Travels in Retirement: Day 2 Flights #2 & #3

Well Boeng sure know how to squeeze them in. The flight from Singapore to Delhi was cramped. Almost brand new aircraft Boeing 787-10 but were we racked and stacked! 3×3×3 and not much leg room even for me. Very tight fit. But even so managed around 4 hrs pretty decent sleep even missing out on supper. Was pretty shattered by the time we boarded so on with the eyeshades, headphones and as soon as the seatbelt light went out zzzzzzz.

So woke about 2 hrs out by a crying baby that had been going all flight apparently. So on arrival at Delhi at 5am on a misty hot sticky morning I was greeted by a man with my name on a card along with a couple of others.. I said to him quizzically "you have my name on your board?" "Oh yes please remember to pick up your luggage on carousel 14 for your next flight" What service.

So immigration was a giggle, there were a group of elderly travellers all in white mainly women with two old gentlemen and one younger. They were having problems queuing and going up one by one as they appeared to be multiple wives. A rather comical start to the day. Was quite a queue heading in and I watched everyone get fingerprinted so was ready for mine but he just took my photo, checked my passport and eVisa and waved me through. Felt discriminated against!!!! But really felt special!

Then off to gather up my bag which was there Yay! And went following the signs and did a huge circuit of the baggage hall just to arrive back where I started. And just walked out through customs, no check no nothing. Apparently they tag the bags that need checking.

So out and the first thing I see is an armed army person with an AK 47 or something like that. Sitting with a sign "Keep distance, no query" they are everywhere.

So have managed to pick up my sim card and installed it myself. Must say the young man was pretty rude, but that may be the difference with service here who knows, time will tell. Then I re read my instructions telling me to be forceful about what I want as it is not me but is a culture thing here. So installed and up and running eventually, about 2 hours earlier that told.

Can't get a long black here!! They call it an Americano. Go figure but must say the one I am sipping from Costa

is pretty good. Asked for a strong and got it!

So now a bit of a wait while the sim card activated and then can post this and will try and find a place to rest for a couple of hours.

Cannot believe the queues at the toilets. And forgot about the ones in Singapore, they have bidets and squats.

Still managed to do the morning ablutions and now just observing the traffic. Fascinating such a range of people! A bit wary of taking photos here.....too many guns!

So it is 15:30 kiwitime and 08:00 India time ....been a long time since bed, still only an hour's flight to go.

The airport main floor is a bit sparce but a couple of interesting displays, honoring the elephant, carrier of the gods and

The queue just to get into the airport are amazing.

and you can see the haze/pollution in the background.

I am learning a lot about huge queues here, the one for domestic security...just wow... They post times for getting through, currently 30 mins. So I should get into the queue with plenty of time. 🤗

As you can probably tell, I am doing a couple of circuits of the floor, writing a bit then off for another circuit. Wi be fit by the time I get on the next flight!

Well finally got through security... Domestic security here is worse than at LA International. Full search of everything and full body sweep with metal detector. Handled by the Army not just security.

The departure hall has 62 gates and guess which one I am now sitting at... Yup 62. But the will here was awesome.