From Chennai to Abu Dhabi and onwards to Geneva – 11 Sep 09

The Jet Konnect Flight (a subsidiary of Jet Airways – not connected to the protest - thank God for small mercies) took us to Chennai by 8.30 pm on time. Our Etihad Airways flight from Chennai to Geneva via Abu Dhabi was at 4.30 am on 11 Sep 09 .So we decided to freshen up by going to Nanganallur – 10 mts drive away from the Airport to Sai Ranjani’s in laws residence. Planned to keep our heavy baggage at the Cloak Room at the Chennai Airport but decided against it when I saw that the Cloak Room was more of a fish market – worse than a Railway Parcel office – which is probably better organized! Net result - really sweated it out taking the luggage up to the first floor flat of the Varadans.

Got an additional baggage for RanjBharath from them. Reached Chennai International Airport at 1.00 am. Checked in our luggage and waited for our flight to take off. Waiting in the lounge, was observing the type of passengers who were waiting like us for flights to the Middle East – mostly blue collared workers – maybe plumbers, carpenters, electricians - could make out from their attire as to their likely avocation. Got into the flight at 0430hrs and well there was breakfast at 05.30 hrs -fruit juice, bun, butter, jam, sweet yoghurt, Semiya upma, mini Uthappams and to top it all Coffee!

Abu Dhabi looked amazing from the sky – a beautiful city right in the middle of a vast merciless desert. What beautiful Expressways stretching miles and miles in the desert The Persian Gulf is close by – maybe that makes all the difference – but no greenery anywhere except for patches – could be oasis – like the ones Lawrence of Arabia encountered – so beautifully portrayed by Peter O Toole in a film decades back!

The Abu Dhabi airport is truly international in style – the duty free shops could give airports like Hong Kong and Frankfurt a run for their money. Very well organized – lot of Indians working in the Airport too – one of them gave directions to me in Hindi! But was really surprised find at least two Namaz rooms in the Airport! - although I should not have been surprised as we were in the Middle East .