There is a three hour wait in the Mumbai airport lounge before we can board our flight, and an attendant wanders up and down the aisles asking if anyone wants to buy water or pop. There are few takers. Something is floating in the water. I still have the Coke I purchased in Amsterdam, so I have something to drink.

Security for domestic flights in India is probably the tightest I’ve been through since traveling to Britain with my parents years ago. All our bags are scanned yet again, and our hand luggage is manually opened and each piece is gone through by hand. There is a separate line for women to go through and the area is curtained off. Unlike North America and Amsterdam where you’re patted down in public, in India the security agents ask before touching any part of you and have you empty your own pockets. They are extremely polite and apologetic.

The flight to Bangalore is packed, but the flight attendants are friendly and polite. It passes quickly and before we know it, we’ve arrived in Bangalore at 4:35 IST.

The early morning Mumbai – Bangalore flight is apparently the ‘Convergys special’, as everyone seems to have the same flight on their itinerary. As opposed to the infamous ‘Sheelagh special’ red-eye flights into the US, this flight isn’t cancelled, delayed, etc. It actually takes off and arrives on time.

Wait for luggage, which seems to be hitting the conveyor belts in drips and drabs. While I’m waiting, man grabs luggage cart from me – I guess taking one from the pile behind me was too much of an inconvenience – and a woman who is WAY to obnoxious for 4 am is shouting at all her friends to grab their bags.

Meet Faisal and am introduced to Matish, the concierge from the Leela Palace, at the airport and am whisked off to the hotel. Apparently, there was some confusion about the hotel, since a representative of the Oberoi (the hotel I was originally booked into) was also at the airport to pick me up. I guess I’m a popular guest. Faisal explains to the driver of the Oberoi that the reservation was cancelled last week, and to contact his office for details.

Greeted at the door by two women with tray bearing powders and a candle on a bed of what looks like rose petals. One of them dabs red powder on my forehead and welcomes me to the hotel. Since it’s so early in the morning, Matish has my bags sent up to my room and takes me directly too it. Business cards are exchanged, and Matish provides a tour of my room and an outline of the hotel amenities as he’s checking me in. He informs me that anything I want can be obtained through the concierge desk and not to hesitate to call if I require anything.

I ask Faisal what amount of Baksheeh – sort of like tipping, but used for payment of just about any service – is appropriate for the hotel employees. Faisal recommends 50 Rupees. Make mental note to get extra 50’s when I exchange my US travelers cheques for Rupees later.

Unpack, shower…you should see this bathroom – marble floors, separate tub and shower. I think it’s bigger than my bedroom back home!

Somewhere along the way I lost one of the little FedEx trucks I bought with me as gifts. When I unpacked, I was able to find only 2 of them. I’ve searched my luggage twice, and have no idea where the third one could be. With my luck, I’ll find it sitting at home in the library when I return to Edmonton.

It is 6:00 IST, but I’m passed tired and it’s still only early evening in Edmonton.

The room has broadband internet access available for a 750 Rupees a day. When I’m at work tomorrow I’ll have to ask what the allowances are for internet service. Since the amount is auto-billed to my room, I want to make sure I know whether or not it’s an approved fee before I go online. If it’s not, I’ll have to request separate billing for the amount and access the net only 1-2 days a week.

I discover that if you remove the room key card from the holder by the door, all power shuts off and no lights work. Takes a few minutes for this to register in my foggy mental state. Take key card out of wallet and return to slot by door.

Time to explore the hotel. The spa is in the basement where I also find the sauna. Outside, there is a lovely garden, outdoor patio for the restaurant, pool and ‘meditation room’. I expect I will be spending a lot of time in the meditation room, since it looks like that’s where the treadmills are. I’ll have to check my budget and see if I can afford a few hours luxury at the spa before I leave in November.

Return to my room, Read the Times of India and Economic times newspapers on the balcony. From there, I see a cow eating in an alleyway located to the right of my room. Of course, no one will believe me that there are cows randomly roaming the streets, so I grab my camera to obtain proof. I think the other hotel guests must think I’m crazy – taking pictures from my balcony!

I’m still not hungry. Faranak was right, they do nothing but feed you on international flights. I think I’ll be stuffed for days. Read a bit more. Decide to sleep when my watch reads 1:00 CST.

Sleep for 5 hours and am awakened by the ringing of the phone. Not sure how long it has been ringing for… speak to Manish and discuss arriving at work tomorrow. Manish recommends 16:00, as that is when the training class will arrive. He advised have Faisal arrange for transportation. Faisal and Yasho call an hour later, advising they have arranged for a driver to pick me up at 13:45. This will provide time to have the grand tour and review materials before having to work. Yasho provides me with her contact phone # and we say goodnight.

My mini optical travel mouse isn’t functioning as well as it did at home. The tables are covered with glass and I think that’s interfering with how the IR signal is sent/interpreted.

Guess I should start packing up my laptop and getting organized for tomorrow. Looks like it will be a nice day.

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