Travel Day(s) #8 (7/29/12 – 7/31/12) – South Africa to India
Well, once again I can report that we have safely arrived at our destination and at this point we are all getting pretty good at this travel thing. The key to happy travel on the World Race is remaining flexible and open to whatever may come AND taking full advantage of long layovers when we actually arrive on time and don’t have to run to a connection . . . finally had that opportunity this time! We had a test of remaining flexible and open this time since we didn’t know who we were meeting from our flight in Hyderabad or where we were going from there until we arrived . . . but it all worked out just fine and added a little adventure to the trip. All in all it was another good travel experience and I’m psyched to be on a new continent for the next 4 months. I have included the usual recap below for your enjoyment . . .
Sunday, 7/29/2012
7:00am – Wake up & eat & put final stuff in pack
7:40am – 4 vans with a trailer arrive and loading commences
8:14am – Pile onto the vans
8:27am – Vans pull away from the property
9:05am – Arrive @ airport and unload bags
9:35am – Check-in & Check bags
**Shopping, eating, & goodbyes to “Exposure” members heading back to USA
12:40pm – Meet up with the squad at the gate
1:04pm – Board plane (Emirates)
1:43pm – Flight takes off (just over 9 hour flight; time changes moves us 2 hrs. ahead inflight)
Monday, 7/30/2012
12:50am – Plane lands in Dubai
1:03am –Deplane and ride tram to terminal
***SO HOT! 100 degrees @ this time of night & CRAZY HUMID!!!!
1:32am – Arrive @ gate
**Time to explore and have BURGER KING (first time since USA)!!!!
3:25am – Board flight to Mumbai, India (Emirates)
4:18am – Flight takes off (2.5 hour flight time; time change moves us 1.5 hrs. ahead inflight)
8:34am – Plane lands in Mumbai, India
8:55am – Deplane and get into the customs line
9:33am – Successfully make it through customs
9:38am – retrieve bag from baggage claim
9:51am – Arrive @ check-in waiting area for domestic flights
11:07am – Check-in & Check bag
11:32am – Take a bus over to the domestic boarding terminal
11:55am – Arrive @ terminal and proceed through security without incident
**LAYOVER free time — eating; internet; shops; and special massage treats for some 
6:00pm – Meet up @ gate for boarding (minus 1 team that stayed in Mumbai; 28 continue on)
6:13pm – Board plane for Hyderabad, India (Air India)
6:53pm – Plane takes off
7:59pm – Plane lands in Hyderabad, India
8:09pm – Deplane and head to baggage claim
8:42pm – Packs arrive at baggage claim (slight concern since bags didn’t come off of the belt . . . but then were brought to us and all were accounted for)
***Meanwhile, find Raju (who has a sign for world Race) who gives us a price, puts us on a bus, and tells us that we will be “there” in the morning. Only on the World Race is this all the explanation that you need to just load up and go!
9:24pm – Load persons & packs on the bus
9:38pm – Bus pulls away from the airport
Tuesday 7/31/2012
1:04am – Quick potty break (on side of the road)
2:57am – Driver’s potty break (on side of the road)
3:56am – Stop for gas
4:24am – Driver pulls over to confirm directions
4:40am – Arrive and take packs down a dirt road/alley to a church building
5:20am – Lay down on a couch for the night
***Two of the teams moved on from this location the following day, but this church building in Southeast India was the final destination for mine and 2 other teams. There are 15 of us living together this month and serving in this area. One team is doing evangelism in the area. My group is working with homes for abandoned special needs children. Please keep all of us in your prayers and I will blog soon to provide an update on my experiences here.
