I have arrived
If this is your first time reading this, scroll to the bottom and read up.
I am also trying to change my options so that it shows the India time not the AZ time
Hello everyone -
What a trip this has been so far. The flight was great, very smooth and non-eventful.
Thanks Christopher for the 1st Class upgrades, I am completely SPOILED now. My seat converted into a fully flat bed, I had a comforter nice pillow. WOW, how can I ever get back to coach again??? American Airlines ROCKS!!!!!
I got a little tipsy from the all the alcohol I drank. I slept soundly, ate everything they gave me.
The pilot was landed this plane very smoothly, I could hardly feel the actualy landing. Left the plane and as I looked around I could not believe where I was.
I was # 4 at passport control, cool no problems.
I waited for my luggage to arrive, I was still in complete awe. I remember thinking, everyone seems to have a cell phone. Boy little did I know.....
Got my luggage, and head over to immigration. My heart starts to beat really fast...Why you ask????
Well I was doing some research b4 I left home to make sure I was not going to have any trouble with the stuff I was bringing. What worried me the most were the 2 lap tops. 1 for work and my personal one. I could just see them taking them away......
According to what I read I needed to have receipts for computers or proof of ownership, well I did not have anything like that.
Thank GOD the guy just looked at my paperwork and waved me out. Now it starts to get interesting.....
Leaving the arrivals area was when it actually hit me, THE SMELL, THE HEAT the sea of people. It looked like on my left side were relatives of passengers and on the right were the Hotel drivers. There must've been about 30 drivers all holding a sign trying to get noticed. I walked slowly and looked at each sign, everyone smiling at me.
Then I saw it, my name. WHOHO!!!!!!I am saved.
I motioned to my driver and he comes running and helps me with my stuff. His was Satism, and really nice. We leave the terminal and there is more heat, smells and people living on the actual floor. 3 guys came running and wanted to help with my stuff and Satism yelled at them. 2 left one stayed and grabbed one of by bags from Satism, who actually yelled at guy all the way back to the car. The extra guy actually had the NERVE to ask for a tip, and since I had very little Rupes I gave him what I had. He looked at me and started yelling. Satism then tells me " Get in the car sir" Which I did faster than I can blink.
It took about 50 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel, traffic was awful. My senses were in overload on the way to the hotel, the driver was cool he trying to teach me some words to say. Then I asked him, you're not trying to get me in trouble by me saying these words. He did
not get my joke, I then explained it to him. He's like no sir, you are my guest and I would never do such a thing. I told him I
was kidding and I think he finally got it.
I also made an arrangement with him, if I used him to take me around I would teach him Spanish and English, and he would
teach me some Hindi. He said Ok.
To my surprise he is a Christian, he even had a Bible in his car. He also offered to take to the Catholic Church on any Sunday
I wanted to go. It would be cool to hear the mass in Hindi, he told me they say it in Hindi then translate. One thing I noticed on the
way from the airport was a lot of street signs are in English, I thought that was interesting.
Walking through the airport was not what I imagined, is a bit more modern than I thought. Passport control was quick, but my luggage
took a while. Oh and BTW I had to pay 25.00 on one of my suitcases for being over 50 lbs. Oh well, I think I brought more things
that I would need but who knows. I wanted to make sure I did not forget anything.
There is McDonald accross the street and a Dominos Pizza, they will come in handy. I looked that room service menu and their burgers are
made with lamb, just as I was told. Everyone is super friendly and always with a smile. There some sort of celebration last night I could hear fireworks and a band nearby, they were playing something like steel drums and something else, not sure.
TV is going to be a challenge, most of the English speaking channels are reruns of US shows, the rest are in Hindi. Good thing I brought 10 DVDs with me.
Not sure what I will do today, I just had them pick up my dry cleaning. Have not unpacked yet, getting kinda hungry. I may ask to have room changed to a higher floor. Can't see much from my window, all I can see is the top of the entry into the lobby.
I will probably venture out - YIKES - and see the area, not sure.
This is all I have for now, happy reading. Remember comments and questions are always welcomed.
OH OH, and power just went out in the hotel. I am not Kidding...... Good thig my lap top has a battery.
Ok, power just came back up - WHEW -
This is only day 1 and I wonder what the next weeks will be like. I can not wait to start work tomorrow. This is strange, I do not feel jet lagged at all. I guess that's ok.
Well that is all for now, happy reading.
Remember comments and questions are ALWAYS welcomed.
Ciao
Louis
I am also trying to change my options so that it shows the India time not the AZ time
Hello everyone -
What a trip this has been so far. The flight was great, very smooth and non-eventful.
Thanks Christopher for the 1st Class upgrades, I am completely SPOILED now. My seat converted into a fully flat bed, I had a comforter nice pillow. WOW, how can I ever get back to coach again??? American Airlines ROCKS!!!!!
I got a little tipsy from the all the alcohol I drank. I slept soundly, ate everything they gave me.
The pilot was landed this plane very smoothly, I could hardly feel the actualy landing. Left the plane and as I looked around I could not believe where I was.
I was # 4 at passport control, cool no problems.
I waited for my luggage to arrive, I was still in complete awe. I remember thinking, everyone seems to have a cell phone. Boy little did I know.....
Got my luggage, and head over to immigration. My heart starts to beat really fast...Why you ask????
Well I was doing some research b4 I left home to make sure I was not going to have any trouble with the stuff I was bringing. What worried me the most were the 2 lap tops. 1 for work and my personal one. I could just see them taking them away......
According to what I read I needed to have receipts for computers or proof of ownership, well I did not have anything like that.
Thank GOD the guy just looked at my paperwork and waved me out. Now it starts to get interesting.....
Leaving the arrivals area was when it actually hit me, THE SMELL, THE HEAT the sea of people. It looked like on my left side were relatives of passengers and on the right were the Hotel drivers. There must've been about 30 drivers all holding a sign trying to get noticed. I walked slowly and looked at each sign, everyone smiling at me.
Then I saw it, my name. WHOHO!!!!!!I am saved.
I motioned to my driver and he comes running and helps me with my stuff. His was Satism, and really nice. We leave the terminal and there is more heat, smells and people living on the actual floor. 3 guys came running and wanted to help with my stuff and Satism yelled at them. 2 left one stayed and grabbed one of by bags from Satism, who actually yelled at guy all the way back to the car. The extra guy actually had the NERVE to ask for a tip, and since I had very little Rupes I gave him what I had. He looked at me and started yelling. Satism then tells me " Get in the car sir" Which I did faster than I can blink.
It took about 50 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel, traffic was awful. My senses were in overload on the way to the hotel, the driver was cool he trying to teach me some words to say. Then I asked him, you're not trying to get me in trouble by me saying these words. He did
not get my joke, I then explained it to him. He's like no sir, you are my guest and I would never do such a thing. I told him I
was kidding and I think he finally got it.
I also made an arrangement with him, if I used him to take me around I would teach him Spanish and English, and he would
teach me some Hindi. He said Ok.
To my surprise he is a Christian, he even had a Bible in his car. He also offered to take to the Catholic Church on any Sunday
I wanted to go. It would be cool to hear the mass in Hindi, he told me they say it in Hindi then translate. One thing I noticed on the
way from the airport was a lot of street signs are in English, I thought that was interesting.
Walking through the airport was not what I imagined, is a bit more modern than I thought. Passport control was quick, but my luggage
took a while. Oh and BTW I had to pay 25.00 on one of my suitcases for being over 50 lbs. Oh well, I think I brought more things
that I would need but who knows. I wanted to make sure I did not forget anything.
There is McDonald accross the street and a Dominos Pizza, they will come in handy. I looked that room service menu and their burgers are
made with lamb, just as I was told. Everyone is super friendly and always with a smile. There some sort of celebration last night I could hear fireworks and a band nearby, they were playing something like steel drums and something else, not sure.
TV is going to be a challenge, most of the English speaking channels are reruns of US shows, the rest are in Hindi. Good thing I brought 10 DVDs with me.
Not sure what I will do today, I just had them pick up my dry cleaning. Have not unpacked yet, getting kinda hungry. I may ask to have room changed to a higher floor. Can't see much from my window, all I can see is the top of the entry into the lobby.
I will probably venture out - YIKES - and see the area, not sure.
This is all I have for now, happy reading. Remember comments and questions are always welcomed.
OH OH, and power just went out in the hotel. I am not Kidding...... Good thig my lap top has a battery.
Ok, power just came back up - WHEW -
This is only day 1 and I wonder what the next weeks will be like. I can not wait to start work tomorrow. This is strange, I do not feel jet lagged at all. I guess that's ok.
Well that is all for now, happy reading.
Remember comments and questions are ALWAYS welcomed.
Ciao
Louis