Boarded Air Asia Flight AK221 with profound excitement as I was awaiting to see my family after 3 months. The flight was scheduled to take off at 1530hrs and actually taken out of hangar 10 min late. Some how we are on air flying above about 10km. Could not sleep as the flight was for
3.5hrs. Food was served *BLEH*. Suddenly was seeing a gulf and was betting to myself that it must be 'Gulf of Mannar' (later verified and confirmed with http://maps.google.com What a beautiful Gulf, given a choice I will stay there.
Few minutes while flying over Trichy was seeing river Cauvery, was great to see with water flowing.
Finally landed at Bengaluru International Airport, Devanahalli. While I was wondering why the h*** the aircraft is parked crossly, there came a vehicle to tow it away. Seems the pilot went to a wrong hangar, where it cannot fit.
10 min later the door was open. Every body rushed out as if, if they delay a minute the aircraft will take off again, hee hee me too joined the crowd.
Immigration: was quick no questions asked except "What are you doing in Japan Sir?" I answered him and came out, there waiting an attendant to check the immigration seal.
After his verification proceeded to the hand luggage checking section, put my back pouch, with the tablet and the luggage and was walking across the metal detector. No beeps...
"Sir are these your luggages?", asked a madam and a sir. "Yes", claimed I. "Oh please come this side sir", said the Officers. I went near them. "Are you carrying currency?" the officer asked me. "Yes" answered I with out any hesitation, as I was carrying some Indian Rupees.
"How much Sir?"
"about two thousand" said in a guess.
"It will be more"
"OK say five thousand", said I.
"No Sir it MUST be in lakhs", claimed the Officer.
I was very sure that the Officers are upto something and said, "if you don't believe I can show it to you". "OK which bag should I open"? I asked the Officer.
He pointed the bag that does not have the currency. "No sir no cash on that" claimed I.
"OK show the other one", said the Officer
I sincerely opened the back pack and removed the hip pouch, then that Officer said to his fellow Officer in Kannada, "tumba chikkatu bit bidi" and said "ok ok you may go Sir".
After grabbing all the items, I proceeded to the baggage claim. Was waiting for about 20 minutes then my big box came with 'X' marks all over it. Waiting for the next smaller box I was thinking, not sure what this 'X' mean.
Ah there comes my small box. Proceeded to customs. "Come sir we have to scan your luggage" said the Officer. Oh dear not again...this time what is going to be their claim.
Loaded the box on the x-ray machine, "Come here" called the officer looking at me. As I went near him he asked me pointing the three items that were high lighted. Admiring three technology I was scratching my memory to recollect what I packed. Unfortunately I could recognize only one item that was bought for my brother and identified to him "this is a ceramic knife". "is it wrapped?" asked he. "yes sir these are just on their pack, I bought several gifts and just dumped them in last minute, cannot remember which is which.
The officer was ok with my answer in identifying the knife, but was adamant in knowing what the other two items were...Unfortunately I could not recollect it at all. After struggling for 20 min the officer gave up, he asked my passport, saw me twice from top to bottom then left me.
With a big thanks I left the place. and now its another challenge, the taxi drivers. I have to go to White Field and I am sure it will cost more than what I paid for KUL-BLR sector. Dodging them I reached the bus stop, to my surprise there waiting a bus to leave in another 5 min.
Loaded the bus with my luggages, came out again to keep the trolley in its proper place. Although the bus was scheduled to leave in 5 min. Mean while few more boarded the bus and they did not bother about the trolley which was left haphazard...
I said to myself "Welcome to India".
3.5hrs. Food was served *BLEH*. Suddenly was seeing a gulf and was betting to myself that it must be 'Gulf of Mannar' (later verified and confirmed with http://maps.google.com What a beautiful Gulf, given a choice I will stay there.
Few minutes while flying over Trichy was seeing river Cauvery, was great to see with water flowing.
Finally landed at Bengaluru International Airport, Devanahalli. While I was wondering why the h*** the aircraft is parked crossly, there came a vehicle to tow it away. Seems the pilot went to a wrong hangar, where it cannot fit.
10 min later the door was open. Every body rushed out as if, if they delay a minute the aircraft will take off again, hee hee me too joined the crowd.
Immigration: was quick no questions asked except "What are you doing in Japan Sir?" I answered him and came out, there waiting an attendant to check the immigration seal.
After his verification proceeded to the hand luggage checking section, put my back pouch, with the tablet and the luggage and was walking across the metal detector. No beeps...
"Sir are these your luggages?", asked a madam and a sir. "Yes", claimed I. "Oh please come this side sir", said the Officers. I went near them. "Are you carrying currency?" the officer asked me. "Yes" answered I with out any hesitation, as I was carrying some Indian Rupees.
"How much Sir?"
"about two thousand" said in a guess.
"It will be more"
"OK say five thousand", said I.
"No Sir it MUST be in lakhs", claimed the Officer.
I was very sure that the Officers are upto something and said, "if you don't believe I can show it to you". "OK which bag should I open"? I asked the Officer.
He pointed the bag that does not have the currency. "No sir no cash on that" claimed I.
"OK show the other one", said the Officer
I sincerely opened the back pack and removed the hip pouch, then that Officer said to his fellow Officer in Kannada, "tumba chikkatu bit bidi" and said "ok ok you may go Sir".
After grabbing all the items, I proceeded to the baggage claim. Was waiting for about 20 minutes then my big box came with 'X' marks all over it. Waiting for the next smaller box I was thinking, not sure what this 'X' mean.
Ah there comes my small box. Proceeded to customs. "Come sir we have to scan your luggage" said the Officer. Oh dear not again...this time what is going to be their claim.
Loaded the box on the x-ray machine, "Come here" called the officer looking at me. As I went near him he asked me pointing the three items that were high lighted. Admiring three technology I was scratching my memory to recollect what I packed. Unfortunately I could recognize only one item that was bought for my brother and identified to him "this is a ceramic knife". "is it wrapped?" asked he. "yes sir these are just on their pack, I bought several gifts and just dumped them in last minute, cannot remember which is which.
The officer was ok with my answer in identifying the knife, but was adamant in knowing what the other two items were...Unfortunately I could not recollect it at all. After struggling for 20 min the officer gave up, he asked my passport, saw me twice from top to bottom then left me.
With a big thanks I left the place. and now its another challenge, the taxi drivers. I have to go to White Field and I am sure it will cost more than what I paid for KUL-BLR sector. Dodging them I reached the bus stop, to my surprise there waiting a bus to leave in another 5 min.
Loaded the bus with my luggages, came out again to keep the trolley in its proper place. Although the bus was scheduled to leave in 5 min. Mean while few more boarded the bus and they did not bother about the trolley which was left haphazard...
I said to myself "Welcome to India".
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