A very good night's sleep, zonked out at 11:30 wide awake at 5:30. I drank a litre of bottled water overnight. The room is very comfortable and airy. Nina was surprised I did not put the fan on as this stops being bitten by mosquitos. Daubed some insect repellant on before I went to sleep. No bites shown up yet. (11:35 am )
Nina's apartment is on the 3rd floor inside a secure residential section, a short way from Kashmir Gate metro station.
Sorted my hand luggage out.
Nina provided Darjeeling tea with a few blades of lemon grass in the pot, which was very nice. I have got some to take back for Matthew to make his speciality teas.
We drank the tea on the roof terrace, where there is a small shelter with chairs underneath. Loads of plants surround us.
By about 8:30 I had finished breakfast; as ever, more than you could possibly eat.
By 8:45 I was ready to go, so Nina's houseboy carried the heavy case back downstairs to load into the car for the short trip to the metro. Nina's houseboy stopped with me until I got a ticket and got through the first security check point of the day. At every metro station all passengers are searched and bags scanned. So for the first train of the day (3 more to go). The change at New Delhi metro station on to the airport line was well sign posted, and the train very similar to line 14 in Paris or Singapore metro. But this Indian train had a driver. For India the train was spotless with excellent announcements and updating displays to tell you where you are & which side to get off the train.
The airport is much like any other modern airport. Very spacious and clean.
Through security OK without the hassle of last time. You just follow any instructions given literally or make an attempt to. Just the wait now to board the plane. I have stocked up with water and food as by Indian time I will not see my bed at home until the early hours.
Flight left on time. I had a window seat row 33 sitting next to a very large asian guy who coughed, spluttered and sniffed for the 9 hrs 15 minutes flight. Apart from that small discomfort a very good flight.
The plane landed about 17:15 . Though all the check points without much delay. Got bag then a train to get me to the Heathrow Express. 15 minutes into central London tube from Paddington to Marylebone. Next train was 18:40 but the ticket I got from the clerk at Stourbridge Jnc. was not valid till 19:15. So I coughed up the excess and managed to get a seat. Lesley is picking me up from Snowhill about 8 pm. Not a bad transfer.
The Heathrow Express was a good fast train but very wobbly in comparison to the Delhi metro. What a change in cities and culture in the space of 10 hours. There is nothing quite like a smart city business-man. Their whole persona just exudes culture and confidence. In Delhi it is rare to see ladies on the train. In fact they have separate carriages.
The best things about the trip. (I am not going to list the negatives which can be just put down to experience and really do not amount to much anyway).
The best Value for Money:
A one litre bottle of water in Delhi. 20p.
The best eye opening moment in Nepal:
Seeing the rhino in Chitwan National Park coming towards me.
The most unexpected eye opening moment in India:
The sale of goats for sacrifice near the Red Fort in Old Delhi for Eid with the 2 goats in the motor rickshaw.
Most stylish place:
The privately owned Imperial Hotel in New Delhi. Every aspect of it is just awesome.
The best food:
The lamb rogan josh at he New Delhi Gymkhana Club.
The best service:
The New Delhi Gymkhana club bar AND restaurant
The best accommodation:
Andrew's apartment in Greater Noida.
The smoothest road:
The 5 km road built by the Japanese in Kathmandu going towards Bhaktapur.
The most touching moment and unexpected moment:
Andrew being incredibly sincere about wanting to share his time with his friends.
The most frenetic moment with a successful outcome:
All the car journeys to and from the F1 race track.
The best administration with no fuss:
The Yeti Travel Agent in Kathmandu. He even phoned our driver to confirm tour times.
The best Internet Connection:
Yes the free wi-fi at the Chitwan National Park Resort.
The most comfortable bed:
At the Home and Hospitality B&B in Old Delhi. Nina Kochhar told me it was an ex Oberon Hotel bed.
The best overall journey:
Kashmir Gate, Old Delhi, to Home.
2 car journeys
1 plane
6 trains
From 8:45 Delhi time to 21:15 UK time a total of 18 hours door to door.
The most efficient provision of a service:
The staff at the Chitwan National Park resort.
The best hospitality:
The Singh taxi company family, who took us all out for a meal in Noida.
The scariest but most successful moments:
Riding though the very dark gullies / back streets of Kathmandu on the back of a cycle rickshaw.
The best driver:
Sonam my driver for 4 days on the appalling Nepalese roads.
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