jEDI blogs

Airports are like airports. But I have developed immense hatred for certain ones.. Among them Heathrow and Charles De Gaulle. I expected the French to have better taste but that turned out to be another misconception. Charles De Gaulle is like a Chinese fish market on a Saturday afternoon. They should seriously either extend it or else make a couple more in and around Paris. As far as Heathrow is concerned they might as well give it its own country. I don't how big Vatican is but it cant be any bigger I guess. God forbid there's a difference of one or two hours for your connecting flight. After climbing a million stairs, riding thousands of elevators, lifts, changing a bus or two and running for half an hr with your hand baggage you might find you are still not quite there. So I best avoid these places unless there's an emergency.

This time around I decided to take the good ol' KLM. KLM is not the best airline in the world but it is as the desis would say - ‘Sundar, Sasta and Tikau'. Wow! I'm in desi mode already. Although that alone is not enough of a reason to choose it. There were many. I like Amsterdam. Again, airports are like airports but I like Schipol. No matter how far the intended terminal I've found its never taken me more than 15 min on a busy day. Shops are nice, well and evenly spread. All the other services are good too. Most of all, its convenient. Catch a flight around 11 morning and reach India by 11:30 pm the same day. (The real flight time is of course much lesser because of the time difference).

I was impressed with their in flight program this time around. Not only could I choose what I wanted to watch like is usual, but I could also start, stop, pause at my own convenience. So for instance, instead of watching the “movies for today” I could choose from a huge library of movies and watch any of them as much as I wanted. There was a good collection of popular comedy shows, cartoons, music videos etc too. It almost kept me busy the whole way.

Every time I land in the IGI Airport my heart sinks. Ok I understand that we are not among the most posh and developed nations, but how much does it take to have a decent enough airport. I'm just asking for a normal one - nothing too exciting. Its well below par. Broken windows, mosquitoes flying around, unclean toilets, zero facilities.. the list goes on. These are just basic requirements. Must our airports reflect the general state of the country as well? I think not! We can make an exception here. Ok the Govt allows slums all around the city for those vote banks, but can't we spare the airport at least. You get to see them as soon as you land almost and the stench is unmistakable. Right now I sound like a moron. I am saying the very same things I used to criticize other desis for and laugh at them. But I'm sorry! I love *every single* thing about this country whether good or bad, magnificent or shoddy. But I cant just CANT accept the state of the IGI Airport Delhi. However.. there is hope! FINALLY, its being privatized and a few companies have already been granted contracts to renovate/extend it.

The taxi home from the Airport was a terrifying experience. I had my heart in my mouth most of the time. The driver seemed to be on a suicide mission. Of course the real reason it seemed so was because it was my first day in Delhi traffic after a gap of a year. Happens every single time!! Somewhere, in my heart I knew that after a day or two I wouldn't notice a thing and probably myself give the driver a run for his money.
Back home had a sumptuous meal. Ah! It feels so good. Back on my favorite bed. Life has never been better.

jEDI