February 16, 2024
Up at the crack of dawn. Enjoyed my last breakfast on Hotel Namsto terrace. Got into my taxi good and early. It will be a long wait at the Tribhuvan Airport but I seem to be in constant practise of patience. Is there a message here?
I arrive 2.5 hours early for my flight. Get checked in and grab a cappucino. A small airport, but full of travellers.
I board the flight, nearly an hour late. Relief washes over me. I am finally on my way back to India. Luckily, had a 2 hour wait in Delhi. So I should be fine…right?!
When I was given my boarding pass in Kathmandu I was told I had to do my own luggage transfer. What? same airline…but who am I to argue. Not going to chance any more issues with authorities. Beautiful flight, Himalayas in the distance. Gorgeous:)
Late arrival in Delhi, I grab my luggage and head to check it in…again. We are quite late. I am told to go through the security check. I do…and NOT good.
This is the security check on the way to boarding. Well, I had my check-in baggage. Many items are not allowed on flights. I realize this Mr security!&?$! Not my plan to take it on the plane. SOMEBODY needs to get their directions right…hopefully it wasn’t me…but truly yah never know. I’m a bit tapped out.
I get to the security and there is a HUGE line up. My flight is in 30 minutes. I am feeling a bit of pressure building. I really don’t want to miss my flight.
I get sent through a “faster” lane cause yah, well I’m old…I guess. I send my big suitcase through the machine…along with my unpacked backpack with my carry on items, laptop etc. Lots to unpack, and very little time.
I get waved over to by a very serious security guard after my bag goes through the machine. Ok I can deal with this.
Happily, I know exactly where my keys for the suitcase locks are. This will be quick, I am thinking…and slightly panicking inside.
These guys are NOT friendly, at all. They order me to open the baggage. and they begin digging through everything. So many questions, what’s this? my small scissors I say…”Not allowed” into the garbage they go.
Inside joke they saved me from cutting off another few inches of hair! Next “what’s this?!!” my favourite little knife from home..”for cutting fruit” I say…they were not impressed into the bucket it goes :(…
Next “this not allowed!!” into the garbage goes my duct tape….NOOOOOO
I want to cry and yell at them, but I sense this would not bring about a desired outcome. I NEVER travel without duct tape…WAHHHHHH.
Then back through the machine, after it travels through a third time, me watching the clock ticking, now only 15 minutes til take off. I am sweating and freaking out big time…on the inside. Most likely looking a little suspicious. This is a F’n big airport it could take awhile to get to my gate, wherever the heck that is?! I am beginning to panic.
I mention, as calmly as possible, that my flight is boarding and taking off soon. Like they care, they look at me like I could possibly be a terrorist, or something of that nature.
Finally I am let go!!! I quickly shove all my crap back in the suitcase. Shove stuff into my backpack.. All the while saying a large prayer of gratitude to the Gods as they did not come across my ziplock of white powders, Vit C. Baking soda etc. I could have been labelled a drug dealing terrorist then. I could be fighting for my life in an Indian jail by now. God Is Great!
But wait my flight is about to take off. I don’t even know where the boarding gate is. God help me! I am standing by the massive board trying to calm down enough to find the right flight number…and I hear a man beside me say my flight number out loud. I turn and ask him if that’s his flight “Yes” oh happy day!
He proceeds to grab my suitcase says “come with me” and I tag along with him and his wife through this massive airport. Him along the way, saying “no worries they will wait.” What about the suitcase? “no worries they will take care of it” Ten minutes later we arrive at the gate….and with God’s Grace they are just beginning to board. Hallelujah for late flights….this time.
And we are off:)
We arrive in Bangalore, and my shoulders are much lower. Finally, I feel at home. Another few hours of waiting and I will be flying off to Thiruvananthapuram!
