Since our flight was in the morning, we're at the massive glass and aluminium complex that's Singapore's Changi airport fairly well in time. The jovial and much informed Rice, our 'saarthi', gave us a continuous commentary on the various landmarks that we're zipping past as he guided his maxicab effortlessly, through the morning's traffic.
On reaching our checking in point, much to our dismay, we're told that our flight was delayed by over two hours. And it looked so conspiratorial - to me at least - that it was only this one, single flight among the many that were, according to their terminology, 'retimed'! What was bothering me was that if we're to miss our connecting flight from Colombo, we'd have had to stay another extra day at the Sri Lankan capital for no rhyme or reason! And, in my case, the clothes that I was carrying catered for the day and nothing more was left, which coming to think of it was actually not much of an issue as one could easily pick up the desired 'change' from any of the markets that came by!!
The consequential advantage was that the airline had sponsored our breakfast and we'd additional time to do some window shopping!!!
But I'll never forget Rice's words as he bade us good bye and I quote, "Come back soon, sir. Perhaps, by December?". I dunno whether he really meant that but the reality is that one cannot be extravagant to be visiting Singapore every quarter, just for fun! But jokes apart, it's these minor bits of conversation by these 'service providers' that make them so adorable - wonder whether our cabbies mete out the same courtesies to the visiting foreigners? Perhaps, they do too!
The transit was uneventful but nice, underscored by the excellent Sri Lankan hospitality on order! I happened to watch a nice French movie(hope my French is correct!?) - 'Amiticus Sinceres' meaning 'True Friends' - that panned the strong bonds of friendship between three guys, all in their late 50s. The turbulence that come in the relationship when the daughter of Jacques - one of the three friends and the pivotal character - falls for another among them forms the central theme!
We're at Kochi and in our homes by tea time which brought the curtains down on an essentially short but nice trip!
Tailpiece.
Was back on my customary evening walk and felt tremendously happy to be back amid familiar surroundings! Of course, backed up with a host of pleasant memories of a 'glitchless' journey!!
On reaching our checking in point, much to our dismay, we're told that our flight was delayed by over two hours. And it looked so conspiratorial - to me at least - that it was only this one, single flight among the many that were, according to their terminology, 'retimed'! What was bothering me was that if we're to miss our connecting flight from Colombo, we'd have had to stay another extra day at the Sri Lankan capital for no rhyme or reason! And, in my case, the clothes that I was carrying catered for the day and nothing more was left, which coming to think of it was actually not much of an issue as one could easily pick up the desired 'change' from any of the markets that came by!!
The consequential advantage was that the airline had sponsored our breakfast and we'd additional time to do some window shopping!!!
But I'll never forget Rice's words as he bade us good bye and I quote, "Come back soon, sir. Perhaps, by December?". I dunno whether he really meant that but the reality is that one cannot be extravagant to be visiting Singapore every quarter, just for fun! But jokes apart, it's these minor bits of conversation by these 'service providers' that make them so adorable - wonder whether our cabbies mete out the same courtesies to the visiting foreigners? Perhaps, they do too!
The transit was uneventful but nice, underscored by the excellent Sri Lankan hospitality on order! I happened to watch a nice French movie(hope my French is correct!?) - 'Amiticus Sinceres' meaning 'True Friends' - that panned the strong bonds of friendship between three guys, all in their late 50s. The turbulence that come in the relationship when the daughter of Jacques - one of the three friends and the pivotal character - falls for another among them forms the central theme!
We're at Kochi and in our homes by tea time which brought the curtains down on an essentially short but nice trip!
Tailpiece.
Was back on my customary evening walk and felt tremendously happy to be back amid familiar surroundings! Of course, backed up with a host of pleasant memories of a 'glitchless' journey!!
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