This could have been me this weekend, at the Indian wedding. At 51 seconds into the video.
And today I could have been lying on a beach in Goa.
Showing posts with label india. Show all posts
Showing posts with label india. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
cancelling my flights
Went to Arlanda airport again today. Today I got the number 488 and the board showed 397, no fewer people in waiting this time. However, it took almost the same time as last Thursday since all the numbers ahead of me where actually there waiting and not many had left.
After waiting for about two hours the only thing they could help me with was the cancellation of the flights. Not any refund. For a refund I had to contact the company through which I booked the ticket. That sucked. Reading all the information in the news and websites I got the understanding that I in first place should contact the airline. But no. Now I have contact BudJet through which I made the booking and we will see how long it takes until I will get my money back.
I also called Kingfisher Airlines to see if I could get a refund. They were really helpful, I think all Indians in service centers of some kind are always so polite and helpful. To my surprise I actually will recieve money back, I thought that it would be money down the drain. I have to pay some cancellation fees, but I think I will get around 1500 SEK back out of the 2000 SEK I paid in the first place. Nice Indians giving me the money back.
After waiting for about two hours the only thing they could help me with was the cancellation of the flights. Not any refund. For a refund I had to contact the company through which I booked the ticket. That sucked. Reading all the information in the news and websites I got the understanding that I in first place should contact the airline. But no. Now I have contact BudJet through which I made the booking and we will see how long it takes until I will get my money back.
I also called Kingfisher Airlines to see if I could get a refund. They were really helpful, I think all Indians in service centers of some kind are always so polite and helpful. To my surprise I actually will recieve money back, I thought that it would be money down the drain. I have to pay some cancellation fees, but I think I will get around 1500 SEK back out of the 2000 SEK I paid in the first place. Nice Indians giving me the money back.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
coulda, woulda, shoulda
I could be in Chennai now, dressed in a sari at my ex-coworkers wedding. I could be enjoying the heat and sunshine. I could be eating delicious Indian food. I could be shopping fabulous accessories. I could soon be heading to Goa. I could soon be lying on the beach in Goa getting a tan.
But no. No heat and sunshine for me. Staying in windy and cold Sweden. Today has been so windy and I am freezing a lot as always. I just wish I was in a warm place right now. You cannot even go somewhere else for a last minute trip.
But no. No heat and sunshine for me. Staying in windy and cold Sweden. Today has been so windy and I am freezing a lot as always. I just wish I was in a warm place right now. You cannot even go somewhere else for a last minute trip.
Friday, April 16, 2010
losing hope
Does not look good. Reading the news and it says you should anticipate that the airspace will be closed the whole weekend. Not good with a re-booked flight for Sunday morning. Starting to think that perhaps one should ask for a refund. On the other hand, the fee for the visa and the other ticket booked for Goa is then money down the drain.
But the 12 day trip is down to 10 if the flight on Sunday leaves, but on Monday it will only be 9 and then counting depending when the airspace is opened up again. In any way, Monday is probably my limit since we have the Goa flight booked for Tuesday. After Monday there is no point and I will ask for my money back.
This sucks.
But the 12 day trip is down to 10 if the flight on Sunday leaves, but on Monday it will only be 9 and then counting depending when the airspace is opened up again. In any way, Monday is probably my limit since we have the Goa flight booked for Tuesday. After Monday there is no point and I will ask for my money back.
This sucks.
i want company to india
Frustrated with the others. My travel companions. I am not hoping to get out on Saturday, I know that the flight to Chennai in India from Frankfurt is fully booked on Saturday and that is why I got a seat on the Sunday flight. They still want to take a chance to get on a flight to India on Saturday, problematic since I got the information that Lufthansa does not allow re-booking to other airlines.
I have acknowledged that there is no possibility that I will have a chance taking part of the wedding ceremony. They have not. I am a bit worried since I have a ticket for Sunday and they have so far made no big effort to get a re-booking and by now I fear that the Sunday flight is fully booked as well.
I still have my hopes in K since she said that she might even consider buying a new one way ticket. She really wants to get away and with the vacation days she already have taken out. I really hope that I will have someone to accompany me to India.
The most annoying part is that they barely give me any information on what they are doing and planning. It is like they are forgetting I am in the group. Well, I got my ticket so I do not have to worry. If just K get a ticket as well, then I do not have to worry.
I have acknowledged that there is no possibility that I will have a chance taking part of the wedding ceremony. They have not. I am a bit worried since I have a ticket for Sunday and they have so far made no big effort to get a re-booking and by now I fear that the Sunday flight is fully booked as well.
I still have my hopes in K since she said that she might even consider buying a new one way ticket. She really wants to get away and with the vacation days she already have taken out. I really hope that I will have someone to accompany me to India.
The most annoying part is that they barely give me any information on what they are doing and planning. It is like they are forgetting I am in the group. Well, I got my ticket so I do not have to worry. If just K get a ticket as well, then I do not have to worry.
c as in comfort and cake
After waiting for more than two hours in line at the airport I needed some comfort food. A piece of the cake I baked and some of my favorite chips, Estrella's Grill chips, that I asked her to buy me after I found about that my flight was canceled.
This was a white chocolate cake. I absolutely love white chocolate and desperately wanted to try this. But it was disappointing, it did not taste much of white chocolate as I wanted it to. With the raspberries on the side they took over all the other flavors. Next time I will put in more white chocolate and perhaps make a layer of melted chocolate on top. Then maybe.
This was a white chocolate cake. I absolutely love white chocolate and desperately wanted to try this. But it was disappointing, it did not taste much of white chocolate as I wanted it to. With the raspberries on the side they took over all the other flavors. Next time I will put in more white chocolate and perhaps make a layer of melted chocolate on top. Then maybe.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
no india. for now...
The flight got officially canceled soon after I wrote the last post. After dinner I decided to go to Arlanda and talk to the Lufthansa people to rebook my flight. I came in to the departure hall at terminal 5 and it is fairly empty except of the crowd in front of the SAS desk (Star Alliance including Lufthansa). I take a number and get 339. I look up at the board to see that the number just called out is 885. Great. It has to reach 999 and start over again at 1 to eventually get to my number.
I am not giving in that easy, and I do not even know how fast they are at the counter. After only one hour already 300 numbers have passed so it goes by fast. Many people have already left so ten numbers can easily go by without anyone claiming that number. Afterwards I wondered why I did not claim one of those numbers since they did not even check your ticket number.
Anyway, after a while a SAS employee stopped to say that they were closing in one hour, disregarding how many numbers where left. Great, I still had quite many numbers to go and I felt I was just one the edge to make it or not. Fifteen minutes left and 60 numbers until my number - I am thinking I am screwed, but still crossing my fingers. Then, 10 and 15 numbers pass by without any claimers. A few minutes before closing it is 335 and no one claims it or the ones up to 339. My turn. In the end they were nice to take all of us sill there waiting, there were only two left when I walked away from there. They did a nice job there at the desk with everybody.
Anywho, I got a rebooking. I knew there is only one flight leaving to Chennai from Frankfurt everyday and I was hoping to get on the one for Saturday. No such luck, fully booked. There went my only chance to be part of the wedding. I got a seat for Sunday. At least the flight seemed to have several seats left so hopefully the Copenhagen gang can get three of the remaining.
It is sad, the main reason why I was going to India in the first place was the wedding and now I have no chance for that. But what to do? Not much really. Natural disasters happen and there is nothing you can do about them. I just have to hope that the airports will be up and running by Sunday and that I will be on that flight. Then I still have 10 days to enjoy in India and have the chance to catch the Tuesday flight we booked for Goa.
That was my evening.
I am not giving in that easy, and I do not even know how fast they are at the counter. After only one hour already 300 numbers have passed so it goes by fast. Many people have already left so ten numbers can easily go by without anyone claiming that number. Afterwards I wondered why I did not claim one of those numbers since they did not even check your ticket number.
Anyway, after a while a SAS employee stopped to say that they were closing in one hour, disregarding how many numbers where left. Great, I still had quite many numbers to go and I felt I was just one the edge to make it or not. Fifteen minutes left and 60 numbers until my number - I am thinking I am screwed, but still crossing my fingers. Then, 10 and 15 numbers pass by without any claimers. A few minutes before closing it is 335 and no one claims it or the ones up to 339. My turn. In the end they were nice to take all of us sill there waiting, there were only two left when I walked away from there. They did a nice job there at the desk with everybody.
Anywho, I got a rebooking. I knew there is only one flight leaving to Chennai from Frankfurt everyday and I was hoping to get on the one for Saturday. No such luck, fully booked. There went my only chance to be part of the wedding. I got a seat for Sunday. At least the flight seemed to have several seats left so hopefully the Copenhagen gang can get three of the remaining.
It is sad, the main reason why I was going to India in the first place was the wedding and now I have no chance for that. But what to do? Not much really. Natural disasters happen and there is nothing you can do about them. I just have to hope that the airports will be up and running by Sunday and that I will be on that flight. Then I still have 10 days to enjoy in India and have the chance to catch the Tuesday flight we booked for Goa.
That was my evening.
no india tomorrow?
So I might not be able to go to India. That damn volcano in Iceland that are the cause of all the ash clouds coming in over Northern Europe. The consequence being that the airspace is closing and many airports too.
Stockholm airport is still open but who knows for how long. The Swedish airspace is said to be closed down at 10 p.m. tonight and I am supposed to leave 6.50 a.m. tomorrow. This blows. Apparently it will take a few days until these clouds of ash is gone too.
Copenhagen airport is closed and I read that it probably will be tomorrow as well, so my friends seem to be stuck there. And I will be stuck here in Stockholm. I was even good to book the same flights as them so we could be together on the flight to India from Frankfurt.
I am so pissed. And the wedding is on Saturday. My once in a life time opportunity down the drain.
Stockholm airport is still open but who knows for how long. The Swedish airspace is said to be closed down at 10 p.m. tonight and I am supposed to leave 6.50 a.m. tomorrow. This blows. Apparently it will take a few days until these clouds of ash is gone too.
Copenhagen airport is closed and I read that it probably will be tomorrow as well, so my friends seem to be stuck there. And I will be stuck here in Stockholm. I was even good to book the same flights as them so we could be together on the flight to India from Frankfurt.
I am so pissed. And the wedding is on Saturday. My once in a life time opportunity down the drain.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
getting ready
Yesterday I did several preparations for the India trip and it continues today as well. Yesterday I went to sister to get a hair cut, always nicer when going to a hot and humid country to have short hair so now I have. I also picked up some necessary stuff from the pharmacy, sunscreen and medicines for eventual stomach problems. Better to be prepared.
Today I started looking through my wardrobe for appropriate clothes for India. I have been reading a bit and the best attire is not short shorts/skirt or a tight top showing off the shoulders. I actually found one dress that covers the shoulders and the knees, a dress I actually like too.
Of course we are going to be stared at either way, but I want to feel comfortable and not showing too much at least when we are in the city. But with 35 degrees celcius that will feels like 40-45 I wish I could wear shorts and a loose top showing my shoulders since I probably will be sweating. We will have to see how it is when we are there. At least when we are in Goa it seems to be more relax so that is good.
Today I started looking through my wardrobe for appropriate clothes for India. I have been reading a bit and the best attire is not short shorts/skirt or a tight top showing off the shoulders. I actually found one dress that covers the shoulders and the knees, a dress I actually like too.
Of course we are going to be stared at either way, but I want to feel comfortable and not showing too much at least when we are in the city. But with 35 degrees celcius that will feels like 40-45 I wish I could wear shorts and a loose top showing my shoulders since I probably will be sweating. We will have to see how it is when we are there. At least when we are in Goa it seems to be more relax so that is good.
india in two days
Only two days left and then I am taking off. Taking off for vacation and an Indian wedding. It feels like this trip is going to be insane. I am not sure what to expect from it all. A new country and a totally different culture.
We lived close to Little India in Singapore but that does not really count probably. India will probably be far more intense than that little piece of Singapore.
A picture from T. Nagar market and it seems crazy. I wonder how it will feel compared to Tokyo, people-wise. Chennai is only half the size of Tokyo when measuring population, but my guess now before actually have been there is that it might feel more crowded. Tokyo never felt that crowded, only in the metro and its stations.
Perhaps one should get prepared.
We lived close to Little India in Singapore but that does not really count probably. India will probably be far more intense than that little piece of Singapore.
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| (Chennai, picture borrowed from mckaysavage flickr) |
A picture from T. Nagar market and it seems crazy. I wonder how it will feel compared to Tokyo, people-wise. Chennai is only half the size of Tokyo when measuring population, but my guess now before actually have been there is that it might feel more crowded. Tokyo never felt that crowded, only in the metro and its stations.
Perhaps one should get prepared.
Friday, April 2, 2010
good friday
Yesterday and today kind of sucked. I was not feeling my best yesterday, kind of a dizzy head and a body all tired. But I managed to make it to the Indian embassy to hand in the papers for the visa. Even though I thoroughly checked through everything I managed to forget the copy of the flight reservation. Thank god they had computers there and I could print out a copy, for the lovely sum of 50 SEK. So I had to pay the visa fee, plus the computer fee, and a round trip ticket to Stockholm for 100 SEK. She said the visa process is only 2-4 working days now when it is slow season, good thing since it otherwise is 10 days and I will be leaving in 10 days.
Otherwise I am just resting and lying in my bed watching series and stuff. Trying not to become sick once again, but I think it has almost passed now. Just some short thing it seems.
Mom and dad headed out yesterday to my aunt's cottage up north. Sister is out doing something. So it is just me and the cat at home this Good Friday. Chilling.
Otherwise I am just resting and lying in my bed watching series and stuff. Trying not to become sick once again, but I think it has almost passed now. Just some short thing it seems.
Mom and dad headed out yesterday to my aunt's cottage up north. Sister is out doing something. So it is just me and the cat at home this Good Friday. Chilling.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
indian embassy
My head feels a bit mushy today and I just wished I could stay in bed watching TV or movies. Unfortunately I cannot since I have to head in to Stockholm town. I kind of need that Indian visa and the handling time is a few days so I desperately need to hand in the application today. I asked if they could make it in time and they said it should work out. So now I just need to get some clothes on, get some breakfast into my stomach, and head out.
damn those taxes
My stomach hurts. I just logged on SKAT which is the Danish tax agency. It seems I have tax underpayment penalty to be paid. Which totally sucks since it is quite a lot. And I do not understand it at all.
This totally spoils the fact that I just bought a ticket to India for a 12 days vacation and an Indian wedding. Damn it.
This totally spoils the fact that I just bought a ticket to India for a 12 days vacation and an Indian wedding. Damn it.
Monday, March 29, 2010
india next?
Having a great time in Copenhagen and know I am apparently just thinking of the next trip. Should I go to India in a couple of weeks? I might join some friends that are going to my ex-coworkers wedding. It feels like a once in a life time opportunity. I also always wanted to go to India but never really found anyone to go with. Furthermore it feels like the last chance to do a long trip before starting working again.
And the tickets are not extremly expensive even though it is only three weeks left. It could well work out.
And the tickets are not extremly expensive even though it is only three weeks left. It could well work out.
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