My First Overseas travel

I have been fortunate (or unfortunate) to have many abroad trips in my career of 11 years. I visited 8 odd countries in this tenure the shortest visit is of 2 days and longest is being 1 yr stay.

Every time I travel it’s memorable journey to me and my parents too…..

It all started in yr 2000 with my first trip to Finland. One of my colleagues refused to go there and suddenly it came to me. At that time Finland visa is a separate thing than the Schengen Visa,
I went to Mumbai and got the Finland Visa. I was supposed to travel to Uk from there so got UK visa too.

Since I was working for FIN AIR, the ticket was free. But as they were having flights operated from Dubai , they were going to manage Dubai-Helsinki ticket and Mumbai-Dubai was arranged by my company. Till this time it was all well. As it was my first Air travel we arranged a cab to go to Airport along with all my parents. It was fun. We lost the road to airport and finally we reached there.
Now The Basic part – I was not having ticket for my next travel i.e. for Dubai-Helsinki.
I was suppose to get my ticket in Dubai by co-pilot of FIN AIR J, It was exiting, to travel without ticket , isn’t it ?
With the help of one of my uncle I managed to convince Airport authority that I am getting ticket at Dubai airport, so they allowed me to check in my baggage thru Helsinki. Hussh,, so far so ok I’ll not say good).
Then I boarded Emerits flight in the noon around 4 PM. It was first Flight experience , amazing , I was nerves. Filling very bad as flying alone, not with wife,
What she will be thinking ?
How am going to manage my assignment?
What will happen to my next journey?
What if I didn’t get next ticket, my baggage is already gone …

I landed Dubai around 8 PM (6 PM IST). My next flight was in next morning 6 AM. So what to do?
Relax – how? Where I should be getting my ticket …
I enquired and took some Dirham coins and made one call to the person who is suppose to guide me about my next ticket. He said – OK, You reached , fine, you will get the ticket tomorrow morning , since that co-pilot is not came here, He will come by next flight from Helsinki and will bring the ticket. OK
Then I just stretched my legs and relaxed in on chair. After 1 hour or so I was feeling sleepy. One lady came to me (She was so beautiful) , she asked
How r u
Fine
Are you confirmable here
Umm, Yes
Do you need more comfort, when is your next flight
Yes, tomorrow morning
Don’t you think you should be relaxed – ( Hey.. what she is asking ,, where she is heading)
Umm, yes, how can I do that (finally I asked boldly)
OK, follow me, there is a private lounge and you can get it by 17$ only, You will get breakfast, and net access and nice bed to sleep (Nothing else J)

Ohh, now I got that , I said ok, lets try , as my company is going to reimburse me ….

I went to the lounge and find it’s worth paying 17$. They gave me nice breakfast and I access net and sent mail to my wife and friends.

Till this time I had no thoughts about the ticket,…. I went to sleep … Suddenly around 4 in the morning I woke up, wondering how can I get the ticket, shall I call that person again. But it’s 4 in the night , will he pick the phone, I packed up and asked one buddy to help me, He said he has no idea, Go to the enquiry counter –
Ok, I took my hand baggage and ran to enquiry counter, it was closed, where is the other one
At other end – I ran there , since it’s already 4.20 in the morning (My flight was at 6 AM),
I enquired at the counter – She said no idea, you can call from here if you want. I was about to call that person, suddenly I heard some announcement
“Page for Mr. Sachin Pandit., Please contact desk E” (in 3 languages English, Hindi, Arabic )
Ohh, there is something for me.. great . where is the desk E , uff its on 2nd floor,
How to go there ?
“ Go to other end and there is a elevator”
Fine – I have to go
I ran there and reached counter E. No one was on the counter..

Hello, Knock, Knock,, Any body home …

One person appeared from behind.
Yes
I heard an announcement to contact counter “E”
Relly
Yes,I am sachin and I need to get my tickets for my next flight
Ohh, No I don’t have any information about you, sorry It may be counter “A”
X$%&@!@
Sorry,
Where is counter A.
Ok- go straight there is an elevator, go down and go to other end…
X@##S%&&@,, I came from there only,
But no option I had to go.
I reached there and the lady guided me thru one door,
I passed that and they asked me to ride the bus, My flight was at the another (old) airport.
It was 5.45 in the clock. Ohh my goodness.
Husssshhh, Finally I reached at the Check in Counter of Fin Air
I gave them my passport and .. where is the boarding pass ?
It’s with you only.
With us, r u mad ?
Hello, excuce me , I explained the whole story, and suddenly one person came there holding tickets for me, from inside ,
Great ---- Finally I got it and ….. What a relief … Ohh …. Really this is called the relief

(I was not aware at that time .. This is just a beginning .. many more to come … )