From Bishopstone to Bangalore

My journey started at 4.30pm on Saturday 4th November. Liz gave me a lift to the bus station in Swindon where I caught the 403 National Express Coach to London Heathrow. I don't enjoy coach journeys as a rule, but sat next to an interesting person who enjoys travel. So we shared several stories and that passed the time away.

When I arrived at Heathrow, there was a huge queue for the check-in, and I chatted to a Northern Irish chap in the queue. He was on his way home to Sydney. We were both the same age and liked the same sort of music. He was a dedicated Stiff Little Fingers fan, having seen them many times.

Eventually I got through to the departure lounge and got ready to board a packed Boeing 747 to Mumbai.

The Boeing 747 to India

I took the photo below of the in-flight map to show where we were flying.

The map of the journey

After nearly 10 hours we landed in Mumbai. It was fascinating to see shanty towns right on the edge of the airfield, built right up against the fence. People were crowded into every available space. Mumbai airport was very run down I thought, nothing seemed to fit together properly and the paint was sploshed on, running down the windows, and just left like that.

Strangely after baggage collection I had to put my stuff back through scanners again to get out of the main arrivals area. Then I had to transfer to terminal 1. This was pretty interesting. It seemed like chaos. Where 1 person would do a job in the UK there seemed to be 5 in India. How my baggage got to the plane I've no idea. I was worried it wouldn't as there seemed to be no way to know which plane it was headed for when I gave it to a man in what looked like army uniform.

Eventually I found my way via a coach to Terminal 1, with about 10 mins to spare before my connecting flight to Bangalore was due to depart. It was delayed! Thankfully. I sat for an hour or so in the domestic departure lounge at Mumbai watching everyone coming and going. It was fun.

Soon we left the building, and the heat hit me as we walked across the tarmac to the plane. It must have been close to 40C I would guess.

Once on the packed internal flight we were served food and lemon juice (slightly salted and sugary). A lovely curry.

1.5hrs later we landed in Bangalore. From the air, Bangalore looked like a much nicer city than Mumbai. I couldnt see any signs of shanty towns or poverty, but lots of green parks and good quality houses.

I waited for 10 mins anxiously as everyone collected their luggage, and I wondered if mine had made it onto the plane. Thankfully it did, and I was relieved. I found the exit and left the airport.

I'd not made arrangements with the hotel for transport to the hotel, so took pot luck and took a taxi. Loads of men pestered me to go in their cab, but I chose one guy who looked honest and went with him. I don't think it was an official cab... but it got me here. I took the video below on my phone as we left Bangalore on a crazy highway. As it got dark, no one even bothered to put their lights on. Madness...
Bangalore Traffic

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After an hour and a half of crazy driving we arrived at the hotel. I found my room and had a quick wash. Once feeling a bit fresher I headed for the bar and found some familiar faces! Phew. I was in the right place.

We all sat down and had a few beers, then some wonderful curry from a serve yourself and eat as much as you want selection. It was delicious.

Afterwards 3 of us walked to a Sun god temple in the grounds.

The Sun god

I took the photo below on my way back to my room. The hotel has a lovely pool. Must swim in there tomorrow.