A Spring In India: Chapter 1

A Spring in India: Chapter 1: Planes, planes, and more planes

So, it has been 3 months since I've returned from my trip to India, but I had not gotten around to posting about it. Now, in several mini-chapters, for your viewing pleasure, I'm going to present an account of my trip, complete with photos and other visual delights. I only ask that you please read my account thoroughly and comment with something related to that specific post, not just "Good Post".

Anyways, I digress, where were we? Ah. We were at PDX airport, and I must say, it is once of the nicest airports you'll find. The structure is clean and full of natural light from the glass ceilings. There are plenty of little shops and it isn't so big that you feel overwhelmed. It is a comfortable airport. So, we waited in the terminal, after checking in, for our flight to Chicago (our first airpline switch). It was very silent, and as it was only midmorning, you could see the tiredness in everyone's eyes. There was even a man who was taking a nap, sprawled across the seats with a newspaper covering his face. He was a funny sight. I took some pictures of this scene with an old film camera, but they didn't even develop. I kept trying to draw Papaji and my dad, but kept messing up. Anyways, soon enough, the plane was ready and we took a painfully boring flight to Chicago. Trust me, it was not interesting, the landscape was just a bunch of dusty fields and lined crops. I guess it had its own beauty but it wasn't too memorable.

So, we got to Chicago, ate some horrible greasy, buttery pizza (nothing like the delicious pizza in Yosemite). Then, without any break really, off to our flight to London. The plane to London wasn't very nice, so I mostly talked to my sister and looked out the window at the dark night, trying to make out any shapes I saw.

Oh. My. Gosh. The following thing was gorgeous.

When we approached Great Britain, it was probably 4 am, almost sunrise. And yes, we saw the sunrise from the plane, we saw the way it illuminated the land and sea. First, it was just a faint brightness on the horizon. Then, the glow spreads a bit, though the dark sky was still wholly alive. But then, the margins of the horizon tingled with yesterday-pink, a meek pink, shivering in the presence of the great dark expanse stretching from it. Now, now, now, the pink blushed to an orange, which are away at the night. We were literally floating between time zones, between night and day. Day grew bolder, and now full-blooded red melts the softness and the cold, and now in the sun we see the landscape of Ireland, the stretches of green dotted with little buildings, the nameless town still asleep. Now, it is sun, but not the growling heat of summer afternoon, instead it is a lighthearted, cool, pastel sunny light over the land. Soon, we are over England, it's obvious from the buildings.

And before we know it, we have landed at Heathrow Airport in London. It is absolutely revolting, and the airport is HUGE, we had to request a tram to drive us to the terminal. We drank something from Starbucks, but I was afraid to because there were flies swarming the area where we got it. I bumped into someone and he said "Sorry, Mate!" But something important, we did not have time to linger this time, straight to the waiting area for our flight to Mumbai, India. There were a bunch of Indian people there, obviously.

The Jet Airways flight was wonderful, the plane was clean, there was a huge selection of movies, music, games. Only problem was, I couldn't enjoy it because I was dead tired. I fell asleep, and next thing I know....after a long, tiring series of flights...

We are in India! So, what goes on in Mumbai? What do I see, hear, taste? Find out, in the next chapter, which will be posted soon! In the meantime, please please PLEASE post COMMENTS!