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Planes, Teas and Clapped out Automobiles
Well rested after our final night in Saigon we made a quick supermarket sweep style rush around some souvenir shops and then got our cab to Ho Chi Minh City airport for the first of 3 flights to get us to Delhi, India.Our flight with Tiger Airways was uneventful other than munching down a kids snack pack each, which had some very nice biscuits in it.Landing in Singapore we were getting excited as usual about the free food and drink on the Qantas flight to Mumbai despite already getting a bit tired.After a Double Whopper meal with free sundae each we whiled away some time on the free internet - Singapore airport is undergoing some renovation but is still a very good, clean and well equipped place.Considering we had 6 hours to kill, we were lucky to be able to check in as soon as we got there so at least we weren't waiting around with nothing to do.
Once on board we settled in with a movie, some good plane food and a wine each (well, 2 for me!) and then tried to sleep a bit to prepare for the pending 10 hour wait at Mumbai airport - something neither of us were looking forward to at all as we had no idea what to expect, especially as we arrived at 2am!
We arrived at the international terminal and figured that being international maybe we would be better waiting here.Thank god we asked as the lady behind a counter told us that the Domestic terminal was much better with coffee shops and other cafes.
We decided to try and while away the hours without spending too much money so had a good coffee and hot choc and then found some seats where we hoped we wouldn't be stared at for the next 9 or so hours.Wanting to read but with my eyes stinging too much having not slept, I decided to keep watch of all our belongings, including a wicker tube holding some pictures and a Vietnamese cone hat that Liz has triumphantly carried since Hoi An, while Liz had a quick power nap.Time seemed to tick away without too much pain and after a tandoori chicken crepe and a coke (at about 6am) we got on our plane to Delhi with SpiceJet airways!
Now, about 26 hours into the journey we were getting very tired but knew we were nearly there - just an hour and a half flight to go with the hope that someone would be there to collect us from the airport as agreed with our tour booking.On the flight we sat back as they brought us our pre ordered meal of, yep, chicken curry and just before we tucked in to a yoghurt looking dessert the chap next to Liz told us to avoid it.It was a curd and he explained that if you are not used to it, it can upset your stomach.We then spent the next hour chatting and laughing with him. He was a chief operations guy for the government railways in India.He was a great guy who told us more about India and gave us some advice about what to keep vigilant about.He reminded me very much of the Indian equivalent of Hugh, Liz's dad.
Amazed, we walked out of the airport to see a small chap with flares on holding a sign with my name on and we were bundled into a clapped out old banger, with my backpack on the roof with no ropes holding it on, and taken to the tourist office to officially begin our tour.It was now about 3pm and having not slept for about 34 hours we must have looked like zombies complete with very bloodshot eyes.We were plonked in a small room, akin with what you might expect from a police interrogation room, and put in the company of the most stoned person I have ever encountered.After telling us he used to live in Trafalgar Square and that his sister's name was Liz (really?) we sat there expecting to be given our tour itinerary and vouchers for all our hotels - alas no!The space cadet "looking after us" asked us the same questions again and then we were rescued by someone who appeared to know what they were doing. After asking many questions about our trip and what the plan was we realised they never answer you but distract you in some way so as not to enlighten you.This distraction came in the form of copious amounts of green cinnamon tea. It was like they were keeping the details of the trip a surprise or far more likely, they had no idea what the hell was going on.After 3 or 4 cups of the tea they looked at us and said we looked exhausted (at least they got that bit right) and checked us in to the next-door hotel, which was very nice so we could get some sleep.
Feeling slightly more ready to tackle them and get them to tell us what the hell was happening we found out we would be starting the next day at about 10am with a driver to take us around the sights of Delhi.Still very apprehensive we bought some cookies and water from a nearby shack and hibernated in our room contemplating the final chapter of our travels hoping we would have fun and see some interesting sights and people, whilst eating some delicious food of course.However, all we had had so far was 3 flights, an awful lot of tea and a blood pressure reading to worry most doctors.
Sam
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