India Visit: Travel

I am sitting here at my 11yr old desktop, waiting through endless minutes as the web pages load wondering which action would hang the poor veteran. The problem as I am quick to point to myself is about the processing capacity of my desktop than the broadband speed. Nonetheless I am happy, for all the ‘non-computing’ reasons!!!

Before I give in to the jetlag induced stupor a few words about my journey here are in order. I booked myself onto a non-stop flight from Newark to Mumbai and was quite happy about the non-stop part of it. However I underestimated the 10hr layover which I had to go through in Newark. Well I did get through it, I mean I did survive to tell the tale and that should merit for something. I will be talking about that ‘longest day’ in my life in another blog post. For now it is the - ‘United Airlines flight with non-stop service from Newark to Mumbai’.

You would have guessed that my experience would have been of the extreme, either positive or negative. Nobody will take the pains of penning down his thoughts if the experience would be anywhere in between the two extremities. Its just not worth it, you will say and I agree. So let me make it clear – the experience was awesome.

I must put a disclaimer that the flight experience is definitely after the 10hrs layover, so I might be baised, for my mind will always compare the flight with the 10hr nothingness.

To begin with, the choice of the aisle seat was a godsend, especially when the window seat was taken by a dude and the middle seat was empty. Guys, you don’t want to end up in a aisle seat when the window or a middle seat is taken by a lady. It might be good company but then, the ladies just get up and head to the loo too often. This dude, and yes I counted, got up exactly 3 times, in the 15hrs journey. It was jus brilliant. Whereas I could see the frustration writ on the faces of the two youngsters who, had a lady at the window in front of my seat, each time she asked them to make way. The middle vacant seat meant, shit was much more comfortable, no elbows hitting each other and well, no sleepy drool on my shoulder either (guess that is exaggerating it a bit too much!!)

The collection of movies and sitcoms in the inflight entertainment system was awesome. I ended up watching ‘English Vinglish’ and ‘Argo’. I had missed both, so I was happy! The dinner and the breakfast served were good too. The show stealer was however a very small thing, which I rate very highly especially when in a flight. There were attendants making rounds every hour or so, asking if anybody needed water. Water has always been a bane for me on flights. The very charade of calling a steward over and asking for water, for which he does take some time , handing you a half filled plastic cup, which does nothing to quench your thirst, is outright tiring. And it is only so many times, you would want to do it. Results being you get to your destination, severely dehydrated, a parched throat, which can barely hail a cab.

I will still take a day to get over my jetlag. I got a mob number for myself, so that I can be reached in India. Hit up all the folks whom I want to catch up here. So far so good!!!