It's All Over, But Not Quite, Mumbai 18th June 2012

Iconic Mumbai

Airport Please...
Taxi back to the airport is 500 rupees and that seems to be a non flexible arrangement, among the local taxi mafia. To really cut down on transport costs there is an option of taking a tuk tuk to the main CST train station, getting off at the nearest station to the airport and getting another tuk tuk to the international terminal. Normally I would be adventurous enough to try it, but not this time, not with hauling two heavy packs onto overcrowded trains!  Taxi then, booked (in loose terms)' for 9am by the guest house owner. Its his brothers taxi so he would like the money upfront - oh yes, another potential trap. " I will pay the driver", I said, in the politest terms I could possibly find. It's a game, they know it, they know I know it and so all is quite amicable after a hesitant few moments.

Just time for a wander round, a coffee and a quick snack to tide me over until the flight, oh and a photo copy of my passport, insisted on by the guesthouse owner. A warm sunny morning, few people around, quite a contrast from yesterday. Another look at the Gate and the Taj hotel bathed in morning sunlight. My intended snack stop, The 'Cafe Coffee Day' place is closed, but McDonald's is just along the street. Just a coffee here, and another scam. A medium coffee, but the cup is only half full. Should have made a fuss but for 60p I really couldn't be bothered. I'll forgo any food until inside the airport - might be a little expensive but at least fresh, in theory anyway.

To the airport please, but he knows that already but no harm in making him aware of my expectations, and the price. Grim sights as the cab weaves around side streets to avoid the expressway queues. Past the Bombay courthouse, some impressive mosques and churches, banks and on into the slums. Garbage, trash, traffic and people everywhere, and it's getting hot! Some rather smart hotels situated on the edge of a slum. Guests pay upwards of 100 $ per night, the price of being close to the airport I guess. Weaving through construction, a good look at the new air traffic control tower, opening 3 months behind schedule according to an article in the local press yesterday. Just over an hour to get here, the Mumbai airport international terminal.

It's always a breeze to get from check-in through to the aircraft boarding gate, primarily because there are very few flights here daytime. Security and passport checks are frequent with armed guards standing watch, but once in the departure lounge there is a sense of relief, not that I have anything hide of course! About 2 hours to kill now, and that's pretty easy here. Tv,s around, Internet stations dotted here and there,  and the comings and goings of India's domestic traffic passes the time. It's a nice airport, I like it!

 Well, that's pretty much it. In 9 hours from now I shall be back in England, and some nice summer weather hopefully!

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