Lucknow is a very surreal place. Parts of it remind me of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in that they are so intensely artificial with pink stone walls and modern highways, roundabouts and gardens, and other parts that are as primitive as anywhere in India. Everywhere and every day the air is a gray haze. I notice that all of India seems to smell of burning rubber.
On our way to the airport we sped along one of the empty modern roads ringing pink stone walls that surround "gardens". I put gardens in quotes because these are the most imposing walls you've ever seen; it is impossible to glimpse the alleged gardens within. They're probably built to deter the poor suffering Indian peasant from entering.
Took an unorthodox detour through a village on the way to the airport. Saw several brides on their way to wedding ceremonies.
Complete pandemonium in the small regional Lucknow airport; each of us had crazy experiences either in the waiting area or going through security. It was like trying to coexist with a herd of feral cats. We found seats but if anyone got up if even for a moment someone would come and take their seat. We tried to spread ourselves out to fill in for the person who had to use the "loo" but that didn't work. A lady came and lay down on the seat she'd taken from Ferris. People rush to cut in front on the security line. How many people can go through the metal detector at once? Bags were disappearing. Ferris struggled to get her breathing machine through security and accepted as carry-on. We were the only Westerners there.
The actual Kingfisher flight was fine but we all noticed that the days of having an entire meal served during a 1/2 hour flight seem to be over. Kingfisher has gone the way of American Airlines with food perfunctorily served and for sale. Quite a change from just one year ago.
It was a delight to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, a modern and well functioning place, and to return to our oasis in India, the Imperial Hotel. I suppose we we were all tired because we had an hilarious episode in the hotel lobby when checking in. We all owed extra money to the tour company for the change in plans and somehow or other got completely mixed up about who'd paid what. I ended up laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face. I'm still not entirely certain whether I paid $250 too much or $400 too little! And neither is anyone else which is what's so frightening. I suppose you had to be there.
Ferris and I had booked a spa appointment (massage) for 7 pm but because our flight from Lucknow was delayed we were slightly rushed to make it on time. We hadn't eaten since breakfast so we had soup and a few nibbles at the bar with Cliff and Cathy then dashed off. Fell asleep reading about Chennai where we will be tomorrow night!
On our way to the airport we sped along one of the empty modern roads ringing pink stone walls that surround "gardens". I put gardens in quotes because these are the most imposing walls you've ever seen; it is impossible to glimpse the alleged gardens within. They're probably built to deter the poor suffering Indian peasant from entering.
Took an unorthodox detour through a village on the way to the airport. Saw several brides on their way to wedding ceremonies.
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| Somehow Spirit of India travelers didn't make the list. |
The actual Kingfisher flight was fine but we all noticed that the days of having an entire meal served during a 1/2 hour flight seem to be over. Kingfisher has gone the way of American Airlines with food perfunctorily served and for sale. Quite a change from just one year ago.
It was a delight to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, a modern and well functioning place, and to return to our oasis in India, the Imperial Hotel. I suppose we we were all tired because we had an hilarious episode in the hotel lobby when checking in. We all owed extra money to the tour company for the change in plans and somehow or other got completely mixed up about who'd paid what. I ended up laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face. I'm still not entirely certain whether I paid $250 too much or $400 too little! And neither is anyone else which is what's so frightening. I suppose you had to be there.
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| Entering the Imperial Spa. |
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