Ticket To Ride

Arrive Mumbai Int’l Airport.
Go to Air India to get boarding pass for Cochin flight. The flight does not exist. The flight that is printed on two itineraries that I am holding (one from the internet reservation and one from a ticket agent at Newark) WTF???!!!??? Slightly in shock, feeling alone And farrr from home, I wander around the Ticketing/Departure area asking random people who appear to have some authority for help to get a flight to Cochin. My heart is beating so hard and loud that immediately my mantra emanates from there. Maranatha. Maranatha. Maranatha. Come to me Lord. Once again clarity replaces fear.
No help like helping yourself. Got online on laptop in a closet type wifi room. Google tells me I need to go to Bombay’s other airport to get a domestic flight to Cochin.
Through a myriad of asking soldiers (there are armed soldiers everywhere) and suits where and how to get a taxi, I prepay a taxi, a porter appears to carry the bags and escorts me to a small black car in a sea of tiny taxis. Backpack with me, I realize green rollie bag not in sight. Driver put it on the roof! Not attached to anything! I demand the bag be inside with me. He says it’s OK on top. Noooooo sir! I jump out and in a one handed swoop, hoist the bag down and put it in the car. The men and porters really don’t like for the women to haul and carry heavy stuff. I’m sure the gesture takes the driver by surprise. Mind you this is all happening in super fast speed mode amidst horns honking and people yelling and then ZOOM we’re off…
The drive to Santa Cruz airport appears to be through major construction or maybe just good old Indian chaos. At one point the driver stops, gets out of the car in the middle of what seems like serious hustle and bustle…what now??? apparently getting a receipt for me. In the meantime a couple of women come up to the car banging on the windows begging for money. I can only just look within and immediately my mantra comes to me and I am OK. Driver gets back in and we are off again. Um, BTW, My bag totally would have been toast had I left it on the roof.
Finally make it to the domestic airport. Seems not as chaotic but maybe bc it’s almost 11pm. I am pretty shaky none the less.
I wander around looking for the Air India counter being directed this way and that way and upstairs And downstairs until finally I am at a counter waiting in line to tell my sad weird story to yet another ticketing agent. In front of me are two Americans carrying yoga mats and backpacks. I spot a Redback Travels luggage tag on one of them. They’re on my trip! And they are having the SAME problem with the ‘non-existent’ Air India flight to Cochin. I’m with friends! So I buy a new plane ticket at the counter for 5558 rupees (about $165). I dont care that the airline company messed up. I dont care that the chaos has had me run in circles around both of Mumbai’s airports. I am just glad to have a ticket to ride. Now I’ve got a rock n roll mantra happening…
“She’s got a ticket to Riiiiide And she don’t care!”
Santa Cruz Domestic Airport. Mumbai India 2:30am 2/8/11

– YogiPod posting with iPhone

Location:Mumbai