Las Vegas to Delhi, India -- Day One

November 1st and 2nd, Saturday - Sunday - Day One

The first two days of my trip have been lost. Lost to travel and time travel. I left the house at 6am Vegas time on November 1st and then arrived in Delhi at 8pm on November 2nd.

Unlike my usual Southwest flights, these flights were filled with international travelers. It was an American, however, who spilled coffee all over herself in the seat in front of me before we even left Vegas. My bag and sweater that were under the seat smell a bit like vanilla flavored coffee now. It was a British citizen who helped me mop up with Starbucks paper napkins the lady gave me. And wouldn't you know it, he's heard of Bhutan.

My four hour layover in Newark was uneventful. I could see the Statue of Liberty from afar when we were flying in. It was raining in both Vegas and Newark, but only gloomy in Newark. I'm looking for good weather on the trip, monsoon season is over, let’s hope it's true but I do have a rain poncho just in case.

It's been a long time since I've traveled abroad, and I've never traveled abroad by myself. I was a little nervous, especially since it’s not anywhere I've been before. Extra nerves were in order since this time I'm leaving Will and the kids for so long. I was close to tears when they left. It was with much relief that I spoke with a seasoned traveler to India in line to have our passports rechecked at the gate in Newark. She just set me at ease.

The flight to Delhi was also uneventful. I had 14 hours to kill. With all the free movies I could have caught up and watched 5-6 easily. But unfitful sleep did overtake me and I enjoyed the company of my Indian and expat living in Mexico travelers too. I only got to watch two movies and did no reading.

Customs was ahh, non existent? Arriving in Delhi passports and visas got checked of course, but only one out of maybe 20-30 people or less got their bags checked as they passed through customs. Then came the crowd of men holding signs to pick up travelers. There must have been at least 50 of them. And lucky me, I went the wrong way and my guy was one of the last in the other direction. And he had my maiden name on the sign with no company logo. Davis is not on my passport, but thankfully I made a comment about the name and he asked if I was with the tour company.

Being dark, I couldn't see much on the ride. (I did see the layer of smog as we were flying in.) It was humid but not too warm. They drive on the wrong side of the road same as the English, and of course they mostly don't drive very well in their lane either. My 5 star Radisson hotel near the airport had a security check of the car at the gate and my bags and even my person going in the front door. More scrutiny than I got coming into the country. But of course the two regulars, the driver and the man who got me at the airport, Shyam, didn't get checked at all.

What an interesting experience. Shyam had me sit in the lobby and he checked me in and amazingly the one other traveler going with us was checking back in too. Randy and I got to speak for a few minutes before heading up to the room. The very nicest room I'm sure, that I will be on for this entire trip. And after a relaxing evening but not really good sleeping, I'm ready for day two! Or is it day three?

Leaving Las Vegas - Rain