Travel Saga - If you are flying from Boston to India Via Dubai - India 2021

Note - this is my experience as of Sept 15th, 2021, things can change, please go through CDC guidelines and Indian Governments's requirements 

I flew on Wednesday late night  (9/15) night from Boston. The Logan airport was so empty, the reality of new travel. My fight was @ 11 PM so that too might be the reason. 

I was there by 8.10 PM, At the check they checked Visa,  PCR test, and Self declaration form on Air Suvidha (Take a print out of both) 

That can happen for international travel if you are early but the biggest surprise of all was very smooth security check. If you have flown through Boston before it always has been busy.

After security, there wasn’t anything going on, I could go to the gate. The restaurant were mostly closed.Keep the print out handy, they can ask again at the gate.

The Emirates is flying on its limited capacity with mask mandate. It was Wednesday night too. They are trying to keep two seats between two passanger, I got the whole 3 seat row to my self and could sleep on my longer stretch of the travel, which I am grateful for. The food was warm and served as usual, not boxed. I ate at the airport before flying ( home cooked) so I ate after everyone ate and wore their mask again

Dubai Airport - again was quiet, very empty, the security check was easier. Again checked the PCR test and Self declaration form ( Air Suvidha). All the Duty Free shops are open. It was a short stop over.

The flight from Dubai from Bangalore was busier than the previous but still again lot emptier than usual.

I was talking to the stewardess and they confirmed that flights are flying with reduced capacity.

I got the window seat and the other person was on the aisle. An empty seat in between but again it was his family of 4 sat in the middle row that might be the reason, the plane was pretty empty.

Real fun began at the Bengaluru Airport, it was easy to get out of the plane because of no crowd but there are few procedures in place.

The first is COVID test ( a very long line, no social distancing but everyone wearing mask), end of the line they gave me a registration form , test is mouth swab and nasal swab. Take a pic of that form because they will take it back. After the test they ask for self declaration form, then another line to pay 800 Rs for test ( I used my card) then final stop was temperature check. I just felt this whole process was in place for a reason, just time consuming and tiring. After all that the immigration was super easy because not much line there. But after immigration there was a long time for cabin baggage check. It was really slow and I wasn’t sure if they were even paying attention. 2 international flight ( at least) and only one scanner was working. By the time I got out my check in bags were already out from the belt that was very helpful and no-one stopped me at customs. It took me close to two hours to get out of the airport. 

I got the email after few hours that test was negative ( I think they have the email from Air Suvidha) and my sister got a test result as text ( I gave her number as India contact) little later.

f you must fly

Fly weekday

Printout of PCR test and Self Declaration form ( Air Suvidha)

Check with the airline about their specific requirements

Keep hour and half in hand in Bengaluru after landing.

Keep your own water bottle and get some water from the plane

Empty lines @ Emirates counter

and Quatar Airways was a different story all together. I guess I was too early :)

B777  - A wonderful staff

@Dubai Airport

Dubai Airport 

On my way to Bangalore from Dubai 

welcome to India :) - Worth every trouble.

The line for scanner, heard Indian authorities are struggling with drugs coming in. also they are extremely tired. we all worked from home but these people didn't have that luxury so please be kind to the staff. They are doing whatever they can to make our life easy but we cannot comprehend what they go through.

India Saga - The iron man of India -the Statue of Unity - Surat Trip

Finally it was the day to see the statue of unity. Known as“Ironman’ of India”Sardar Patel was the builder and consolidator of new India.

My father being history buff was sure excited, Though it was my mother who expressed the wish to see the monument.

I cannot move forward without thanking my Amazing friends Preeti and Praveen who made this possible. The night before was busy planning. We should have left for the trip early morning but the day began with Special Chat, Samosa, Kachori and Jalebi from Mathurwale :) a very North Indian breakfast in Surat

That was the perfect way to start our day. we left for Statue and after a long 3 plus hours drive we were there. The place is far from highway and is being developed as tourist attraction. Our friends have some wonderful friends who arranged the wheel chair and guide for us.  It is the school vacation week so was busy beyond imagination. I haven’t seen these many people in one place. But the crowd was extremely disciplined and courteous. we had the express ticket so was manageable to go up with mom. We could go on the viewing floor and the view was amazing. My dad had wonderful time reading, listening and just being there and my mom was just happy to “see” it. Pictures talks about it better than I can express .

This post is more about the gratitude I feel towards my friends. I don’t think I could pull it off without them, They took care of so many details to make it possible.

Exhausted us didn’t feel like going to Dam or park. We could see the dam from the viewing gallery so we decided to drive back to Surat. On the way we found a “kathiawadi restaurant”. The food was spicy but amazing. It is another Gujrati cuisine.

I am grateful for small gestures - the driver going to check the bathrooms first and then cleanliness of restaurant before asking my mom to get out. He made sure we get clean table and hot food.

The drive back home was quieter and felt shorter because we all could nap : )

a nice hot tea was so needed, after that my friend and I got ready for Surat Saree speak meet. I did write about it so won’t write much about it. But one thing I will sure mention, I have never been to one of the Saree meet without a saree on and  so underdressed.

My parents were exhausted beyond measure but happy beyond imagination. Our friends to the driver to cook to the guide everyone made it possible. My gratitude is beyond words.

The day ended beautifully.

The wedding saga - an adventure

Indian weddings are an adventure for everyone involved. Mine wasn’t any different but this story is about our niece’s wedding. The main reason for our India trip.

She is my husband’s older brother’s daughter. She was one when we got married. My memories of newly wed days are filled with 3 young kids of the family. This wedding was the first in the next generation, one after ours, almost 25 yrs ago.
We couldn’t wait for the big day since she got engaged.  Planning, shopping and packing, everything was exciting. The bride didn’t worry much about it but I was all ready for the wedding. My shopping was done way before hers. A beautiful paithani was ready for the occasion. Paithani is an exquisite saree of Maharashtra, a community my husband belongs to. For me it was very important to be all maharastrian for this wedding. 

The kids had decided on a registered wedding and small ceremonies, just close families. They agreed to a grand reception.

We reached Nagpur on the day of the Haldi, a day before the wedding. We left my sister’s home at 5 AM ,on the road for 5+ hour to reach on time for haldi. After this ceremony we decided to go shopping.

A mangalsutra for me.. it had been in my list for this year and who would be better company than my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. 3 of us Pandey ladies and Ajey went looking for a perfect neckpiece thinking I could wear that for the party that night. We were in the shop checking out the jewelry when the phone rang. The court employees were going on strike next day so the wedding had to take place today within the hour. Imagine the shock. We rushed home to witness the commotion. The bride didn’t have enough time to get ready in a saree or make up so she decided on a beautiful Salwar Kurta. She had to go to the court right away, so she left with her parents and my sister-in-law. I on the other hand, refused to go in the old saree I was wearing :)

I had been planning for this day for too long to go to court like that. I told everyone I needed only 10 minutes. The beautiful Paithani came out with  perfect jewelry from my suitcase and Kaku ( aunt) was ready. 

We reached the court but had to ask a few people where the marriage court was. A women clerk asked in Marathi - तुला लग्न करायचं आहे का ( do you want to get married ) I said - नक्की, फक्त एक नवरा  मिळवा (sure just find a guy). Her response was फक्त हो म्हण, line लगनार  ( just say yes, there will be a line) It was funny because Ashish was right next to me. I realized later that I was the only “dressed” woman there with a bright saree and flowers in my hair. We all waited for the groom side of the family and finally the wedding took place. It was just a formality of signing papers / wedding agreement in-front of the registrar and two witnesses. We had more fun outside the office. The garland exchange, the sweets, the hugs and pictures took longer than the ceremony. We joked that they needed an adventure wedding story. 

The saree remains my favorite of the lot, a gift from a friend, but now it has a story about a much awaited wedding in the family too.  

The pictures tell you the story :)

waiting for the couple, cannot do anything, lets just pose :) 

Finally the whole gang. I am sure My in laws has more people even when they just meet for simple Tea.