Business Travels ouside country are not exactly the kind of break from routine I aspire for !
Primarily because one hardly get leisure time to browse the foreign country and feel with it, in thoughts,visuals and understanding. Its more like a movie in a foreign language with no sub titles to understand whats going on except what your mind can understand visualising it.
Last moment preparation for journey left a few things unattended when I realised it inside the A-340 Airbus by Virgin Atlantic.
The scene on Indira Gandhi International Airport airport was a definite improvement what it was when I travelled last summer to Spain. After haggling with Vigin Atlantic ticketing clerk for window seat I realised that being a single person traveller is a definite disadvantage as they deliberately keep all odd and uncomfortable seats marked specially for single customers. I had to fight it out to get the window seat. Another first I discovered was that Virgin Atlantic now charges a premium rates if you seek any emergency Exit seats ! My past experience was that they struggled to make the people sit on emergency exit. How mean the airlines have become in its effort to earn a little extra money. I refused to pay extra and settled for window seat a little behind.
Landing at London Heathrow was a routine and Airport looked a shade more ancient and worn down both outside and inside than it was a year ago. But the fantastic view was from the aircraft when I can see at least 6-7 aircrafts in distant view back to back approaching the landing ! Despite all these I like london immensely and this has been one of the numerous trips I made to this lively city past 10 years.
I had to go to Coventry which was one and Half hours away from central London. Took a Heathrow Express to Paddington then a Taxi to Euston and finally caught a Virgin Train to Coventry.
Two hours journey and into the hotel. I calculated I was travelling non stop for 17 hours when I left home on a taxi to IGI airport and thereafter ! Air travelling is not so easy as many thinks. It really drains the energy specially if you are economy traveller.
For next three days it was only official engagements, meeting buyers at Sainsbury TU office which I wont discuss.
Coventry as a city looked quiet, deserted and in time warp. It was not vibrant city as I had expected but the serenity and peace seemed to have pervaded the air. Perfect foil for a retired life ! I wished if I had enough money I would select any such city away from din and dust where one can be the self expressed and self impressed with cosmic communion.
Two more towns Leicester & Warwick two good restaurants discovered, Nandos and Five rivers !
The return journey was eventful. Train to Euston from Coventry was first delayed !?! and then Cancelled !!???!!! Wow thats India for you in UK ! Now I know it happens not only in India !!
I had to run for life to get to next platform to catch another train to London .....making it overcrowded like we have in India, travelling on footboard ! Crazy !!!
Reaching Heathrow the things started to settle down of course again after usual quota of Haggling with Virgin Atlantic for seat and luggage weight. Will try to avoid this airline in future though I have used it in dozen trips !
Nothing more to add since this time I spent most time in viewing movies while in air so no time to ruminate except thinking about my family as I missed them quite badly this time.
Lovingly
Sanjaoy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment