We were up at about 7 a.m. with the sound of the sea below. We dressed and started some of the packing, even though we had been only one night, things had somehow got into some sort of mess. I wonder why that is??!! After showering and dressing, we went down to the Verandah Restaurant to have breakfast. The Verandah is partly open to the grass in front of the hotel and which leads down to the sea. There is a huge buffet of both western and Sri Lankan food, with curries, kedgeree, hoppers and the usual breakfast fare of bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. There are omelets available and other delicacies such as fruits, yogurts and many kinds of bread.
Seating is on the level where you can look out to sea. On the grass and amongst the palm trees a small squirrel-like creature ran up and down the trees and across the grass. Large black birds land in the palm trees but are chased away by a security guard who has a catapult or sling shot which he aims at the birds who might be on a tree under which the hotel guests might be and upon whom, they might relieve themselves.
I took a short walk on the sea front and checked out the swimming pool and small beach area in front of the hotel.
At just before 11 a.m., we checked out and Mendis arrived with the car. We loaded it up and set off for the airport and our flight to New Delhi. Mendis was anxious that we should let Red Dot have our review of the trip. We tried to send it several times but failed. Eventually, MAC posted a review on TripAdvisor which Red Dot will get to see and I tried to send the message via a different route. Hopefully, they did, eventually get it.
The airport has a separate entrance for Business Class and we were soon checked in. We had a pass to the lounge but made a mistake and went through security although the lounge was actually (and unusually) BEFORE security. So after security, we had to come back out and go to the lounge which was very comfortable. We stayed there until about 1.15 p.m. but then had to go back through security again to get to the gate for the flight. At the gate, all documents were rechecked and we had to wait as Business Class board last and have to have a special bus!! A bit silly really but not a problem. We were soon on board and the flight left right on time.
The flight took about 3 hours and was uneventful. The person siting in front of me was watching a movie which seemed to me to be the most stupidest movie I have ever seen. It starred Tom Cruise and was I believe ‘Mission Impossible – Fallout’. It seemed to contain ridiculous scenes of car, boat, helicopter and other chases, interspersed with explosions and fights, in which Mr. Cruise always seemed to come out unbowed. I suppose it is what they call ‘escapism’.
We landed just a few minutes early. Then the most amazing sight……the airport seemed to be almost completely empty!! We had a ride on a golf cart from the gate to immigration. There was no-one at all in the immigration hall and we were through immigration (despite a rather grumpy young lady who checked my documents and stamped my passport) in very short order and out to the baggage claim where our bags were already on the carousel. We picked them up, walked straight through Customs and met Raj Kumar our hotel driver at the other side. A representative of the hotel was also there to welcome us, quite royal treatment.
We picked up the car from the parking garage and started out into the heavy New Delhi traffic. It took about 45 minutes to get to the hotel and on the way we passed a number of notable buildings including several embassies, the President’s House, (said to be the largest President’s House in the world), Parliament Building which was illuminated in changing colored lights and the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the hotel we ere met at check-in by Darshana who helped us check in to a room on the ‘Club Floor’ so we could avail ourselves of the ‘Happy Hour’ food and drink in the Club Room which is on the 20th Floor. Our room is on the 17Th floor.
After a quick wash and change we went up for the last few minutes of ‘Happy Hour’ and joined Hemant and Darshana and Stevie Stallwood and Linda Pringle in the Club Room for introductions and some drinks and snacks.
At about 9 p.m., we had to clear the room and I went off to bed and MAC went with Hemant and Darshana to their suite, to await the arrival of John and Denise Schiller who would be arriving later this evening. Marc and Claire Allison and Steve and Cathi Rothman will arrive in the early morning around 3 or 4 a.m.
So, by our rendezvous time at 8.30 a.m. in the morning, we will all be here. Our guide will arrive around 9 a.m. and we will have a briefing before setting off to explore New Delhi.
Seating is on the level where you can look out to sea. On the grass and amongst the palm trees a small squirrel-like creature ran up and down the trees and across the grass. Large black birds land in the palm trees but are chased away by a security guard who has a catapult or sling shot which he aims at the birds who might be on a tree under which the hotel guests might be and upon whom, they might relieve themselves.
I took a short walk on the sea front and checked out the swimming pool and small beach area in front of the hotel.
At just before 11 a.m., we checked out and Mendis arrived with the car. We loaded it up and set off for the airport and our flight to New Delhi. Mendis was anxious that we should let Red Dot have our review of the trip. We tried to send it several times but failed. Eventually, MAC posted a review on TripAdvisor which Red Dot will get to see and I tried to send the message via a different route. Hopefully, they did, eventually get it.
The airport has a separate entrance for Business Class and we were soon checked in. We had a pass to the lounge but made a mistake and went through security although the lounge was actually (and unusually) BEFORE security. So after security, we had to come back out and go to the lounge which was very comfortable. We stayed there until about 1.15 p.m. but then had to go back through security again to get to the gate for the flight. At the gate, all documents were rechecked and we had to wait as Business Class board last and have to have a special bus!! A bit silly really but not a problem. We were soon on board and the flight left right on time.
The flight took about 3 hours and was uneventful. The person siting in front of me was watching a movie which seemed to me to be the most stupidest movie I have ever seen. It starred Tom Cruise and was I believe ‘Mission Impossible – Fallout’. It seemed to contain ridiculous scenes of car, boat, helicopter and other chases, interspersed with explosions and fights, in which Mr. Cruise always seemed to come out unbowed. I suppose it is what they call ‘escapism’.
We landed just a few minutes early. Then the most amazing sight……the airport seemed to be almost completely empty!! We had a ride on a golf cart from the gate to immigration. There was no-one at all in the immigration hall and we were through immigration (despite a rather grumpy young lady who checked my documents and stamped my passport) in very short order and out to the baggage claim where our bags were already on the carousel. We picked them up, walked straight through Customs and met Raj Kumar our hotel driver at the other side. A representative of the hotel was also there to welcome us, quite royal treatment.
We picked up the car from the parking garage and started out into the heavy New Delhi traffic. It took about 45 minutes to get to the hotel and on the way we passed a number of notable buildings including several embassies, the President’s House, (said to be the largest President’s House in the world), Parliament Building which was illuminated in changing colored lights and the Prime Minister’s Office.
 |
| The illuminated Government buildings in Delhi |
After a quick wash and change we went up for the last few minutes of ‘Happy Hour’ and joined Hemant and Darshana and Stevie Stallwood and Linda Pringle in the Club Room for introductions and some drinks and snacks.
At about 9 p.m., we had to clear the room and I went off to bed and MAC went with Hemant and Darshana to their suite, to await the arrival of John and Denise Schiller who would be arriving later this evening. Marc and Claire Allison and Steve and Cathi Rothman will arrive in the early morning around 3 or 4 a.m.
So, by our rendezvous time at 8.30 a.m. in the morning, we will all be here. Our guide will arrive around 9 a.m. and we will have a briefing before setting off to explore New Delhi.
No comments:
Post a Comment