When the airline lost my luggage on the flight to India – Incredible India!

Yep!

We’re here.

In India!

Omigosh!

For those of you just catching up, here’s why?

WHY IS VICTORIA GOING TO INDIA?

Funny you should ask ‘cos I’ve been to India before.

Thirteen (13) years ago!

And I have to tell you.

I’ve got mixed feelings about it!

I travelled solo and I was there for a month.

I went to North India and I really liked it and enjoyed it enormously.

But I didn’t love it!

And if I don’t like a place, I’m certainly going to tell you!!

I went to Rajasthan and saw tigers on safari at the Ranthambore National Park, adored the beautiful lakes at Udaipur, chuckled at the wedding cake cinema at Jaipur, licked and tasted camel ice-cream in Pushkar, rode elephants in Jodhpur, went camel-riding in the sandy desert of Jaisalmer, danced to the music of Bollywood, delighted in the openness of the local people, licked my fingers at authentic Indian food, and marvelled at the wonderful amazing-ness of the Taj Mahal.

It was awesome!

However, road traffic was mad and over-whelming, the noise was deafening, the dirt and grime was disgusting, the River Ganges at Varanasi was not only filthy, but I actually saw a bloated dead body being dragged across the water by a dog!

The beggar children were heart-breaking, the overnight train was horrific that I couldn’t sleep a wink, and the food-poisoning that I caught from stale / under-cooked eggs at a 5-star hotel restaurant was so awful, that my skin colour actually turned grey!

That wasn’t good news!

In fact, I was so exhausted by the shopkeepers and city of Delhi that for the only time in my life, I actually wanted to go home!

I stuck it out though, but was thrilled to be able to fly away, and leave it all behind me.

Eek!

HMM! YOU DON’T SOUND TOO IMPRESSED, SO WHY GO BACK?

So how is it that I’m going back to India?

Again?

And to some of the very same places too!

?!!!?!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

I’m totally mad!

But I’m doing it anyway LOL!

Well, I wanted to show my family, otherwise known as – The Music Producer and The Tall Young Gentleman, the best of India.

And I’m not the type of person that gives up, so back to India I go!

HOW LONG ARE YOU SPENDING?

We have a 16-year-old school age boy so we have to go in the school holiday break, and that means just two (2) measly weeks.

Two (2)!

And we started with Delhi!

OMG!

THE REAL DELHI!

It’s a little confusing but New Delhi, a district in Delhi, is actually the capital of India!

Even though both Delhi and New Delhi are frequently used to refer to the National Capital Territory of Delhi or NCT, they are in fact, two very different areas, as New Delhi is only a tiny part of the wider spectrum of Delhi as the National Capital Region! 

A bit like how New York City is only a small part of the State of New York!

Delhi is bordered by Haryana and by Uttar Pradesh and covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi), with a population of between 11 – 16 million people!

Delhi is a very old city and has existed and been inhabited by various kingdoms and empires, since 6th century BC!

The most notable empires have been that of the Mughal Empire (1649-1857), and of course, the British Empire, otherwise known as the British Raj (1858-1947).

Delhi isn’t kind to travellers.

Myself included.

Haw! Haw!

So this time I was prepared.

And it was a good thing too ‘cos the airline lost my luggage!

LOST LUGGAGE IN DELHI!

We booked a most reliable airline in order to get some comfort – in this case Lufthansa.

All the flight from Berlin to Munich were, due to foggy weather, delayed for about an hour and we all had to literally run to our connecting flights, as they weren’t!

We got to our gate huffing and puffing, but we made it!

We had a few issues with an elderly man who seemed reluctant to sit in his own seat instead of ours, but after a lot of trying to find his family, and thus his seat, who funnily enough were in the row in front of us!

We merrily settled into ours.

And half-way through the flight one of the flight attendants discreetly told me that my luggage had been left behind.

In Munich!

In truth, I wasn’t too worried as this wasn’t the first time that I’ve had issues with an airline!

Ha!

So we arrived at Delhi International Airport, otherwise known as Indira Gandhi International Airport.

In Delhi.

And airport staff were waiting for me with forms to sign and huge smiles.

What wasn’t waiting for us though, was my husbands’ suitcase!

He has a blue-green Samsonite suitcase which is a 30-year-old model.

I didn’t think it was even worth stealing!

I was wrong apparently!

It was gone!

And nobody knew where it was.

Was it in Germany?

Was it in India?

No-one had any idea.

Sigh!

‘Back to a thorough search through the airport.

And trying to describe my husbands’ Samsonite suitcase to staff who didn’t have a clue what I was talking about!

My husbands’ Samsonite suitcase was similar to the model below!

While talking to one person, and then the next.

And signing even more papers and forms.

The result?

They gave us 10,000 rupees (€120 /£110 /$140) and two toilet bags!

I’M EXHAUSTED. HOW DO I GET TO MY HOTEL?

There are a million and one stories as to what happens to tourists who arrive at their destination tired and exhausted.

You really don’t want to do that!

It was a good thing I had pre-booked a very nice family-friendly bed & breakfast / apartment-hotel.

And booked their hotel car.

It was called Aashianaa Living.

I booked it myself via booking.com

I also booked their hotel car!

Our luggage – both suitcases – came two days later.

I couldn’t have been happier!

Phew!

IF INDIA DOESN’T BREAK YOU, IT’LL MAKE YOU STRONGER ‘COS INDIA IS HARD!

And for those of you who are over 30 (ahem!).

This blog and the next couple of months weeks, is for you.

India isn’t easy, but if you want to go there.

You can!

And of course, if you’re really nervous, I offer a consultancy, and can help you organise or advice you on many parts of your trip to India!

For more info, click here!

Who doesn’t like an exciting adventure?

Well, follow me over the next few months, and find out!

So  what are you waiting for?

‘Rah! ‘Rah!

WHEN THE AIRLINE LOST MY LUGGAGE ON THE FLIGHT TO INDIA – INCREDIBLE INDIA!

This article isn’t sponsored, and all opinions and lost adventures in India, are my very own!

Stay tuned.

Yay!

That’s it for now.

See you next week!