We made it to Ladakh!

A frustrating experience at Frankfort, Germany airport was result of flying Air India. In past, this airline was not known for its efficient and competent service.Unfornately in our experience, not much has changed in over 20 years! First we had to have our boarding passes reissued, because Lufthansa boarding passes were not good enough for Air India. After waiting for over an hour in a non-moving line to do a simple task, we finally boarded the plane.

Once we were moving on the runway, the airline decided that instead of taking off, we needed to wait and collect 41 passengers from another plane with a defective door. Two hours later on the runway, we finally took off. Ted and I sighed a huge relief-we were going to make it to Delhi in time, though real close, to catch our 5:45am flight to Leh, Ladakh.

-Geeta

If you really want to know what I did during the plane ride it was sleep and watch tv. I had 17 hours to do this! When we finally reached Delhi, we were slowly but surely taxing and no one was following the rules, they were all undoing their seatbelts and taking their bags out, a normal Indian behavior.

As soon as I stepped outside from a quick immigration check out, I realized how hot it was going to be. It was 31 C (about 90 degrees F) at 12:00 at night! I wasn’t that tired but I was looking forward to going to my cousins to rest. I only got to sleep for 2 hours because we had to drive an hour and half back to the airport to catch a 5:45am flight to Leh. After an amazing 1 hour plane ride where we got see the beautiful, real himalyan mountains, I stepped out of the plane and this time I felt really cold. It was only 19 degree celsius! What a difference an hour flight could make.

-Pari

So Excited!

I am so excited to go to India. My first time to actually see the sites of it. Because the last time I went to India I was just a baby. I don't remember anything.

I am also excited about going to Ladakh. I get to see the Himalayas. The fun part is that when I see pictures of Ladakh it looks pretty cool.

I am scared about India and all the foods and beggars. They might come to our door crying and it would make me feel bad for them.

On the bright side, I have a camera to take pictures.

I can't wait to go the airport today. Talk to you from India.

-K

Choosing a Name

Geeta was determined to start a travel blog — to exercise her blogging muscles in preparation for the coming school year and to give the kids a creative outlet.

First order of business, choosing a name. Seemed simple enough. Family Travel Blog. Passage to India. To India and Beyond. All taken.

How far is it to India? Seven thousand something miles? Seven thousand one hundred and twenty six miles. (Medford to New Delhi.) 7126Miles.blogspot was free. Amazing!

Now to give it a touch of poetry and a small dash of the absurd. What poem best embodies New Delhi in July? Or perhaps might offer relief to the 110 degree misery index?

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,

And 7,126 Miles to Go Before We Sleep.