Here in India we had one slogan with the other volunteers that could be applied on everything: Never Expect Anything. This country is so full of uncertainty that it's easier to be without any expectations in order to avoid unnecessary disappointments. During our travel with Mum we have took it easy, done the things that felt right in the moment and didn't have any "must do" or "must see"'s. And so far our travel had went without any complications or bigger problems. There was however one thing that I took for granted. One thing that I'd planned a long time and dreamed about many months. Our journey to the Lakshadweep islands. A little bit more exclusive and expensive journey, something special we wanted to do together now when mum came so far away to visit me. During my half year here I tried never to expect anything. But since we had booked the flights and the accommodations at the islands I thought that this thing would be certain. But of course, we had one more lesson to learn from our dear India. Never expect anything.
It went wrong already in the morning. The taxi didn't arrive because the man who we trusted to book it had somehow forgotten it. We took an other taxi a little bit later but arrived in good time at the airport. We had to wait for a while before the check in would open. We were happy and excited. But at the check in desk our smiles were wiped away when the guy asked for an entry permit to the islands. We showed all the payment receipts and bookings and flight tickets, but no. Without permission you're not going anywhere. I knew that, but the permit was supposed be included when you make the reservation for the islands. We were so angry and panicked. We had one day of bureaucratic hell in head of us.
We spent 7 hours at the airport fighting with Air India and the Lakshadweep tourism office. The flight for the next day was full but we could get the extra seats if we payed the double prize for the new tickets. We made many angry phone calls to the tourism office so that they switched of their phone in the end. They said that they never received any proof of payment even though we had sent them mails with all the required information. No one was taking any responsibility and it was all a big mess. Mum fought till the end, arguing with the officials and managers at the airport. I was totally lost. Just wanted to go home to Finland and quit this country where nothing works and where you never get any clear directions or answers from anyone. In the end we faced a problem with the airline company and the Lakshadweep Tourism office. The airline company needed the entry permit to book new flights for us and the Tourism office needed the new flight tickets to give us the permit. Talking about well arranged cooperation between these two.
We manage to book the new expensive flights and headed for the tourism office in Kochi. We hadn't eaten anything that day, but we survived on our adrenaline reserves. At the tourism office it came out that the problem was bigger than we had thought. They never really received the payment, not reading their emails properly wasn't the only problem. So we had booked new expensive flights to the islands but we had no accommodation booked or anything. My mum had the invoice of the payment but the tourism agents had never received the money... We started calling Mum's bank and finally someone answered back in Finland. They checked the necessary things and it came out that probably the money was never sent because of some security questions and arrangements that had to do with money transfer to India. So they were not fooling us at the office. Somehow we got it all managed at the there, we booked new accommodation for three days and gave them all the missing information. In the end, we were not totally innocent in the case, we should have checked things more carefully. But the agency should have contacted us. They had my contact details and they knew that we had booked flights to the islands. Why couldn't they call me and ask about the payment and the other things missing?
It is probably because of some problems with the small flights to the islands. Everyday there are locals waiting at the airport, hoping to get the left over seats from stupid tourists like us. There is only one flight per day and all the flights are fully booked for at least one month in the future. That is why they have the system with the entry permit. To get more free seats in the fully booked air-plains..or at least it's one of the reasons.
At the moment I'm again at the airport. And guess what? The flight is delayed and should part at 12.50 instead of 10.20. So we will miss a half day on the islands in addition to the day we missed yesterday. But never mind. Never expect anything. Maybe the flight will be cancelled after one hour, who knows. The thing is that we have learnt so many lessons again about India and its people and about how things are working here (or not working). Never take anything for granted. never expect anything.
It went wrong already in the morning. The taxi didn't arrive because the man who we trusted to book it had somehow forgotten it. We took an other taxi a little bit later but arrived in good time at the airport. We had to wait for a while before the check in would open. We were happy and excited. But at the check in desk our smiles were wiped away when the guy asked for an entry permit to the islands. We showed all the payment receipts and bookings and flight tickets, but no. Without permission you're not going anywhere. I knew that, but the permit was supposed be included when you make the reservation for the islands. We were so angry and panicked. We had one day of bureaucratic hell in head of us.
We spent 7 hours at the airport fighting with Air India and the Lakshadweep tourism office. The flight for the next day was full but we could get the extra seats if we payed the double prize for the new tickets. We made many angry phone calls to the tourism office so that they switched of their phone in the end. They said that they never received any proof of payment even though we had sent them mails with all the required information. No one was taking any responsibility and it was all a big mess. Mum fought till the end, arguing with the officials and managers at the airport. I was totally lost. Just wanted to go home to Finland and quit this country where nothing works and where you never get any clear directions or answers from anyone. In the end we faced a problem with the airline company and the Lakshadweep Tourism office. The airline company needed the entry permit to book new flights for us and the Tourism office needed the new flight tickets to give us the permit. Talking about well arranged cooperation between these two.
We manage to book the new expensive flights and headed for the tourism office in Kochi. We hadn't eaten anything that day, but we survived on our adrenaline reserves. At the tourism office it came out that the problem was bigger than we had thought. They never really received the payment, not reading their emails properly wasn't the only problem. So we had booked new expensive flights to the islands but we had no accommodation booked or anything. My mum had the invoice of the payment but the tourism agents had never received the money... We started calling Mum's bank and finally someone answered back in Finland. They checked the necessary things and it came out that probably the money was never sent because of some security questions and arrangements that had to do with money transfer to India. So they were not fooling us at the office. Somehow we got it all managed at the there, we booked new accommodation for three days and gave them all the missing information. In the end, we were not totally innocent in the case, we should have checked things more carefully. But the agency should have contacted us. They had my contact details and they knew that we had booked flights to the islands. Why couldn't they call me and ask about the payment and the other things missing?
It is probably because of some problems with the small flights to the islands. Everyday there are locals waiting at the airport, hoping to get the left over seats from stupid tourists like us. There is only one flight per day and all the flights are fully booked for at least one month in the future. That is why they have the system with the entry permit. To get more free seats in the fully booked air-plains..or at least it's one of the reasons.
At the moment I'm again at the airport. And guess what? The flight is delayed and should part at 12.50 instead of 10.20. So we will miss a half day on the islands in addition to the day we missed yesterday. But never mind. Never expect anything. Maybe the flight will be cancelled after one hour, who knows. The thing is that we have learnt so many lessons again about India and its people and about how things are working here (or not working). Never take anything for granted. never expect anything.
No jopas jotakin koettakaa jaksaa harmi, että tuo slougan kävi vieläkin toteen. Toivottavasti pääsitte kuitenkin sille saarellenne... ainakin olette olleet tosi sisukkaita!!! terkuin Kisu
VastaaPoista