Hooray for Jet Airways!

Ft. Kochi – Day 1

We fly from Ahmedabad to Kochi, via Mumbai.  As we land in Mumbai, we’re stunned by two things:  the air is utterly filthy - polluted doesn’t begin to describe what it looks like - and there, right next to the jet path is a slum!  What looks like home to probably 5-10,000 people living under the ever-present poverty quilt of ratty white and blue tarps.  It’s butt up against the runway, I could actually see people walking around in this airport slum – I couldn’t believe it.

Amazing experience with Jet Airways.  A big hooray for this carrier.  Our flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai was delayed, and we both decided there was no way we were going to make the connecting flight to Kochi.  As soon as we landed, we heard an announcement: ‘All passengers for the flight to Kochi, please wait in the jetway after you deplane.’  There were 10 of us.  The attendant collected our boarding passes, checked them against a manifest, returned the boarding passes, and then led us down a stairway into a waiting bus on the tarmac.  We never set foot inside the terminal. The bus took us to the Kochi plane which took off as soon as we were seated! 

The best part – our luggage got on the plane with us!  (Note – we almost never check bags but Indian flights we’ve been on have had a free checked baggage policy along with a 5kg weight limit for carry-ons.)   We were absolutely amazed! 

Our car and driver were waiting (I’m really getting to like this ‘car and driver’ idea!) – it’s about a 60” drive to Ft. Kochi, and fortunately, this driver has not had the horn surgically implanted in his palm – hooray!  We arrive at Saj Homestay, a highly-rated TA (Trip Advisor) property and Saj is another whirling dervish of energy and enthusiasm.   Very, very nice room.  All the goodies, including individual bedside reading lights, A/C, cable tv, and fast internet service.  Ahhh . . .

Some  photos of the iconic Chinese fishing nets of Ft. Kochi.