Once packed, my backpack was about half full and most of the was the books and teaching material I had accumulated over the months. It was hard, but it had to be done, I also finally agreed with myself to leave the Thailand and Nepal lonely planet books here. I'm sure someone will find use for them. So, on leaving the hotel my luggage pretty much consisted of what I was wearing, some books, my iPad, passport and a toothbrush.....
Checking out the owner was so sweet, he had already knocked off the 'loose change' and as I was trying to sort out getting rid of the plethora of small NPR notes, he thought I didn't have enough money and was quite ready to further discount me. I told him I did have enough money, I just wanted to get rid of my small notes. He then told me I was a very kind guest. I'd given some of the kids that were in the hotel the previous night some money and left all my 5's and 10's to the guy that cooked cleaned and bottle washed..
He did be a further favour by getting me a 'local rate ' taxi to the airport and stood outside and waved me off saying please come back soon... It was quite moving.
If cheapness is commensurate with experience of competence then I got a good deal. In the 20 minutes it took to get to the airport we must have had about 20 'near misses' . I did try to tell the guy I had plenty of time but that went completely over head. We even ran over a dog! ( it was already dead I hasten to add!) .
I will forever remember my impressions of Kathmandu and the noise before spitting as they bring a phlegm up the throat, the incessant (and unnecessary) use of the horn, the mad drivers and the dead dogs. Oh, and I almost forgot the Kathmandu valley dogs chorus which entertained and kept me awake most nights.....
Getting into Tribhuvan airport proved more problematic than anticipated. To get the security the check inn area you need to show your booking details. I didnt have the paperwork, I had written the details in my notebook but that didn't appear to be sufficient. I had not received a confirmation mail from Indigo and as I'd booked it on the IPad, had not been able to print off the details. I did have the forethought to take a snapshot of the web page, a brilliant feature and is saved as a jpeg in the photos. I showed the guard at security and I was enough.
Indigo check-In was a mass of balloons. This was the first flight from India to Nepal for the airliner, we were amusingly held back from check in while a fat cat from indigo cut a ribbon. I think al, the ground staff were new as they didn't appear to have a clue. The check in person took my book with the reference number and that seemed to be sufficient. When he put it into his computer and it brought up the correct numbers you would have thought he had got 6 numbers on the lottery. So excited was he he forgot to give me my little notebook back and that has the details of future flights etc. Bollocks. Clearly, on this occasion, the computer didn't say no! I was given my boarding pass and a little badge and off through passport control. Once in the grubby departure lounge it was utter chaos. In fact, it was just chance, on going to the loo that I spotted that the plane was boarding. The view from the right hand windows of the plane wars nothing short of spectacular as we Rose above the clouds and headed west. The Himalayas were beautiful, stretching for miles. I got to see what was very often hidden above the clouds, this time top side.
As a reward for being on the first flight we were given a metal tin with a little indigo airplane in it, very useful. I just put it in my bag.
The plane arrived on time, I still cannot get over how different New Delhi airport is from the first time I came to India. The new terminal is very modern and now there is a metro express into New Delhi railway station. Cost little more than £1.00 for the 20 minute journey. Like the new terminal, this should have been completed fir the commonwealth games last October but was only completed and opened in April.
As expected. No one was at the airport to meet me. I had booked the first nights accommodation on Booking.com and the place at Karol Bagh offered an airport pick up service. This is often the case. I have yet to experience a situation where this actually materialises into someone being there with a placard with your name on it.
Given the metro express existed I decided to at least get it to ND railway station and then see how easy it was to get to the area I was staying. It was actually easy peasy all the way. I had to get another train to Karol Bagh but it was no problem. The security is very strict as you go into the stations, you are frisked and luggage is searched through xray. Once there, I jumped in a rickshaw who had agreed 50 rupees (70p) to take me to the hotel. It was a bit if an experience as he sets off down a dual carriageway, the wrong way. Fortunately, thus was for a matter of 200 yard before we turned onto the side road and 5 minutes to the hotel.
The hotel was ok. It was budget, albeit a little on the wrong side of my budget but I had only paid for one night. I checked in, again, I didn't have my details other than an email and ref number. I paid cash but mentioned I may be staying a couple more nights. Shown to my room it was OK. The wifi gear was right outside my door so I got a great signal but that's where it ended. It was not connected to the outside world! There was wifi in the lobby though so I wandered down to check out a few things on e-mail and Facebook. At this point I noticed I had been overcharged. I challenged the guy and he told me I had been given a deluxe room (fuck knows what a standard one was like). I explained I didn't want a deluxe room, I wanted the room. At the price I had been quoted. He ummed and aghhed then agreed to move me but saying I could have some food with the 500 rupees he now owed me.
I moved my stuff just across the hall to what i thought was a better room. Still grotty!
One of the guys offered to get me sone food. I said I would like a beer,
' that will be extra sir, we have to go out and get it'
'But you owe me 500rupees, take it out of that Rip off'
'better you give me cash sir'
By this point exasperation had gotten the better of me and I waked how much it was.
'130 rupees sir'
I gave him 300 and told him to get me two.
He arrived 15 minutes later with two cans of tiger, and no change......
I ordered dinner of chicken masala, rice and nan and went to bed early. I would try and find something better. In the morning. I slept very well........
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Location:Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India
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