 |
 |
 |
 |
  Thursday 8th of December 2016 and they called me at 5 thirty to tell me that my tea was outside the door. I went up to open the door and I could enjoy my good morning tea. Next time I will have  tea is after checking in at Ramada Plaza JHV in Varanasi.
Time to get in the air again, for sure nothing I'm looking forward to.  And I have for sure not lost any weight while in Sundarban. But it is only for 1 hour 25 minutes so it will  hopefully be OK.
I had booked a car for 7 o'clock and I went to check out 5 minutes before 7 o'clock. I was in the car 5 minutes later bound for Calcutta domestic terminal and IndiGo flight 6E-713 to Varanasi. Flight departs at 08:25 so there should be plenty time to reach the flight. I had choose this hotel as it is only a few minutes away from the airport.  Leaving my room, now full of tea pots from room service
 Coming out in the temporary reception - They redecorate the hotel
 Taking my bags
 Loading the bags
 We are ready to leave for the airport
 On the way to the airport on empty roads
 Arriving to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
 Lining up to enter the domestic terminal at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
 Lining up to enter the domestic terminal at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, a huge airport
 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, a huge airport
We reached Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport a few minutes after we had left the Pipal Tree Hotel. When I arrived here it was dark, but now I could see that it was a huge airport. What a difference form when I arrived here the first time 25 years ago. Curfew due to the demolition of the Babri Mosque in the city of Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh. So we were not allowed to leave the airport at arrival to Calcutta and we had to sleep on the airport. And on the picture below we can see that there is a “slight” difference between the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport 1992 and 2016.  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport back in 1992
Curfew when I arrived to Calcutta and we had to sleep on the floor at the airport
I joined the queue to enter the terminal and I had to show my pass port and e-ticket before I was allowed inside the terminal. Indigo's check-in desks were located very close to the door but I needed to x-ray my luggage before I could check-in. There were plenty people so it took quite some time before I was checked-in. Well, I had  checked-in on line yesterday and I had to pay 300 ₹ as I had chosen an aisle seat on line.
The card transaction had not gone through so I was sent to a “cash” check-in counter. I paid the 300 ₹ for my aisle seat and I went to the security. The security was a pretty quick thing and I was soon in the departure hall. Gate 23 E but when I came to the gate I was informed that the gate had been changed to Gate 25. So I had to go back up one level to the gate bridges. Gate 23 E was on the “bus” level. So I was happy that we didn't need to go by bus.  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
 Domestic departure gates
 Domestic departures
 Lining up at Gate 25
 Our plane
 Our plane
I took my seat close to the Gate 25 and there was soon a girl from the IndiGo staff starting to scream. I could not hear what she was saying, something about a gate change. Gate 23 E and I  thought to myself that I will request a wheelchair if they want me to move down to the bus level again. But it turned out that it was the other flight, so we were just swapping gates.
A short flight, but I was not looking forward to sit in a cattle class seat. But now I will start my  new life, first thing when landing in Bangkok on Saturday evening.
But first, lunch when I check-in to my hotel in Varanasi. There were a long line to Gate 25 and I didn't bother getting up from my chair until the line was almost gone. And I knew for sure that the flight was full as I had asked for a seat with an empty seat next to it. Yeah, looks like I'm having a horrible flight ahead of me. When there were only a very few people remaining at the gate I left my seat. Boarding procedures was quick and I was soon walking down the flight bridge to IndiGo flight 6E-713 from Kolkata to Varanasi.  IndiGo flight 6E-713 from Kolkata to Varanasi
 Oh yeah, a dream come through, YEEEHAAAA!!!
 Oh yeah, a dream come through, YEEEHAAAA!!!
  Sitting down, extension belt required. Safety demonstration and it is already 10 minutes after scheduled departure time. Suddenly, a PA message, fog in Varanasi and we cannot leave Calcutta. We will have to stay here until the weather clears up. I could not help but wondering why the duck they had let us board the plane. Anyway, next weather report in 15 minutes and we waited. I had time to ponder the mysteries in life and other things. By the time we got our next report I had agreed with myself that the extension belt was one of the finest inventions the humans have come up with. Next weather report and no improvements and we had to wait for another 15 minutes for the next report. And finally, there were improvement sin Varanasi and we could take off. And lo and behold, we could not land in Varanasi because of the fog. Fog? I'm convinced that it is due to smoke and dust. We were circling over Varanasi waiting for improvements when the Pilot told us that we might  have to go back to Calcutta. OK, suddenly there was a clear patch and the  pilot dived, yes, you read it right. I thought we were going to do a Kamikaze on Varanasi and Ganges River
The Pilot had really decide don to catch this patch of clear air over the airport. I was not really sur eif we were crashing or if we are intending to land. But suddenly a BOOM and we were on the runway, and yes, we were bouncing down the runway. Second time i get sea sick today. New beautiful airport in Calcutta, but they have obviously forgotten the runway. I have never been sea sick in a airplane running on a runway before. But the pavement must have been like a roller coaster. Well, there is a first time for everything. Anyway, I was very happy that we didn't had to go back to Calcutta. Ramada Plaza JHV hotel and lunch, here I come! Now, open the doors double quick so I can get out of here.  Finally, I'm out of here
 They have someone to polish the engine
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi Airport
 My Driver wait for me outside the terminal
I didn't had to wait for very long before my bag came on the belt and I was soon out of the terminal. My Driver was waiting for me at the exit and we were soon on our way to Ramada Plaza JHV hotel and my booked afternoon tour on Ganges. And if you click HERE you will find yourself on a boat in the middle of River Ganges. 
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
|
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!
คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้
Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!
E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||