Early start to my northern nightstop

23 July 2013

I woke at 0230 for my 0300 taxi to Bangalore airport. It only took 40 minutes (rather than an hour in during the day). I had to wait 20 mins before check-in opened.

Departure was 0555 and offered a good connection to Jammu where I’d overnight before going to Dharamsala tomorrow. The bus between Jammu and Dharamsala is only 6h as opposed to 12h from Delhi. Further the flight from Bangalore to Jammu (via Delhi) was cheaper than the same flight to only Delhi! Airfares aren’t always logical!

However, only a few weeks ago, two airlines opened up services from Delhi directly to Dharamasala. But for me, coming from Bangalore, it would still require an overnight in Delhi. And the fares are very pricey. So I’ve still done the best thing.

Going through security, I realised I hadn’t been given a hand luggage tag. It’s been a few years since I last flew in India. The tag is important as it gets stamped (and in the old days initialled too) by the x-ray operator. As this stamped tag is checked independently in the boarding process, I really couldn’t do without it and had to backtrack downstairs to the check-in area to get one. Ggggrrrr!

The takeoff at Bangalore was more like floating off … it was that smooth. And the landing at Delhi was so soft I couldn’t tell whether we had actually touched down even though I was expecting to feel the jolt seated overwing.

I had about 3h30 transit in Delhi’s Terminal 3, a swanky new building. I managed to have a couple of hours in the lounge before continuing on my next flight to Jammu.

Even though both flights were on the same aircraft type, the two sounded completely different as each plane was equipped with different engines. One was very quiet while the other had an annoying drone. Further, one was new with personal TVs while the other was very old with blue flush liquid in the toilets and four wheels on the main landing gears (a feature unique to Air India’s A320s). I think I’ve become a super-frequent flyer now.

I caught an overpriced rickshaw to my hotel, the Novelty, opposite the Ragunath Temple in downtown Jammu. This is my first hot day in India this trip. Seems strange that I had cool climate in the south (at altitude) and up here in Jammu (which is in the same state as Kashmir), it is hot hot hot  at 37degC (it is actually lowlying).

After checking out the bus station for my onward travel to Dharamsala tomorrow, I spent the rest of the day chilling. Considering my 0230 wakeup and my recent lack of sustenance, I actually felt remarkably OK.

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