I used to be an eco (as in environment) friendly person , but with the advent of Budget airlines I am still eco friendly, though this time the tilt is towards economy. At a very cheap rate, I am contributing my 4000 odd rupee per pune trip to global warming. Sorry dear polar bears, and the farmers of flood effected maharasthra.. In here I cannot crib about absence of public transport, as there are plenty of busses available. Waiting for fuel efficient jets to come in, till then please do execuse my hypocrisy. (of-course the budget airlines offer almost no food reducing the plastic plates thus, and I also duly returned my extremely ultra compact water pack to the airlines. ).
The security measure has definitely increased in the airport. I did not visualize such an end to my three old deodorant and godrej shaving cream. After traveling me across to Europe, US and nooks and corner of India, aiding me in presenting a tolerable version of travel tired me, it met its end at the hand of airport security official. I am not sure around which garbage pile up in and around Bangalore, does it lie crumpled.. A strong lesson of life being ephemeral was handed to me. Such fortune was not bestowed on my wife, whose bag was let through (containing all the cosmetic kit that any woman would carry). I guess the official had learnt his lesson earlier, while he had disposed such a cosmetic kit earlier.
Budget airlines have really bought the feel of KG bus stand to our airport. The agents from each of the airlines were running across the spread out mass of human beings, announcing the departure of their brand of flight. (In KG stand you could hear, salem, maduri, triuchi bus reps shouting at their top of their voice, a more classy version was being played here. It was Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune etc and that too the shouters were well dressed up reps. Seems like there is a job opportunity and a carrier path for the KG bus stand shouters is in the offing). In such a budget world, where does a 50 Rs coffee stand. (Some airline offer a travel to Delhi at that cost. Now if I think of that, I would never be able to drink a coffee in airport). IMHO, we should have a complete different distribution of savories and beverages for those who are under the budget. (Perhaps a budget tag should be imprinted on every such traveler)
Entering the departure zone kick started the secretion of holiday hormone. This time, it was diluted as I had a 6 week child. But anyway the very thought that I could be on a holiday on a working day, was kicking butt.
I am happy to announce that this time, I did not have to take any smoker to task (on the non smoking zone). .
There is this person in the airport bathroom handing over hand napkins to dry your hand. While great noble man have visualized education for all, our man has his simple vision, hand napkins for all in this bathroom. I guess, an averagely intelligent person capable of relieving himself would definitely be smart enough to unroll a napkin and cut it from the supply and use it. Anybody arriving in ( I have seen this in arrival lounge also) from distant land, will definitely have a great impression of Indian hospitality ( I guess). However, the very moment our visitor is out of the airport, facing the onslaught of rickshaws, he is bought down to reality. But this man, I believe is doing his part of hospitality, for that is the bounds of world he can influence.
On hearing the announcement of departing flight, we Indians run Like a sheep of herds when doors of fence are opened, . Being Indian, intrinsically we violate any prescribed limit at least by 200%, be either house construction or size of carry on luggage size. So the rush it to ensure that you are not in the bottom 50%, that are going to scramble for over bin space. The airline made significant progress in reining the chaos, by allowing rear passenger to board first. A small step of logic is being ushered into boarding of aircraft, keep the good work folks.
The budget airline did surprise me with free biscuits and ultra mini water pack. The very size of such offering was A constant reminder that you are a budget passenger
To keep the cost low, we were instructed not to carry the inflight magazine with us. (Another budget reminder) Hmm, unless some one has lost some precious neurons in his cranium, why would anybody do that. The in flight magazine is part of this total flight experience package. The incorrectly filled sudoko, and misspelt cross word sucks any entertainment value out of these magazine. Nothing seems to accelerate the passage of time once you have lost touch with ground. But Pune is Just 1.5 hours of flight, and this magazine would fall in my line of sight, after I have read through mid-day, HT Delhi Edition, TOI international edition, Hard news (some magazine I found in my front packet).
I am news maniac. The variety of free bee newspaper attracts me a like a bee to honey. The world definitely has not shrunk, infact every movement of ever micro organism will soon be reported in one of these media, and I definitely don’t want to be ignorant of any of these actions.
I am excited about that the news explosion that our migration would bring in. Their would be news about interplanetary space disputes, illegal migration across planets, cross planet terrorism, Planetary tourism etc. The future for news looks strong and bright. I am still sure that a inter planetary budget travel, would still have the notice of inflight magazine.
Pune looked green from the top. The monsoon had unleashed new life in nature, as it displayed its form with great elegance.
Pune is becoming like Bangalore. The domestic airport is being made into international, following the bangalorean way. Change the board from domestic to international, put in customs and emigration dept, and extend the airport to accommodate an extra A320 airbus and voila the airport transforms itself to international airport. Now will it be called chatrapathi, ambedkar or indira Gandhi airport only the ruling party could say. (Definitely not Anna in this part of India). The good thing is that there is no residence near the airport, and hence there is a possibility of expansion. However, I could see few fences coming up, in the empty ground.. Few years down the lane, you would have the airport view apartment, raising high to greet the landing and departing flight. In the end it will become as international airport as Bangalore is
This place in pune that my wife resides is heaven. Full of trees, broad roads, good drainage, and cukoos koo, this is a definite heaven.
Few Quotes from RD I could remember
I enjoyed my Bosses vacation more then mine.
