India Again Part 1

Yes, I am back in India again. No, I don't love Mumbai but after the last solo business trip, the prospect of heading to Mumbai alone isn't that daunting. 

To maximise time and to save on my weekends, I took the same permutation, flying on early Monday morning and red eye Thursday flight home. I was up at 4.30am and out of the house at 5am, with my new Coach slingbag. Hoho. Happy birthday to Me!

My favourite past time at the airport must be makeup/ skin care shopping. It never feel like I have too much time at Changi Airport. This time, the departure gate was in the same terminal and I made it with ample time to spare. 

The flight was fortunately not full. While I had the window seat, the middle seat was empty, giving me extra leg space. 

My fellow aisle seat passenger wasn't too friendly though and made me feel bad when I had to disturb him to exit the row for the toilet. I had to make an effort to not drink too much water/ juice. I saved the "Zaky's favorite bun" for another time. 

I caught 1.5 movie and reckoned that I better catch a nap for the long day ahead. I also took full advantage of my window seat. 

Hello Mumbai! 

Clearing the immigration is always nerve-wracking, half wondering if the immigration officer would ask for some documents that I don't have or deny entry for whatsoever reason. I survived!

I headed straight to office and the traffic was decently (and not overly) jammed. I made it safely to the office and hopped straight into work and was kept busy until 6ish, which was already night time in Singapore (2.5hrs behind). 

The sky was still bright when I got into the uber. I wasn't sure if I had left earlier than the last trip, where I rarely see the sun when I left office, or the season has changed and the days had become longer. It is seriously hot in Mumbai now and everybody tries to hide in the air-conditioned office as much as possible. 

The typical Mumbai-dusty roads and half constructed buildings became more obvious in the bright. 

I stayed in the same hotel in Navi Mumbai. While it is in the industrial area, with seriously nothing much in the vincity, it is comfortable and more importantly, about 30 mins by car to the office, even with the crazy jam. Staying in the city would requite more than an hour on the road. For some weird reasons, I felt less brave than the last trip and had crazy thoughts when in the uber. All safe, all safe. I made it good to the hotel. 

The room is huge, walk-in wardrobe, big bed and bathtub, mostly underutilised though. 

I ordered in room dining for dinner. This very decent looking club sandwich wasn't as tasty as it seemed. The grilled chicken was huge but super dry and tough. Tye chicken won the battle against my teeth and jaw and very much left untouched. 

Sleep was rough, like how 1st nights usually are for me when I traveled, even for vacations. I kept waking up for whatsoever or even no reasons. Zzzzz. 

I woke up early on Tuesday morning to use the gym. It was less crowded than my last trip. 

I started working and then cannot stop. Bcos of the time difference, emails and messages kept coming in from colleagues who had started work earlier. I almost couldn't get out of the hotel to go to office. 

Remembered the Nana who is still pai ka? I received a SMS from NUH yday to inform us for a follow-up appointment today. Luckily, Daddy Lim was able to take an urgent leave. He updated that Nana took another Xray, the doctor concluded that no surgery is needed and she had been upgraded to the hard cast. 

Haiya, I had wanted to be the 1st to draw/ write on her hard cast and have now lost the privilege. Nana took the honor herself and even Zaky beat me to it. 

He even drew 2 spots. 

Save me a spot!

Day 2 was equally busy. In fact, my calendar was so packed. I don't know what happened. I only managed to go to the site building at 5ish to meet the other colleagues. I was very thrilled when a colleague offered to send me to the site building using his scooter. I even had a go at it. I is very happy. Hoho.

I left the office at 7pm and started my uber trip back. I felt braver on day 2 evening, enjoying the sights on the way with less crazy thoughts. The trip felt shorter too. 

This was dinner for Day 2. 

Sleep was much better too. 

Two more days to go!

Mummy Lim