Hello all. It's been just over 12 hours since I left Sangam. Christa, Gwen, Em, Bron and I stayed up until about midnight watching films, and then I wrote some goodbye notes, got about an hours sleep, and got up again just as I heard my car arrive. I got dressed, stripped the bed, threw the last things I was leaving behind into the Community Bazaar box, and headed downstairs. The other 4 all appeared to say goodbye, and did the traditional singing of 'go well and safely'. I heard them shout goodbye at the gate, which was impressive considering it was 3 am and there were only 4 of them, and also justified all those times I've shouted at cars and wondered whether they could actually hear me. The people in the cars, that is, not the cars themselves. That'd just be stupid.
Anyway, it only took 3 hours to get to the airport at Mumbai becase the roads were pretty empty - in fact, I don't think I've ever seen India so quiet. Especially on the pedestrian front. I changed my last few rupees into UAE dinara or whatever they're called, checked in, went through security and then settled into an uncomfortable chair for a 3 hour wait. I managed to fall asleep for a bit of it, which I thought was quite impressive. We had to wait aaages to take off once on the plane; apparently air traffic control was 'very busy'.
On the plane, I watched The Muppets and Puss in Boots, and managed not to nod off, but the last half hour caught me and I was jolted out of a doze as we touched down. After a LONG walk down many corridors to find passport control and the exit, I got a taxi to the Youth Hostel, where I was greeted by a friendly if slightly flustered man on reception, who requested me to sit and wait for 10minutes, got me to fill in 2 different versions of the same form, and then eventually gave me my room key. It's very luxurious for a hostel - I have a twin room with really squishy beds, a decent sized and clean bathroom, a/c and a tv. I won't need the a/c though - it's about 23 degrees here, which is just perfect. Much cooler than India was, but not so cold that I need a jacket. Reception man called and booked a taxi for me for 5am, and I thought I'd make use of the internet here to update you all, and let you know that I'm that bit nearer home. Only 3 hours time difference here!
I'm now going to go and find the nearest 'Big Bus' stop, and go on an open-top tour of Dubai. Jen recommended this to me, and I figured it was an easy way to fill my time here before falling in to bed, and then starting the travelling thing all over again. I'll endeavour to write another little post about what I see on the bus - either when I get back here to the hostel, or when I get home.
TTFN
Anyway, it only took 3 hours to get to the airport at Mumbai becase the roads were pretty empty - in fact, I don't think I've ever seen India so quiet. Especially on the pedestrian front. I changed my last few rupees into UAE dinara or whatever they're called, checked in, went through security and then settled into an uncomfortable chair for a 3 hour wait. I managed to fall asleep for a bit of it, which I thought was quite impressive. We had to wait aaages to take off once on the plane; apparently air traffic control was 'very busy'.
On the plane, I watched The Muppets and Puss in Boots, and managed not to nod off, but the last half hour caught me and I was jolted out of a doze as we touched down. After a LONG walk down many corridors to find passport control and the exit, I got a taxi to the Youth Hostel, where I was greeted by a friendly if slightly flustered man on reception, who requested me to sit and wait for 10minutes, got me to fill in 2 different versions of the same form, and then eventually gave me my room key. It's very luxurious for a hostel - I have a twin room with really squishy beds, a decent sized and clean bathroom, a/c and a tv. I won't need the a/c though - it's about 23 degrees here, which is just perfect. Much cooler than India was, but not so cold that I need a jacket. Reception man called and booked a taxi for me for 5am, and I thought I'd make use of the internet here to update you all, and let you know that I'm that bit nearer home. Only 3 hours time difference here!
I'm now going to go and find the nearest 'Big Bus' stop, and go on an open-top tour of Dubai. Jen recommended this to me, and I figured it was an easy way to fill my time here before falling in to bed, and then starting the travelling thing all over again. I'll endeavour to write another little post about what I see on the bus - either when I get back here to the hostel, or when I get home.
TTFN
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