. They do have a time that they serve everyone, but basically we are able to order at whatever time is convenient for us if we want to eat at a different time than anyone else. I saved the menu so I could let everyone know the choices I had... I won't give all the list of salads and wines and champagnes offered, but they were a page unto themselves...

For my main course my choices were:

• Braised Breast of Duck with Thai Coconut-Ginger Sauce, accompanied by Jasmine Rice and stir-fried Bok Choy
• Rosemary Pappardelle Pasta enhanced by Morel Mushroom Sauce, tossed with Tomatoes, Leeks and Shiitake Mushrooms (Sauteed Scallops may be added to this Entree)
• An Indian Vegetarian Selection featuring Aloo Gobi, Rajma, Shahi Paneer and Basmati Rice with Peas
• An Indian Non-Vegetarian Selection featuring Lamb Rogan Josh, Aloo Gobi, Rajma and Basmati Rice with Peas

Those who know me well may be able to guess that I was really wishing for that turkey sandwich that was offered on my flight to New York! I eventually decided on the pasta, mainly because it was the only thing that I actually could recognize most of the ingredients. It turned out to be pretty decent, but still not my thing...

After that I took a sleeping pill and laid back to watch some TV for a little bit. There were lots of choices on my little personal tv screen, and also some games and radio stations, but I ended up mostly staying on the screen that showed the radar of where we were in the world and what cities were below us. I hadn't heard of most of them, but it was interesting all the same. I was laying there thinking that the sleeping pill was not working and worrying about the fact that I would be awake for the entire flight when I suddenly woke up 7 hours later! I love Ambien!

I woke up in time for the Supper portion of the meal service. Here were my choices:

• Shrimp Quesadilla filled with Cheddar Cheese, Cilantro and Red and Green Bell Peppers, offered with Salsa, Sour Cream and a marinated Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Chicken Cobb Salad with Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes, Corn and Blue Cheese, accompanied by Breadsticks, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette and seasonal fresh fruit
• An Indian Non-Vegetarian Selection including Medhu Vada, Lentil Samosa and Chicken Tandoori accompanied by seasonal fresh fruit
• An Indian Vegetarian Selecion including Medhu Vada, Lentil Samosa and Potato Fritters accompanied by seasonal fresh Fruit.

Of course I went with the salad and scraped off the blue cheese. It was really more a breast of chicken with a couple shreds of lettuce underneath it, but it was ok.

Soon enough it was almost time to land. The flight really did seem to go quickly, I guess sleeping for half of it and eating for the other half is a good way to go! As we got nearer to Mumbai I could begin to actually smell India. Not that it was exactly a bad smell, but it smelled like spices and dirt... kind of like some Indian stores I've gone into in the past. Unfortunately, I learned pretty quickly that I may be allergic to India, my nose started getting stopped up and my eyes were getting dry before we even landed.

I arrived at about 1030pm local time, so I couldn't really see anything of the city as we landed. All cities look about the same at night from the air, so nothing really stood out. What I did notice as I got off the plane was that it was HOT! I was immediately sweating like a pig, while some of the Indians around me were wearing sweaters and they all looked as if they were in a nice air conditioned vault. I don't know what they were thinking, but it wasn't air conditioned to me! Going through customs was pretty uneventful-they basically look at your passport, look at you, stamp your passport and gripe at you if you don't walk away fast enough.

From there I went to baggage claim to get all my bags before I could recheck them for my next flight. As I was waiting for my bags to come along the baggage carousel, the nice old Indian lady next to me told me not to worry about picking up my bag, her man would do it for me. Unfortunately she didn't inform "her man" of this plan, so I still had to lug my 70 pound bag off the baggage claim myself. I guess it is the thought that counts.

I took my bags through the rest of the customs process, they basically just x-rayed them and sent me on my way. I converted my $100 to 4300 rupees and moved along. My layover in Mumbai was 11 hours, so I had a hotel reservation. I had thought I was going to have to take all my bags with me and bring them back to the airport in the morning, but I found where I could go ahead and check in my bags for my morning flight right away, so I gladly did that. I had packed enough in my carryons to last me through the night. When I was checking in with my airline for the domestic India flight to Bangalore I learned that India is much more strict than the US on carryon bags so I would not be able to carry the 2 good size bags I had been carrying. I could only do 1 bag, and it could have NO liquids in it at all. I agreed that I would come back and check one of my other bags in the morning so I could still keep it overnight.

When I then walked out the door to find the driver for the airport I was greeted with the biggest, smelliest mass of humanity I have ever seen! There were people all jammed together along the railing keeping them from the airport terminal holding signs with travelers names. I didn't see anyone with my name, but luckily when a guard asked what hotel I was going to he was able to point me to the manager of the Intercontinental Grand Mumbai who was waiting nearby. There were 2 of us in the shuttle to the hotel, the other guy was from Atlanta and works on offshore oil rigs. He was really nice, and I was already grateful to be able to speak to an American! He had spent the last year in Dubai, and was on his way to spend 4 weeks at another oil rig somewhere off the coast of India. When we got to the car to leave for the hotel we were greeted by a beggar who was obviously malnourished and lame. The guy I was traveling with (I never did find out his name) gave him a coin and the guy then demanded a Euro or a dollar. Obviously not shy about demanding what he wants!

The hotel was GORGEOUS! It should be, my rate for the night was 12000 rupees... which equals about $279. Pretty sad that I would only get to spend about 6 hours in the room! The room was beautiful. The porter claimed I had a view of the garden, but since it was dark I had to take his word for it. I immediately took a long hot shower in the all marble bathroom, it felt better than any shower I can ever remember! I also brushed my teeth with the toothpaste in the travel kit in the room... it fights cavities with the healing power of cloves, so I ended up feeling like I was brushing my teeth with one of those holiday crafts that involves sticking cloves in an orange. It was an interesting experience.

This post has been longer than I thought it would be, and my driver should be here momentarily to take me to the office so I'll have to end this for now. I'll post the final portion of my travels as soon as I can...