Day 0: Destination Toulouse

24th March 2011
Bangalore

The euphoria of my first journey abroad kicked in to all my nerves. Not that it was not there before when I heard about my travel, but only that this is the "D-day". All bags packed and somehow I had the feeling that due to this, there was every possibility of forgetting things necessary for mundane activities. To ensure things were right, triple checked all things that were packed.

I had a good bath and went out for dinner, just then received an SMS that the Meru cab had arrived to pick up for the airport. I called the Meru cab driver from the SMS I received earlier and to my astonishment, he was still finding his way to my new abode. Lucky that my room-mate guided the driver to my residence. Allz well and picked my co-traveler cum colleague.

It took an hour to reach the airport. We quickly weighed our bags to check for any extra luggage weight as Air France allowed only 23kgs of check-in baggage. Our third traveler had arrived after the said "30 mins" - was actually over an hour.

Next step was the routine check-in and issue of boarding pass. This time, the only difference was that I had to hold my Passport along with the ticket. Now, the first time for immigration, was little on my nerves - what should I fill in the immigration form, what would the official ask, what if I forgot a document. It was my turn for the immigration check. A small conversation history I could remember:

Officer: Are you travelling abroad for the first time?
Me: Yes
Officer: Where are you going?
Me: Toulouse
Officer: Why?
Me: -answered-
Officer: Which company?
Me: -answered-
Officer: Can you show me your company id card?
Me: Oh, yes (where did it go? did I keep in the check-in baggage?... Found!).. here it is.
Officer: What is your employee number?
Me: (puzzled for a moment and trying to interpret his question)
Officer: STAMPED, here you go.
Me: Thanks!

This was it? Wow.. not bad. Then, the usual security check and boarding. This was a Boeing 777. The "Tempo class" (Economy) had 3-4-3 seating arrangement. We internet-checked in and reserved the seats in advance, for some strange reasons, I dont knw why, the website showed only 15 seats can be selected -- that too 26 hours in advance!? . Two of us as a last resort chose the center seats of middle row of the "3-4-3". I settled down just behind them in one of the center seats of the middle row. This was the only uncomfortable part of the journey. "OK"! adjust maadi. I sleep now (I slept).

I woke up to find that I had crossed the Arab world. Only a few more hours to CDG! (Charles de gaulle airport, Paris). I gained a day, did I? -- Timezones allow us to stay young :P