I hate traveling

The trip to India was an extremely long and tiring one.  First of all, I had to endure a 13 hour flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong.  In addition to this, I made the humungous mistake of asking for an aisle seat.  This brainwave of mine cost me much valuable sleep because I had to keep getting up to make room for my fellow passengers who had to take bathroom breaks.  It was exceedingly frustrating and it was all I could do to keep smiling and oblige.  :-). 

In any case, the one hour halt at Hong Kong was nice.  The various airport shops like the Giordano outlet for clothing, the Watson's pharmacy and the Maxim's fast food outlet that brought back many memories of my two year stay in Hong Kong when I was younger. 

When we got back onto the plane, my row-mates on the plane took pity on me and asked me if I wanted the window seat.  I gladly accepted and spent the next three hours blissfully sleeping.  The next stop was Singapore and I had to wait 8 hours before I could catch my connection to Chennai.  I think I did just about everything in Changi airport that day except sleep.  Since I wasn't feeling upto taking a day tour of the city and getting motion sick, I explored the airport.  And how??  I spent time meditating in the Orchid garden and the Sunflower Patio.  I had some Makkan (Malay for food) consisting of ladysfinger (okra) curry and rice.  Yummy!  I took the train between terminal 1 and terminal 2 thrice for the heck of it.  I walked from McDonalds to McDonalds and agonized over whether I should have Chicken McNuggets or French Fries.  I watched a movie in the airport theatre (This was pretty sad.  They constantly show Star Movies in a small theatre of sorts and call it 24 movies.  Well it is...but Star Movies doesn't really count - it's cable!!).  I drooled over the latest electronic gadgetry in the numerous electronics shops in the two terminals.  I was tempted to buy three very cool cellular phones in the process.  I watched a soccer match from the Europeans championship and of course walked...a LOT! 

Boy was I glad to get onto that final flight to Chennai.  The flight to Chennai was half empty.  Not surprising I found out later. Since so many airlines now fly that sector,  there are always seats available.  I had a great conversation with an Entrepreneur that made the trip and the scary turbulence less of a bother.  Usually, turbulence on a plane starts me thinking of why I haven't gotten my will in order.  I can't get over the fact that there is nothing but air 30000 feet between my feet and terra firma.  Thanks to Mr. Entrepreneur, I was in Chennai before long.  After waiting the customary eternity for my bags to roll out on the conveyer belt, I was out at the terminal curbside - but unable to find a single soul to greet me.  LOL.  But in ten minutes, my parents and brother showed up citing heavy traffic as the reason for the delayed arrival.   Hmmmm...:-)