We arrived after a semi traumatic flight. The plane from Manchester was delayed for about an hour due to the high winds which, in turn, meant that we were an hour late landing in Dubai. Now this in itself would not have been a major issue but it meant that we only had about 40 minutes to catch the next flight. No worries on that score as they had given us “Fast track” cards on the plane for going through the airport.
Off the plane we get and make our way to the transit area only to find that there is no Fast track lane so in the queue we stood with everyone else. Fortunately the queue at security was moving reasonably quickly and once through that it was a question of which gate. Ah a display board – gate B27 it was so off at a gallop we went trying to find gate B27 (which just happens to be about as far one end of the airport that you can go). Oh goody we are at the gate with five minutes to spare – what is that it says at the gate Adelaide???? Nooooooooooo we are going to Kolkata. Unbeknown to us the gate should have been C27 (it definitely said B27) OK no big deal we still have five minutes, now where is C27 we ask? Go to the end, down the steps and turn left (or right – I cannot remember now!). Now in airport design terms B27 and C27 are about as far removed from one another as they can be.
To cut a long story short we did manage to get to the gate (just) in time and did in fact arrive in Kolkata about 30 minutes early.
One interesting thing to note was that they were making each passenger complete a health declaration regarding Ebola. All paperwork complete off we go to the immigration desk only to find that we were the first in the queue, with the only problem being that I had not put my mobile phone number on any of the forms – for a very good reason, I have not got it with me – good old Indian bureaucratic logic prevails – just put any phone number down. Once that hurdle was overcome we were through immigration, luggage collected, driver found and out of the airport in less than half an hour.
Our first experience of Kolkata was the drive from the airport to the hotel – not something that I would recommend for those of a nervous disposition. To say that driving in India is different from home could be classed as a major understatement. More I think through good luck than anything else we arrived at the hotel (Oberoi Grand) and within a short space of time we were in our room in no time at all having been greeted by what seemed like every employee of the hotel. British hotels could learn a lot from how this hotel (and probably others) in India operate – nothing is too much trouble (or so it seems) but I suspect that there may well be ulterior motives afoot here.
This afternoon we had not really arranged to do very much due to being tired but the one thing that we did have planned was a visit to the Commonwealth War Grave’s Cemetery where my uncle is buried having died during WWII. This was preceded by a visit to the local flower market to get some flowers for the grave. No problem here apart from the fact that tomorrow is Dwalli (sp?) – one of the major festivals in India and one where many, many flowers are used – think buying flowers the day before Valentine’s Day!
That completed the rest of the day is relaxing/sleeping in readiness for the start of our sightseeing tomorrow.