Written by - Prem Kishor
The first overseas flight, that too AirAsia, duh... not much of an experience, the same Airbus 320 which I used in domestic traveling took me to Bangkok from Bangalore airport. In a way, it was the worst experience that I am quite used to by now when it comes to traveling in India. A noisy plane, an irritated crew (who have probably been awake all night), bad food, minuscule cups of water and lousy seats can't be expected to provide the experience I was hoping for. Which was expected because cheap travel more often than not, equals compromised arrangements. The flight I had booked was the cheapest from Bangalore and I wished I could have gone with Singapore Airlines, but alas, that did not fit in my budget.
After a grueling 3.5 hour journey, we landed at the DMK airport. That is when I realized one thing which I wanted to experience for a long time, traveling between time zones. I was 1.5 hrs ahead of Indian time. I have no idea why that made me happy. Hehehehe.
The next thing on my list of things to scrutinize was the airport ;). I have been to many big airports in India, never to any international ones. Bangalore has a beautiful one. Expensive, if you are a middle-class man but beautiful (The government has spent our tax money well). That increased my expectations a little bit from Thailand’s airport. But not by much from Don Mueang International Airport since, according to my research, I was aware that DMK is the second busiest airport after Suvarnabhumi in Thailand, DMK mainly serving the low-cost carriers like Nok Air, Thai Air-Asia, Thai Lion Air. I was dissatisfied-disappointed-disdained to see the situation of DMK airport at first. Lack of infrastructure and structure was showing through the lack of information hubs, and many parts were under construction so maybe the Thai government has only now decided to put taxpayer money into use.
Next, I boarded the plane to Denpasar,
Bali. and for the first time on this trip, I felt like I was going on a vacation, I was filled with these overwhelmed emotions of a child going on his first ferry ride.
I am already on an "alien" land (Thailand officials write foreigners as aliens in their documents.) and heading towards another. First trip. Let's see what tomorrow holds for me.
The flight from Bangkok was pretty tiresome. My fault for not buying a neck pillow and for traveling overnight, thinking I can bear the pain or suppress it with my excitement. But Boy oh boy I was wrong on so many levels.
After getting off the plane, the first thing I found myself searching for in Bali airport was "the smoking lounge". Since the airport is a completely smoke-free zone, I finally found it outside the airport - an open place for people to smoke cigarettes and release their stress of the long flight and layover (which you have to avoid by planning carefully, or risk being stuck at the airport for a cruelly long period of time).
And so, I finally reached Bali with an extremely sore neck and back. Despite this, I am sure the excitement of being on the first international trip could be seen on my face, wide-eyed and looking here and there, searching for clues that can tell me that I am in the land of Gods. I found the first clue in the form of beautiful paintings inside the airport depicting Hindu Gods in a unique artist's impression which I was not used to in my home back in India. Another thing I noticed was Arcs erected outside of the airport near the smoker's lounge depicting the culture of Bali and to welcome the new arrivals.
Thanks For Reading.
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