My Himalayan Trekking Adventure: India, here I come

It is Saturday, May 3, 2014. I am in good spirits. My backpack is packed to the max, my hiking boots are on, and my passport is handy. It is a sunny day inside and out. I have been anticipating this moment for a long time. My co-worker and her husband offer to take me to the airport. I do not resist the idea too much. They send me off with hugs and best wishes, and I am grateful.

I am checking in with Air India at the Chicago O’Hare Airport for my direct flight to Delhi. I am a minority on this flight and I stand out in my trekking gear. My pack weighs exactly 10 kg on the scale. I am satisfied that it is the weight I’ve been aiming for.

The flight leaves on time. It will be 15 hours long, but it is nothing. I can’t wait to land in India. I feel most nervous during take-off, so I close my eyes until we are in the clouds. I feel surreal on this journey. Veg or non-veg, the flight attendant asks. Veg, for me.

I enjoy the airline food, surprisingly. The seats – not so much. It is as if all the cushioning had been removed, maybe to lighten the load, I think to myself. I have a window seat, and I feel a bit trapped. A young married couple shares the row with me. They are from Wisconsin, traveling back to visit their family. I sleep through much of the flight.

The movie selection is abundant, and I get to watch a movie which is yet another source of inspiration for me. The movie is “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” or “Run Milkha Run.” It is based on a true story of an Indian athlete, Milkha Singh, who overcomes many obstacles and becomes a national champion runner and an Olympian. I take a deep breath and exhale. We are landing soon.

I arrive in Delhi on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at approximately 3:00 p.m., but I am not there yet. I have an 18 hour layover until my next flight to Bagdogra. The flight leaves the next day, on Monday morning. I do not venture out of the airport. I spend the night at one of the airport lounges at the Delhi Airport in a small private room with a shower. I have Wi-Fi, yes! But there isn’t much to do except to wash up, rest, and sleep.

I wake up at 6:00 in the morning and walk over to a coffee shop on the other side of the airport for a cup of coffee and pastry. This side of the airport is deserted. On the way, I stop at one of the ATMs and test out my bank card. Relief, it works! The young man at the coffee shop is eager to strike up a conversation. It is just me and him, and a few army men with shot guns patrolling this side of the airport.

The young man tells me about his double shifts and meager pay. The disparity becomes even more apparent when I pay much less for the coffee than I would in the States. To top this, it is still a good deal for me even though this coffee shop charges twice as much as one off airport premises would. I return to my room, pack up, check out, and walk over to the domestic side of the Delhi airport.

My flight is on time and I am early. I stroll across the terminal to admire a bronze statue of a baby elephant and its mama welcoming visitors to Delhi. It is busy here in domestic departures with people lining up to clear the security checkpoint. Women get patted down in a private area by female security guards, but I do not see many lone women travelers here, or foreigners for that matter. I see many businessmen with laptops and some families with children. Now, I am just a couple of hours away from meeting my trekking mates in Bagdogra/Siliguri.

Next: It's nice to meet you, Ravi.