Agra to Delhi

Packed up and had a little breakfast. My driver was on time. We left at 9am. He decided to take the highway, much smoother roads but several terrible accidents that we missed by minutes. One was a small car vs a bus. Both were burned to a char. All the people were on the side of the road looking in terror. The fires were out but it seemed like they lost all of their possessions. For some reason my driver wanted to see how fast the car went, it was new. He had it up to 180kph. Luckily no dogs were wandering on the highway. At least the cows cont get on the highway.

Mostly uneventful. We stopped for a coffee in a huge rest point. Then we stopped for gas. His car was fueled by CNP. Not sure what that was. The lines are long for CNP, gas and Diesel. Lots of jockeying to be first. Driver told me he should have refueled in the night but he was tired.

As we got close to Delhi, I realized I didn’t tell him where we were going. I couldn’t pull up the address to the hotel. He gave me his phone to look it up. The things we take for granted. The hotel is in my phone in several places but not the address. I even took a screenshot of the hotel name and front to be prepared. Finally arrived at the Shanti Palace Hotel. Not a great area, but very close to the airport.

I was hungry so I decided to check out the restaurant. Had some yummy spicy lamb and a little wine.

This is sugar and fennel seeds I think. You take a little of both and eat it, then pick the seeds out with toothpicks. I had this last time I was in India, but it was wrapped in edible foil.

There really wasn’t time to do anything today so I decided to check out their spa. They had many types of Ayurvedic treatments but the woman in charge pushed me to a 90 minute massage. We had to go downstairs to the front desk to pay then back to the spa.

I didn’t care if it was a man or woman so I ended up with a man. He was pretty good but a little in appropriate.

I tried to walk around a little to get fresh air, but it’s Delhi, there is no fresh air. The hotel was just off the highway on a busy road. It was just too busy to walk on. There really weren’t sidewalks so back to the restaurant. Now the hotel was replacing something at the entrance of the restaurant so People had to walk down to the basement and figure out where to pop up to find the restaurant. Interesting to say the least. Had a little food and more wine. The local wine is ok. If I try to order something else, they never have it or just don’t understand.

I woke up early. My flight was at. I knew that I had to check a bag. I had checked with the front desk about a ride to the airport and looked up the airline on the Internet to see what Terminal. Terminal 1 but the driver wasn’t sure. I showed him the terminal in my phone and off we went.

Turns out he was right, I was wrong. I was told to wait at the blue bus to go to the next terminal. Probably terminal 3. Then a man asked if I wanted a ride to the next terminal for 400 rupees vs the 500 on the bus. I hesitated and went for it. Turns out the terminal was another 20 minutes away! The bus would come, if on time, every 15 minutes so I might be really late. Yes, it was risky, but am I really a target? He dropped me off. I still didn’t know if I was in the right spot. There were no signs for my Airlines. It was like Spirit or Frontier. Finally someone said way at the other end. Was he telling the truth or just trying to get rid of me. The area he sent me to was Special assistance. Yup that was me. I waited in line and got through! Then had to ask again about the airline. My flight info was not where all the other flights were posted so I was worried. It was early in the day, there were other flights….

Delhi International is a huge airport. Way back in a corner was my check in area. Easy check in. Crazy security lines. Take off this, put this on one bin , that in another. Made it through. Time for coffee? Probably not but yes because now I am at hour three of a delay!

Luckily I have traveled enough not to get bent out of shape. I just people watch and read. The delay is due to weather, yet other planes are taking off. I think it’s too few people and they will combine the next flight.

As I was writing the above, I looked up and noticed that some of the people that I was pretty sure were on my flight, were gone. The monks, a mother and son, a woman who was in front of me in security that the frisker and that is what they are called, asked if we were traveling together The PA said something about a flight to Dharmsala at a different gate, but I didn’t understand. So I found a gate agent and he said yes, the bus to my plane was leaving. Go now.

It’s a prop plane to the Northern India! It sounds like an Indians Jones airplane!!!