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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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Up early, I headed out to find an internet place as I had to make sure that my Brother, Nik, had hopefully made it on his way. The place I had read about in the LP was supposed to be open at 7:30am, but at 8:10am it wasn't opened yet and I learnt that it actually didn't open until 9:00am. I didn't want to wait, so I headed off to find another place and did mange to find one, some ways away. I didn't receive an email from Nik, so that was a good sign.
I figured I would have breakfast at the hotel just before leaving at 10:30am for the airport, but when I got back and checked my e-ticket, I found that I was supposed to check in two hours before my flight, not the one hour I had expected but had planned for one and a half hours. So, I was able to move up my taxi, which meant no breakfast.
Not long after getting the taxi we stopped to fill up for gas (something that happens a lot. Not sure why taxis, rickshaws and buses don't fill up before taking on passengers) and what struck me as funny was a sign that said to turn off your mobile phone, but not the car! Anyhow, the trip took about an hour due to the traffic which I didn't have when I arrived.
Having reached the airport, check in took quite some time, especially because the two people in front of me turned out to be more like a family of 10 which a ton of luggage. I had heard that queuing in India tended to be a foreign concept and I experienced only a little bit of that as I waited, with people trying to get in front of me, but I stood my ground :)
Finally checked in, I went in search of food, but it wasn't looking good. I bought a Mars Bar, just in case and it was good thing, because once I got through security there was only one small stall that a very few, unappealing items left. My Mars Bar was gone quickly and I snacked on a few tapioca chips that I had bought in Kumily. The waiting area for the two gates was nothing I had ever seen. Instead of the usual uncomfortable chairs that are provided, this waiting area had all arm chairs that were most comfty!
The flight to Delhi on Spicejet (one of India's low cost carriers) was three hours. I sat next to an Indian couple with the wife sitting next to me who kept fidgeting with the scarf of her sari for most of the flight. When she wasn't doing that she was calling the flight attendant over for one thing or another!
We landed in Delhi and after getting my pack I made my way to a prepaid booth having read that it is much less hassle than trying to get a taxi yourself and the chance of being taken for a ride - literally! However, I still think I got a little ripped off because I was heading to the Hilton, paying 380 Rs (approx $9.74), but what can you do? I waited in line until I was ushered to a taxi that was a dinky beat up car. I showed the guy the address but it didn't seem like he really knew where he had to go. He asked a guy as he headed out and I just hoped he knew where he was going.
As the driver headed along it seemed like there were no road rules. There were four lanes for traffic, but I think there were at least six lanes of cars, with us being in the fast lane, but not going that fast and so had a multitude of cars going around us and honking as they did. We did manage to make it to the Hilton in about half an hour and I was a little embarrassed as I got out of the beat up car with my pack on. Not the Hilton's usual clientele! I had decided to treat myself for one night, using Hilton points as I didn't want to have to deal with going into Delhi and then back out again the next day to pick up Nik and the Hilton was outside of town.
The hotel was beautifully landscaped with the rooms arranged around a large water feature. The room was really nice, but the most exciting parts for me was the down comforter and pillows and the bathtub :) When I was driving to the Hilton I saw that not far from the hotel was the Mall of India, a take off of the Mall of America in Minnesota. I decided I had to check it out, plus I hadn't expected for Delhi to be so cold (so much for using the pool!) and figured I would have to breakdown and buy a pair of jeans and another cardigan or a sweater. When I asked at the front desk for a taxi, they wanted 600 Rs (approx $15.38). Forget that! I would have walked to the road to find a taxi, but it was getting dark and the area didn't look that great. So, I would have to forgo seeing the Mall of India, bummer!
So instead I decided to take a bubble bath (what a treat!) and put on my dress for dinner, hopefully to look less like a backpacker. I contemplated having a nice juicy steak knowing it would be quite some time before I would be able to have one of those again, but the risotto caught my eye. After a good dinner I headed back to my room for the night, with no turn down service, what's up with that Hilton!!! ;)
The next morning I had breakfast and then inquired about getting a taxi to the airport. They wanted 1,750 Rs (approx $44.87)! Insane! I asked about a regular taxi and the bell hop grudgingly agreed to get one for me, but said it would take about an hour. It meant leaving after Nik would touch down, but I had no choice. I checked out with a bill that was more than my daily budget, but definitely money worth spent!
previous travel blog entry
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