Jock's TravelBlog Because sometimes I go places

Somewhere over Europe, London to Delhi

Another landing and another takeoff on the Chicago to Mumbai flight. Actually the flight is Chicago to London to Delhi to Bombay. When we booked the flight it just said Chicago to Mumbai with two stops. When the tickets arrived we learned that one of the stops was London, but couldn't find out where the other stop was. The website didn't say, nor was the Air India representative I talked too very clear on the subject. It became a matter of some curiosity where this other undisclosed location was. It was only when we got on the plane did we learn that it was Delhi.

When we arrived, we were given the option of staying on the plane, or departing to the Air India lounge. It wasn't that hard a choice to make. We were desperate for air that was if not fresh, then at least fresher. If the Chicago airport is simply huge, Heathrow is huge and build like a maze. My Boss and I ended up at several clearly wrong places, based on the same innocent sounding directions. Once we found it, it was a nice break before getting back on the plane. If O'Hare had been filled with places to eat, then Heathrow was filled with places to shop. If I had remembered this before the misadventure of trying to find the lounge, I could have bought some pants. Expensive pants to be sure, but I wouldn't need to keep draping this shirt over my lap.

I have fallen in love with a snack they keep offering on the flight. Mo'pleez is described on the package as "Crunchy Potato Snacks Spicy" and aside from the dangling modifier, it is an accurate description. I could also describe it as a spicy puffed potato latticework that as been machine extruded and pinch off at the ends, but that would take all the romance out of it.

They have started to play an Indian movie. It's subtitled in English, which you would think would help more than it has. It is either a rather innovative film that is blurring reality and the dreams off the different characters; or it is a strangely written romantic commedy/drama thingy. I am not willing to place a bet just yet. Either way someone should slap the cameraman until he agrees to hold the camera level.

Not for the first time, I reflect on the length of this trip. It will take longer to fly there, than it does for the earth to turn half way around. If we could just hover in place and let the planet shift below us, the trip would be quicker; but that option is available to no one. So we do it the hard way.

The flight is much more full than it had been on the first leg. It will be interesting to see what the flight is like on the last leg. No clouds out the window now. We seem to be flying through them, it looks like someone has erased the world....