Woke up and showered and got one last (unexpected) breakfast at Seasonal Tastes. Checked out of the room about 11a but hung around the hotel until 2p using the internet to check-in with British Airways, etc. Watched some large birds soaring on the thermals near the hotel as well as a gentleman cleaning the roof of the lobby awning.
Large bird seen from the Westin lobby
Rather than getting home this day I’d get home two days later, on Monday afternoon. Saturday was the trip to Mumbai on a 5:45p flight with a stay at the JW Marriot next to Mumbai airport’s International Terminal. Sunday would be the flight to London Heathrow with a stay at the adjoining Sofitel. Monday would be the last flight, to Raleigh, arriving about 3p. Thanks historic east coast blizzard!
And to think that forecast ended up being conservative!
Of all the days i dreaded this first one the most. Mumbai can be tricky — it’s a huge airport and the domestic and international terminals are not connected except by bus. As I’d be arriving via a domestic flight I’d have to retrieve my luggage, go to the hotel, and check the luggage back in the next day. I was most concerned about getting to the hotel, however. The concierge desk at the Westin was extremely helpful during all this — they worked with the JW Marriot to schedule a pickup, sent along flight information, and also printed out the updated itinerary that Richard had sent along earlier that morning as the guards at Pune would need to see that.
Left for the airport at 2p. I had a very enthusiastic driver, a little two enthusiastic. He kept saying things about his outlook on life and complimenting me — I’d have expected an Amway pitch next were I in America. He offered to take me to some shops, etc. but I insisted I just wanted to get to the airport and start the journey. Yes, I was going three-plus hours early. Better safe than sorry.
I presented my itinerary to the guard and realized I’d erred — I’d trimmed down this itinerary too much and my name wasn’t on it. Luckily I had the original printed out as well and I was waved through. They didn’t have the first luggage scanning this time, however — I guess that was only for international flights? The second luggage scanner wasn’t operating yet. In fact, the tiny airport was not lit save for the sunshine coming in. It was quite comfortable, however, sitting on the airport bench with the mild air and a gentle breeze blowing in. A gentleman came out and started straightening up the benches. Needing the exercise and the stretch I helped him a bit and went back to enjoying the weather.
Shortly after the Jet Airways luggage scanning crew showed up and my luggage was scanned and a zip tie put through the zippers to mark that it was scanned. Finally I was to the point I was at earlier in the morning when I got turned away! Despite my worry that my luggage was 3kgs heavier than the 15kg allowed for domestic flights (to which I’d protest I had not intended to be on a domestic flight!) my luggage was checked-in. I was given two things that looked like normal disposable luggage tags. Tossed them in my pocket and moved on to security.
Security went fine and I was through pretty shortly. I emerged in a small waiting area with cloudy tinted windows and sat down. Over the next hour I could hear jets come and go but didn’t see a lot of people lining up for departure and the like…
…turns out I wasn’t at the gates! D’oh! I went upstairs and there were all the people. Pune airport only has a handful of gates and even fewer jetways. They don’t have partitioned seating by gate — instead everyone sits around until called to a gate (in Hindi and English). There were several shops including one advertising Chicago pizza. Birds flew about the terminal.
As boarding was called I was asked to present the luggage tags. Uh-oh! Turns out they weren’t just luggage tags, but I was supposed to affix them to my carry-ons and have them stamped on inspection. I guess if the tags aren’t there they don’t bother to alert people. Dug the tags out of my pocket, affixed them, and dashed downstairs to security. Got them scanned again and stamped and ran back upstairs as final boarding was called. Whew!
Finally boarded (only 30m late, not bad!) by walking out on the tarmac and up some movable stairs! Awesome, hadn’t done that since I was young and it really drives home just how big planes are. On takeoff saw rows and rows of Indian air force jets and managed to see some pretty views of Pune before the setting sun ended that.
During the flight I chatted with a gentleman from Pune who worked on oil rigs and fields. In the past he had worked in Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar in a 35 day on / 35 day off pattern. The drop in oil had hit the industry hard, however, and now he was working for an Italian company in Saudi Arabia on a 20 day rotation. He rotates with the same crew, which is great because they learn how to work together efficiently and more importantly, safely. He left behind a wife and two young kids. I can only imagine how hard it’d be to leave them behind for twenty days, but he said it was OK because when he was back for 20 days it was 100% off-the-clock uninterrupted time with them.
Arrived at Mumbai in less than an hour and waited for my luggage with a similarly stranded gentleman from near New Orleans (Thibodaux). We talked about New Orleans some and his travel next to Munich then Houston and finally Louis Armstrong in New Orleans. Headed out to the pickup area and quickly located the JW Marriot driver. He had a really awesome ride — a Mercedes. Though the JW Marriot was fairly nearby it took about 20 minutes to get there. Terrible traffic but a few key differences from Pune. First, no motorcycles or scooters to speak of. Second, the cars actually obeyed lanes! Finally, lots more horns, and less chatty short beeps and more angry blaring horns. I much prefer Pune traffic!
As we were driving we passed the new International Terminal at Mumbai airport (named after Shivaji). Amazingly beautiful! Fully illuminated it looked like carved ivory soaring 50 or 60 feet in the air. In front of that was a car park that could hold 5,000 cars. The sides of the car park were covered with trees, vines, and other plant life. It looked seriously cool.
After a convoluted route involving flyways and such we arrived at the hotel, newly opened last March. And I thought the Westin was grand! Was greeted by a lady in traditional Indian dress offering rose petal powder or some such and rose-flavored water. La-tee-DA! Sailed through check-in and was shown to my room. Very nice, beautiful bath, wooden floors, and even electric curtains! Unfortunately no view of the International Terminal, though, but I remedied that later.
Bathroom at the JW Marriot — fancy!
Room at the JW Marriot in Mumbai
Headed to the buffet at the JW cafe. It was really tasty, particularly the dessert part, haha. Had two scoops of coffee ice cream and a waffle with maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, and cranberry paste. Very tasty! They also had several neat cakes and the like on display. Afterwards they let me go up to the Executive Lounge to see the International Terminal and take some pictures. Very nice of them. The whole hotel was quite busy and some kind of fancy ball was happening in the ballroom — saw many Indians dressed up in fancy gowns, traditional dress, and suits.
Cool octopus cake at the JW Cafe at the hotel
International terminal at Shivaji airport, Mumbai
Headed back to the room and straight to bed, big day tomorrow!