Friday, October 31, 2008

Mumbai arrival

The flight was great. I was very comfortable flying economy with Continental’s direct flight Newark to Mumbai.

I arrived safe and sound with an hour’s flight delay due to head winds.

The suitcase arrived intact. I went thru customs and found an exchange booth where I exchanged $100 (48.7 exchange rate). The Thomas Cook outside in the main hall had the same rates.

It was 30 C and almost 10pm local time.

Within 15 minutes of exiting from customs area, contacted the TNI contact person who was apologetic that a greeter should have been there. Two hours after my landing, standing in the Meet and Greet area, a young clerk finally arrives with my name on a sign, no English, and no package in hand. He drives me to the Bombay Heritage Comfort Inn, a modern clean place that would make my interior design friends jealous.

I took a shower and went to bed, hoping I can reach my representative early in the morning. They have my hotel vouchers and train/plane tickets.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Itinerary in India 2008

31st Oct - ARRIVE IN MUMBAI

1st Nov - Mumbai city tour

2nd – Train to Goa arriving late afternoon

3rd - City tour and day at leisure on the beach

4th – Overnight train to Cochin departing in the evening

5th – Arriving Cochin (Kerala) at 10:00am – city tour

6th – Cochin Alleppo city tour

7th – Kumarkom city tour and train to Chennai/Madras at 19:30 hrs

8th – Arrive Chennai 06:05 hrs and transfer to hotel where other Armenians are staying

9th - Attend reconsecration ceremony, visit sites with group and depart for Kolkata

10th – Attend Hrashapar service at Holy Nazareth Church and evening events

11th - Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Tangra
Built in 1867, the church was renovated by the Armenian Church Committee of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth in Kolkata and was re-consecrated by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on February 28, 2007
Opening ceremony of the newly constructed Tangra Community
Welcome ceremony of the 300th anniversary celebration
Guests will return to Kolkata via St. Gregory’s so that they can see that church as well

12th – Take flight to Mumbai to connect to International flight back to the US

13th - Land at Newark International in the morning.

14th - Back to work :-(