Silk Route

Day 32 - Wed 16 Apr 08

Delhi

Well, Phil was up early for his flight back to the UK, so I'm on my own for the first time on this trip, and I've got a long way to go yet. I'm heading into the unknown, and I guess I'm kinda up for it. No real nerves. I paid a bit extra to extend the room until 18:00 and it's so hot I spent most of the day inside with the AC on.

Got a taxi to the airport and then pushed up front of the queue to check passports at the terminal entrance. There was an Austrian with a trolley loaded full of stuff that I pushed past - he said "There's a queue here" How long had he been in India? Queues mean nothing!

Check in was painless as I found the desk before the flight had been announced. It appears that the flight is only half full so I might be able to get some space to stretch out.

Half Full - HA! When I got to the plane in noticed three things, one the plane was pretty crowded, second my aisle seat was a window one, and thirdly there was someone sitting in it! I didn't have the heart or inclination to move the old guy so I just sat in the free aisle seat. His pal between him and me in the middle seat was all knees and elbows. Joy. I decided that as soon as the seatbelt light was off so was I.

The grass is always greener. A woman moved back from the first row of economy so she could stretch out, and I moved into her spot. The flight wasn't too bad, and we arrived at 03:40. First foreigner through immigration . Got my big coat out of the bag and headed out.

No sign of my airport pickup, so I took a local taxi. I guess you always have to wonder what's going to happen when the driver starts the taxi with a screwdriver. He headed off and stated a 500T charge (not bad about $4), stopped off at a place to change some currency, and swapped about $20. However when we got to the hotel it turns out that it's 500T per km, and he wants 45Euros off me. Luckily I only had the $20 I'd changed and another $20, so he took that instead. Still cheaper than the Ł50 that I'd got quoted in the UK.

Checked in to the hotel at 04:00 with no problems, a wash and into bed by 05:00!