My journey started off on a slightly scary note when I reach the airport at 5 am on the 13th morning to find that the Gulf Air flight I am taking to London via Abu Dhabi is rescheduled.
All this due to one pilot who overshot the runway in Mumbai airport, thus causing a large plane to get lodged into the mud, interfering with the functioning of the main runway and also delaying and rescheduling hundreds of flights from Mumbai airport. Four days after the mishap they were still trying to dislodge the plane!
They put 11 of us on an Etihaad Airlines flight to Abu Dhabi instead.
Our flight is 16th in the queue at about 9.15 am. Our London bound hearts miss a collective beat when the pilot announces it might take another hour for take-off. We have a connection at 12.55.
All is well, however, when at about 12 noon, I look down over miles of sand and a rather beautifully stark landscape, suddenly brought alive by shimmering blue green waters below. Like an abstract painting.
We get our connection with about 15 minutes to spare. The Patel family of 4 even manage to squeeze in some quick duty free shopping. I am too nervous and run towards terminal 9. The flight is rather empty. A few minutes into the flight, the lady in front proceeds to down several glasses of wine and giggles furiously. Coochie-cooing with the hubby in between. A rather elderly couple — such a cute sight too! Her laughter is infectious and I can’t resist a glass of red myself. There is something decidedly decadent about sipping wine in the afternoon so many miles above the air.
We touch down at London at exactly 5.20 pm. A familiar face looms up large in front of me — my sister — and much relief for me! Because of one pilot, I nearly didn’t make it in time. Our Pakistani cab driver keeps us entertained through the half hour ride through London’s suburbs. After a filling meal of garlic bread, wine (again!) and pasta, I need to call it a day. It’s been a lot of late nights, wine and enormous quantities of food a few days in a row. And I have a lot to see and do yet :)
If you remember post 26/7 rains a Air-India flight had got run off the main runway. My flight which took off from delhi at 6AM landed in bombay only after 12 hours with a stop-over in pune. All this after a more than 72 hours delay of arrival from Malaysia due to the rains in Bombay. Crazy travel that was.
Posted by Kapil | October 15, 2005, 1:58 pmAh… if only my capacity for travelogues were as well established… Vienna has many stories and so does that horror that is London Heathrow.
Ich hoffe daß Sie guten Spaß haben in Paris. Gute Reise!
Posted by Vigvg | October 15, 2005, 7:26 pmAll’s well that end’s well…nice to see yr post and look forward to reading more about yr travels. a big hi to yr sis from me.
Posted by aqua | October 16, 2005, 10:44 amHi!
Visiting ur blog for the first time. But really njoyed ur travelling experiences. Do keep posting more such experiences as n when u get time. Happy vacationing!
Posted by debprotimdutta | October 17, 2005, 10:12 amHey! thank god. Keep posting and pls look up the IIPM controversy. You may want to link to it.
Posted by Suman | October 17, 2005, 1:38 pmIt was Sahara Airlines flight which got skid off the runway and caused havoc for 5/6 days. AAI has suitably fined Sahara for this.
Intense competition has forced airlines to hire inexperienced pilots resulting in this kind of mishap.
May God keep all of us safe.
Posted by Anjum Parwej | November 21, 2005, 4:25 pmThat was a nice narration. U can try writing a nice book on ur travel experiences. Bon vivant!
Posted by Rajani J | November 6, 2007, 2:20 pm