The View from 58A Homeward Bound June 18th 2012

Over Iraq and into Turkish airspace...

A dramatic change of scenery as the aircraft nears the Iraqi border with Turkey. Desert sands turn into hilly scrub-lands before flying over the snow capped mountains of southern Turkey. The first cloud appears since leaving Mumbai, some five hours ago now, and note the extensive forrest fire in the distance.

No Time for Snoozing Homeward Bound June 18th 2012

No time for snoozing since there is so much to see. Crossing the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey and on into Eastern European airspace before skirting the Austrian Alps on a track that takes us all the way to the North Sea, joining the traffic pattern and approach to London's Heathrow Airport.

Land fall shortly after lunch and cruising over the UAE 34,000 feet there is an interesting change of sand colour from golden yellow to red. Passing over Dubai city and a good view of the Palm Island resort complex and the city's northern suburbs.

The View from 58A Mumbai to London June 18th 2012

Homeward Bound....

In 9 1/2 hours from now an adventure that began back in January will have come to an end. A journey that began in Thailand and finished in Thailand, with a layover in Mumbai to connect with the final flight to London.Some amazing sights throughout this 5 1/2 month Odyssey - a diverse range of cultures, people and of course some very nice food. A part of the world where people, on the whole show a warm and genuine interest. Some arrogance of course, but for the most part a friendly, hospitable part of the world where visitors play a vital part in developing economies. Not without problems as was seen in Penang with widespread pollution, or on Malay Borneo where illegal Filipino's try to capitalise on Western naivety. But the main thing is that I have survived! 5 1/2 weeks street pounding, jungle trekking, bush whacking and beach bumming have been concluded as I walk down the jetty towards the Jet Airways Boeing Triple Seven, my chariot of the sky for the long flight back to London. Seat 57F has turned into 58A, no matter since the plane is half full anyway - just 2 people to every row of 3 seats - nice, as much space a first class ticket buys! Being a day flight there should be plenty to see from 58A, so all that remains now is to sit back, relax and enjoy the views on this final leg of  'An Asian Oddyssey'.

Top: Cheerio, as the plane passes over Juhu, Mumbai.
Middle: Whats in here then?
Bottom: Looks bad, but actually it's the tastiest airline meal ever - tastier than the Emirates offerings anyway!





Airport Please....

Snaps as the taxi weaves a path through the slums towards the International airport....

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!

Next...The View from 57F