Cannot believe I am saying this, but the new Calcutta airport is more impressive than the Doha airport. I was in this airport in March and reported how nice it is – but I came in as a domestic passenger. As an international passenger today, from stepping out from the aeroplane to getting out of the airport took all of three minutes (admittedly I had no checking luggage to wait for).
But in the same situation, Doha took from aeroplane to transit lounge almost 30 minutes! Not sure why but Doha does not have aero bridges. Not only did we have to get into the buses in 105 degrees temp, the bus went and dropped first the non-transit passengers – which is on one end of the airport and then dropped the transit passengers – which is on another end. You would think with all the connecting flights, they would do it the other way round.
Not impressed with Doha at all. I will get a second chance to make another impression a week from now. Will see how that works out. Meanwhile back to warm and muggy Kolkata.
On my way to Kalyani now where my parents are….

First time flying Qatar Airways. Need some getting used to the pleasantness of the airlines staff (very typical of most Asian airlines). But some of their attention is throwing me off.
So, this young sweet lady takes me from the door to my seat and offers to put my suitcase up on the bin. Somewhat indignant, I thanked her and to make light of the situation said that I only look old. I am not that old and I can lift the suitcase.
Not to be outdone, she asked if she can get me my pajamas !!!
I am having a WTF moment if course! What does she mean if she can get me my pajamas? A few moments later, still more confused than thoughtful, I said “Sure”!
Oh! Boy!! Did I ever get myself in trouble. For she continued with her onslaught – “What size sir? Small, Medium, Large, Xtra Large or Xtra Xtra Large”. Finally, I broke down. I sat down on my seat and explained “Ma’m, the only person who knows the right answer to that question is in Atlanta. My wife does all my shopping.”
She was sympathetic. She said I should be Large but she will give me an Xtra Large so that I will be comfortable.
A few minutes and a quick trip to the plane restroom later, here I am flopping around like a scarecrow in my oversized clothes getting ready to sink in my seat 🙂

I am chewing airline food (talk about a oxymoron). Evidently Niki is cooking up a Sunday delicacy at home…

Missing my Sunday date night with Sharmila and my weekly meeting with the folks at my favorite watering hole. Stuck at this watery DC airport for another 3 hours…

Speaking of funny episodes in India (see previous post), one started with my mom even before I got started for India.
During my usual daily morning call to mom (one of the first things I do almost everyday is talk to her for a few minutes) the topic went to our trip to Canada for Niagara Falls. She was asking how beautiful it was and how big it was and what did the grand daughters do and so on. I could hear my dad – who last week got hearing aids put in his both ears and therefore overheard it – talking loudly that Niagara Falls is not the biggest waterfall – it is Victoria Falls.
BTW, something about my dad here. He is somewhat of a geography buff. If you ever happen to meet him and ever the topic goes to geography, he will absolutely challenge you to name the capitals of various countries in the world. Fortunately for me, his knowledge of geography stalled after 1980. Every time he challenges me, I counter challenge him with “name the capital of Kazhakastan or Azerbaijan or Eritrea….” – basically any country that has been formed after 1980 or so. “Dekh ge jaa” is usually what he will say before he gives up and goes around doing his usual stuff 🙂
Getting back to the story, my mom heard about Victoria Falls and tried encouraging me to take the daughters to Victoria Falls. She said that they will absolutely love it. Then something struck her. “Jaabi ki? Ota to Africa-y. Passport laagbe to!!”. (“How are you going to go? It is in Africa. You will need a passport”) !!!!!
I still wonder if she has any idea how we go to India. Or for that matter how we went to Canada to see the Niagara Falls.
Of course, I sympathetically agreed with her “That is true. That is true. It will be very difficult”!! 🙂

Now begins a 34 hour (door to door) trek to see my parents. This time they are fully aware I am coming. Let’s see what funny episodes are in store for me this time!!
The blog title is my flight route (airport codes that I will be touching)

I can understand how warnings are posted on food packets that it might have been produced in facilities that process peanuts. Peanut allergies are common and in the extreme, fatal.
But when I asked for peanuts (this is on a Delta flight), trying to warn me that it is produced in a facility that processes peanuts – now that is taking it to an extreme, is it not? 🙂