OUR USA TRIP : 10th APRIL 2008

We boarded Paschim express from Vadodara on 8th morning but got two difference seats, some how we managed the baggage and reached Bandra terminus at 3.10 pm .Bandra terminus has 2 cloak rooms , we kept all our luggaage and took a taxi to Babul Nath temple , which took around 1 hr to reach the destination. I had a long cherished memories of the past and so took photographs of the marble plaque which depicts a sliver vessels donated by my father Hiralal Bhagwanlal Buch before 85 years to Laxmi narayan temple in the presinct of the Babulnath temple, near Chowpatty, Bombay, took rest for half an hour, made Darshan of the Mahadevji and came down to Chowpatty to have a glimpse of the sea.
Since traffic is a problem in Bombay now, we need to return to Bandra to reach airport in time.We therefore took 80 Ltd bus from Babul nath and reached Bandra station after almost 1 hr 45 minutes. Took our luggage , took a taxi to Airport which again took 1 hr to reach airport. There was a commotion at the entry gates and it looked like some mela or a mad rush for free ration or free distribution of dhabla. It was extremely difficult to enter in the airport premises with so many luggage, but some how we managed it .
We thereafter took our dinner given by Potas and went for the x ray check up.Cathay pacific already has started the check in and since we were quite early, the person on the desk was helpful, we got the seats of our choice with 2 seats raw from Bombay -Hongkong and 3 seat raw from HK to SFO. Bombay airpot is now some what better with carpets on floor and good finish on the wall. The best thing of Bombay airport is its bed type sofa, which gives lots of comfort and good sleep This we have not seen anywhere. We took some rest and went in for security check. On annoucement of boarding, we went inside the plane. Normally dinner is served immediately after we are in the air, but they took some time, skipped the dinner and instead served breakfast at around 4.30 am. BF was really good contaning one small masala dosa , upama, sambhar,coconut chutney, soya raita , plus as usual, bun,butter ,jam , fruit tea coffee juices ,etc.
We landed at Honkong airport at our 8.00 am, when local time was 10.30. HK aiprot is excellent.What I have seen with our airport consturction is that our airports are huge monolithic RCC structure, with huge columns , beams and thick heavy walls giving a feeling of we being prinsoners and not travellers , where as what I have seen with other airports like Bangkok, Seoul, Kaula Lumpur, and HK is different. HK airport has 80 gates, compared to our 3 gates. It has a huge glass panels of 40 feet high , 20 feet wide on both the side of waiting hall giving us full view of runways, planes landing and taking off and hills sorrouiding the airport .(Photos attached ) it has a scenic panaromic view . Ceiling of airport is of plastic moulding giving full lights and ambience of an international airport. apart from ALL the modern facilites it has excllent service for the passengers. Unfortunately we were not served any beverages before landing and we ALL indians have habits of having morning tea , so all the fellow pasengeers were inquiring about how to get the indian type tea. I tried to find with one chinese reatuarant but it showed some$ 9.50 for cup of tea which was too exhorbitant, but ultimately after moving a lot I could find indian type tea a big cup for $ 2.70. We took some home made khari puri along with tea .
We boarded the plane for SFO at our 12.30 pm, when local time was 3.00 pm. first they served peanuts and juices, then they served lunch after 2 hrs which contained Nan,vegetables of flower and another palak paneer, Tuver dal , kakkdi nu kachumber, , rasgulla, pickle etc.food was very tasty and truly indian. Then lights were dimmed as our this flight was to take 12 hrs of continued flight,so we took rest for almost 10 hrs, during which we were served tea, coffee,juices, cookies, cup noodles etc. Then full lights were again made on and were served again a break fast of vada, idli smabhar, nan, dal , keri no ras etc.We had an individual TV with some 12 channels as also 6 music system channell . Hindi movie was shown during BOM- HK sector .
Our 3rd co passenger was Indonesian chinki (chinese woman ) who was seiying in Taipie and was going to meet her daughter in Houston.She was extremly mixing and from the start became friend of Tarla . she learned from us lots of Gujarati words and taught us chinese ( mandarin ) words to us. We taught her, " jamvu chhe, bhojan, kem chho, namaste suprabhat, dada, dadi, nana, nani etc.
We were taught :
Jamvu chhe -----maka nasi
kem chho ---Aapa tabhar
Kyan jav cho ---Nim havrand
Dada ---ye ye
dadi -nai nai
Nana ---kung kung
Nani --po po
Abhar --Tari maka kiri
abhar ---se se
Cninese (mandarin ) language has also has k kh g gh ch chh j jsh just like our barakhadi.
We reached SFO after 12 hrs continuious grueling journey , and ran for immigration process. We were asked routine questions of why have we come and how long wanted to stay and who relative are here , who will support you in case of illness.
We then proceeded towards baggage claim which took around 20/25 minutest come. After l;oading our baggages on troley we proceeded towards Agriculture deptt's check up. Previously our baggage was never checked up for any plants, fruits, vegetables, masalas etc. but now they have become strict and as soon as they see any indian, they are being sent for jeera or any other above mentioned stuff. fortunately we did not carry such stuff and so after opening only one beg, we were asked to go.
Nimish was waiting out side for us. since he had come directly from office Lopa and Lipi were waiting at home to receive us.( photo attached.)
We settled down after tea, snacks and as usual all the begs were opened.
niranjan buch