Day 15 (Part 2): India Entry not Allowed
At Kathmandu airport, it was good that I arrived early. In the Hindu and Muslim countries, there are separate security checks for man and woman. The woman line are usually 15-20 times less people than the man line. It took forever for man to get through security, and cutting line was rather common in this region, you got really frustrated after a while looking at these people just cut in front of you. On top of that, when you took Air India, just before you boarded, they would search you all over again, full body and bag search. I have been touched so many times today, I almost get a reaction. Jesus! When we were in line for security for International Transfer in Delhi airport too, the man behind kept pushing me, he stood like a breathe away from me the whole time, he could whisper I could hear it. It seemed that the people in this region just used to being physically very close to each other. In Kathmandu, I see men holding hands all the times, not in any gay lover kind of way, I didn't get that vibe. But more like buddies, let's go to shop for vegetables in the market kind of way. Very foreign to me.
Anyway, since I have two flights from Air India today, KTM to DEL, DEL to HKG. I thought it might be wise to just check my big backpack all the way through to Hong Kong, so when I got to India, I wouldn't need to carry my backpack around, especially it was at night and in a new country for me. Anyhow, that proved to be a fatal mistake. When I arrived India, talked to the airline when I wanted to get a boarding pass for my second flight, they told me if I wanted to go out, I would have to take my luggage, and since I have already checked it all the way to Hong Kong, I would not be allowed to go out. So the tourist visa was wasted, and I couldn't see the Lotus Temple (a Baha'i Temple) after all. Not terribly disappointed, India was not in my original plan anyway, I only came here because my flight from Kathmandu to Hong Kong was cancelled. But I did have to wait for 5 hours in the airport. Luckily, I had all my cables, music, book, computer with me. So, I have had enough to entertain. What missing was internet. For an international airport nowadays, you gotta have free internet. It's 2016 in a couple of weeks already for Buddha's Sake!
Another thing I wanted to mention about my experience here in Delhi airport and flying Air India. When I booked my tickets, I selected my seats online, but in the end, they would just re-assign you anyway. So, why gave me the option to choose my seats. My gate was not opened when I arrived, so I just walked to the gate across, there seated two Indian men, one of them was on the phone, I asked the other one if he was Air India staff. The beard man (typical Indian father-looking man) gave me a very little node almost not noticeable, so I asked I wondered if you can help, when I booked my ticket online, I had selected my seat, but they... he just cut me right there and said he was not commissioned to take care of my flight, go BACK to your counter and ask them. He was in an extremely rude tone, like I was one of his many unsuccessful children and have said something stupid that pissed him off. I was cursing him in Chinese (inside I mean). I wished he would get the same treatment when he traveled, so he knew what it was like. What the hell.
For dinner, got to the food court, still refused to eat at McDonald, even though I am really not into Indian foods in general. I found a noodle place, it was a curry noodle, mild version. I actually kinda like it. The curry tasted pretty good, not the very thick kind which I hated. My Indian fast food dinner costed US$11, and changed 15 dollar local currency, at least I have gotten an Indian dollar bill as souvenir. I needed to run away from the Bollywood music in the food court as soon as I was done though. Still have 2.5 hours to go. Hong Kong, I am there. Gonna call my mom at the airport to just say Hi and tell her I am safe. How bad, I will be right there and I don't even go home.