The Cathay Pacific flight (CX 750) from Mumbai to San Francisco via Bangkok and Hongkong was to take off at 0450 hrs in the morning on 11 Apr 08 but we were all packed and ready to leave on 10th Apr 08 at 10.30 pm itself, although the official reporting time was 1.50 am on 11 Apr 08, 3 hrs before the scheduled departure time.
We finally left Chembur at 11.00 p.m by taxi for the Sahar International Airport after being told by Vasantha ( my octogenarian mother -in -law ) umpteen times to take care of our passports and baggage during the flight !! We reached the Airport by 11.45 p.m. taking our own sweet time .Our luggage was quite bulky and to take the entire lot on one trolley was indeed very cumbersome .And the corridor having the check in counters of various airlines was quite long making me puff & pant and sweat profusely as I moved first to the Cathay Pacific counter, weighed the luggage and moved back to the Security check.
Check in started at 1.30 am on 11 Apr 08 and after handing over our baggage and immigration check we had nothing better to do than wait for boarding the aircraft .We were ushered in on time .I had a window seat and Latha sat next to me .The third seat was vacant throughout the flight .
It was a great experience as the plane started taxiing down the tarmac and soon we were airborne. So finally we had left the shores of India for the first time in our lives. A peculiar feeling of happiness, joy and calmness descended on us, as the plane started climbing higher and higher.Latha could not believe that we had taken off and finally left India. Swami’s words resounded within me – Remember not even a blade of grass moves without My Will. And here we were moving to San Francisco, as per His Will, His Divine Plan, and His Divine Sankalpa.
Within one hour of our take off, breakfast was served. My watch showed 5.50 am, Indian Standard Time (IST) as I had not changed the timings on my watch!! We had an Asian vegetarian breakfast - Masala Dosa, Upma with chutney sambhar, 5 rasagollas, and fruits followed by coffee!
Within three hours or so of our departure, we were in Bangkok, but it was afternoon there, although my timing was 8.50 am. We did not get out of the aircraft .It was supposed to be a technical halt but a number of passengers got down and new passengers boarded the flight .We halted for about one hour .It was interesting to see a horde of Thai cleaning staff going about their work in the aircraft in a time bound, efficient, meticulous manner. During our flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong we were served Lunch - Rice pulao, palak paneer, Nan, boiled potatoes, dal, fruits and 5 rasagollas again.
We reached Hong Kong airport, Terminal No 2, one hour late, at 3.20 pm in the afternoon (Hong Kong time) after having spent 8 hours in the flight.
We finally left Chembur at 11.00 p.m by taxi for the Sahar International Airport after being told by Vasantha ( my octogenarian mother -in -law ) umpteen times to take care of our passports and baggage during the flight !! We reached the Airport by 11.45 p.m. taking our own sweet time .Our luggage was quite bulky and to take the entire lot on one trolley was indeed very cumbersome .And the corridor having the check in counters of various airlines was quite long making me puff & pant and sweat profusely as I moved first to the Cathay Pacific counter, weighed the luggage and moved back to the Security check.
Check in started at 1.30 am on 11 Apr 08 and after handing over our baggage and immigration check we had nothing better to do than wait for boarding the aircraft .We were ushered in on time .I had a window seat and Latha sat next to me .The third seat was vacant throughout the flight .
It was a great experience as the plane started taxiing down the tarmac and soon we were airborne. So finally we had left the shores of India for the first time in our lives. A peculiar feeling of happiness, joy and calmness descended on us, as the plane started climbing higher and higher.Latha could not believe that we had taken off and finally left India. Swami’s words resounded within me – Remember not even a blade of grass moves without My Will. And here we were moving to San Francisco, as per His Will, His Divine Plan, and His Divine Sankalpa.
Within one hour of our take off, breakfast was served. My watch showed 5.50 am, Indian Standard Time (IST) as I had not changed the timings on my watch!! We had an Asian vegetarian breakfast - Masala Dosa, Upma with chutney sambhar, 5 rasagollas, and fruits followed by coffee!
Within three hours or so of our departure, we were in Bangkok, but it was afternoon there, although my timing was 8.50 am. We did not get out of the aircraft .It was supposed to be a technical halt but a number of passengers got down and new passengers boarded the flight .We halted for about one hour .It was interesting to see a horde of Thai cleaning staff going about their work in the aircraft in a time bound, efficient, meticulous manner. During our flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong we were served Lunch - Rice pulao, palak paneer, Nan, boiled potatoes, dal, fruits and 5 rasagollas again.
We reached Hong Kong airport, Terminal No 2, one hour late, at 3.20 pm in the afternoon (Hong Kong time) after having spent 8 hours in the flight.
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