Around the World

Ok…finally here I am in chinga land….with a list of kutty adventures….

Did my packing till the last minute…literally. The suitcase hen refused to fit into out our little 800….finally..we somehow dumped it inside and left to the airport at 7:45 yesterday evening…

Airport looked more like a market place. Such long queues everywhere. Fortunately my parents had reached there before us and dad was standing in the queue for me. Got in and checked in after waiting in another loooonngg queue.

Since this was my second travel abroad, I knew most things…and I was less tensed. I was alone…but that dint tense me up…I actually felt more comfortable being left to myself.

Got some money exchange as my dear office had offered me Euros instead of Chinese currency. …the queues for everything was long. So I decided to tell tata to everyone and go ahead for the immigration clearance and security check (after which I cannot come back).

Everything was smooth…but again security check had such a long queue. There was a foreigner next to me complaining big time about India and how she had to wait every time etc etc….literally cursing…it irritated me….just tried to not listen.

Called up hubby after the security check and told hi that I was inside and that they could all leave to go home. Spoke to all of them….Mom in law was in tears it seems….so sweet she is….

Had already started feeling hungry…so got a burger….an exorbitantly priced burger I should say….from coffee day at the airport…I just finished eating it and opened a book…one page was over and there came the call for boarding…was in queue…Sangu called (my sis…she is in Netherlands currently)…she thought I would be sitting alone and getting bored…so she called.. anyway…we spoke for a few minutes and then I proceeded…

Had the wrong boarding pass in the hand….but this time no tension…I told hat guy to wait and took out the right one and went ahead…

Aisle seat….nice…I like the aisle in planes as it is easier to get out and in…u don’t have to wait for someone else to get up and move for you.

Singapore airlines is really good..I agree with Shyam…

I am not a very frequent air traveler. But last time my flight in air france was not at all good. Food was pathetic…and the seats also were cramped with very little leg space. This time it was really good. Food was really edible and stuffing too..

I wanted to sleep…but they would not let me do that. They kept coming to give something or the other. Dint miss the food as I knew I would be hungry in the morning.

Ate and slept…nicely…got up just before landing. It was about 6:20. my next flight was at 7:35.

By the time I reached the inside of Singapore airport it was almost 6:30…..then I realized that I had to go for immigration clearance. I went…the lady told me I was running a little late as boarding time for my flight had already started…I was a little shocked…started running…

Sometimes I hate huge airport with so many gates for this reason….it took so long…I actually had decided to exchange a little currency at Singapore airport. But no time. Just ran to my gate…finished my security check in. sat in the waiting room..which by the way did not even have a restroom.

In 5 mins they let us board the flight.

Again a nice flight….this time it was a brunch that was served. I slept for 30 mins. Had brunch…vada, masala dosa, salad etc…was good..also watched jhoom barabar movie….movie was ok ok only…but at least I got to watch it.

That was one more thing about this airlines….it had good hindi movies for watching…it also had tamil movies.

Then I slept for another 2 hrs and finally got out of the flight fully fresh…

Too so long to get my baggage…they had torn off the slip that my hubby had nicely written and stuck…also got cash exchanged…and got unnecessarily paid commission…waste of money.

The stupid customs form asked if we had any plant grown item in our baggage….and I am scared of Chinese laws and government…so I declared the rice and aatta that I had carried. They laughed and sent me through the counter….getting laughed at is better than counting bars for not declaring some stupid rice I thought.

Annie and lulu (the 2 girls who were supposed to pick me up) were waiting …we got into a cab…paid a heavy sum for taxi..got out with the 21Kg baggage…had a horrible time lifting it everywhere….

Paid cash to the hotel guys …thanked the girls for their help …

They girls left….I tied the keys to my room….t dint open…oh god…it was irritating…finally I managed to get the door opened.

Huge apartment with one bedroom, one study, one hall cum dining hall, kitchen, utility, 2 bathrooms and 2 balconies..

Fully furnished with a huge sofa set, dinning table , TV, bed, study table chair night lamp etc etc…

It was awesome…But really not so nice to be alone in it…

Anyway…had a bath…unpacked…connected to the internet…called hubby and mom thru skype to tell them I reached…I dint even know if internet was free or charged.

After this ….got dressed….went to the reception…got info on lots of stuff…

Headed off to the nearby mall…first got into the wrong mall…but admired the sports stuff….then went to the correct mall…too huge….

First of all …the temperature here is 4 degrees…it is also raining….

The mall was over crowded…and I dint want to look at the food stuff which was in abundance…

Got some vegetables and fruits…also some calling cards…looked at lots of stuffed and walked back in the cold….

Tried making chapathis with the little available tools…burnt my hand twice…managed to make 4 chappathis…got some ideas how I can do better…will try it tomorrow…dint have patience to make a side dish…so just ate it with banana and sugar.

Took some pics of my room…but it seems to be too dark in here…and there are no tube lights…all the yellow lights…so the foto does not seem too good…will take better shots once again and try uploading them soon….

So this was my first day at shanghai….

I wished hubby was here….it would have been fun…

Tomorrow will be at office…hope I do well…