Thursday 21 April 2016
Jaipur to Mumbai
I bid farewell to my driver Parkash, at the Jaipur Airport and check in for my Air India flight to Mumbai. Unlike at home in the US, domestic flights in India provide free seat selection and free meals, even on short flights. In fact, I can pre-select a meal from a list of about 15 choices.
A new Audley agent and driver take me from the airport back to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where I stayed when I first arrived in Mumbai ten long days ago. My tour ends when I arrive at the hotel, which I had booked independently. I receive another wonderful surprise when I am upgraded from the Tower Wing to the Heritage Palace Wing, the original building. I am in a wonderful room at the corner of the top (6th) floor, with views over the swimming pool and the skyscrapers of the city.
Views from My Room on the Top Floor
Friday-Saturday 22-22 April 2016
The Journey Home: Mumbai to Hong Kong to Los Angeles to Tucson
After a very nice breakfast, in a much classier lounge than in the newer part of the hotel, I spend the rest of the morning re-packing, since I now have my other suticase and carry-on back. I also jettison a lot of the "paper" I have collected over the past five weeks to lighten the load. I am still not even close to the allowable two-suitcase weight limits, but the less I have to transport the easier the trip will be.
I have been granted a no-charge late check out at 5pm, at which time the hotel Mercedes limo will take me to the airport (there is a charge for this service, of course). Although traffic is terrible, and the Mumbai drivers even more terrible, it is quite comfortable in the air-conditioned car supplied with water and snacks--and even free wifi. My white-gloved driver is adept at handling the traffic and two hours later we arrive at the airport (it only took 45 minutes on the morning I left Mumbai at the start of my India trip).
Check-in for Cathay Pacific goes well, even though it takes almost one hour to get through immigration (separate from security). I am in a special line for people in wheelchairs and there are only six people ahead of me. But Indian officials are verrrrrrrrrry sloooooooow--but at least I am sitting down. I am delivered to the departure gate with plenty of time to spare.
But that is when the problems begin. The departure gate is changed, and the distance to the new gate is about as far as you can go without leaving the building. I ask at least five airport employees (not Cathay Pacific, but airport employees) to call for a wheelchair to take me to the gate. Everyone of them tells me, "It's not my job." I start the very long walk with my heavy carry-on and stop other employees (in airport uniforms) who refuse to help me. Finally, desparate, I spot a Cathay Pacific pilot from my flight (the only one leaving tonight), who stops and gets someone to call for a cart to take me the rest of the way. I commend Cathay Pacific for the quality of people they employ, but the Mumbai Airport Authority needs to teach their people how to deal with others humanely. This was the worst airport experience I have ever had.
And it's just the start of my very long day and a half of travelling.
The overnight flight from Mumbai to Hong Kong is not equipped for premium economy, but at least I have an aisle seat. And with a sleeping pill I am able to make it through the night.
Because we arrive in Hong Kong thirty minutes late, I don't have any time to enjoy all that the airport offers in shopping and other amenities. While waiting at the gate for my flight to LAX, security decides that all passengers will have to go through security checks a second time. I don't complain when it is a matter of security, but no one offers to help get me back to the security station. Finally, they decide to give me a quick pat-down right at the gate.
There is nothing wrong with the flight from Hong Kong to LAX, except that it takes 11.5 hours. I do manage to sleep between meals (I am in premium economy on this flight). We arrive at LAX at 6:30 am (an hour early), and I have plenty of time to transfer to the Southwest Airlines terminal; so much time, in fact, that I have to wait in the lobby 90 minutes before I am allowed to check in for my flight to Tucson (there is a 4-hour limit for early check-in).
Once through security, I have time for lunch and coffee to help me make it through the rest of the afternoon. I finally get to Tucson at 2:30 pm, where Will is waiting to take me home. And I am very glad to see him and to be here.
Except for the final horrors of the long flights home, it has been a really wonderful trip. I have lots more pictures than I have been able to post on the blog, and lots of memories that need sorting out in my head, now that I have time to relax. But, of course, I will be ready to travel again, even before I get all my laundry done.
Will and I have made plans for another trip, but I will keep the details to myself until a later time.
So farewell to my discovery trip to India. I hope to return and see more of this incredibly varied and exciting nation.
Jaipur to Mumbai
I bid farewell to my driver Parkash, at the Jaipur Airport and check in for my Air India flight to Mumbai. Unlike at home in the US, domestic flights in India provide free seat selection and free meals, even on short flights. In fact, I can pre-select a meal from a list of about 15 choices.
A new Audley agent and driver take me from the airport back to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where I stayed when I first arrived in Mumbai ten long days ago. My tour ends when I arrive at the hotel, which I had booked independently. I receive another wonderful surprise when I am upgraded from the Tower Wing to the Heritage Palace Wing, the original building. I am in a wonderful room at the corner of the top (6th) floor, with views over the swimming pool and the skyscrapers of the city.
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My Room on the Top Floor
Since it is already late afternoon and the room is so comfortable, I decide just to stay in and have room service dinner.
Friday-Saturday 22-22 April 2016
The Journey Home: Mumbai to Hong Kong to Los Angeles to Tucson
After a very nice breakfast, in a much classier lounge than in the newer part of the hotel, I spend the rest of the morning re-packing, since I now have my other suticase and carry-on back. I also jettison a lot of the "paper" I have collected over the past five weeks to lighten the load. I am still not even close to the allowable two-suitcase weight limits, but the less I have to transport the easier the trip will be.
I have been granted a no-charge late check out at 5pm, at which time the hotel Mercedes limo will take me to the airport (there is a charge for this service, of course). Although traffic is terrible, and the Mumbai drivers even more terrible, it is quite comfortable in the air-conditioned car supplied with water and snacks--and even free wifi. My white-gloved driver is adept at handling the traffic and two hours later we arrive at the airport (it only took 45 minutes on the morning I left Mumbai at the start of my India trip).
Check-in for Cathay Pacific goes well, even though it takes almost one hour to get through immigration (separate from security). I am in a special line for people in wheelchairs and there are only six people ahead of me. But Indian officials are verrrrrrrrrry sloooooooow--but at least I am sitting down. I am delivered to the departure gate with plenty of time to spare.
But that is when the problems begin. The departure gate is changed, and the distance to the new gate is about as far as you can go without leaving the building. I ask at least five airport employees (not Cathay Pacific, but airport employees) to call for a wheelchair to take me to the gate. Everyone of them tells me, "It's not my job." I start the very long walk with my heavy carry-on and stop other employees (in airport uniforms) who refuse to help me. Finally, desparate, I spot a Cathay Pacific pilot from my flight (the only one leaving tonight), who stops and gets someone to call for a cart to take me the rest of the way. I commend Cathay Pacific for the quality of people they employ, but the Mumbai Airport Authority needs to teach their people how to deal with others humanely. This was the worst airport experience I have ever had.
And it's just the start of my very long day and a half of travelling.
The overnight flight from Mumbai to Hong Kong is not equipped for premium economy, but at least I have an aisle seat. And with a sleeping pill I am able to make it through the night.
Because we arrive in Hong Kong thirty minutes late, I don't have any time to enjoy all that the airport offers in shopping and other amenities. While waiting at the gate for my flight to LAX, security decides that all passengers will have to go through security checks a second time. I don't complain when it is a matter of security, but no one offers to help get me back to the security station. Finally, they decide to give me a quick pat-down right at the gate.
There is nothing wrong with the flight from Hong Kong to LAX, except that it takes 11.5 hours. I do manage to sleep between meals (I am in premium economy on this flight). We arrive at LAX at 6:30 am (an hour early), and I have plenty of time to transfer to the Southwest Airlines terminal; so much time, in fact, that I have to wait in the lobby 90 minutes before I am allowed to check in for my flight to Tucson (there is a 4-hour limit for early check-in).
Once through security, I have time for lunch and coffee to help me make it through the rest of the afternoon. I finally get to Tucson at 2:30 pm, where Will is waiting to take me home. And I am very glad to see him and to be here.
Except for the final horrors of the long flights home, it has been a really wonderful trip. I have lots more pictures than I have been able to post on the blog, and lots of memories that need sorting out in my head, now that I have time to relax. But, of course, I will be ready to travel again, even before I get all my laundry done.
Will and I have made plans for another trip, but I will keep the details to myself until a later time.
So farewell to my discovery trip to India. I hope to return and see more of this incredibly varied and exciting nation.
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