India > From Mumbai to Pune

When I wake up, the sun is already rising on the horizon. I have slept for a few hours. Through the screen and the camera outside the airplane, I see that the landing is already in progress. At 7:45 local time, the Airbus A380 touches down on the runway in Dubai. I arrive at Terminal A. I take the airport train to Terminal B. In the business lounge, I grab a croissant, coffee, and orange juice for breakfast. I don’t have much time. Within thirty minutes, I need to head to the gate to check in for my connecting flight. Although the flight to Mumbai is “only” operated with a Boeing B777-300, the business class seats here are also excellent. As I’m offered a drink, I recline my seat. This seat can also go practically flat. I decide to order only the chicken meal, skipping the full three-course dinner. Soon, I fall asleep again. I can’t sleep for very long—the flight is only three hours. When the plane reaches the Indian mainland, the captain announces that it is busy around Mumbai airport.

India - The abbreviation for Mumbai airport is somewhat unusual

We will have to circle for at least twenty minutes. Only one runway is temporarily available; the other is under maintenance. The captain mentions that this will bring us directly over Mumbai. Due to the exceptionally clear weather, the city is clearly visible—a rare sight, he says. The twenty minutes soon stretch longer. By the time the plane can finally land, we have been flying over the city for about an hour. I quickly pass through customs and pick up my suitcase from the baggage carousel. In the arrivals hall, the taxi driver has been waiting for nearly an hour and a half, holding a sign with my name. There are three taxis in total for the travel group, and we divide ourselves among the cars. The streets of Mumbai are crowded. As I look outside, typical Indian life unfolds before me. It’s Sunday and late afternoon, yet there is activity everywhere. The gap between rich and poor is striking. I see small children playing among piles of trash while luxury cars drive past. The taxi drivers try to stay together, which is difficult in this traffic. Everyone switches lanes constantly—or sometimes drives between lanes. Cars overtake on all three lanes toward Pune. It’s astonishing that so little goes wrong. I see very few cars with visible damage. Large buses also squeeze through the traffic. I am in awe of the drivers, who must know the exact dimensions of their vehicles to navigate here safely. Halfway through, we stop at a small parking area with several eateries. The drivers quickly order something to eat. I go in search of a restroom. I don’t eat here. A bit further in Lonavala, we stop at the Fariyas Resort. It is 6:30. The buffet doesn’t open until 7:30, so we decide to order from the day menu instead. This seems better than waiting. With a Kingfisher beer in hand, I enjoy my first meal in India: a sandwich. Outside, it has become completely dark. Too dark to see the nature park, waterfalls, or caves. We continue toward Pune. Now that it’s dark, other road users are not only honking but also signaling with lights to indicate we should move aside. Rajendra, my taxi driver, frequently switches to high beams. Exactly what he intends to achieve isn’t always clear—there is usually no space. Where the road climbs into the mountains, the heavy trucks struggle, moving agonizingly slowly uphill. Officially, the left lane is for them, but some trucks use the second or third lane, allowing them to keep climbing at their own pace. Other traffic weaves around them, even using the emergency lane. Fortunately, I reach Pune safely. Rajendra drops me off at the Infosys campus. My access pass is already ready at security, and my laptop is registered there as well. Check-in at the guesthouse goes smoothly. My luggage goes through the scanner, my arrival time is recorded, and I receive my room key. When I open my suitcase in the room, I discover that the shampoo bottle has leaked. All my T-shirts are covered. Luckily, the damage isn’t too bad. My suit remains clean.