Big day travelling back to the capital

Today is a big day travelling back to the national capital Delhi.  I was at reception about 0640 using the very slow internet to do my online check-in for my Malaysia Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur and Kuching.  I had been assigned a bad seat and luckily I was able to change it to the only spare seat in the whole economy cabin.

In the mean time the 0700 bus bound for Siliguri had arrived early and the Canadian guy quickly ran inside to get me.  We set off the windy roads stopping here and there briefly until we reached Jorthang where we changed to another bus.  That took 4h30 whereas in the 4WD, it only took 2h30 travel time.

The stop wasn’t long enough for me to get any real food so it was good that I had brought enough biscuits and other stuff along with juice and water.  We set off again at 1100 and arrived into Siliguri’s rush hour it seemed.

We pulled into the station at 1430 some 7h30 after departure.   I had been told anything from 5h30 to 8h.  I asked around for the correct price for auto-rickshaws to the airport.  Various people in counters didn’t know or said it wasn’t possible.

Going outside the gate, it was possible but the price wasn’t as low as I had liked but still OK for the distance.  It took just over 30 minutes.  There were tea plantations as we approached the airport.

I checked in 1h45 before departure.  It was fortunate that my flight had been rescheduled to a later time by 30 minutes, otherwise it would have been stressful (even though at this small airport the close-off is 45 mins).

I got some real food finally and a strong cha before going airside.  The GoAir plane was a newish PW-powered A320 NEO (New Engine Option).  It should have been “No Engine Option” as it was pretty quiet during take off and the rest of the flight.  It wasn’t just in the front but it was pretty quiet throughout.

Arriving in Delhi Airport’s newly reopened T2, it was a very short walk to the metro.  In fact, the distance is less than a far gate in T3.  I took the metro to New Delhi Station where there was a long queue to go through security and up the overhead bridge.  Fortunately it was swift.

The view from the bridge at night was an eye-opener.  Oh, the humanity!  People waiting on every platform.  Porters with 2 bags on their heads.  There is nothing quite like India.

I continued to the hotel where I was given a room which seemed nicer than my first stay.  I’m sure it is just that I’ve gotten accustomed to India.  After my highland hotels with lots of mildew, anything in dry Delhi would seem nice.

Delhi is quite smoggy right now.  United Airlines have cancelled their flights due to poor air quality they say!  Even in the airport terminal, it looked hazy as the air-con filters don’t remove all the particles I guess.  It really doesn’t help my chest and sinus in their current state.