Holiday Over - in Transit
Trip Start
Oct 09, 2007
1
41
42
Trip End
Nov 16, 2007
Singapore,
Singapore
Friday, November 16, 2007
Yesterday, knowing that we were at least 10kg over the weight limit with our bags, we packed as much as we possibly could fit in a carry bag that was given to us and headed out to the post office. Now, I don't know how many of you know that on our last trip when we tried to post a parcel in Mumbai we had gone to the GPO - only to find out that they were having a power-failure.
On that day some grandiose officials had decided to pay the post office a surprise inspection as well and so we encountered what must have been the superintendent of the GPO who appeared to us very nervous and at his most officious. Showing off to his superiors, he forced his staff to follow every process to the T - making up some as he went along. This resulted in us spending 2 hours sweating in a darkened and crowded GPO (note: smelling the crowds body odour) at which point they still would not guarantee that they could put our parcel thru and to add insult to injury - told us that we were not allowed to leave until the entire process was completed.
All parcels in India have to be covered in calico (remember Jaipur?) - we had already had ours stitched and ready to go but this chap had asked one of his men to open it to demonstrate to his bosses how he ran things. In frustration, Alan just picked up the box and walked out. He and his staff were frantically trying to prevent Alan from doing so, but you all know Alan right? He just told them it belonged to him and he could do whatever he liked with it, so he was leaving. Fortunately, the person who stitched the calico for us kindly re-stitched it and told us to take it to Collaba Post Office as they were much faster.
Right, so since we had such good service from Collaba eighteen months ago we headed straight there in our taxi this time. ALAMAK! The stitcher there told Alan that he did not supply the calico - "Sir, go to market to buy - 2m enough. Market is near, just take taxi!'
Alan and I looked at each other, our taxi driver had already left. So we caught another one but thought firstly - where the hell was this market he was talking about? and secondly, what did he expect? For us to take another taxi back to him to stitch the thing? Forget it! We just headed for the GPO stitcher who was so helpful on our last trip to try our luck. Amazingly enough, the same guy was there - among the numerous other stitchers outside the GPO. With his help, everything was completed in 15 minutes! Whoohoo!!
Sorry to report, but our journey to the airport was without incident as we went in an air-conditioned car that the hotel had organised for us. That's the trouble when you go in comfort - it doesn't create the right masala mix for something to go wrong! ahahahah!
Our flight to Singapore however did have a reportable story. Alan was unable to get an aisle seat for me as the flight was full. I am known for being bochoh (meaning needing to go to the toilet with regularity) The guy who was seated in the aisle seat looked unapproachable and so we just decided not to ask him if we could swap. After like 15 minutes he puts on his blinkers (eye covers) and ear plugs and falls asleep! This man sleeps thru the ENTIRE trip. Both Alan and I made several trips to the toilet, climbing over him and he never once moved! ahahahahah
Then when we landed he gets up nicely refreshed but has terrible morning breath (Imagine Alan leaning towards me and away from him making "phuff" face!) This ex-Aussie chap told Alan (thru his bad breath) that he had lived away from Australia since 1990. As we were preparing to deplane, he started to pick a fight with an Indian man who was trying to get his bag from the over-head locker. Granted, the Indian man was typical in his intrusive way of trying to get to the bag from over this Aussie guy's head. There was a lot of shouting, the delightful F word was used by both freely and neither of them looked like they were going to back down. Alan and I looked at each other and whispered "Travel blog entry!" Alan then put his hands on both their shoulders and said "C'mon guys, stop it here." They stopped but kept eyeing off at each other.
In the transit lounge this flared up again when the Aussie guy overhead the Indian guy describe him as an arsehole to somebody else. Alamak ... wish we could have hung around to tell you more but Alan needed to take a dump! ahahahahah such a pity!
