Travel to UK. Part2 - Paris to London

Hello Again

So, after getting the passport and boarding pass back I went back to the internet kiosk. Checked mails, posted on blog, read news. Then I moved to board the connecting flight. The security person, after scanning my passport and boarding pass said, "So you are the one who had lost his passport?". I said, "Yes. Seems I have become famous." To this she responded with a smile. This plane was a small ATR. I could only take the laptop bag in. Was apprehensive about getting all my bags in Heathrow. At the aircraft, before we got out of the bus, a lady came in and called out a name. That happened to be the name of a fellow TCSer who was travelling with his wife. No explanation was given. He was just told that good that they were there. Flight was uneventful. At Heathrow, after immigration, I was asked to go for health control. Everything went smoothly. After coming out, I met the same couple. Their bags had not come! Bought a SIM, took a taxi, topped up the SIM on the way. Called home. Called the senior in Croydon. The taxi cost me 100 GBP. 25 GBP for the SIM and talk time. I was left with 25 GBP when I reached 27, 1st Floor Flat, Canning Road, Croydon - CR06QD. Lugged the bags in. Talked to the fellow. He cooked, I ate. Tried the Blackberry again, it did not work. Some App Error. May be it needs a software update. Dozed off with the lights on.

Travel to UK. Part1 - Bangalore to Paris

Charles de Gaule, Paris

27 April 2010

Yesterday, in India, I had a hell of a star to my journey. At the airport I realised that my checking bag was weighing 40kg and my cabin bag was weighing 21kg. My allowances were for 28kg and 12kg respectively. Since, parent's flight was on the next calendar day, they were not allowed in. I went in with the full load. There was a long queue at the Air France counter. The staff were offering money to travellers to postpone their travel. On my turn at the counter I was asked to rearrange the weight, and to use separate bag for laptop. Fortunately I had a spare bag and Mom was carrying my laptop bag. After rearranging I had to go through the queue again. The announcement that not all may be accommodated made maters worse. I was lucky enough to be allowed checking in. But not before paying $200 for the extra bag. The the emigration, the man missed stamping my boarding card, I had to return from security check. Finally boarded and took off. Parents were inside the airport by then.

Paris was pleasant. Had had a meal in the flight. So at the airport, after checking for the boarding gate for next flight, brushed my teeth, freshened up & proseeded to security. Security was smooth. Called Dad, checked mails, set new time zone in my watch and only then did I realise that the passport and boarding pass were not on me. I had dropped them some where. Bro, you were right, I did not lose my cool. Retraced my path, took help of security and finally located the lost stuff with Air France counter. Some good samaritan had found it. Am happy :-)