After buying chocolates, we headed to the Travelers' Lounge to grab a bite. Thankfully, again over here our HDFC Bank credit cards gave a complimentary access. The lounge was teeming with passengers, unlike a few days back when the lounge was empty. An area of the lounge was cordoned off for El Al passengers who were to depart for Tel Aviv an hour or so before our flight was to depart for Mumbai. The legendary El Al security was on show and I suspect they El Al passengers were being served Kosher food in the lounge.
As for me, today, traditional fish ball soup was Kosher for me! By now, after a week in China, I had mastered the art of slurping up noodles with chopsticks! Certainly, it is true when they say that you are defined by where you travel and what you experience! You are only limited by how open you are to new and varied experiences.....
After filling our tummies, we had cups of Chinese green tea with lime. Then Neeti went off to sleep, indeed we were sleep deprived, but there was no chance for me to doze off.... I moved around the terminal plane spotting....
The lounge also had complimentary internet access and after quite a few days, I had unhindered access to Facebook and Twitter.... That was therapeutic! Clearly we had crossed the Great Fire Wall!!!!!
After two hours in the lounge, it was time to board our flight back to Mumbai. As we boarded lovely compositions by Kevin Kendle - Red Admiral and Cosmic Traveller by Gandalf were playing.... I fell in love with both these compositions and surely these compositions will ring in my mind for a long long time....
Even after boarding, I still got wonderful opportunities at plane spotting. There was a KLM Boeing 747-400 right behind us as we were pushed back! KLM always looks resplendent in blue in the afternoon sun....
We took off from Runway 25L-07R, which is 3800 meters long.
Delhi's Runway 29-11 is longer than this, at 4430 meters, which is incidentally the longest in Asia....
As we settled in for 5+ hour flight, we switched on the IFE system. Oth Neeti and I watched the Barbara Streisand starer The Guilt Trip, which we enjoyed.
And then at around 9.15PM we landed. As we deplaned Neeti and I thanked the stewardess, who had served us, with a xie xie.... and she gave us a big smile...
After a smooth immigration and customs clearance, now we are headed back home.... A wonderful trip to the Middle Kingdom had come to an end. Clearly we got more than what we expected to get in terms of experiences, beautiful sights and wonderful people.... But now its back to heat and grime of Mumbai..., a city we call home!
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