The day of my flight I was well prepared and arrived in plenty of time at the Airport. The days before had taken a lot of work just to get the bike confirmed on the flights to Bombay, but with some perseverance I had managed it. The bad news was the 600e they wanted for the bike! I was 18kg over my limit and as Tallinn Airport had just opened a new wing the day I was flying, security checks were causing big delays.
I repacked my bags, moving 18kg into one of the panniers and took it on as hand luggage, the woman still wasnt convinced but she let me away with it, thank you check-in lady. The security check was interesting, everyone behind me was pretty pissed at me taking so long as I had to explain what all the strange bits of metal in my luggage were, pedals, hub spokes, springs pump etc. Thankfully they didnt spot the knives in my multi-tools which I had forgotten about in my panicked repack and they were more concerned about my emergency shower gel which was thankfully in a ziplock anyway.
With a stern warning I was through!
There were no further checks in Helsinki which I had spent the connecting flight to dreading and when I arrived tired and a little hung over in Bombay there was the bike in its undamaged box waiting for me at the belt!
I hadnt booked a hotel and it was obvious to me I was being screwed at the Airport Hotel booking desk but I was tired and just wanted to get all my gear to one place for the day. Getting to the taxi was a job in itself as I had the big box everyone wanted to help get me to the taxi, but I managed and had myself and the gear loaded , then waited 20min for the driver to turn up. He had no idea where I was going didnt speak much english and once we had agreed the address he took me straight there.
Halfway through the journey I opened one of the two beers I had from the flight and gave the second to the driver, I have never ever seen driving like this.
The Silver pearl Hotel was grubby unbearably noisy, but the staff friendly. I checked in and sorted out accommodation for the rest of my stay, the Welcome Hotel which isnt bad. Then after a rest, I had a great meal for less than 2e and returned to the hotel early to be entertained during the night by a fight, power cut and police visit.
Bombay is a fantastic mix with tourists brushing past movie stars, brushing past the poorest beggars with the most beautiful faces. The noise is too much without some escape and I hope to do that tomorrow, my stomach has put the brakes on me leaving before now, so a couple of antibiotics later Im feeling much better and hope it will have cleared by tomorrow.
Actualy I wasnt feeling that bad on the second day, just unable to leave the proximity of the amenities.
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