It has been about 48 hours since I left Seattle and I have had about 4 hours of sleep during this time. I find it difficult to sleep on planes: the seats are not comfortable, there is too much noise, and there are people always moving around. When I do happen to doze off on a plane, I can't stay asleep because something wakes me up.
But the trip to India went smoothly (mostly). On arrival at the New Delhi airport at midnight, I quickly made it through immigration, changed some dollars into rupees, and found my bag. I had arranged with a hotel to pick me up and take me to their hotel. Even though I would stay in the hotel for only a few hours, I wanted a place to rest up.
When I exited the airport terminal doors in search of my driver, I couldn't find him. Sure, my flight was a little early, but I had emailed the hotel three times with all of the information they needed to confirm the reservation for a room and a car. Perhaps the driver was just a little late. I waited. And waited. Finally, I decided to call the hotel with a phone near the terminal door. For 10 rupees (about 15 cents), I made the call to the hotel. They assured me the car was on its way. I waited some more; another 30 minutes passed. I called the hotel again. They assured me the car was on its way. I waited again, but no car. I had stayed at this hotel in the past and had never had this problem. The hotel was only 10-15 minutes from the airport.
As luck would have it, I noticed a driver holding a sign with my hotel name waiting near the terminal exit doors. However, the name on the sign was not mine. After talking with the driver a bit and explaining my situation, he decided that he would take me and come back for the other passenger.
I finally arrived at the hotel after waiting for a car for an hour. I checked in and was able to get about 3 hours of sleep before I headed back to the airport.
I hope the other passenger is not still waiting for his ride!
But the trip to India went smoothly (mostly). On arrival at the New Delhi airport at midnight, I quickly made it through immigration, changed some dollars into rupees, and found my bag. I had arranged with a hotel to pick me up and take me to their hotel. Even though I would stay in the hotel for only a few hours, I wanted a place to rest up.
When I exited the airport terminal doors in search of my driver, I couldn't find him. Sure, my flight was a little early, but I had emailed the hotel three times with all of the information they needed to confirm the reservation for a room and a car. Perhaps the driver was just a little late. I waited. And waited. Finally, I decided to call the hotel with a phone near the terminal door. For 10 rupees (about 15 cents), I made the call to the hotel. They assured me the car was on its way. I waited some more; another 30 minutes passed. I called the hotel again. They assured me the car was on its way. I waited again, but no car. I had stayed at this hotel in the past and had never had this problem. The hotel was only 10-15 minutes from the airport.
As luck would have it, I noticed a driver holding a sign with my hotel name waiting near the terminal exit doors. However, the name on the sign was not mine. After talking with the driver a bit and explaining my situation, he decided that he would take me and come back for the other passenger.
I finally arrived at the hotel after waiting for a car for an hour. I checked in and was able to get about 3 hours of sleep before I headed back to the airport.
I hope the other passenger is not still waiting for his ride!
No comments:
Post a Comment