Finally arrived

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Finally arrived after nearly 27 hours of travel! I'm not even really tired at this point, just delirious. It went pretty well, only a few minor incidents including
1) they couldn't find my ticket in the system at Atlanta check in, for a big trip you may want to call in advance to confirm
2) ran into some turbulence in the middle of the flight. Not a big deal but couldn't help thinking that it would suck to go out watching "Drillbit Taylor"
3) almost not making the transfer when a pack of Russian teenagers clogged up the Transfer Ticket counter in Frankfurt, then tried to come back to the front of the line when some of them lost their boarding passes
4) On the flight from Frankfurt to India, the flight attendant asked if I would switch seats with a mother whose children were sitting in my row. I agreed, only thing was she was in a middle seat sandwiched between two big guys. Luckily the flight attendant remembered me and moved me to an emergency exit row seat on the aisle, which was even better than where I started!
5) Arrived in Chennai at midnight and had to wait in a mostly dark lobby with a few other people until the domestic terminal opened at 4am (apparently it just shuts down from 12 to 4). No food or water.

So just from the ride to the hotel, my impressions are are pretty much what you've heard: it's dirty, the drivers are crazy, but also interesting and charming too. I have a feeling I haven't really seen the nicer parts yet.

I will say (knock on wood) that the first meal I've had so far was excellent. I just went down to the hotel restaurant and had the breakfast buffet of indian food. Better than I expected, the only thing that kind of made me nervous was the waiter. I was the only one in this quiet, small restaurant and the guy is standing like a military guard intently watching while I sip my water and nibble my bacon. I also like the "can do" attitude I've seen so far. The waiter asked me if I like the vegetable masala roll, I said "yes it's very good" which caused him to open the kitchen door and yell "More Masala rooollllls!!!!", then he brought one out for me the size of my arm, which now feels like I just ate a small baby.

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Comments

[becca]

it sound like a bit more than a few small oops in travel land. i would be VERY cranky if i had to wait for 4 hours. keep posting!