Tag: Mumbai

My Mumbai Visit: The stay and the returning flight

So, finally the journey got the end today. Three days and only a little more than 48 hours in hand practically, I was in no mood to do anything official and went for entertaining my sis and her friends only.

The first night was in the name of movie in a nearby newly made Mall called BroadWay, which allowed us to return back to home by 11:00 PM or later and then in next morning, we were planned to Essel World as it was my sis’s best friend’s dream wish from Santa Claz and here I was to play the role of Santa šŸ˜‰

Something about Essel World as per their official website

This is Mumbai’s only international-style theme park and amusement centre situated close to Gorai Beach. Special ferries get you across to the park and the entrance fee normally takes care of a fixed number of rides. These include the standard roller coaster and adventure themes, plus a water world section where kids can literally run amok. Summer is usually crowded, but the place also offers low budget monsoon packages and special deals on weekends. Check these out before you go.

For more information, visit their web-site at http://www.esselworld.com

Although there is mention of low budget packages, but I must tell you, like any other Theme park, the place is nowhere cheaper. Rs. 480/- INR per head for Essel World on weekends and in normal days Rs. 350/- INR, its sure not the place to go, if you just wished to visit the same all of a sudden. You should be well prepared and planned about the same, if you want to get full value for your money. Unfortunately, the same was not our case. It was planned but I was not familiar with the place and things, so we reached there by 12:00 AM or later, I guess and only then our day started with Essel World, which ideally should have been started by 10:00 AM and only then we were able to take all the rides and lots of fun. Anyway, we did our share of fun for sure.

First, we were needed to reach Boriwali Station and then to take Auto from there to reach Gorai Beach, I guess. Then a boat costing 35/- each was here to provide a round trip to Essel world. The ride on boat is costs around 30 mins, if I remember right, but the water there is just a mess I should say, very polluted and sure a must see for the authorities there. One should do something about it.

After reaching on other side, first we went for some early snapping and then in small queue of tickets as we were already late. We finally entered in Essel World by 12:00 PM. There were also combined tickets for Essel World and Water Kingdom and in cheaper prices means 680/- for both, but if you look intelligently, then it’s nowhere a cheaper option as in no way, you could enjoy even one in single day and you are thinking about two,… no way.

Anyway, few Roller Coaster rides and some vertical rides, it was sure fun to hang up in air with yours heads down. The name of the event was “Thunder”. I have made a full video of the same, which I will upload sometime later.


We also enjoyed Hunted Hotel and some Mirror World. Although Hunted Hotel was quite a let-down, but anyway, we were out to enjoy and left the place only when it was closed only and then returned back to home by 11:00 PM. No!! No!! It didn’t took that much time to reach our way, but we were to drop of the friend at her place and then it took a while there to convince her dad for next day visit to Jeevdayini Temple. It didn’t took harder and he was easily agreed.

For the same visit, one more friend of my sis was to be joined as she missed Essel World, but this visit was planned from long at her wish. Anyway, got a call from their side in early morning from their side to wake us up and then we left the home by 8:00 AM this time. More than 1000 steps of stairs and then it was Jeevdayini Temple. Look like it’s been a tradition to visit the same i my each Mumbai visit as I visited the same place both the times, I visited earlier. We came back from the same place by 2 PM.

A little rest and conversations with relatives and then I was off to Airport.

The return flight details:

The return flight was booked as per cheapest option provided according to my date\time schedules and the same was again a GoAir. Got a message from their side on 27th December that my flight is delayed and now expected to depart at 9:50 PM in place of earlier schedule of 8:20 PM due to some unavoidable reasons. Such a delay was preferable for me in a way, but I am not sure that every passenger might like such delays, neither do I, if it was something important. The flight was GoAir G8-375: Mumbai-Delhi. Our Car took around one and half hour to reach there. Don’t know how much distance exactly was in between. It was a trip from Vasai to Santacruz Domestic Airport. I left the place by 6:00 PM and reached by 7:30 PM means much before time and then it was a long wait for me.

Although that technically sounding long wait, didn’t seem to be much longer for me. I was online and got one of my colleague online, who was telling me the procedure to avail the WiFi available at Airports and a few other things, which kept me busy and when the time got an end, I didn’t got to know. It was such shortened in a way that I forgot that I should disconnect my cell from my Laptop and should put it on the available charging point there. Although it was again not an issue as I forgot my earphones into the luggage on board. šŸ˜‰

Anyway, later on, I found this flight a way quicker than the last one. The flight was on time at this occasion, I mean with newly scheduled one. Although I mismanaged it a bit by not leaving my internet connection before time, which left my cell sufficiently discharged, just when the announcement to board on the same started at 9:30 PM. Anyway, the proceedings were quicker than the last time and were in exact way, one expects. Within 15 mins of our reaching to Jet, we were in Air, I guess.

This time my choice was a Window Seat, although was not that fruitful in night, but its sure a view to see Mumbai from top of it. So many lights scattered all over really make out some view. Although I was tired enough due to continuous rides and was wishing to fall asleep, but that was not favourable to me in a way as just two hours were not enough.

All the staff at flight was male this time. I don’t remember that what was the case, when I visited last time or its been practice to keep girls away from night flight or not? But it might be the directive from Government for not keeping the female staff working after 8:00 PM. Anyway, I am not kind-of missing them…. šŸ˜‰ I given up the rest of the time to my sleep and when got woke up, then I was at New Delhi Airport by 11:50 PM, I guess. Quicker luggage recovery as well this time and then back to home.

So, this was the journey. I talk too much na…

Advertisement

My flight to Mumbai-The journey

Finally it was much awaited journey for my side, as even after lots of planning many times in past, I was not able to visit Mumbai to meet my cutie pie sis and relatives. I guess only two visits in last three years. I am really a rare visitor for them.

Lots of friends there, my classmates, my buddies, my colleagues, but like last times, I don’t know that whether even this time, I would be able to visit any of them. Although earlier it was planned that I will go to my friend Amit first and then will stay and meet others from there, but now as sis wants me to be with her, so …..

The flight is Go Air 373 ā€“ Delhi-to-Mumbai and the timings were 10:00 AM-12:10 PM. A bit slower than last times, when the travel was taking only 1 hour and 45 mins. As I read in newspapers, it was subjected to reach there before two hours of boarding, so I decided to wake up early to take safer side. My sweety friend helped me out in waking up and later after little things, I was ready to leave room by 6:20, I guess. I was keeping two hours in my hands to reach out Airport, but it came out to be a surprise to me as without traffic, it took only a matter of 35 mins. Yeah!! One of the reason was Driver’s jumping red lights, which was truly unnecessary for me.

After reaching Delhi Domestic Airport, my fear was “Should I let go the laptop under X-ray or not?” As I earlier heard that one should avoid that. But I guess, Airport authorities always get all the goods checked, so I didn’t tried to resist the same. I was told that I have came early and the counter for my flight will obviously open by 8:00 AM. I said I don’t mind waiting at the lounge. Taken a sip of coffee and taken a sit to open my Lappy to post this early one to avoid boredom. Tried to search WLAN by my Nokia N82 first, but was able to find only two IndigoDelhi and some other of Jet, I guess. But both of them were protected network and I don’t really know that whether do they provide the same to their visitors for free or not?

Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā 
Ā 

Continued …..

Ok! So, by now I am done with security checks. It was a long queue of 40-50 people at least. Now days, they ask for even your jackets off and Laptop out of bag. Heard announcement from SpiceJet side that they even need that passenger should identify their luggage before taking the flight, otherwise, it won’t be allowed due to security reasons. Don’t know whether these security reasons are new or just as were older. I visited in summer most of the time and earlier Laptop wasn’t with me, so don’t really know about this Laptop/ Jacket thing.

Anyway, my flight is on 10:00 AM, as I wrote earlier and I think at 9:30 AM, we will be allowed to take the cab from here.

The trip continued. Cab left me on board in time, but there was unexpected delays in take off for don’t know what reasons. At earlier times, when it was AirDeccan both the times, I remember there were no delays. This time, I guess the reasons behind the late were the late passenger than any technical glitch. Anyway, it went late by half an hour, I guess. Later it was announced as apology for the delay and also was told that it would take one hour and fifty mins more to reach at my destination Mumbai.

Although I am not aware of neither they prefer to tell, but there were some after flight issues, I guess as it took really a lot of time, when official instruction to open the seat belt were issued. Anyway, I found GoAir equally comfortable as AirDeccan was used to be and was also impressed with their business class fare, which they mention in their booklet with comparison with other flight services. Around 5k INR for Business seat @flight from Delhi-Mumbai is not that big deal I guess, when others might be offering the same @15k INR or more.

I was little bit annoyed with one person sitting behind me using cellfone, when it is already prohibited using any radio device in flight. (Although technically I know that technical the radio frequencies of cellfones don’t match with that of flight operating frequencies and these instructions are traditional cautious measures only).

Later on, I kept on using my cell for Music (in offline mode of course) and taken out my Laptop for typing all this as was getting bored after being done with magazines provided on seat. Taken sips of coffee and was waiting to get this flight reach to destination, where my little sis must be waiting for me on Airport.

One thing, I personally want to add about the flights. I always feel it scary the way luggage get taken care of. I mean you get a slip of your luggage, that’s ok, but when the luggage come on open trolley, then there is no check over it that who is taking whose luggage. Moreover, sometimes, one takes time to reach on the right trolley.

AnywayĀ , finally flight ended by 12:25 PM (15 mins late than its schedule) means they made it up for the delay 45 mins. I was writing something over my lappy, when it was told that now you all should fasten your seat belts as the flight is going to land in Mumbai within minutes.

Later, it was almost 15 mins or more longer wait for the luggage. Passengers reach on Airport immediately and it takes time in case of luggage to get carried into a trolley and then on the wheels. Anyway, I got the same and then moved out. Choti and Mama were there to wait for me on Airport and after that it was a long long journey (credit goes to Mumbai traffic) to home, where I really by 3:00 PM finally.

So, this was my trip.