24 Sep 2008…the D day arrived after almost a month of vacations at home I finally headed for my European sojourn…thanks to my Univ EDHEC for a late session had a lot of wella time…
Neways a lot of it was spent in preps & packing which finally went all tipsy turvy at the airport…dats where the adventure begins…35 kg is the weight limit after 5 kg extension…but I just carry 50 kg to the airport!!! Now there are two important lessons at this don’t stretch beyond your means and be prepared for contingincies…am tellin u frm experience so I dint do either…
Well when all the jugaad I had dat had assured me of extra luggage dint work out I had no choice but to reduce the weight..it was done in two attempts with pleading in between to allow the max they can…it turned out my 20 kg Food suitcase was now 10 kgs…and thing i miss the most I had to take out my party jacket…everything was happening so hap hardly I had no idea what I was taking out and to add to that we (me and my other friend who just got 55 kgs!!) had made airport our drawing room walking in and out of the main area with blatant dis regard to security and checks J
Finally it was 37.8 kgs from 50 kgs and the girl at Gulf air check in counter smiled at me with my boarding pass..and she said the “worst part of your journey is over Mr.Jain”.I think so. So far its been simply …wait for it..AWESOMEEE!!!
We were just waiting in the lounge area (me,polu nd pondy) having something to eat .the same stupid subway veggie delite was twice the price at delhi airport!! Nevamind..just behind us there was a kid boy laughing and giggling at polu’s bald hair (sorry man but its almost!!!)..we just started talking to his mother…She turned out to be a true Indophile..her parents being members of iskcon nd all…I liked the most her and her son’s names..Mathura & Dharma respectively…it was pretty amusing to find some one so intrigued by your own culture.She was traveling to India to show her 3 year old son Varanasi & Mathura(the city after which she was named) and India visit was an annual sojourn for her..before leaving she gave us her Indian Restaurant details that she ran in France. It’s always nice to meet such interesting people ..it just makes me feel happy…
Oh forgot to mention after the luggage checking at counter I went outside the airport again and sneaked in some more ready to eat food packets from my family still waiting outside…I was able to carry them on board after some enquiry at the x ray machine..so finally we boarded the flight ..it was a connecting flight via Bahrain but economy class sucks!! Okie dats all I can afford now but still man pathetic food nd no leg space…only good thing they served wine on board..after 3 glasses I managed to have good sleep..it was a long day after all..
We arrived at Bahrain airport next..the duty free shops were cool...manages to get a veg burger at McD..checked out the shops nd all..after a long 3 hours there we boarded our paris flight..it was a lot better than the previous..food was gud...only thing juz cud nt get a sleep whole night..two kids one french nd 1 indian they kept the whole flight awake the whole night with there howling & crying...finally Paris dawned on us...the Charles de gaullle airport...the connectivity nd all frm airport to metro nd all is simply smooth..only trouble was my luggage..had a tough time draggin it...neways caught a TGV from paris to Lille..hamara pehla jhatka eurail mein laga 500 ml water for 130 bucks!! bt ad no choice..so reached Lille our home town fr next 3 months in an hr...on first look it appeared just like noida or any other NCR ..but once the metro got in the city.it was simply picturesque..nice similar brick houses..empty streets..yeah it was a off day...the important thing is people we met after getting down...all our pre conceived notions about French being rude and all were kinda vanished with ppl walkin us the way alongwith to shoe the path..a gal at metro station then a moroccon guy named rashid..it felt good with ppl so eager to help you out ....well i literallu dragged down the 40 kg luggage through streets of lille to reach my residency...there the sight of the room vanquiseh all the tired ness...after a long relaxin shower and walk across the city of lille(yes i was forcefully made to walk the streets by pondy )..neways we reached carrefour in the ve..did some grocery nd beer shoppin...had a grrt sleep after a beer :)
To be contd…
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