India Wildlife and Medieval Tour for Mr. Aladdin
Mumbai – Rajkot - Sasan Gir – Alang - Ahmedabad – Delhi – Corbett – Delhi -
Neemrana – Jaipur - Ranthambhore – Fatehpur Sikri –
Agra – Delhi - Bandhavgarh – Kanha – Pench –
Nagpur – Mumbai
34 Nights – 35 Days Cut short to 30 days due to VISA issues
Day 1: Arrival Mumbai
Meeting and assistance on arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai with pla
card of your name escort you by a private car and transfer to the to the hotel, our
representative/driver will hand over all the documents, final tour plan, hotel vouchers, invoice and
will assist you for any query about the tour plan, and will report to next day morning as per your
advice to pick you up for next day morning tour. Overnight at the hotel.
No longer possible to apply for VISA in Thailand and I only got a 30 Days e-visa so I have to wait at the airport until midnight before I can pass the immigration. This I will get one day extra and I only need to cancel one day of Tiger safari in India. The last day at Pench. But I'm not happy!
Tuesday 5thof January 2016and this is the first time ever (that I can remember) that I hope my flight is delayed. Arrival to Bombay and I will wait in the arrival hall until after midnight to passthrough immigration. Thus I can stay one day longer in India. But Taj Mahal hotel and Bombay are cancelled.
So how did I end up in this shit? I have been to India before and you apply and fill up your application on line. Then you go to IVS GLOBAL Pvt Ltd, Address: 22nd floor, building name: 253 Asoke, Opp: Rutnin Eye Hospital, Soi 21, Sukhumvit. A few minutes’ walk from my place.
You leave your finger prints and application and you pay the fee. About 1 week later you pick up your tourist visa. So imagine my shock when I came to IVS GLOBAL and they told me that only residence ofThailand could apply for visa in Thailand. And yes, I understand that you can put whatever rules you like. But then they should have this information on their web page!! I can apply for e-visa only, valid for 30 days and my tiger safari is 35 days, booked and ready.
What a set-back, but as Chief Officer is my profession I don't gave up. Hard to find any use for a Chief Officer giving up.
But coming home from Donsol and I ended up inbed for 4 days with tonsillitis. After 3 days I felt better but then it came back and I had to go to the hospital. As soon as I got better I could start pondering the visa problem. Maybe I could do a VISA run to Nepal.
I will apply for yet another e-visa after arrival to India and I will take a flight to Kathmandu on the 24th of January and then I come back with 30 new days. I sent this suggestion to several tourist organisations and government offices etc. But no one could give me an answer. So I decided to make this my last trip ever to India (I have already made new plans for safari adventures in the East of India) and to cut it short.
I had to go to the dentist at 10 o'clock and when I was back home I could not feel anything on the left hand side of the mouth. So tea was not to think about. I had to throw the milk I boughtyesterday for my last tea, and the onion for my“Tuna Surprise”went the same way.
I ate my apples and it felt good so I picked up one of the onions from my garbage bin and I made myself a delicious“Tuna Surprise”and a pot of tea.
I felt good, my plan had been to eat a Pizza or to visit one of therestaurants at Suvarnabhumi Airport. And I just know how this would have ended.
I packed my computer and I brought my bag and I left to look for a taxi. There was a taxi on the street coming up our drive way to make a U-turn. I waved at him and we were soon on the way toSuvarnabhumi International and Thai Airways flight TG 317 to Bombay.
The flight is leaving at 18:50 but I was feed up just sitting home doing nothing. And there wasn't time to start something.
So I can as well spend the time at Thai Airways lounge at Suvarnabhumi.
Very light traffic and we were hauling arse and I had checked in about 40 minutes after we hadleft Sukhumvit Soi 23.
Security and immigration was a few minutes only as there wasn't much people. 3 people in front of me at the security and I was soon in Thai Airways lounge with 2 cans of soda water, and some snacks.
Gate 2CA and I suspect that this means that we have to go by bus, nothing I'm happy about. Arriving to Suvarnabhumi it is OK with the bus as theytake you to the immigration and no need to trot for miles after miles.
I had time to update my web page while waiting at Thai Airways Lounge. I also had time to add a few birds to my list of Birds I have seen in Africa on mybird watching page. And don't be surprised if you will find a list of birds I have seen in India at www.aladdin.st in a near future
I was at Gate C2A quarter past 6, boarding time according to the boarding pass. No sign of anyboarding and I went to enquiry. I was told that the boarding would start in 10 minutes.
And yes, we had to go by bus and I was surprised to discover a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet on the tarmac. And I was told that the flight was full at check-in.
Obviously a lot of people going to Bombay. But I had never seen Thai Airways lounge so empty before as it was today.
Thai Airways Boeing 747
Thai Airways Boeing 747
A new bus arrives with passengers
Thai Airways Boeing 747
Thai Airways Boeing 747
On board Thai Airways Boeing 747 - Jumbo Jet
On board Thai Airways Boeing 747 - Jumbo Jet
I took my seat and the Stewardess recognised me and I'm pretty sure she was on the flight to Copenhagen last summer when I went for my Polar bear Quest. Or if it was my flight toJohannesburg, it was one of the two flights and I checked my old pictures and yes, it was her.
She recognised me and she told me that she had brought big cups of tea for me. The busses brought passengers and as soon as we were ready they closed the doors and we could leave.
I was sitting up front in the first class. No first class tickets sold so the first class section was turned in to business class.
I didn't mind, but the seat was not very comfortable in reclined position as the head support was very hard and in top position I had the hard frame just under myshoulders. So the seats in biz are more comfy. Of course, the first class seats are way bigger
I was in my seat when I guy came up and introduced himself as Doctor something. He asked if I could take on my safari helmet so he could get a picture with his son.
As soon as we had taken off the Stewardess brought me a cup of tea.A small cup of tea. She told me that they didn't had any big mugs. But she would arrange for athermos for me if I wished. And I could pour down as much tea with milk as I wanted.
That sounded like a great idea and I was soon enjoying tea and snacks while watching a movie. And they were soon bringing the dinner and I had asked for cod fish.
I was enjoying myself with the and movie, and it wasa great idea with the thermos and I made a mental not to ask for a thermos next time. And that is even if they have the big mugs. I can sit in my chair minding my own business without having to call the Stewardess every time I need a refill.
Tea time on board Thai Airways flight
Dinner time on board Thai Airways flight
We're approaching Bombay
We're approaching Bombay
Landing in Bombay
Time to leave the plane
Time to leave the plane
I watched 2 movies and when the second movie was ready we were approaching Bombay International. I had about 2 hours of waiting to look forward to as I don't want to pass through Immigration before midnight. Bombay International, what a difference from when I was here 30 years ago.
The whole place is new and it looks very nice. But it was a very long walk to the Immigration and luggage claim. And nowhere to sit down with a table as I had planned to update my web page. OK, I can surf the internet, disappointment again. No internet unless you had a mobile phone with a number working here. Impressive!
But I was kind of impressed by the funky music they played at the immigration, a wee bit to listen to while waiting for the clock to turn midnight.
Bombay International Airport/ Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Bombay International Airport/ Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Bombay International Airport/ Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
The time passed slowly but it turned midnight and you just need to clickHEREto find out how my Immigration plan worked out.
You can easily follow the Indian tiger by clicking the below link, but they will NOT be ACTIVE until the actual “day by day” adventure is experienced, So keep an eyeout for daily updates! It is also possible to follow the tiger safari adventure on the below map of India.
• DAY 1: Flying to Bombay No longer possible to apply for VISA in Thailand and I only got a 30 Days e-visa so I have to wait at the airport until midnight before I can pass the immigration.
So day #2 will be day #1 and so on. Here is the newupdated itinerary
• DAY 20: Delhi – Jabalpur (By Air) - Bandhavgarh National Park (165 kms: 3 hrs) By carCHANGED
Yes, they have had one to many incidents at the Jabalpur Airport with the wild life and the airport is closed. Read about itHERE. So I have to fly to Khajuraho with Jet Airways
• DAY 31:Pench National Park game drive
Cancelled due to VISA issues - No longer possible to apply for VISA in Thailand and I only got a 30 Days e-visa so we had to cancel the last 5 days
• DAY 31: Pench to Nagpur by car (170 kms: 4 hrs) – Mumbai (By Air)Changed to day 30 as afternoon safari canceled due to closed park. This was the seond park that Meruka had booked a safari Wednesday afternoon when all the parks are closed.
So I decided to leave for Bombay in the afternoon instead of having to get up 4 o'clock in the morning to get a early morning flight to Bombay
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can itbe? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun[in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGINlate 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use the button. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!