Travel day details

After rescheduling our initial Friday flight, including moving our newark connecting flight to American b/c continental could only get us on a 7:30am flight, we finally departed RDU 2:30 Sunday 2/3. Both John and I had used the weekend to refresh after what had been hectic preparations for Friday. The express jet flight to newark was small and completely packed, but not long. I sat beside a guy watching the PBS art21 series on his macbook. I watched over his shoulder. He also ordered a tomato juice, which i described to him as "a bold choice".
Layover in Newark was laid back. Beers and nachos while watching the first half hour of the superbowl. We were in the same terminal that had greeted Jennifer and I on our way to Hawaii in June '06 and where we wasted some time playing rock/paper/scissors in giddy anticipation of that trip.

While i was getting nachos John chatted up a couple who had been to India nearly 20 times, having traveled all over the country. John and Martha dished out some general advice as well as some spiritual insight into the land and people of India. The latter of which i had no idea how to respond to. But it was nice conversation and both john and I came away feeling like "if they can do it, so can we."

The flight boarded on time. We had great seats on the right wing. John on the aisle and me on the window with a seat between us. Super comfy. We ate the vegetarian Indian options, I watched a bollywood movie , "om shanti om" studied travel guides and got some needed rest towards the beginning of the flight. Only slightly annoying thing was this old guy behind us who must've talked loudly for 7 hrs to someone he didn't know sitting beside him. His lectures ranged in topic from the standard place of origin to the more bizarre care or horses, and the more religious storys of saints, some wierdo fables and straight up "jesus saves". I was happy i had headphones. At the end of the flight he asked to exchange addresses. holy crap.

We got off the plane quickly and headed for baggage. It's cool and the smell of wood smoke is in the air. Don't know how long Indira Gandhi International has been under renovation- but my sense says for some time. Just like so much i have seen since it is mix of complete and incomplete. Something nice that is certainly worse for wear. Though maybe in this case there is at least a plan to set it right, as all the banners and taped off portions seem to indicate.

Harish, the main guy at the FGS office was nice enough to meet us just outside after we collected out baggage and toyed the GSM phones for 10 minutes (no luck on mine). It's in the 50s outside an a fog hangs over everything. We get to our taxi and once it is free from the scramble outside the airport we move quickly towards our accommodations at the ATS greens. Harish points out landmarks, but we can't see much in the dark. Though I am tired, when we reach the flat i can't get to bed. We met Lokesh, our own mr belvedere, and get settled in. Internet access is excellent and i test out the webcam which is prefect. a major advancement. en and I make plans to webcam the following morning, which ends up being great.
I finally get to bed about 1:15. Once the bed warms (no heat!) i finally drift off.
All in all an easy day of travel.