An Indian Arrival : My first flight – Part 1
March 4th 2008 21:24
India : 1985 – 1988
For those of you who have been waiting for me to deliver on my promise to continue my extra ordinary adventure in India, thank you for your patience. They say that the past is a land as far away as any foreign country ... and indeed, it seems a lot further if the mood and travelling conditions are inclement. However, for a writer, the past is always a country to be revisited again and again - one way or the other - no matter the stormy distractions of daily life, and family.
For those of you just joining me on the extra ordinary journey through my memoirs, you may appreciate a ‘backgrounder’ on how I came to be on this plane in the first place? Click <<here>> and you can follow the series from there if you are interested. Otherwise this story – like all good true life tales – stands alone as a story of a few random, yet magical moments which make up the experience of my first solo domestic, and international flights and my first visit to India.
~oOo~
The red-eye shuttle they called it? How intriguing. I assumed it was because in order to catch it, you had to leave Canberra early... very early. In fact, it was still dark as the taxi pulled into my driveway, and only a watery semblance of mid-winter light, by the time we reached the Canberra airport terminal. Not a big airport to the frequent flyer, but a unique little satellite city to a first-timer like myself. Looking back, I realise I must have looked like Alice in Wonderland, my head swimming with all the do’s and don’ts of good advice from caring friends; whilst being assailed by all the new external do’s and don’ts, sights and sounds, smells and thrills flooding all six senses.
The computer screen advised me that the gods themselves were smiling on me and the winter frosts and fogs were not to stop this red-eye shuttle today, despite yesterday’s thermal down-draughts and commonplace delays. I thanked them and scanned for the ‘Departures’ sign, and then jiggled and jostled all the way to the clerk at the desk. I could hardly stand still with excitement. A quasi-comical figure, part woman, part child; fishing around for her papers in a money belt, carefully concealed under a mountain of clothing, scheduled for a 50-minute, domestic flight? In my defence your honour, the idea had been taken on good advice. I was to do a slow strip to Delhi as the equator got closer, but in the warmth of the airport’s micro-climate, it was the first piece of advice that would eventually prove to be most impractical and uncomfortable..
I finally hoisted my bulging suitcase onto the little conveyer belt and watched in horror as it was pulled away from me. All the stories of lost luggage screamed in my head and I had to make a concerted effort to make the noise stop. Not for me a calm little voice said over the irrational roar. Not for me. I said a prayer and handed the worry up to the angels to deal with, aware that they were much more adept at handling it than me... besides I didn’t think my karma had lost luggage on the agenda, as I had never stolen any.
The thought of karma made my heart leap and sing. I-N-D-I-A. I couldn’t believe it. I was really going there. Was I mad for doing so, on such a whim as this? Had all reason departed? What would have been gained by not accepting the offer? God I must be mad. I had left a steady job to start with ... I decided not to look back, and with three brig breathes in and out, re-positioned myself in the moment. The one place I knew from experience that could carry me faithfully to the only possible ‘real’ future within it’s seconds ... not the projected version of the future filled with all the emotional baggage from the past, but the real thing, here…live… and in my face. No ‘slow boat to China,’ but a flight to I-N-D-I-A.
The rest of the procedure (mechanical and unlike today’s electronic wizardry and terrorist refinement), finally had me processed and emerging from a corridor of blurring faces and helpful new instructors, with about 20 minutes to spare. I took out my book and re-read the first line, six times, before putting it back in my bag.
My attention had been diverted by the size of the plane standing outside the window, waiting for passengers; waiting for …me. So much bigger than when in the sky, and despite a very well developed understanding of the quantum physics of Drag, Lift and Thrust, I couldn’t get my head around the visuals of this huge thing getting off the ground at all. Truly a marvel of human ingenuity.
I was suddenly struck by the thought that for that type of 'thrust,' it would have to be travelling ‘very fast’ for this miracle of ‘alchemy’ to occur, and despite having been around the world once already, I doubted that cars, trains and ocean liners would compare to the thrill of take off in one of these babies!
I was of course absolutely right, and like a maiden of old, after her first night with her new husband; or the writer / composer who has finally finished his opus; or indeed the performer who successfully finishes a season of play nights ... a moment of absolute fear .... followed by ... sheer, bliss. That one take-off, and first glimpse of the clouds from heaven itself, had me absolutely hooked. I was sure I would never catch the train, drive, or float again, not if I could fly.
The gods again smiled with a cloud-show that left me breathless. With my nose pressed to the small window pane and my chin firmly fallen to the floor of the plane, I’m sure I never turned my head away once for the entire flight. This new world of billowing formlessness - only limited by imagination – was a vast kingdom where creatures from every realm, epoch and nation lurked, fed and flew. Landscapes both known and unknown, intangible forests, un-named trees and unnatural wonderlands, all reflected in great billowing clouds of pink and white; blue, grey and yellow .... Absolutely beautiful, and all caught in beams of the purest light and water magic… settling on my mind with unforgettable impressions.
Then I noticed the meandering rivers like veins running between the hills and mountain peaks below. The small farms of terra firma, with their patchwork boundaries and thinning gum trees, now all looking like stubble on a man’s face. The earth’s beautiful contours, undulating gracefully to the melody of weather, space and time.
By the time the plane had descended, I had used up an entire roll of 35mm film and was more than eager to travel directly to Sydney International Terminal, ready for the next ‘ride.’ That one little hours flight from Canberra had infected me like Malaria, with a fever so strong, it would re-visit me year after year, to this day.
But first things first.
I had promised my mother a few days visit. Something I did not much look forward to because since the divorce, a vast estrangement and many unresolved conflicts remained. Despite having left my father and I behind, to win her freedom, things were rarely good with my mother, especially when I was around. Quite frankly, the woman could talk the ears of a donkey, and not in a positive way either and never having flown herself, once again there was no common ground. She had me back down, writhing on the ground, quite quickly.
Sydney Airport, suddenly felt miles away … and even further, I-N-D-I-A which had altogether slunk behind the brute wall of my mother’s confusion and accusations. I fingered the ticket in my money belt to reassure myself that it was real and I was actually still going … in two days time.
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Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I am sorry to be so cruel, and I promise not to keep you waiting too long ..
I am glad you are enjoying the read ... it is lovely to have you back.
Lilla ...
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
We have been waiting for this one, fingers drumming and feet tapping.
Well worth the wait - I`m hooked once again!
I love this! What a wonderful way of expressing it.
Ug hope the two days FLEW by, I`m sure having that ticket in hand saved at least a little of your sanity!
Ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Thank you, I am thrilled that you are enjoying it as much as I am re-writing it.
Will try to post part two later today, if I get a minute to spare ???
Lilla ...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Like the tag. You look very contemplative indeed! Thanks for taking us on the journey. Your writing style always leaves me wanting more!
Mis
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Thank you for such wonderful compliments, on both counts. I am truly honoured and thrilled that you enjoy it. I think it is the type of compliment every writer really hopes to hear, that she can touch her audience in a very real way.
Fasten your seat belt, I look forward to you joining me for the rest of this flight... hard sometimes because I know the punchline, but recalling it all; certainly putting a smile on my face... made all the better, by having such good company along for the ride.
Lilla ...
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
So many similarities between us Lilla.....The first flight? Exactly like mine.....
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Good to know... you should write about it, I'd love to hear of your adventures... all the little details.
I hope you enjoy the rest... it gets better after I say goodbye to my Mum *chuckle* *wink*
Lilla ...