December 10th

Yesterday we boarded and left South Africa on time. It was 1236pm.Then we had a long flight leaving the continent of Africa. We landed in Qatar around 1130pm. There was a one hour zone time change, so it was a ten hour flight. We were served two meals, and watched at least three movies each. The plane configuration was nine seats across: three, three, three; and we were an aisle-center in the center section. So it was not a problem. 

Our layover in Qatar was 3hrs. So we went to their lounge – it was busy! We had to wait in line – to get in line – to get into the lounge (hope you followed that). Anyway, this airport is a mess! Them seem to be building a whole new airport around the existing one. There are cranes and construction everywhere still working at this time of night. We are on Qatar Airlines, but we exited and boarded on the tarmac! When we boarded it seemed we sat quite a while, but I think it was only 20 minutes. Jeff was able to go to sleep some. I could not. We took off around 0245. This time configuration is two, four, two; and unfortunately we both center in middle section. We were served food, but neither of us took any, we just drank water (it is amazing how dry airplanes are). We touched down just before nine am. Again, there is a time zone change – two and a HALF hours. Crazy but the country of India is on half hour time zone to everyone else. The reason for this… instead of having two time zones for the country. They compromised and went with the half hour between. But this is just seems weird! One of the things that is the strangeness of India?? We’ll see.

Anyway, we had a different area to queue through security due to our E-visas. It was a rather odd area, there were chairs to sit in and you progressed by moving into the chair in front of you (another strangeness!). Then on to baggage claim – it seemed we were to be among the last to get our luggage. Finally, it came and we got out of airport by ten and met our arranged ride to our place. This took an hour and twenty minutes. I tried to watch the scenery, but I was so tired and kept dozing off. I know this because I kept jerking myself awake.

Anyway, we were checked in by 1130. Our hostess told us where we could get a SIM card and lunch. So we went out. It is quite a bit warmer here, and we were filmed with layer of sweat in no time. We had Biryani – chicken & beef – at a local place that had a saying on his back wall, ‘Good food is good mood.’ It was good food, so now we’re in a good mood!  Ha-ha!  🙂  We enjoyed our first food in India…      We are in India!!  

    Welcome to Kochi, India!